Yesterday’s diesels had trouble starting in the cold. But Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesels are different. With advanced direct-injection technology, they’re designed to start reliably when the thermometer drops. To prove it, we’re putting a 2010 Golf TDI into a giant freezer to simulate the temperatures you’d find in the world’s coldest city, Yakutsk, Siberia.
SPOILER ALERT.
Melrose Park, Illinois native takes the Championship points lead
Lexington, OH (June 21, 2009) – After a DNF in Round 2 of the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season, Timmy Megenbier has been a driver on a mission. Today, he claimed his second consecutive victory of the season in Round 4 of the season after leading 13 of 17 laps at Lexington, Ohio’s Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Pole sitter Devin Cates led the field into the first turn on lap one, but went off course in the second turn, opening the door for the second and third-place starters, Joey Atterbury and Timmy Megenbier to advance their positions. Atterbury and Megenbier battled for the remainder of the race with Megenbier taking the lead on lap five. He held on for the remainder of the race to take his second and second consecutive victory of the young season. Megenbier’s win moves him into the Championship lead.
“I really couldn’t have asked for anything more today,” Megenbier said. “Heading into the race, I knew where the good places to pass were going to be, and I just waited for the opportunity to make it happen. I have to give it to Joey (Atterbury) for racing clean today and not trying to block my move. I simply out-braked him, and he let me go. It feels amazing that I’ve been able to make it two in a row now and have moved into the Championship lead. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make it three in a row at our next race, which is at my home track.”
Atterbury and Andy Lee rounded out the podium. Lee’s third-place finish marks the best result for the Maricopa, Arizona native in two seasons. After a difficult qualifying session, Lee started ninth, but didn’t waste any time moving forward. He also ran the fastest lap of the race and the weekend – 1:39.605 (81.610 mph).
“I was pretty disappointed yesterday after qualifying because I definitely think I should have been able to start higher than ninth,” Lee said. “With that starting position, I knew it was going to be a battle for me, so I concentrated on running consistently strong laps and being patient. Thankfully, this strategy paid off with a good result. After almost a season and a half, it feels great to finally be on the podium. I feel like I’m really starting to make some progress in this series, so I can’t wait to get to our next race in Chicago.”
Lee wasn’t the only driver who scored solid, season-best finishes. Andrew Cordeiro (4th), Nicky Boulle (5th), and JD Mobley (7th), all had their best races of the season so far. The day didn’t go so well for series points leader, Jake Thompson who finished 11th. The result drops him to third in the series standings. The top five drivers in the Championship after four races are: Megenbier (140), Atterbury (121), Thompson (111), Lee (104) and AJ Nealey (89).
Mark Gillies of Car & Driver magazine finished 13th, the best finish this season for a guest driver. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series returns to action for Round 5 of the 10 event season, July 25–26 at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Round 4 (17 Laps)
Position/Car Number/Driver/Hometown/Sponsor/Best Time/Best Speed
1 3 17 Timmy Megenbier/Melrose Park/IL/Chicagoland VW/ 1:39.832 / 81.424
2 2 14 Joey Atterbury(R)/Renton/WA/SCCA/ 1:39.624 / 81.594
3 9 27 Andy Lee/Maricopa/AZ/Castrol/ 1:39.605 / 81.610
4 12 26 Andrew Cordeiro/Woodbridge/Ont/VION/ 1:39.758 / 81.485
5 11 4 Nicky Boulle(R)/Dallas/TX/Defnder/ 1:39.890 / 81.377
6 5 8 Derek Jones/Philadelphia/PA/Aggreko/ 1:40.684 / 80.735
7 13 7 JD Mobley(R)/Castle Rock/CO/Bosch/ 1:40.674 / 80.743
8 6 23 Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle/Puebla/MX/Castrol/ 1:39.996 / 81.291
9 8 2 AJ Nealey(R)/Pasadena/MD/Sherwin-Williams/ 1:40.162 / 81.156
10 22 22 Andrew Novich(R)/Novato/CA/Oakley/ 1:40.753 / 80.680
11 16 19 Jake Thompson(R)/Vancouver/BC/Lamin-X/ 1:40.053 / 81.245
12 15 3 Taylor Broekemeier/Fort Collins/CO/Oakley/ 1:39.934 / 81.341
7 21 Mark Gillies(G)/Ann Arbor/MI/iRacing.com/ 1:40.394 / 80.969
13 10 5 Ryan Ellis(R)/Ashburn/VA/VION/ 1:40.157 / 81.160
14 19 24 Donny Warren(R)/Winchester/VA/Aggreko/ 1:40.385 / 80.976
15 18 15 Theresa Condict(R)/Lexington/MA/HYPERFUELS/ 1:41.384 / 80.178
16 1 29 Devin Cates(R)/Broad Run/VA/HYPERFUELS/ 1:41.106 / 80.398
17 14 6 David Richert/Niverville/MB/Bosch/ 1:41.324 / 80.225
18 20 16 Eric Morse(R)/Pittsburgh/PA/Amplify/ 1:41.665 / 79.956
19 21 34 Juan Pablo Delgado(R)/Orizaba/MX/Red Bull/ 1:42.854 / 79.032
20 23 28 Rhett Tucker(R)/Cumming/GA/DC United/ 1:41.595 /80.011
21 4 20 Mark Pombo/Duluth/GA/VW Parts & Accessories/ 1:41.329 / 80.221
22 24 32 Andrew Gun Tucker(R)/McDonough/GA/Pirelli/ 1:43.595 / 78.467
23 17 30 Perry Richardson(R)/Los Gatos/CA/Pirelli/ 1:42.073 / 79.637
(R) – Jetta TDI Cup Rookie Driver
(G) – Guest Driver (not eligible for Championship results)
About Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, which is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. During the season, young, up-and-coming drivers (between ages 16–26) will compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI’s powered by Syndiesel® B5 blended biodiesel fuel. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season. In addition to more than $50,000 in prize money at stake during the season, the series champion will win $100,000.
