WOLFSBURG, Germany — Volkswagen said it is prepping a 52 mpg Golf BlueMotion for debut next month at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. The Golf BlueMotion will arrive in showrooms in Germany at the end of 2007, and the betting is there will be a neo-Rabbit Diesel sibling for American buyers within the year.

The announcement of what VW is calling "the most economical model in the Golf range" comes on the heels of last week's news that Volkswagen has decided to return to its own TDI branding for diesel vehicles in 2008. The thinking is that the Bluetec brand is too closely associated with rival Mercedes-Benz.

But in the meantime, VW seems to be wholeheartedly embracing its own BlueMotion badging for the latest generation of clean diesels, noting that six new BlueMotion models will dominate its Frankfurt stand in September. The Golf joins the Polo, Passat and Passat Estate as brands wearing BlueMotion badging. VW did not spell out which other models will be featured at Frankfurt.

The Golf BlueMotion has a range of 745 miles and will start at $28,151 when it debuts in Germany later this year. A gradual European rollout is planned and markets like the United Kingdom will get the latest member of the VW BlueMotion lineup in early 2008.

The Golf BlueMotion is fitted with a new TDI engine that makes 105 horsepower and a hefty 184 pound-feet of torque. The car gets some aerodynamic tweaks, including a lowered chassis, to help boost fuel economy. It is outfitted with 15-inch "light-running" tires and has a top speed of 118 mph.

What this means to you: For VW's upcoming generation of clean diesels, the names BlueMotion and TDI are virtually synonymous.