Volkswagen’s super-clean 2.0 BlueTDI engine is making its debut on the Passat Sedan and Variant at next week’s Paris motorshow. The revised 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that develops an output of 143 HP is combined with VW’s SRC catalytic converter that reduces nitrogen dioxide (NOx) emissions by up to 90 percent. According to VW, the new Passat BlueTDI complies with the strict Euro-6 emission standards that won’t go into effect in Europe before 2014. -Continued
Despite the 3 horsepower increase in output, Volkswagen claims that the 2.0 BlueTDI consumes up to 0.4–liters of diesel per 100 km less than the equivalent Passat models equipped with the conventional 140HP 2.0 TDI. In the case of the Passat Variant BlueTDI that means an average fuel consumption of 5.5 lt/100 km or 42.8 mpg with a CO2 figure of 144 gr/km, and in the Passat sedan, 5.2 l/100 km or 45.2 mpg and 139 g / km of CO2.
The Passat BlueTDI Sedan and Variant will be offered with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox and optionally, with a 6-speed dual clutch semi-automatic transmission. Sales are expected to begin in Europe in early 2009 with other markets following later in the year.