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Volkswagen Group and its industry partners from the gas supply, network, and filling station operation sectors will showcase their products and services at the 3rd CNG Mobility Days in Berlin (25–26 June 2019), presenting an overview of the current situation and the future of CNG. Volkswagen Group brands will also be exhibiting their latest CNG models in the passenger car, truck and bus segments.

In parallel with the advancing electrification of its fleet, Volkswagen Group and its brands continue to rely on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) as an alternative drive technology for decarbonizing road transport, and the product range has been revised and expanded again with this in mind. Volkswagen Group currently offers the widest selection of CNG vehicles of any manufacturer, by a substantial margin. At the annual general meeting in mid-May 2019, Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, announced that CNG will continue to play an important role for the Group in the future: “We are the global market leader for gas drive systems, and better positioned than our competitors. We also plan to continue further expanding and improving this technology.”

Using CNG as an energy source for automobiles meaningfully contributes to reducing emissions, as well as representing a cost-efficient customer alternative to petrol and diesel. “Volkswagen is committed to the Paris Climate Agreement. CNG has an important role to play in the alternative drive systems strategy that runs alongside the Group’s electrification offensive. It is sufficiently proven, immediately available, efficient and cost-effective. Furthermore, CNG cars are not affected by driving bans in city centres,” explains Stephen Neumann, Volkswagen Group Representative for CNG Mobility. He adds: “Refuelling with biomethane or e-gas results in an even better CO2 balance. Biomethane is obtained from organic residues, while e-gas is produced from excess green electricity (power-to-gas). Both can easily be fed into the gas network and mixed with any amount of fossil natural gas.” Volkswagen Group brands and their industry partners have been working in this field for some time; Audi has been operating the world’s first industrial power-to-gas plant in Werlte (Emsland) since 2013, for example, with the Audi e-gas produced from wind power being fed into the natural gas grid – making Audi both a participant and a catalyst in the energy revolution. Green energy is made available to vehicle customers, while at the same time the storage of fluctuating eco-power and its research in practice enables the rapid expansion of wind and solar energy, which is also important to the success of e-mobility.

The CNG model range becomes ever-more attractive 

Volkswagen Group currently offers 17 models in various vehicle segments. Two more models will soon be added, in the form of the ŠKODA Scala2, which will celebrate its world première as a CNG variant at the CNG Mobility Days, and the ŠKODA Kamiq3. The range encompasses everything from the small car segment through the compact class at Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and ŠKODA, to Audi premium vehicles in the business segment and light commercial vehicles. Thanks to the ever-expanding CNG model range, sales figures in 2018 almost doubled compared to the previous year.

In the new CNG models such as the Polo TGI4 (66 kW/90 PS) and Golf TGI5 (96 kW/130 PS), the fuel tank has been significantly reduced in size, an additional CNG cylinder has been installed in the vehicles, and a quasi-monovalent CNG drive system has been developed. This combination of factors represents Volkswagen’s response to many customers’ preference for increased range in natural gas operation – a fully established concept as seen in the long-range Caddy6 from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In addition, the VW Golf TGI and Golf Variant TGI7 (96 kW/130 PS) have been equipped with an engine optimised for CNG use, featuring particularly low fuel consumption, higher power output and improved engine output even at low engine speeds. 

In the latest ADAC Ecotest, the Polo TGI proved that CNG models can be economical, clean and at the same time very attractive. It was one of seven models with the highest rating of five stars, and the only vehicle with a combustion engine in this group. With 95 points, it achieved the best result so far in 2019. With the SEAT Arona 1.0 TGI8, the Spanish company is the first manufacturer worldwide to offer CNG technology as a model in SUV format, the fastest-growing vehicle segment. The new 2.0 TFSI engine from Audi, as used in the A5 Sportback g-tron9 for example, emphasises that a CNG model can also be very sporty and dynamic. The power unit, which recently won the International Engine of the Year award in the 150 to 250 PS category, can also be used as a CNG engine.

CNG is of huge importance for trucks and buses too
For the first time, the MAN and SCANIA brands will also be reporting on the latest developments for trucks and buses, as part of the CNG Mobility Days. According to the new emissions standards in the European Union, by 2030 CO2 emissions must fall 30% from 2019 levels – a goal that is virtually unattainable using conventional drive types. CNG, which already has 15% lower fuel consumption than diesel vehicles, is an immediately available and usable alternative for trucks and buses. At present, a particularly persuasive argument in favour of using CNG – especially for haulage companies – is the exemption from tolls for natural gas-powered trucks.

Circle of CNG industry partners expanded
The action alliance of Volkswagen Group with industry partners gained further momentum recently, with the accession to the CNG industry group of natural gas filling station operator OrangeGas and Italian natural gas transmission system operator Snam S.p.A. (Società Nazionale Metanodotti). The objective of the CNG Mobility industry group is to proportionately expand the vehicle range, infrastructure and filling station network together. 

Sustainable travel
The subject area of sustainability is also reflected in the design of the CNG Mobility Days, in which great importance has been attached to climate-friendly implementation to reduce the event’s own CO2 footprint. This has affected choices in relation to furniture, conference seating and materials, the selection of local contractors, and the regional sourcing of catering services to avoid unnecessary transport and excess waste.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The Volkswagen ID.R is set to defend its title at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed” (4 to 7 July). Last year, Romain Dumas, at the wheel of the fully-electric race car, set a new record for electric vehicles at the prestigious race in the south of England. The Frenchman completed the 1.86-kilometre route of the Goodwood Hillclimb in just 43.86 seconds – the fastest time for 15 years. A mere five weeks after breaking the lap record for electric vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the ID.R – the sporty spearhead of the ID. family of fully-electric production vehicles – is ready to take on its next challenge.

“The electric drivetrain heralds a new era in production vehicles. Volkswagen is making an important contribution to this development with the ID. range, which is due to be launched soon,” says Dr. Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for Technical Development. “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a fascinating bridge between the past, present and future of the automobile. As such, it is the perfect stage, on which to demonstrate the performance of Volkswagen’s electric technology.” 

Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets adds: “Last year, we lined up in Goodwood just three weeks after the record-breaking run on Pikes Peak and used the same technical configuration as we did at the hill climb. This year, we will field an ID.R that has been prepared specifically for Goodwood.” The engineers’ focus is on a drive configuration designed specifically for the short route. “We have developed another evolutionary stage of the ID.R – a sprint version with smaller batteries, in order to further reduce weight,” says François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Motorsport. “We have also opted for a far more aggressive energy management strategy for the short distance. You need very high output for a very short time for the sprint in Goodwood.”

Tradition meets the present day: the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Since it was held for the first time in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed has developed into one of the world’s biggest motorsport events, attracting roughly 180,000 visitors every year. They are treated to a weekend of show drives and timed races featuring motorcycles, rally cars, and racing and Formula cars from every era of motorsport. Motorsport legends go head to head with the current crop of professional racing drivers on a 1.86-kilometre sprint route and a 2.5-kilometre gravel track. “The atmosphere in Goodwood is unique,” says Volkswagen driver Romain Dumas. “Nowhere else in the world will you find so many famous drivers and legendary race cars in one place.” And very few events offer such a fine opportunity to observe how automotive technology has developed over the decades.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen AG intends to group more than 5,000 digital experts together in its new “Car.Software” unit with Group responsibility for software in the vehicle by 2025. The company plans to develop significantly more software in the car and for vehicle-related ser-vices itself and to boost the in-house share of software development from the current figure of less than 10 percent to at least 60 percent by 2025. In future, there is to be one uniform software platform with all the basic functions for all vehicles throughout the Group. This will consist of the vehicle operating system “vw.os” and the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud. By 2025, all new Group models are to run on this software platform. The first vehicle based on this software platform will be the ID.31, which is to make its world debut at the IAA International Motor Show this year. Currently, more than 20,000 potential customers have registered for the pre-booking of this model.

“We are platform professionals for hardware and are now transferring this competence to software development,” says Christian Senger, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Digital Car and Services. “We will develop software with uniform basic functions for all Group brands, which will allow us to drastically reduce complexity. In the medium term, we will benefit from the scale effects of our Group. This is especially meaningful in the software field and will lead to tremendous cost advantages,” Christian Senger adds.

Currently, up to 70 control units with operating software from 200 different suppliers need to be integrated in Volkswagen brand vehicles. In addition, there are different systems with similar functions within the Group, for example for infotainment and navigation. One uniform operating system with the same basic functions for all brands and the use of the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud for all Group models will considerably simplify the situation.

The same applies to the brands’ “digital ecosystems” which will be used for offering the services. All the brands need certain basic services, for example a simple search function for electric charging stations. At Volkswagen Passenger Cars, this service is called “We Charge”. For example, the basic functions “search for nearby stations” or “pay with different modes of payment” could be standardized for all brands.

With its standard software platform, Volkswagen is aiming to achieve significant economies of scale. In future, the vehicle fleet will include more than 10 million fully connected new vehicles per year, which will significantly reduce the cost of integrating the software in each individual vehicle. At the same time, digital ecosystems with a growing number of vehicles connected will become increasingly attractive for new partners and new customers.

Strengthening software competence and alignment towards modern digital development work

By 2025, Volkswagen intends to group more than 5,000 experts in competence areas such as software development, electrical and electronics development, connectivity, automated driving, user experience (UX), cloud architecture and e-commerce together in an agile “Car.Software” unit. They will work in five key areas and develop packages extending across the brands.

The objective is to orient the unit towards the requirements of innovative software development. For this purpose, Volkswagen will be contributing flexible working models, the latest collaboration technologies and agile types of cooperation. This year, about 500 experts are to work together in this agile software unit. The figure is already due to rise to about 2,000 by 2020. 

In addition to grouping together experts from brands and companies within the Group, Volkswagen intends to boost the workforce especially by recruiting new specialists and consolidating strategic participations and acquisitions. It is intended to actively present the new software unit and to target IT and tech experts. 

“We want to create a powerhouse for the digital car and cloud platform with the best digital experts in the world. We are convinced that Volkswagen will show what it can do. We will make software the core competency in our company,” says Christian Senger.

Pre-sales of the new Passat begin today in selected European countries. With sales totalling 30 million units, the Passat is the most successful mid-range model in the world. A technical update and a refined exterior design have now fundamentally changed the best-selling model. Thanks to its new-generation infotainment system (MIB3), the Passat stays online permanently – and this ground-breaking development enables it to offer completely new services and functions. New assist systems make the model safer than ever, while upgraded running gear and drive systems ensure a high degree of long-distance comfort and exhilarating driving dynamics.

The Passat has a newly reconfigured equipment package matrix: The basic version has the designation “Passat”. Above that is the mid-range specification level (“Business”), and from now on, the top level is known as “Elegance”. “Business” and “Elegance” can also be ordered with R-Line customisation. In addition to these versions, the new Passat will once again be available as a separate “Alltrack” model (all-wheel drive variant with off-road capabilities) and as a “GTE” (equipped with a new generation of the plug-in hybrid drive).

A total of five engine options will be available when pre-sales of the Passat begin today, 6 June: Two petrol engines (TSI) with an output of 140 kW/190 PS1 and 200 kW / 272 PS2 and three diesel engines (TDI). The latter deliver 88 kW/120 PS3, 140 kW/190 PS45 and 176 kW /240 PS6 respectively. All new Passat models equipped with TSI and TDI engines fulfil the requirements of the Euro 6d-TEMP emission standard. In addition, all such models – regardless of whether they come with a petrol or a diesel engine – are equipped with a particulate filter.

Customers will also soon be able to order the new Passat GTE7 and the new Passat 2.0 TDI Evo8. The Passat GTE (160 kW/218 PS system output) now offers a much greater electric range in both its saloon and estate versions: up to 55 kilometres (estate) and 57 kilometres (saloon) in the WLTP cycle. These figures correspond to roughly 70 kilometres in the NEDC, which is 20 kilometres more than the NEDC range of the predecessor model. The engine in the Passat 2.0 TDI Evo (110 kW/150 PS) is considered a trailblazer for a new generation of diesel engines and now boasts even lower CO2 emissions. The consumption and emission values, as well as the prices, for the new Passat GTE, the Passat 2.0 TDI Evo and the 1.5 TSI Evo9 basic model will be released when pre-sales of those vehicles begin over the next few weeks.

The expanded range of standard equipment for all Passat models includes LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, side lights and turn signals; LED tail light clusters, infotainment systems with an integrated SIM card (for online functions), “We Connect” (online services), the “Front Assist” area monitoring system, the “ACC” adaptive cruise control system and the “Lane Assist” lane departure warning system. Available as an option or, depending on the engine variant and specification package in question, as standard equipment are technologies such the “DCC” adaptive chassis control system (which can now be continuously configured over an extended range), interactive “IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights” and the new “Travel Assist” system. When equipped with “Travel Assist, the Passat becomes the first Volkswagen worldwide to be able to travel at speeds up to 210 km/h in a partially automated driving mode.

Prices for the Passat saloon with a TSI engine (140 kW/190 PS) will start at €38,750 in Germany, and at €39,825 for the identical Passat estate. Prices for the saloon with a TDI engine (88 kW/120 PS) will start at €34,720, with the corresponding estate model starting at €35,825 in the basic version. 

The Passat Alltrack is an independent crossover model that represents a mix between an estate and an SUV. Thanks to a special off-road mode, modified running gear with greater ground clearance and permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive, the Passat Alltrack is also very much at home when driving off-road on terrain otherwise reserved for SUVs. At the same time, the Passat Alltrack is a comfortable and fast touring car. The Passat Alltrack is available with a 2.0 TSI petrol engine with 200 kW/272 PS10 (€49,925). The model also comes in two TDI variants delivering 140 kW/190 PS11 (€47,800) and 176 kW/240 PS (€50,795)12 respectively. A 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG) is standard for all variants.