When I first saw it I thought Mazda CX.

I read an '07 article http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/ford/ford-kuga-and-c-max-destined-for-us/ noting it might be coming to the US.

Not sure how true that still might be.

As for the Subi... no offense to anyone that owns one but the front end is simply <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> ugly IMHO and I do like subaru wagons and sedans.

If you guys haven't been closely following the auto industry, there is going to be a huge push for diesels in the US happening very soon.

The VW and Mercedes diesels are now 50-state legal and they also qualify for tax breaks! Both mfgrs are expanding the diesel availability across their lines.

BMW is going to be bringing in diesel versions of their cars - I believe the 3 Series to start.

Honda will have diesel Accord and CRV next calendar year.

Ford is finally getting smart and bringing in 6 models from Europe, some equipped with diesels.

Both Ford and GM are readying smaller diesels for their 1/2 ton trucks.

Notably absent is Toyota, but they think everyone will want a hybrid.

I'm pretty excited about what's coming in the next year since I may need to get a more economical DD if gas prices go back up. (I can't believe how inexpensive gas is right now!) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

.....
I had read somewhere that Toyota had bought stock in Isuzu Motors so that Toyota could come out with a diesel pickup in the future..... hmmmmmm.... a Toyota with a Isuzu diesel engine.... ya buddy. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Van <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

It's about time. Audi's A8 w/ a diesel engine get's whopping 50 MPG!!! Top Gear didn't believe it so in one episode they proved it could get 50 MPG (of course near the end, they got caught in London traffic and had to resort to shutting off AC in order to attain that figure. Regardless, that's a full sized sedan by today's standards getting 50 MPG (or nearly 50 depending on your POV)!

Before this can happen however, our gas infrastructure needs to offer more diesel stations in our urban area's.

2007+ models dont black smoke. Thats what the particulate filter does, eliminates soot and smoke.

I think you will find that the answer is in the sulphur content of the diesel fuels. European diesel is presently 50 ppm sulphur (Euro IV) and going to 15 ppm sulphur (Euro V) very soon. Feeding these engines with diesel that contains too much sulphur causes expensive damage to the SOx reduction processes in the engines. We had similar issues in Australia prior to pulling our diesel into line with the E IV/E V standards.

BTW, Toyota already build many diesel engines for all of their models of four wheel drives. They do not need Isuzu engines for that purpose, but the would have bought Isuzu for the heavy trucking/heavy machinery interests that Toyota have not been particularly big players in.

I bet Toyota could have Isuzu engines for a song if GM still owns a big part of Isuzu. The reason why is that I think GM and Toyota are more intwined with each other then they let the public think. They have been in bed together since the end of WW2 when GM supplied them with axles. Then when toyota came to the US they were initially sold on Chevrolet sales lots. Then of course there were several rebadged toyotas sold as GM cars.

NUMMI