This makes me wonder how much I could get for those extraneous body parts I don’t use like that second kidney.

From autoexpress.co.uk

Power to the diesel! That’s the message from Mercedes, as bosses prepare to follow Audi into the high-performance oil-burning market.

Auto Express can reveal the firm is closer than ever to launching an AMG-badged diesel model. With Audi unveiling its R8 V12 TDI concept at the Detroit Motor Show and Ferrari taking the wraps off its Biofuel F430 prototype, the pressure is on for Mercedes’ performance division to follow suit.

Subaru will be launching their 2.0L four-cylinder diesel following the Geneva auto show, offering it as an option in its Legacy and Outback models. Unfortunately, it will be at least 2 years before we see it in the States. Further insult to injury is that we will most likely not be able to get the five-speed manual that is being designed specifically for the diesel. Instead we will have to wait for the automatic that is currently being developed.

Oddly enough, though the engine is built in Japan, it will not be available to the Japanese until after the US launch.

From The Press Association(UK)

Britain’s reigning two-time World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx has questioned the actions of the sport’s rulemakers ahead of the title-deciding season finale in Macau this weekend.

BMW driver Priaulx heads to the Far East level on points with SEAT’s Yvan Muller, who has come from a long way back to be tied with the Guernseyman on 81 points after changing his engine mid-season.

You may think it’s ugly (it’s definitely not pretty, but I would like to have one), but it’s hard to argue with those specs. Maybe someday BMW will bring it over the pond and let us Americans play with it. Hopefully in the next week I’ll get back to my normal couple updates a day. Just been working ton lately.

From TimesOnline.co.uk

Imagine a car with more power than the most powerful Lotus Elise, with better acceleration and a higher top speed than the latest VW Golf GTI. Now imagine that same car using less fuel than the smallest-engined Ford Fiesta, while also emitting less CO2. That would seem straight out of science fiction.

But it’s not: the car exists and is in your local BMW showroom right now. It’s the 123d, I’ve just driven it and it’s every bit as incredible as its statistics suggest. So this is perhaps a strange time to restate my long-held feelings of hostility towards the BMW 1-series.

Snipped from channel4.com - Hopefully it will available in the States in 09 or 10.

Subaru has one more turbocharged Impreza to come, too: its first diesel. The tiny company has developed its own in-house diesel engine, following the same flat-four cylinder layout as the petrol engines, and mainstream versions of this 2.0-litre unit developing about 150bhp will go on sale late 2008. This engine will also feature in the Legacy, Outback and Forester ranges - and a high-performance version is under consideration for a diesel Impreza WRX.

Everybody has waited a long time for it: the practical Golf V Station Wagon. The suspension specialists from Eibach are delighted to present an upgrade creating a true sporty ride. The Pro-Kit Performance Springs not only lower the load sill but also provide pure driving pleasure without impairing the comfort in any way.

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.

Volvo C70 convertible buyers will have the choice of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine from this autumn.

The 136bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine is already available in the Volvo S40, V50 estate and the C30.

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- Audi will be first manufacturer to meet future emissions limits
- High-volume model series to include ‘e’ models in future
- Integrated strategy cuts fuel consumption and emissions

From mid-2008 Audi will be putting the cleanest diesel technology in the world into series production. The new TDI engines with their ultra-low emission system combine the spontaneous performance and superior pulling power of today’s TDI power units with outstanding fuel consumption figures and incomparably low emissions. Indeed, they will already undercut the most stringent emissions limits that are to be applied in the future in Europe as soon as production starts. Just as the entire Audi range complied with the Euro 4 standard and the forthcoming Euro 5 emissions limits years in advance, the Ingolstadt brand is once again set to assume its role as the pioneer of groundbreaking technology.

(more…)

From autocar.co.uk

BMW is finally making a diesel-powered 6-series and, as you’d expect, it’s no 618d but a 282bhp, 155mph 635d.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel engine will be available in both the cabrio and coupe, where it promises 0-62mph in 6.3sec and 40.9mpg.

It’ll come with a six-speed auto ’box as standard, with steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual changes.

(more…)