Why don't we have small Isuzu diesel pickups? Why!!??
 

Because they offer a 3.0L turbocharged 4x4 that gets ~50mpg@50mph, that's why.

What's really disgusting is that VW could be putting out 70-80+mpg station wagons if they paid any attention to aero. These are f'in pickups getting the same as VW diesels.

Indeed. By addressing aerodynamics and weight, we could have 70+ mpg midsize cars(GM Precept, Dodge Intrepid ESX2), 90+ mpg sports cars(Opel Eco Speedster), 150+ mpg compact cars(Loremo LS, Daihatsu UFE-III), and 40 mpg large SUVs(UC Davis Futuretruck entries such as modified GM Suburbans).

A doubling of fuel economy is possible without any meaningful cost penalty(in those cases where there is even one present), without a reduction in performance, and without a reduction in vehicle luxury or utility. For all practical purposes, the consumer wouldn't be sacrificing a damn thing.

But profit margins on high maintenance gas guzzlers are much higher than they are on fuel efficient cars, therefore that is what the auto industry will sell. The automakers are beholden to their shareholders, and no one else. This is not the way the 'free market' was meant to be.


https://www.evworld.com/images/biodiesel_willys.jpg

PHOTO CAPTION: Buried under the bullet-like hood of recreation of a classic 1941 Willy's pickup is a 6.5 liter, 350hp, twin-turbo diesel engine that runs on biodiesel fuel and gets an estimated 38 mpg. Photo courtesy of Institute of Ecolonomics and Ecosense Solutions.

https://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?sect...e&storyid=1116

Just read today...
 

I just read today that Toyota is buying a major share of Isuzu to use their Diesel technology to compete with the upcoming U.S. Honda Diesel in '09.

Article.

RH77

I have said this on the diesel forum a million times, but I want 3 rows of seats in a station wagon (Passat style) with a nice 1.3L diesel in it. I don't care about top speed or 0-60 times. I care about getting from point A to point B safe and efficiently. I would be willing to bet I could get 70+ mpg’s with that setup, even more if it weighed less, VW’s are heavy little cars ;)

And to top it off, that is an option in Europe, well I believe it is a 1.7L now instead of a 1.3L, but they make the darn car, we just can’t get it across the pond with the steering wheel on the correct side ;)

Along those lines, a 1.4L TDI in one of the Mazda5's would be nice, but the car's still to new to make it a practical swap. A Volvo 240 might make a decent swap candidate. Hmmm...

Americas basically don't like diesel's. I don't like them except in big trucks where massive amounts of torque are needed.

The offerings that where made by the big three in years past didn't sell because of the above and because they where junk engines. Very pron to failure. I saw a lot of GM's diesels suck cylinder sleeves. Why? Because they took the ubber cheap route and basically used gas engine blocks and modded heads. None of which will hold up in the diesel. Some others where German adaptations of engines they wouldn't sell in there native market.

I look forward to seeing Honda's new diesel and see what Yota comes up with out of the Isuzu parts bends. And with the emission standards it should be real interesting to see how much they will cost. Not to mention over all maint. cost.

Diesel Building Momentum
 

Exactly -- freakin Oldsmobile and Cadillac! BUT...

For my generation (X+1/Y-1) and younger, those blasted (literally) engines may not be on our minds.

A Diesel Technology Forum Article cites a survey that younger generations are likely to purchase a new "Clean Diesel" vehicle (by a wide margin).

If we can just forget about those exploding Olds' and smokey Mercedes', then we can move on and give it another try. I don't think America will be disappointed.

RH77

The other German adaption was the use of BMW motors in Lincolns. There were a few around here for a while.

https://i17.ebayimg.com/02/a/08/c9/ag/f0_4.JPG

And don't forget the uber-rare diesel 1960s Studebaker Larks. Perkins three-bangers if memory serves.

...and the Mercedes W116 and W126 body cars with diesel motors were US only....and there is supposedly one converted W107 here in the US.....YUCK!

.....and the attempt at a VM diesel in the MkIII Jaguar XJ for the US market.....