VW Press Release

HERNDON, Va.—Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced that buyers of the Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen are eligible for a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit. The Internal Revenue Service has issued a certification letter affirming that the vehicles qualify for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit.
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From just-auto.com

As the US car shows signs moving towards small, fashionable and fuel-efficient vehicles, BMW’s Mini unit is preparing its first electric vehicles for launch there in 2009 with a small crossover utility vehicle to follow.

Mini would also like to offer a diesel engine if it can develop one that gets at least 50mpg on the highway in EPA tests and meets strict emissions standards in California and northeast states, Jim McDowell, vice president of Mini USA, told the Detroit Free Press earlier this week.
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PORTLAND, Oregon – After starting the previous two races in the pole position, Josh Hurley, 23, Cooper City, Fl., claimed first place at Portland International Raceway (PIR) today in the third race of the Jetta TDI Cup series. Starting from the second position in today’s race, Hurley raced ahead of 29 other clean diesel vehicles in the only race stop on the West Coast. Finishing second was Liam Kenney, 16, Sterling, Va., and Northwest driver David Jurca, 22, Federal Way, Wash., rounding out the top three.

“I am really happy with the win today, words can’t describe it. I was actually a little choked up on the cool down lap,” said Hurley. “To put the Gunther Volkswagen Jetta TDI up front really means a lot after getting two pole positions coming into here. I am absolutely ecstatic.”
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The ”tightness” in global diesel supplies may ease early next year after peak winter demand in the northern hemisphere passes and new refineries start, the International Energy Agency said today.

”Both crude and middle distillate markets may see some respite in the second half of 2008, but more likely by early next year,” the IEA said in its monthly Oil Market Report. ”Supplies should increase over the second half of the year and into 2009 as new refining capacity comes on stream in both China and India.”
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Now we just need them in America, and swapped into an R32. Since that will never happen I’ll just move onto the press release below.

Drivers who want more power for their Audi, VW, SEAT or Skoda come to ABT Sportsline or one of its Volkswagen partners, which can be found anywhere across the country, as the Kempten art of engineering always provides for increased torque, more power and better acceleration. ABT engine tuning optimally utilizes the potential of the vehicle without exceeding the capacity of the engine and its auxiliaries.
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July 9 (Bloomberg) — Denso Corp., 23 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp., has started to research and develop technology to make fuel from algae.

Denso began the project at the beginning of this year, Tomohiro Miura, a spokesman, said by phone today. No other details have been decided, he said.

The Asahi newspaper reported earlier that Denso will mass- produce diesel made from algae by 2013. The company, based in central Japan’s Kariya city, will extract neutral fat and light oil materials to make diesel from the algae, the paper said.

Denso gained 2.7 percent to 3,490 yen as of 9:36 a.m. on the Tokyo stock exchange.

At the moment, the Kempten designers indeed are working on the perfect body parts for the convertible AS3 at full speed, but already now it becomes apparent that the compact vehicle will become a feast for the eyes. The performance data of the engine versions stand for open-air driving pleasure: with ABT Power the 2.0 TFSI offers sporty 240hp (177kW) instead of 200hp (147kW); with ABT Power S 270hp (199kW) are provided. With ABT Power the serial 160hp (118kW) of the 1.8 TFSI can be increased to 200hp (147kW), or to 240hp (177kW) with ABT Power S.
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I’ll believe it when I see it though.

From autonews.com

It looks a lot like the outgoing model, but BMW says the fifth-generation 7 Series is all new.

The car, which will make its world premiere at the Paris motor show this fall, takes styling cues from the CS concept BMW showed in Shanghai in 2007, though the new 7 can best be described as evolutionary rather than revolutionary as the last generation was.
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LSU will be putting on one-day workshops in its AgCenter. Get there early because it’s standing room only and last time got filled quick. Dates are July 29-31.

Advanced biodiesel workshops will be held in the fall.

It will take at least $800 in equipment to make batches of 25 to 30 gallons of biodiesel. The fuel is made in those larger quantities, generally in about 48 hours.

A gallon of biodiesel can be produced from a gallon of used vegetable oil, and the hardest part might be finding a restaurant willing to provide its old oil.

You’ve all probably talked to Prius owners, and listened to how they can’t wait to interject into a conversation that they drive a Prius. A lot of them with a snide tone while they look down upon you, and your enviro-killer coupe. Just ask them if they know how their car is made.