The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170hp, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage, and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON, Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, HYPERFUELS, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Meguiar’s, Sherwin-Williams, Chicagoland VW, Safety-Kleen, Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School, and Trellis Earth.
Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:
SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Live Timing & Scoring
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Introduction
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Engines
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Fuels/Emissions
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: True Costs
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Summary
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Introduction
Kudos to technology and good ol’ creative thinking. Without you, we’d live in a world devoid of pairings like vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookie dough, or cell phones that allow us to access our email or browse the hardware store’s assortment of hammers. There are countless such examples of matches painfully obvious with the benefit of hindsight, but on the flip side are marriages that will be forever puzzling. That’s especially true with words. In fact, until recently the words “clean” and “diesel” were not normally paired together. That changed with the debut of a new generation of so-called oil burners, including Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI, Jetta SportWagen TDI, and Touareg 2 TDI. Not only do these models run on cleaner fuel, they also deliver more torque and superior fuel economy* while providing what many classify as a fun driving experience. Best of all, VW’s TDI engine-equipped vehicles meet the same strict emissions standards set for gasoline-powered vehicles. These are just a few of the reasons why the Green Car Journal selected the Volkswagen Jetta TDI as its 2009 Green Car of the Year, and why an increasing number of environmentally-conscious drivers are purchasing clean diesel models of their own.
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Engines
Drive down any U.S. highway and you’re apt to encounter more diesel engines than you can shake a sustainably-harvested stick at, but chances are the vast majority will be powering big rigs delivering goods. In contrast, diesel-powered passenger cars have accounted for only 3.6 percent of all vehicles registered in the U.S.,** though that just might change with the nationwide availability of clean diesel fuel and Volkswagen’s TDI models.
Today’s diesel engine can trace its roots back to the early 1890s, at which time Rudolf Diesel engineered and patented a more efficient version of the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine (ICE). Both diesel and gasoline engines are technically ICEs, meaning their inner workings consist of a crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, and intake and exhaust valves. And both require the introduction of a volatile fuel to operate, but that’s where the similarities end. Inside a gas engine, a precise air/fuel mixture is pumped directly into a cylinder, at which time a spark plug ignites the mixture, causing a mini explosion that creates power by pushing down on the piston and rotating the crankshaft.
A diesel engine, on the other hand, lacks spark plugs, a distributor, and an electronic ignition system. Instead, air is pumped into the cylinder, compressed to a much greater degree, and as a result, gets very hot. When the hot air is at maximum compression, fuel is sprayed into the cylinder, causing a mini explosion without the need for a spark.
That high-compression detonation is what caused the clatter sound often associated with old diesels, used in everything from Mercedes-Benz sedans to the Volkswagen Dasher and boasting not-so-memorable statistics like 0-60 mph runs of more than 15 seconds. Modern engine designs have eliminated much of the clatter, and the introduction of turbochargers offered a big boost in terms of performance. But diesels still must deal with tremendous internal pressure relative to their gas competitors. As an example, the Volkswagen Jetta uses a cast iron engine block and alloy cylinder heads in gas and TDI models.
With that in mind, diesels are typically built with stronger blocks and parts, but in the case of the Jetta TDI, engineers were able to keep the car’s overall curb weight in line with the gas-powered variant. Thanks to the turbocharger, Volkswagen’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engine generates a respectable 140 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 236 lb.-ft. of lively torque at only 1,750 rpm. Compare that to the Toyota Corolla’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 132 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque, and the Honda Civic’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder that’s good for 140 horses and 128 lb.-ft. of twist.
One final issue focuses on difficult starts in cold weather, a result of a need for hot air in the diesel’s combustion process. This situation has been addressed by direct injection and the use of advanced engine computers.
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Fuels/Emissions
In technical terms, diesel fuel has an energy density of about 147,000 BTUs; gasoline has an energy density of 125,000 BTUs. In other words, it takes less diesel fuel to do the same work as a gallon of gas. Combine that with a diesel engine’s design, and you’ve got an engine/fuel combination that is 30-35 percent more efficient than its gasoline-powered competition.
But how is diesel “clean”? We all remember the black clouds of smoke and noxious fumes. Gasoline and diesel fuel are both derived from crude oil, but diesel was subjected to less refining and as a result had a heavier odor and a dark color that resulted in black clouds of sooty exhaust.
