Posted on 11/20/2008 9:49:18 PM PST by doug from upland
VW Jetta Clean Diesel Wins! by Green Car Journal Editors 11/20/2008
This is an important time for ‘green cars,’ even amid some of the most challenging times the auto industry has ever seen. The reasons are clear. In many ways, ‘green’ cars represent the future of the auto industry and the products that will enable our mobility in the years to come.
It’s no longer an option for automakers to address the efficiency and environmental impact of new models, but rather an imperative. It will become even more so as environmental performance, in all its forms, becomes a greater touchstone for new car buyers.
In fact, environmental performance already is viewed as an important measure of a new car. While not yet on par with more traditional touchstones such as safety or quality, environmental performance – especially when it includes higher fuel economy and lower carbon emissions – has taken on greater meaning in this era of high and unstable fuel costs.
Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year® program is the industry leading measure of environmental progress, identifying the one vehicle model that offers the most significant achievement in this area during the new model year. This year, GCOY nominees included a diverse crowd, among them the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and smart fortwo.
The winner, just announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. This is the first time that a clean diesel model has been awarded the title Green Car of the Year®.
The 2009 Jetta TDI breaks new ground in the field of clean diesels, achieving emissions certification in all 50 states without the use of special additives or extraordinary measures. It provides five passenger functionality with welcome levels of power and a satisfying driving experience. Importantly, it also achieves estimated highway fuel economy of 41 mpg with greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. That’s a rarified fuel economy number typically achieved by only the most efficient gasoline-electric hybrids. The clean diesel Jetta TDI matches this efficiency with a powerplant that’s more straightforward and affordable, allowing the Jetta TDI an affordable $21,990 price tag.
Selecting the 2009 Green Car of the Year® was a jury including four Green Car Journal editors and a larger number of invited jurors including automotive icon Carroll Shelby; auto expert and ‘Tonight Show’ host Jay Leno; Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope; Natural Resources Defense Council president Frances Beinecke; and Ocean Futures Society president Jean-Michel Cousteau.
how could this happen? we don’t have kyoto
I was part of the group that put on the alternative fuel vehicle ride and drive at the L.A. Auto Show media days. We escorted Gov. Terminator around the show last night.
Well, I disagree with their choice. The 335d at least drives the proper wheels. The Jetta is still wrong-wheel-drive.
How about $100 and 30mpg?
The five finalists - http://www.greencar.com/features/green-cars-top-5-for-2009/
Yes, the Beamer is a beautiful vehicle.
I wouldn't go that far. Bangle has left his hideous mark on it. :-/
But if you can get past his weird design, it's a fine vehicle, and the engine is brilliant.
Still like the E320 Bluetec better. At least it wasn’t Bungled By Bangle. :D
Very nice but don’t count out the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
VW/Audi could be building this car in the US from their planned new plant near Chattanooga Tenn.*
No surprise that the once big three have nothing like this rolling out.
The once big three have been very badly managed. Lead times are unacceptably long. Been losing market share for 35 years. Had too long to solve the union problem.
Propping them up is effectively making their bloated payrolls wards of the state.
*VW/Audi is the third largest maker of vehicles in the world, behind Toyota and GM. VW/Audi recently had the largest market capitalization of ANY company in the world.
When are they gonna fix a good fuel efficient pick-up truck. I will not own a car. After driving a truck for 39 years I feel like I am sitting on a pavement and gonna be squashed by an 18 wheeler when I am in a car.
One big problem: Diesel is now half again as much as regular gasoline.
GM’s been making hybrid trucks for years. Nobody buys them.
Dodge is supposed to come out with a 1500 diesel. Ford was supposed to do one also for the F-150.
However, I wouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch.
The BMW is nice, but not at twice the price.
“GM’s been making hybrid trucks for years. Nobody buys them.”
That could be because they are expensive and they still get crappy gas mileage.
OMG, the Smart Car is so cute!
But you get a lot better mileage with diesel and diesel engines hold up a lot better than gasoline engines so it evens out.
They get about as good fuel economy as you can expect out of a full-sized truck.
I think there’s also the whole “you spent $10,000 extra to get a hybrid truck and it still looks like cavemen put it together” thing. :D
Back in July, Ford released the details of a new Fiesta it plans to begin selling this November. The new car is based on Ford’s ECOnetic platform and can get 63 mpg in the city and 73 mpg on the highway. So why is it only available in Europe? It’s a diesel, and Ford doesn’t think Americans will ever adopt diesel cars.
http://gas2.org/2008/09/09/new-fiesta-gets-73-mpg-but-ford-says-its-not-for-the-us/
The real issue is probably not will Americans buy diesel cars, is will the libs allow them.
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