Consumer Reports released their ranking of fuel efficient cars in their upcoming January issue, and their rankings may come as a shock to conventional wisdom.

Scoring highest was the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, a car that previously had a reputation for anything but reliability(although it was less about reliability than overall performance). The Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 took second and third place respectively, while Honda’s CR-Z came in fourth, with the consumer mag stating “the ride is choppy, noise levels are high, and on-limit handling can be tricky.” The CR-Z’s score was so low that Consumer Reports was unable to give the vehicle a “recommended” rating.

Although the Jetta costs about $27,000, its 36/49mpg city/highway rating was unbeatable, and the vehicle performed well in other objective tests. Chalk up yet another win for turbo-diesels.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Audi is launching a revised version of their 3.0 TDI in the German market that sees a slight reduction in power in exchange for improved efficiency.

New new Q7 TDI will pump out 204 horsepower and 332 lb-ft through an 8-speed transmission and return 33 mpg, comparable with some four-cylinder sedans. 0-60 will take 9.1 seconds, compared to the standard 240 horsepower Q7 TDI that only takes 7.9 seconds. With a marginal reduction in mileage, the faster TDI will likely stay on our shores as the sole Q7 TDI, with the slower, more efficient car confined to Europe.

[Source: Left Lane News]

A little sad that you’re stuck with a Volkswagen Touareg now that you’re a family man and having to haul around your kids to their weekend soccer games? Variety is the spice of life, and JE Design has released a very clean widebody kit for the new VW Touareg that does a fantastic job transforming the mundane commuter to a (surprisingly) good looking SUV.

It all does come at a price though with an MSRP of around $6,425. That gets you the complete widebody kit including a new front grill, front spoiler, front and back wheel arches (to widen the vehicle), rear diffuser, roof spoiler and rear hatch blend. A new set of blacked out headlights gives the front end of the Touareg a tad more aggressive look. Given that the full kit is constructed in polyurethane and primed when it gets to you, we can understand the price.

JE Design also points out that the rear bumper design is made to fit any sort of exhaust tip, just in case you have some sort of package on your Touareg. For $765, you can grab yourself a JE Design exhaust for the Touareg.

In addition to the performance offered from the exhaust, JE Design offers an ECU remap that increases horsepower of the 4.2L TDI from 340-hp to 410-hp. Torque also jumps from 590 ft-lbs to 685 ft-lbs. The ECU remap is available for $3,850 and comes with a one-year warranty for the powertrain. For $255 more, the warranty can be extended an additional two years.

Lowering the vehicle 1.35-inch or so is an electronic module offered at $1,830. 21×10-inch wheels are available in several finishes along with spacers to match the widebody conversion for $6,665.

You can get the complete package for $25,350 or so that includes paint and installation. Quite a chunk of change, but we’re digging the results.

GALLERY: JE Design Widebody Volkswagen Touareg

Official press release available after the break.

Continue Reading…

NHTSA is investigationg the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI after a handful of reports suggest that the vehicle can stall and lose power while driving.

While NHTSA only received 7 complaints out of nearly 38,000 vehicles sold, other forums, including the extremely popular VWVortex and TDIClub have reported a series of complaints surrounding this issue.

So far, causes are being thrown around, with poor quality diesel fuel and a problem with the fuel delivery system are being cited as culprits, and some repair estimates run as high as $10,000. We’ll be following the issue closely and updating you on new developments as they appear.

[Source: Autoblog]

At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, Volkswagen gave us the first look at the new Polo BlueMotion and released a tiny bit of info on the new model. Now, VW has released just a little more, including official torque and horsepower numbers, debuting the new 1.2-liter 3-cylinder TDI engine at the Vienna Motor Symposium.

We already knew that the new 1.2 TDI engine made 75-hp, but now VW has confirmed a total of 180 Nm (133 ft-lbs of torque) available from just 2200 rpm.Impressively, the VW Pololo BlueMotion achieves 71.3 mpg on the more generous European test cycle and when equipped with a 12 gallon (45 liter) tank it has a theoretical travel distance of 847 miles (1,363 kilometers).

In addition to the Polo, VW also sells a BlueMotion Golf and Passat in Europe. The BlueMotion Golf gets 61.9 mpg while still producing 105-hp and 185 ft-lbs of torque, allowing it to hit 62 mph in 11. 3 seconds and top out at 120 mph (190 km/h) on the German autobahn. The BlueMotion Passat gets 53.5 mpg and while it does take 12.5 seconds to hit 62 mph thanks to the same 105-hp engine as found in the Golf, it can travel 989 miles (1,591 km) on a single tank.

GALLERY: VW Polo BlueMotion

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Audi has just unveiled the complete version of its 2010 SuperBowl ad featuring the A3 TDI. The gist of the commercial is that the Green Police are out arresting regular folks doing regular things that are bad for the environment, like throwing out compost, using plastic bags for groceries or using incandescent light bulbs.

