Diesels Look to Rev Up Their Reputations

Washington DC March 26, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that diesel-powered vehicles haven't enjoyed the best reputation in the United States, despite the well-known benefit of impressive fuel efficiency.

Consumers have long been unimpressed by other traits, such as their black clouds of exhaust soot, ear-rattling racket, and what MSNBC calls "stately" acceleration.

But an emerging generation of new diesel vehicles looks set to upend those expectations. Some high-performance models will soon exploit the fuel economy benefits of diesel power while delivering the neck-snapping acceleration associated with gas-guzzling cars.

Consider the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans, a 500-horsepower V-12 mid-engined super-car that can reach 186 miles per hour and rockets from a standstill to 60 mph in a shade over four seconds. Or Mitsubishi's Concept-RA, which features the company's all-wheel-drive for its sport coupes, but adds efficient diesel power to ensure such a car will still be relevant if it reaches production in the future.

"Diesel, in many ways, is the future of performance technology," said David McConnell, chief designer for Mitsubishi R&D America.