The combination of a V-ribbed belt and an eccentric tensioner are part of the completely new drive system for the the ancillary unit in Volkswagen’s up!
In the up!, the new small car from Volkswagen, for the first time, a completely new drive system is being used for the ancillary unit. This consists of an Elastic Plus V-ribbed belt developed specially for Volkswagen and an easy-to-assemble eccentric tensioner with a tension pulley developed by ContiTech's system partner, Schaeffler. All components have been designed for the engine's service life, which means that the tension remains constant over the entire vehicle’s service life.
"Our elastic V-ribbed belts have been proving their value in many vehicles manufactured by BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen. With this design, we have reached a new performance class," says Dr. Klaus Schütte, Head of Sales, Key Accounting and Application Engineering at the ContiTech Power Transmission Group. The company is expecting a surge in demand for elastic V-ribbed belts as they make conventional tensioning systems redundant, thereby supporting the trend toward lightweight construction.
The drive system is not the only ContiTech development for the up!: A timing belt drives the camshaft, shock absorber mounts ensure driving comfort and membranes regulate fuel flow, while the surface material Acella – which has been certified in accordance with the Öko-Tex standard – improves seating comfort and the interior climate.
