With all the hoopla about our nation hitting a 35.5 mile per gallon (MPG) average for new cars and trucks by 2016, its easy to lose sight of some simple facts. The original goal set forth by the Bush administration was 35 MPG by 2020. The Obama administration has simply proposed that we speed up the effort by four years and turn up the dial on fuel efficiency.
It’s a great feeling knowing that someone has been listening. We’ve been banging the drum here at MPGomatic for two years now.
An average of 35.5 MPG is not a lofty goal, even in this shortened time frame. Back in March of 2008, MPGomatic opened some eyeballs and raised a lot of eyebrows when we published 35 MPG: Why Wait Until 2020, an article that provided details on the export-only fuel-efficient diesel-powered cars and SUVs that Chrysler builds right here in North America, half of which already hit the 35 MPG mark. Hundreds of thousands of folks have read that article and learned the truth over the past fourteen months.
In Europe, 35 MPG isn’t a goal. It’s the norm.
America need not and must not fear this change. We must embrace it with the realization that it is the best way forward.
It’s back to the future time. The average price for diesel fuel in the U.S. is currently lower than regular unleaded gasoline. While retail costs are on the rise across the board, the rate of rise for gasoline has exceeded that of diesel fuel.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is currently $2.240 per gallon in the U.S., while the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel is $2.216. Price differentials vary on a region by region basis, with the cost of diesel exceeding regular unleaded gasoline in many locations. The diesel price advantage is highest in the Midwest, where a gallon of regular unleaded averages $2.257 and diesel fuel averages $2.156.
It’s unclear whether this trend will continue as we enter the summer driving season, when gas prices typically peak. If it does, sales of fuel efficient clean diesels like the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and BMW 335d are sure to increase. Continue reading →
I was inspired to knock out a quick CNN iReport this morning, based on the recent developments in Washington. While this might not be what you expect, it goes right to the heart of the matter at GM. I recently had the chance to review a Pontiac G8 GT back-to-back with a BMW 335d. After evaluating each car for a week, I was impressed with both. For the folks that think that GM can’t build a car that’s competitive with the imports, I can only suggest that they take a G8 GT out for a test drive.
What a difference half a year makes. At the peak of the gas price bubble last summer, hybrid vehicles were in short supply. Some dealers were tacking on thousands in “market-adjustment” ploys. And here we are, six months or so later and there’s a glut of hybrids sitting on dealer lots. An article in today’s LA Times spells it out in detail.
But in these crazy times, it seems, there are still vehicles that are commanding premiums over the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). We’ve heard numerous stories about Volkswagen dealers charging well over the MSRP sticker price for new Jetta TDI clean diesels. And needless to say, it doesn’t make us very happy.
We can understand the demand. Our week-long 2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI test drive proved the point … this is one of the best vehicles for the money in America today.
For the good of the brand – and for clean diesel’s acceptance in America – market demand must not be allowed to provoke greed.
If Volkswagen is to market their cars as the People’s Cars, they must exert pressure on their dealers to stop the unfortunate practice of selling Jetta TDIs for above MSRP. We fully understand that it’s tough to be a car dealer at the moment, but a smash and grab sales tactic sullies the brand over the long run, purely for short-term dealer gain.
MPG-o-Matic BMW 335d Review Summary:. The 2009 BMW 335d sets a new standard for performance-oriented sedans, by delivering a remarkable combination of fuel economy, acceleration, handling, and electronics.
The 2009 BMW 335d is like nothing else on the road in America today. While it looks, for all intents and purposes, like typical 3-series BMW, the 335d’s game-changing clean diesel engine transforms the car into a tour de force to be reckoned with.
MPG-o-Matic BMW 335d Review Summary: . The 2009 BMW 335d sets a new standard for performance-oriented sedans, by delivering a remarkable combination of fuel economy, acceleration, handling, and electronics. 
