VW launches hybrid up! citycar in Tokyo

Volkswagen has unveiled a hybrid version of its up! city car at the Tokyo Motor Show.  The twin up! concept car uses a 0.8-litre two-cylinder turbodiesel engine in series with a 27 kW electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox – a version of the drivetrain found in the pioneering XL1 – and offers combined fuel consumption of 256.8 mpg.

All new Volkswagen vehicles are deigned to accept alternative power trains as well as conventional ones, so only minor modifications (such as lengthening the front overhang by 30 mm) were necessary to fit the plug-in hybrid drivetrain into the four-seat twin up!.

The twin up!’s diesel engine and electric motor each produce up to 35 kW, while the maximum system power output of the twin up!’s front-mounted drivetrain is 55 kW.  The 8.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, 12 V battery and 33-litre fuel tank are all located between the rear seats and the boot.

Good aerodynamics (0.30 Cd), a low unladen weight (1,205 kg) despite the addition of the lithium-ion batteries and 165/65 R15 tyres optimised for low rolling resistance all help to maximise the twin up!’s efficiency, and to achieve the 256.8 mpg combined fuel consumption figure and 27 g/km CO2 emissions.

A decoupling clutch between the diesel and electric motors allows the electric motor to operate independently.  Provided that there is sufficient battery charge, the driver can press the e-mode button for emissions-free driving.

On electric power alone the twin up! can operate at speeds of 77 mph, and accelerate from zero to 37 mph in 8.8 seconds.  The range on batteries alone is up to 31 miles.  Using diesel and electric motors together, the car can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 15.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 87 mph.  Combined torque peaks at 215 Nm.

When braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, and the braking energy is used to charge the battery.  Under appropriate conditions the TDI engine can be used to charge the main traction battery.

Externally, the twin up! follows design cues familiar from the all-electric e-up! model, and also includes flowing blue double stripes above the sills.  The main paint colour is ‘Sparkling White’, which includes blue flakes that create a spectacular changing pattern.  The interior is dominated by an off-white ‘Ceramic’ colour, with a fabric and leather combination upholstery featuring blue piping and reflective strips on the seats’ centre panels.

The instrument panel is bespoke, and all instrumentation is digital.  The visual image and content of the instruments change according to the vehicle’s driving mode (hybrid or all-electric).  In hybrid mode the accents are white, while in pure electric mode they are blue.

The central infotainment screen is configurable by the user, while for the first time in a Volkswagen the automatic climate controls below are exclusively digital.  This innovative concept uses Active Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED) displays.

New Nissan Note goes into production at Sunderland Plant

• New Nissan Note goes into production at Sunderland Plant
• £125m investment in the UK has created 2,000 automotive jobs
• UK Business Minister to attend special ceremony on production line

Nissan is today celebrating the start of production of the new Nissan Note at its record-breaking Sunderland Plant.

Already the UK’s biggest ever car plant, the new Note is set to boost production even further in Sunderland following a £125m investment by Nissan, secured for the UK with a £9.3m grant from the UK Government's Regional Growth Fund.

The official start of production is being marked at a ceremony on Line 2 at Sunderland Plant by John Martin, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management in Europe, with the UK’s Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Michael Fallon, in attendance.

The new Note’s design and technology has already caught the attention of customers, with Nissan dealers across Europe taking more than 14,000 pre-orders since the order books opened in July.

SVP Martin said: “The new Nissan Note is giving mainstream B-segment customers an unprecedented combination of design, technology and safety features which up to now have only been available in premium brands.

“This investment is further endorsement of our Sunderland Plant, which is now an international benchmark for productivity and quality as a result of the hard work and consistently high performance by the management and workforce.

“I would like to congratulate all of my colleagues at the plant and in our supply base on the launch of this new model, and once again thank the UK Government for their ongoing support for the automotive industry.”

In addition to vehicle assembly, the new Note has brought additional work to Nissan Sunderland Plant and its supply chain in axle production, cylinder head casting, camshaft machining and engine assembly.

In total, the upgraded Nissan Note is responsible for 2,000 new jobs in the UK automotive industry, including 400 staff at Nissan’s workforce at Sunderland, taking the number of British jobs supported by Nissan to more than 35,000.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said: "The investment by Nissan to make the Note at the world class Sunderland plant has been achieved by Government and industry working together. It provides a very welcome boost to their exceptional workforce, the North East economy and the country.

“Working in partnership with industry, our automotive industrial strategy sets out how we will secure the long term future of the sector as a UK success story by growing our share of the value chain and by getting ahead of the game in research and development on the vehicles of tomorrow.”

Designed to perfectly meet the demands of today's B segment customer, the new Nissan Note has benefited from extensive European development, tailored for European buyers. With engineering and development work for the new Note completed at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in both the UK and Spain, the new Note has been designed to perfectly meet the demands of today's small car customer.

The new Note also continues the Nissan tradition of bringing bold design and exciting new technologies to a new area of the market. Customers will benefit from a raft of innovative features relevant and useful in day to day driving.

The new Note heralds the beginning of Nissan’s busiest launch period in its history in Europe, supporting the company’s goal of becoming the number 1 Asian brand in Europe. With design, engineering and manufacturing operations all based within Europe, over 80% of the Nissan cars sold in Europe are made in Europe.