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It is a brand name for a family of diesel engines developed by DaimlerChrysler, but BLUETEC [or bluetec] it is now also being used by Volkswagen, AG as it also begins marketing its new diesel offerings. Why is this important? Because DaimlerChrysler realizes that the world stands to benefit much more if automakers market common technology rather than going it alone. Will you be one of those motorists who will buy a Volkswagen with a bluetec engine?
On the eve of the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, it was announced that Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen and Jeep would jointly use the BLUETEC designation to describe their new diesel engines. Mercedes and Jeep are DaimlerChrysler {DCX} companies, while Audi and VW belong to the Volkswagen Group.
The announcement was significant because it meant that Volkswagen would also adopt a term that was reserved for the DCX companies and use it to describe their engines, albeit separately, but similar technology went into their respective development. The similarity of all bluetec motors is as follows:
Bluetec engines are highly fuel efficient, clean, and meet all current US emissions requirements, which are some of the strictest in the world.
Bluetec engines incorporate various nitrogen oxide reduction systems to reduce pollution.
Bluetec engines have improved torque and reduce fuel consumption by 20 to 40 percent compared to comparable gasoline models.
For Volkswagen, BLUETEC will appear across its entire model lineup at least in Europe, where diesels make up nearly fifty percent of the market. In the US, where diesel demand has been lagging, the new BLUETEC diesels are expected to play a part in increasing diesel sales to a projected 15% of all new car sales by 2015.
Despite the introduction of bluetec, Volkswagen will slowly introduce new diesel-powered models as the company gauges consumer demand. The Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Jetta are two models that are believed to have the best chance of seeing bluetec diesels with the VW.
Tuareg also under consideration.
The Volkswagen New Beetle may be the test car to introduce bluetec to the lower end of the market. The New Beetle has been a huge success in the US, where it is perceived as an environmentally friendly vehicle. Adding bluetec to the New Beetle will help the company decide whether it could power the EOS, GTI, Rabbit, Golf and the soon-to-launch compact crossover/SUV, the Tiguan.
Ultimately, price may be the deciding factor in whether VW successfully markets aspirated diesels in the US. With prices for hybrid technology slowly receding, consumers will want to make sure the diesel cars they select are competitive effective way. Plus, American consumers still remember the polluting, burping diesels of the ’70s and ’80s; Will they accept today’s technology or will they pass up the opportunity to buy a Volkswagen car with bluetec technology? All of that remains to be seen, but the next few years should reveal just how far away BLUETEC technology really is.