VIDEO: A complete guide to diesel vehicles at NAIAS
by Sam Abuelsamid
The 2007 North American International Auto Show had all the mainstream German brands making big announcements about diesel engines for the US market. The media previews are now complete for the 2008 edition of the show and the most of the other major carmakers have now joined the diesel parade.
In 2007 BMW announced plans to add clean diesel technology in the American market. Late in 2008 the 335d sedan and X5 xDrive35d SUV will become available at US dealerships utilizing what BMW is calling BluePerformance technology to clean up the emissions of the 3.0L dual turbo six cylinder.
Diesel pioneer Mercedes-Benz added the new GLK compact CUV to the diesel line propelled by the 2.2L BlueTec four-cylinder diesel. Later this year, the ML, GL and R-class models also will receive BlueTec diesels with urea injection that will allow them to be sold in all 50 states.
The Volkswagen Group is still promoting diesel engines, although its US market models have now been delayed – for a second time - from a late summer launch to the end of 2008. Audi, the group's premium brand unveiled a new concept version of the R8 sportscar powered by a 6.0L V-12 TDI that was used in the 2007 Q7 TDI concept.
The soon to be Indian owned Land Rover also has the LRX concept with diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. The design is conceived around a Tier 2 Bin 5 (T2B5) compliant 2.0L four-cylinder diesel in combination with an electrically driven rear axle.
Compression ignition engines have rapidly gained popularity with the Asian automakers as well. Honda for the first time is showing the 2.2L four-cylinder that meets T2B5 standards and announced the engine will be installed in Acura vehicles beginning in 2009.
Subaru has confirmed that the 2.2L boxer diesel that was announced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show should arrive in US market Foresters and Imprezas by mid-2010. Nissan's Forum concept van is reportedly powered by the 3.0L V-6 it is developing with partner Renault for a 2010 launch in the Maxima sedan. Prior to the show, Larry Dominique, vice president of Nissan North America Product Planning said the company is pursuing a partner to provide a diesel engine for the full-size Titan pickup.
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe surprised attendees at the reception where the A-BAT concept was revealed by announcing that Toyota would install a clean diesel in the full-size Tundra pick-up and Sequoia SUV. No time frame for the introduction is available. A new 4.5L diesel V-8 is now available in overseas market Land Cruisers.
Mitsubishi has a coupe called the Concept-RA, which is likely a preview of the next generation Eclipse. The Concept-RA is powered by a 201hp 2.2L four cylinder. At the 2007 Detroit show Mitsubishi officials discussed installing this engine in the Lancer.
Korean partners Hyundai and Kia currently have a 3.0L diesel V-6 in several home market models including the Veracruz crossover. During the first US media drives of the Veracruz in mid-2007, Hyundai said a diesel engine would be added by the end of the decade. The 3.0L V-6 diesel is on display adjacent to the new Kia Boreggo SUV, which will also receive that engine.
Among domestic US manufacturers, all three have confirmed new diesel engines of 4.4-4.5L displacement for their light-duty full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. Ford confirms that a diesel engine will be added to the newly announced F-150 in 2010.
Chrysler is also displaying a redesigned version of the Ram pickup in Detroit. A new Cummins built diesel will be available in that truck in 2010 in addition to the existing Cummins engine in the heavy-duty Ram trucks. The Jeep Renegade, one of three electrically driven concepts revealed by Chrysler at the show uses a 1.5L three cylinder diesel as a range extender for the lithium ion battery pack.
General Motors announced the new 4.5L V-8 earlier in 2007 but did not display that engine in Detroit. A coupe version of the Cadillac CTS is on display in concept form. The coupe is powered by the 2.9L turbo-diesel V-6 that was announced by GM at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.
Like Subaru, GM has previously declared this engine to be for European markets only. However several recent developments have caused manufacturers to reconsider their US diesel plans. The passage of the Energy Bill with new fuel economy standards in late December 2007 requires all companies to increase their efficiency.
The recent confirmation of new Euro VI emissions standards that are aligned with T2B5 requirements means that even European engines will need to be updated by 2014. As a result these engines can be made available to US car and truck buyers at little or no additional cost relative to Europe. Based on the 2008 Detroit Auto Show it appears that US buyers will soon have a much wider array of diesel vehicles to choose from.
