The Axis of Diesel? Automakers Lineup Against Hybrids

As night fell over the 24 Hours of LeMans this summer, spectators at France's prestigious endurance race detected a pattern. While competitors entered the pits to refuel, a sleek pair of Audi R10s kept stealing laps around the 13.7-kilometer track. Already the fastest cars on the course, and eerily quiet thanks to a unique emissions filter, the Audis were also proving the most fuel-efficient. When the checkered flag flew, the Audi had made history as the first diesel car to win a major international race.

Diesel isn't just changing LeMans. Thanks to technological breakthroughs, at least six automakers - starting with Mercedes on Oct. 16, Jeep in early 2007, and eventually even hybrid pioneer Honda - will be launching a fleet of New Age diesels. They promise to boost fuel economy by 25% to 40%, with huge torque and turbochargers to deliver the power American drivers crave.

Though initial models won't pass air-quality standards in five states (California and New York among them), Mercedes has announced three 2008 SUVs that will achieve 50-state standards. Honda (Charts), VW, and GM (Charts) are close behind. How big is the market? J.D. Power estimates that diesel sales will triple to 9% of the U.S. market by 2013, compared with a projected hybrid share of 5%.
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matt635 - 10/5/2006 10:39:54 AM

+1 Boost

"the Audi had made history as the first diesel car to win a major international race"

Sounds like propoganda to me. People have been winning races in diesels for years.

chewy - 10/5/2006 6:21:51 PM

+1 Boost

The Audi R10 TDI is the first diesel to win the 24 hours of LE Mans (perhaps most famous and hardest race to win in the word)Audi and VW will have some very nice diesels in the future using some technology from the R10.

BMW530i - 10/6/2006 5:13:45 PM

+1 Boost

But the first internal combustion + electric engine hybrid was created by a german, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche.
=======================================

The first internal combustion engine was created by Nikolaus Otto. ;)

jpmracingf1 - 10/5/2006 11:03:00 AM

+1 Boost

Diesel technology isn't a RIVAL to hybrids, but to all cars that use a conventional engine. Diesel adn hybrid can coexists. How could it be a rival? When diesel emissions sort itself out in another year or two, you just add the hybrid technology to diesel engine instead of a regular gas engine.

Agent009 - 10/5/2006 1:21:53 PM

+1 Boost

I think the article basically implied that with so many options out there, many makers are moving towards diesel rather than hybrids. The reason is because you pretty much need to settle on a singular technology and commit for cost reasons. To some it may be a comfort level to their buyers.

Rupert - 10/5/2006 2:39:46 PM

+1 Boost

if you add the hybrid, suddenly diesel will be clean enough.

1970toyotamarc - 10/5/2006 11:55:51 AM

+3 Boost

Once again, someone tries comparing the E320 diesel to the GS450h without comparing the huge disparity in peformance. The GS is a performance hybrid. If Lexus wanted to create a mid level GS with more fuel saving, they could have easily gone with the 192 hp set up in the Camry, or any other number of combinations.
ALso rememeber that by the time all these mfrs have their dirty diesles cleaned up, Toy/Lex will be onto the next generation of cleaner, more efficient, more powerful hybrids. The article makes mention of over 100 years of diesle technology (before getting to this environmentally aware pont). Hybrids have only been at it for a decade.

Agent009 - 10/5/2006 1:24:38 PM

+1 Boost

I agree on the comparison. But while the GS450h wins hands down in performance, the E320 wins in mileage. For now hybrids are linked to economy, and the GS450h will have to break that stigma.

mitchatlexusofmarin - 10/5/2006 12:13:45 PM

+1 Boost

There is room for hybrid tecnology, diesel advancements in the US (already huge and accepted in Europe) and upcoming tech such as all electric, hydrogen and maybe even solar power. Competition is healthy and were all gonna benefit in the end.

smshnick - 10/5/2006 1:35:10 PM

+2 Boost

Yay!!! Diesels are the true spirit of German engineering.

smshnick - 10/5/2006 1:37:36 PM

+2 Boost

I'm sorry, but hybrids are just boring. Let's see Lexus try and win LeMans with a hybrid...that'll take them a hundred years to figure out...

mitchatlexusofmarin - 10/5/2006 1:45:33 PM

+1 Boost

I don't think Lexus intends to try to win LeMans with a hybrid. Each technology has its place.

