Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the greenest of them all? The new Polo Blue Motion, that’s who. Ok I’m done with that. Check out the article from scotsman.com
A DIESEL car has beaten the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, to the top spot in a new government guide to greener motoring.
A new model of the Volkswagen Polo, which will be available in Britain in October, produces just 99 grams of carbon dioxide () per kilometre - five grammes fewer than the petrol-electric hybrid, Prius.
The Prius has become synonymous with environmentally minded celebrities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, but the new Polo Blue Motion could prove even greener for some drivers.
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From autocar.co.uk
Called the Concept-cX, which stands for compact crossover, this small 4×4 is intended to “create a link between Mitsubishi’s passenger cars and SUVs.”
Under the bonnet lies an all-new 1.8-litre four-cylinder “Clean Diesel” engine – the first oil-burner Mitsubishi has developed. The engine uses a variable-geometry turbocharger and the latest diesel particulate filters to maximise efficiency and minimise emissions. It will meet forthcoming Euro 5 emissions regulations.
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Here’s another diesel we won’t see in the States at least for awhile. From DueMotori.com
A newly developed four-cylinder diesel engine, featuring third-generation common-rail fuel injection, will expand the successful BMW X3 model range in November. Widely lauded for its superior agility and driving dynamics, the BMW X3 now also offers top marks in its segment for fuel efficiency.
The new BMW X3 2.0d, which is being offered for the first time in Australia, is the second BMW model, following the recently updated 120d, to benefit from the new all-aluminium four-cylinder diesel.
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This is a very interesting read. Written by Clive Matthew-Wilson it presents a very logical and well thought out world view on oil prices now and in the future. The article comes from just-auto.com and it’s fairly long but worth the read.
There are only two factors driving up oil prices: supply and demand. Supply is restricted as oil becomes harder to find, and demand is growing due to the rise of China, which is now one of the world’s largest users of oil.
Analysts are predicting that global demand for oil could exceed supply by as soon as 2015. However, the situation is not quite as simple as the newspapers make out. First, the world isn’t running out of oil; it’s running out of cheap oil. Canada alone has an estimated 180 billion barrels of recoverable oil, enough to meet global demand for the next century or so.
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The British all over finally have a chance to pay even more for fuel! I still hope they bring the V-Power Shell diesel to the US though.
From whatcar.com
Shell V-Power diesel will be sold across the UK, following the success of trials across south-east England over the past nine months.
The fuel is designed to deliver more power for longer by continuously cleaning the fuel-injection equipment in the engine.
It also contains Gas to Liquid (GTL) fuel, which can help improve combustion efficiency.
JD Power figures suggest that 38% of all cars on the road are currently diesels and that this figure will rise to 47% by 2012.
V-Power diesel, which typically costs between 5p and 9p per litre more than conventional diesel, will be phased in at Shell stations between now and October.
From brisbanetimes.com.au
The Australian automotive industry’s future is in diesel power, according to Ford Australia president Tom Gorman.
Addressing the Australian British Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne, Mr Gorman said the industry’s ever-changing global market was often dictated by emerging technology and better fuels to address climate change.
Mr Gorman, who last week announced the axing of 600 jobs at his company’s Geelong plant, said the environment was an obvious challenge and diesel engine development would play a crucial role.
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If you remember that story from a while back about diesel oozing from rocks in Africa. Then here is an update to the story.
From independent.co.uk
When traditional healer Rotina Mavhunga claimed in April that she had discovered deposits of refined diesel seeping from rocks near a spiritual shrine, the find was heralded as manna from heaven.
Long-suffering Zimbabweans jumped on the news as a welcome respite from their daily economic gloom - including an acute diesel shortage - and the government investigated reports that the liquid had powered a diesel vehicle.
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From just-auto.com
Denso Corporation and Robert Bosch have chosen Wroclaw, Poland (also home to a Toyota engine plant) for a 50-50 joint venture to develop and make diesel particulate filters, based on an agreement first announced last October.
Authorities have now approved plans for the new joint venture named Advanced Diesel Particulate Filters (ADIF), the two component makers said on Monday.
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- Second win of the season for Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner
- Audi R10 TDI 67 of 134 laps in the lead
- Longer stops for refuelling prevent overall victory
The Audi R10 TDI remains undefeated in the American Le Mans Series. In the seventh round at Mid-Ohio, Team Audi Sport North America achieved a commanding 1-2 victory in the LM P1 class. Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany) finished third overall missing the outright victory by just 15.073 seconds. Their team-mates Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) came home in fifth position and second in the LM P1 class.
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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The percentage of car shoppers considering hybrid vehicles has declined in the past year, according to a survey released Tuesday by J.D. Power and Associates.
Fifty percent of new vehicle shoppers surveyed said they are considering a gasoline/hybrid electric vehicle. That’s down from 57 percent last year.
“In the 2006 study, we found consumers often overestimated the fuel efficiency of hybrid-electric vehicles, and the decrease in consideration of hybrids in 2007 may be a result of their more realistic understanding of the actual fuel economy capabilities,” said Mike Marshall, director of automotive emerging technologies at J.D. Power.
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