InAutoNews: VW hopes natural-gas-powered models can match success of TDIs

Volkswagen Ag., Europe’s largest carmaker has big ambitions: the automaker hopes that compressed natural gas vehicles can match the success of turbocharged diesel direct injection – TDI cars.

Basically VW plans to repeat what Audi did in 1989 when the automaker introduced the TDI -turbocharged diesel direct injection into mass production – an engine that quickly become an best-seller among the high-mileage drivers.

The Germans are introducing a TGI Golf model this summer in Europe – a vehicle that will be capable to run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas. Powered by a newly developed 81 kW / 110 PS natural gas engine this will be the first natural gas vehicle to be based on the new modular transverse matrix (MQB). In pure CNG operation the driving range for the version with a 6-speed manual gearbox is a good 420 km. In this mode, the car’s consumption is 3.5 kg of natural gas per 100 km (equivalent to 94 g/km CO2).  MORE