Diesel Cars - Who will be first?

Posted September 29 2006 10:38 AM by esanchez
Filed under: What's New, Opinions, Trend Observations, Passenger Cars

If you're into any other kinds of diesels other than big bruiser 3/4 and 1-ton trucks, you must be green with envy with all the tasty treats Europe has. I know I am. What makes it even worse, is they have what's essentially an American model with a torquey, efficient turbodiesel. They have what's essentially a Dodge Magnum with Mercedes-Benz's new 3.0 V-6 turbodiesel. This little gem cranks out a respectable 215 horsepower and a way more than respectable 376 lbs./ft. of torque. I would buy one of these tomorrow if I could.

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The OEs keep blowing smoke (pun partially intended) about all the cool new diesel models they're eventually going to bring over here. Well, thanks to the ever-tightening emissions standards, now currently the ultra-clean Tier 2 Bin 5 C.A.R.B. standards, the promise date keeps getting pushed back. Ironically, the one company least known for their diesels may in fact to be one of the first to have a 50-state diesel passenger car. Honda. Yep. Honda. The 2.2L CTDi the company offers in Europe cranks out about 140 horsepower and 250 lbs./ft. of torque.

Okay, in today's age of Duramaxes and Cummins' approaching 700 lbs./ft. from the factory, it doesn't seem all too impressive. But the Civic weighs about a third of what those big bruisers do, and the engine reportedly returns about 45 miles per gallon on the highway. Honda is claiming they have a revolutionary diesel emissions control system that's simpler, more compact, and cheaper that DaimlerChrysler's somewhat clunky AdBlue system, which requires periodic topping off of the onboard urea reservoir.

Unlike the hopelessly slow Civic Hybrid (about 12 seconds 0-60), the Civic CTDi is reportedly capable of 0-60 sprints in around 8 seconds flat. Not too shabby. Especially when you're getting close to 50 miles per gallon. Once someone comes out with a chip or programmer for it (you know it's just a matter of time) it's not inconceivable to shave a second off that. Now you're talkin' Civic Si territory! Bring it on!

Reader Comments:

1. It seems as though the American culture embraces "diesel trucks" as masculine, powerful, and respectable, yet "diesel cars" do not seem to leave this same impression.

How did this happen? How do you think diesel cars will be marketed in order to gain momentum? Are we ready for it?

5569 - Posted September 29 2006 01:31 PM

2. I think we are on the verge of Diesels becoming popular and catching on here in the US. There are a couple of things that have caused Diesel passenger cars not to be popular in the us:

1) GMs attempt at diesel passenger cars in the late 70s - early 80s with the 5.7L gasser converted to compression ignition. This gave diesel a bad reputation of being smelly, smoky, unreliable, dirty, and slow.

2) With 5 CARB (California Air Resource Board) states, a car company would only be able to currently sell such a vehicle in 45 out of 50 states. From a business standpoint, it is hard to justify marketing such a vehicle when you can't sell it in all 50 states.

I do think that with the advent of ULSD, new emissions equipment, and modern common-rail turbo diesel engines, these vehicles can be marketed and not only a fuel saver, but also a green alternative vehicle. Tax incentives would also help. What's better is that these new diesels will last much longer and have a lower ownership cost than a gasoline hybrid.

diesel-economy - Posted October 5 2006 10:28 AM

3. I hope tax incentives will be extended to diesels as well. Hybrids have an almost irrational following in some circles, and from a total efficiency standpoint, diesels can be just as environmentally-friendly as hybrids, if not better. It's not inconceivable that diesels could have 10-20 percent market share of the U.S. passenger car market in the next 5-7 years.

esanchez - Posted October 5 2006 12:05 PM

4. 5569,

I actually think this country is more than ready for diesel passenger cars. Granted, they'll probably initially be greeted with curiosity rather than open-armed acceptance. I think that Honda will actually be the key player in increasing diesels' visibility and popularity.

