The Diesel is dead, long live the Diesel!

Marc Lachapelle

Monday, 16 October 2017 12:18

UPDATE
Monday, 16 October 2017 12:18

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Any automotive journalist who respects himself has a duty of objectivity, but I confess I still today love a lot the engine invented by Rudolf Diesel.

I love it for its generous torque, its frugality is exceptional and even for the sound of nuts being shaken in a pot that are still in the least discreet. Because a modern Diesel, it only spits out more smoke and it is as soft and quiet as a gasoline engine. Or almost.

I still love the Diesel, despite the scandals that have tarnished its reputation in recent years. Especially the Dieselgate, which resulted in the Volkswagen group in a storm, which will cost tens of billions, at the end. All this for software that had a mission to meet false standards of polluting emissions from american neighbors, much more severe than in Europe.

Some are rowing, others are smiling

The brands Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen do not sell light vehicle Diesel engine currently, the time to deal with this crisis. Shareholder at 30.8 %, Porsche SE has recently announced that the corrective measures would cost$ 3.7 billion just in the third quarter.

Mercedes-Benz, of which some models were delivered with a Diesel in 70% or even 80% of the cases, not actually sold any, except in its Sprinter van. The time to decide the future of this engine in America, due to the enormous cost of certifying these motors according to us standards.

This explains that some have cheated to be certified, despite all of this, engines designed originally for the european standards. Others arrived without entourloupette apparent. BMW, in particular, which offers in its 3-Series and its sport-utility X5. And now Jaguar and Land Rover which are fitted to both sedans and five suvs Diesel four-or six-cylinder engine. Not to mention the Skyactiv-D that we are still waiting under the hood of the CX-5 at Mazda.

During this time, the GM multiplies the Diesel

A few days after announcing its three “goals to zero”, which provide a day of vehicles “pollution zero”, General Motors presented the range of light-duty vehicles with Diesel engine the most varied of the moment, without seeing any contradiction.

GM emphasized, of course, the frugality and self-incomparable of Diesel, citing a study from the Institute of transport research of the University of Michigan who says they can save up to 7000$ US in five years, all expenses included, with a car burning diesel rather than gasoline.

The compact Chevrolet Cruze and the new sport utility Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain 2018 are offered with a four-cylinder Diesel turbocharged 1.6-liter. An engine that is of the dimensions of consumption, highway/city/combined 4.5/7.7/ 6.3 L/100km to the first and 6.1/8.5/7.4 the two SUVS.

GM also offers a four-cylinder 2.8-liter Diesel in its vans in the intermediate Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which have no direct rival. It also sells tens of thousands of large pickup trucks Silverado and Sierra HD with the V8 Duramax 6.6 litre.

The manufacturer insists on the fact that the development of its Diesel is still focused on the emission standards and EPA fuel economy estimates for which measurements are now made on five different cycles, more demanding, realistic and varied. We may assume that there is no Dieselgate in sight for GM.

Ram, for its part, has resumed the sale of its trucks as “half ton” engine Ecodiesel in addition to the famous Cummins in the bigger. And Ford will sell you pleasure in a large van Super Duty Series F with a big V8 Diesel.

An engine in the long course

Try, for example, passing a Bolt, or a Tesla to someone who wants to join the family in the Seven Islands, a distance of nearly 900 km, without refueling, and still less to reload and hold his mount. Twice rather than once. However, it is perfectly possible with a Cruze Diesel with a range of about 1130 km.

It is true that there are more than a thousand charging stations in Quebec, but there is still a single by the reload station and its availability, as its proper functioning is not guaranteed. For trucks and light commercial, we don’t even talk about. Especially when towing a trailer.

The Diesel still has its place and a role to play during a period of “peaceful coexistence” between combustion engine and electric motor that could last a long time yet. The expression is Dan Nicholson, the great monk of the engines at GM, which, moreover, has not denied the possible coming of powertrains hybrid, combining electric and Diesel motors. The best of both worlds.

Need to add that the Diesel engines must first be properly designed and conform to all the standards to find the least successful ? Hopefully they are also as reliable and durable as the best of their species. Because I still love him and that I’m not the only one.