Growing number of automakers will bring diesel technology to the U.S. market. [xfloat=right]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Honda_2_2L_iCDTi_and_Emissions_Control.jpg[/xfloat]David Shepardson - Detroit News - March 21, 2008 In a climate of soaring oil prices and concerns about global warming, automakers are using the New York International Auto Show to bolster their green credentials with a technology that many remember as dirty and smelly. Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Chrysler LLC are among the automakers touting their plans to bring more diesels to the U.S. market. ."I don't think any of us should be under illusions that there (isn't) a fair amount of baggage with diesels in the United States," said Tom Purves, BMW's North America chief. BMW will be among the first to sell diesels in all 50 states under new diesel rules that call for cleaner fuel and tighter emissions standards. Beginning in October, the German automaker will market a diesel X5 SUV and a 3 Series sedan. The company doesn't expect diesels to account for more than 10 percent of U.S. sales in five years. Acura will begin selling a diesel version of its new TSX in 2010. Nissan will bring a diesel version of its redesigned Maxima to market in 2010. "It's an experiment," said Al Castignetti, Nissan Division's North American general manager. "If it's readily acceptable and people say it's great, where's the limit?" Volkswagen of America plans to introduce two diesel versions of the Jetta later this year -- a sportwagon and sedan. Dealers will receive one on June 1 to offer test drives and generate interest. J.D. Power and Associates has forecast that diesels will account for 14 percent of the U.S. auto market in 2017, up from 3 percent today, driven by high fuel price and strict tailpipe emissions limit. In Europe, diesels account for about half of all auto sales, in large part because of higher taxes on traditional gas-powered vehicles. But diesels face significant hurdles in the United States. There is far less refining capacity and diesel fuel averages $3.97 a gallon, up 48 percent in the last year, according to the Energy Information Agency. Unleaded gasoline prices average $3.28 a gallon, up 22 percent in the last year… [rm]http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/AUTO04/803210354/1364/AUTO01[/rm]
The American people are being squeezed by ever escalating gasoline costs. The more moderate your income, the more pain you experience in being able to make ends meet. So that is why BMW will be "the first to sell diesels in all 50 states under new diesel rules that call for cleaner fuel and tighter emissions standards"?? May I be so presumptuous as to ask what are we coming out with now, for those of us whose feet are in the fire now? These people can hardly afford to pay their bills and we are giving them a BMW? Do we have a problem at all? The BMW diesel has one advantage, tho. It doesn't compete with the shrunken big 3's product offering of 20 MPG "hybrids" and "hybrid" Yukon's, and Silverado's. That is the most important thing. We don't want to make the shriveling up big 3 shrivel up any faster than they are being forced to. We will just continue to keep those nasty high MPG European cars out of here and you will get the Volt in 2010, maybe, if you are lucky and you can afford it.
Whoa....lets not forget you can get a 50 state mercedes 3 series bluetec diesel NOW!!!! The BMW will look like a pontiac in pricing compared to todays 50 state diesel option (only this mercedes currently) (with heavy sarcasm)
I wonder what the total cost of ownership is of the new diesels would be. I know they get insane mileage, but I wonder how more expensive diesel tips the scales.
