Green Volkswagen

Volkswagen's new mid-sized sedan designed for the American market will carry the Passat name and offer an optional diesel engine, the company announced Sunday evening. According to Automotive News, VW is counting on the diesel option a 2.0-liter turbocharged TDI four-cylinder clean diesel with 140 hp to be one of the most competitive features of the new Passat. It is expected to have a highway fuel economy rating of 43 miles per gallon the second highest of any vehicle sold in the United States after the Toyota Prius hybrid. Click here for an image of the Passat. The new Passat will be officially unveiled today during media previews for the Detroit Auto Show. While many Americans have failed to embrace diesel engines, VW is counting on a new generation of clean diesel engines to meet more stringent fuel economy standards. The diesel engine will also make the Passat more competitive with hybrid versions of the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, and Hyundai Sonata. The new Passat will be built at VW's new $1 billion plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., and will go on sale in the third quarter with a starting price of about $20,000. Click here for the latest on VW's new Passat.