VW to drop 3 diesel models for 2007

[dieseldorf]

Home | BackVW to drop 3 diesel models for '07

New U.S. emissions standards lead to decision on the Beetle, Jetta and Golf

BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS AUTO CRITIC
May 28, 2006

Volkswagen of America will lose hot-selling diesel models of several of its most popular cars as the automaker catches up to new federal emissions standards that take effect this fall. VW will drop the diesel versions of its Jetta, Golf and Beetle models for the 2007 model year, which begins this fall. The new U.S. limits for nitrogen oxide emissions are among the most stringent in the world.

VW has promoted its fuel-efficient diesel engines heavily this year as a way to beat high gasoline prices. The frugal engines can boost a car or truck's mileage as much as 35% compared with a similar gasoline engine.
VW's diesel sales have boomed in 2006, helping propel the German brand to a 20.4% increase in U.S. sales. Diesels accounted for 22.7% of VW's U.S. sales for the first four months of 2006, nearly twice their traditional 12%, VW spokesman Steve Keyes said.

"They are becoming a significant part of our business, so it's disappointing," Keyes said. "If diesels continue to contribute 20%-22% of our sales, this has some significant impact on us."

VW has credited its surging U.S. sales to diesels and the addition of new models like the Passat midsize sedan and Jetta compact sedan.

VW will offer a diesel version of its Touareg SUV in '07, and the company plans to build extra '06 diesel Jettas, which it hopes to sell well into next year.

A new diesel Jetta that meets emissions standards in all 50 states should be available for the 2008 model year.

Contact MARK PHELAN at 313-222-6731 or phelan@freepress.com.

[bhtooefr]

This sucks balls... and T'reg V10s aren't exactly cheap...

I wonder if a Jetta with 2.5 tons of concrete would meet the GVWR standards for a truck... (/me tells everyone to watch TopGear 08x04, you'll get it then. )

[owr084]

Originally Posted by bhtooefr

I wonder if a Jetta with 2.5 tons of concrete would meet the GVWR standards for a truck... (/me tells everyone to watch TopGear 08x04, you'll get it then. )

Don't laugh. It's not like they haven't tried a stunt or two before to get around some import restrictions.

In the early 70s, the American chicken farmers got the government to slap some import restrictions on VW trucks in retaliation for for some German restrictions on US poultry. The restriction applied if the truck had only one seat (we're talking the trucks built on the micro bus chassis). So, VW bolted a bench seat onto the truck bed. As soon as the trucks passed through customs, the seat was stripped off at the port.

[bhtooefr]

owr084: Trust me, I have a few photoshops of Jettas with gooseneck hitches installed in the trunk lid...

[ButtUglyJeff]

And the 2006s get more and more expensive........

[lildevildee]

Originally Posted by bhtooefr

This sucks balls... and T'reg V10s aren't exactly cheap...

I wonder if a Jetta with 2.5 tons of concrete would meet the GVWR standards for a truck... (/me tells everyone to watch TopGear 08x04, you'll get it then. )

But it didn't say it was a V-10. Haven't they been testing a 5 or 6 cyl diesel over here lately?

[bhtooefr]

Luckily, a coworker of mine got in just under the wire. This story broke today.

She is picking up her Pkg0 Shadow? Blue Jetta TDI (Pkg0 so she didn't have to wait two months, otherwise she'd have gotten a Pkg1) tonight.

Anyway, for $59,000 (what I've heard elsewhere), there better be a V10 TDI under the hood.

[DrSmile]

...and the resale value of my wagon just keeps on going up and up. Hey, you always gotta see the glass as half full!

I wonder how long it will be until you can buy a Jetta wagon again?

[TornadoRed]

Originally Posted by dieseldorf

This is old news.

[febrile]

Below is VWofA response to inquiry on TDI available in 2006/2007:

Thank you for contacting the Volkswagen website. We have been updated with some 2007 model year availability in relation to TDI/diesel engines.

