It’s no secret the 2010 Nissan Maxima will have a U.S. diesel engine option, but it turns out the Infiniti range will also get the new motor. Unfortunately for those of us in North America, it looks like the dCi powerplant will only be offered to Infiniti customers in Europe.
European media reports indicate the FX, EX, and M models will all get a diesel option. The lack of U.S availability doesn’t come as a surprise, since there is still considerable resistance to diesels in America. That said, if the 2010 Maxima diesel sells well here, the automaker might feel compelled to offer the motor more widely.
The 3.0-liter engine delivers 235 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque in the Renault Laguna Coupe. Mounted longitudinally — as it would be in a Nissan or Infiniti — the motor can produce 265 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque.
Luxury automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz are slowing beginning to increase the availability of diesels in the United States, so there’s still hope for diesel fans. And, as always, market conditions will largely dictate what happens.
