I believe that the EPA regulations have a lot to do with many diesels not being here already or at least on the way here. About two years ago I read an announcement that Honda would not consider marketing a diesel engine in the U.S. A few months later Honda recanted that statement. I believe that if the regulations were not what they are going to be for diesels over the next few years Honda would be here by 2007 with the diesel that they have in Europe and everybody else would be scrambling to play catch up. I have read many glowing articles about Honda’s diesel engine from every aspect. Two or three weeks ago Honda announced that they were going to develop a V6 diesel for the U.S. I just wish that they would bring there current engine here.

True, there is likely a negative diesel sentiment here in the U.S. (thank you GM ), but you can not have hopes of changing perceptions if you do not have product available to offer. Fortunately, Jeep has already sold more Liberty diesels than first thought and this has Chrysler pondering other vehicles. There was an article this summer speculating of possibly using the new Mercedes V6 diesel in the Chrysler 300. (My choice would be to stuff that Cummins in the 300. )

When you compare gasoline power to diesel in regards to energy conservation and the resulting economics of the conservation I do not find anything positive about gasoline power. I find it interesting that in 2004 50% of the vehicles sold in Europe were diesel and the only reason that the number was not higher was because there was more demand for diesel cars than supply.

I believe that the global automotive industry is at a cross road; cheapen the same thing that you have been pushing for years or gamble on fuel efficient technologies/fuels and hope that the customer is willing to pay a little more for it knowing that they are conserving energy which in turn reduces pollution.