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Cleaner fuel and improved turbo-diesel engines spark a comeback. (http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6477043?source=rss)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Honda_Civic_iCDTi.jpgMatt Nauman - Mercury News - July 27, 2007

The 2007 Honda Civic iCDTi turbo-diesel. Famous in Europe and soon to arrive at a local US Honda dealer near you.

With gas prices rising and environmental concerns intensifying, diesel cars - with their cleaner fuel and improved engines - are coming back to California early next year.

The first will be the Volkswagen Jetta, in both sedan and wagon body styles, but many more will follow.

Expect to see diesel-powered cars from Honda, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Saturn, Nissan and perhaps others by 2010.

What makes this possible? It's the combination of low-sulfur diesel fuel, on sale nationwide since late 2006, and cleaner diesel engines with new exhaust-treatment systems that will enable automakers to produce vehicles that meet California emission standards.

What's behind diesel's revival? Its great energy efficiency, primarily. The Diesel Technology Forum, an industry group, says diesel engines are 20 to 40 percent more fuel-efficient than gasoline engines. VW expects the diesel Jetta to get fuel mileage in the "mid-50s highway, mid-40s city," spokesman Keith Price said.

Despite the restrictions on selling new diesel-powered passenger cars in California and other states since 1999, sales of the vehicles have been growing nationwide … http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6477043?source=rss

That first sentence seems deceiving. I love that car, but I have never heard any official information that it was going to be offered on these shores, much less "soon".

I got all giddy too reading that first sentence too, but they definitely won't be here till 2010 or 2009 at the earliest. That civic diesel is pretty slick though.

Hi Aca2983:

___08/09 has been reported as the super diesels arrival into the US for well over a year now.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I fear diesels in the US will only be sold in large inefficient vehicles (trucks, suvs, cuvs, large sedans) and tend to be the larger overpowered engines. The smallest vehicle that the Honda diesel has been mentioned for is the Accord I believe. Why the h3ll can't they put it in a civic or fit sized vehicle?!:mad:

Hi Aca2983:

___08/09 has been reported as the super diesels arrival into the US for well over a year now.

___Good Luck

___Wayne


But I have not heard confirmation of the CIVIC, only Accord and possibly minivan and Utes.

"Sparks" a comeback of diesels??? Some copywriter was having fun.

Hi Aca2983:

___Look back at the iCDTi preview for the reasons why the 2.2 will probably not make it into an Accord here. Not unless they want to kill it.

___Lightfoot, that was an interesting play on words, wasn’t it ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Well, wayne did get to test drive one here in the U.S. so that means there is at least one diesel civic here. I just hope they bring a LOT more of them.

Does anybody have a release date for the Civic CDti Hatchback?

Hi Aca2983:

___Sure, back in 2004 on the continent of Europe. As for the US, I doubt we will see the hatch but the sedan with the 2.2, expect it. If you find something different, post it.

___Good Luck

___Wayne