Originally Posted by MtViewGuy88
You've got to be kidding.
Look, Mercedes-Benz is pushing its very clean-burning
Bluetec turbodiesel technology for the US market (we could see a good fraction M-B models with
Bluetec turbodiesel engines as early as 2008!). If you've driven the M-B E320CDI, you know that the car runs very quietly with just about no engine clattering, doesn't have visible smoke from the exhaust and gets way better fuel efficiency than the equivalent gasoline engine!
I expect the first
Bluetec applications will be the M-series medium SUV, G-series large SUV and R-series "crossover" wagon, with other M-B models getting
Bluetec engines further down the road.
Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it, but I predict the diesel equipped MBs will sell poorly in the US, and they are going to be on the bottom of the lineup compared to gasoline engines. Again, this is my opinion based on my previous experience with diesels - they are just nowhere near as smooth as most gasoline engines.
Originally Posted by MtViewGuy88
As such, Honda doesn't want to be left behind in terms of cutting-edge turbodiesel technology. Honda already has excellent experience with the i-CTDi 2.2-liter I-4 turbodiesel engine that has won plaudits in Europe for its power, quietness and clean exhaust; that technology could be adapted for the V-6 engine that will likely find its way into the Acura MDX, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline and later Honda Odyssey.
Dude, thats Europe. Cars in Europe are designed towards economy, not engine performance. Over there you can get a BMW 7 series, fully loaded, yet equipped with a 2.0 diesel engine, and it will get its ass kicked by a geo metro.