Over at Auto Fiends they have some new camera phone pics of the Volvo XC60 crossover out on a test drive in the Los Angeles area. While in and of itself, that is no big deal, the photographer noticed something unusual about this particular vehicle. Above the fuel filler door was the the tag "Diesel Fuel Only." Since Volvo hasn't offered a diesel-powered car in North America since the mid-eighties, this is an unusual sight. Just because Volvo was testing a diesel in the U.S. doesn't necessarily mean they will sell one here, but we can certainly hope. Over in Europe, Volvo offers the XC60 with a 2.4L inline five cylinder diesel at two power levels, 163hp and 185hp. Either of those would be adequate for the XC60 if they choose to make one of the engines Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant. More importantly, perhaps, is that if they do federalize the diesel it could appear in some U.S. market Fords as well.

[Source: Auto Fiends]

About a year ago, Maxwell Technologies told the world about the Chinese government using its ultracapacitors in various official vehicles. Another July brings another announcement, and so we learn that the city of Milan, Italy will soon be using Maxwell's ultracap modules in its hybrid and electric buses. The 125-volt BOOSTCAP ultracapacitor modules will store energy from the bus' brakes and then spit it back out for torque assist when the driver steps on the accelerator. Overhead electric lines or a diesel generator will supply the rest of the energy needed to move the public transit vehicles. Milan has ordered 70 buses from Vossloh Kiepe and Van Hool and will soon take deliver of the first 15. More details after the break.

[Source: Maxwell Technologies Inc.]

The British Motor Show is coming up later this month and Peugeot is planning to shine the spotlight on its most efficient and least polluting vehicles. Drivers in London, in particular, have to deal with congestion charges if they have to go into the central part of the city but they are exempted if the cars they drive emit fewer than 120g/km of carbon dioxide. Low-emitting cars like this also get a break on national road taxes. As a result, companies like Peugeot have been trying to create models specifically to meet this standard. The diminutive 107 KISS SE only has to pay about $70/year in road tax. Peugeot will also be showcasing the 908 HDi Le Mans racer and the 308 RCZ concept. For those of you in the UK who attend the show, you can quench your thirst at a free water bar at the Peugeot stand.

[Source: Peugeot]

click above image for high-res gallery of the Volvo C30 Efficiency

In what sounds like an extremely unsurprising move, Volvo is planning on introducing more small cars and more diesel engines. Certainly, timing could not be better as small cars are handily outselling their larger, less fuel-efficient older brothers. Diesel engines are beginning to make a comeback of sorts in the U.S. market as Volkswagen, long the only automaker still holding the inexpensive diesel flag in the states, has reintroduced its TDI engine and such automakers as BMW and Porsche are planning on offering oil burners to their customers shortly. We would absolutely be ecstatic to see a vehicle like the C30 Efficiency concept, which was shown off at the last Motor Show in Frankfurt, introduced to the U.S. market. That concept car, with its 1.6 liter diesel engine, posted extremely good fuel economy numbers of over fifty miles per gallon. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, wouldn't you agree?

[Source: Just-Auto - sub. req'd]

The awesomeness that is the turbo diesel-powered Neander monster-cycle has now received the regulatory blessings of the proper authorities in the Bundesrepublik Deutschland and is finally heading for production this fall. If you'll notice in the photo above, the beast-in-question is completely surrounded by Polizei and yet none are reaching for handcuffs, tickets books or other constabulary paraphernalia. Ok, that one guy on the left looks like he's unsnapping his holster but we have it on good authority that he was merely reaching for a stick of gum.

According to the folks at Neander, zealous officials from the TÜV pored over every mechanical and structural detail, from the never-before-seen fork design to the physics-defying wheelbase before giving it their seal of approval and bowing down in awe. Despite all this, company chairman of the board, Lutz W. Lester, put his own backside on the line and drove the machine with counter-rotating crankshafts for as many kilometers as was necessary to ensure the handling and comfort was at the top-notch level it needed to be at. It was.