At a traffic stop to look for environmental offenders, the Green Police see an A3 TDI and let the driver go, while everyone else is stuck in traffic.

While we did get a chuckle over the Green Police pulling over the actual police at the end (and the Cheap Trick “Green Police” song is pretty darn catchy), this certainly isn’t up to Audi’s usual standards and the company’s green diesel diatribe is getting a little old. Who knows, the whole thing might backfire, with its Orwellian-like universe run by Al Gore. Yawn…

See after the jump for some other 2010 SuperBowl ads from Kia and Hyundai:

Continue Reading…

After much anticipation Volkswagen has finally released the fuel-economy numbers for the 2010 Golf TDI, with the DSG equipped model achieving a rating of 31/42 mg (city/highway). Manual transmission TDI models are rated at 30/41 mpg. As for the standard gasoline-powered Golf with the 2.5-liter engine, it is rated at 22/30 mpg.

The Golf starts at $17,490, while the TDI is priced from $21,990. The price increase for the TDI is based on VW’s decision to take it slightly more up-market, by equipping it with standard features like a stiffer and lower suspension and a touch screen audio system (like in the new 2010 GTI.. reviewed here). DSG models will get steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and expect to pay an $1,100 premium for VW’s advances DSG automatic transmission.

GALLERY: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Volkswagen showcased the 2010 Golf TDI at this year’s New York Auto Show but since then the German automaker has been quiet about actually bringing the fuel-efficient diesel back to the U.S. Now it appears that decision has been made as Volkswagen U.S.A. has now put up live pages on its website giving full details of the new 2010 models – including the Golf TDI. (Those pages aren’t linkable from the home page however, and likely won’t be until the official announcement from VW).

Much like its Jetta sibling the Golf TDI will get VW’s 2.0-liter turbo diesel motor with 140hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway with either the six-speed manual or VW’s incredible quick-shifting DSG automatic. Interestingly, however, the EPA actually has the TDI listed at 30/42 mpg. As for performance, the serious amounts of torque help this fuel-miser hit 60 mph in a reasonable 8.6 seconds.

Standard features include a 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, power locks/windows/mirrors, 17-inch wheels, ABS, stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system and six airbags.

The 2010 Golf TDI will be available as both a two-door and four-door model, priced at $21,990 and $22,590 respectively.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Today Volkswagen officially launched the return of the Golf GTD – a Golf that is high in both performance and fuel economy, thanks to its diesel engine. With 170hp it outstrips the TDI model by 30 ponies. The real difference, however, is in the torque where the GTD makes 258 ft-lbs of the good stuff.

Volkswagen claims a 0-62 mph sprint for the GTD takes 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 138 mph, making it the diesel-powered sibling to the GTI (reviewed here).

At the same time, because it is a diesel, fuel-economy is impressive with an average rating of 44.4 mpg. This means a single tank of gas will go 600 miles.

With a standard six-speed manual the GTD will be available with VW’s impressive DSG gearbox.

Outside this diesel gets a GTI treatment with chrome striping (as opposed to red on the GTI) on the grille, 17-inch wheels, smoked tail lights, chrome tail pipes, a new sporty rear diffuser and a chassis that sits 15mm lower.

Inside, there cabin will be a considerable upgrade over the TDI with the same seats found in the GTI (but in black and silver). Leather is used for the three-spoke steering wheel, as well as for the gearshift-knob and parking brake handle, while the instruments and door trim will get gloss black accents.

There is no word on if the GTD will make it to the U.S. market and while it’s unlikely, if it does, it won’t be until after the new TDI hits showrooms.

GALLERY: Golf GTD

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

On June 8 auto journalist Gerhard Plattner and co-driver Franz Doppler will attempt to set a world record, driving from Africa, through Europe to Asia in just 72 hours. The duo will depart from Rabat, Morocco in an Audi A3 TDI e, traveling 3,044 miles (4,900 km) through 13 countries before the adventure ends on the Asian side of Istanbul.

The small 105hp Audi will undergo a genuine torture test while en route, testing its safety, efficiency and comfort. “The A3 has ideal characteristics for all three continents. Nevertheless, any attempt to break a record also requires a lot of good luck, especially regarding the weather and traffic,” said Plattner at a press conference during the  Audi Forum Ingolstadt.

The route will take both Plattner and Doppler by ferry to Spain, where they will drive along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, France and Italy before crossing the Alps into Germany. There they will proceed on to the Balkans and then over the Bosporus to arrive on the Eastern side of Istanbul.

Plattner already holds several records, including the fastest drive around the world (in an Audi S2).

In total he has driven more than 4.3 million miles.

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…