Agree with you but still would not come near a diesel here in Canada, simply because they are high maintenance here. we only have one choice which is VW (Jetta or Golf Diesel) and they are rated at 35 city / 43 MPG HWY and 38 combined. problem with them is they are not as reliable as the Toyotas and with gas prices here $5/gallon , I will be forced to either buy a corolla with valvematic or a prius. there are no other choices.
No other choices because your manufacturers have to comply with US specs and it's not worthwhile for the relatively smaller Canadian market. The service interval for diesels in Europe is almost the same as for petrols. Costs are not much higher and service intervals are almost the same. I think Canada with its higher fuel costs would do well to follow some of our models that comply and save yourself some money. I always thought it crazy that you all drive US cars yet have much higher relative fuel costs. The US ratings are biased towards larger engines, whereas the Euro mpg ratings are probably a 'best ever' rating. The Japanese ratings are almost impossible to achieve.
Costs for diesel cars are much higher because the dealers can command a premium here. My brother-in-law, who already owns a diesel truck, wanted to buy the Chevy Cruze Diesel because he does a lot of running around for his job as a contractor. They quoted him about $5000 more. He ended up purchasing the gas powered version of the Cruze. Others diesel powered counterparts run $3000 to $8000 more than their gas powered brethren. Most people don't bother because of horror stories, probably more urban legend than real, they've heard from various people about what happens to the diesel fuel at -10 to -30C around here. Of course it doesn't help, when for instance a guy at work left his truck running all day while he was at work because he forgot to add a certain additive to keep the fuel filter from icing up. iPad ? HD
There is no longer any difference in "cleanliness" between diesel engines & gasoline engines. Both qualify as "super ultra low" emission vehicles in the state of California (the strictest emission zone in the world). Minor correction: Gen 1 Prius was limited to 4000 rpm (Japan). It was the Gen 1.5 version that was modded to 4500 rpm
Has toyota totally ruled out diesels? Just because they are not making one dosen't = They refuse to consider. I may be wrong but I think Toyota is serious about staying in front on hybrid and future car technologies like electric, or nuculear powered, or CNG whatever is comming.
There are Toyota Diesels out there already but not in a Hybrid Drivetrain. We have had an interesting discussion on this thread so far. But I have to say I still don't fully understand Toyota's motivation for ruling out diesel engines in a conventional hybrid. Taking everyone's input into account, my best guess would be that Toyota is looking at far ahead - way beyond 5 or 10 years and they just don't see how diesels will give them a good return of investment for the limited number of years they see conventional Internal Combustion Engines in use. This coupled with the fact that emission standards keep getting stricter every year making it increasingly difficult to clean-up diesel exhausts. I just hope Prius Gen 4 and beyond will completely settle the hybrid vs diesel competition forever.
Toyota makes an Auris 1.4 diesel that gets about +10 more MPG on the highway (versus the Auris hybrid) and equal combined rating. Toyota & other carmakers off the Europeans the benefit of three options (gasoline, diesel, hybrid) but not for the Americans.
To make a diesel hybrid you have to add the cost of dpf, turbo and common rail direct injection and everything connected to them to the already higher price of an hybrid, just to gain a couple of mpg in highway and also to sell them probably just in the EU where Toyota has a small % of market share. Imho too small numbers for them to invest in R&D for it.
Not so quick Alesf76. A diesel hybrid the size of a Prius has no place outside of Europe and even inside is debatable. I think a diesel hybrid has much merit as an SUV. The diesel SUVs we get in Europe get fuel economy they could only dream of in the US, but a hybrid version could increase that further. An Audi Q7 diesel hybrid that gets 45 mpg US or a Range Rover V8 diesel hybrid getting the same. Now they would have potential world wide and the slight extra cost of the emission control and hybrid system could easily be absorbed into the higher cost of such a vehicle.
IMHO how many big SUV owners are interested in mileage ? Don't know anyone with a so big SUV, I know a couple with "just" a Q5 and an X5, never seen them worried of spending more than 100€ to fill their tanks. I think we will see big SUV hybrids, but first to get more power and/or to get 4WD, getting better city mileage will be just a "side effect". At least that would be good news for city pollution, better than nothing.
A lot of them. Otherwise why do diesel SUV's sell in Europe? Why not just the big 6 litre V8 petrol versions? Oh, because they're not as economical. I know a few people who are loaded and they are still concerned by fuel economy. I believe they spend all that time earning the money, they don't want to blow it
Well but a 6L petrol vs a 4L TD in a SUV what advantages has? I think they don't sell the diesel versions in US for 'ideology' because for a big suv/truck I really don't see other reasons.
Costs Gas engine is not only cheaper but much cheaper including the cost of fuel. Diesels would have to get astronomically better MPG for companies to see the advantage, particularly those that look at the bottom line every quarter, not three or more years down the road.
The 6L gasoline cheaper ? Last time I've seen one it's mileage was horrible. Is there any US model to look at to get updated values ?
The Jetta turbohybrid and Ford Ecoboosts have all of that already, so it isn't that much extra cost. Just the soot filter.
I think you have a valid point there - and perhaps it would suit the emerging CUV segment too. I wouldn't mind a Toyota Diesel Hybrid CUV or a production version of FT-HT: Toyota Global Site | TOYOTA DESIGN | Toyota FT-HT Yuejia
And Volvo will release a S60 hybrid with petrol engine ... with even better performance and same 49 g CO2 per NEDC http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/04/20140416-volvo.html Posted the data before in some other thread and again Troll Heagy completely ignored
I didn't see it. In fact I have a very difficult time using this forum at all (it's slow) (and sometimes doesn't load). I'm happy Volvo has a gasoline hybrid but I still prefer the diesel hybrid. BTW calling someone "tr---" is just as unwelcome as calling them "a---hole" or "b----". Those insults don't belong in a polite conversation between adults who have matured beyond high school/college level. It is uncivil.
Gasped: You accused me of creating three threads..... well sorry but no I did not create this one. Go yell at the OP of this thread (not me) if it bothers you so much .