VW's previous generation Polo BlueMotion impressed everyone with its 74.3mpg capability and CO
2 emissions of 99g/km, yet the company's new Golf BlueMotion achieves those very numbers and the all-new Polo BlueMotion returns a staggering 85.6mpg on the combined cycle, along with 87g/km of carbon dioxide.
Joining the Polo and Golf in
Frankfurt is a Passat BlueMotion utilising the same 1.6-litre TDI engine as the Golf to record 64.2mpg and 114g/km.
All three cars feature a wide ranging raft of changes. As before, the updated TDI engines are mated with manual gearboxes with longer gearing. Low rolling resistance tyres and aerodynamic tweaks have also been carried over, though the new BlueMotion cars boast much more obvious styling changes in a bid to cut through the air cleanly. New to the BlueMotion badge are a stop-start system and brake energy recovery.
A Passat Estate BlueMotion will join the saloon in the line-up when it hits the market before the end of the year. Though the Golf will also go on sale this year in some markets, the Polo BlueMotion will not be ready until 2010.
Prices and final specifications have yet to be announced.
Shane O' Donoghue - 2 Sep 2009