| The number of diesel powered cars on North | | | | is kept to a minimum. In addition, the added |
| American highways has been dropping steadily | | | | torque is a favorite with some, especially |
| ever since their peak in the mid 1980s. For | | | | those who need to pull a boat or a camper |
| many motorists, diesel engines conjure up | | | | with the Jeep. |
| images of pollution, poor power, and | | | | |
| unreliability. However, one generation later | | | | Volkswagen will be bringing additional diesel |
| and all that is about to change. New diesel | | | | powered cars to the North American market |
| powered vehicles will soon be arriving, in | | | | over the next few years. Diesel powered |
| fact one is already here and receiving | | | | Golfs, Jettas, and possibly several larger |
| critical acclaim from auto enthusiasts. | | | | model VWs will soon be traversing the |
| | | | highways and byways of Canada and the U.S. |
| Who can forget those diesel powered Chevrolet | | | | |
| Caprices and Oldsmobile 98s that suddenly | | | | BMW and Mercedes are both likely to be |
| became very popular 25 years ago? If you are | | | | importing diesel cars over the next few |
| like many car owners, you want to forget | | | | years. Both automakers are studying the |
| those cars. What GM did back then was to take | | | | market to see if compact models could sell in |
| existing gasoline engines and convert them to | | | | North America. Each proposed model line is |
| diesel engines. These converted engines were | | | | currently sold in Europe and diesel engines |
| loud, smoky, and very unreliable. They were | | | | are a popular option with these cars. |
| unreliable to the point where GM had to pay | | | | |
| tens of millions of dollars to replace failed | | | | GM is also considering tapping its |
| engines with gasoline engines. | | | | relationship with Isuzu to import engines to |
| | | | be placed in several compact models. Long a |
| The memory of GM's diesel fiasco was never | | | | producer of diesel powered vehicles, Isuzu |
| lost on drivers who have spurned diesels to | | | | has pretty much exited the North American |
| the point where many automakers are no longer | | | | market, but could return in the form of Isuzu |
| producing diesel engines. Mercedes, a strong | | | | powered cars sold by GM. |
| seller of diesel powered cars in Europe, no | | | | |
| longer sells a diesel powered car in North | | | | Chrysler will likely take its favorable |
| America. VW is the lone importer of diesel | | | | experience with its Jeep division and begin |
| engines while the U.S. manufacturers only | | | | to offer diesel engines on other trucks and |
| place high performance diesel engines in | | | | SUVs. At the same time the all new Dodge |
| their larger vehicles such as pick up trucks. | | | | Caliber, a replacement for the Neon, may |
| | | | eventually offer a diesel engine too. |
| Another area that has stopped diesel engines | | | | |
| cold is air pollution. Very stringent | | | | Ford seems to be content with expanding its |
| emission regulations have all but wiped out | | | | hybrid offerings and no other Japanese or |
| the possibility that many of the smaller | | | | Korean manufacturers appear ready to jump |
| diesel engines could be sold in the U.S. | | | | into the diesel movement...yet. Regardless, |
| However, a change is in the wind as new | | | | within five years the number of diesel cars |
| technology is now in place that will make | | | | on American and Canadian roads will likely |
| diesel powered cars cleaner. In addition, | | | | triple. This can be a good thing for people |
| with the high cost of gasoline now | | | | wanting better fuel mileage, more torque, and |
| prevailing, a diesel powered car has much | | | | a highly reliable engine. |
| more of an appeal to it especially since fuel | | | | |
| savings of 20-30% are possible. | | | | For older diesel powered cars, they will |
| | | | continue to serve their purpose as owners |
| DaimlerChrysler recently introduced a Jeep | | | | discover how to extend their lives through |
| Liberty with an optionally equipped diesel | | | | useful aftermarket parts such as Bully Dog |
| engine and this compact SUV is selling well | | | | and competing products. With their rugged |
| with the optional engine. Its new 2.8L diesel | | | | durability and well known reliability, a |
| delivers fuel improvements as high as 32% | | | | diesel powered car can easily reach a half of |
| over a comparable gas 4x4 model and pollution | | | | million miles or more before quitting. |