Howdy Webriders! While the various automakers prepare for the event in Geneva, the rest of the world gets to wait in anticipation, as most details are kept secret. I for one think I know what the Volkswagen Group is going to be emphasizing this year, so hit the jump for Dr. VW’s bet on the TDI being big in Geneva!

The TDI engine is going to be front and center this year. While the TDI is not exactly new technology, the US has always given diesels the cold shoulder until the most recent Jetta TDI won various awards and firmly established itself as a “green” car. With those successes as support, the VW group appears to be extending the TDI’s presence over to its other brands and lines, with the Audi A3 TDI being a notable addition to the line up. I would venture to say that a TDI Rabbit and/or Tiguan isn’t out of the realm of possibility. A diesel rabbit isn’t unprecedented, as they have been sporadically offered in the past; meanwhile a TDI Tiguan makes sense, as it adds a tint of green to an already pretty trendy crossover to match that of its older brother, the Touareg 2. What does this mean for the VW group? Well if Audi is willing to add “eco class” technology to its luxury models, then perhaps a shift is beginning to take shape where the American market more closely resembles the European one in terms of efficiency; seeing as diesel models for most (if not all) these cars have been available forever.

I for one would seriously consider a TDI Rabbit… since it would probably get somewhere in the neighborhood of Prius territory MPG’s with a LOT classier looks and better European build quality. Looks like we’ll have to wait and see what turns up in Geneva!

Dr. VW- out.