There are few engine configurations that promise increased fuel economy and power. Fewer yet that offer these in addition to bulletproof reliability. Today, our friends across the ocean are enjoying the fruits of the diesel technology revolution. Is there room for diesel passenger cars in North America?
Fool me once, shame on you. Diesels have a colorful history here in North America. In the 1980's General Motors "modified" their 350ci gasoline V8 to run on diesel fuel. The result? Not good. These engines offered better fuel efficiency but little else. They were terribly slow, and as reliable as your best friend after a hard night of drinking. That is to say, not very.
Fool me twice, shame on me. Mercedes-Benz had better luck in the 1980's offering a slew of vehicles available with diesel engines. These workhorses offered unsurpassed durability (capable of running in excess of 500,000
miles) but they were rough, noisy, and had a smoking habit.
Volkswagen also offered diesels but they too had a penchant for spewing blue smoke from their tail pipe.
The Next Generation. Throughout the 1990's, Benz and Volkswagen continued to offer diesel cars here in North America. Each generation became cleaner, smoother, and more powerful than the last. But overall, they were a tough sell as they still lacked the horsepower (although they made up for it in torque) that many were looking for.
Better, Faster, Stronger. Today Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Volkswagen and many more manufacturers are offering diesels to many markets around the world. Forget everything you remember about diesel here in North America. These new engines benefit from hundreds of technological innovations. Many diesels in Europe offer better acceleration than their gasoline counter parts. BMW's 120d has 163bhp, goes 0-60mph in 7.6seconds, and achieves 49.6mpg in city and highway driving combined. Mercedes-Benz offers the C320 CDI SE that has 224hp, and over 360 lb-ft of torque. We get this engine in the larger E-class but it really shines in the C-class as it is available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The C320 CDI SE gets just under 48mpg on the highway and accelerates to 60mph in well under 7 seconds. Do you know of a gasoline engine in North America that can offer this blend of fuel economy and performance? I sure don't.
Why have they not caught on here? One word. Sulfur. We have too much sulfur in our diesel here in North America. This cheap grade of diesel will run havoc on the precise, sophisticated diesels offered overseas and causes increased emissions. But all is not lost. As of June 2006, refiners will start producing what is known as ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. This will reduce the sulfur content from 500ppm to 15ppm. This should reach the pumps by September. So the question is, will we ever get to enjoy this renaissance in diesel technology? Could we be driving a car that has tire melting torque and the fuel efficiency that even a member of Green Peace could love? For that answer we'll have to wait and see.
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