Click on the image above for more pictures of the Polo BlueMotion

Norwich City Council in the U.K. has just placed the largest ever single order for Volkswagen Polo BlueMotions at 50 total units. The Polo BlueMotion was specifically chosen due to its low fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg on the combined cycle and just 99 g/km of CO₂ emissions, making it the just about the greenest real car available in the U.K. these days. The BlueMotion is also exempt from the road tax in the U.K. due to its efficiency.

Powered by a small 1.4 liter diesel engine, the BlueMotion is able to squeak the most out of every drop of fuel thanks to aero tweaks, low-friction drivetrain gearing and low rolling resistance tires. From what we've heard, VW has no problem moving all of the BlueMotion vehicles that they build.


[Source: Volkswagen]

You may know what they say: during our lifespan we all should write a book, have a child and plant a tree. Well, the latter is easy: if you purchase a Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion in Spain, the German marque will plant 17 trees for you. This is a similar initiative to one offered by Volkswagen in the US.

The agreement was made with two companies called Maderas Nobles de la Sierra de Segura and the Fundación + Árboles and belongs to a project unveiled in Barcelona on June 23rd that hopes to plant 100 million trees in the Iberian Peninsula. Maderas Nobles will keep these trees maintained for at least 40 years with techniques of ecological silviculture and car owners will earn certificates assessing the number of planted trees in their name, how much CO2 the trees offset and the activities that Volkswagen will offset with those saved CO2.

Related:

• Buy a new VW, get one year's worth of carbon offset from Carbonfund
• Auto Zeitung readers vote Volkswagen greenest and most economical
• VW Polo BlueMotion is now down to 99g/km CO2

[Source: Agroinformacion]

Volkswagen has continued tweaking their class-leading Polo BlueMotion model to make it even more efficient. When first announced earlier this year, it was rated at 60.3mpg and 102g/km of carbon dioxide emissions. The latest numbers come in at 61.9mpg for the combined fuel economy according the the EU tests and the CO2 emissions are now under 100 at 99g/km.

The Polo still can't match the Smart ForTwo CDi with its 88g/km but it does have seatbelts for five. The Polo has a 1.4L TDI engine with 80hp and 143 lb-ft of torque and comes standard with a particulate filter. Unfortunately we still can't get it in the US and it's unclear if we ever will.

[Source: Volkswagen]

The Polo BlueMotion as we found it on Thursday

Volkswagen's miserly Polo BlueMotion was a nominee for the 2007 World Green Car of the Year award presented during the press days at the New York Auto Show. As it happened, we stumbled across the little 60 MPG hatchback during a foray out onto the show floor late Thursday afternoon. When we found the car, it was hidden under cover parked against a wall in the basement level, around 50 feet away from the Volkswagen stand. Several readers commented (or emailed) on our original post at Autoblog, saying that the BlueMotion is now on full display with the rest of its kin in the VW area. Talk about a tease. Queries about when and where potential customers will be able to buy one of the cars are sure to result in disappointment, as the Polo is not available on these shores. That, dear friends, is what's called a bummer.

102 Polo BlueMotions (actually, it's probably Polos BlueMotion, isn't it?) served as shuttles at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month. This weekend, 50 of the low-emission vehicles will tool around Berlin in support of the ECHO music awards. The German music awards take place Sunday.

While the car is cool (readers should be familiar with the 102 g/km CO2 stats - if not, see the links below), the best group of musicians that VW names in the press release as someone who will ride in a Polo BlueMotion this weekend is Simply Red. The car of the future, driven by the pop stars of the past.

Slightly more exciting is the exclusive Polo "First Act," developed by the Sound Foundation Polo, that will have its world premiere at the ECHO awards. This "Volkswagen Individual" vehicle features a 70-watt amplifier under the glove compartment.



Related:

• VW will bring 102 Polo BlueMotions to Geneva - one for each g/km of CO2
• Pictures of the Polo BlueMotion going to rock the UK with 72.4 mpg and 102 g/km CO2

[Source: VW]

My friend John over at Autoblog did a good job of highlighting the fact that the German automakers cleaned up when it comes to the World Car of the Year finalists. Speaking of cleaning up, (haha) a subcategory of the competition offers up some choices of the "World Green Car", also all from Germany. The finalists are... in no particular order...

• BMW Hydrogen 7
• Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC
• Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion
  

Cast your unofficial vote here or submit your own choices in the comments. The cars in the poll only include models that can currently be purchased somewhere, hence no Tesla or ZAP-X.

Which car would you select as World Green COTY?
	BMW Hydrogen 7
	Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC
	Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion
	Smart ForTwo
	Toyota Prius
Free polls from Pollhost.com

[Source: WCOTY.com via Autoblog via Winding Road]

In a clever PR touch, Volkswagen will bring 102 of its new Polo BlueMotions to Geneva. That's one vehicle for each gram of CO2 the car emits per kilometer it drives (in testing, at least). We know a little about the car (see here) and the other goodies VW is bringing to the show (like the Passat BlueMotion you can see below), but not much about these: the Caddy Life Edition concept car and the Multivan Panamericana and VW's 'Future of the Car' interactive display. All the company is saying now is, "At present we do not have any further details on these cars, other than what you already know!" Thanks a lot, VW. We're ready to stop waiting now.



Related:

• Pictures of the Polo BlueMotion going to rock the UK with 72.4 mpg and 102 g/km CO2
• In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2007 Volkswagen Passat TDI

[Source: Volkswagen]

click image to enter gallery

Volkswagen's efficient diesel technology, BlueMotion, will be coming to the UK later this summer in a Polo. As we wrote about the other day, the Passat BlueMotion will be unveiled in Geneva next month. Even though SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said the other day that consumers don't want to buy cars with emissions below 120 g/km, the Polo BlueMotion spits out just 102 g/km with its official mileage rating of 72.4 mpg. You think no ones going to want to buy this car?

We've mentioned the Polo BlueMotion a few times before, but now we've got nice, shiny pictures, so we're bringing it up again. Plus, 72.4 mpg. C'mon.

You know the drill. Press release after the jump, high-res photos in the gallery. The images are downloadable for your personal use.



Related:

• VW Passat BlueMotion to debut in Geneva
• VW considering bringing the Polo to the US market
• VW to start UK sales of Polo BlueMotion in mid 2007

[Source: Volkswagen]