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Car/BOSCH

[Bosch] Diesel is the first choice for SUVs

by Rescue911K 2014. 2. 19.



Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are rapidly conquering the streets of the western world – and there are Bosch diesel components in almost all of them. The ten most popular SUVs in Germany all feature Bosch injection technology, which reduces fuel consumption by ensuring efficient combustion. Bosch common-rail injection systems are also found in many compact SUVs. This popular class brings the benefits of an off-road vehicle to everyday driving: being more compact and more economical, these SUVs fit right in to the urban environment. 


Registration figures from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority confirm this SUV growth trend. With the rise of models such as the VW Tiguan, the BMW X3, and the Audi Q5, every sixth new vehicle registered in Germany is now an SUV. In the United States, they already have a market share of 30 percent. And the next few years will see a further global SUV surge, with some 50 new models set for launch by 2017 alone. 


Diesel is an advantage for SUVs

Many people choose SUVs for their higher driving position and excellent all-round visibility. Their robust chassis is another good reason, as is the flexibility of their seating. But this increase in comfort should not come at too high a price in terms of fuel consumption. “Diesel is the first choice for SUVs,” says Dr. Markus Heyn, president of the Diesel Systems division at Robert Bosch GmbH. The statistics back him up: in Europe alone, some 80 percent of SUVs are diesel-powered. 


“Their combination of high torque and fuel economy makes diesel powertrains ideal for larger vehicles,” explains Dr. Heyn. As well as making large models more fun to drive, high torque gives even compact SUVs plenty of power to tow caravans and boats. Efficient high-pressure direct injection reduces fuel consumption and hence increases range. Today's diesel-powered cars can travel around 30 percent further on a single tank than their gasoline equivalents, which means drivers can keep going for long periods without having to stop for fuel. What's more, modern diesel SUVs make less noise, running quietly and with less vibration.


U.S. manufacturers are also beginning to offer diesel SUVs

When it comes to U.S. or Asian producers' SUVs, diesel engines are something of a rarity. An exception is Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee. For a long time, it was the only U.S. SUV for which there was a diesel version. In the next few years it will be joined by further U.S. models. But the majority of non-European SUVs are gasoline-powered. Here, buyers should appreciate a modern gasoline direct-injection system, which offers more dynamic performance while achieving a fuel saving of 12 percent compared to traditional manifold injection.


There is another alternative powertrain for SUVs: the plug-in hybrid. Combining an economical internal-combustion engine with powerful electrification, this system offers drivers a range of up to 60 kilometers of purely electric driving. Since plug-in hybrid powertrains are significantly more expensive, they currently appeal above all to customers for whom driving enjoyment is the key consideration, because their additional electric drive delivers even more dynamic performance. However, charging a plug-in hybrid regularly at a power outlet can cut energy costs by up to 90 percent.


Fuel Pilot identifies the right powertrain

Plug-in hybrids are still a niche product today, but over the next few years they will become more mainstream. Until that happens, though, the majority of people looking to buy an SUV will face the choice between diesel or gasoline. They can turn to www.fuel-pilot.de for support: the online portal offers a free comparison of how cost-effective the different powertrain options are for their chosen vehicle. It takes into account factors such as fuel, servicing costs, insurance, tax, and depreciation to tell drivers which powertrain is the best one for them. For instance, the diesel option effectively pays for itself as soon as you buy the Mercedes ML 350. And diesel engines also score well in compact SUVs such as the Opel Mokka, with 20 percent less fuel consumption than the gasoline-powered model and around a third more torque for greater driving enjoyment.


Automotive Technology is the largest Bosch Group business sector. According to preliminary figures, its 2013 sales came to 30.7 billion euros, or 66 percent of total group sales. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading automotive suppliers (note: due to a change in the legal rules governing consolidation, the 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with the 2012 figures). Automotive Technology largely operates in the following areas: injection technology for internal-combustion engines, alternative powertrain concepts, efficient and networked powertrain peripherals, systems for active and passive driving safety, assistance and comfort functions, technology for user-friendly infotainment as well as car-to-car and Car2X communication, and concepts, technology, and service for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch has been responsible for important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP® anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology. 


The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to preliminary figures, its roughly 281,000 associates generated sales of 46.4 billion euros in 2013 (Note: due to a change in the legal rules governing consolidation, the 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with the 2012 figures). Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2013, Bosch applied for some 5,000 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s products and services are designed to fascinate, and to improve the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. In this way, the company offers technology worldwide that is “Invented for life.”


Further information is available online at www.bosch.com  and  www.bosch-press.comhttp://twitter.com/BoschPresse.


PI8460 - 18. February 2014


/ Photo & Report provided by Bosch Press Release - sujung.jang@kr.bosch.com

/ MediaPaper.KR mediapaper@ymail.com  Sejin Oh

/ The News Article was written by receiving a Press Release.

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