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[bugnout]

Current bodystyle or the 2013 bodystyle? What state are you in?

Couldn't tell you, the encounter was too quick. I'm in the western suburbs of Chicago and the vehicle was one of many white pickups on the road here. The CRD badge on the tailgate was very subtle and not easy to notice (unless your driving a diesel and are atuned to CRD and TDI badges.)

[haven]

Allpar.com, the Chrysler enthusiast web site, has a post saying that Dodge engineers are working on a 3.0L diesel engine for the RAM 1500 pickup. This is the same engine that will appear next model year in the Grand Cherokee. Allpar.com thinks this is the engine that Chrysler will eventually use in the redesigned Wrangler, and maybe in the Grand Caravan minivan.

The 3.0L turbo diesel makes more than 400 Ft lb of torque, about the same as the 5.7L Hemi gas engine that's in the Ram 1500 today. But the diesel torque peak is 2000 rpm, not 4000 like the gas engine. So the power is more accessible in everyday driving. The gas 5.7L is rated at 13mpg city, 19 mpg highway. The diesel will raise those mpg ratings into the mid 20s.

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php...-1500-approved

[Storz]

Looks like we'll have to wait till 2015 to find out if we get a Colorado diesel

________

2013? Not so fast...
www.GMInsideNews.com
March 19, 2012
By: Nick Saporito



After it’s reveal at the Bangkok Motor Show last year, the new global Chevrolet Colorado quickly gained traction as General Motors announced that it would be coming to the North American market as well. Unfortunately, much misinformation came with it; with publications assuming the truck would arrive immediately following the death of the current Colorado truck, but that is not the case. The new Colorado is still two years away for North America.

The general consensus has been that the new Colorado would arrive in 2013 model year. On the surface, that seems like a plausible timeline considering the truck is going on sale in certain global markets this year and the current Colorado is slated to end production this year. Unfortunately GM has a reputation for waiting extended periods of time before bringing global products to North America and the new Colorado is no exception.

Instead of 2013, expect the new Colorado to launch as a 2015 model year vehicle in North America. There are several, logical reasons for the wait.

For starters, the Colorado that just launched on the global scene is not specifically designed for North America. GMI has been told that GM is holding off and giving North America an updated version of the truck in 2015; one that will meet all U.S. standards and be an overall better truck. This updated version will proliferate the global markets as well.

This launch strategy is not new at GM. The same strategy took place with the Chevrolet Spark mini car. It has been on sale in most global markets for nearly two years, but North America has waited until 2013 model year to get an updated version of the car.

The second issue with the new Colorado is North American production. GM has already announced that the Colorado will be built at their Wentzville, Mo. assembly plant. However anyone with any knowledge on automotive manufacturing knows that it isn’t feasible to retool a plant for a completely new vehicle line and chassis in the matter of a few months (the investment was just announced in November).

Factoring in those two, very large issues and a start of production date in 2014 becomes far more realistic. In fact, when GM announced the new Colorado would make it to the North American market they hinted that it would be awhile until it hits the streets. From GM’s press release announcing the Colorado for the U.S. market:

The new Colorado is based on an all-new midsize truck architecture developed by GM do Brasil within GM’s global product development organization. In major markets where the Colorado will be sold, engineers will tailor the truck to meet local needs.

“For example, Chevrolet Colorado Chief Engineer Roberto Rempel and his team lived in Thailand during the Colorado’s development,” said Brad Merkel, global vehicle line executive. “They immersed themselves in the highly competitive truck market and observed how the Thai people use their vehicles and the driving conditions they experience.

“A similar development process will precede the launch of the truck in the U.S. market,” said Merkel. “We think American customers will be pleased with the results.”
Just like the Cruze, Spark and Sonic/Aveo, it sounds like the Colorado will have its own development process for the North American market.

While Chevrolet has not announced engines for the North American Colorado, GMI has been told to expect GM’s new 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.6-liter V-6. Both engines have a wide range of outputs, so specific outputs for the Colorado are entirely unknown at this time.

In most global markets the Colorado is powered by a 2.8-liter diesel engine. It is unclear if the diesel engine will make its way to North America as well.

Expect the new, updated Colorado to launch in North America in mid-2014 as a 2015 model.

[haven]

To see if EPA ratings are attainable in the real world, Edmunds Inside Line blog took an extended trip in six cars with ratings of 40 mpg highway. Most of the vehicles came close to 40 mpg in highway driving, but the real winner was the VW Passat TDI turbodiesel. The Passat was the largest and heaviest vehicle in the group, but managed to post 51.7 mpg driving on the Interstate with cruise control set at 70 mph. The Passat surpassed its EPA estimate of 34 mpg for city driving, too, recording 43 mpg. The other 5 vehicles scored a couple of mpg lower than their EPA estimate.

One key to the Passat's impressive performance was its manual transmission.

Read the full report here http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/...challenge.html

[redthies]

One key to the Passat's impressive performance was its manual transmission.

That and the "VW" on the grill. They make a fantastic car. We loved our Tiguan.

[scootr29]

VW Amarok possible in Canada...

http://www.auto123.com/en/news/prepa...a?artid=144185

[haven]

But not USA. The 25% tariff on imported light trucks will force any foreign-made truck to be priced in the stratosphere.

[haven]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/bmw-con...rst-recipient/

BMW has confirmed its plans to import the 2.0L diesel four to USA. The engine in Euro trim produces 181 hp and 280 ft-lb. The first recipients of the new engine is likely to be the 3 series models. It makes sense that the 2.0L diesel will be added to the X3 small SUV as well.

BMW's 3.0L diesel inline six, which produced 425 ft-lb of torque, was discontinued in 2011.

Update: Autoblog says a new version of the 3.0L six cylinder diesel is coming back to USA as well.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/p...w-u-s-dealers/

[Regcabguy]

I've spotted two Audi diesel suv's in as many days here. Out of curiousity,I opened my driver's window and attempted to hear the Audi idle. No dice. Couldn't hear anything and our Pilot purrs. I'd love to have one of those.

[chrismc]

It looks like any chances of seeing the much-anticipated Mahindra diesel trucks on US shores are now officially dead.

Reuters: India's Mahindra halts plans to sell pickup truck in U.S.

India's largest utility vehicle maker, which sells tractors in the United States but not passenger vehicles, had been working on the development of a pickup truck version of its popular Scorpio utility vehicle since 2006, spending about $100 million.

But the company said those plans are now scrapped.

Mahindra "recently decided not to proceed further with the project due to changes in the U.S. regulatory and market situation," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.