But that was then, and the result was emission levels that were not accepted in all states.
Things started to change in 2007 when all new diesel vehicles sold in the United States were required to run on ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. ULSD has a sulfur content of 15 parts per million (ppm), compared to 500 parts per million in regular diesel fuel, which will be completely erased from the U.S. marketplace by the end of 2010. Much of the dirty, black smoke that many people associate with diesel exhaust is due to rich sulfur content; with more refined ULSD, less sulfur leads to cleaner emissions.
In the case of the Jetta TDI and Jetta SportWagen TDI, ULSD works in concert with a particulate filter in the exhaust system, creating a clean diesel car. As the name implies, the filter traps harmful particulates, including nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. As more particulates accumulate, back pressure builds in the exhaust to the point where a sensor triggers more fuel to be injected into the system, which initiates the burning of the particulates and creates cleaner emissions.
The Touareg TDI, on the other hand, uses AdBlue® technology. In this case, urea is blended with the exhaust to neutralize much of the noxious emissions. Thanks to the cleaner fuel and advanced emissions/exhaust systems, diesel-powered vehicles like the Jetta TDI and Touareg TDI meet strict Bin 5 emissions ratings, and qualify for a lean burn technology tax credit of up to $1,300, depending on the model.*** And, as an added bonus, TDI drivers can fill their tanks with either 100 percent ULSD or B5 (a blend consisting of five percent biodiesel and 95 percent ULSD) and still be fully covered by the Volkswagen’s new car limited warranty.
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: True Costs
Sometimes, the cheap way isn’t always the right way, and there’s no denying that new clean diesel models can be pricier than their gas competitors. That premium covers the added cost of designing and building engines with beefier internal parts, more precise tolerances, and increasingly complex emissions systems.
But not so fast: there are a number of additional important factors to consider, many that shed positive light on Volkswagen’s clean diesel models. Consider that a diesel engine will never need a new distributor or replacement spark plugs and wires, will offer a fuel economy advantage of 30-35 percent on average, and will typically outlast its gas counterpart by a wide margin. Factor in available federal tax incentives*** plus the fact that Volkswagen’s TDI models follow the same service interval as their non-TDI siblings, and the case for diesel starts to look a little stronger. Falling diesel prices aren’t anything to complain about either.
Serving to improve the situation yet again is Volkswagen’s Carefree Maintenance Program,† under which scheduled maintenance is covered by the manufacturer for the first three years or 36,000 miles of ownership.
Of special interest to Jetta TDI owners will be the particulate filter in the exhaust system that transforms hydrocarbons into cleaner emissions (including water and nitrogen). This diesel-specific part needs to be replaced at 120,000 miles. The Touareg 2 TDI’s AdBlue urea technology requires a fill-up every 6,000-10,000 miles, which is initially covered by the no-charge scheduled maintenance program during the first three years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first).†
Clean Diesel vs. Gasoline: Summary
For some, the image of an old diesel firing off black smoke will be a hard one to forget. But the fact is the days of dirty diesels are gone, and considering incentives and maintenance costs, clean diesel technology is much more affordable than most people think.
*Jetta TDI EPA estimates 30 mpg city / 41 mpg highway. Your mileage will vary.
**Percent of diesel passenger vehicles registered in 2005. Source: Dieselforum.org
***Tax credit submitted under Notice 2006-9 and Internal Revenue Code, Section 30B relative to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Sedan and SportWagen and Touareg 2 TDI. Available to taxpayers who purchased a qualified vehicle on or before December 31, 2010. Leased vehicles are not eligible for the tax credit. Only a limited number of full tax credits are available. Please consult a tax professional for more information or go to http://www.irs.gov.
†The Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance Program covers the vehicle’s 10K, 20K and 30K scheduled maintenance intervals except for the Volkswagen Routan. The Routan Carefree Maintenance Program covers the vehicle’s 6K, 12K, 18K, 24K, 30K and 36K scheduled maintenance intervals. Coverage is during the term of the new vehicle limited warranty, at no additional charge. The program covers three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. See dealer or vehicle maintenance program booklet for details. Does not include routine wear and tear on parts such as brakes, tires, wiper blades, light bulbs, etc.
Race day at Mid-Ohio is Father’s Day, and Jetta TDI Cup driver David Richert has found a solution to the dilemma of what to get Dad for this special day. Richert is providing race fans an opportunity to purchase a heart-shaped decal carrying a personalized Father’s Day greeting for $50. Each of these decals will then be placed on Richert’s racecar for the Jetta TDI Cup race on June 21.
Not only does this effort allow for a creative way to express appreciation to fathers, it also supports a good cause. The Niverville, Manitoba native will use all funds raised selling decals to purchase toys and gifts for children at the Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Richert plans to personally deliver these gifts to the hospital on Friday, June 19, just before the race weekend.
“Children are always scrambling to come up with a way to say ‘I love you’ to their fathers,” Richert said. “Golf clubs and new ties are nice, but a racecar greeting card provides a break from the norm. The initial response to this campaign has been fantastic, and it’s my goal to be able to provide as many gifts as possible to the kids at the hospital in order to make them momentarily forget about their struggles.”
