Carroll Shelby

Sun fuel. What a great name for cleaner gas! That’s what a high-ranking Volkswagen engineer and I spoke about a few years ago – a green future reliant on diesel technology. VW is finally getting credit for it’s greener state of mind taking the prize for Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show last week with the 2009 Jetta TDI. A jury of nine selected the Jetta, including executive director of the Sierra Club Carl Poper, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council Frances Beinecke, president of Ocean Futures Society Jean-Michel Cousteau, Tonight Show host Jay Leno and race-car building genius Carroll Shelby. Green Car Journal facilitated the competition and four of their editors were also on the jury.

Other cars in the running include the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, and smart fortwo.The 2.0-liter Jetta, with its pep and conscience was the standout in the bunch. Jetta gets up and goes at a rate of approximately 41 mpg, and is still fun to drive with turbocharged direct injection and low emissions. I’ve said it before, diesel is the come from behind, obvious alternative fuel. Recently, I tested the 2009 Jetta SportWagen SE, which is not diesel, and only gets 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Like the TDI, the interior is tasteful with comfortable seats and a clean German-style consul, The version I tested was priced at $26,899 and included the 2.5 liter standard engine, boosted by the extra DVD system and panoramic roof. The TDI is comparable.

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