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Diesel A Go Go

This Automotive News story discusses DaimlerChrysler's BlueTec diesel engine lineup. The new engine will appear in the USA first in the E-Class and then the GL, ML, R and supposedly the S-Class. Of course, California and its emissions blood brothers won't be seeing any diesels until 2008 when a urea-injection system will be added to BlueTec. I know that some folks in California are making a tidy profit selling slightly used E-Class diesels in the Golden state. The law of the Golden State land says that if a car has over 7,500 miles on the odometer it can be brought in from other states. More manufacturers will start joining the diesel party after this year as low sulfur diesel will finally become required in the USA on October 15, 2006. As an aside, back in 2004 Nissan held a media event in San Francisco that showcased Nissan's worldwide portfolio of cars and trucks. The diesel cars that were on hand for the event had to be fueled from specially imported low sulfur diesel since the stuff at the local gas station would have been like kryptonite to the engine and emissions controls.