[Source: Neander]

Another of the automotive suppliers taking a major hit right now is Navistar. The manufacturer of trucks and buses also builds diesel engines. The company has supplied diesel engines for Ford's heavy duty pickups and vans for three decades. Unfortunately for Navistar, the collapse of the housing market has meant that commercial buyers who buy the bulk of heavy duty trucks have drastically cut back new purchases. High diesel fuel prices have meant that of the trucks still being purchased, fewer are diesels. From May 2007 to May 2008, the percentage of Ford Super Duty trucks with Navistar diesel engines has dropped from 75 percent to 60 percent. It's a situation unlikely to turn around any time soon.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

Ford is expected to take advantage of this month's British Motor Show in London to debut an ECOnetic version of the new Fiesta sub-compact. ECOnetic is Ford's branding for special low CO₂ versions of its different vehicles. In the case of the Fiesta ECOnetic, that means a 1.6L TDCi turbodiesel under the hood cranking out 89hp. Helping the Fiesta minimize its fuel consumption and hence CO₂ emissions will be a modified low-drag nose, side skirts, rear spoiler and wheels. Most of the grille will be closed off to push air around the car rather than through the engine compartment. The final drive ratio has been changed to lower the engine revs when cruising as well. The 2009 Fiestas, like their Mazda2 siblings, are lighter than the models that they replace. All of this adds up to 62.5mpg (U.S.) combined from the new model and CO₂ emissions of 98g/km. That CO₂ number is low enough to exempt the Fiesta ECOnetic from British road taxes and London Congestion Charges.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Click above for more shots of the VW One-Liter concept

It has been so long since anything has been heard about Volkswagen's so-called one-liter car that we nearly forgot the concept had existed. It turns out that VeeDub has been quietly working away somewhere deep in Germany perfecting the design. Originally intended for a launch around 2012, rumors now indicate that the vehicle may indeed be ready by 2010. To refresh your memory, the vehicle gets its moniker due to its goal of achieving one liter of fuel consumption per 100 kilometers. The concept vehicle, with its single cylinder engine, was apparently capable of doing a bit better than that, as it was rated at a mind blowing 282 miles per gallon, or about .83 liters per 100 kilometers.

The production version of the carbon fiber vehicle may get a twin cylinder diesel engine along with a possible hybrid drive of some sort. For maximum compactness, the vehicle features the driver in the center of the car with one passenger sitting behind in a cockpit-like arrangement. No word as of yet on price, but it seems that VW is hoping that the government can step in to reduce the cost for purchasers.

[Source: Car Magazine Online]

A group of 22 drivers has completed the second stage of Audi's efficiency marathon run between Basel, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. While the winning team in the first round managed a "mere" 68.4mpg (U.S.) in a 120hp Audi A4 TDI, the top team in the second round managed an even thriftier 70.85mpg (U.S.). That equates to the same 88g/km CO₂ emissions as the tiny Smart ForTwo CDi. Over the 22-hour course of the journey the winning team averaged 46.35mph and if they had continued until the tank was dry they could have covered over 1,242 miles. Five of the eleven teams in the second round achieved better than 68.18mpg (U.S.) and even the most "lead-footed" drivers got 67.2mpg (U.S.). With an official combined rating of 46.12mpg (U.S.) for the A4, the 44 drivers on the two stages of this event demonstrated again that driver behavior can significantly influence, the efficiency of a vehicle. The Audi press release is after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

While many automakers are getting a bit bullish about diesel cars in America (see Mercedes, Nissan and VW), a board member of parts supplier Continental AG told Handelsblatt (via Thompson Financial) that an overall downturn in diesel interest in the U.S. means his company is looking more toward electric cars than diesel-powered ones. Board member Karl-Heinz Neumann said, "Regarding diesel fuel, I'm more sceptical by now. There's not much happening in the U.S. The opportunities of the electrical car have surprised all of us."

Neumann's stance is bolstered by Ford's recent decline in diesel truck sales and, more importantly, by a recent Conti study that showed high consumer interest in zero-emission vehicles. Making the shift to EV support is not a problem for the supplier, because Conti is well into setting up advanced battery deals with some automakers. The lithium-ion battery in the upcoming Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid will be from Continental and then there's that whole Chevy Volt thing.

