All Cars, All the Time

Diesel Turns up The Heat




I don't know how many articles I've read that started with "I recently drove a diesel engine demonstrator from the Robert Bosch Corp." It's no secret that Bosch would dearly love to crack the US diesel market wide open. From Jay Leno hanging around Gale Banks' diesel skunkworks to veteran automotive writer Denise McCluggage sporting a Rudolf Diesel pin in an interview you just can't get away from the hype! Denise likes the torque and range that a diesel car has to offer. Jay likes the performance and fuel economy, so pretty much everyone agrees. With ever stricter emissions standards coming online, diesels are going to have a challenge. DaimlerChrysler is touting their BlueTec, 50 state legal diesel engines that will show up in a few years and word has it that Honda will have a light duty diesel available as well.

My belief is that Bosch should soon start moving the campaign towards the diesel pump. Current locations for getting diesel can be less than inviting. What they need is "A Clean Well Lighted Place For Diesel" so that folks driving those SUVs and sedans won't have to tangle with truckers and their ilk. Diesel pumps should control vapors better so that diesel funk doesn't permeate the whole area. The pumps themselves should be the latest, fast filling models. I truly believe that if they build it, they will come. That means, cars with good performance, excellent economy, enhanced cruising range, and the ability to fill up in a nice environment. If you can combine all of those attributes, diesels could give other fuels a run for the money.