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Diesels in the News
quote- Maloney also told dealers that Isuzu will develop a new diesel engine in the 3-liter class that will be sold in the United States. No date has been set for the diesel.-end
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101711
Another manufacturer to add diesel.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101711
Another manufacturer to add diesel.
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Amid all the hoopla surrounding hybrid cars and fuel cell technology at this year's Detroit auto show, lost in the din was diesel, the lowly fuel of trucks and tractors now quietly touted as one of the best ways to stretch the nation's mileage.
I'm happy to see the culprits (large commercial vehicles) of the greatest source of diesel pollution being targeted, instead of the cleanest (private passenger vehicles.
Another factor, Pratt said, will be "competing technologies such as more fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel options that will be available after 2006."
The current Jeep Liberty diesel engine is ok, but is only rated at 21/27 mpg. Granted, the Jeep is a box of a vehicle and 500 lbs heavier. Also, thinking over the next 20 years, diesels for passenger vehicles may be critical if gasoline prices continue to go up. Europe has already shown what high fuel prices do to consumers choice of engines. And if fuel went sky high, biodiesel would surely enter the retail market as a competitor to full petrol diesel.
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/media_room/1107792006.html
This is a Euro only model. Doubt that we will ever see this one in North America, however, stranger things have happened.
It is possible that GM-Fiat diesel engines could see use in North America if clean diesel in 2006 fuels diesel popularity.
Here is link to the diesel powertrain being used in SAAB and Cadillac vehicles in Europe.
The engine meets Euro 4 emissions.
http://www.autospectator.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=620
I had my hopes up in 1998 when a Durango was fitted with the Delta engine and I was hoping to see that come to market. NOT!
Then around 2000, Ford announced they were developing a 'baby diesel' via International. That was nixed a few years later. So much for a camless lifter.
GM has had their thumbs up their [non-permissible content removed] even having a vice-president like executive going so far as to say they were not going to develop a diesel for passenger vehicles a few years back.
You would of thought that these car makers could of gotten some type of 6 - 7 passenger vehicle out in America by this time. I know about the Liberty and the Mercedes, those respectively don't fit my life style or income. Don't even mention VW, they can't design a power window which doesn't fall in side the door. Or an MAF which doesn't clog.
Plus look how many times DC delayed the release of the Liberty CRD. And Ford's Expedition was a gas hog with an oversized powerplant for the need in that vehicle.
I even considered a Sprinter for my family vehicle because it had enough room to fit my family of five comfortably. That is a poor indication of diesel progress when I am considering an airport shuttle vehicle for my family car.
Ford had a better idea at the recent auto show with the Meta One concept. Gee... we may actually see that powertrain in a Ford by 2010. Unfortunately, I'd be willing to bet it will stay an idea.
I think this thread is a good one but I don't have much confidence we will see main stream diesel engines in the near future in this country. I am tired of all the talk of diesel engines of the future and am still waiting to see this mainstream product in large passenger vehicles. Monitoring the auto news daily I don't read of any plans for one coming to market soon. A KIA perhaps, that is all. Perhaps Asia can build one for a reasonable price because I don't think Detroit can anymore.
2006! 2006! 2006! That is when low sulfur diesel fuel will be implemented in USA. The sulfur amount in diesel fuel in North America is among the highest level anywhere in the world and the European diesel engines sustain damage when they burn high sulfur diesel.
When the fuel standard is clean the diesels will arrive.
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/mar05/0305car.- html
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmView- Id=news_view&newsId=20050228005610&newsLang=en
I for one am more interested when I will be able to buy a clean diesel in California so keep those news items coming.
Or, maybe not...
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http://www.cwwcardesign.com/mercedes_slk320_cdi.html
"A new V8 engine generates 231 kW/315 hp in the Vision SL 400 CDI and provides the eight-cylinder’s crankshaft with an outstanding torque of 730 Nm. The SLK 320 CDI tri-turbo, meanwhile, can generate an impressive 210 kW/286 hp and 630 Nm of torque from three litres of displacement (70.3 kW and 211 Nm per litre of displacement)."
M
In other words...0-62mph in 5.3 seconds.....and averages 31MPG. Impressive from a diesel sports car.
