Diesels look to rev up their reputations

Unlike those automakers building limited production economy or performance models, BMW offers this technology across its product range, explained Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management.

“All models offer higher dynamics at lower fuel consumption,” he said. “EfficientDynamics is not only installed on one or two ecological models. On the contrary, EfficientDynamics operates across the entire model range.”

Audi will offer its Q7 crossover SUV with the monstrous 500-horsepower V-12 diesel in the R8 sports car shown at this year’s Detroit and Geneva auto shows, giving that vehicle improved power and fuel economy compared to today’s gas models. In Geneva, Mercedes showed a concept version of its GLK compact crossover vehicle with a twin-turbocharged diesel backed with an electric motor that together produce 224 horsepower.

The option of diesel power presents the possibility of even traditional American iron like the Chrysler 300 nursing its drink rather than gulping it down. Because the 300 uses the same V6 engine that Chrysler plans to offer in the Grand Cherokee, we know the company is gearing up to use the engine here. The company may opt to sell the diesel version of the 300 that it offers in Europe to U.S. consumers.

General Motors is bullish on diesel’s potential to reduce the consumption of pickups and SUVs, but CEO Rick Wagoner is more guarded about its potential in cars.

“You are going to see an explosion of diesels in the truck segment,” he predicted. “Don’t rule out cars, but we aren’t forecasting a huge increase in the U.S. market demand for diesels.”

Still, the National Academy of Science hopes there will be such an increase, because of the fuel-saving potential.

“The light-duty diesel vehicles in production and in widespread use in Europe have already demonstrated a 30-40 percent reduction in fuel consumption, depending on engine size, compared with 2007 model-year gasoline engines,” said the academy in a report to the government last month on fuel economy standards.

If government regulators remain skeptical about diesel’s potential, maybe they should arrange to take an Audi R8 TDI LeMans for a test drive at the race track.

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