This Is Not Your Father's Diesel

[Mugu]

by Adam Aston, businessweek.com

For most of the past century, diesel engines have been associated with smoky, smelly trucks and buses. Now there's a surprise: A new generation of diesel-powered passenger cars is delivering punchy performance and emission levels so low they pass muster in all 50 U.S. states. Boasting good fuel efficiency, the new "clean diesels" may well overtake hybrids in the market for eco-cars.

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And while trucks and SUVs currently make up most U.S. diesel sales, the action is shifting to high-mileage sedans. Consider VW's experience. A few years ago, it had to pull most of its popular diesels from the U.S. market to comply with tougher emissions rules. This year, the company is launching an updated diesel Jetta in all 50 states. Honda also has a tale to tell. After suffering an embarrassing flop with its hybrid version of the Accord, Honda is replacing it with a diesel model adapted from its European line and plans to sell a six-cylinder diesel Acura.

The high fuel efficiency of diesel cars makes for attractive economics. Compared with similar gas engines, diesels deliver up to 35% better mileage. So even though prices for diesel at the pump are now running about 12% more than gasoline, per-mile fuel costs for new diesel cars are 15% to 20% lower than for gas-powered autos.

Add up the numbers, and diesel owners may do better than drivers of hybrids. According to researchers at Edmunds.com, shoppers who chose a Toyota Camry Hybrid over a comparable gas-driven model last year paid premiums of as much as $3,800. With gas at $3 per gallon, it would take those buyers anywhere from 3 1/2 to 8 years to recoup the higher cost through savings on gas. In contrast, the premium on a Mercedes E320 Bluetec diesel was about $1,400, and the fuel savings would pay off in under 2 years.

Complete article at:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_16/b4080056305408.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_lifestyle

[PghTiny]

1. Make sure to note your driving habits

Diesel engine vehicles are good for those who drive on a lot of straightaways. Hybrids are better adapted for those who do a lot of stop-n-go driving.

[Schema Thing]

2. combine diesel and hybrid, and viola.... 60% improvement

Can't wait to start seeing 18 wheelers and heavy equipment with hybrid tech.

[EOTE]

3. And for people who think that diesels can't have sporting intentions...

I urge you to check out the Audi R10 race car. Or the 500 hp V12 Q7 TDI. Diesels have ridiculous torque for their engine displacement, and torque is what you notice most when driving, not horsepower. The 90 hp in the previous generation VW TDI engine might seem a bit anemic, but look at the torque figure which as I recall was about 180 lb/ft. It's partially that very high torque to hp ratio that allows today's diesels to get such great fuel economy, as well as be a blast to drive. If anyone is fortunate enough to have driven the E320 Bluetec, it's a really fantastic ride. Not only does it get FAR better fuel economy than even the other V6 E-classes, but it's got so much torque, it feels almost like a big block V8. 400 some lb/ft if I recall correctly. Granted, they may not be able to keep all that torque to a ridiculously high redline, but having all that power down low makes the engine feel a good bit more powerful than it is. It's a great feeling not having to floor the accelerator every time you want to do some quick passing. Diesels are great and they're only getting better. It's a shame the US is so behind the rest of the world in that respect.