LOS ANGELES --- Green Car Journal named Volkswagen's 2009 Jetta TDI its Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, making it the first clean-diesel vehicle to win the annual prize.

The quarterly magazine, which covers developments in environmentally friendly cars and fuel efficiency, said it is the first time it has given the award to any diesel-powered vehicle.

The Jetta TDI, which Volkswagen debuted in Los Angeles a year ago, gets 41 mpg on the highway, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. It has a suggested retail price of $21,990 for the sedan and $23,590 for the SportWagen version.

The Jetta beat out four other finalists: Smart Fortwo, Ford Fusion Hybrid, BMW 335d and Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid.

In other news from the auto show, which concludes Sunday:

- Mazda Motor Corp. showed off a completely redesigned update of its Mazda3 sedan and later showed off photos of the upcoming hatchback wagon version.

The new Mazda3 has an updated design, improved performance and new features to improve safety and fuel-economy.

The second generation of the company's best-selling vehicle has a 2-liter four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder that borrowed from the larger Mazda6 boosts horsepower to 167. Still, fuel mileage has improved.

- Ferrari's California coupe made its North American debut, adding another high-end roadster to the Italian automaker's lineup.

The carmaker is paying more attention to fuel economy with the California -- something new for Ferrari, whose other fuel-swilling race cars get no more than 16 mpg.

EPA mileage ratings have not bee released yet for the California, which sports a 460-horsepower V-8 and can go 193 mph. The car also features a retractable hard-top roof.

- Although Nissan Motor Co. unveiled several new cars for the show, it reported this week that it is pulling out of this winter's Detroit and Chicago auto shows, citing the tough economy and the lack of new vehicles to unveil.

Nissan is the latest and biggest automaker to withdraw from Detroit's North American International Auto Show, scheduled to take place in January. Mitsubishi, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Suzuki have all said they will not attend. The Chicago show is in February.