Commatoze

......Unfortunately, not much is happening stateside. This is a quote from today's issue of Autotech Daily:

Mazda Motor Corp. says its new 2.0-liter inline-four diesel engine generates 75% fewer particulate emissions and 25% less oxides of nitrogen than its current oil-burning systems. Based on the "MZR-CD" powerplant mounted in the European Mazda6, the new common-rail direct-injection diesel features an advanced ceramic particulate filter and improved engine control unit. The filter traps particulates. When the trap is full, particulates are removed by the combined effect of an oxidation catalyst and burn-off controlled by the high-pressure injection system, which also enhances combustion efficiency. To help reduce NOx, combustion temperature is lowered via exhaust gas recirculation. Mazda increases the
effect by water-cooling the exhaust gas before returning it to the intake. Mazda began testing the new engine this week in its small Bongo commercial van. The automaker kept one van for itself and gave several others to independent truck fleets so it can monitor engine performance under varying driving conditions. The engines are expected to be used in a variety of vehicles beginning this fall to meet stricter diesel standards in Japan that lower allowable particulate and NOx levels in certain areas by 30%.

Also reported several weeks ago is that Ford is mulling over whether to offer a diesel powerplant in it's Tarus wagon in the coming years. Also last week, there was a big conference held for the Detriot suits on the future of diesels in North America.

doomgaze

I believe someone made a 2.0 liter (or maybe it was 1.0) diesel that got 250mpg!! I was thinking it was MB, but don't quote me.

PistolWhipt

Two HUNDRED and fifty mpg ???? <br><br> They must keep that one locked up in Area 51 or something. The American public won't see anything like that ... it would kill the economy. Sure would be nice though, eh ?<br><br>PISTOL

AlpineRAM

They don't keep it in area 51 ;D They keep it in Germany.
http://www.welt.de/daten/2002/04/16/0416un326587.htx
This is a link to an article- (in German) but the gist of it is that they drove this vehicle using 0.89 liters/100km meaning 264.2860487 miles/gallon(US)
Really bad thing about it is that it would cost you about half an oil field including refinery and pipelines to own one :'( for now...


AlpineRAM

AlpineRAM

A pic of the vehicle is in the article- ;D no need to read, just enjoy the pics like in Playboy ;D<br><br>It's just some gibberish that when Mr. Piech as CEO of the VW group announced that they will have a broad spectrum of vehicles within his period of being CEO, ranging from the 1001 ( read onethousandandone) hp Bugatti to a car that consumes less than 1 liter per 100 km. On the day before he stepped back in favour of the new CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder he drove that thing from Wolfsburg to Hamburg and had a fuel consumption of 0.89 liters/100km. <br>The article mentions some problems on the second day when driving from the hotel to the presentation. <br>Based on infos from some other articles on the web I recall that the vehicle was made of some &quot;esoteric&quot; maerials and features complete drive by wire etc. The weight is supposed to be 290 kg, (about 640 pounds) . Max speed should be 120 kmn/hr, ( 74 mph) with an 8.5hp diesel with a displacement of 299cc (18,24 ci) . <br><br>Don't blame me for the rather bad translation ;D<br><br>AlpineRAM<br>