Diesel News: POST HERE

[haven]

VW just announced the MSRP for the diesel Jetta:

http://media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10337

MSRP 2009
Jetta TDI.....$21,990
Jetta Sportwagen TDI.....$23,590

These prices are about $2000 more than the gasoline powered Jettas.

The Tiguan small SUV has an MSRP of $22,490, so when VW finally makes
a Tiguan with diesel engine available in North America, its price will probably
start around $25,000.

The EPA rates the 2009 Jetta TDI at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
VW was disappointed by the rating, and hired an independent lab to
conduct tests. The lab's results: 38 mpg city and 44 mpg highway.

Chip Haven

 

[Redline]

While EPA ratings might not have been very accurate in the recent past, I would not be surprised if in this case, driven reasonably, that VW's MPG numbers are more realistic.

.....snip

The EPA rates the 2009 Jetta TDI at 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
VW was disappointed by the rating, and hired an independent lab to
conduct tests. The lab's results: 38 mpg city and 44 mpg highway.

Chip Haven

 

[haven]

Automotive News Europe is reporting that Porsche has selected an Audi 3.0L V6 turbodiesel for use in the Cayenne SUV. A version of the 3.0L engine produces 240hp and 369lb-ft when installed in an Audi A4, but Porsche may make some changes to tuning.

The diesel Cayenne will be introduced in Europe next Spring. No announcement was made about when the diesel Cayenne might make it to USA.

The Cayenne shares chassis parts and exterior sheetmetal with the VW Touarag SUV, but it is assembled in a separate plant controlled by Porsche.

VW says USA delivery of Touaregs with the 3.0L V6 diesel will start in 2009. At that point, VW will discontinue selling the 5.0L V-10 diesel in the Touareg.

 

[cjmitchell5]

Does anyone know when the Tdi Sportwagen will be available? I've been waiting for them to finally make the wagon in the new body style!

 

[haven]

Jetta TDI sedan and TDI Sportwagen are supposed to be available in August as 2009 models.

 

[Pskhaat]

Does the VW wagon have 3rd row seating?

 

[haven]

This Fall, Nissan is introducing a new version of its Maxima large sedan. Sometime in 2009, Nissan will offer a 3.0L V6 diesel as an option for the Maxima. The new engine was developed by Nissan and its corporate partner, Renault. The engine will produce about 260 hp and 400 lb-ft. The diesel will use the typical modern emisions controls, will be 50-states legal.

There's some controversy about the transmission choices offered in the new Maxima diesel. Some reports say manual shift only, but that would limit the audience for the new model. CVT is a possibility, too.

The power from 3.0L V6 would be a good match for Nissan's larger vehicles like the Quest minivan and Pathfinder SUV. It might make it into the Frontier pickup.

In Thailand, Nissan produces a Frontier-lookalike called the Navara. It's powered by a 2.5L four cylinder turbodiesel that produces 172 hp and 297 lb-ft. I don't think this engine meets Euro and USA emissions standards, but it could be cleaned up.

Nissan is planning to end production of the Titan pickup and Armada SUV in 2010. They will sell re-badged versions of the Dodge RAM 1500, so any diesels in the full size pickups would be smaller V6 or V8 Cummins models.

Chip Haven

 

[haven]

Autoblog recently posted a note about driving the 2009 Mercedes SUVs with diesel power. The fuel mileage they recorded for the ML320 Bluetec diesel in mixed driving was 27 mpg, and on the highway they averaged 29.5 mpg.

Mercedes charges about $1000 extra for diesel over the standard V6 gas engine with less torque, and $8000 less than the gas V8 that has similar torque.

Here's the Autoblog article
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/25/autobloggreen-first-drive-2009-mercedes-benz-bluetec-suvs/

 

[mauricio_28]

...
In Thailand, Nissan produces a Frontier-lookalike called the Navara. It's powered by a 2.5L four cylinder turbodiesel that produces 172 hp and 297 lb-ft. I don't think this engine meets Euro and USA emissions standards, but it could be cleaned up.
...

Not quite. The Navara is hardly a "Frontier-lookalike". It is a essentially a Frontier (or is it not that the Frontier is a Navara?), offered with a diesel engine, the sweet YD25DDTi common-rail turbo diesel intercooler powerplant producing said power and torque. How do I know? I own one here in Indonesia. The Navara is also assembled in Barcelona for the European market, where the YD25DDTi does indeed meet Euro standards. Should I mention that the Navara gets no less than 22 miles on a gallon of diesel that sells here for US$2.27? Tell me, what am I going to want to drive when I go back home to the States?

 

[haven]

Not content with Maserati and Bentley getting all the attention in the $100,000+ sedan market, Porsche is working on a swoopy four door model called the Panamera. According to Autoweek, Porsche will include at least one diesel engine option. Two Audi engines are under consideration: a V-8 with 322 hp and 560 lb-ft, and a V-12 that produces 500 hp and a 737 lb-ft!

All this means nothing to overlanding, except that we might see these engines offered in a Porsche SUV some time in the future.

