Why *** cars never introduced diesel in NA?

[shawn99]

Even though it's is a niche market, I'd think it would sell well. Especially with fuel economy on everyone's mind.

[frogger]

Honda is planning on bringing the Accord over in diesel.

[ES_Revenge]

Maybe because diesel [quite literally] stinks?

[VivienM]

Even though it's is a niche market, I'd think it would sell well.

Diesel is more a European thing than a Japanese thing. And anyways, if you want to know why automakers haven't bothered... four reasons:
a) diesel got a bad rep from crap domestic diesels in the early 1980s
b) unlike European emissions regulations, North American regulations are HEAVILY slanted towards gas engines
c) until very recently, we had very high sulphur (sulfur if you are American) diesel fuel, so no European-style common-rail injection
d) very few gas stations offer diesel, especially in urban areas

[seftonm]

We've had common rail injection for a while, even when we had the high sulphur diesel. There was a Liberty CRD, E320 CDI, plus Duramax, Cummins 5.9, and Powerstroke.

Honda diesels will be here soon. Until recently, there haven't been may good Japanese diesels. They already had hybrid technology, so it was probably easier to sell those in North America than to bring over a diesel which couldn't be sold in large markets like California because of our poor fuel. Toyota seems to be set on promoting Hybrid Synergy Drive as the cleanest and best technology so I don't see them selling a diesel here in the near future.

[Kommander_KornFlakes]

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Ummm the Japs DID sell diesel vehicles in North America. An uncle of mine bought a spanking new diesel Mazda pick-up truck in 1984 in Houston,Texas.

[ES_Revenge]

Uh you guys do realise the terms "***" and "Japs" are ethnic slurs right? They're rather derogatory/racist. Posts should be edited at the very least, IMO.

(This actually reminds me of a rather humorous story from a uni class, but I'll spare the details for now...)

[oldsnail]

same reason why BENZ, VW, BMW dont make hybrids

[new_vr]

d) very few gas stations offer diesel, especially in urban areas
I have never had a problem finding diesel, but I guess when it's 1000km between fillups, you got some time to find one

[gordholio]

Gas has always been priced high in the countries on the European continent and Britain, so that's why they have many more diesels.

[Avatar]

Ever notice Diesel price cost more than regular these days?

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Diesel fuel in Europe is not taxed as heavily because the diesel truck drivers are a powerful political force. European emissions regulations are more lenient towards diesels for the same reason. All the European carmakers make diesel versions of all their cars, you can get a diesel S-class and a diesel twin turbo 335 in Germany.

I don't know why you mentioned Japan, as diesels are not as widely used there - mostly commercial vehicles and SUVs. The Euro-market Toyota and Honda diesels all use diesel engines made by PSA or Fiat or GM Europe. Do you remember the old Saturn Vue that had the same Honda Engine as the MDX? GM got that engine as part of a swap with Honda - they gave Honda the diesel engines that Honda uses for the European Civic.

[gman]

Ever notice Diesel price cost more than regular these days?

Does diesel engine have better fuel mileage than gas engine?

[onecoolloser]

(This actually reminds me of a rather humorous story from a uni class, but I'll spare the details for now...)

C'mon, spill it :)

[seftonm]

Ever notice Diesel price cost more than regular these days?
Depends where you are. Here, it's still 15 cents cheaper per litre.

[GoiNGPoSTaL]

Didn't Isuzu have a couple of small diesel SUV/truck's in the early 90's?

[stevethewheel]

Nissan Maxima. Early 1980's. Sold in Canada, and my neighbour has one still running.

I see they are going to do it again in 2010, and try to make it sound ground-breaking. Again in the Maxima.

[Samir]

The real reason is that some American states - such as California, the biggest car-buying state in the U.S. - have very strict emission laws regarding tailpipe emissions. While Diesel does produce a higher mpg than gasoline, it burns a lot dirtier than gasoline and its exhaust is both more noxious and denser.

Ever stand behind an old diesel car? You can almost feel yourself getting covered in soot.

Almost companies are working on making clean-burning diesel engines but the U.S. regulatory constraints are making it difficult. In Europe, they're more concerned about greenhouse gases, not pollutants (it's an important, often confused distinction).

Once it happens though, the cars should come up to Canada.