Originally Posted by TheOtherDave™
AFAIK, VW's current NA and turbo diesel engines are not legal for sale in California. I think it has something to do with particulate emissions. :dunno:
It's a shame really, because the new generation of turbodiesel taxis that I rode in over in Spain in '03 were amazingly quiet and refined.
I'd like to see these new TD engines come to the US not only in small SUVs, but in sedans and sports coupes as well. IMO, the timing could not be better.
The biggest concern of CARB was the fact that due to the high levels of sulfur compounds in diesel fuel, those compounds could act like sulfuric acid and damage the delicate fuel delivery systems (common-rail pressurized direct fuel injection) and exhaust emission control systems (catalytic converters that also "burn off" diesel particulates). But with the EPA mandate of only 15 parts per million starting in September 2006, we don't worry about these issues anymore, so VW could make it possible to qualify their
Pump Deuse PD130 and PD150 engines for 50-state sale. It will also make it possible to sell the V-10 turbodiesel engine found on the Touraeg in all 50 states, too.
In short, the new VW Beduin small SUV could be very popular with a 50-state legal PD150 engine.
