German Efficiency

The American government agency the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has released its report of the most fuel efficient cars on sale in America. While the new Honda Insight (see report on Hybrid Vehicles) came out on top of the fuel efficiency league, getting up to 70 mpg on the road, second place went to none other than the Volkswagen New Beetle TDi (diesel), which gets 42 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway.

Also at the top of the list were the Volkswagen Jetta/ Golf diesel, and the Audi TT Coupe, giving VW group good standing in the American market, where emission rules and fuel efficiency are becoming big issues.
The car industry's least fuel-efficient vehicle in the EPA report was the Ferrari 550 Maranello, getting just 8 mpg in the city and 13 mpg on the highway. BMW does not fare well in these stakes, with the least efficient mid size car going to the BMW 740, and the least efficient large car going to the BMW 750.
The U.S. government has recently passed a gas guzzler tax on any vehicle whose fuel economy fails to meet certain levels. Buying the Ferrari, for instance, would attract a $7,700 guzzler tax.

all Volkswagen Group communications and photos reproduced with permission of Volkswagen UK