Ice Cube

Everyone remembers yesterday's diesels had trouble starting in the cold. But Volkswagen claims its TDI Clean Diesels' direct injection technology allows them to start at temperatures down to -40°. To put them to the test, the company wheeled a new Golf TDI into a freezer to simulate the winter temperatures of Yakutsk, Siberia, the world's coldest city. More surprising than the results is that Volkswagen claims the TDI could have gone even colder, but was limited by safety concerns for those conducting the test.