Volkswagen T-Roc Concept Probably Heading For Production

The Volkswagen T-Roc Concept is a response to a market hungry for more crossover models, and it sounds like the Golf-based crossover is destined for dealers. Equipped with a powerful turbodiesel engine and positioned below the Volkswagen Tiguan, the T-Roc Concept is ready and raring to go.

Utilizing the new MQB vehicle architecture that underpins the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf, the T-Roc Concept made its Geneva debut with a 182 horsepower turbodiesel engine. The 2.0 liter TDI churns out 280 ft-lbs of torque though a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, though Volkswagen is quick to point out that the T-Roc could share any of the Golf’s new drivetrains leaving open the possibility a plug-in hybrid or all-electric version.

The two-door crossover concept weighs in at just 1,420 kgs., or about 3,130 lbs, making it veritable lightweight among the crossover crowd. That lightweight helps the T-Roc achieve fuel consumption of just 4.9 l/100 km, or about 48 MPG. I’m also digging the removable roof, though that’s more “concept” than the rest of the car.

Volkswagen executives seem bullish on bringing the T-Roc Concept to production though, adding a bit more depth to a lineup that has lacked a real crossover contender.

Source: Volkswagen

2015 Volvo Drive-E Engine Deep Dive - VIDEO

Volvo is betting the Swedish farm on its future customers being more enamored with environmental responsibility and outright performance than they are with the kind of “no replacement for displacement” commentary that is the automotive equivalent of the Monday morning quarterback. As such, they’ve put massive efforts into their new Drive-E series of 4 cylinder engines (available in both gas and diesel versions) which, in their most aggressive forms, are both turbocharged AND supercharged.

It’s a brave, new world of Swedish insanity, in other words.

That said, a lot of what Volvo has in mind with its new Drive-E lineup makes perfect sense. “We have created a range of smaller, more intelligent engines with power curves that give exciting drivability compared with engines with more cylinders. At the same time we continue to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,” explains Derek Crabb. As the vice president of powertrain engineering at Volvo, Crabb was tasked with reducing the number of engines across the carmaker’s lineup from 8 to 2. It was important, then, to build an engine that could, in various states of tune, deliver maximum efficiency at 140 hp, and still offer 300+ hp for performance-oriented buyers.

They’re clever engines, and Volvo is- rightfully!- proud of them. Recently, they released the following 6 minute video that takes viewers through an in-depth explanation of what the Drive-E philosophy is, why Volvo’s betting big on its success, and what the future of Swedish luxury and performance cars will look like. Also: overly dramatic visual effects. Enjoy!

Source | Photos: Volvo, via TechVehi.

Diesel Motorcycle Coming to the US … as a Buell?

Earlier this month, India’s Hero motorcycles introduced its RNT diesel motorcycle to the world. Powered by a 150 cc turbocharged diesel, the high-utility bike promised a high-MPG, biofuel-capable future to millions (if not billions) of people in southeast Asia … and all we could do, stateside, was wonder: Would we ever be able to get our hands on an RNT?

With this week’s big announcement that Hero’s 2013 bid to buy a major stake in Erik Buell Racing is a done deal coming on the heels of October’s news that Buell would be distributing Hero’s bikes through its own dealerships, it looks like like the answer to that question is a definitive “probably”.

Other interesting tidbits of information came out in the official press release in addition to Hero’s 49% purchase of Erik Buell Racing. Most notable among these were the revelation that the RNT diesel motorcycle concept was a joint-development project between Hero and Buell, as were a hybrid scooter and an all-electric commuter. If they see production- and Buell’s efforts to patent the technologies involved last year implies that they will- expect to see the first Hero products to land in all 60 of Buell’s committed US dealerships sometime in late 2014.

FROM ERIK BUELL RACING

Delhi, India – With a series of remarkable new launches, from youth-oriented 100cc motorbikes to a 620cc middleweight streetfighter and futuristic concepts, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volume, made a strong impact at this year’s Delhi Auto Expo. Auto Expo 2014 – the Motor Show was held at the Expo Mart in Greater Noida, about 40 km (24 mi.) north of the Indian capital of Delhi.

With all the Indian and multinational manufacturers putting up massive displays at the biggest automotive show of the Indian subcontinent, the Auto Expo was expected to draw well over a million visitors by the time it ended on February 11.

The collaboration between Hero and Erik Buell Racing (EBR) stood out loud and clear at the Hero pavilion with the EBR 1190RS and the brand new 1190RX sport bikes being displayed on marquee pedestals. A slew of products developed jointly by the engineers of Hero and EBR generated massive interest from media and drew huge crowds to the Hero pavilion. The presence of Team Hero racers Geoff May and Aaron Yates added to the excitement.

Hero MotoCorp’s Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal addressed the media through a series of press conferences, starting from January 29, profoundly setting the tone to make it Hero’s show at the Expo. Munjal summed up the Hero vision when he said, “Being the global leader in two-wheelers, we have been challenging the routine and the conventional. Our new motto is to drive change through path-breaking innovations. With our finger on the pulse of the youth, we are therefore developing products that will cater to customers around the world, both in the near- and long- term. We have now successfully developed an ecosystem of technology research and development that is designed to think beyond the obvious and deliver future-ready mobility solutions.”

In addition to the Hastur, other new products jointly developed by EBR and Hero which were displayed at Auto Expo 2014 included a 250cc sportbike called the HX250R, a diesel concept bike called RNT, a pre-production version of India’s first electric-serial-hybrid scooter called the Leap, the all-electric Hero “ion”, the electric Hero SimplEcity with removable battery pack, Hero’s flagship 100cc Splendor Pro Classic and the Hero Passion Pro TR with off-pavement ride capabilities.

Sources | Images: Milwaukee Business Journal, Erik Buell Racing/Hero, via Motorcyclist.