Are American New Vehicle Buyers Warming to Diesel Power?

Are new vehicle buyers in America ready for diesel engines? The technology has long been used for heavy-duty trucks, and made a brief stint in passenger cars that may have done more damage than good due to noisy, smoky and unreliable versions built by General Motors and installed in Cadillacs, GMs answer to Mercedes-Benz diesels of the 70s and early 80s.

Unlike owners of the poorly designed domestic diesels, those who lived with Mercedes and Volkswagen diesels swear by them. The same goes for those who purchase todays modern diesels, which in the case of Mercedes and VW incorporate common

Modern common-rail, direct injection diesels, like that installed in Jeeps 2005 Liberty, are a far cry from the smelly old diesels of Americas past. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

"Weve

Jeeps Liberty offers a very upscale interior, especially well executed compared to its domestic and imported rival. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Jeep is taking a very different route in reducing fuel economy and therefore emissions than Ford, for instance. While the blue oval brand is introducing its Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid gasoline-electric (HEV) sport utility, the Liberty will be the first diesel-powered compact SUV available in America, in recent times at least. Previously Toyota offered a diesel-powered Land Cruiser FJ40 and BJ70 in the compact SUV class,

The new diesel will make it much easier to keep the Libertys tank filled up with fuel. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

The all-new 2.8-liter CRD (common-rail diesel) makes 160 horsepower at 3,800 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at an extremely low 1,800 rpm. Thats an incredible level of torque, which makes the recently upgraded model the titleholder of best-in-class towing. The technology will also use about 25 to 30 percent less fuel on average, has much longer maintenance intervals and delivers surprising power. Its the ideal engine for the less than lightweight Liberty. The diesel is available in both Sport or Limited trim levels.

Chrysler Group expects to sell approximately three thousand per year, but that estimate may be low if early indications of

The all-new 2.8-liter CRD (common-rail diesel) that makes 160 horsepower at 3,800 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at a very low 1,800 rpm. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

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