Starting February 27th, Volkswagen will be implementing a "Think Blue" marketing campaign stressing the company's focus on "sustainable mobility" which to many CinciTDI members highlights the fuel efficiency of VW TDI diesel vehicles and the environmental awareness of new "clean diesel" TDIs and biodiesel fuel options. Volkswagen is building on the "BlueMotion" label and bringing back the successful 1960's "Think Small" slogan which with the diminutive VW Beetle put Volkswagen on the map here in North America.

Celebrate with a good puff of 'soot' (or 'not' if your driving the VW TDI clean diesel) ... or if your running biodiesel just the scent of 'French Fries.' Nevertheless back in 1893 the diesel engine was patented.

Nice plug for 2010 Volkswagen Golf models in WSJ article: "Volkswagen offers the only diesel in this economy-car category. For $22,155 it can go 30 miles per gallon in the city and 42 on the highway. I think this is the most desirable of the compact cars. Its fuel economy approaches the Prius level, yet it has a lot of power and feels especially zippy around town. It is also the cheapest diesel on the market (most cost more than $40,000)."

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John Matras, Auto Review Examiner, posted a great write up on his Road Test of a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI. It's an enjoyable and informative read highlighting a few lessor known features on Volkswagen vehicles. Here's an example: "The Jetta SportWagen's front seats must be moved forward to lower the rear seats but then can be moved back into the regular driving position. The front seats, however, have an odd semi-power operation. The seats slide forward and aft manually but have power tilting seatbacks. It's a theme reprised in the heating/air conditioning controls. Unlike fully automatic temperature controls which regulate temperature and fan speed, only the temperature can be maintained automatically on the Jetta's HVAC system. The fan speed is set manually." 

From Time Magazine's How Audi is Cleaning Up with Clean Diesel's question and answer with Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi's U.S. division:

Audi is instead touting the benefits of diesel technology. How do you get around the negative perception of diesel cars in the U.S.?
Clean-diesel technology represents an immediate technological leap — you immediately, very significantly, reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Biodiesel, too, could get you very close to the point where you can have a neutral carbon footprint. This can all be attained in a relatively shorter space of time, and at lower costs, than waiting 20 years–plus until we get our act together with electric cars. I should say, though, that hybrids are important. It is not diesel vs. hybrid — they are complementary technologies. We, too, will be producing hybrids — diesel ones.

If you enjoy snapping your Volkswagen around a corner or stopping fast enough launch your sunglasses into the windshield, then you might want to consider the VW TDI Cup "Street" Edition. It's closest kin is the Jetta GLI ... but with a diesel engine. Today Volkswagen announced that the TDI Cup Edition Jettas should be in dealer showrooms this January.

Volkswagen's clean diesel TDI models continue to perform especially well. Jetta TDI sales accounted for 40 percent of total Jetta sedan and SportWagen sales, while sales of all TDI models accounted for 24 percent of total October sales. (LINK)

Automatic start-stop systems are becoming more common on gasoline powered cars, particularly hybrid, but Audi is looking to change that with the introduction of a new system on the A3 that is paired with the 7-speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission on both their 105 hp 1.6 TDI diesel and the 125 hp 1.4 TFSI gas engine. In both cases, the cars are also equipped with brake energy regeneration which captures some energy during coast down to charge the battery. This has the effect of reducing the alternator load on the engine during acceleration.  The 1.6 TDI gets an EU combined rating of 56 mpg (U.S.) with CO₂ emissions of 109 g/km while the 1.4 TFSI is rated at 44.4 mpg (U.S.) and 124 g/km. No announcement has been made concerning this technology in the U.S., but the 2010 Audi A3 is currently available in North America with the 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine.