Diesel comeback: Model to double tally set for 2014

At 46 miles per gallon Highway, new Chevy Cruze are diesel hybrids even a run for their money (gas).

The number of diesel models in the US market should double during the model year 2014 after different industry watchers, the biggest boost get covered high-mileage Powertrain technology since the 1980s when American motorists in disgrace.

The increase reflects the emergence of new diesel technology, which has not only an estimated 30 percent mileage advantage over gasoline engines, but also solves traditional concerns such as noise, roughness and foul-smelling emissions.

Also returning to the diesel market reflects manufacturers such as General Motors, the emergence of new manufacturers Nissan, as well as the expansion of the offerings of diesel leaders such as Volkswagen and luxury arm is Audi.

"This year the number of diesel will be doubled", said Andreas Sambal, the North American Director of marketing for German suppliers of Bosch diesel systems Division. "Until the end of the 2014 model year 40 diesel obtained on the market and as a result consumers much more choice."

Audi takes different diesel-powered models.

Diesel bit player in the U.S. market since the late 1980s, largely as American buyers, the technology by endemic problems with earlier diesel designs placed - and in the course of major and embarrassing mistakes of several GM motors.

Since then, diesel technology advocates have complained about a chicken-and egg problem. Many manufacturers refused to give the diesel market due to low sales. But advocates warned that sales increase would not, until now, there was more diesel offers. Their claims to the test will be the upcoming model-year.

Nissan this week became the latest manufacturer plans to launch a diesel option for its full-size Titan pickup known - a first for a Japanese manufacturer. The 5.0 litre V8 turbo diesel Cummins delivered, Nissan noted.

"Truck owner told us a demand for power and torque is a diesel in a capable truck, the jump is not needed until a heavy commercial pick up", said Fred Diaz, Vice President for North American Nissan sales and marketing.

Gracie former employer, Chrysler, announced only last month a diesel option for the year 2014 RAM 1500 pickup Add. There is speculation that GM will soon do the same for its GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado trucks.

But Chevy has a return to the diesel car market already staked with an "oil burner" option for the 2014 Cruze sedan. And Mazda becomes the first Japanese manufacturer with a passenger car diesel with a new version of its Mazda6 sedan.

The makers have a long way to go to catch up on the German makers, which have led to the revival of the diesel especially VW and its luxury arm Audi. One-third of the Q7 frequency switch sold the Highline brand in the United States are equipped with diesel and more than half of the old A3 cars were equipped with oil burners.

Audi is its diesel model count by two to five model year 2014-push and add a sixth when it results in a new version of the A3.

Diesel, even after the recent growth spurts, have less than 3 percent of the entire U.S. market for new vehicles but accounted for Bosch forecasts that reach less than 10 percent by 2018. This is an admittedly "bullish" forecast, said the supplier Sambal. But other, more cautious forecasts predict that the proportion could rise to 8 percent or higher.

Especially diesel sales grew 24 percent in the first seven months of 2013.

There are still obstacles to increased acceptance shows Nicole Barranco, Audi diesel lobbying-chef, outdated notions of consumers unaware modern diesel technology changes from higher fuel taxes to map.

On the other hand, there are some key factors, the diesel gain traction could help, as awareness grows, Bruce Belzowski, Assistant Research said Chief of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

For one thing, he refers, during a forum sponsored by Audi, there are the about 30 percent mileage increase the technology offers. And that in turn means that "almost all" diesel models "have a positive total cost of ownership" despite the typically higher purchase price.

A recent study by the Institute found that even a small VW Jetta of the typical owner about saves $3,000 over a period of three years, while the total cost of buying and operating a Mercedes-Benz GL diesel approx. $15,600 is less than the gasoline version.

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Detroit embraced diesel, after 27 years again

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau - 1 day

The company that all but destroyed the diesel back in the 1980s is hoping to's pump new life into the high-mileage technology with this week introduction of its first diesel-powered passenger car in more than two decades.

But General Motors isn't the only maker that is betting on diesel. After years on the sidelines, the technology is suddenly making major inroads as manufacturers as diverse as Mazda and Audi add diesel options to their line-ups, with still more makers likely to follow.

More than 20 new domestic and import diesel models will be introduced this year to the U.S. market--more than doubling the current product count, according to all Schaeffer, executive director for the diesel technology forum.

Chevrolet wants to pull the wraps off the 2014 Cruze clean turbo diesel at this week's Chicago Auto show. It's expected to deliver a best-in-segment 42 miles per gallon on the highway while also meeting the latest federal emissions standards - as well as the even elements of California mandate.

"Cruze clean turbo diesel is the most sophisticated passenger car diesel engine GM has ever produced," said Jens Wartha, the GM engineer who oversaw its development. "We merged European diesel expertise with the real world driving preferences of North American consumers."

While diesel engines are still a minor player in the U.S. market they account for about half of all passenger vehicle sales in Europe, far out-selling high-mileage alternative such as hybrids.

It helps that European manufacturers began with more advanced technology than what American motorists might remember from decades past. High-pressure injectors and turbochargers help maker reduce emissions - while low-sulfur fuels so eliminate the traditional, noxious diesel smell - boost performance and all but banish the noise and vibration that once were a diesel hallmark.

Yet today's diesels remain significantly more reliable than traditional gasoline powertrains, one reason there are still plenty of 1980-era Mercedes-Benz diesels still on the road. The notable exception to what on Oldsmobile diesel that had a tendency to fail catastrophically due to GM's cost and corner-cutting. The maker promises it won't repeat that mistake and points to the performance of its diesel in Europe as proof.

Performance is, in fact, a prime selling point for today's so-called 'clean' diesel engines. In contrast to high-mileage but often snail-slow hybrids, today's turbo-diesels produce massive amounts of torque and often match or even exceed the 0 to 60 times of comparable, conventional gasoline engines.

Audi has demonstrated that for nearly a decade with a series of race cars that have dominated the Le Mans endurance series. Meanwhile, BMW last year introduced a 5-series diesel that's a virtual match for its M5 performance model.

There is a premium to pay, diesel models typically commanding anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 more than a comparable gas model - but in line with similar hybrids. The new Cruze diesel will start at $25,695 - plus $810 delivery charges – compared to $21,685 for the current eco model.

Diesel fuel is generally priced around or slightly higher than premium gas, though it has undergone some significant swings in recent years.

Nonetheless, demand for diesel has been growing rapidly after virtually drying up during the 1990s and the first decade of the new millennium. Sales increased at a double-digit rate during 20 of the last 24 months, according to industry data and should post a similar increase once final figures for 2012 are calculated, according to all Schaeffer, executive director of the diesel technology forum.

The introduction of the Chevy Cruze diesel "is huge," proclaimed Schaeffer. "It breaks new ground for clean diesel by having one of the domestic manufacturers introducing a passenger car diesel."

And if the Cruze succeeds, expect to see more, suggested Mark Reuss, president of GM's North American operations - who says he is "personally" a fan of the technology.

He's not alone. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has hinted there could be more offerings from the smaller U.S. maker if it scores a hit with the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel it revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month.

Mazda, meanwhile, plans to become the first Japanese maker with a diesel in its line-up when it adds that option for the new Mazda6 sedan later this year.

European makers still dominate, however. With some models, diesels now account for more than a quarter of demand and VW Volkswagen Group of America CEO Jonathan Browning believes that would top 30% for the midsize Passat line if he could get enough diesel engines.

Sibling brand Audi scored to upset, several years ago, when its A3 turbodiesel which named green car of the year at the L.A. auto show, besting assortment of hybrids. Audi will add four new U.S. 2014 diesel models.

Britain's mini, one of the few European makers not to offer a diesel, "can definitely envision (a diesel) for the next-generation, though we're not going to confirm it," product planner Patrick McKenna said in an interview this week. And diesel could be in the offing soon from Land Rover, as well.

Inroads in the American market will make major not everyone is convinced diesel. Skeptics caution that even stricter emissions standards are coming and could price diesel technology out of reach. They thus note that diesel fuel isn't nearly as common as gasoline — though Forum director Schaeffer notes 52% of U.S. service stations now have at least one pump available.

The real test is likely to come with the launch of the Chevy Cruze, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mazda6 diesel models. If demand comes close to expectations, expect plenty of other new models to follow.

For his part, GM President Reuss is confident that "there is, fundamentally, a place for diesel here."

Copyright 2013 the Detroit Bureau

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Diesel stinky image always fragrant upgrade

Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images file

The diesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI is one which form a variety of vehicles that American motorists more conveniently look for diesel-powered cars.

Paul be A. Eisenstein, NBCNews-ContributorMention diesel engine on the most American drivers and they probably with terms such as noisy, smelly, slow and uncomfortable as soon as if she had been a Rorschach test. However, a small but growing number of fans, diesel provoke a very different answer. For them, the technology is fast, smooth, quiet and, perhaps best of all, very economical.

