VW unveils Green van
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Volkswagen is unveiling what it claims to be "the world's cleanest commercial vehicle" at the Motor Show.
The "Green" Golf van is being fitted with the Umwelt' turbo-diesel which the company introduced in the Golf saloon earlier this year, and which it claims has lower emissions than any other engine, petrol or diesel. The 1,588cc indirectinjection engine not only has a turbocharger, but is also unique among diesels in having an oxidation catalyst.
The Umwelt van (Unwelt is German for environment) will be part of VW's 1991 lightcommercial line-up, and should be available from dealers later in the autumn. Compared with a standard Golf diesel, a "slight" cost premium is anticipated; however, the lowemission engine will not be available in the Yugoslavianbuilt Caddy pickup or van.
In the Umwelt diesel the turbocharger is not fitted simply to boost power, but is primarily employed to ensure the engine has excess air under all conditions, thus giving more complete combustion and a cleaner exhaust.
Emissions levels are further improved by the oxidation catalyst, which removes much of the aromatic hydrocarbons which are responsible for a diesel exhaust's characteristic smell. The result is an engine which its makers claim to be essentially smoke and odour free. Since diesel engines have inherently low carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides emissions compared with petrol engines (even those with catalysts), the additional low particulate output of the Umwelt has made the 'cleanest engine' claim possible.