Honda already has a very loyal following with Accord and Civic buyers. Especially with the Civic, economy is a big selling point. I could imagine people driving the Civic Hybrid, and saying, "boy, it doesn't have much power." Then the salesman responding, "Have you thought about a diesel?" Customer: "Hmm, not really, why?" Salesman: "Well, the fuel economy is nearly as good as the hybrid, and they have a lot more power."
(After the Drive:) "Wow, this one is really peppy! And I'm surprised how smooth and quiet it is for a diesel."

If this happens often enough, you'll see Honda oil-burners on every block.

esanchez - Posted October 6 2006 08:26 AM

5. Toyota has a Corolla diesel, in Europe, capable of > 50 MPG. Bring it to the US, please!!

DSL1 - Posted October 9 2006 05:48 PM

6. IT BOGLES MY MIND WHY VOLKSWAGEN OFFERS THE ONLY DIESEL CARS IN THE U.S. FOR THE MASSES. IT IS AWSOME THAT HONDA HAS A CAR THAT CAN GET SUCH PERFORMANCE AND CLOSE TO 50 M.P.G.! WHY CAN'T WE BUY ONE SOON? OR A ANOTHER ONE FROM TOYOTA E.T.C.?

STEVEN J. - Posted October 14 2006 07:58 PM

7. The announcement by Honda that they had _completed_ the engineering development of their breakthrough 50-state diesel engine was published in the Wall Street Journal's print version, page B6, Monday, September 25, 2006. It's also at www.world.honda.com. You may want to make photocopies/printouts of those pages, because this magnificent auto will never reach American shores without massive public support. Just try thinking like an oil executive or a mutual fund manager for a moment -- it's not about mileage or the price of fuel. This mass market world car, when powered by "neat" biodiesel (a.k.a. B100), suddenly becomes independent of crude oil. This would eventually deal a fatal blow to Islamist terrorism and bring in another new birth of freedom for America -- and just kill Big Oil, first in the stock market, and then in reality. (Of course, it would mean a net increase in U.S. jobs, with all the folks in the replacement mass algal biodiesel industry.)

Buffy - Posted October 14 2006 09:42 PM

8. What will the eventual explosion of diesel cars do to the demand (and hence price) of diesel fuel?

MAC702 - Posted October 22 2006 02:26 AM

9. How many wrongs make it right?
Yes, General Motors screwed it for all the other manufacturer's who produced diesel powered cars.
That's water-under-the-bridge, life goes on! Isn't it interesting that the big three have found their nich, in the current marketplace to poduce diesel pick-up trucks, and yet, we're still for the most part driving gasoline driven cars. Between Eurasia, and Austrailia, the skyrocketing price at their fuel pumps for gas is astronomical, hence, the root of diesel powered cars produced, and driven in any particular country, except for North America is more revelant.

The earlier comment that 'Honda' would need major support, would be an understatement in terms of the 2.2l diesel showing up on our shores!

Clearly, both Honda and Toyota has benefited greatly, moving to the Hybrid's. Anyone of their model vehicles are produced in North America, but yet, are still somewhat banished in the American society. Why is that? These large corporations are building vehicles in a state or pr

Cornpopper - Posted November 12 2006 09:41 AM

10. If you guys want to let Honda know you're interested in a diesel option for the Civic and/or Accord, here's their info:

Phone: 800/999-1009
Fax: 310/783-3023

Snail Mail:

American Honda Motor *** Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
1919 Torrance Boulevard
Mail Stop: 500 - 2N - 7D
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Let's show them how passionate we are, and how much we'd like to see these models!

esanchez - Posted November 13 2006 02:50 PM

11. Lets face it,GM will wait for Toyota to build a 50 mpg diesel,buy it and act like they were the ones to come up with it.Remember the 80's and that awful 350 diesel?Owners will sleep better if they know thier is a Toyota diesel engine in their GM product even if the bow tie is on the grille

sportsaddict1942 - Posted January 2 2008 06:22 PM

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