It was the massive numbers after the two oil crises of the 1970s three decades since the heyday of American diesel, year sold. But while the technology of U.S. banks largely disappeared, it quickly became momentum in Europe building - where prices run fuel twice as high as our manufacturers have led a number of driver pleasing improvements.
The message makes slowly its way across the Atlantic, largely by European imports such as the Mercedes-Benz GL 350 blue TEC and the diesel version of the latest Volkswagen Passat powered. "Oil burner" nowhere near the place on the American charts record, to do it – or has here in the 1980s – while in Europe they are some significant gains make.

And most industry analysts expect that would do even better in the next few years thanks to new products, rising fuel costs and tough new federal fuel economy standards.
"We are diesel, forecast a pretty significant increase in sales," said David Sullivan, a Detroit-based automotive analyst for AutoPacific, Inc.

2008, Automakers sold barely 250,000 diesel-powered vehicles in the United States this year that number is expected to 400,000 above - including passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
In fact, for the first half of the year, sales of so-called "clean diesel" increased by 27.5 percent, surpassing the revival of the entire American market. A forecast of AutoPacific assumes that the numbers reaching 900,000 to 2017.

The consultant is not the only optimistic on the technology. "This significantly less than the 50 percent diesel sales rate in Europe, it is specified, that Americans take a renewed interest because more diesel in the US market are introduced", said Allen Schaeffer, executive Director of the diesel technology forum. "Marked with more than 15 new clean diesel models for the United States in the next two years, I expect sell diesel to increase even more in the near future."
Their diesel offerings continue to expand European decision-makers. Porsche has just published the first version of his large Cayenne sport utility vehicle. Volkswagen reportedly is considering a diesel version of its popular GTI model.

VW has seen demand, because the technology quickly surpass expectations, said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America - that includes Audi, another brand continued to make profits with the technology. Demand for the diesel version of the new VW Passat already has the limits of capacity, partially extended, because the automakers fight engine components is enough diesel shipped from Europe the new VW plant in Tennessee. In a recent interview said Browning is possible the diesel model of 15 percent of total US trade winds mix 30 percent could go.
Meanwhile, several new players are enter the game. Chevrolet - which already offers a diesel in its original size pick up mix - starts soon a diesel version of the compact Cruze. And Mazda confirmed plans to deliver a diesel version of its new, high-mileage SkyActiv system. The next generation Mazda6 sedan is expected to be first, but analyst Sullivan expects that it could be versions of the CX-5 and CX-9 crossovers in the works as well.

Other manufacturers such as Chrysler, are expected to follow. Ford, long resistant against diesel outside the large truck range is located, is hinting that it reconsider its options can.
What is driving this nascent diesel Renaissance? Micro-computers, for one thing, and advanced turbocharger, as well as State-of-the art emissions systems. These components have to decision-makers traditional diesel paved allowed problems such as smoke, smell and stumbling blocks. Lead the mixture into the low sulfur fuel, order the U.S. regulators began a few years ago throw.

All of this comes at a price. There is a premium for diesel engines of anywhere from about $1,000 to $5,000 per vehicle. But the proponents claim that as the US versions, the emissions require systems in Europe, not shared will be in larger quantities cost made come.
The cost of fuel is a serious obstacle. Diesel leads occasionally less than a dollar more than regular in some markets usually from 25 cents to 50 cents more per litre than regular gasoline.

But there are a Substantiald payment. When compared to similarly sized hybrids that modern diesel offer in general much better than hybrids. BMW launches a new model in Europe, the 550 d, which is all but a game that the acceleration of the manufacturer M5 boasted.
Mileage hybrids enter the diesel run for their money, depending on their application. Gas-electric powertrain technology is generally more economical in the urban, stop- and -go where settings are hybrids able to recover and reuse of energy normally lost in braking and coasting. But on the highway diesel, better numbers, according to Sullivan and other observers expect let.

Now tend to diesel is still their legendary durability, to deliver something which has always been an advantage over other Powertrain technology.
So, sell are not why they even better?

For one thing, U.S. regulators have fixed at State and national level on battery technology, diesel in favour of action. In California such as hybrids were not granted long special access to s-Bahn during the diesel provides similar performance. Now was this special privilege on plug-in the and battery vehicles, granted, of which some can not reach even the upper end of speed limits.
Meanwhile, most Americans are not up to date on the enormous improvements has achieved diesel technology.

"Diesel need an image makeover," beat Rebecca Lindland, senior analyst at IHS automotive. "(People) how much just don't know a difference and how far they have come in the last few years."

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