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Issues concerning the adoption of Diesel Cars in the USA
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Diesel Do Nicely
Mercedes-Benz introduced the E320 BLUETEC model in Detroit. Coming to
the U.S. this fall, the 35-mpg diesel will be clean enough to run in
all 50 states, and meets the most stringent diesel legislation anywhere
in the world. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)
This is the car that brought luxury/performance into the diesel arena:
the Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI. The 201-hp inline-6 turbodiesel builds a
frightful amount of torque — 369 lb-ft — and launches to 60 in well
under 7 seconds. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)
Can America accept a full-on luxury diesel? Not yet, but Audi's A8 TDI sure does seem to make friends wherever it goes.
(Photo courtesy of Audi)
The Volkswagen V10 TDI: Who could say no to a 310-horsepower V10? Not
us, even when it belongs to a VW diesel. All recollections of the
Rabbit Diesel are cleared away by the mountains of torque this Touareg
offers. (Photo courtesy of Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
Why Americans should fall in love with the diesel:
Here are some figures to conjure with:
| |
Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro |
Audi A8 4.2 quattro |
| Engine |
326 - horsepower V8 |
335 - horsepower V8 |
Torque
(lb-ft) |
479 |
317 |
0-100 km/h
(0-62 mph) |
5.9 |
6.2 |
Top speed
(mpg) |
155 |
155 |
| Average consumption (mpg) |
30.0 |
23.7 |
Range
(miles) |
594 |
469 |
| Emissions (CO2 g/km) |
253 |
286 |
Consider those for a moment. The diesel-powered Audi A8 4.2 TDI is not
only more economical than the gasoline-powered A8 4.2, it also produces
fewer greenhouse gases and, most importantly for readers of this Web
site, it's also significantly quicker.
For the past few years, while the U.S. has been bemoaning ever
increasing gas prices, the Europeans have been experiencing a quiet,
bloodless diesel revolution. The introduction of multivalve,
common-rail direct-injection and pre-ignition technology has
transformed the diesel engine from a noisy agricultural workhorse into
an ultrarefined, economical powerhouse worthy of the finest performance
and luxury cars. Across Europe, more than a third of new cars now stop
at the black pump and in some countries, diesel cars outsell petrol.
It's a staggering transformation, and one from which the U.S. could learn some important lessons.
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Posted: 12:44 PM, Aug. 17, 2006 |
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