Comments on: Saturn’s future may include diesels

By: Gas Mileage of 2005 Saturn Relay AWD

Gas Mileage of 2005 Saturn Relay AWD — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 02:24:04 +0000

[...] Saturn’s future may include diesels | Leftlane – Car News For … Saturn’s ever-tightening bond with Opel may be extended to include clean diesel … Ford Mustang GT Convertible Supercharger runs 11.289 @ 126.410 MPH … [...]

By: Peter Kot

Peter Kot — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:19:32 +0000

Visiting europe every year, I dreamed of OPEL designs in the US. I would buy the Opel Vectra as soon as it arrived in the US. It is a beautiful model.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:36:10 +0000

Bring in the Opels! They actually have styling that I can live with *and* high tech engines.
Enuf with the Sunfires, Cobalts and other embarrassing hardware. -mt

By: DieselsAreTheAnswer

DieselsAreTheAnswer — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:20:10 +0000

Another company waking up to the efficiency of diesel engines? We want and need more diesel choices in the US – NOW!

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:30:17 +0000

Alright GM, that’s how you do it!

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:38:00 +0000

So when is the States (and my home nation of Australia for that matter) going to to level the regulatory playing field and impose the same excise (AUS) and emissions (USA) requirements on 4WD(AUS)/SUV(USA) vehicles as standard passenger vehicles? and for that matter consider the efficacy of engines at the same time?

By: JaggedXJ

JaggedXJ — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 04:55:29 +0000

@ VB
Ethanol & Diesel are 2 completely different & incompaible fueling technologies.
To over simplify:
OLD tech > NEW “compatible” tech
Petrol gasoline > Ethanol
Petrol diesel > Biodiesel

Hope we all learned something…

By: VB

VB — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 02:57:09 +0000

They’ll need more of the low-sulfur diesel fuel available at the gas stations before they can bring over the diesel versions. While refueling yesterday (Indiana), I noticed that the diesel fuel at the station could not be used in a new (2006/07) vehicle. Gotta admit though, this Opel looks a LOT BETTER than the current Saturn Ion. If they sell these new Saturns in Brazil, they’ll be running on pure ethanol from sugar cane.

By: The Stig

The Stig — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 02:20:53 +0000

Bob Lutz’ comments indicate he is not a proponent of diesel, so I doubt this would happen in the US market. A European diesel Saturn is obvious since it accurately reflects buying trends as well as the regulatory climate.

By: British_Rover

British_Rover — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 01:08:23 +0000

Short answer to your question Joel is No.

Trucks and SUVs have their own polution and fuel efficiency regulations seperate from regular passenger cars.

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:36:00 +0000

honest question:

US car pollution laws, do they consider the efficacy of the engine (ie MPG – km/L to the ROTW)? and why aren’t SUV/4WD’s subject to the same laws? Is there any reasoning at all?

By: Trudy Keyhole

Trudy Keyhole — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:24:38 +0000

I am surprised you don’t need a new car already Henry

By: Henry

Henry — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:20:48 +0000

I own a 2001 Saturn L100 5 speed. I will need a new car by the time these diesels come to the US. Good timing.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:46:46 +0000

Good. Diesles=good turbo diesles=better Audi R10 TDI race car=awesome winning streak with a DIESLE
so…
diesle=awesome!

By: T

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:41:05 +0000

Don’t forget – UK gallons are a little bigger than US gallons so these mpg figures are bigger than they would be in the US.

By: Leopold Porkstacker

Leopold Porkstacker — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:35:40 +0000

I thought it was 50 miles to a can of beans… I guess it depends on how vigorous one’s cycling workout is.

-he who stacks pork

By: George

George — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:07:45 +0000

That’s nothing. I drive a 500 miles per gallon bicycle. Every 500 miles, I chug a gallon of gas.
But it’s actually Pepsi, but I call it gas.

By: fromes

fromes — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:03:10 +0000

this may be true orally gifted but fords north american offerings are nowhere near as good as GM’s euro product…thus the reason for bringing opel offer here as saturns.

By: Orally Gifted

Orally Gifted — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:49:28 +0000

GMs Euro product is still nowhere near as good as VW or Ford’s euro product

By: justin

justin — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:41:07 +0000

sounds like a good idea… plus i think the astra looks good anyways and the added efficiency would add the the cars appeal here in the good old U.S of A.

By: Renton

Renton — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:32:57 +0000

Looks like Saturn will be used to place more Opel stuff in the US. I guess that’s good.

Give me a 120d, or a Jetta TDI over one of these anyday.

By: Atomicbri

Atomicbri — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:08:22 +0000

Good! I am glad GM is finally using some of their excellent European products to help out their AMerican line-up. It has taken them too long to do so. A great diesel will be another great option in the ever changing (for the better!) Saturn lineup

By: Leopold Porkstacker

Leopold Porkstacker — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:03:46 +0000

I recently watched an older episode of Top Gear (from 2003 I believe) where they did a segment on the 75MPG diesel VW Lupo… 75MPG!!! Sure, it’s a small car, and has a 1.4litre diesel engine, but they also noted that the 1.4litre petrol version only observed 43MPG. If only the politics here in the states weren’t of the “head up ass” variety then perhaps we could see more practical (in terms of fuel efficiency) vehicles here soon. One can only hope. We shouldn’t have to wait until 2010 or later to realise that a 25MPG car is not fuel efficient.

-he who stacks pork

By: monts

monts — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 21:56:12 +0000

Cool