As the famous Wendy's ad stated: "Where's the beef?" Come on ... bring those VW clean diesels to market already. It feels like the carrot has been hanging out in front for a long time now -- if Volkswagen waits much longer someone will have a big diesel/hybrid that gets 40+ mpg!

VOLKSWAGEN PRESENTS ITS CLEANEST DIESEL EVER DURING L.A. AUTOSHOW

All-new Jetta TDI Clean Diesel will be available summer 2008

LOS ANGELES –Volkswagen of America, Inc. today introduced its cleanest diesel ever, a 2.0L four cylinder TDI engine that will be available in Jetta sedan and SportWagen body styles in the summer of 2008. The 2009 Jetta TDI, equipped with the clean diesel engine option, will be available in all fifty states.

This innovative new engine meets the most stringent Tier II/Bin 5 standards, without the use of urea injection. Instead, a nitrous oxide storage catalyst reduces NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. The engine management system changes operating modes to periodically treat the NOx stored in the catalyst. A particulate filter further reduces emissions, allowing this new clean diesel to be held to the same standards as gasoline models.

In the Jetta application, this sixteen valve engine will produce 140 horsepower and 235 foot pounds of torque. Featuring a common rail fuel supply and high pressure injectors, smoothness and drivability have been greatly improved over previous Volkswagen diesel engines.

Volkswagen engineers report that customers can expect “real world” fuel economy to be increased by over 30 percent, in comparison to an identical gasoline model. The new clean diesel Jetta TDI offers legendary longevity and reliability, as well as inherent “fun to drive” Volkswagen vehicle dynamics.

This clean diesel technology will be available in 2009 Jetta models in the third quarter of 2008. Pricing for this new model has not yet been established.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan.  It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany.  Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers.  Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.