Chip Haven

 

[haven]

Looks like Ford is well along the path to replacing the Navistar Powerstroke 6.4L diesel in Super Duty trucks with a new 6.7L diesel designed by Ford engineers. The new engine is dubbed the "Scorpion."

Ford will continue to sell the Powerstoke engine until 2011, when the new Scorpion engine will take over.

It's possible that the 4.4L diesel V8 designed by Ford for the F150 and big SUVs will also be available in the F250 Super Duty. This could happen sooner than 2011.

In my view, very few people need the power of the diesels in 2008 pickups. The 6.4 Navistar, 6.6L Duramax and 6.7L Cummins engines all produce around 650 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for a cement truck!

Instead, I think the auto manufacturers should offer smaller engines, and couple them to transmissions with more gear ratios.

Chip Haven

 

[theMec]

In my view, very few people need the power of the diesels in 2008 pickups. The 6.4 Navistar, 6.6L Duramax and 6.7L Cummins engines all produce around 650 lb-ft of torque. That's enough power for a cement truck!

Instead, I think the auto manufacturers should offer smaller engines, and couple them to transmissions with more gear ratios.

Chip Haven

I totally agree. I'd have settled for a smaller truck truck if it had a manual trans and gave the mpgs of a 3/4 ton diesel. Hopefully that time is ahead. I just got back from Europe and I'm embarrased what we drive in the US. Over there, I'd have a nice diesel camper van setup w/ a manual trans ...

 

[haven]

Road and Track magazine recently posted a test drive in the 2010 Audi Q7 with 3.0L V6 diesel engine and quattro all wheel drive.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=6&article_id=6858

Audi says the 3.0L turbo diesel produces about 400 lb-ft of torque and gets 25 mpg highway. Audi's 3.6L V6 gas engine produces 266 lb-ft and gets 17 MPG highway. No pricing was announced. The Mercedes R-Class vehicle is similar in size, and costs $45,000 with a Mercedes 3.0L V6 under the hood.

The Q7 is a big SUV, close in width and length to a Chevy Tahoe, but not as tall because of the unibody frame and independent suspension.The Q7 is built on the same platform as the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne. Compared to the VW and Porsche, the Audi has a stretched wheelbase, which permits third row seating.

If the 3.0L diesel is a success in the Q7, Audi will probably ship the A6 sedan with 3.0L diesel here. Audi currently sells the A6 with diesel all over the world, just not in North America.

 

[haven]

Here's an updated list of automakers' plans to introduce diesel engines in light trucks and passenger cars. Please help with corrections!

Chip Haven

-------------------------------

diesel autos and light trucks
by calendar year

available today
Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
Mercedes E320 Bluetec
Mercedes GL320 CDI
Mercedes ML320 CDI
Mercedes R320 CDI
Jeep and MBZ models now 50 state legal


later in 2008
Volkswagen Jetta and Sportwagen 2.0 I4 (August 2008)
BMW 330d (Fall 2008)
BMW X5 3.0d


early 2009
Honda Accord 2.4L I4
Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 I4


mid 2009
Mahindra pickup, suv 2.2L I4


late 2009
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI
Ford F-150 and Expedition 4.4 V-8
Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI
Hyundai Veracruz 3.0L V6


2010
Cadillac CTS-D V6
Chevrolet Silverado 4.5 V-8
Dodge Ram 1500 4.2 V-6
GMC Sierra 4.5 V-8
Hummer H2 4.5 V-8 (or maybe cancel altogether)
Kia Borrego 3.0L V6
Mitsubishi Lancer 2.4 I4
Nissan Maxima 3.0L V6
Nissan Titan (from Dodge)
Nissan Versa 2.0L ?
Saturn Aura 2.0L ?
Subaru Legacy 2.0L ?
Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser (4.5L V8)
Jeep Wrangler (4 cylinder? 6 cylinder?)

2011
Volvo ?
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 I4

 

[haven]

AutoBlogGreen is reporting that the BMW 330d will have an EPA rating of about 30 mpg combined, maybe a bit higher. Not bad for a car with 425 lb-ft of torque and a zero to 60 time in the mid 6 second range. In comparison, the 335i gasoline engine produces 130 lb-ft less, and is rated about 26 mpg combined.

Let's see: 30 mpg / 26 mpg = 15% improvement in fuel economy for the six cylinder diesel.

Last week, the national average price for diesel fuel was $4.73 a gallon, and gasoline $4.11 a gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration, the US government office that tracks fuel prices.
$4.73 / $4.11 = 15% more money for a gallon of diesel.

So the cost of fuel per mile should be about the same for the diesel and gas engine vehicles.

No word yet on the price BMW plans to charge for the 330d in USA. In Europe, the diesel engine models are a couple thousand USD cheaper than the gasoline engine versions.

This Fall, the BMW X5 will receive its own version of the 3.0L diesel used in the 330d. Since the X5 is 1300 lbs heavier than the 3 series cars, the diesel's torque should make a larger improvement in fuel economy.

BMW has no plans to sell the 320d or X3 with the 2.0L 4 cylinder turbodiesel in USA. The 2.0L was named best new engine design for 2008, and is rated at almost 50 mpg in combined driving in European trim.