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Car Forum / Volvo Cars / September 2004Diesel Volvo in Canada?
Me: Does Volvo NA plan to introduce a diesel Volvo - preferably sedan in the future? Volvo: We build our vehicles based on rigid standards and on consumer demand. Canadian diesel fuel standards have sulfur readings that are too high and cetane readings that are too low (minimum European cetane ratings are 48; Canadian cetane ratings are low 40's). At this time we do not have any plan for diesel engines. Lucky Europeans! What about in the U.S - any new diesel versions there? Corso Low sulphur fuel is coming in 2006-7, you might start to see some diesels then. VW has a Passat TDI out now, it's similar size to a Volvo sedan. Mercedes is releasing their E-class diesel again this year as well (might be a little much, in the monetary department) > Me: Does Volvo NA plan to introduce a diesel Volvo - preferably sedan in > the [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Corso > Me: Does Volvo NA plan to introduce a diesel Volvo - preferably sedan in the > future? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > What about in the U.S - any new diesel versions there? If they're not offered in Canada you can pretty much bet they won't be here any time soon, Canada seems to be much more european, kinda refreshing to visit, not that I particularly dislike where I live. The MPG advantage of diesel is so great that I bet once a regulatory schema is reached we will see many diesels in the USA. Diesel is too small now to support the many different variations of passenger car fuel that have spread across the USA. > > Me: Does Volvo NA plan to introduce a diesel Volvo - preferably sedan in > the [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > any time soon, Canada seems to be much more european, kinda refreshing to > visit, not that I particularly dislike where I live. > The MPG advantage of diesel is so great that I bet once a regulatory schema > is reached we will see many diesels in the USA. Diesel is too small now to > support the many different variations of passenger car fuel that have spread > across the USA. Depends on the car, the Diesel Volvos that we did get here in the US hardly got any better mileage than the gas ones. The '86 245 that my mom drives recently got over 31 MPG on the highway, from what Diesel owners have said, they generally get around 28mpg on the highway and the engine is less powerful. I am unable to answer the question here, I think we would need to know engine size (cc's), HP and configuration (sohc, dohc, ohv) and fuel injection system to know best. In any case the new Diesels use technologies that were not available in the passenger vehicle space until quite recently, the technology of direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber, so 1980's technology does not really apply well. Perhaps the 245 diesel was configured to perform best in a urban stop and go environment--e.g. low gear ratio (high numbers) and transmission ratios optimized for urban rather then over the road use...I just don't know, but I DO know that the new direct injection diesels will give you better mpg's then a spark inhibition engine of similar size and HP, while delivering loads of bonus torque. > > The MPG advantage of diesel is so great that I bet once a regulatory > schema [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > they generally get around 28mpg on the highway and the engine is less > powerful. > I am unable to answer the question here, I think we would need to know > engine size (cc's), HP and configuration (sohc, dohc, ohv) and fuel [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > then a spark inhibition engine of similar size and HP, while delivering > loads of bonus torque. Oh I know the new ones are MUCH better, just saying that what we got over here left much to be desired. Around town a diesel 240 doesn't do any better than a gasoline one, in some cases it gets worse mileage. When it comes down to it though do you really want a diesel? They are noisy (and someone is bound to point out the modern ones are much better now and agreed they are, but still not as good as a modern petrol engine), they are poluting (again the new ones are significantly better but still worse for the most harmful pollutants - particulates, sulphur by products and NOx emmsions - the only thing they are better at is the CO2 emmisions) and they aren't nearly as much fun to drive. On top of all that the fuel is a carcinogen and can be absorbed directly through the skin... not nice! Add to the mix the masses of torque and the way that can be hard to control on snowy roads and I'll stick to my more expensive to run petrol car (and convert it to LPG to get the lower running costs that diesels have)... It seems to me the big push to diesels in Europe is a function of the Kyoto protocol to reduce green house gasses and since the diesel has much lower CO2 emmisions it is very popular with governments... pity they don't look at the wider issues though. >> I am unable to answer the question here, I think we would need to know >> engine size (cc's), HP and configuration (sohc, dohc, ohv) and fuel [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > better > than a gasoline one, in some cases it gets worse mileage. On the comment on snowy roads - with a diesel you can easily start in 2nd and in 3rd gear as needed... I drove a 5-speed Jetta for work thru the winter last year and never had a problem, on ice put it into 3rd, on snow used 2nd gear.... I have an automatic (4-spd) TDI Golf and even with poor quality all season tires (got rid of them this spring) I never had an issue with grip.... It's better in snow then our 960, that's for sure. > When it comes down to it though do you really want a diesel? > They are noisy (and someone is bound to point out the modern ones are much [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >> better >> than a gasoline one, in some cases it gets worse mileage. > When it comes down to it though do you really want a diesel? > They are noisy (and someone is bound to point out the modern ones are much [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > CO2 emmisions it is very popular with governments... pity they don't look at > the wider issues though. I rather like decent Diesels, if I could get a nice modern one in a Volvo I'd certainly have some interest. I love my gasoline turbo but with fuel getting pricey (yeah I know, it's cheap here in comparison) other options are beginning to look more attractive. Those silly new hybrids will get 50+ mpg, but I find it hard to be impressed, my parents had a diesel Topaz (same as a Ford Tempo) back in the early 80's that while the interior was obviously cheaply made, still managed almost 60 mpg, drove nicely, and even more remarkably, the interior remained intact in a 40 mph rollover accident. Not to mention diesel engines lend themselves nicely to alternative fuels. |
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