Come October, watch for Diesel cars to get a big push. And watch for Honda's diesel. They could possibly change how history looks at diesel engines; as being clean burning and better than gasoline engines.
The enviros will kill it, just like they kill any other diesel out there. About 15 years ago the ford ranger was available with a diesel. Got 55mpg on the highway and 40 around town. Environazis killed it off quick.
What is the supposed advantage with diesel? Does it take less crude to make a gallon?
Diesel was king in 1979/80, but only because gasoline was artificially expensive then. It wasn't just the enviros that killed it. The technology, the distribution, the makers... it just wasn't its time.
As you say, small diesel engines are now more efficient and clean, but they can only displace gasoline in part and cannot replace gasoline entirely. Diesle's a good and getting better alternative for gasoline, but it's not a replacement for it, and not anymore than hybrids pretend to be.
As in politics and love, with motor fuel it's never enough to be the "alternative." Gasoline is still it.
Dr. Z, that German doofus on the new Chrysler commercials, is advertising a new clean-buring diesel Jeep Cherokee for 2007, as well.
Quieter, clean diesel engines sound really good to me, and I'll definitely look into it the next time I go pickup shopping. (Not a Chrysler though, I've owned one too many of them and will never own another. I'm a GMC man these days, but I'm leaning toward Toyota for my next truck. It's been so long since I've shopped for a vehicle, I don't even know if Toyota offers a diesel pickup.)
What would be even better is if someone with some money would start mining all that coal in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming and start turning it into diesel fuel.
I recently rented a new diesel VW Golf in Germany. 1.4 liter I believe, and with every bit of power and acceleration as a gasoline engined car....with just a bit of growling during excelleration. Top speed of 125 mph on the Autobahn too. With all the torque of a diesel (a very long power curve) it is extremely easy to drive in a stick-shift. If this is the kind of diesel car being made now, I'm all for it.
This is NOT your grandfather's underpowered diesel Volvo.