We will offer the 2006 Jetta TDI in 2007. This means there will not be a 2007 Jetta TDI, but there will be an extended run of the 2006 TDI Jetta models. In other words, you will be able to buy a TDI Jetta in 2007, but it will not be a 2007 model, it will be a 2006.

We will also offer the New Beetle TDI the same way as noted above.

We will be offering a 2007 model year TDI V10 Touareg. This will be the only 2007 model year TDI available at this time.

Currently, there are no plans to offer the Passat Sedan or Wagon with a diesel in 2007.

We hope this information is helpful to you with making a purchase decision. Thank you again for allowing us the opportunity to assist you further.

Kelly
Volktalk

[BlueBugTDI]

Who's worried???

If you already own a TDI, even an old TDI, you have nothing to worry about unless you have an bad accident. Yea, you can buy a '06 in '07, but why not wait until the common rails in '08.

Think about it, ULSD, possibly better power / torque, the possibility of a TDI that resembles what our friends in Europe have enjoyed for years straight out of the box.

By the way, maybe VW will get the message that we are an important segment of their customer base for once. Not that I want their sales to drop, but does anyone else feel that we have got the short end of the stick for to long. Maybe for once, we will be rewarded.

With 176,000+ on the odo, the Bug should be around 225,000 when the '08 start to arrive, almost to it's half life.

Don't be sad, rejoice that we are about to be on par with the rest of the VW world. And if you have to, buy a new timing belt and wait it out a little longer.

Tim

[jimlockey]

I only have 38,000 on my 05 Passat TDI.

I can wait, but if VWOA waits too long and lets say, Honda or Toyota comes out with a good diesel I'm gone. Here that VW?

[jester69]

Originally Posted by jimlockey

I only have 38,000 on my 05 Passat TDI.

I can wait, but if VWOA waits too long and lets say, Honda or Toyota comes out with a good diesel I'm gone. Here that VW?

VW didn't do this, the federal government did. They instituted emissions requirements that either take ULSD or extreme measures (Mercedes is using Urea injection I think.)

Then, they delayed the ULSD rollout, but didn't delay the requirement. VW had to either redesign completely, or wait for ULSD.

GM has announced a worldwide Diesel initiative. My bet is this was pork barrel politics to buy GM, or even several US car makers, a year to get their passenger car diesel act together so that VW doesn't corner the market.

The big three got caught with their pants down in the late 70's having only gas guzzlers, and the imports having small economical cars. So, the fed made the emissions per liter only and took no interest in the total pollution per mile. This means a V8 that gets 7 MPG can be a lower polluter than a 250cc motorcycle to the US government.

Saddled with new emissions requirements the imprts had to scramble and since they had lower HP the power robbing emissions devices made many of them near undriveable, but these same devices didn't put a dent in the 500 cubic inch V* cadillalcs...

Cranking out 2 years worth of 2006 TDI's was a very shrewd move on VW's part. Hats off to them if they can pull it off. The threat of unavailability may cause their sales to skyrocket, having the opposite effect from what was intended.

One big thing VW did in the 70's is call the transporter a Station Wagon. It met those requirements, but there is a reason most of the middle and rear seats go missing, they were used as commercial van's heh.

Take care,

Jester

[donsdiesels]

If VW is selling 06 TDI's in 07 and 07 Touareg's in 07, does this mean that the 07 Touareg is the new common rail which will meet the EPA requirments. Does anyone know if this is what they are doing? Since this is a new technology for VW (passenger cars) I wonder what problems we can expect in the first year or so. I know it has been used by the rest of the passenger car world for quite a while but there will be new electronics and that can be an issue. At least when the PD was introduced in 04 we knew it had been tested since 99 in Europe and they still had a number of recalls.

[Wyatt Earp]

No sure specifically on VW's case but the common rail system isn't all that it is cracked up to be on the consumer grade pick-up truck. Hopefully VW builds a better mouse trap!

Save the planet - ban gasoline! LOL...