We have some good — albeit vague — news for you, although that’s nothing new when talking about upcoming diesel models in the U.S.
Back at the 2008 Detroit auto show in January, Honda Motor Co.’s president and CEO confirmed that a diesel engine will be introduced into the Acura lineup in 2009. The TSX will be the first to receive diesel power, likely followed by the Acura’s compact RDX SUV. Plans are underway to develop a V-6 diesel engine that may make its way into the midsize MDX by 2010.
As far as Honda’s receiving diesel power, if it’s in an Acura we wouldn’t count out corporate parts sharing, especially with the growing attention automakers are giving to diesels.
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Matt: Diesel engines are slightly more effienct, as far as milage goes. Also the engine characteristics are VERY different. The torque on a diesel engine can be almost double what a similar sized gas engine can put out. Problem is the engine revs much slower.
Since not all American drivers are at WOT redine 90% of the time, for the average consumer they might not notice the lack of high end hp. Add to that modern transmission, (or even, hmmm, a CVT?) and the kind of person that doesn't know FWD from AWD will think "Huh this ride's got a lot of power off the line"
The biggest knock (har har) on diesel is odor, NVH, and soot. People who remember the 70's when everyone rushed to disels in response to the OPEC crisis, remember poor quality, hastilly built hulks from the worst of the 70's. Or some boomers might have had a poor running 2nd hand Jetta Diesel on the way up the corporate ladder to their first BMW.
Audi's new R10 is a monster diesel and is changing the way people are thinking about oil burners. Since Honda considers itself "an engine company" it's about time we see what they can do with this. I'm curious. But I doubt FreightShaker's gonna be offering a Honda option anytime soon.
Matt,
It may cost more but you usually end up getting better MPG versus gasoline. Little known fact unless you've been to Europe, but the majority of the cars there are Diesel. Diesel engines tend to last longer and modern Diesel's (such as Mercedes) tend to have faster acceleration, better economy and may even be quieter. I recall a recent article where some testing was done with an E-class with Bluetec and it was getting around 45 MPG. A similar test in Europe with a BMW (Diesel) versus a Prius ended up with a slight advantage towards the BMW.
Honestly, I'd rather use proven technology instead of what appears to be a marketing gimmick by Japanese manufacturers. Plus I'd rather drive a more comfortable and safer car versus a tin-can that operates on batteries. I should've waited on buying my new BMW last year... the Diesel 3-series is due out later this year.
@Infosaur
the soot and the dirty smell of diesel wont come with the new line of honda engines....honda will fit them with a special filter making them cleaner than gasoline engines (30%) even in terms of particle emissions.
Matt:
As Infosaur already wrote, the new generation of Diesel engines already available in Europe achieve in many cases better performance, better mileage and are already able to pollute less compared to their equivalent gas model.
They are able to pollute less specially because of the use of what they call "particle filters" and also because of some other new technologies on diesel engines.
To give you an example, I can tell you that 60% to 75% of the models you know well from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, and all other car brands you can think are diesel powered (in Europe).
Wikipedia says Toyota Prius gets 48 Mpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius
With Matt's gas price of $3.95/48= 0.08229 per mile
Honda Accord to get 52 Mpg
www.autobloggreen.com/2007/06/07/2009-honda-accord-diesel-to-hit-52-mpg/
With Matt's diesel price of $4.45/52=0.08557 pre mile
So one may save $328 in 100K miles with the Toyota. But I agree with Jason I would rather have the diesel than a "tin can that operates on batteries"
Hi there,
How much more power a diesel engine can tow, for example the MDX can tow 5000 lbs now, so how much it can tow with diesel then?
Anybody know MDX said can tow 5000 lbs, is that with 7 passengers and cargo?
Thanks,
Patrick.
Patrick:
I own a 2003 TDI (VW Jetta TDI). I heard people towing as much as 2000 lbs with that, its only 1.9. So if the new MDX can tower like 7000 lbs, don't be surprised. By the way my diesel gets 42-47mpg, and 155lbs(that mean all hills in last gear:) ) of torque, cant beat that with a prius.
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im just wondering.. why anyone would buy a diesel car because a gallon of diesel cost more than a gallon of unleaded gas.... i live in San Diego and its $3.95 a gallon for regular unleaded.. my acura TL takes premium and its $4.25 a gallon for me at the moment.. and DIESEL cost $4.45 a gallon... im questioning if auto company should take this route.