Brit magazine tries out the new Audi TT TDI

We've written here previously about Audi's new TDI version of the TT sports car and having sampled numerous other diesels recently. It's a shame this one isn't being offered in the U.S. What Car? has had a chance to to drive the TT TDI and it sounds like they really liked the 44mpg sportster. Diesel engines have a reputation for being low revving and while this one certainly won't reach the lofty heights of most gas engined sports cars it easily revs past 5,000rpm and has almost constant torque everywhere. The refined nature of the VW/Audi 2.0L diesel means that most observers will never realize what kind of fuel it consumes. This same engine in a slightly lower power tune is the one that will propel the Jetta TDI starting this summer. Please, Audi, bring the TT TDI to the U.S. market.

Plug-in Hybrid school bus gets 70% reduction in fuel consumption

Enova Systems has been collaborating with IC Bus for the past couple of years to build a series of plug-in hybrid school buses for testing purposes. Enova recently had an independent CARB-certified lab conduct dynamometer tests on a pair of PHEV school buses to compare the fuel consumption and emissions against conventional models. Enova's system is designed to be installed downstream of the transmission so that it can be easily adapted to buses and drivetrains from different manufacturers. One 2007 and one 2008 IC Bus Series CE bus with different engines and transmissions were tested on a West Virginia University Suburban Test Cycle designed to emulate a typical school bus duty cycle. In the tests, the PHEV buses saw a 70 percent reduction in diesel fuel consumption. Carbon dioxide emissions were cut by 40 percent while soot and NOx were reduced by 30 and 20 percent, respectively. IC Bus has also decided to cut the $200,000+ of the hybrid buses by $40,000. Currently there are 19 of the Enova equipped buses running in eleven states.

Nissan to get more electric by 2010

The media has given a lot of attention to Toyota and GM in the race for automotive electrification. After all, many of the other current players in the game license their technology from the likes of these two. Nissan has remained relatively quiet in the competition though, sitting behind its Hypermini small electric vehicle and Hybrid Altima, the latter of which happens to be the result of one of those previously mentioned licensing deals. The recent 2008 New York Auto Show saw Nissan taking things a step further, however, with the unveiling of an electric Cube concept that's expected to hit production by 2010. According to Carlos Ghosn, it's just the beginning of a worldwide full electric lineup for Nissan and its alliance partner Renault. The run up of oil prices and, of course, the current marketing trend that makes being environmentally aware the hip thing for squares, makes the future market for electrified vehicles a more viable prospect. Technological advances, especially in batteries, have also made an electric venture more economical. Mr. Ghosn expects a global mass market for electric vehicles by 2012 and fully anticipates that Nissan will be a part of that band wagon. The Chief Executive also hopes to push demand through the creation of government tax incentives for zero-emission vehicles, making their lifetime cost to consumers below that of any gasoline chugger. Good luck, Ghosn!

Lotus Eagle

Meet the Lotus Eagle in camo. This spy photo give us the best look yet at Lotus’ all-new sports car an Elise-based 2+2 called the Eagle. The hard-top Eagle features room in the back for two small passengers and swaps the Elise’s four-cylinder engine for a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6. The Eagle looks very similar to the Europa, but with a longer wheelbase. Sitting above that car in the company’s range, the Eagle will be the most refined and practical model to come from the Elise platform. The Eagle should get a proper name and shed the extra bulk at the corners in time for this summer’s London Motor Show, sales will start toward the end of the year.

Toyota to make a bigger iQ, no hybrid model

We got to see Toyota's iQ in production form at the last Geneva Motor Show, and so far, we like what we see. We're still waiting for specific details regarding what will power the "small yet premium " 3+1 and whether or not it'll make it over to the states. Already, though, we are hearing that there could be a larger version of the vehicle built on the same platform. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose? Maybe, but it could also help Toyota to defray the cost of the vehicle, which shares no major components with other Toyota models. The larger model could allow Toyota to compete with both the smart fortwo and the Mini, not to mention VW's upcoming up!. In other iQ news, Toyota is reportedly not planning on adding a hybrid option to the iQ, instead relying on a choice of two gas and one diesel-powered engine options. The reasoning behind not offering a hybrid relates again to the size of the vehicle. There's just no room to store a battery. Plus, the battery would add too much weight to the little car. Stop/start, though, is expected to make an appearance here.