The Jetta TDI Cup “street version looks to be finally heading to dealers. This, a sporting version of economical cars, is something I’ve long been a proponent of. And in Volkswagen’s case this looks to be a car that’s both fun, and light on the wallet – and potentially the environment as well.
There’s been an interesting trend concerning the use of bio-diesel in newer cars and trucks. It seems, mainly due to warranty concerns, that manufacturers that make diesels, don’t like you to use bio-D right out of the block. For example, in my hometown, one of the largest producers of bio-diesel will not fill up your brand new VW Jetta TDi. And VW itself has basically said that if there’s bio-d in your tank, your warranty is null & void.
So the news that GM, yes, that same GM that was ready for a coffin fitting a few weeks ago, is now saying that their upcoming diesel plants will be OK to run up to 20% of the bio-juice right off of the showroom floor.
Cruddy time to be an automaker it would seem … unless you’re Volkswagen that is. VW’s sales numbers for July looked surprisingly good, and it’s all down to one reason: People can’t get their hands on the new VW clean diesels fast enough, especially the Jetta TDi SportWagen. It seems logical if you think about it. There are a number of conspiring factors. Times is tight, so people want to save money, and those new TDis are sweet mills.
GAH! Tell me the reason why companies like Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have decided to NOT work on announced diesel engines? Yes, yes, I know cash is tight and the future for car sales don’t look all that hot, but still. No, I’m not saying the future is diesel, but if you got eyes it’s pretty easy to see that diesel engines will play a bigger part in the cars we see rolling around our streets than they have in the past.
So what is this, a pragmatic cost cutting money saving move, or a dumb move on the part of hidebound industry giants?
What’s this? Actual common sense from the auto world? One can only hope, but the signs are looking good that Volkswagen is actually going to make a production version of its knockout BlueSport roadster concept car.
BMW, a company that has been obsessed with technology since they started, recently showed off a bunch of what it considers answers to offsetting carbon emissions in London. Makes sense. London has been on the forefront of emissions regulations in Europe, and is also a large market for what BMW makes.
The real question is whether BMW’s low carbon technologies will make it to the States.
