Cleaner fuel will be showing up in North America through 2006 and into next year, which theoretically will permit the sale of the latest generation of diesels. Unfortunately, the new emission rules that come into effect in 2007 year may kill the chances for the diesel, unless BMW goes ahead with the urea-injection idea. Current emissions controls technologies don't meet the durability requirement. They are clean on day one, but they need to be able to last and function without intervention. Conversely, no-one is sure if owners will replenish the urea tanks, which means the EPA is nervous. BMW is reported to have contacted eastern US fuel distributors recently with a concept for urea distribution. Ford is proposing a double line fuel nozzle, which will refill the urea tank when the diesel is pumped aboard.

Would you still want a diesel if you needed an occasional tank of chemicals derived from mammal urine just to keep the air clean? The mind boggles with cartoons of forest animals urinating on the latest Mercs and BMWs.

I think we will see more focus on direct injection gasoline engines and less focus on diesels in North America. That will help with emissions, and fuel economy. No change to power, but maybe the technology will let us have larger engines that burn fuel and pollute like smaller engines. Even better, there is a growing list of vehicles (including some BMW models) which qualify as near-zero emissions vehicles. Fundamentally, that means they can clean the air as they drive, since their exhaust is cleaner than their intake air in many cities. Against that backdrop, I think that the diesel is going to be a tough sell in North America.

Of course, I could be totally wrong....

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue