2009 Volkswagen Jetta BlueTDI. Click image to enlarge

Wolfsburg, Germany – Volkswagen has unveiled the production version of the BlueTDI, a next-generation turbo diesel developed especially for the North American market, at the International Vienna Motor Symposium. The common rail engine is based on the high-tech TDI, which was first introduced in Europe in 2007 in the Tiguan.

The BlueTDI already meets the Euro-5 standard that comes into effect in the fall of 2009; in order to meet U.S. standards, the four-cylinder engine was redeveloped with internal engine modifications and a NOx trap. The engine will debut in the Jetta this summer and meets standards in all states, including California.

“High fuel prices and a dramatic change in environmental consciousness means that diesel is becoming more and more attractive for American drivers every day,” said Dr. Ing Jens Hadler, Director of Volkswagen Powertrain Development. “This is why many customers, especially in California, have been waiting for a super-clean diesel like our BlueTDI. I think this motor will help the diesel get its big break in America because it consumes so little and yet can go such long distances on a single fill-up. And in a country as big as the United States, this is a priceless advantage. On the highway, for example, this engine can reach up to 60 miles per gallon. This is an improvement of 12 per cent over its predecessor, which had a lower capacity and higher emissions.”

Modifications to the engine include a redesigned injection system, cylinder pressure sensors, an optimized high-pressure injection pump and a dual-circuit EGR system, which by itself reduces NOx by up to 60 per cent.