Topic: Diesel Share of Newly Registered Passenger Cars in Western Europe R...

[S60]

The share of diesel powered cars has reached an all-time high amongst the new registrations in Western Europe. This is confirmed by the current market data from Bosch. In October 2004, 51.9 percent of all newly registered passenger cars were equipped with a diesel engine. "The share of diesel has thus made a hefty hike by 5.3 percentage points in comparison to October of 2003", says Wolfgang Chur, Member of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

According to Bosch, the diesel share in Germany has also reached a new record with 47.9 percent. In October of 2003, it was at 41.5 percent, thus 6.4 percentage points less. The highest shares for newly registered cars with diesel engine are recorded in Austria, Belgium and France with more than 70 percent. Especially in the UK and Italy, diesel power increased by 7.5 percentage points: in the United Kingdom, the numbers came to 37.1 percent – with only 29.6 percent in October of 2003 – and in Italy, the numbers increased from 52.9 percent to 60.4 percent.

"The growing number of diesel engines is reflected throughout all classes of vehicles", underlines Chur. Continuous growth rates are shown in the Bosch statistics for the upper middle-class with a diesel share of 62.5 percent and in the middle-class with a 61.4 percent share. The highest growth rates are registered for high-end cars, where the diesel share increased by 9 percentage points to 44.4 percent, and in the compact class with a 7.1 percentage point increase to 33.2 percent. Diesel engines are fitted to all vehicle classes, to the Smart with an 0.8-liter-three-cylinder engine as well as to the Volkswagen Touareg and Pheaton with their high-torque five-liter-ten-cylinder engines. Diesel engines are also more and more fitted to sports cabriolets and coupes. Diesel is furthermore getting a foothold in the US market: a growing number of light duty vehicles (SUVs, vans and pickups) are sold with diesel engines, however, this still in moderate volumes.

"The success story of the diesel is going to continue. One third less fuel consumption in comparison with the gasoline engine and correspondingly fewer carbon dioxide emissions are convincing arguments. And the great driving pleasure with today's diesel engines with state-of-the-art high-pressure fuel injection systems fascinates more and more drivers all over the world", states Chur.
Source: Robert Bosch GmbH  

[captain_ron]

If Toyota were to bring a Corolla/Echo/Avesis ect.. wtih a diesel, I would buy one the following day.  I rented a 130hp diesel Toyota Avesis in Europe, I was sold from mintue one.  

[awdriver]

I'm more than impressed with mine!  Let's hope that there will be more to choose from in the near future.

[eddy4]

I am drawn to diesel vehicles by simplicity of the engines design.  
European manufacturers keep the cars simple to keep costs down in the lower end of the market and the upper end end cars have the diesel option at no monetary or perfomance cost. Unfortunately American automakers are determined to sell thisty and relatively noisey engines to us at inflated prices.
It all seems like a marketing stategy to keep gasoline marketers rich. There is no reason why GM, Ford, and especially DC,cant offer us Cavalier/Focus/Neon size cars with 150HP turbo diesel option at no extra cost.
They better start before Toyota/Honda/Nissan beats them to the punch again.

I had put 80,000 km on my VW Jetta wagon TDI in 18 months , it was a great car to drive, but when it was time to trade up to a larger vehicle I had no option but go back to gasoline. I would love to have a midsize diesel car or minivan but there arent any .


Any thoughts....?

[Sterling]

Eddy4, I don't follow your logic in condemning GM,Ford, and DC for not bringing no-charge diesels to market. I can't get one from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, or Hyundai either. The American makers are trying to keep gasoline marketers rich but the others aren't? I don't get it.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

There is some talk of the Chevy Aveo being available in diesel. Production capacity is being studied, but demand is so strong in Europe that they almost don't want it to catch on here because it's nearly impossible to convert engine plants from gasoline to diesel. They'd sit idle at great expense.  

Emissions control systems will make diesels even more expensive relative to gas soon. But the low sulphur fuel is coming on '06!!!  

AWD, I LOVE my TDI engine as well. It's great, especially cruising on the highway or up hills. Turbine smooth and feels quicker than it really is, but is fun to drive. I don't find it's any louder on acceleration than regular gas (in fact, more satisfying than most 4-cylinders I've been in) except when starting in the cold, and is very flexible and easy to drive/shift.

I'm really close to deciding on buying the new Golf GTi 2.0T FSI, but I'd really miss the diesel. 43-44mpg on the highway with 200hp is nothing to sneeze at, but the FSI also requires premium fuel. Wish the 2L TDI with 138-140hp were available now, instead of '06 or so. What I'm thinking of doing is buying the GTi and flipping it when the new TDI comes out in the Golf. I'd take a bit of a hit, but would be able to trek on next to nothing again. Not sure my Golf will last without major repairs for the 2 years it'll take before the new one comes out. We'd be talking about 380-420K on my car.  

As it is, the 2.0L TDI is available in a larger car now - the Passat TDI in sedan or wagon. But only in automatic. Still gets 50mpg on the highway, with 134hp @ 4,000rpm and 247lb-ft of torque at 1,900rpm at around $32-36K.  

Eddy, over 75% of Jetta Wagons are TDI and that particular model supposedly holds it's value supremely well. Within the top 10 of all cars. How'd you fare?

The Avensis is a nice car, period. The new Honda and Toyota diesel engines are extremely competitive and more environmentally friendly. If diesel shows a glimmer of hope here, I think you'll see them sooner rather than later once their engine capacity is built up. Especially with the talk of the next gen Toyota Tundra being available in diesel configuration.  

I think VW would do well to offer the Touran here with the TDI. Wish they'd wake up.

[safristi]

Finally a load of Bosch I'm all for...bring them in dieselicious..live free and DIE sel...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

haha! Son-of-a-Bosch!!! Gotta love it.

Just reading the '06 Passat has a 2L TDI with 170hp.

[awdriver]

Siraqua...   I'm finding my TDI *almost* as satisfying as my previous Jetta 1.8T.  Certainly not the same but still very fun.  I find it slighly louder while driving - but I like the sound so who cares

I was thinking about the GTi too when it arrives next year, but I doubt I will want to part with my diesel.  Figure waiting for a Golf V TDI is my plan, provided the resale on my '04 is decent, I will trade.

I read about a potential Subaru Boxer Diesel last week...  To me, a Legacy Diesel might me a perfect car.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Yeah, horizontally-opposed Boxer Diesel. And you thought Subaru couldn't get any more quirky!

Would lower the center of gravity on the heavy sucker, too. Mind you, I think they're trying bits of aluminum here and there now. Honda's new diesel isn't cast iron anymore, amazingly.  

Legacy is one nice lookin' and performing machine.

[eddy4]

I think the point I was trying to make about engine choice was that the choices are more abundant in most markets in the world especially europe, but not available in North America.

Also my resale was just under $24000 for the TDI wagon, 18 months and 80000km on the clock. The VW dealer I originaly purchased the car from told me that they really really wanted to buy the car from me but that it wasnt worth even $22000 . Its curious that the Honda dealer offered $23700 without batting an eye.

On the whole I think VW is missing the boat by not offering the Touran TDI...pity