Another car we can't have...

[Safety Guy]

Saw an ad/article for this just now:

http://www.greencar.com/articles/vw-polo-bluemotion-tops-70-mpg.php

"VW Bluemotion Polo." Taller gearing than their regular diesel Polo (that's right, two models of Polo diesel!) gets up to 48 city and 74 highway.

Get this:

"Now for the real shocker: the Polo BlueMotion is super clean, producing less C02 than a Toyota Prius ... and it does this without a hybrid's advantage of shutting off the engine while stopped. The Polo BlueMotion has both quick reacting oxidation catalytic converter and a diesel particulate filter. CO2 is just 99g/km; the Prius produces 104g/km.

VW currently has no plans to bring the hyper-efficient Polo BlueMotion to the North American market. If it did, this model would be a bit pricy for this vehicle class, but the reward of exceptional fuel economy would be, in our opinion, well worth the premium. Would the most economical five seater in Europe play well in America? We say, 'bring it on!'"

Huh.

Karl

[sketchman]

:angry1::angry1::angry1:

[ejp2fast]

all the efficient cars are across both ponds!

[Pu241]

I guess that's why we have to build/mod our own!
Wonder what reasoning VW used to decide not to bring the more efficient model over here.
I could well see that until fuel reached 4-$5/gallon they may not sell in high enough numbers, except for those of use who look ahead.

Some will say safety considerations!
Maybe, but it's unfortunate that we can't get a high MPG vehicle without loading it down with safety systems that most of us on here do not have anyway.
Will we any deader in a Polo than in a Festiva if we get hit my a chain smoking cell phone talking soccer mom in an SUV(X)?

[doylerl]

That is just a SWEET car! It's a shame they won't let us have it...

[TominMO]

Only lack of demand is keeping it from coming here. Remember that gas is over twice as expensive in Europe. When we get more expensive gas, we will get this kind of car because there will then be a market demand for it.

[chrisofna]

We are American, we don't want no stinkin' diesel!*

*Joke people. I would love to have a diesel Rabbit.

[Pu241]

Got one Chrisofna!
What you willing to pay?
Have a newly rebuilt IP to go into it as well!

[sketchman]

Someone could just do a "proper" Diesel Festiva. The one that was posted here not too long ago was interesting, but to give up all hope of acceleration is too much to ask IMO.

I have no experience with diesels, but it seems like if you kept is small enough to be sipping while cruising and sized a turbo to spool just above that, you'd get reasonable power with economy, right? Or do Festivas cruise at a low enough RPM to do that?

[freshtiva]

I love it and want one !!!

[sipderdoc]

is much like the vw fox

[freshtiva]

Another car we cant get

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GVfFCH-7_c

[Safety Guy]

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,

Yeah, that looked fun!

Karl

[Gforcefd]

Freshtiva but at least there are plans out there to build Ariel Atom's, sure it might take a lot of time, money, and skills many of us don't have, but we can still build and license them

[1988festivazoom]

isuzu diesel 2.2l from a carrier refer unit. will consume 20 gallons of diesel at full throttle in 36 hours roughly.... and an added turob would make it roughly 140hp with a ton of torque. i work on the engines all the time and have thought about it.... they are designed to run wot and get good economy and long life. we have on unit with over 30,000 hours on it and it still runs like a top!