There are only two weeks left to vote for your pick for the 2013 Diesel Car of the Year and the 2013 Diesel Car Manufacturer of the Year. Cars from five automakers are in the running: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen. This year’s stellar field of nominees includes eight passenger cars; the Audi A3 […]
2014 BMW 535d This is a review that I first started to write several years ago, when the BMW 335d was my daily driver. As much as I loved that car, my imagination went wild and I longed for the larger, more luxurious 5 Series as a diesel. The BMW 335d was half of the […]
In 1975, BMW introduced the 3 Series, a model that has consistently set the standard for sports sedans. The 3er was introduced as the successor to the BMW Neue Klasse (BMW New Class), which included the BMW 1602 and 2002, among other models. Together with the 5 Series, which replaced the New Six (the 2500, […]
There are myriad good reasons for purchasing a diesel-powered automobile. These include incredible fuel economy, amazing torque, and greater reliability compared to gasoline engines. Because diesel engines are known to last far longer than their gasoline counterparts, they have commanded higher resale values as well. Sales figures show that more people are buying diesels than […]
Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec The 18-month mark of a long-term test car is a bittersweet moment. In one respect, we’ve gotten to know the car really well over the past year and a half. On the other hand, we know its time with us is coming to a close. Our 2011 Palladium Silver Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec […]
Volkswagen, the current market leader in U.S. diesel sales, will offer a diesel model of the Beetle and will debut the Beetle TDI (which stands for “turbocharged direct injection”) at the Chicago Auto Show next week. The Beetle TDI is expected to offer 29 mpg (8.11 l/100 km) in city driving and 39 mpg (6 […]
Today, a new car buyer in the U.S. looking for a diesel can choose among models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. That could soon change if General Motors starts to offer the Chevrolet Cruze, currently the most popular new car in the U.S., with a diesel engine. The Associated Press is reporting that a […]
Coming to America this September Porsche Cayenne Diesel in Reutte, Austria While the idea of a Porsche SUV was somewhat controversial in 2002 when the Porsche Cayenne was introduced, it was met with great success and turned out to be a true high-performance SUV, with excellent handling and powerful engines including a V-8 and a […]
A report based on an analysis of emissions tests performed by the ADAC, Germany’s largest auto club, as part of its EcoTest program revealed that some automakers have been able to meet the latest European NOx emissions standards under realistic driving conditions, while others were not. The report, released by the European Federation for Transport […]
The roughly 400 km (249 mile) drive from New York City to Washington D.C. and back (another 400 km) used most – but not all – of the Montego Blue BMW 335d’s fuel, reported Paul Riegler, our contributing editor. In terms of fuel economy, the 335d used 6.0 l/100 km (39 mpg) on the traffic […]
If you’re an automotive journalist who regularly reviews cars, there’s nothing like 14 winter storms in your neck of the woods to stop you dead in your tracks. Few automakers equip their cars with winter tires and no-season (our term for all-season) tires aren’t effective for driving following a significant snowfall. In hindsight, January 2014 […]
Last November, I drove the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec sedan from New York to Boston and back and promptly fell in love. The trip of 331 km (206 miles) took three hours and my fuel consumption was 6.7 l/100 km (35 mpg). The return trip of 335 km (208 miles) took a little longer but my […]
One car here may someday be talking to the other The U.S. Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the University of Michigan Traffic Research Institute and automotive electronics maker Denso, have launched a year-long study testing two prototypes of their Talking Car technology. Connected vehicle technologies have been in development by Denso and other brands […]
While we only picked up our long-term 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI back in February of this year, our relationship with the new built-for-America Jetta started in the summer of 2010, when The Diesel Driver was the only U.S. publication invited to drive the diesel Jetta at the press launch. Designed specifically for the American market, […]