VW Jetta CleanTDI pushed back to a summer '08 introduction
The big dollar Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec just went on sale a couple of weeks ago across the country. But diesel fans of more modest means have been anxiously awaiting the launch of the new Volkswagen Jetta CleanTDI, which had been due to hit showrooms in March of 2008. Unfortunately, it looks like issues with the emission control system to clean up the NOx is still causing VW some grief, so sales have now been pushed back to late summer. A letter from executive Vice President Adrian Hallmark to dealers explained that problems occurred during durability testing and would require more time to resolve. The company wants to make sure that the new diesels don't succumb to any of the quality and durability problems that have plagued some other VW products over the years. Hopefully whatever solutions they come up with resolve the problems quickly and robustly.
[Source: Brandweek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rick 8:34PM (11/08/2007)
This country needs a reasonable priced midsize sedan that delivers 50+ mpg. With oil soon to reach $100 a barrel, the auto company who can deliver that car will have a huge advantage. Lets hope that what ever VW is doing to clean up the emissions, they can do so without jeopardizing the durability of the diesel engine.
It seen to me the US was a little premature with their very tough emissions standards on diesels, if they could have fazed them in over a few years we could have had a lot of proven European diesel engines to choose from. We are all paying for that decision at the pump.
It will be interesting to see who hit the US market first, VW or Honda, I know I sure could use a vehicle like this right now.
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why not the LS2/LS7? 8:41PM (11/08/2007)
They announced the specs years ago. The vendors didn't meet them in time, probably because with gas prices lower then than now people didn't think Diesel would be as popular as they now think.
I strongly disagree that emissions should be relaxed to let in Diesel, they're already greatly relaxed from gas cars anyway.
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Snowdog 9:30PM (11/08/2007)
Same here. No relaxing standards. Germany is dealing with diesel clogged air now. We are fighting an uphill battle for clean air as it is, we don't need to go backwards on pollution control.
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gsolman6 8:54AM (11/09/2007)
"I strongly disagree that emissions should be relaxed to let in Diesel, they're already greatly relaxed from gas cars anyway."
Are they? In the non-CA, non-NE states are there different emissions regs for non-commerical gasoline and diesel? I thought the only different was between the aforementioned group of states and the rest.
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Phil L. 9:12AM (11/09/2007)
I believe that, as of Tier II Bin 5, diesels now have to meet the same emissions standard as gas engines (I may be off on the details here - anyone have a concise, linkable source for this info?).
Between particulates (where diesels really struggle) and low-sulphur fuel, it has take awhile for them to catch up in the US.
I hope VW gets it right. Personally, I refuse to own a current VW product due to their reputation of high maintenance costs. I'd like to see that change.
I was hoping to see a BlueTec Grand Caravan someday, since VW seems uninterested in a US-friendly minivan. But the end of DCX nixed that. Who will be the first to make a family-friendly diesel minivan in the US?
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Bill 9:20AM (11/09/2007)
Probably Honda.
They (at least were) talking about bringing a 3L diesel engine to the U.S. in 2010 for larger vehicles
AFAIK, they are still bringing their diesel Accord to the U.S. in 2009
>Who will be the first to make a family-friendly diesel minivan in the US?
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Architeuthis 12:01PM (11/09/2007)
Technically ULSD rollout does not have to be complete until 2010, so you could argue that MB and VW are a bit early. In practice though, it is getting increasingly difficult to find the old style LSD diesel.
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steven 12:42PM (11/09/2007)
RE: low sulfur fuel... Here is a site that shows the US crude oil prodction supplies over the years.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_cons_psup_dc_nus_mbbl_m.htm
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why not the LS2/LS7? 1:54PM (11/09/2007)
Tier 2, bin 5 is the same "cleanliness" as the average vehicle outside of the carb area. It's the fleet average. So if you can call average clean, then Diesels are clean.
Within the CARB area, Diesels still only meet tier 2, bin 5 but within CARB area, tier 2 bin 5 is the dirtiest any vehicle is allowed to be. So in CARB zones, Diesels are the dirtiest cars (not trucks) on the road. No company could make all Diesel cars in CARB area, because they regs don't allow companies to put all their cars into the dirtiest bin.
And they're still having trouble meeting the standards.
No relaxation. They should not only meet current standards, they should do even better to where Diesels don't need a special exception.
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