THE Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel has been honoured at the Los Angeles Motor Show by the Green Car Journal, being crowned ‘2009 Green Car of the Year’.

The Jetta, which took centre stage at the Los Angeles Show, is the first diesel vehicle to receive the award.

A jury of nine environmental and automotive experts from North America commended the Jetta TDI for its strong performance, fuel economy and low emissions.

Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal, said: “Hybrids have dominated the discussion of environmentally positive vehicles in recent years.

“The highly fuel efficient, 50 state emissions-certified Jetta TDI shows that advanced clean diesel has arrived and is poised to change this dynamic. With its refined ride and handling, and high fuel economy, the Jetta TDI shows that hybrids now have a strong competitor in the marketplace.”

The Jetta uses a 2.0-litre four cylinder common rail TDI engine producing 140 horsepower.

Two key modifications have been made to the ‘Clean Diesel’ engine to substantially reduce the Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions. And as a further measure to reduce emissions, a highly-efficient NOx storage catalytic converter soaks up any nitrogen oxides which remain. This filter is cleaned regularly, and without the driver knowing.

VW says these modifications make the Jetta TDI one of the cleanest and most fuel efficient vehicles on sale.

It meets the strictest emissions regulations in the world, including BIN5 standard, which is equivalent to the Euro 6 standard, which becomes law in 2014.