VW Reveals Blue TDI For North America
VW recently released details of its forthcoming North American-market diesel engine, known as Blue TDI, at the Viennese Auto Symposium. The common-rail turbodiesel boasts the latest and greatest in clean-diesel technologies, like a particulate filter and a maintenance-free NOX catalytic converter. Of particular note: the first-ever application of both high- and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation systems on a diesel engine. VW says all the new-fangled diesel wizardry delivers a 90 percent reduction in acid rain-causing NOX emissions while delivering 140 hp and 320 nm of torque. Oh yeah, and meeting Euro 5 as well as U.S. 50-state, Bin 5 tier 2 emissions standards. Look for the Blue TDI as an option on US Jettas starting this summer.
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Steven, sorry if I sounded rude. Truly. I love all car guys/gals. And I suspect you are as sick a car nut as the rest of us! Its just that when I discuss the best of cars, I don't like it when the subject turns so subjective. I understand most have different taste than I...and thank God for that! But reliability and quality must be different. I understand that so many like the Prius and other hybrids. But to ignor the extra cost to purchase one and ignor the same of the other is wrong. To bring up the looks is recking the discussion. Nobody really would suggest a hybrid has longer life expectancy than a diesel! In the frozen Alaskan winters, they actually keep diesels running all the time. You could never do such with hybrids. But hybrids are great city solutions. Not for heavy torque or highway or longevity. And the torque from diesels.! Nothing offers as close. I understand your love of Toyotas...but I require so much more from a car than seats and depedability. I require fun. I require longevity. I require beauty....yes, I even stand in the garage at night and stare at cars. I guess this is why most of my cars are Mazdas! Thanks for the banter all. PP
Believe it or not, I agree. The 1998 Jetta TDI I had was the closest thing I've had recently to a perfect vehicle for my daily needs and desires. The sound system was upgraded and extremely well distributed (8 speakers, 350 watts). The torque was nearly perfect for my daily driving. Yhe 5-speed was seamless, and the car simply had all the combinations I like for a daily driver. Great handling, 50+ MPG if I feather it, and a perfect size for the winding one lane roads I usually take in my travels. Throw in the potentiality for biodiesel and tons of available parts, and you pretty much have one of the best automotive possibilities of this era. I had a little over 3k in it, and I sold it for $7k. I don't regret it. But if I were still in the market for a keeper car it would have definitely been a consideration. I even liked it more than the 2002 Mercedes S500 that's on my driveway right now. As for Toyota's current battery, they warranty it for eight years and have stated that it should last much longer than that since 2003. Other than one battery in Alaska that kicked the bucket at -56 degrees, there hasn't been a single battery failure recorded. However if it will need replacement past the 8 year period, Toyota has stated that the cost of it will be projected to be no more than $1000 by 2012. If you decide to get a slightly used one it's only showing around $400 to $500 according to car-part.com. In fact there's one now that only has 3k miles on it for $500. I like the efficacy of both models and, dang it! I wish both manufacturers would make their vehicles light and compact instead of heavier and more bulbous with each succeeding generation. Oh well. Que sera sera!
Odd that no one has mentioned anything about the completely different driving experience with a diesel engine. With a TDI, it's all about the torque. It's always funny to me when I'm driving on an incline on a highway, and I'm able to blow past gas powered vehicles that are crawling up the incline. Diesels excel in the areas of torque and fuel economy, and it's the reason that I'll never buy another gasoline powered vehicle. And for one of the first posters that said it's hard to find diesel and it's difficult not spill diesel, I have to wonder what's wrong with you. Diesel is available at a lot of stations, and I never get diesel on my hands. Usually I just wrap some paper towels around the pump handle, and problem solved. Honestly, I'd rather get diesel on my hands than gas. I think the diesel smell goes away faster.