I won't go in depth telling you all the specifications of the new diesel engine that is going into various VW's with the TDI moniker starting early in 2008, if you are interested in knowing more about them, click here. What I will mention is that these vehicles will mark the first Jetta's sold with diesel engines in all 50 states since '99. And it will be available in a wagon body style! Woo hoo! Could these vehicles be exactly what the middle-class green market is looking for? Could be, and I am looking forward to seeing how they drive. Stay tuned!

[Source: Autoblog]

2007 Jetta 2.0. Click here for a high-resolution image gallery of VW clean technologies.

While the strict diesel emission requirements were tough for automakers to adjust to, today's news from the D.C. Auto Show proves that they've still got what it takes to live up to the clean air laws that the people ask for. We've heard about the 2007 Ram 2500/3500 pickup and the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD (and, of course, the non-diesel hydrogen Edge PHEV) and now comes Volkswagen with their new Jetta TDI, which they're billing as the cleanest diesel VW has ever sold in the U.S. The 50-state legal Jetta uses BlueTec urea injection to meet the low emissions standards, with the "engine management system in the Jetta (changing) operating modes periodically to treat the NOx that has been stored in the catalytic converter" along with a particulate filter in the exhaust system.

To prove it's been in the diesel business for a while, Volkswagen also announced today a search for the oldest running and highest-mileage VW diesels in America. It's likely the oldest diesel will be a Rabbit diesel (VW says it sold 12,393 in 1977). The highest-mileage VW diesel must have its original engine. If you think you've got one of these cars, check with VW starting in March (and continuing through at least August) for details on how to enter your car. The winners will get to drive a 2007 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI for six months.

Press releases on both stories are after the jump.

Related:

• Volkswagen betting each way on powertrain technologies

[Source: VW]