Volkswagen Golf 77TDI Launched in Australia

German manufacturer Volkswagen today rolled out the most fuel efficient model in the whole Golf range, the so-called 77TDI that is said to travel for as much as 100 km with 4.9 liters of diesel (approximately 48 mpg). This means the newly-launched model has a potential range of 1100 kilometers, if we trust the figures provided by the German brand.

The car is powered by a 1.6-liter diesel unit which uses the same technology as the larger 2.0-liter diesel. It produces a maximum power of 77 kW (103 horsepower) at 4,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 250 Nm delivered between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. The 77TDI is fitted with a standard DPF (diesel particulate filter), Volkswagen said.

There are two transmissions available, a five-speed manual and Volkswagen's flagship seven-speed DSG.

Volkswagen Golf is a best seller in Europe, with the sixth-generation top its class in many countries across the continent. According to data provided by Jato Dynamics, the German manufacturer sold no less than 59,628 units across Europe in the first half of 2009. Ford Fiesta came in second with 43,338 sold units, followed by Peugeot 207 with 37,361 units.

Furthermore, the the Golf posted a sales increase of 15.5 percent in the first seven months of the year and 26.9 percent in July, compared to the same period of the previous year.

"The much talked about 'green shoots' of recovery can be seen in the small car segment, which is the greatest beneficiary of scrappage incentives and European customers' desire to move to more affordable cars. Whether this performance is sustainable remains to be seen," says David Di Girolamo, Head of JATO Consult.