Chevrolet will soon take on the Volkswagen Jetta TDI with a turbo-diesel version of its Cruze compact sedan, but Ford says it has no current plans to offer its European oil burners in its U.S. passenger cars.
Ford builds plenty of diesel-powered passenger cars for the European market, but isn’t yet convinced U.S. buyers will fork over a 10-15 percent premium for the technology on top of higher prices at the pump.
“I love diesels and want them to be a solution,†said Dan Kapp, Ford’s director of powertrain research. “But it’s a tough economic challenge.â€
Kapp added that Ford hasn’t completely ruled out diesels for the American market, but will only move forward with the technology “if there’s market demand.†That statement probably means Ford will see how the diesel-version of the Cruze fares in the marketplace before making any decisions.
In the meantime, Kapp says Ford will continue to focus on its EcoBoost gas technology, which is now available in 13 models.
References
1.’Ford Diesels…’ view
