The German auto magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" is reporting that officially this is still considered a concept but that VW officials have said that it will not stay that way.

The prototype car has a 1.2 75-horsepower 3-cylinder gasoline engine with 190 Nm of torque plus a 27-horsepower electric engine. The power is brought to the wheels by a 7-speed DSG transmission which has been available for about 6 month now.

The average consumption in realistic driving tests has been quoted as 3.4 L / 100 km (69 mpg).



Source: Latest AMS.

VW to Unveil 69 MPG Golf TDI Diesel-Hybrid Study in Geneva

Alongside the 2009 Scirocco Coupe, Volkswagen’s Geneva Show stand will also host the worldwide premiere of a diesel-hybrid study based on the latest generation Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.). According to VW’s Spartan press release, the Golf TDI Hybrid combines a high-tech diesel engine with an electric motor and a 7-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox. The result is an ultra low avg fuel consumption of just 3.4 lt per 100 km or 69 MPG (US).

This full-hybrid concept can be operated either in internal-combustion mode only or in a combination mode of the TDI diesel engine and electric motor. The car is also designed to run on emissions-free electric power only. In city traffic, the vehicle’s automatic stop-start system will automatically switch off diesel operations.

[Source: CarScoop]

So I'm confused - is it a petrol hybrid or a diesel hybrid? Or are both stories correct?

69 mpg, I had to take my sock off to get all 4-thumbs-up ...!

Conflicting reports atm, we'll have to wait for official press release.

Although I must say for European market, a Diesel hybrid makes more sense.

Its a diesel BB

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The VW Golf TDI Hybrid will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, comes with 75 bhp and an electric engine and is said to be more than just a concept. It could hit the roads by end of 2009 as a possible engine for the new VW Golf which will be introduced this year.

Average consumption is said to be around 3.4 liters diesel per 100 kilometers, that's just 90 gramm CO2 and would be a world record for a 5-seater car.

Press Release
83 MPG, 89 G/KM OF CO2: INTRODUCING THE GOLF TDI HYBRID CONCEPT

The challenge: to create a viable, highly-efficient family vehicle capable of emitting less than 90 g/km of CO2. The Volkswagen engineers’ solution, unveiled on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, combines an advanced diesel engine with an electric motor and the very latest generation of seven-speed DSG gearbox. The so-called Golf TDI Hybrid concept vehicle is capable of achieving 83 mpg on the combined cycle and emitting just 89 g/km of CO2 – while around town the vehicle reverts to purely electric mode to be emission-free.

At the core of the new Golf TDI Hybrid is a highly-efficient 1.2-litre three-cylinder common rail TDI diesel engine developing 75 PS and 132 lbs ft of torque. Working either in tandem with the diesel engine or, if required, on its own, is an electric motor developing 27 PS and 103 lbs ft of torque. The electric motor also replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator to save weight and improve packaging.

It can also operate as a generator, recovering kinetic energy from the car during braking to charge the 220 volt, 45 kg nickel metal hydride battery which has a capacity of 1.4 kW hours.

In practice the electric motor powers the vehicle from standstill with the diesel engine only engaging should additional acceleration be required or at higher speeds. In these situations the diesel engine takes over with the electric motor only working if required to supplement the combustion engine – for example, during overtaking manoeuvres. When at a standstill the diesel engine shuts down completely to conserve fuel and increase efficiency. The energy split is relayed to the driver and passengers through a graphic display accessed through the touchscreen satellite navigation screen.

Drive on the concept car is channelled through the new seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox. This features a pair of dry clutches as opposed to the wet clutches and sets a new energy efficiency standard for automatic gearboxes.

Visual changes which differentiate the Golf TDI Hybrid include a new, unique grille design, smaller front air intakes to reduce aerodynamic drag and subtle ‘TDI-Hybrid’ badging. The Golf TDI Hybrid also sits lower than the standard Golf on revised suspension and adopts the front splitter from the Golf GTI Edition 30 to help further reduce aerodynamic drag. A unique interior further distinguishes the Golf TDI Hybrid from the conventional vehicle.

The Golf TDI Hybrid is currently a concept vehicle, but a version of this vehicle is likely to go into production in the future.

This study follows the recent launch of the efficient new Golf BlueMotion. Adopting an optimised 1.9-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine linked to a revised gearbox and more efficient aerodynamics the Golf BlueMotion can achieve a combined 62.8 mpg while emitting just 119 g/km of CO2 meaning it will be exempt from the London Congestion Charge from October 27th onwards.

Timing

• Makes its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show
• The Golf TDI Hybrid is likely to inspire a future production vehicle

Key facts

• An engineering study aimed at extracting maximum efficiency from the combination of an advanced common rail diesel engine and a powerful electric motor designed to work in tandem; also uses very latest generation of seven-speed DSG gearbox
• The so-called Golf TDI Hybrid concept vehicle is capable of achieving 83 mpg on the combined cycle and emitting just 89 g/km of CO2; around town the vehicle reverts to purely electric mode to be emission-free
• Powered by a highly-efficient 1.2-litre three-cylinder common rail TDI diesel engine developing 75 PS and 132 lbs ft of torque. Working either in tandem with the diesel engine or, if required, on its own, is an electric motor developing 27 PS and 103 lbs ft of torque. The electric motor also replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator to save weight and improve packaging
• The motor also operates as a generator, recovering kinetic energy from the car during braking to charge the 220 volt, boot-mounted 45 kg nickel metal hydride battery which has a capacity of 1.4 kW hours
• The electric motor powers the vehicle from standstill with the diesel engine only engaging should additional acceleration be required or at higher speeds. In these situations the diesel engine takes over with the electric motor only working if required to supplement the combustion engine – for example, during overtaking manoeuvres
• When the vehicle is stationary the diesel engine shuts down completely to conserve fuel and increase efficiency. The energy split is relayed to the driver and passengers through a graphic display accessed through the touchscreen satellite navigation screen
• Drive on the concept car is channelled through the new seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox
• Visual changes which differentiate the Golf TDI Hybrid include a new, unique grille design, smaller front air intakes to reduce aerodynamic drag and subtle ‘TDI-Hybrid’ badging. The Golf TDI Hybrid also sits lower than the standard Golf on revised suspension and adopts the front splitter from the Golf GTI Edition 30 to help further reduce aerodynamic drag

[Source: Volkswagen via WCF]