BMW X1 Clean Diesel

Imagine an SUV that is really sleek, luxurious, high torque, and german engineered. You may think expensive and poor fuel efficiency. Which normally you would be correct. Now think of all those things, but with a clean diesel engine that will get you fuel efficiency that destroys the competition in the small SUV segment. Now you just think expensive. Which most likely will be the case, but that is not what this post is about. This sleek, luxurious, high torque, German engineered ultimate driving machine will be in the low 40mpg range. That is IF it even comes to the US.

Clean diesel technology certainly hasn’t soared here in the States over the past couple years. But hopefully will catch on if diesel fuel stays less expensive than petrol. BMW currently offers two 50-state clean diesel vehicles—the BMW 335d sedan and BMW X5 xDrive35d SUV. They both have hefty price tags of $44,725 and $52,025 respectively. The 335d, which provides a city/highway average fuel economy rating of 29 mpg, is eligible for an “alternative vehicle” credit of $900. The X5 xDrive35d, with an average rating of 23 mpg, qualifies for a $1,550 tax credit. Expect the X1 to be in the same price range.

I’ve been waiting for a diesel hybrid for a while now. It seemed obvious that this should have been in R&D since the advent of clean diesel technology. But of course a few years went by. I figured VW would give this a go as one of their first Hybrid models. However, Volvo was the one to step up. Not only is it going to be a Diesel Hybrid, they are going beyond that to a plug-in hybrid model. This is great news.

A car that can get you 30-40 miles daily, purely on electricity. Most commuters will have no problem keeping their car within that range daily. If you do happen to go over, you get the efficiency of a diesel engine which should easily get in the high 30 to low 40 mpg range. Reports say this would be “a reality” by 2012 in the European market. Hopefully soon after in the US.

Go Volvo!

The engine will be smaller than the current 5.4-liter gasoline V-8 used in Ford’s truck line. The diesel option would deliver 9 percent more power (310 horsepower) and 15 percent more torque (430 foot-pounds) while providing similar acceleration and most importantly 20 percent better fuel economy.

Ford may have off-loaded its Land Rover and Jaguar divisions, but it plans to use some of those former divisions’ diesel engine technology to keep its big trucks competitive with rivals using a mix of hybrids and diesels. The auto industry’s shift to greater efficiency is occurring throughout entire product lines—including the largest vehicles on the market.

While Ford previously said it would use the 50-state diesel engine in its F-150 lineup and Expedition SUV, the company told its dealers that the engine would also find a home in the Lincoln Navigator, full-size vans and Super Duty pickups. The engine could boost the F-150’s fuel economy about 20 percent, into the low 20-mpg range—but won’t be able to get the SUVs much above 15 mpg. That still puts Ford at a disadvantage compared to General Motors’s 20+ mpg hybrid Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade. Dodge also plans to offer both a Dodge Ram Hybrid and Dodge Ram Bluetec Diesel.

The Ford engine is derived from the European turbocharged 3.6-liter used in Land Rovers and Jaguars. While significantly smaller than the current 5.4-liter gasoline V-8 used in Ford’s truck line, Ford told its dealers that it would deliver 9 percent more power (310 horsepower) and 15 percent more torque (430 foot-pounds) while providing similar acceleration—and 20 percent better fuel economy. Ford will use urea injection to control nitrogen oxide emissions, making it legal for sale in all 50 states.

The pressure is on for automakers to offer smaller, more efficient powertrains. In response, Mercedes Benz announced plans for a new four-cylinder diesel engine for the U.S. market. This would be the German automaker’s first four-cylinder offering in the U.S. in several years. Benz says the new engine offers “greater power, greater economy, and greater cleanliness” over virtually all comparably sized gas and diesel-powered systems.