AlexTx - 10/5/2006 7:37:40 PM

+1 Boost

Ford won Le Mans in 67 (I think) with the GT 40

woood - 10/5/2006 9:30:56 PM

+1 Boost

JD Power estimate of 9% of americans will be driving diesels by 2013 is underestimated. I think this figure will be achieved a lot sooner. The first auto brands to come out with these new gen diesels will sell like hotcakes.

chewy - 10/5/2006 11:25:46 PM

+1 Boost

Too bad, because the Audi TDI would most likely be cleaner than all of the gasoline powered competiton, too bad.

DarkOneForce - 10/6/2006 8:55:54 AM

+1 Boost

Couple of things wrong with this.

1. BMW was the first to win a major international race with a diesel, the 1998 24H of Nurburgring with the 320D.

2. Some european manufacturers are actually working on hybrid diesels (VW showed a hybrid diesel prototype with 117 MPG).

3. Toyota didn't invented, (co)developed, nor was the first to comercialize a hybrid car.

DarkOneForce - 10/6/2006 1:41:48 PM

+1 Boost

1. Just corecting the CNN goofhead reporter.

2.1. Europeans were working on "horsless carriages", now they sell them.
2.2. Europeans were working on common rail injection, now they use it.
2.3. Direct injection, superchargers, and so on.
2.4. Blue Tech + lower injection + maybe electric engines = probable way to go.

3.1. Neither did the japanese. Back in the days of the summerian civilization, neither the german or japanese
nations existed, let alone cars.
3.2. But the first internal combustion + electric engine hybrid was created by a german, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche.
3.3. This meant the apparition of several hybrid manufacturers and cars. However by the 1920, thanks to
Henry Ford they were gone. Hybrids, electrical and steam cars were all dead.
3.4. Now who knows!!!
Dr. Porsche meating Dr. Diesel = hybrid.
What could be more german !!!

4. Bear in mind that to prosper in Europe is imposible without diesels, and Toyota knows that.
So before you dismiss diesels, just check out Toyota's european (diesel) line up.

tecnopolis - 10/6/2006 1:44:02 PM

+1 Boost

Diesels, Hybrids, Hydrogen and ethanol. This is the future.
Someday, you'll need a waiver from the EPA just to be able to buy "antique" gasoline, as it will be classified by the goverment as a toxic controlled substance.

quizz - 10/6/2006 4:37:10 PM

+1 Boost

Ethanol is not the future - it costs more to make ethanol than fossil fuel. Currently, the only reason ethanol looks appealing is because of all the government subsidies to make it affordable, but take away those subsidies and it's too expensive for the free market. Biodiesel is a better solution than ethanol, and most importantly, does not require a special engine to run - any diesel engine can run on biodiesel (palm oil, soy oil, etc.)

AUDIMAN4 - 10/6/2006 6:45:32 PM

+1 Boost

Audi has been at the forefront of hybrid technology for awhile--they tested it extensively in the '80's and came out with several DUO cars in the '90's, long before Toyota invested in this technology.

They have since however, completely abandoned hybrid and now focus on diesels. They realize, like many other manufacturers, that hybrid is not the answer--non bio-degradable batteries, uncertain reliability, and questionable long term fuel efficiency.

Diesels are the future.

BMW530i - 10/7/2006 9:04:25 AM

+1 Boost

That's a pretty ignorant and frankly dumb statement Huu76.

The Europeans have worked on diesels for ages. That's their field.

The Japanese have always shunned diesels. Japanese diesel technology is not even close to the standards set by the Europeans. The French, Germans, even the Italians all have excellent diesels. The best Japanese diesel engine found in mainstream cars is probably the Honda 2.2 CDI or CDTI (whatever it's called). Toyota diesels don't come close, from what I've read.

Rupert - 10/7/2006 1:23:44 PM

+1 Boost

toyota diesels are very loud and slow and smoggy.
the yaris one is good though, the little 1.3 diesel.
the lexus is220d also sounds like a bag of metal being thrown around in a washing machine.

DarkOneForce - 10/7/2006 1:13:22 PM

+1 Boost

BlueTec might not be as clean, but it is favoured by
EU legislation ergo is the future.

Diesels are because of EU favoritsm combined with massive R&D from auto makers and OEMs. The Common Rail injection was a major breakthrough. Then fancy (multi)turbos and aow BlueTech is the next step. And probably hybrid diesels too.

Europeans are working on hybrid diesels, and Toyota themselves got diesels is Europe.

So I don't see much of a conflict.