Nissan announces diesel Maxima for 2010
 

I wrote an April Fool's Day blog entry about a diesel-powered Corvette, but the idea of a diesel-powered performance car really isn't that far-fetched. Nissan has announced that the US-market version of the 2010 Maxima sports sedan will be available as a diesel. The Maxima's diesel engine will be co-developed with Nissan's partner, Renault (don't laugh -- the French build the best automotive diesel engines, believe it or not), and will meet EPA Tier II Bin 5 emissions, meaning it can be sold in all 50 states.

When the Japanese start talking diesels in the US, it's time to take it seriously. Diesels are already popular in Europe; buyers there discovered the advantages of diesel cars -- more torque (pulling power) and better fuel economy, not to mention the ability to run renewable fuels like biodiesel -- in the 90s. Today, around 50% of new cars in Europe are sold with diesel engines. Ergo, European manufacturers can make the switch to diesel pretty easily. That's not the case in Japan; as with the US, home-market buyers still prefer gasoline engines. The Japanese are a conservative lot, and they wouldn't jump on the US-market diesel bandwagon if they didn't think the cars wold sell.

Modern diesels are quieter and cleaner than the rattle-traps foisted on the American market back in the 70s and 80s. Is it possible that diesels will become the engine of choice for Americans by the 2030s? Boy, that would be cool. -- Aaron Gold

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