The VW Polo BlueMotion is one of the most fuel efficient internal combustion vehicles available on the market in Europe with CO₂ emissions of just 99 g/km and consumption of 48/74 mpg on the European driving cycles. Volkswagen has never offered the Polo in the U.S. market because when it was affordable (due to exchange rates) there wasn't much demand for such cars here. More recently, when the company could have used such a car here with rising fuel prices, the weak dollar has made it prohibitively expensive. Jim Motavalli has driven the Polo in Europe and wants one here. Will we ever get to see it? According to VW spokesman Jim Gill, we won't get the current generation Polo. However a redesigned version is a couple of years off and if fuel prices continue to climb the company would consider it. Now that a new plant for VW is being built in Tennessee, the company certainly has the option of building such cars here at lower cost than importing them from Europe. We shall see.

[Source: New York Times]

Huge demand in Great Britain for Volkswagen's BlueMotion variants of the Polo and Golf has prompted the company to restrict sales to fleet markets. Requirements for local councils and other agencies to meet efficiency and greenhouse gas standards has prompted many of them to opt for the fuel thrifty Germans. Unfortunately, fleet buyers could have absorbed the entire vehicle allotment for the country. Volkswagen also wants the cars available in dealer showrooms for retail sales as waiting times for the cars across Europe are three times that for conventional VW models. Volkswagen has also limited deliveries to car rental companies like Green Motion and car sharing clubs like Streetcar. The Polo BlueMotion is rated at only 99g/km for CO2 emissions while the larger Golf BlueMotion is under 120g/km.

[Source: BusinessCar]

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]

Australian motoring site CARSguide has done a round-up of affordable, practical and economical vehicle options on the local market. Looking at sub-$40,000 transport, their complete list of criteria in weighing up the models was:

• Economy - the claimed fuel consumption in combined conditions and likely running costs, based in part on the NRMA's annually compiled data.
• Practicality - size, number of seats and doors, and boot space.
• Value - purchase price, standard gear and quality.
• Image - a bit subjective, but even a practical purchase isn't without an emotional quotient.
• Driving - derived from CARSguide's on-road experiences.

Vehicles scored out of 25 include the Honda Jazz GLi, Mazda 6, Suzuki Swift Sport, Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V and the Honda Civic Hybrid. The highest scoring car with 20/25 was the Mazda 6 MZR-CD diesel hatch which offers outstanding fuel economy with great practicality and size.

Analysis: Fuel economy has always been a factor in car reviews but it seems to be gaining more and more importance in this world of rising fuel prices. Great work from Mazda to take the diesel fight to the Europeans. I'll tell you what though, from the look of this list Honda must be doing something right as well.

Related:

• Geneva Preview: New Mazda 2 has its coming out party
• Mazda's Hakaze design concept offers "acceptable" fuel economy
• Brisbane Motor Show: Diesel vehicles feature

[Source: CARSguide]