[Source: Thompson Financial]

Click the ML320 BLUETEC for a high res gallery

Mercedes is expecting big things from its Bluetec badge, starting with its line of SUVs and crossovers. In fact, the German automaker expects fifteen percent of all if its utility vehicles to be sold with diesel engines. We think that figure may even be a bit low, considering that MB nearly sells that percentage already and is unable to sell the vehicles in the huge California market, among others. Though diesel prices are currently hovering a bit higher than already high gasoline prices, both Mercedes-Benz and AutoblogGreen expect that the roughly $1,000 Bluetec diesel premium will pay for itself in just over a year. When we got our first drive in the clean-diesel Benzes, we managed rather impressive mileage numbers in all three vehicles, both on the highway and in city driving.

Expect to see more of Mercedes' big diesel utes in green advertising. Stephen Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA says, "We would like to give that Bluetec logo as much cachet as the term hybrid has." That will take some major marketing push, as the word "hybrid" is synonymous with green autos for many Americans.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

The initial batch of Volkswagen Jetta TDIs have started to appear at Volkswagen dealers around the country and at least one dealer in Virginia is reporting a lot of interest. Jay Pichardo of Greenbrier Volkswagen posted a photo of the first demo vehicle and some initial stats. In the first 24 hours, thirteen people took the car out for test drives and ten people put down deposits on the new fifty-state legal diesel. According to Pichardo, the car has averaged 49mpg over the first 120 miles. Interestingly the car is emblazoned with graphics that emphasize the fact that the car is not a concept. We're waiting patiently for Volkswagen to send a Jetta over to the ABG Garage for our own evaluation of real world mileage. Keith, you know where to reach me.

[Source: Motive Mag]

AutoWeek apparently has it on good authority that Porsche has plans for a diesel engine not just for its Cayenne Sport Utility, but also for its upcoming sedan, the Panamera. The Panamera will assuredly be getting a gasoline engine, perhaps mirroring the Cayenne's V6 and V8 options, and will also be equipped with an optional hybrid drivetrain which will likely feature the direct-injected 3.6 liter V6 engine. Porsche had been hesitant to offer an oil-burner in its range of sportscars, but perhaps the sedan would benefit from the increased fuel mileage a diesel engine would offer.

We don't know what diesel engine is slated for the Panamera, but the Cayenne will be getting a 3.0 liter turbo diesel V6 engine from Audi, so that seems a distinct possibility for the sedan as well. Porsche could also choose an Audi diesel V8 engine or even the Volkswagen diesel V10 or 6.0-liter Audi diesel V12 if they fit underhood. Also spinning in the rumormill are Focus-like fender vents and a targa top.

[Source: Autoweek]

Click above for more shots of the hydrostatic chopper

The group that introduced the world to the hydrostatic motorcycle powered by a diesel engine has now made a chopper. Regardless of what you may think of the chopper culture that has proliferated the airwaves these last few years, this machine features quite a bit of novel engineering. For instance, the single-sided rear swingarm completely hides the hydrostatic transmission from view and supports the rear wheel and suspension system. The Kubota three-cylinder diesel engine has been turbocharged and feeds power completely automatically through a hydraulic motor to the rear wheel, making this machine completely automatic.

For the technical folks among us, there is an entire thirty-seven page thread on the build-up of the bike -- one that I spent about a few hours going through. Be sure to take a look at our gallery of the bike and watch the videos after the break. There is lots of impressive working going on in garages all across the country, as this machine clearly demonstrates. Good job, guys!


[Source: Hydraulic Innovations via The Kneeslider]

Twenty-two teams of drivers this week are attempting to demonstrate the efficiency of the new Audi A4 with the 2.0L TDI diesel engine. The teams are driving the cars over a 1,025-mile course between Basel, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria while consuming less than 4L/100km (59.9mpg (U.S.)) of diesel fuel. The 120hp 2.0L TDI is normally rated at 46.12mpg (U.S.) but these crews will be light-footing it all the way. The goal of the teams competing in the two round trips that go through Switzerland, German and Austrian (and back again) is to complete the journey on a single tank of fuel.

In the first round already completed, the eleven cars all made it back to Basel with 5-9 liters of fuel left in the 65L tank. The winning team managed 68.3mpg (U.S.) and even the worst car managed 64.4mpg (U.S.). Not to shabby for a very nicely equipped mid-sized sedan. Most of the route is on motorways although some lesser roads and in-town driving is included. Audi organized the event with German car magazine Auto Bild and the second group of eleven teams is not preparing to set out on the same journey.

[Sources: Audi, Auto bild]