Clean Diesel Cars Competing with Hybrids at the LA Show

The LA motor show is not what it used to be, as diesel engines get more and more attention. It’s not only about people who want to save fuel anymore. Most people need to save fuel, as America is still affected by the recession.

Clean diesel cars are competing for attention. The 2010 Audi A3 TDI and the VW Golf TDI are competing against three hybrid electric models for 2010 Green Car of the Year Award, sponsored by Green Car Journal. Last year’s award winner was another clean diesel, the VW Jetta TDI. Other appreciated clean diesel cars at the LA show include models from brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz models.

“Clean diesel technology continues to prove its competitiveness in real-world fuel economy, environmental and on-road performance," said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry educational trade group based in Washington, DC, with offices in Sacramento.

"These news developments at the LA Auto Show illustrate why it is so important to attack automotive fuel economy and environmental challenges with a multi-pronged technology approach," Schaeffer said.

"For example, pairing a clean diesel engine with an electric motor provides hybrid vehicles even better fuel economy than they already get with a gasoline engine. There aren't many limits on where diesel technology can take us in terms of squeezing as much mileage from a drop of fuel as possible while maintaining the safety, comfort and on-road performance cars drivers demand," Schaeffer said.