For more information on Richert’s effort, visit www.richertracing.com or e-mail David at info@richertracing.com.
Introduction
We realize there’s an awful lot of hype out there about new powertrains that promise to solve a long list of our planet’s most pressing problems, from global warming to the nationwide shortage of buffalo wings.
So we’re going to give it to you straight. Because we figure that if we lay out the pros and cons of the two main alternatives — gasoline-electric hybrids and clean diesels — you’re smart enough to reach your own conclusions. Of course, we’re also pretty confident Volkswagen’s TDI clean diesel models will look pretty good by comparison.
That understandable bias aside, let’s take a closer look at these two popular car choices:
Gasoline-Electric Hybrids
The first thing you should know about hybrid vehicles, which combine a traditional gasoline engine with a battery pack and one or more electric motors, is that they’re not all created equal.
Generally speaking, there are two types: Mild hybrids like the Honda Civic Hybrid use their electric motors mainly to boost the performance of their smallish gasoline engine, which means they typically get better mileage on the highway than they do around town. Full hybrids like the Toyota Prius, on the other hand, can operate on battery power alone for short distances, making them more fuel-efficient in stop-and-go traffic than they are on the highway. While several hybrid models place highly on the EPA’s list of the greenest vehicles on the road, there are several issues you should be aware of:
TDI Clean Diesel
When it comes right down to it, Volkswagen’s new generation of turbocharged “clean diesel” models combine impressive fuel economy* with the simplicity and durability of diesel engines. In addition, the TDI engines in both the Jetta sedan, SportWagen and the Touareg SUV are certified to meet the same tough government emission standards—known as “Tier 2 Bin 5”—as the cleanest gasoline-electric hybrids.
Finally, the abundant low-end torque TDI engines—combined with Volkswagen’s sporty European handling—make Volkswagen’s three clean diesel models hands-down winners in the fun-to-drive department. Other factors to consider:
*Jetta TDI EPA estimates 30 mpg city / 41 mpg highway. Your mileage will vary.
**The Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance Program covers the vehicle’s 10K, 20K and 30K scheduled maintenance intervals except for the Volkswagen Routan. The Routan Carefree Maintenance Program covers the vehicle’s 6K, 12K, 18K, 24K, 30K and 36K scheduled maintenance intervals. Coverage is during the term of the new vehicle limited warranty, at no additional charge. The program covers 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. See dealer or vehicle maintenance program booklet for details. Does not include routine wear and tear on parts such as brakes, tires, wiper blades, light bulbs, etc.
***Tax credit submitted under Notice 2006-9 and Internal Revenue Cod, Section 30B relative to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Sedan and SportWagen and Touareg 2 TDI. Available to taxpayers who purchased a qualified vehicle on or before December 31, 2010. Leased vehicles are not eligible for the tax credit. Only a limited number of full tax credits are available. Please consult a tax professional for more information or go to http://www.irs.gov
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup – Round 4
Circuit: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, OH (Main Course – 13 Turns, 2.25 miles)
Date/Time: Practice/Qualifying – Saturday, June 20 at 8 am ET / 11:10 am ET
Race – Sunday, June 21 at 11 am ET
Race Length: 30 minutes
On June 21, the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup will make its first visit to the historic Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The series’ 25 drivers will be taking to the 13-turn, 2.25-mile road course in their identically-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI racecars to demonstrate to the motorsports world what green racing is all about.
With three races of the 10-event season in the books, the series has shown to be very competitive with each race featuring a different winner and pole sitter. Eight different drivers have also scored top-five finishes. As a result, the championship standings are incredibly tight. Only 23 points separate the top five drivers. The current points leader, however, has thus far been the shining star of the season. A Calgary, Alberta native, Jake Thompson leads by 11 points despite the fact that 2009 marks his first season racing cars. In 2004, Thompson won the Canadian National Karting Championship, and despite his lack of experience in larger cars, he claimed victory at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in the season’s second event. He has also finished on the podium in two of three races and had the fastest lap in two of the three contests.
“Obviously, there was a big learning curve for me making the switch to cars, but the guidance that I’ve received from our series instructors has been invaluable,” Thompson said. “I was really excited to get my first win on only our second event, but the Championship is my ultimate goal this season. Wins are great, but I need to make sure that I show consistency during the season in order to be at the hunt at the end.”
While series rookies won the first two races of the season, Melrose Park, Illinois’ Timmy Megenbier took the checkered flag at the series’ last race at Utah’s Miller Motorsports Park, marking the first win by a returning driver. This performance moved him into second place in the Championship standings. Like Thompson, Megenbier has run particularly well this season. Despite a late-race incident during the second event at VIR, Megenbier leads the series in laps led and is the only driver to lead laps in more than one race.
“Last year had a lot of ups and downs. I ran competitively in most of the races, but I just couldn’t seem to avoid trouble on several occasions,” Megenbier said. “So, this year, my focus has been consistency and keeping all four tires on the track. This strategy has paid off so far, and I think that my win in Utah puts me in a good position to make a run at the Championship.”
Edgewater, Maryland’s AJ Nealey heads into the Mid-Ohio race as one of the series’ most experienced drivers at the track, having competed there in several SCCA and NASA events. In 2008, the Jetta TDI Cup rookie scored two wins in NASA Performance Touring class events.
“Mid-Ohio is a very challenging circuit. I have to admit that during my first trip to the track, I was a bit lost. I tried to prepare using in-car video footage I found online, but nothing can prepare you for the elevation changes, blind turns and challenging corners,” said Nealey. “We have limited track time during our Jetta TDI Cup race weekends, so hopefully my past experience at Mid-Ohio will give me an edge like I experienced at VIR. I was able to parlay my knowledge of the track there into a podium finish in our first race of the season, despite driving a totally new car.”
With three races complete, each of the drivers has traveled 130.85 miles and are all still on their first tank of Syndiesel® B5 biodiesel. Participants will run all 10 races during the season on just two tanks of fuel.
Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on:
www.vwmotorsportusa.com
SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Live Timing & Scoring
Volkswagen Online Newsroom
Facebook
Twitter
Jetta TDI Cup Race and Series Notes:
Drivers with past experience at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Four Jetta TDI Cup drivers have competed at Mid-Ohio in the past:
• Devin Cates (Broad Run, VA) – Cates competed in NASA Camaro Mustang Challenge and Spec Miata races at the track in 2006 and 2008.
• Ryan Ellis (Ashburn, VA) – Ellis has raced in various NASA Spec Miata and Legends events at the track in recent years. In 2006, he placed second in the Legends National Championships and won four other Legends races. In 2008, Ellis won two Teen Mazda Challenge races in a Spec Miata at Mid-Ohio.
• AJ Nealey (Edgewater, MD) – Nealey competed in various NASA and SCCA events in 2007 and 2008, claiming two wins in NASA PTD races last year.
• Donny Warren (Winchester, VA) – Warren has been racing at Mid-Ohio for the past 10 years in various karting events. He won the WKA Grand National Championship at the track the past two years.
Volkswagen creates 2010 series competitor qualifying programs
The prospect of becoming a professional racecar driver is a dream of many of North America’s youth. However, the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup is helping to turn this dream into reality with a karting qualifier competition and an online racing season. Participants in both programs will compete for a fully funded ride for the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup season.
The karting qualifier competition will begin in July with six standalone karting events to be held at Boston’s F1 Outdoor karting facility. The top ten finishers from each event will be selected to move on and compete in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Final Driver Selection Event in February 2010, which will determine the final 25-driver lineup for the 2010 season. The top-rated driver at the Final Driver Selection Event who competed in the karting qualifiers will be awarded their entire $45,000 season entry fee. Information on the karting qualifier events is available at www.volkswagenjettacup.com.
Volkswagen also recently announced the introduction of a forthcoming online racing season in conjunction with iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations. In September, the Jetta TDI Cup series car will join the list of racecars offered on iRacing.com, and iRacing will launch an online version of the series. Like with the karting events, iRacing.com Jetta TDI Cup series participants will be battling to earn their way into the 2010 driver selection event and compete for the chance to receive a fully funded ride in the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup series driving the iRacing.com car.
2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Champion to compete in Koni Challenge race at Mid-Ohio
During the race weekend at Mid-Ohio, the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Champion, Josh Hurley will be competing in the Grand-Am Koni Challenge race. After winning the series title last season, Hurley signed with APR Motorsport to compete in the series’ Street Tuner class, driving the team’s Volkswagen GTI. So far this season, Hurley and his teammate, Ian Baas have combined to claim two podium finishes and are currently eighth in the Championship standings.
Last year’s second-place finisher, Liam Kenney also has advanced his career and is competing in the Formula ADAC Masters powered by Volkswagen series in Europe. Kenney also has found success in his new series, claiming two pole positions and finishing in the top 10 all but two of the series’ eight races. He is currently seventh in the Championship standings.
Points standings after the first three races
Position/Car Number/Driver Name/Hometown/Points
1/19 Jake Thompson(R), Calgary, Alberta – 91
2/17 Timmy Megenbier, Melrose Park, IL – 80
3/14 Joey Atterbury(R), Renton, WA – 73
4/3 Taylor Broekemeier, Fort Collins, CO – 69
5/20 Mark Pombo, Duluth, GA – 68
6/2 AJ Nealey(R), Edgewater, MD – 65
7/27 Andy Lee, Maricopa, AZ – 64
8/23 Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle, Puebla, Mexico – 50
9/29 Devin Cates(R), Broad Run, VA – 46
10/8 Derek Jones, Philadelphia, PA – 42
11/4 Nicky Boulle(R), Dallas, TX – 38
12/30 Perry Richardson(R), Los Gatos, CA – 35
13/7 JD Mobley(R), Castle Rock, CO – 30
14/5 Ryan Ellis(R), Ashburn, VA – 25
15/26 Andrew Cordeiro, Woodbridge, Ontario – 22
16/24 Donny Warren(R), Winchester, VA – 17
17/6 David Richert, Niverville, Manitoba – 17
18/22 Andrew Novich(R), Novato, CA – 13
19/11 Kyle Wharff(R), Miramar, FL – 13
20/34 Juan Pablo Delgado(R), Orizaba, Veracruz (Mexico) – 12
21/16 Eric Morse(R), Pittsburgh, PA – 9
22/28 Rhett Tucker(R), Cumming, GA – 8
23/18 Kerstin Smutny(R), Bothell, WA – 5
24/15 Theresa Condict(R), Lexington, MA – 4
25/32 Andrew Gun Tucker(R), McDonough, GA – 2
(R) – Jetta TDI Cup Rookie Driver
About the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
The 2009 season marks the second year of competition for the SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series. During the season, young, up and coming drivers (between ages 16-26) will compete in 10 events on eight road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI vehicles. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season. In addition, the series champion will win $100,000.
The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170 hp, four-cylinder TDI clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Series sponsors include: Pirelli, Bosch, ViON, Castrol, Oakley, Red Bull, HYPERFUELS, Aggreko, defNder, Lamin-X, Meguiar’s, Sherwin-Williams, Chicagoland VW, Safety-Kleen, Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School and Trellis Earth.
While long-distance trips can be a lot of things — energizing, liberating, exciting — two things they aren’t known for being is comfortable or affordable. However, according to Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Top 10 Road Trip Cars of 2009, this is where the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI really shines. With nearly 67 cubic feet of space with seats folded down and a powerful-yet-frugal 41 MPG Clean Diesel engine*, the SportWagen gives you room to stretch your legs, and the fuel efficiency to stretch your budget all the way to the “other” coast, if you believe the editors at kbb.com.
Of course, we do – especially when you add Volkswagen’s optional 30 GB hard-drive navigation system to the mix. Put it all together and you’ve just booked first-class accommodations to LA – or NY – or anyplace in between.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
*30 mpg city / 41 mpg highway EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary.
If you’re reading this blog, why, chances are that you know modern diesel vehicles are powerful and fuel efficient*. But you may not know why. Never content to let a good mystery go unanswered, the Discovery Channel’s Grant, Kari and Tory got down and (not-really-all-that) dirty with the 2009 Green Car of the Year** for the latest installment of Diesel Diaries; discovering how TDI Clean Diesel technology manages to provide eco-conscious fuel efficiency, while simultaneously delivering anything but green-car performance.
The Mythbusters use the Jetta TDI to explain the difference between diesel and gas-powered engines. Grant points out that diesel engines get their power much faster than gasoline engines, are less pollutant because of filters, and last longer because they have fewer moving parts.
Source: http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-diesel-diaries/
*29 city/40 mpg highway (automatic) EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary.
**2009 Jetta TDI clean diesel has been awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year® by Green Car Journal. For more information see GreenCar.com.
Not that he’s paying attention, but then again – maybe he is: In a recent article, PopularMechanics.com urged President Obama to support Clean Diesel, noting that a move to the Clean Diesel technology used in new Volkswagen TDI vehicles would save the country in both fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Though gasoline and diesel are nearly identical in price, the federal excise tax is six cents higher for diesel than it is for gasoline. By making the taxes even, President Obama would encourage more Clean Diesel use. With the incredible efficiency* and low emissions of Clean Diesels like Volkswagen TDI vehicles, this would help cut total fuel consumption by the US passenger vehicle fleet “up to 35 percent, and slash CO2 emissions.”
We say yeah to that.
*29 city/40 mpg highway (automatic) EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary.
In this sponsored series, Kari, Tory and Grant use the Jetta TDI to explain the difference between diesel and gas-powered engines.
Wanna thrash, er, test your engine? Take it to San Francisco and drive it really hard between Filbert and 22nd street. Either you’ll end up on foot or, like Grant, Tory, & Kari, you’ll spend your time driving the snot out of a Jetta TDI Clean Diesel engine and its astounding 236 lb.-ft. of torque. Turns out the steepest hills in America are no match for the Jetta TDI’s power plant: From Filbert to 22nd street, it motored up the city’s most arduous accents without so much as a hint of hesitation.
Grant and Kari had their doubts that a diesel-powered car could be fast, but with a little help from the new turbocharged Jetta TDI, Tori turned that myth upside down. With 236 lb. ft. of torque, the Jetta TDI blasts the old way of thinking about diesels into the past.
Source: http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-diesel-diaries/
The 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI Clean Diesel is here…well, almost. The last time anyone in this country saw the all-new Golf, it was headed out of the New York Auto Show with the “World Car of the Year” trophy in its glove box. But while the US version hasn’t quite hit our shores yet, TheCarConnection.com got the next best thing when they took a European-spec Golf TDI for a test drive through the streets of Seattle.
It didn’t take long for them to see what made the judges tip their hats to the sixth generation of the Golf, from the newly redesigned exterior, to the improved ergonomics and handling. And of course, the Clean Diesel power and efficiency* that comes with the addition of those three letters: TDI.
Source: www.TheCarConnection.com
*EPA estimates not available at time of posting. Your mileage will vary.
Say the words “clean diesel” at a party and you’ll likely get a wide array of responses. Some friends will wonder if you’re commenting on jeans, music, or even big trucks, while others – and a growing number – will know exactly what you’re talking about: Clean Diesel. It has emerged as a viable choice for drivers who want something fun to drive, cleaner burning and long-lasting. Fact is, Clean Diesel isn’t your Grandfather’s diesel. It’s better, cleaner and represents a new generation of diesel technology, far away from yesterday’s stereotype. Here’s a basic explanation of the differences, benefits and characteristics of Clean Diesel:
What is Clean Diesel?
Is Clean Diesel just a marketing trick, or does it really make a difference?
Do Clean Diesel vehicles have the same problems that gave diesel a bad name, such as smoky exhaust, engine knock or trouble starting in the cold?
Do Clean Diesel engines start when it’s cold outside?
What is a Clean Diesel engine?
What is Clean Diesel fuel?
What’s the difference between diesel and gasoline?
Do cars run differently on clean diesel than they do on gasoline?
Can I buy Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) fuel instead of the cleaner Ultra Low Sulfur (ULSD) fuel?
Do Clean Diesel vehicles get a tax credit?
Are Clean Diesel vehicles more “eco-conscious” than hybrids?
What is a diesel emissions system, anyway?
What is urea injection?
Are Clean Diesel vehicles used in racing?
Are diesel vehicles used in off-road or desert racing?
Will I make friends with a Clean Diesel vehicle?
Q: What is Clean Diesel?
A: Clean Diesel really has two parts: fuel and engine technology. On the fuel side, Clean Diesel is an ultra-low sulfur fuel that makes it possible for diesel engines to burn cleaner, provided that the engine offers the necessary emissions control and fuel injection systems. For example, VW TDI® engines use a system that sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber, which encourages complete combustion and more efficient fuel use*. On the tailpipe side of things, smaller clean diesel engines use a filter to trap and burn off nitrous oxides (NOx). The Touareg TDI is different, however, as it also uses a urea-injection system to reduce NOx. Click here for more about clean diesel.
Q: Is Clean Diesel just a marketing trick, or does it really make a difference?
A: It makes enough of a difference to be approved for use in all fifty states. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the level of diesel particulates in the air fell by more than 37 percent in the nineties, and the government has gone so far as to label Clean Diesel as a “lean burn” technology. You can now purchase a sporty Jetta TDI , for example, and may be eligible for a $1,300 tax credit. Learn more about tax credits.**
Q: Do Clean Diesel vehicles have the same problems that gave diesel a bad name, such as smoky exhaust, engine knock or trouble starting in the cold?
A: No. Today’s modern diesel engines no longer smoke and have no trouble starting in cold weather. In fact, thanks to the amount of torque available and diesel vehicles’ reputation for long-term dependability, more and more people prefer Clean Diesels such at the Jetta TDI (named 2009 Green Car of the Year) to gasoline-powered vehicles. Check it out for yourself: We dare to freeze a Golf TDI, and even go through the Discovery Channel’s “scarf test”.
Q: Do clean diesel engines start when it’s cold outside?
A: Absolutely. Diesel fuel has additives that help make sure your vehicle starts no matter how cold it is. Of course, if you live in Nome, Alaska – you may need to use additional additives. But if you live in Nome you probably knew that already, right? But don’t take our word for it: see it here.
Q: What is a Clean Diesel engine?
A: Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesel engines are notably different in two ways: the fuel injection system, which sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber, and the emissions control system, which adds a self-cleaning filter to trap and burn off nitrous oxides (NOx). Thanks to the size of its engine, the Touareg TDI also uses a urea-injection system to reduce NOx. Learn more about the Touareg TDI.
Q: What is Clean Diesel fuel?
A: Clean diesel fuel contains less sulfur, and is also known as Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). This means it has lower sulfur content than regular diesel fuel, 15 parts-per-million compared to 500 parts-per-million, which enables new diesel engine technology to burn the fuel more cleanly. As a result, this makes diesel fuel more efficient than gasoline, thanks to its increased energy content and more complete combustion. Where gasoline requires a spark to combust, diesel uses compression to burn the fuel. The result? More fuel used during combustion, which equates to better economy. Put your economy to the test in Tank Wars.
Q: What’s the difference between diesel and gasoline?
A: In general, gasoline is more combustible and requires a spark to ignite, whereas diesel fuel has more energy density and a lower combustion level. Instead of a spark, diesel is ignited by compression, which is a more powerful combustion using less fuel. Drivers benefit from this through increased torque and better fuel economy. In addition, the price of diesel at the pump has lately dropped below gasoline, adding yet another reason why diesel is different – and better – than gasoline. So…less expensive, more fun and longer lasting. Watch Discovery Channel put clean diesel to the ultimate test: road trip to Las Vegas!
Q: Do cars run differently on clean diesel than they do on gasoline?
