AutoBlog: Dead Diesels: Six automakers reportedly kill plans for oil burners

[NewsFeeder 9]

Filed under: Tech, Chrysler, LLC., Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

Diesel's near-term prospects in America took a huge hit with the revelation that nine diesel-powered 2010 models are on hold. Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have put the kibosh on rolling out more oil burners due to cost and perception issues.

Toyota's obviously on a hybrid run and doesn't want to expel the effort or expense of investing in diesel for the American market -- and having to overcome America's dirty diesel perceptions. The others, as mass market manufacturers, simply need more justification for the cost and complexity of oilburners in order to make the case for consumers to spend more.

Additionally, diesel's benefits are weighted differently according to EPA or CAFE standards. The EPA mileage numbers present diesels well, but CAFE's differing fuel mileage equation makes gas-hybrids look better than diesels, and CAFE is something all automakers are looking at. However, you'll notice that German brands aren't mentioned -- their price premium and European diesel volumes make a worthwhile case for diesels, so those diesel Jetta Sportwagons won't be going away any time soon.

[source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Dead Diesels: Six automakers reportedly kill plans for oil burners originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[PurdueGuy 72]

VW ought to bring more diesels - I think they are established well with theirs, and they could be known/loved for diesels like 'yota is for hybrids.

[CSpec 515]

The US diesel emissions standards make them too expensive, especially for buyers of compact cars. It would take years to recoup the initial cost from the better economy. Also, as emissions standards for diesels get tougher, they not only get more expensive, but the economy advantage shrinks.

[Oracle of Delphi 33]

The US diesel emissions standards make them too expensive, especially for buyers of compact cars. It would take years to recoup the initial cost from the better economy. Also, as emissions standards for diesels get tougher, they not only get more expensive, but the economy advantage shrinks.

Didn't Lutz say as much when I think it was Oldsmoboi who asked about bringing diesel here way back when?

[A Horse With No Name 927]

Just glad the VW diesels aren't going away...

Chris

[FAPTurbo 1,032]

This is a real shame, because I was hoping for a higher proliferation of diesels in the marketplace from the likes of GM and Honda. Diesel engines are so efficient, and clean, that it's asinine people equate the new ones with the old, loud things of the past.

Edited July 2, 2009 by Captainbooyah

[loki 300]

GM or Honda certainly could have made a commercial about it, don't have music playing, just a diesel idling, with a voice over with something like, "it's nothing like it used to be"..then it peel out and show a little sportiness out of it. ?

edit, show it, hear it rev and show the tail pipe at the same time...

Edited July 2, 2009 by loki

[CSpec 515]

Didn't Lutz say as much when I think it was Oldsmoboi who asked about bringing diesel here way back when?

Yea, there's a video on YouTube of him explaining why diesels are not a CAFE solution.

[pow 106]

The US diesel emissions standards make them too expensive, especially for buyers of compact cars. It would take years to recoup the initial cost from the better economy. Also, as emissions standards for diesels get tougher, they not only get more expensive, but the economy advantage shrinks.

VW dealers can hardly keep Jetta TDIs in stock. They're bringing the MK6 Golf TDI here as well, in addition to the A3 TDI and Q7 TDI.

For consumers, price isn't that huge a difference...

Jetta SE: $20,095

Jetta TDI: $20,970 after $1,300 tax credit

With that said, normal petrol engines are getting more efficient as well. EcoBoost (15% improvement) and direct ethanol injection (30% improvement) approach diesel's efficiency at a lower cost.

It also doesn't make sense to heavily invest in technologies that give you a max 40% improvement, when with electricity (hybrids, plug-ins, extended range EVs, full EVs), the potential for improvement is infinite.