Volkswagen has used the Geneva Motor Show to premiere its ultra-clean BlueTDI diesel technology in the Touareg BlueTDI SUV. The vehicle features a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) cat-converter that reduces nitrogen dioxide (NOx) emissions by up to 90%, while still delivering a healthy 165kW.

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The US currently has the world’s strictest emissions rulings with its Tier2 Bin5 regulations, and the Touareg BlueTDI is one of the first diesel powered vehicles that can meet this tough limit. The US standard specifies among other things a NOx limit of 0.043g/km.

VW will be offering this new model next year, initially in the US, as part of the BlueTec Alliance started together with Audi and DaimlerChrysler at the end of last year. Also slated for 2008 will be the introduction of the smaller Jetta diesel equipped with the clean-diesel technology. Sales in Europe will follow soon after.