Been getting curious about Diesels - What new cars have em?

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Strk
No one seems to want to mention the other two companies who plan on bringing over their diesels --- Honda and BMW. Honda may be the first with a 50-state diesel car. I like the idea of a Civic getting 50+ mpg (better than their hybrid and more than likely cheaper).

The 335d from BMW is also quite nice. It may still be an oil burner, but even Clarkson thought it was good and he absolutely detests diesels (he tested the 535d, I believe, but it's the same engine).

i think VW's new TDI engines with the urea filter thing will be 50state compliant. they're scheduled for 08 IIRC.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: marincounty

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: marincounty
There is a reason diesels are not common here. It's called pollution. Diesels put out a lot of soot which tends to clog people's lungs and cause lung disease and cancer. We have just gone through years of cleaning up gasonline engines: Removed lead from fuel, catalytic convertors, fuel injection, smog tests, etc... and you want to bring in smoking diesels?
Some of you are selfish and don't care if you are polluting the world as long as you are getting good mileage. There is no good reason to drive a diesel car. And since when do we want to emulate the Euros?
I am so glad diesel fuel is $3.89 per gallon here. Maybe we need a $1 per gallon diesel tax to help clean up their pollution?

wow... "ignorant" can't really begin to describe this post...

please, for all our sakes, go do some reading on newer diesel engines and low/ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

Stupid can't begin to describe your post. For all of our sakes, read up on diesel soot pollution. And where is the much hyped bluetec diesel, oh yeah, it failed pollution tests and won't be coming here anytime soon.
Ultra-low sulfur fuel does reduce pollution somewhat, as does biodiesel, but it is still an unacceptable level of harmful pollutants.

goddamn, man, i understand your concerns based on old diesels (horrific soot production), but stop posting stuff about which you have no knowledge.

bluetec is already here, and will expand to numerous vehicles. other brands are beginning to license the technology. Honda will have their own new diesel here in a year or two. it also meets environmental regulations. they're even planning one for the Civic Si performance model.

In the meantime, you can just go back to riding around in your parent's "clean" Volvo wagon, marin kid.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
- The "horsepower issue" is not really an issue at all. They make these great things, they are called transmissions, and they use gear ratios to transfer power from the engine to the wheels. Obviously a transmission that is going on a diesel engine will have been designed to take advantage of the diesel's low redline and huge torque, which is from the crazy long stroke of diesel engines. The long stroke also is a large hindrance on the redline, which is what keeps horsepower low. Keep in mind there is no such thing as horsepower, it is just calculated from torque and engine speed.

I think you're confusing the issue here. Transmissions are what allow you to achieve maximum horsepower. Getting max horsepower is the point. It's just that high torque/liter engines tend to make a greater percentage of their max power lower in the rev range. You're right that this is very convenient for stop-and-go driving (as well as towing!). Even if a diesel makes less total power, having that power available easily and without drama can be helpful and make the car "feel" faster. But with proper gearing, the car with more horsepower will always be the faster car if you are willing to exploit the power band, wherever that is in the RPM range. That's why the regular gas-powered Mercedes is still faster than the diesel.