Diesel Economics 201: Q3 Sales Accelerate to 33%

Is 2010 the year of the diesel?  A new analysis by The Diesel Driver shows an increasingly strong  preference for diesel-powered cars compared to the petrol-powered equivalent models
The Diesel Driver analyzed detailed new-car sales data from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, the four companies that currently offer diesel-powered passenger vehicles …

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and SEL – First Road Test and Review

Highway 1 runs along much of California’s Pacific coast and some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.  Portions of it are known as the Pacific Coast Highway, the Cabrillo Highway, and the Shoreline Highway.
I spent two days driving the new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta (see last month’s First Review …

2011 Volkswagen Jetta – First Review

For decades, American car makers have been trying – with varying degrees of success – to design and build cars that are European.  Now a German car maker, Volkswagen, has designed a German car, the 2011 Jetta, with a U.S. audience in mind.
In this case, the U.S. audience is one …

Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI Review

The Jetta SportWagen TDI is a clean, green money-saving machine, with plenty of cargo space, all in a sporty, stylish package. Featuring the award-winning 2.0 –liter clean diesel TDI engine—the same engine that snagged Volkswagen a Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption—the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI SportWagen runs on …

Diesel Economics 200: 40% Take Rate for 2010

A new analysis by The Diesel Driver shows a growing preference for diesel-powered cars compared to petrol-powered equivalent models

The Diesel Driver recently obtained detailed sales data from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, the four companies that currently offer diesel-powered passenger vehicles in the U.S. The data cover the first six …

Volkswagen Touareg TDI Review

Diesel-powered automobiles are more popular than ever in the U.S. and more buyers are opting for the diesel version of a car where both petrol and diesel versions are available.  In 2009, 33% of Volkswagen Touareg buyers opted for the diesel and those lucky buyers got a car with 25% …

Diesel Economics 102: More Buyers Choosing Diesels

A new analysis by The Diesel Driver shows that diesel sales are not only on the upswing but, in some cases, are exceeding those of the petrol-powered equivalent model
In Diesel Economics 101, we looked at the price points for diesel-powered automobiles in the U.S.  In Diesel Economics 102, we analyze …

BMW and VW Diesels Among Top Green Cars for 2010

Two diesel-powered autos, the BMW 335d and the Volkswagen Golf TDI, were among the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) Top 10 Green Cars for 2010.
The staff at KBB didn’t simply pick the 10 cars with the best fuel economy.  Rather, they also looked at CO2 emissions, safety, features, and driving enjoyment.  …

Volkswagen Golf TDI Review

The Volkswagen Golf, launched as the Rabbit in the United States, has been in the VW lineup since 1974, introduced as the front-wheel-drive replacement for the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle (Käfer).   The name Golf is derived from the German word for the Gulf Stream, in keeping with the company’s convention of …

Diesel Economics 101

Diesel (as well as gasoline-electric hybrid) automobiles are typically sold at a higher price point than their petrol-only counterparts with the difference typically being several thousand dollars.
For example, the BMW 335d’s list price is $43,950 while a similarly-equipped 335i is $41,975.  The diesel-powered BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle (BMW parlance …

BMW X5 xDrive35d Review

BMW carefully selected the 3er Series sedan and X5 SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle, BMW parlance for SUV) as the flagships of the BMW Advanced Diesel line. It doesn’t take long to understand the company’s logic after spending time behind the wheel of either car.
While the 335d is the embodiment …

BMW and VW Diesels Among 10 Best Engines for 2010

Two clean-diesel engines were among the ten best engines for 2010, as selected by Ward’s, an automotive news and data provider.
Six editors from Ward’s nominated a total of 34 engines available in regular production cars in the United States priced no more than $54,000.
The two diesel winners were BMW, for …