Below is a guest post written for Mapawatt.  As you may know, I love my high mileage VW Jetta TDI.  A few nights ago I drove from Atlanta, GA to Birmingham, AL and got 48 MPG!  Excited to see other technologies that will help drivers save money at the pump!  If you haven't heard, the Obama administration is proposing a rule to raise the fuel economy standards to 54.5 MPG by 2025 for cars and light trucks.  Some think that is too strict, but keep in mind that if you conceived a child tonight, that child would be a few years away from getting his/her learners  permit by 2025.  VW doesn't seem to market BlueMotion that aggressively in the U.S. but instead simply markets TDI Clean Diesel and Hybrids.  I just learned about the new Jetta turbo-charged hybrid and I have to say it looks pretty nice.  I'm hoping one day they'll marry a TDI to a plug-in hybrid to get the best of both worlds.

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The new VW fuel-efficient models are geared toward helping people get to and from their destinations efficiently as possible. Obviously, gas prices continue to rise and Americans are searching for ways to save money. Many of us make long morning commutes to our job or take trips to see our families. Either way, fuel-efficiency enters the equation.

VW introduced BlueMotion Technology to the market in 2005 and has continued to develop the gas-saving science program. Ahead of the competition in technology, attractiveness of design and now making waves in the world of fuel economy, Volkswagen is giving drivers many reasons to drive German again. The company recently conducted a fuel-economy challenge, comparing its Golf 103 TDI Comfortline technology with its BlueMotion technology. In all areas, even price, the Golf came out on top.

Breaking Records

A 2010 test drive of the Volkswagen Passat with BlueMotion technology displayed the vehicles gas-saving abilities. The vehicle's performance broke a Guinness World Record, going 45 miles per hour and clocking in at 1,526.63 miles on one tank of fuel, which is 74.8 miles to the gallon. Not bad, considering the price of gas in the U.S.

Anyone can benefit from saving that much gas. If you are in the market for a fuel-efficient vehicle, test drive one of these models at a place like Phoenix Volkswagen. Break out the calculator and figure out the money you could save every day with one of these cars. Gas prices are unlikely to drop significantly anytime soon, so consider buying a fuel-efficient car an investment.

The Challenge

For the fuel-use challenge, the company used four models of their vehicles, all with TDI engines and weighing in at 1346 kg for the Golf, to the 2159 kg in the Touareg. There were two courses charted for the challenge: Two cars ran on one course, and the SUV models ran on the other course. While the Golf didn't have the easiest amount of control going downhill on rugged terrain, it held up just as well if not better in terms of high miles to gallon.

As far as performance, all models but the Touareg performed well, but if the test were conducted in real-world conditions, and not two rugged courses in Australia, it's likely that all four cars would have achieved better stats in fuel economy than other cars on the market.

What is BlueMotion Technology?

First released in 2005, the BlueMotion Polo model was the most fuel-efficient vehicle with the lowest CO2 emissions. The fuel-saving vehicle is powered by a 1.6-liter common rail TDI (Turbo-charged Direct Injection) engine, stop-start technology, has a sleek aerodynamic body, low rolling tires and longer holding gears. Now, seven years later, Volkswagen hopes to take this technology further and is working on the release of an electrically powered prototype set to be released after 2013.

Discover Why BlueMotion Technology is Better

Fuel efficiency is great for saving money, but consuming less natural resources from the earth is better for everyone. Using alternative means for energy is an investment in the future. At first, you not might think you can afford a fuel-efficient vehicle. Yes, you can. Think about all the money you will save on oil changes, at the gas pump and in getting your car serviced. You can avoid all these expenses if you pay more up front for a vehicle that is better for yourself and everyone.