Popular Mechanics offers a nice review of the new VW Touareg V-6 TDI.

Our drive to Mexico and back in a Touareg V6 TDI required few fill-ups. In fact, after several hundred miles we still had nearly two-thirds of a tank of fuel left. If we maintained our 65-mph cruising speed while getting the indicated 29.3 mpg, we could have traveled nearly 800 miles on a single tank of gas—not bad for an off-road-capable 5000-plus-pound SUV.

USAToday's James Healey updated automotive section readers on VW's returning diesel TDI cars to North America. His article in December 2008 was a good review for those interested in diesel and Volkswagen. A couple interesting comment offer hope that we'll see more than just the Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen oilburners shortly. If they continue to bring more TDI models to the U.S. while other car companies rethink 'diesel,' it could give Volkswagen a decided advantage when oil prices rise again.

Volkswagen announced the availability of its 4Motion all-wheel-drive system for the Golf TDI  in Europe ... but not in North America, of course. The drivetrain is exclusive to TDI models utilizing the manual-transmission variant of the 2.0L TDI clean diesel engine. The fuel efficiently is down about 8 mpg from the FWD only model, but still an impressive 43 mpg.  The top speed is said to be 128 mph with a  torque of 236 lb-ft at 1750 rpm. It would be nice to have this option in the U.S., although the translated price of €26,500 would be well over $30,000 at today's exchange rates.

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

The NYTimes article published November 20, 2008 by Lawrence Ulrich is worth the read if you enjoy a well circulated and positive story about the new clean diesel TDIs by out in 2009 by Volkswagen.

Speed Channel will be broadcasting the final episode 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup documentary on Saturday November 22nd. (Cincinnati area Time Warner listing to the right) This hour long broadcast will focus on the entire 2008 season, the drivers and the race versions of the new clean diesel VW Jetta TDIs. These 170hp 2.0L TDI engine sedans race with six speed DSG transmissions and appropriate safety gear and change the perception that diesel cars are slow, boring and stinky. BTW, there will be a street version of the Jetta TDI Cup vehicle avaiable for about $26,995 later this year.

With a relatively low starting price, excellent fuel economy and refined driving dynamics: The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI was voted Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal at the LA Autoshow.

Check out the announcement at Autoblog.

Both the Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan and Sportwagen TDI were listed on the annual EPA and Energy Department's list of the most fuel efficient vehicles.  Most of the vehicles on the list are hybrids and the VW's were the only diesels. The EPA estimates the Jetta TDI at an economical 29 mpg City and 40 mpg Highway and are a "no comprimise deal for consumers" according to Mark Barnes, chief operating officer of Volkswagen of America, Inc. He comments that they offer "comfort, economy and performance ... at a time when fuel economy is top of the mind for consumers."

The news goes back and forth when hearing about VW TDI hybrid -- will they or won't they? LeftLaneNews has posted that Volkswagen will likely product a new diesel-powered version of a new mid-sized sedan to compete with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in their  Chattanooga Tennessee production plant. The new facility is due to begin production in 2011, although expectations are that gasoline models will be first.

Along with this news, the post also said that Volkswagen "will also produce a smaller version of the Jetta at the Tennessee plant – which will do battle with the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic – so it remains possible that it could also wind up with a diesel option." VW's U.S. head, Stephan Jacoby even "suggested that VW could launch a diesel-hybrid powertrain in the coming years, but failed to give any more details on the project. However, he promised that the new technology would be “at the forefront” of low emissions tech."