Volkswagen has quite literally been forced to give up its diesel crown. It’s pretty dirty, after all. In the process, the German automaker will shift its focus to electrifying its lineup with plug-ins and dedicated electric vehicles.
Christian Segner, the boss of Volkswagen’s EV project, told The Drive “huge progress” has been made regarding cost cutting for its affordable electric vehicle. VW wants to have its first battery electric vehicle ready for 2020. By then, who knows what GM will have accomplished with the 2017 Bolt EV via similar breakthroughs in battery tech.
In the meantime, Chevrolet continues to court diesel lovers onto its side. The 2017 Cruze diesel will be the first major push, which will arrive in both sedan and hatchback form and offer 52 MPG. Then, the 2018 Equinox will see an identical powertrain arrive later this year. The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse hasn’t been ruled out for diesel power, either, according to a previous report. The market will dictate that one.
Meanwhile, over at GMC, the 2018 Terrain will also gain a diesel option and Cadillac has its own oil burners baking in the development and engineering oven, too.
While diesel isn’t necessarily the cleanest option, somebody has to pick up where Volkswagen left off. Chevrolet and GM as a whole may be poised to do just that.
Comments
We’re already planning on buying the new Traverse. But if it were to become available, we’d definitely be buying the diesel.
GM and Chevrolet are doing a very poor job of marketing the diesel. Hardly anybody knows about it except followers in this sort of forum.
There may be many VW fans who have remained loyal but recent reports have listed large numbers of owners who have handed back their diesels to VW. How many knew that Chevrolet had a diesel?
Chevrolet has to develop more powerful diesel engines as a 2.0 four cylinder and V6 and why not V8 on for the Impala and Traverse. GM could use those engines for GMC and Buick as Cadillac is developing its own diesel engines ( that could cost a lot).
still wish there was a diesel Suburban, or even a diesel 1/2 ton.
I’ll second that. I would buy a diesel Yukon Denali in a heartbeat!
I hope you guys are happy now that GM diesels in its car line up! Now I wonder what is the next thing you will start complaining about?
The last Cruze diesel was 2LT only, it was $25K+. Other trim levels that were still pretty thrifty, we’re $3-5K less. By forcing extra equipment on diesel prospects you limit the appeal of a vehicle that already has limited appeal. If GM wants to actually sell some of these, offer more choices, not just 1 package that has a single agenda……..max profit for GM!