Ford thinks you hate Diesel

[OriginalWheelman]

http://www.dailytech.com/Ford+Announces ... e21317.htm

The short of it:

Ford is making a 1.6L Turbo Diesel Focus that gets ~67 mpg, but only selling it in Europe.

Since U.S. car customers don't seem to care much for diesel vehicles -- well, according to Ford -- we won't be getting the newest ultra-efficient diesel model: the Focus ECOnetic. The Focus ECOnectic uses a 1.6-liter Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel engine that generates 105hp. Thanks to the use of the turbodiesel engine, low rolling resistance tires, revised final drive ratio, and Active Grille Shutter, Ford says that the Focus ECOnetic is good for 80 mpg on the European Cycle -- that translates to roughly 67 mpg using EPA calculations.

For comparison, the U.S Focus is rated at 28 mpg city and 40 mpg highway in its most fuel efficient trim (SFE).

...

The Focus ECOnetic will be made available next year in hatchback and wagon variants.

This was the same thing they said about turbos in the 90s.

[Rev_D21]

Ford is bringing back the shutterstat? Wow, that some old tech there! Actually from what I have read it is pretty good at keep engine temps constant.

[sbird1]

I want one... mostly because it isn't some p**** hybrid.

[breadbox]

I want a biodeisel, but also I don't want a car that looks like shizz, these kinda go hand in hand as far as I am aware. So I may build a biodeisel S13 eventually.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Ford's not the only ones. Three years ago Toyota and Nissan were talking up their next-gen Camry and Maxima diesels. They never happened. In Nissan's case, that's probably for the best. I don't want to think about what diesel V6 torque would do to CVTs.

Ford was also considering a smaller diesel for the F150, but decided against it.

In reality, though, it's not a matter of Americans hating diesels. Rather, it's a fueling infrastructure and refinery problem. Europe has a more diesel-oriented fueling infrastructure in addition to oil refining techniques that yield a stronger diesel:gasoline ratio. The US has a very strongly gasoline-oriented fueling infrastructure and refining techinques that produce much more gasoline than diesel. A lot of things would have to change for diesel passenger cars to see the same level of usefulness here, and many of those things are not strictly automobile-related.

[OriginalWheelman]

I really think that it is a case like turbos int he mid 90s. The American market never got a lot of turbos, and our lack of experience with them made people unwilling to buy them. I had a turbo LeBaron, and the thing was one ridiculously fast for a K-car. I loved beating up on random people that tried to do the right lane pass at merges. Despite the performance the "weirdness" factor kept them from becoming popular until the tuner scene turned to imports. Once exposed to them, Americans fell in love with the turbo.

I honestly think it is a similar thing with diesels. The only thing that comes to mind when most people think diesel here are big trucks belching black soot. Nevermind that VW diesel in the next lane getting 50+ mpg and emitting less carbon per mile than the gas car they are driving.

[maxhopper]

Probably has a lot to do with US .vs EU diesel emissions standards as well.

[OriginalWheelman]

No they just don't think we will buy diesels.

http://www.dailytech.com/Ford+Product+D ... e21105.htm

Kuzak brags that Ford "could easily bring diesels to the U. S. market" since it already offers a number of diesel powertrain options around the globe in its vehicles. “It doesn’t make sense. We are not going to force it on customers,” he added.

Kuzak went on to tell Automotive News that there are a number of factors going against bringing diesel engines to mainstream cars including:

Diesel engines are more expensive than their gasoline counterparts
Americans in general are apprehensive to diesel-powered cars
Diesel fuel remains more expensive than gasoline
The payback from the initial purchase price of a diesel vehicle versus the cost savings from increased fuel efficiency can take ten years

Interestingly, points one and four could easily be leveled against hybrid vehicles, yet Ford has an impressive hybrid in its stable already with the Fusion Hybrid (41 mpg city, 36 mpg highway).

According to Kuzak, Ford will continue to use advanced powertrains like EcoBoost (turbocharging + direct injection) and direct injection alone to achieve "near diesel" EPA ratings in its vehicles.

Despite Ford's reluctance to use diesel engines, archrival General Motors is reportedly eyeing a diesel engine for its U.S. market Cruze compact sedan. Likewise, Audi -- although it is a higher tier brand than Ford -- is looking to bring its diesel engines to three more nameplates within the next 24 months.

[orangeNblue]

Europe gets all the cool ford cars

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hat ... index.html

[Jesda]

Its the EPA that seems to hate them

[Bubba1]

Its the EPA that seems to hate them

I agree with MoD about the infrastructure issue, but I also think there is still a perception problem to some extent. Although the old Rabbit and Mercedes diesels sold well and and have held up pretty well over the years, and more full sized domestic pickups are now being sold with diesels than before, plus the newest generation VW TDi, BMW 3 series diesel, and Mercedes Bluetech are surprising many folks about how good they are, if you say "diesel American car" to many non-enthusiast Americans, they will still recall those awful, smoke belching, clackety, unreliable diesels GM built in the 70's/early 80's and stay away from them.

[tigersharkdude]

Europe gets all the cool ford cars

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hat ... index.html

I want one so bad