Mercedes unveils its superefficient BlueEfficiency diesel engine; Hurricane Ike keeps Gulf oil rigs shuttered; and energy making bacteria from a compost heap.

Mercedes to Launch New ‘BlueEfficiency’ Diesel: The 2009 model year is shaping up as a bellwether for next-generation “clean diesel.” Mercedes is the latest to enter the new diesel derby, announcing Wednesday that it will soon be producing a 2.2-liter four-cylinder powerplant dubbed “BlueEfficiency.” The turbocharged engine is expected to bang out 204 horsepower and achieve 45 MPG. Europeans can expect BlueEfficiency C-Class sedans in the near future. Mercedes hints that a version of the engine might eventually make it to North American roads. (Edmunds)

Paris Preview: more information about the Nissan Nuvu, no pics yet: With the Paris Auto Show less than a month away, expect plenty of news about green can rollouts. Nissan has begun to hint about a new all-electric concept car they’ll be unveiling in Paris: the Nuvu. It’s apparently a small car in the same class as the Smart, and showcases the technologies Nissan is likely to adopt for a 2010 production model. The company hasn’t released any images yet, but says the car is about 3 meters long and seats two, with an additional jumpseat in the back. (Autoblog Green)

Oil bounces $1 higher, weighing Ike vs dollar: While Hurricane Ike appears likely to miss the Gulf’s densest concentration of offshore oil platforms, the storm’s approach is keeping most production shut down for a second straight week. Crews were still surveying damage from Hurricane Gustav when they were forced to lock things down for Ike. Oil opened abouta dollar a barrel higher on asian markets Thursday as investors fret over possible October delivery delays. (Reuters)

White Washed: Could a Coat of Paint Fight Global Warming?: The Wall Street Journal reports that some very old green technology could cut modern cooling bills. Scientists at Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory in California have been examining the efficiency of whitewashing buildings. The practice is very common in warm regions, such as along the Mediterranean. The Berkely researchers think whitewashing contemporary structures could reduce fuel bills — and a vast amount of carbon dioxide that would have been produced to meet peak summer air conditioning demand. (WSJ.com)

Compost Heap Bacteria Could Provide 10% Of UK Transport Fuel Needs: British researchers have discovered a bacteria suitable for cellulosic ethanol production in a logical place: the compost heap. The team says the potent bacteria could eventually help meet 10 percent of the UK’s transportation energy needs. Cellulosic ethanol utilizes wood shavings, garden refuse, and other non-food plant stocks to produce renewable biofuels. (Science Daily)