To understand the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI you have to understand where it comes from: Just outside Chattanooga, TN there is a brand new, state-of-the-art, billion-dollar automotive production facility. The Passat is the only car they make in the new factory.

VW designed the new Passat at their headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. Better still, they designed the new Passat specifically for the American market. It’s noticeably bigger than the old Passat; in fact, it’s noticeably roomier inside than the Camry and the Accord.

The torque-tastic TDI gets 43 miles per gallon on the highway which makes it the new industry class leader beating out the Camry, Fusion, and Sonata hybrids – yes you read that correctly, the TDI clean diesel technology outperforms hybrids when it comes to fuel efficiency. And there’s no fuzzy hybrid technology to be concerned about later. Officially, the TDI has a range of 795 miles per tank.

Because they designed the new Passat for Americans, they chose to include an impressive list of standard features: Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, SiriusXM satellite radio, a sound system designed by Fender, and keyless remote entry and ignition in addition to the newfound legroom. The cockpit is both sleek and functionally convenient.

A Little More About Chattanooga

VW has created nearly 12,000 new jobs in Tennessee since opening the facility some months ago, on top of which they’ve taken some commendable strides toward green production.

They benefit from a number of environmental efficiencies including reflective white roofs on all buildings, a rainwater capture system that repurposes as much as 350,000 gallons of water every month for use in the plant’s cooling system and restrooms, high-efficiency lighting inside and out, and a high-efficiency paint application system.

When the cars are completed 80% of them are shipped by rail. When you consider that 85% of the 2,300 parts that make up the new Passat originate in North America, it makes for an impressive economic and environmental  strategy. It’s safe to say that Volkswagen has invested wisely in the great state of Tennessee. It was nothing short of uplifting touring the factory with twenty-plus automotive reporters who were noticeably taken by the sight of thousands of Americans working away proudly in quality manufacturing jobs.

“We are very proud of the new plant’s environmental efficiency. As well as collecting rainwater for re-use in the facility, we have reduced CO2 emissions by 20% in our paint process because we don’t use filler. There’s more: In most car plants, the waste paint (or overspray) turns into sludge that ends up getting diluted with 50,000 gallons of water a day. But the paint in our new factory drops onto dry limestone powder that is then recycled in a local cement kiln, thus saving all that water,” Mark Gillies, Manager, Product & Technology in Chattanooga.

TDI Means Clean Diesel

To be clear, we’re big fans of Volkswagen’s TDI clean diesel vehicles here at the Lazy E. To start, VW designs and produces excellent quality cars that are fun to drive. The TDI relies on a very advanced transmission that results in peppy yet smooth, high torque acceleration. Josh has owned his TDI wagon for more than a year now (yes, he paid retail, no hookups involved).

Diesel is very popular throughout the rest of the world, including much of Europe. As the price of gasoline continues to rise steadily, we’re predicting you’ll see more diesel cars here in the States, especially when you consider the superior fuel efficiency to the hybrids without the price premium typically associated with those models. Good for the planet, good for your wallet, and good for your leggy friends in the backseat.