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.
11/20, 4:57 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Can I get a CVT too! OHHH the joy of driving a CVT!!
11/20, 5:00 PM
posted by:
Borat
Those numbers are in BMW territory. With those motors Infinity will sell and compete in Europe. I never saw (perhaps it was me) gasoline powered BMW 3,5 or 7; Audi 6,8; Benz E or S class (and frankly C class as well) on old continent. They were always diesel propelled.
11/20, 6:57 PM
posted by:
freeyellow2000
Who ever wrote this article needs to proof read it and make less ambiguous!!
“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.”
So will the US get an diesel engine? The way it written I would say no.
11/20, 6:57 PM
posted by:
A4
GO BUY THE MAXIMA DIESEL
diesel FX and EX would trump anything else currently available, especially for fuel economy. Its only competition would be the V6 diesels from VWAG.
11/20, 6:59 PM
posted by:
A4
and maybe the ML… but thats a bit of a price jump from an FX
11/20, 11:24 PM
posted by:
Borat
A4, I hope you are realizing that EX & FX with diesel will be seen only in Europe. If there will be Maxima diesel in US, the engine will be set wrong way and will be less powerful, not that it would matter in day to day driving.
11/22, 12:19 PM
posted by:
nickkop
sounds like a good move by infiniti… they should get them here to the U.S. soon as their competition will have a leg up