Why don't we get all the Turbo Diesel engines here?

[erics75218]

I was reading a long term review of an A5, and the article was saying how it was unfortunate we didn't get one of the TDs that had more power than the V6 we get here, and got better milage?

[Porcupine]

Because Americans still associate diesel vehicles with semi trucks and the auto makers don't think there's enough of a market.

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

because traditionally diesel cost more than unleaded gasoline since diesel is taxed more than gasoline.. In Europe where diesels are more popular, i believe gasoline is taxed more than diesel

[Bender Rodríguez]

Plus Diesel engines are typically heavy. I don't know of any high volume aluminum Diesel engines.

[ms355]

That's a very good question. I am always wondering why there are (almost) no vehicles with modern Diesel engines available when renting a car in the US. Driving a Diesel engined car is not only about saving fuel, it is also about cruising with a high-torque engine at moderate speeds.

In Europe the prices of gasoline are still higher than the ones for Diesel - in most countries. However, the gap is closing (prices in Euro per liter):

France: Diesel 1,01 - Gasoline 1,24 (very traditional)
Germany: Diesel 0,94 - Gasoline 1,07 (getting closer)
Great Britain: Diesel 1,22 - Gasoline 1,21 (!)

[DrJ]

BMW 335D I believe may be an aluminum diesel motor.

[ms355]

This one too

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by DrJ

BMW 335D I believe may be an aluminum diesel motor.

I guess I should have been more specific in my comment I meant to say a 4 cylinder aluminum diesel engine to package in our cars.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Bender Rodríguez

Plus Diesel engines are typically heavy. I don't know of any high volume aluminum Diesel engines.

Maybe because you're thinking US only....
There's the Ford-Peugeot-Citroen engines, the Mercedes-Benz V6, Hyundai, BMW, Volvo, VW, Isuzu and Toyota, to name but a few. Some of these are the same engines shared between makers, of course.

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Bender Rodríguez

I guess I should have been more specific in my comment I meant to say a 4 cylinder aluminum diesel engine to package in our cars.

BMW X3, Ford Fiesta . . . how many would sir like?

[Bender Rodríguez]

Originally Posted by Roger

Maybe because you're thinking US only....
There's the Ford-Peugeot-Citroen engines, the Mercedes-Benz V6, Hyundai, BMW, Volvo, VW, Isuzu and Toyota, to name but a few. Some of these are the same engines shared between makers, of course.

Well I guess it's how you interpret the intent of the thread, to say it's a modification we should all do? Really then availability would be an issue at least for the us in the US shipping engines overseas would be expensive. In contrast there are modification that appear to be cheaper to produce teh same level of power not requiring the logistics.

Or do you take it as why doesn’t Lotus manufacture the vehicle with that as an option of standard. At least for that idea lotus doesn't have a light weight diesel option for the us market that will package easily.

I was thinking the thread was asking why doesn't lotus make the vehicle with that standard and my comment was to say, since it has to package easily for manufacturability and style plus they want it lightweight, your looking for a four cylinder aluminum engine, and again I don't know of one for our market produced in enough quantity for them to purchase.

[Viggen]

I thought it had to do with the emissions of diesel engines which made it tough on auto manufacturers to get the engine OK'd here in the states.

Having a engine like what VW uses in a lotus would definantly be fun!! +300ft lb of torque & 50+ mpg sounds like a winner to me. It would just suck to have a 4K redline or whatever they have

[mikester]

I believe it's also because in the the US the gas companies and refiners have only in the last couple of years begun to produce the EPA-mandated low sulfur diesel fuel, and as a result the manufacturers and public have yet to really begin pushing for the types of really cool TDI cars that they've had in Europe for years and years now.

It's kind of a chicken-and-egg thing, really. The manufacturers don't think the public will buy them (and they may be right but that's probably a lot because of the lack of marketing etc). When gas prices rise (and they will eventually it's only a matter of when), TDI's will suddenly become more attractive to the masses.

[aschen]

Diesel engines arnt really great for pure sports cars. Before you bring up the audi, remember that cars are built around certain rule sets. I could device a set of rules where horse drive is the prefered method. Diesel engines are heavier than gasoline and produce their power at lower rpm (more torque need heavier driveline parts for a given power).

Diesels are fine for sporty cars are "hot hatches" but in general a pure sports car is beter off with spark plugs...

[Vulcan Grey]

Every modern Diesel VW that I have seen in the states (think '05 Passat TDi) still belch sooty smoke every time they touch the accelerator!

I'd rather have C02 than soot in the atmosphere!

Oh yeah don't forget that the NOx emissions from diesel forms nitric acid with water and amonia, and creates ozone at ground level after reacting with other compounds due to heat and sunlight... Neither are good for your lungs...

[Aedo]

Originally Posted by Bender Rodríguez

I guess I should have been more specific in my comment I meant to say a 4 cylinder aluminum diesel engine to package in our cars.

Originally Posted by Bender Rodríguez

Well I guess it's how you interpret the intent of the thread, to say it's a modification we should all do? Really then availability would be an issue at least for the us in the US shipping engines overseas would be expensive. In contrast there are modification that appear to be cheaper to produce teh same level of power not requiring the logistics.

Or do you take it as why doesn’t Lotus manufacture the vehicle with that as an option of standard. At least for that idea lotus doesn't have a light weight diesel option for the us market that will package easily.

I was thinking the thread was asking why doesn't lotus make the vehicle with that standard and my comment was to say, since it has to package easily for manufacturability and style plus they want it lightweight, your looking for a four cylinder aluminum engine, and again I don't know of one for our market produced in enough quantity for them to purchase.

Considering this is in the "other cars" forum it appears the OP was asking about cars in general and not related to our cars and why the diesel version of some cars are not available in the US but popular in Europe.

In terms of a diesel Elise there was a turbo diesel speedster (the version of the Elise made for GM) built to demonstrate efficiency once - Opel Eco Speedster

[ZQQM]

I travel to Europe quite often and rent many diesel cars ( and sometimes diesel vans or SUV's too). The diesel driving experience is different than the gasoline version, but still very enjoyable.

I usually try to rent a VW GTD if I'm by myself, which is the diesel version of the GTI. Its got 170 hp and 258 lb/ft, at just off idle it seems. I've driven these cars at sustained high speeds. More than once I've been on the autobahn for over an hour straight at 180-200kph ( 110-124mph ), and still had a ton of passing power at that speed. I know that our road won't allow that type of driving, but I just wanted to tell how these cars are well designed, high performance machines.

And for american style driving, torque is king, and diesel have a ton. The key to diesel driving is to not rev them too high, 4000/4500 is enough, short shifting is key to quick acceleration. The torque of modern diesels will fit in well with our stop and go style cities and suburbs.

And I would respectfully disagree with the soot comment. Modern diesels are very clean, even on start up. Maybe reclassify that, modern German diesel car engines are very clean. I would admit that some of the domestic pickup trucks are really sooty though.

Lastly, I'm probably going to pick up a Audi A3 Tdi ( DSG, Quattro ) when they hit the dealerships shortly. Same engine mentioned above. Should be a fun car, and getting 600+ miles per tankful will be nice.....

[SteveLevin]

While I really do love the torque and the efficiency of diesels, I am unwilling to sacrifice emissions for mileage (something that Europeans broadly did...you could by cars in the UK without catalytic converters into the early 1990's for example!).

As much as I love power and sportscars, I think we should be raising the bar on emissions much faster than we are.

Steve

[swaq]

I would be very interested in the Volkswagen BlueSport.