“You’re going to see it of course in the 3 Series,” BMW’s Tom Baloga tells Inside Line, “and the 5 Series is a good possibility. If the performance [of such an engine] is sufficient in the X3, U.S. customers would likely accept it in the X5 as well.” The “it” he’s referring to is BMW’s

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BMW Four Cylinder Diesels Coming

BMW says it will offer four-cylinder diesel engines in some of its U.S. cars, definitely in the 3 Series and likely in the 5 Series sedans as well. The automaker had revealed the four-cylinder diesel program more than a year ago but said at the time that a decision to bring it to the U.S. would be made after the Presidential election and a clear signal from the new administration as to the fuel economy demands that would be placed on auto makers. President Obama's decision to accelerate the federal 35.5 mile-per-gallon fleet average fuel economy requirement to 2016 from its original 2020 deadline apparently was the signal BMW needed. The company, which sells a ton of diesels in Europe, said it hopes to eventually hit 20 percent market share for its oil-burners in the U.S., Inside Line Senior Editor Erin Riches reports in a dispatch from the company's North American headquarters in New Jersey.

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BMW’s U.S. Engineering Boss Says 4-Cylinder Turbo-Diesel On the Way

One of Chrysler’s major problems in the powertrain department is a mass of V6 engines of varying ages and displacements. The lack of interchangeability between engines contributes to Chrysler’s unprofitability, and the advanced age of some hurts overall fuel efficiency considerably. The debut of a brand-new Pentastar V6, arriving with next year’s Grand Cherokee, will

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Chrysler: The Powertrain Plans

Video explains Fiat Multiair system that will be used in many of Chrysler's new models to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and boost power. By John O'Dell, Senior Editor Chrysler's new powertrain chief, Paolo Ferrero, says the company will begin widespread adoption of gas and diesel engine technologies from its new owner, Fiat Group, with the first of a family of more fuel-efficient engines due next summer. The company believes that hybrids and electric vehicles are a longer-term strategy and will concentrate in the “short-to-medium” term on internal combustion engine improvements and downsizing, and introduction of fuel-efficient clean diesels and engines using alternative low carbon fuels such as compressed natural gas. Chrysler also will be adopting the start-stop system, also called a micro-hybrid system, that is used in some Fiat models to shut down the engine at stop signs and when idling. It can reduce emissions and improve fuel economy by as much as 5 percent, Ferrero said. The first model in the

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Chrysler Plans Part 1: More Diesels and 4-Cylinder Gas Engines

Video explains Fiat Multiair system that will be used in many of Chrysler's new models to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and boost power. By John O'Dell, Senior Editor Chrysler's new powertrain chief, Paolo Ferrero, says the company will begin widespread adoption of gas and diesel engine technologies from its new owner, Fiat Group, with the first of a family of more fuel-efficient engines due next summer. The company believes that hybrids and electric vehicles are a longer-term strategy and will concentrate in the “short-to-medium” term on internal combustion engine improvements and downsizing, and introduction of fuel-efficient clean diesels and engines using alternative low carbon fuels such as compressed natural gas. Chrysler also will be adopting the start-stop system, also called a micro-hybrid system, that is used in some Fiat models to shut down the engine at stop signs and when idling. It can reduce emissions and improve fuel economy by as much as 5 percent, Ferrero said. The first model in the Chrysler lineup to use it will be the the 2011 Jeep Wrangler.

Fans of oil-burners, brace yourselves. Dodge is confirming [via Detroit News] that a hybrid Hemi version of its light-duty Ram pickup is in the works. A diesel option, however, is still being reviewed. And its prospects aren’t looking good. When Chrysler senior vice president of engineering Scott Kunselman confirmed that the hybrid would be a

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Ram 1500: Diesel Option Dead?

Mark Pombo was practically born at the track. His passion for racing was passed on by his father Pepe Pombo, winner of two SCCA National Championships in the 80s. For Mark, racing has been a lifelong dream starting at the age of 5 and continuing all the way up to his two thrilling seasons as a main contender for the Jetta TDI Cup Championship. I was t-boned by a competitor in the driver’s door at about 80 mph. One of my first road races in late 2004 had me sitting at a dead stop right at the beginning of a huge braking zone at the fastest part of the track. I saw the entire thing coming and new it was going to…

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Jetta TDI Cup racer Mark Pombo comes clean

Better soybeans and soy production methods are making biodiesel far more energy efficient. That's what one biodiesel trade group is saying after the University of Idaho and the U.S. Agriculture Department published a report examining the efficiency of biodiesel production . For every energy unit in fossil fuel it takes to produce biodiesel, more than four units are contained in the fuel, the National Biodiesel Board said this week , citing the report. The board is promoting the biodiesel energy improvements study in hopes of influencing the Environmental Protection Agency as it prepares rules to implement the expanded federal renewable fuels standard. The carbon impact of each fuel

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Biodiesel Energy Efficiency Has Risen With Improved Soy Varieties, Group Says

Like it or not, most everything comes at the expense of something else. Want that new house with a pool? You may just have to sign over Junior’s college fund. But when it comes to a stylish car that’s powerful, fun, roomy, refined and affordable? Well, in that case you’re in luck. You won’t have to sacrifice a thing. That’s because the 2010 Volkswagen Golf is on its way. And in addition to updated styling and refinements inside and out, a clean diesel Golf TDI model will be available, providing a new alternative for shoppers craving efficiency*, low emissions, and unrivaled value all in …

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Volkswagen Golf TDI: Practical Never Looked So Good

A faulty switch to disengage cruise control will cost Ford Motor Co. yet again in what has been a wide-ranging safety problem. In the latest recall that encompasses some 4.5 million vehicles – mostly trucks – Ford will repair the switch that can overheat and cause underhood fires. This