Detroit Auto Show: Mitsubishi will build small diesel by 2010

Just before he introduced the new 2008 Lancer, Mitsubishi chairman Takashi Nishioka announced that the company is working on a new 4-cylinder diesel engine for its C-segment vehicles. The engine will be developed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which has an extensive inventory of diesel engines for a variety of heavy- and light-duty industrial applications. Many of the engines already meet European emissions standards. To be legal in the U.S., the engine will have to meet Tier 2, Bin 5 standards. Nishioka said the engines will be available for 2010 model year in the Lancer sedan and Outlander CUV. No other details were available but Mitsubishi is the latest company to announce upcoming diesel products. Honda and Nissan are also on record with plans.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TDI_Nick 7:44PM (1/08/2007)
This is great diesel news from the Japanese! Mitsu sold a good small diesel pickup in the early '80s -- why don't they sell some new ones with B20 in tank? An affordable Lancer and a CUV are ok too.
Btw, the Dakar race is on now and Mitsu always does fine despite the rugged course and long distances. I'm not sure if those special SUVs are diesel powered?
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Jeffery Haas 2:41AM (1/22/2007)
The outright arrogance of carmakers, particularly the US companies, never ceases to amaze me.
If any country NEEDS a small efficient diesel it is the United States.
Maybe a nice long protracted OIL WAR complete with two hundred dollar a barrel oil will finally pound the message through the thick and obstinate skulls of the CEO's...right about the time they have to file for "bankruptcy"...errr oops I meant corporate welfare.
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Jim Sirman 1:16PM (3/03/2007)
GM and Ford make small diesels in foreign countries but will not allow them in domestic production cars here. They probably have hundreds of millions of dollars in parts sitting in warehouses, so they can't afford to put new engines out even if it would save their companies. Remember they pay these genius CEO's millions to loose Billions.
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Jim S. 3:16PM (6/29/2009)
You can't blame the Big Three for everything. Don't forget that the U.S. market (you the American car buyer) has rejected every attempt at offering diesels. I presently have two US diesels (Ford), have had about eight in all....I am in an extreme minority in the U.S. In 1980 Volvo sold diesel wagons and cars in the US with poor success...I had a new one and it got 45 mpg! Why was it a flop, because of the ignorant U.S. car buyer who could only think in terms of bigger is better, just think where we would be today had the Big Three had some encouragment from the U.S. automotive market.