AutoblogGreen

Efficient Dynamics has claimed its first scalps of the year, taking the World Car of the Year Green Award. The three finalists were all Rudolph's children, being of the diesel variety: the BMW 118d, the smart fortwo cdi, and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDi BlueMotion. The specific rationale for choosing the BMW wasn't given, but the roominess, real world practicality, miserly emissions and fuel needs, and Efficient Dynamics are probably all good suspects. It's a nifty little car and a well deserved award, so kudos to you, BMW. Now if you could get that diesel Isetta going, we'd really get to cheering for you.

GM opened the full-scale electric car dialog with the EV-1 (and its demise), Toyota opened the full-scale hybrid dialog with the Prius. Now that Green is Good as Gold, aftermarket folks are opening the mass market dialog when it comes to making the cars you want to buy right now a little less hard on the Earth. Next in the queue: EcoTrek with its biodiesel Cadillac Escalade EXT, simply referred to as BioCaddy.

Starting with a plain black EXT, EcoTrek swapped the 6.2-liter Vortec V8 for Chevy's PPE supercharged Duramax 6.6-liter diesel. Fitting it required cutting a scoop into the hood. The Hydramatic transmission came out, and in went an Allison. The suspension was removed and replaced with an Air Ride ARC4800L Big Red Max LevelPro System. And as an extra, the BioCaddy gets an ethanol injection system for a claimed "30% additional HP or fuel economy." About the only thing dirty on it is the 26" DUB Dirty Dog II rims clothed in Pirelli Scorpion rubber. EcoTrek even blacked out all the chrome -- something we consider a good thing. Having a "clean ride" is about to take on a new meaning.