2011 Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion to use 4.1 L/100km

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By Tim Beissmann | May 10th, 2011

The new 2011 Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion is one of the most fuel efficient cars in the world, despite its large, family-size proportions.

The new Passat BlueMotion sedan will consume just 4.1 litres/100km on the European combined cycle, while the wagon will use 4.3 litres/100km. Average CO2 emissions are 109g/km and 113g/km respectively.

The BlueMotion model is powered by the 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine currently found in the 77TDI Golf and Jetta variants. It produces 77kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and incorporates stop-start engine technology.

The Passat BlueMotion also features a lowered ride height and better aerodynamics to further improve efficiency.

The most frugal model currently offered in Volkswagen Australia’s Passat range is the 125TDI Highline model, which produces 125kW, 350Nm and uses 5.7 litres/100km on the combined cycle.

Volkswagen Australia launched the updated 2011 Passat range in Australia last month. The BlueMotion variant has not yet been confirmed for Australia, and if it is in the VW Australia’s plans, it will not arrive locally for at least 12 months.

Its Australian launch could be influenced by the success of the 2011 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion, which will be launched in Australia next week.

The Golf BlueMotion is powered by the same 77kW/250Nm 1.6-litre TDI engine and is expected to use just 3.8 litres/100km on the combined cycle – making it the second-most fuel efficient car in the country behind the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic.

Shak

Nice job VW. Just goes to show that the modern Diesel engine can be very efficient if its tuned up correctly.(PS Saw a Golf Blue Motion driving around Liverpool in Sydney yesterday, quite and attractive car even though very little is changed on the outside)

Andrew M

Dont you mean “tuned down correctly”?
Octavian

Why on earth should people buy a hybrid now? The emissions from mining to use of these BlueMotions are much less than a battery-packed hybrid.

However, I can see, if the batteries in the future can provide more than 500 kilometres on each charge and last more than 15 years, that hybrid and then fully electric is the way if only to not use oil in transportation.

ST

I’d like to see the other emissions that this diesel will produce vs a regular petrol motor. It’s not all about CO2 and fuel quantity.

TMG

We would all like to see the other emissions, but as the world focuses on CO2 the rest is left out. Volvo showed in the UK that although it’s 1.6L petrol had a higher CO2 rating then the Fiat 500, it only put out a 1/3 of the NO2 and other pollutants.

Yes we all know Diesel is dirty but we are governed by CO2 and L/100 Kms, Bravo VW and others for leading the way and reducing levels of family sized vehicles to that of small super minis.

ST

That’s where my beef is. Whilst diesels do produce less CO2 and use much less volume of fuel, it also creates more health hazards like cancer & asthma than petrol could.

Sure it’s a right direction to produce cleaner versions of their current offering but we’re only seeing one piece of the picture.

http://Tesla Onepoppa

Imagine if all Australian cars could produce figures like these – we would be using less than half the (mostly imported) oil and producing half the CO2 emissions, and still driving roomy and comfortable cars. The australian car producers are simply not trying and won’t do so until we make them do it.

F1MotoGP

German Car Tax January 2009

Car taxes in Germany will now be based on both CO2 emissions and engine size. The reform aims to drive the sales of low emission vehicles and forms part of the governments financial stimulus package.

The rules apply to new cars and are likely to result in E1.82 bn less tax income for the German state from now to 2014.

Car owners will pay 2 euros for each gram per kilometre of CO2 their vehicle emits beyond a specific ceiling. This has been set at 120 grams until 2011, 110 grams for 2012 to 2013, and 95 grams from 2014 onward.

A progressive tax will also take engine size into account, charging owners 2 euros a year for every 100 cubic centimetres of a gas-powered car’s engine displacement, with the charge for diesel engines jumping to 9.50 euros per 100 cubic centimetres.

GFC

Are these DSG or manual?

F1MotoGP

I am sure it is manual!

F1MotoGP

Yes it is a 6 speed manual gearbox. Top speed 195 km/h, city fuel economy 5.2L/100km, 4769mm long, 1820 width and 1470 height. Boot 565 liter, tank 70 liter. Tax per year 152 Euro.
Dan

when can we see the servicing costs? VW are known for being very expensive

maybe there should be a section estimated servicing costs similar to rrp for retail prices

Golfschwein

They’re generally no more expensive to own than any other car. Come service time, you need to have five hundred bucks tucked away for a dealer service, for whatever make of car you drive, it seems. Sometimes less, sometimes more.

GFC

Thats true for the manuals. The DSG’s have an expensive service every 60,000km

KD

That is correct of the 6 Speed DSG as it is a wet clutch set up and they require the oil changed every 60,000km.
However the new 7 speed unit is a dry clutch set up, therefore, no oil means no expensive service!

Manbearpig

…until it blows up. Try pricing up a replacement DSG box or associated control unit. I’d hate to own one of those out of warranty.

Reckless1

The DSG service is around $400.

That’s not expensive – get a quote for a “normal” auto service and see.

Doctor

Kinda makes the hybrids look a little redundant.

Alexander

Not really, diesels will never be as clean as a petrol car (or petrol hybrid). Litre for litre they produce more c02, hence why this still has above 100g/km emissions and far for N0x & other smog forming emissions. With the exception of a Peugeot 3008 HDi Hybrid4, hybrids burn cleaner petrol. This is also still a manual, vastly underpowered car, even a Prius will get to 100km/h in 9.7 seconds, yet the Passat hits 100 in 12.2 seconds (slower than a gen2 Prius).

Phil

The Passat will do that over and over again though.

The Prius will only get it’s maximum acceleration when the battery has sufficient charge to provide the electrical assistance. If you did several ‘drags’ in a Prius you would find each run would get slower and slower as the electrical assistance dried up.

Why is 12 secs “vastly” underpowered anyway? Have you ever oberserved how slow people actually accelerate normally? Go out and count how long it takes the general traffic flow to reach 60km\h….you will find it’s about 10 secs which if it were continued to 100km\h, would take about 22 seconds.

paulb

Not really,this article is just a VW photocopy.No mention of the NOx emissions.Thats the black smoke that comes out of the diesel tailpipe.
Just to point out diesels already have low CO2 emissions.However what there done with the fuel economy is outstanding

Alexander

C02 emissions raise and lower in proportion to a car’s fuel economy and fuel type. A petrol car that uses petrol at a rate of 4.1l/100km will emmit 97g/km, a diesel that uses 4.1l/100km will emmit 107g/km. Litre for litre diesels produce more c02 than a petrol engine, just multiply your cars economy (eg 8.0l/100km) by 23.8 (for a petrol car) or 26.1 (for a diesel) & you’ll have it’s c02 emissions per kilometre.

http://internode.on.net Old Pete

Problem is, there aren’t too many family sized petrol cars that will run at 4.1L/100km.

QAZ

You need to look at a bigger picture

Nkoulban

I drove the 1.6 diesel Golf and found it gutless and it used lots more fuel in the urban cycle than a Prius. The Passat will be even more gutless and I’d wager nowhere near as fuel efficient in stop start urban conditions. Still a good effort from VW.

Reckless1

I drove a Prius, found it horrible, and it used lots more fuel on the highway than the Golf.
http://internode.on.net Old Pete

I tried to drive a Prius and gave up. Gutless with a low battery (as someone stated above) and nowhere near as refined as a Golf or Passat or roomy as a Passat.

Duckula

Rather a gutless VW than a Prius anyday of the week…

Martin

You aren’t the only one.
MF

Rather a Prius than any VW any day of the week…

schultzy

The BlueMotion variant has not yet been confirmed for Australia, and if it is in the VW Australia’s plans, it will not arrive locally for at least 12 months”….

I was sure the Passat I saw in the showroom the other day had a Bluemotion badge on the back…?
Mr Gaspo

I’d rather a Prius over a gutless VW diesel any day since I have driven both, if real world economy is a high priority.

Reckless1

Try driving your Priarse on highway trips and see how you like the fuel consumption.

Alexander

I have a Priarse and regularly get 3.7l100km on the highway, try driving a diesel car in the city, where a i get 3.0l/100km – 3.9l/100km, then see how you like your economy

http://internode.on.net Old Pete

What ever you do, though, don’t try to tow anything … oh that’s right, Prius has 0kg tow limit.

That’s before looking into the interior size/refinement …

ST

Then try driving that same VW diesel in the CBD trips and see how you like the fuel consumption.
Mr Gaspo

I don’t do many highway trips, so I don’t care about open road efficiency, urban cycle is what counts for me.

Campy

Too bad Americans will never choose this over the regular Toyota, Honda & Nissan..
Andrew M

3.8L/100k is where they need to be aiming with the golf if they are serious.

That only gets it the crown of the 2nd most economical and soon to be pushed to 3rd.

Dont forget Ford have just bought the Focus economy in under the Fiesta which is pretty remarkable
T Sullivan

Does this diesel require a tank of diesel additive? The BMW X5 has a 40 litre tank of diesel additive.

Also, has anyone considered the air consumption of cars. A 2 litre car running a 2000 rpm’s consumes 1000 liters/minute. For reference person at rest consumes 380 liters of air/day. If the government were smart they would charge for air and then electric cars would look pretty good.
http://audi-a1.us Audi A1

That is smart, economy and very cofortable car. Really love VW cars and think that they are cheap, comfortbale and very good looking. In all the cases I prefer this car-builder.