Other than this reservation I think these new engine options will make the SL and SLK more appealing to Europeans who won't touch a petrol engined vehicle.
M
http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0900icmotors/roadtests/tm_objectid=15273943&method- =full&siteid=50061&headline=sporting-diesel-delights-from-mercedes-name_page.html
My only worry about a a diesel droptop is the noise factor.
M
Not everyone likes diesel," said Peter Alexander, mechanic and owner of Peter B.'s, a repair shop in Urbana.
Because diesels were fraught with problems back in the '70s and '80s, "it took a real special person to love a diesel," he said.
According to Alexander, diesel owners tend to be mechanical and understand how diesels work. They like to drink fine wine, but they're also economical. They watch their money. They're not in any hurry.
"With diesel, everything is slower," Alexander said.
Liberty diesel is quicker than Liberty gas V6, Mercedes CDI is quicker than Mercedes gas, every thing is NOT slower with diesel!
M
I believe the is both positive and negative and we will see a rise in the purchase of diesels and numbers of diesels being offered. When I purchased both of my diesel passenger cars in the past year I looked into the hybrid alternatives for both of them (when I purchased my diesel truck, there were no hybrid alternatives for a 1-ton crewcab with diesel).
Here is the problem I ran into....I purchased an '04 Jetta GLS TDI in April. I also researched and drove the Civic HCH and the Prius. For the Civic, I could buy an LX, with a few incentives for about $15.5K, but the Hybrid was $20.5K, a $5000 increase for the hybrid technology. The Prius, OTOH, was $25K and had a 6-9 month waitlist and in both hybrid cases dealers were not coming off of MSRP and one was actually trying to charge more, mouch more. I lookes at the TDI, got it for less than either Hybrid and get ALMOST the same real world fuel economy. AND the Jetta, IMHO, is much better appointed than the Civic. Let's face it, a Civic is still a Civic, even with Hybrid Drivetrain.
Fast forward to Feb '05, it was time to purchase another vehicle, so I looked at the Passat GLS TDI, the Accord-Hybrid, and the E320CDI. The Accord, I could purchase a regular gas Accord for ~$27K, or I could get the Hybrid for $33K and get roughly 7mpg better fuel economy, and all the worries about battery life, new techonology, etc. That's ~$6K premium, just to appear to be green. Not worth it. So I ruled it out, and while the MB was extremely nice, at the end of the day, a car is just a car, and I didn't see enough bells and whistles to justify paying and extra $30K for a car. That money would be much better spent or invested elsewhere. I went with the Passat and have absolutely no regrets.
Hopefully, with all of the media attention and the growing numbers of vehicles on the road, the diesel cars are starting to shake some of the reputation they have garnered in the past.
'03 Ford F350 CrewCab KingRanch 6.0L Powerstroke
'04 VW Jetta GLS TDI
'05 VW Passat GLS TDI
http://www.creativemobileinteriors.com/sections/projects/sprinter_2.asp
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/sprinter.html
M
I must point out that my 2002 Jetta TDI running 100% Biodiesel is cleaner in emissions 50% to 80% depending on the whether HC, CO or NOx than regular dinodiesel.
The NOx are higher, but that would be handled by currently available technology if we had ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) now since the equipment is destroyed by sulphur.
Also Biodiesel has no Benzene or Sulphur and therefore puts out less "toxins" which are emissions.
So when one compares the greeness of a car, they need to consider all the other "pollutants" besides HydroCarbon, Carbon Dioxide and NOx. All the current EPA standards are on these three components when talking about acheiving "zero" emissions. So when you think your gasoline car is "cleaner" because of this "Zero emissions" you are still dumping toxins in the air from the petroleum. Biodiesel lacks most of these other toxins.
I think it is overall greener than any fossil fuel. Including EVs powered from coal or who knows what.
More diesels please.
With the E diesel being a hit, and the old S diesels being huge and still followed today...they'd sell
http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-vw-1-liter-car.htm
M
http://www.faz.net/s/RubB443EC63397F4BAFBD6ACED075B4B2CC/Doc~E8F0A7144F0C349C8B1D941C61809- 617E~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html