As Chevrolet gears up to launch the diesel-burning Chevy Cruze TD in the U.S., engineers responsible for adapting the 2.0 liter turbo-diesel engine (LUZ) to U.S. specifications were tasked with testing and adjusting it in four primary areas, including emissions, diagnostics, outside environmental conditions, and altitude.
The resulting improvement for the US-spec Cruze TD include a new intake manifold and throttle body system along with an increased capacity exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler that offers better emissions control. Other improvements involve the common rail piezo injection system, which runs at 1,600 bar (European runs at 2,000 bar), along with the addition of ceramic glow plugs (European customers get metal glow plugs). And for those really cold winter mornings, the Cruze TD offers an engine oil heater that can be plugged in.
Unfortunately, all of these improvements to the North American version result in a decreased power output: the estimated pony count of the 2.0-liter diesel in the US is 148 horsepower, but its European cousin brother makes 163.
As you might already know, the Cruze will be GM’s first passenger car to run on diesel since the Chevette did back in 1986… only that the Cruze is a far nicer car than the Chevette ever hoped to be.
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Comments
This is one car I’m really looking forward to.
With 258 lb/ft of torque it has the potential to make one heck of a daily grinder.
I’m sure a few will be sold, even might get some VW Jetta TDI conquests, but every time I look at this I think the same thing. They should have used the development money spent on this to make some type of performance Cruze. A Jetta could still be the target, but the GLI, not the TDI.
Diesel nuts who hate hybrids don’t seem to get it. Sure – in Europe
where they refine 85% of their oil into diesel – it makes sense.
Here in the USA where you can turn those numbers upside down
and the tiny bit of crude we do refine into diesel mostly goes to
commercial use…and it makes zero sense whatsoever.
Yesterday in my city in the NW, regular unleaded was $3.72-3.99
per gallon. Diesel at the same stations was inching near $5.00!!!!
– So how does that make diesel a smart choice in America?!!!
Some, like my diehard homemade diesel-from-used veggie oil
friend say to “brew your own”. You see – this doesn’t work either
because the equipment and mess is expensive and time
consuming and worst of all, the restaurants that give you free
used veggie oil from the backs of their store just give it as
“first-come-first-serve” to those that ask. This means when
diesel goes up over $4.00/gal they have no more to give. Buy
veggie oil in bulk at Costco and it costs about the same as
a gallon of unleaded so….? During our 2008 gas crunch
there were news stories where people broke into the back of
restaurants and STOLE their used veggie oil!!!!
So diesel for Americans – is nuts. This car makes zero sense
for us – so go buy a hybrid, PHEV or EREV Volt.
Because of the emissions upgrade, we get a vehicle with 20 less HP than the Germans get. Not good news… How will these new upgrades affect reliability, and performance?
I wish the United States and Europe would get its emissions regulations in line with each other… even bring in the Japanese, as these centers of industry is where the majority of development and engineering takes place.
Peak torque number is high…but it is slow.
Narrow power band. Slow to rev.
Sonic fly right by. Only give up a few MPG with less maintenance , cheaper fuel , cheaper to buy , cheaper to own.
Get ready for massive recalls.
A couple of chicken littles are raining on the diesel parade… Too bad that they will never get it. Having diesel in the blood is akin to having bikes, (motorcycles), in the blood. Even though both can be downgraded, ridiculed, belittled, called dangerous or impractical… we like them. So… rain somewhere else.
@ Rich.
Use the brain God gave you.
I pointed out that availability of diesel fuel is scarce in the USA
compared to Europe. I also pointed out why “brewing your own”
is no solution for you are anybody else – it plain doesn’t work.
Use your brain before you chicken little yourself into oblivion.
Just because you like something ( “have it in your blood” )
doesn’t mean it is a transportation solution for the masses.
Capiche?
@ Rich.
Use the brain God gave you.
I pointed out that availability of diesel fuel is scarce in the USA
compared to Europe. I also pointed out why “brewing your own”
is no solution for you are anybody else – it plain doesn’t work.
Use your brain before you chicken little yourself into oblivion.
Just because you like something ( “have it in your blood” )
doesn’t mean it is a transportation solution for the masses
…………….
“Doesn’t mean it’s a transportation solution for the masses.”
It appears to be a solution for Europe. Whether you like it or not, diesels are here to stay for the foreseeable future. The electrics, don’t work well in the colder climes. If we ever get to hydrogen, then it’s doable, as natural gas is made to order for the hydrogen system.
What hurts us the most, with carbon fuel,is not pollution… it’s the fact that the republicans conned the democrats into putting our domestic fuels on the world’s open market. Before that, our fuel had to be consumed domestically.
I won’t trade insults with you. You have your opinions, and I have mine.
As libertarians are so fond of saying… “let the market decide”.
@ Rich –
Rich – it works in Europe because they refine the oil they get into
diesel.
What part of that is hard to understand? We don’t. Period.
Google how much oil the USA refines into diesel. NOT MUCH!
Google how much oil Europe refines into diesel. ALMOST ALL!
These were decisions made decades ago. They use what they
have. Even when you say it works for them – they still pay
horrendous amounts per gallon – diesel and gasoline. We have
the military and the power they do not. We also invested in
Arabian oilfields when they could not. America’s addiction to
oil means you and I spend much of our income to have a
military than can fast deploy to these oil-rich areas of the
world to protect our access to oil. Do you think Gulf War I
would’ve happened if not for oil?! How about Gulf War II?
The USA is CONSTANTLY in a protect-situation over
oilfields the world over. Russia even threatened war over
the oilfields in Azerbiijan…. Oil is non-sustainable, it’s
running out. With more countries using more for
transportation and less being extracted – It very well could
be the impetus for the next World War.
Diesel fuel, OR ANY FOSSIL FUEL is not the answer.
Your arguments re: diesel just don’t compute because
hybrid cars save more fuel. Look up the cost of a gallon
of diesel in the U.K..
We can’t keep this up. At some point – we’ll have to find
solutions to this dilemma.
You speak as if any domestic oil company can just convert
a refinery, or ten into making diesel. It can’t. This process
takes 4-6 years! So far, no oil company has any plans to
do this. You see – if you do your homework, you’ll see
that nobody feels converting everything over to oil burning
engines is the answer, OR EVEN AN ANSWER.
Lastly, I challenge you to look up that the U.K. even has
exported what little gasoline it has refined to America
and we buy it – because they use so little of it – they
have surplus. They infrastructure of diesel refineries in
Europe were planned and built long ago – they too,
cannot convert over to gasoline – it doesn’t make sense
for them, just as us converting to diesel makes no sense
for us. We’re set on that path – PERIOD.
I’m not trading “insults” , Rich, I am trying to educate
you as to why diesel is no answer for the USA.