BMW email gatecrashes Prius launch

Just as Toyota honcho Dave Buttner was getting to the best bit, the $39,900 starting price, the press desks began to tinkle and vibrate.

My computer pinged to announce the arrival of an urgent email at the same time as Blackberries on either side did their thing for the same incoming mail.

Journalists cannot resist this sort of temptation so I switched focus and discover an urgent update on green motoring in Australia - from BMW!

It could be a coincidence that BMW Group chose 2:07pm on Monday to reveal that its diesel-powered 118, the 2008 Green Car of the Year, is coming downunder. But probably not.

BMW Group has been running a tough anti-hybrid campaign this year and working hard to position diesel as the best choice for eco-friendly motoring. It says new-age turbodiesels are the economy leader and also deliver commendable emission advantages over regular unleaded.

Toyota disagrees. Some T-brand executives in Australia talk openly about 'evil diesel', based on the fuel's heavy emission of both carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.

Minutes after the BMW email, Toyota Australia's product planning chief Ashley Edwards goes on the offensive, targeting the BMW Group's Mini diesel, which was the first member of the sub-four litre economy club in Australia.

"None of the diesel vehicles available in Australia produces fewer emissions than new Prius," Edwards says.

"The greenhouse-gas and air-pollution emissions of diesel vehicles are much higher than Prius. With just 89 grams per kilometre, Prius is Australia's greenest car.

Edwards even goes head-on against the Mini diesel, acknowledging its 3.9L/100km economy before slamming its production of more than 56 times the oxides of nitrogen.

"Toyota's view is that more hybrid vehicles populating our roads, instead of diesels, will be less harmful to the environment," he says.