click above image for high-res gallery of the Volvo C30 Efficiency

In what sounds like an extremely unsurprising move, Volvo is planning on introducing more small cars and more diesel engines. Certainly, timing could not be better as small cars are handily outselling their larger, less fuel-efficient older brothers. Diesel engines are beginning to make a comeback of sorts in the U.S. market as Volkswagen, long the only automaker still holding the inexpensive diesel flag in the states, has reintroduced its TDI engine and such automakers as BMW and Porsche are planning on offering oil burners to their customers shortly. We would absolutely be ecstatic to see a vehicle like the C30 Efficiency concept, which was shown off at the last Motor Show in Frankfurt, introduced to the U.S. market. That concept car, with its 1.6 liter diesel engine, posted extremely good fuel economy numbers of over fifty miles per gallon. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, wouldn't you agree?

[Source: Just-Auto - sub. req'd]

Better late than never, right? It's totally my fault that AutoblogGreen Podcast #12 is so late in coming, but here it is! Episode 12 is a Frankfurt recap show, and John Neff from Autoblog.com joins Sebastian and Sam to talk about some of the highlights of the dual-personality (green and not so green) Frankfurt Motor Show. There's lots of discussion about the coming E-Flex versus Hybrid Synergy Drive smackdown, the 17 new models coming from Mercedes by 2010, many of them diesels, the Volvo C30 Efficiency kicks off discussion about plucking the low-hanging efficiency fruit, and the 'cast wraps up with further punditry about Diesel regs in the US versus the EU. It's a wide-ranging discussion clocking in at 41 minutes, enjoy!

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