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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HERNDON, Va.—Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced pricing for their eagerly anticipated Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen starting at $21,990 and $23,590, respectively. Fuel efficiency, performance and convenience all come standard with the 50-state compliant Jetta sedan and SportWagen TDI, which meet the most stringent emissions standards in California and the world. Both models will be available this August.

“Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers a true value with the fuel efficiency that drivers are looking for while providing power, utility and performance,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “The Jetta TDI’s offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience.”
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It looks amazing in red! I would break quite a few laws for the chance to play with one of these.

From Motortrend

General Motors is readying a new 4.5-liter V-8 Duramax turbodiesel engine for use first in the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light duty trucks. The new engine is relatively compact thanks to integral aluminum cylinder head exhaust manifolds, integral cam cover intake manifolds, and a narrow V-angle block. As a result, GM says, the engine can fit in the same space as a small-block V-8 gas engine.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado

The 4.5-liter diesel will meet LEV2 emissions standards and be sellable in all 50 states. Producing 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque, GM says the engine will achieve fuel efficiency 25 percent better than comparable gas engines and is the first GM engine to employ a selective catalytic reduction NOx after-treatment system with a diesel particulate filter. Compared to “many diesel vehicles today,” GM says, the new engine reduces CO2 emissions by 13 percent as well as a 90 percent reduction in particulates and NOx.

The engine has a variable-vane turbocharger with intercooling and a compacted graphite iron cylinder block which helps make the engine strong and light, compared to one composed of aluminum or grey cast iron. If buyers are willing to pay the slight premium for new diesel technology (not to mention the diesel premium at the pump), we wouldn’t be surprised to see diesel-powered Chevy Silverados and GMC Sierras make up a larger share of GM’s shrinking fullsize truck and SUV production.

From autonews.com

WASHINGTON — A panel of outside experts advising federal regulators about available technologies for improving fuel economy will include light-duty diesel engines in its final report.

In an interim report made public today, the panel said developments in emission controls indicate that modern diesels will be able to comply with U.S. clean-air regulations.

The potential of diesel engines to reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30 to 40 percent over comparable gasoline engines justifies their inclusion on the list of available technologies, the interim report said.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Volkswagen of America and SCCA Pro Racing have announced the eight dates comprising the 2008 schedule of the new Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race series.

While Lutz may be the loudest voice at GM, he’s not the only voice. There may be small diesel hope from GM yet.

From autonews.com

DETROIT — To meet fuel economy regulations, Chevrolet is looking at ways to use diesels in cars. The brand also is considering a U.S. model smaller and cheaper than the Aveo.

“We’re going to have an opportunity to see a lot of things around the world that could very well work nicely in our portfolio here,” Ed Peper, Chevrolet’s general manager, told Automotive News at the Detroit auto show.

Last year at the Los Angeles auto show, Chevy said it would sell a minicar, the Beat, next year outside the United States and Canada. Chevy executives said they would watch how U.S. consumers receive Daimler AG’s Smart minicar to help determine whether to sell a minicar here.

In the meantime, Chevrolet, like Cadillac, is considering diesels. Peper pointed to GM’s European diesel technology that could be applied here. GM has a 2.9-liter turbocharged V-6 diesel that will be used in the Cadillac CTS in Europe. Also, GM’s European brand, Opel, has three diesel four-cylinder engines used in the Astra small cars: 1.3-liter, 1.7-liter and 1.9-liter diesels with 90 to 150 hp.

Says Peper: “We’re not going to rule out anything.”

5. The cost to turn a car into a Flex-Fuel or E-85 (85% Ethanol and 15% Gasoline) car is only about $200 for a manufacturer. E-85 is a bit more corrosive to some of the standard rubber and metal parts, but still the cheapest way to go “green”. The problem is ethanol contains slightly less energy than gasoline(whereas diesel has slightly more than gas) and so you need about 20%-30% more fuel running through your injectors for the vehicle to run on E-85 . If you try and run E-85 in a vehicle not designed to run E-85 you’ll see your Check Engine light come on in all its glory. Your car’s computer is telling you that the vehicle is running lean (meaning not enough fuel). I thought being “green” was all about being efficient? Ethanol is obviously not the most efficient way to go. Although I think biodiesel is up to the task.

From news.com

Following announcements from EcoMotors and Transonic Combustion, San Diego’s Achates Power has said on its Web site that it’s creating a clean, light, fuel-efficient diesel engine.

The company has also received investments from Sequoia Capital, a relative newcomer to energy investments, Rockport Capital Partners and Interwest Partners. (VentureWire has a brief interview with Achates CEO James Lemke.)

Achates has not said how its engine will work, the company has three patent applications on file with the U.S. Patent Office. Two of the patents describe what’s known as an opposed piston/opposed cylinder engine. In this type of engine, two pistons sit inside a single cylinder. That makes it different than most other motors where pistons have individual cylinders. (Some car makers have made engines with horizontal pistons, similar to an opposed piston engine, but they have their own cylinders.)

PARADE magazine and the Network for Good are co-sponsoring a contest that could help the Biodiesel Foundation win $50,000 for biodiesel education efforts. The eight organizations that either raise the most money or have the greatest number of donors will receive $50,000.

Time is of the essence, and the National Biodiesel Foundation (a 501-C3 organization) needs your help today. Please consider giving a tax-deductible gift of at least $10 to the Foundation by Jan. 31st. If the Foundation can get 1000 people to donate $10, it will be in a good position to win.

Please donate to the National Biodiesel Foundation by January 31, 3:00 PM EST. Donate here and follow the steps as directed.