Nissan announces diesel Maxima for 2010
I wrote an April Fool's Day blog entry about a diesel-powered Corvette, but the idea of a diesel-powered performance car really isn't that far-fetched. Nissan has announced that the US-market version of the 2010 Maxima sports sedan will be available as a diesel. The Maxima's diesel engine will be co-developed with Nissan's partner, Renault (don't laugh -- the French build the best automotive diesel engines, believe it or not), and will meet EPA Tier II Bin 5 emissions, meaning it can be sold in all 50 states.
When the Japanese start talking diesels in the US, it's time to take it seriously. Diesels are already popular in Europe; buyers there discovered the advantages of diesel cars -- more torque (pulling power) and better fuel economy, not to mention the ability to run renewable fuels like biodiesel -- in the 90s. Today, around 50% of new cars in Europe are sold with diesel engines. Ergo, European manufacturers can make the switch to diesel pretty easily. That's not the case in Japan; as with the US, home-market buyers still prefer gasoline engines. When it comes to business decisions, Japanese automakers are a conservative lot; I doubt they would jump on the US-market diesel bandwagon if they didn't think the cars would sell.
Today's diesel cars are quieter, cleaner and faster than the rattle-traps foisted on the American market back in the 70s and 80s. Once Americans get a taste of modern diesels, is it possible that they will become our engine of choice? Boy, that would be cool.-- Aaron Gold
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Comments
Actually Aaron most Japanese models that are marketed in Europe have diesels available as an option. Even the Honda Fit (Jazz over there). Toyota’s van has both a diesel and a 5-spd available. The Corolla hatchback is another. Honda has what was described as a quite hot diesel Accord diesel. Pretty well all SUV’s there have diesels, eg., Mitsubishi.
Main problem (aside from marketing here) is modifying exhaust systems for this market, probably the reason Nissan is taking so long to do it.
But they have also to convince themselves that horsepower hungry Americans, ever concerned with getting to the next red light in time to stop will buy a diesel. And that modern Euro diesels are much quieter (though slightly noticeable at idle), havent belched black exhaust for years, and that the new technology makes them considerably faster than in the old days.
They have to invest in parts inventories and training of mechanics, etc.
We keep hearing all these promises about all the great diesels on the horizon or already here, in some cases. We hear they’re quieter, more torquey, faster, and smell better than those of yesteryear.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m holding out hope for the emergence of fuel-sipping diesels that are as fast and quiet as gasoline engines…but I just don’t see any evidence of anywhere. Most people can tell when they’re behind a TDI-flavored Passat, Golf, or Jetta because of the little “TDI” on the back. But when I can tell there’s a TDI VW behind me while sitting at a stoplight surrounded by dozens of cars, without looking in my mirror…that’s not good advertising for turbo-diesels.
Promises about the future of diesels abound, but all those F-350’s, Chevy 3500’s, and VW’s can be distinguished from their gasoline-powered siblings from a block away. They are loud, obnoxious, and still stink up the air around them. Need I even mention the deafining whine from the turbo at full-throttle? Is that supposed to be a selling point??
I read on an almost monthly basis in some online or print magazine about how much better diesels are today and that Amercians are all stupid because we’re still stuck on ancient technology, blah, blah, blah. But I just don’t see it.
Sorry, I need more than environmental guilt to board the diesel bandwagon. And no amount of proselytizing by any of the faithful magazines is going to convince me without a TRUE example of the magical incarnation of fault-free diesels.
Bryan, you seem to have quite a distaste for the TDI, but I just wanted to point out that they are truly evolving…
You must be referring to the older TDIs because my 61k mile 2004 Jetta TDI runs pretty quiet. I cannot hear it when my wife drives it behind me (when I am in any of the gas vehicles), and we have no problem with sound or smell with the windows and sunroof wide open. The turbo is not too loud either. It hisses like ANY other turbo, and only at half-throttle (the audible turbo hiss goes away altogether when you give it more gas – and I know because I am a lead-foot.) and at that point, all you hear is just as much engine noise as any other 4 cylinder under brisk acceleration. It has an even lower noise level than a Pontiac Grand Prix exhaust note, and definitely less than many sports cars. Most people don’t even realize it’s a diesel car until we actually tell them, or if they see the TDI emblem.
On the other hand, our other diesel, Dodge Ram (Cummins 24v 5.9) truck, is distinctly loud and obnoxious. Everyone knows when I drive that one – literally from blocks away. But hey, 18-wheelers sound like that too, so I am not the only one.
Personally, I’d rather hear the sound of a loud turbodiesel truck over the *thump thump* vibrating/rettling tin-can sound from those obnoxious stereo systems, where you cannot even hear the ‘music’, but you sure can feel your spleen shaking.
Count me on the bandwagon!! I would buy a new diesel car. I am seeing more and more gas stations switching to the cleaner diesel. I have heard good and bad of older diesel engines. The word is diesel engines last longer due to less moving parts, peppy at first gear and is more efficient than gasoline cars. With a diesel model you can get the milage of a hybrid w/o getting the initial hybrid cost. I wonder.. do you also get the tax credit?? Not sure if completely true , but would like to heard about from Diesel owners.
Got a complete dose of diesels recently while spending a month in London mostly on foot. I walked everywhere. The smell of diesel is pervasive. Diesel soot caused permanent red-eye and constant eye irritation. My nose ran or dripped all the while I was on the street. A place like Los Angeles or Denver or Reno would be overwhelmed with particulates in the air. NYC, where there are large numbers of folks on foot would, for me, be unbearable.
I live in Costa Rica and because of the high prices of gas diesel has become a great alternative there are a lot of european and japanese cars being sold with diesel engines (corolla, citroen, peugeot) as well as luxury european cars like BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
My father has a 3.0d X5, the car is great and very fast as fast as the 3.0i but has more torque.
Diesels have their advantage in fuel economy and it is more noticeable on the big cars like SUVs and trucks.
European and japanese makers improved a lot in their diesel offerings, there’s an Accord with a diesel engine available in Europe that has been described as a great car by auto magazines.
From the cars I’ve seen here the few American made diesels available are noise and not as refined as the japanese and European. Diesel is cheaper than gas here but diesel cars are more expensive to buy so it will make sense to have a diesel depending on how many miles would you put on your odometer per year or month or whatever period you’ll make your calculations.
I have a place in the central valley and I am almost ready to tackle the driving here. Where would u go to look for a diesel car? Thanks Camille
880 6126
I am not buying a new car until I find a new diesel small truck or SUV in the US with a mid-sized diesel engine (not a Chevy/Ford old tech super sizer). In the meantime my 2000 Toyota Tacoma and 2004 Volvo V70R will have to do me for a few more years.
P.S.: Brian above just needs to take a trip to Europe. Diesels here in the US currently do not compare unless you look at the $$$$ Mercedes.
Why would anybody want to either make or purchase a diesel vehicle, other than for commercial use. It is still a fossil fuel,costs more, noisy, belches out pollluting particulate matter and is not always easy to find. There is no upside to it over gasoline. Americans will never go for it!!!!
Thanks for the information about the diesel engines please can you give me concrate information on how i can have an online training on diesel engines with all it requires if possibly your phone number
i work with the U.S embassy yaounde so i
want to do an online training the embassy
will sponsor i will be waiting for the reply
thanks.