A: Yes. Diesel engines create large amounts of torque, and torque is what creates that “seat-in-the-pants” sensation that “feels” powerful. Motoring around cities is also particularly enjoyable. Torque gives you the ability to go faster, more quickly, an ideal performance benefit on today’s roads. Test drive a Jetta TDI and a gasoline-powered Jetta side-by-side and you’ll notice the performance advantage that is TDI Clean Diesel. But see for yourself: are you daring enough to handle the Jetta TDI?
Q. Can I buy Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) fuel instead of the cleaner Ultra Low Sulfur (ULSD) fuel?
A: You can, for now, only if you own a diesel vehicle that’s older than the 2007 model year. All diesel vehicles built from 2007 to today require ULSD, and, by December 2010 only ULSD fuel will be available for purchase and use on highways. Learn more about ULSD.
Q: Do Clean Diesel vehicles get a tax credit?
A: Yes. Buying a 2009 Volkswagen TDI model,may make you eligible for a tax credit of up to $1,300:
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: $1,300
2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI: $1,300
2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI: $1,150
Learn more about VW tax credits.
Tax credit submitted under Notice 2006-9 and Internal Revenue Code, Section 30B relative to the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0L TDI, Jetta 2.0L TDI Sedan and SportWagen models. Available to taxpayers who purchase a qualified vehicle on or before December 31, 2010. Leased vehicles are not eligible for the tax credit. Only a limited number of full tax credits are available. Please consult a tax professional for more information or go to http://www.irs.gov.
Q: Are clean diesel vehicles more “eco-conscious” than hybrids?
A: It depends on the application and your point of view. The advantage of Clean Diesel is this: combine a significantly more efficient and dependable engine system with a cleaner, more efficient fuel and then add new technology around ignition and emissions systems. What you get is an engine that uses less fuel, burns as clean – or cleaner – than regular gasoline and avoids that messy dead battery storage issue. That’s enough to make the editors at Green Car Journal award the Jetta TDI as its 2009 Green Car of the Year.
Q: What is a diesel emissions system, anyway?
A: All engines have an intake system to breathe air in and an exhaust system that expels the dirty air after it is used and mixed with particulates from the fuel combustion process. As a part of the exhaust system, filters trap these particulates and dramatically reduce the output of harmful little nasties like nitrous oxides (NOx). For larger clean diesel engines, VW takes the additional step of urea injection, which further reduces NOx. Check out how diesels work.
Q: What is urea injection?
A: In order to reduce nitrous oxides, the Volkswagen Touareg TDI uses a urea injection process in addition to particulate filters. Urea is a chemical compound that, when used in an exhaust system, creates ammonia and reduces NOx – up to 95 percent when it comes to the Touareg TDI. Learn more about the Touareg TDI.
Q: Are clean diesel vehicles used in racing?
A: Yes. Last year was the inaugural SCCA-sanctioned Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup™, an event for young drivers to compete in factory-prepped Jetta TDI vehicles. “The virtues of diesel are unique,” says Clark Campbell, the Motorsport Manager for Volkswagen of America. “We had a great success with our first season; we’ve gone from having race tracks not so keen to have us to now being asked to come to tracks, and from 54 drivers who showed up in Phoenix last year to over 2,000 applicants for this year’s 2009 Cup races.” Check out this year’s action, and watch the Racing Under Green documentary.
Q: Are diesel vehicles used in off-road or desert racing?
A: They sure are. In the 2009 Dakar Rally, held in South America for the first time this year, three of the top ten finishers were in VW Touareg TDI vehicles (they won first, second and sixth place finishes). This legendary rally was more than 6,000 miles long over grueling terrain and climate conditions in Argentina and Chile. Also, Volkswagen races in the SCORE International Baja 500 race in Mexico. Check out our 2009 Dakar Rally experience.
Q: Will I make friends owning a Clean Diesel vehicle?
A: You bet. For one, the Internet is full of message boards and forums dedicated to all things diesel. You’ll also be the driver in the diesel lane at the fuel station conversing with other diesel owners. This is important, as your clean diesel car makes none of the noise, smell, or smoke to identify itself out on the road. But that’s what your new vanity plate “CLN DSL” is for, as well as that cool TDI badge on the back of your new VW. Check out the history of VW TDI here.
*Actual EPA estimate for the Jetta TDI is 30 city/41 highway MPG. Actual EPA estimate for the Jetta SportWagen TDI is 30 city/41 highway MPG. Your mileage will vary. Miles per tank calculated based on EPA highway estimate and the respective vehicle’s fuel tank (14.5 gallon fuel tank for the Jetta TDI.).
Mileage estimates are based on EPA test procedure. Your mileage will unless otherwise noted, vary. Obey all speed and traffic laws.
* * Tax credit submitted under Notice 2006-9 and Internal Revenue Code, Section 30B relative to the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0L TDI. Available to taxpayers who purchase a qualified vehicle on or before December 31, 2010. Leased vehicles are not eligible for the tax credit. Only a limited number of full tax credits are available. Please consult a tax professional for more information or go to http://www.irs.gov.
| 1 | Zoomer | 68.8 MPG* |
| 2 | Guinness World Record | 67.9 MPG* |
| 3 | mike_b | 62.1 MPG* |
