good call on honda and mercedes

HONDA, MERCEDES TO ROLL OUT DIESEL ENGINES FOR U.S. BY 2009

Honda Motor Corp. just unveiled a new diesel system for its vehicles, which it claims is as clean as gasoline-fueled systems.  This is significant for the automaker, because the Tier II Bin 5 emissions regulations will take effect next year in the United States.

Half of Europe’s cars are already powered by diesel fuel.  Diesel-powered vehicles typically get 30% better mileage than gasoline-powered vehicles.  The downside has been the higher exhaust levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx), which is a greenhouse gas.  Honda says that its new diesel drivetrain has “a unique method that generates and stores ammonia within a two-layer catalytic converter to turn nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen.”  Honda engineers believe the technology to be “superior to a process pioneered by Germany’s DaimlerChrysler AG because the latter requires a complex system and heavy add-ons to generate ammonia from urea-based additives.”

Although some hurdles remain, Honda said it plans to roll out the diesel engine in the United States within three years. One of the hurdles is the need to develop technology to measure emissions levels according to U.S. On-Board Diagnostic System requirements. "Just as we paved the way for cleaner gasoline engines, we will take the leadership in the progress of diesel engines,” said Honda Chief Executive Takeo ***

Sources: Chang-Ran Kim, “Honda unveils diesel system to rival gasoline cars,” Yahoo News; Reuters.

Relevance

   * Honda will emerge as a new player in the diesel market.

   * SEMA members who produce performance diesel aftermarket products may want to consider developing such products for Honda vehicles.

   * Honda has been very influential in the tuner scene; by introducing diesel powered vehicles, will they help the tuner scene accept diesels?

The "Relevance" section in the article above contains insight written by SEMA Market Research staff. E-mail feedback to tym@sema.org.

Mercedes-Benz announced that it intends to offer BLUETEC diesel-powered versions of the M-, R-, and GL-Class sport-utility vehicles in the United States starting in 2008.  BLUETEC SUVs will be the “world’s first diesel-powered vehicles to meet Environmental Protection Agency’s stringent BIN5 emissions standards for all 50 states.”  This announcement was made just as Honda announced its plans for diesel technology which will comply with BIN5.

This will be the world’s cleanest diesel technology.  In particular, the system helps to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.  Beginning in 2008, “BLUETEC M-, R-, and GL-Class vehicles will showcase AdBlue injection, a process that adds precisely measured quantities of a urea-based solution into the exhaust system to help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80%.”  The BLUETEC is a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine which will have the torque of a V8 combined with the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder.

Source: “Mercedes-Benz Intends to Offer BLUETEC for 50 US-States in 2008,” PRNewswire.com.