Volkswagen has revealed some of the new technologies that is has in development, a good deal of which isn't as far away from appearing in cars as you might think. Amongst the headline grabbers is its new 10-speed automatic DSG gearbox. The new unit, which is virtually identical in size to the current seven-speed unit, weighs in just five kilograms more.
One of the main reasons for adding more ratios to the gearbox is to help to lower engine speed, thus lowering fuel consumption and emissions output. For example, where the current seven-speed gearbox would be selecting fourth gear, usually at around 3,000rpm, this new 10-speed unit will be about to select sixth gear. This continues right the way up to tenth gear, but engineers say it might not end there. Additional 'special functions' may also be incorporated further down the line such as a special long "super overdrive" for motorway cruising, as well as a 'crawler gear' for low speed off-road ability in different models.
Performance junkies will see potential in a new high performance diesel engine based on the 240hp 2.0-litre TDI unit that has been introduced in the latest Volkswagen Passat. Building on what is already a very capable and impressive engine, the new prototype unit gains a power increase to 272hp thanks to an electric booster that increases the charge pressure of the bi-turbo system. This is very similar to what was seen in the Audi RS 5 TDI Concept we tested earlier this year.
On the more practical side of things there is also a new automated boot opening system under development. Moving on from the current system, which gives owners the ability to open the boot lid by waving their foot under a sensor if their hands are full with shopping, this new system detects the car's key in the owner's pocket as they approach the rear of the car. A small projector unit located in the rear bumper then shines a large red dot onto the ground just behind the car and when the person places their foot onto the illuminated area of ground momentarily the boot lid will open automatically.
Similarly, when it comes to closing the boot, if for example when you are carrying away a bulky load, before doing so a quick press of the Easy Close button on the boot lid will start a twenty second timer, which, when you walk away, will automatically close the boot and lock the car. Should you take longer than the pre-set time of 20 seconds, a proximity chip in the key will be detected and the operation cancelled.
In the area of electronic connectivity Volkswagen's engineers also have a new level of media networking and control on the way. A new app can be installed on one or multiple tablet devices for example and enables them to link to the infotainment system via a WiFi hotspot. Each can then control the radio, media player via USB, CD, DVD or SD card, as well as navigation, meaning that, while you drive, your passenger either in the front or the rear can search for a point of interest and then send it wirelessly to the car's satellite navigation system. This system can also unify media on multiple devices when set-up, meaning that a movie for the kids in the back can be played via the car's internal hard drive. The driver can choose to have the audio from that movie either played through the car's stereo speakers or through the device itself, while other controls on the device can be remotely locked if needed in order to prevent the kids from watching something they shouldn't.
Anything else?
Mild Hybrid is a new concept that features a small, shoebox-sized lithium-ion battery in the car. At higher speeds, if the driver lifts off the throttle on a motorway for example, the conventional internal combustion engine will shut down and the car will begin to free-wheel. During this phase power from the lithium-ion battery powers vital systems such as the power steering, braking and other functions inside the car. Should the throttle then be re-applied a belt-driven starter-generator instantly re-starts the engine at the correct speed allowing for near-seamless stop-start technology on the move, as opposed to the traditional systems that require the engine speed to be at zero before re-starting. The system in total adds less than 10 kilograms of weight to the car yet Volkswagen claims that it can cut fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent, and it could be on the market in as little as two years from now.