Volkswagen Dieselution Tour Educating U.S Consumers Greener Technology
Volkswagen wants American drivers to know about diesels. Especially its clean diesels and how they can help the environment.
To spread the word, VW begins its Dieselution Tour today, pulling an educational trailer around the country and setting up shop at environmental events. Inside, computer screens and displays showcase the benefits of diesels and ask visitors to take a “sustainability quiz” or measure their car’s carbon footprint.
The message is far from subtle: Clean diesels can help the environment and save you money.
“We want to show Americans that today’s clean diesel technology is a quantum leap from the powerplants introduced nearly 30 years ago,” said Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen of America.
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This weekend the tour stops at Boston’s Alt Wheels, an alternative fuels event, and at New York City’s Ecofest, touted as the largest environmental gathering on the East Coast. The nationwide tour will end at the 2008 Chicago auto show, said Nick Price, a VW spokesman.
Whether the German-based company can get Americans to drive diesels remains to be seen, but rolling along with the Dieselution trailer will be VW’s 2009 Jetta TDI, which heads to U.S. dealerships next spring.
The clean diesel sedan should get more than 40 miles per gallon in city driving and top 50 mpg on the highway, VW executives said.
“In America, diesels are currently only found on light duty trucks,” Jacoby said. “We are the company that can make diesels accessible in vehicles that are efficient and fun to drive.”
Indeed. The new Volkswagen Jetta TDI will come with a 2-liter Common Rail Diesel that engineers have redesigned from the piston head on out. Significant changes to the engine’s fuel injection system, its exhaust and the addition of a particulates trap will make the Jetta the first 50-state diesel, said Stuart Johnson, a manager for VW’s engineering and environmental office. It will be more powerful, more efficient and much cleaner than comparable engines.
California has essentially blocked diesel cars from being sold in the Golden State because of tough air quality standards. New York and other states have adopted California’s emission laws, limiting the places VW could sell its previous diesel models.
Diesels continue to improve their reputation with consumers looking for more efficient vehicles without sacrificing power or performance, Jacoby said.
“According to our research, 30 percent of people looking at vehicles in VW’s segments consider a diesel,” he said.
VW expects nearly one-third of its Jetta customers to choose a diesel over the comparable gas-powered model, Jacoby said.
Should it prove successful, VW will consider locating an assembly plant in the United States, though Jacoby declined specifics.
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