65 MPG Ford Fiesta

[Stepbrow]

Ford of Europe and Australia has just marketed a new Ford Fiesta. It is one of the new Euro Diesels. Get's about 65MPG! http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/02/ford-will-give/

 

Do you think that they will sell them in the US soon? Well no. They are selling like hotcakes in other markets, but they don't think they will do well in the US.

 

It doesn't make sense to me, but I am sure that they did tonnes of marketing studies to come up with their decision.

[dnoblett]

Perhaps, but some states have heavy restrictions on "dirty" diesels. No dealer in NY state has sold a new diesel car in years, most of the diesel cars in NY are bought from dealers in other states.

 

The silly EPA in NY wont allow the sale of diesel cars and wont evaluate current modern clean diesels.

 

Right now, California and New York refuse to register new diesel cars because they don't meet emission regulations. Will that change with the newer generation diesels?

 

If clean-diesel cars fulfill their requirements, they have to give it a chance. The regulations that take effect in 2009 say diesel has to burn as clean as gasoline. California also has targets for carbon dioxide exhaust emissions -- and there's no better off-the-shelf solution for CO2 reduction than diesel. If Mercedes shows its clean-diesel technology is better at reducing carbon dioxide and they meet the requirements on particulates and nitrogen oxides, how can California ignore it?

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/...0208_589016.htm

 

Unlike hybrids, which have a green reputation in this country, modern diesels must still overcome the reputation here of those soot-belching, unreliable oil-burners of the past. Additionally, since diesel doesn't evaporate like gasoline, the pumps are dirtier—no matter how clean those diesel engines are. And then there's another challenge for diesels—stricter U.S. emission regulations. The 50-state light-duty vehicle limit for emissions of nitrogen oxides is 0.07 grams per mile. In Western Europe, the limit is 0.29. Reducing NOx to nitrogen and oxygen is much harder with a diesel engine because the exhaust is typically cooler and contains less oxygen compared to a gas engine. To meet U.S. regulations, diesel engines are required to use complicated—and expensive—high-pressure fuel injection and after-treatment systems that in some cases inject an aqueous urea solution to handle the NOx. The added expense of course means an even longer payback period for the consumer.

 

So where does that leave the U.S companies? Ford and GM—and now Chrysler—have access to perfectly competent diesel cars produced by their European arms. When asked about the possibility of bringing diesel cars to the U.S., GM's product chief, Tom Stephens, said that GM has a wide portfolio of diesel engines and continually investigates bringing them stateside. But right now he thinks that diesels are better suited to heavy-duty trucks. A diesel engine under load offers a greater efficiency bump than what could typically be expected in a light-duty diesel car. "It's also a question of priorities," he says. "One of the things we look at is that we have a 96 percent dependence on conventional petroleum. The electrification of the automobile tends to take you away from that dependence; we think that's a worthwhile strategy." Of course, he's talking about the Chevy Volt.

 

Even though Honda and Toyota recently shelved plans to bring a diesel car to the U.S., there's still a steady, slow increase of diesels—mostly from the German manufacturers. Mercedes, VW and Audi all offer at least two diesel models. Ford recently announced an all-new truck diesel.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive...rs/4330313.html

 

Too many road blocks put in place by the US EPA as well as some states.

Edited October 18, 2009 by dnoblett (see edit history)

[Stepbrow]

I hear you Dan. We need to get ahead of the curve instead of falling behind. I live in California, with the some of the strictest air pollution rules. Recently VW has introduced a Jetta Diesel. They got it approved because it is the newest technology and meets the states guidelines.

[Smitty]

I think Ford has had something similar in Argentina, or Brazil.

 

Ford didn't want to sell it in the US because they are of the opinion that nobody will buy any.

[dnoblett]

I think Ford has had something similar in Argentina, or Brazil.

 

Ford didn't want to sell it in the US because they are of the opinion that nobody will buy any.

People will buy, but with the added emeitions junk thet the EPA requires the price will be excessive.

 

My father drives a school bus, you should see the crazy emissions controls that the state has been demanding.