http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...s-hybrid_x.htm

USA today tested a Diesel VW vs. a Prius

The VW is cheaper to buy, cheaper to drive, and the diesel engine will last a lot longer than the hybrid.

 

Would not a diesel powered hybrid be better than either of those?

 

I only know of one of those and it was an Opel I believe but it got like 100+ MPG which is crazy high.

 

Patience, dear friend, patience...

Actually, diesels still need to "clean up their act" a bit. Even current little diesels are bigger polluters than current little gas engines. I know they are working on better exhaust particulate (i.e. soot) elimination (the 4-way catalyst), and the low-sulfur rules coming in 2006? will further the cause. It ought to be ready for "The Big Time" at that point.

But, I expect that a lot of oil companies don't want diesel as the prominent fuel of choice. Each additional refining step offers a place to skim additional profits, ya know.

I wouldn't mind owning one of these-
http://www.gtr34.com/pictures/diesel...d/DSCF0051.JPG

Check out the speedo. On the Autobahn, and that gauge is MPH, and he's getting passed by a diesel 4cyl -
http://www.gtr34.com/pictures/diesel...d/DSCF0047.JPG

Cool video about the tech behind the engine-
http://www.world.honda.com/HDTV/news..._1a/index.html

Anything on the American side coming down the pipe?

Todd

 

I think alot of people already suspected that. On a side note, anyone see GM's magazine ads for its hybrid buses it just rolled out in seattle. Apparently the hybrid busses have the potential to save the country far more gas than a bunch of little priuses running around. Never hear about those in the media.

 

All the US light Diesels seem to be trucks or SUVs. GM has opel Diesels they should import or build here. I think I read the CTS was getting a Diesel over in Europe


http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/...d_seattle.html

GM says one hybrid Bus saves as much gas a 40 hybrid cars

 

Sad part is that none of the progress that GM makes in Hybrid cars, that will actualy make an impact on the world, will never be talked about and just be a footnote. But look at that fancy computer screen in the Prius!! oooooo

I think that Saturn needs a nice Diesel from Opel. Saturn should be Opel here in the US.

 

yup, that would be a nice niche for Saturn to get into

 

The part I noticed is the blurb about low-sulfur gasoline. I had heard about the low-sulfur diesel fuel, but not gas.

I wonder if new low-sulfur gas has the same abilty to make more power like low-sufur diesel will, or is it just an emissions thing.

 

unleaded gas is already low sulfur, it won't ad power to the Diesels, it's just an emissions thing.

 

According to the above article
I was just going by what they are saying above.


Hmmm, I thought that reducing sulfur increased combustion efficiency. Wouldn't increased power potentially be part of that?

 

I'll have to look into that, I wonder what the CA definition of "low sulfur" is. I know the amount of sulfur dropped with the into of the catalytic converters. Since sulfur kills catalytic converters I assumed gasoline was already "low sulfur", maybe just when compared to Diesel.

Come 2006 the new low Sulfur Diesel should help out a lot.

 

I wish they'd sell some good diesel CARS in this country. I'd buy one in a minute - but I don't want another VW and that E-class is just a little to pricy for my blood.

Too bad those bastages at BMW won't bring over the diesel Mini. That'd be a hell of a commuter.

 

Did you notice the H badge on the trunk of that european Accord? However, the steering clearly has the A symbol for Acura.

What gives?

 

I wish GM partnered with the Houston METRO to get some of those Hybrid Buses here. The current system could really benefit the city and it's pollution problem while at the same time improve the image of public transporation in TX.