New Cummins for the Dodge Ram
You like the 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel? Sorry, but the folks at Dodge have dropped it like it's hot. But they're bringing the all-new 6.7L Cummins to the Mega Cab and 31/44- and 1-ton pickups. The 5.9L will remain available until December, with the 6.7L coming in January. It will feature 350 hp at 3,013 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque at 1,500 rpm, and it can be optioned with the new six-speed Aisin automatic transmission.
No. 8 Wins at Le Mans
Sure, it's the sixth time Audi has pulled off this feat in the Le Mans 24 Hour race's 74 years, but this time it was way more notable. The 650hp, 810 lb-ft of torque Audi R10 TDI-powered racer scored the top spot at Le Mans, satisfying a pretty lofty goal of being the first manufacturer to run a diesel engine. This win happened on the heels of the same title at the Sebring 12 Hour race. The diesel powerplant helped Audi win because they only had to refuel its V-12 engine once every 14 of the 380 laps (although the R10 did squeeze an extra two laps out of the final few tanks). Its average speed was 133 mph.
BMW's New Diesel
BMW has launched a revised X3 ute in the United Kingdom with a brand-new 3.0L six-cylinder twin-turbo diesel. The twin-turbo technology is borrowed from the 535d model, giving the 3.0sd X3 peak torque from 1,750 rpm to 2,250 rpm, with revving continuing up to 4,400 rpm. A smaller 2.0L diesel is the base-level powerplant, which joins the 3.0L. Here's hoping the United States can borrow the technology too.
New Super Duty Engine?
"We have not made any announcement about a replacement for the 6.0L diesel."That's what one Ford rep told us, but we think just the word "announcement" is a dead giveaway that it's coming. After all, we could simply have been told, "There is no replacement for the 6.0L diesel." Now that we've put our hours of watching CSI to use by analyzing that statement, here's what we think is up: As we mentioned in the May '06 issue, the Navistar International Power Stroke has had a high warranty repair rate and recalls on account of its disappointing performance. All of that, coupled with new emissions rules, likely means the larger (6.4L) twin-turbo, Piezo-injector-equipped Power Stroke V-8 is coming. Ford won't be introducing the redesigned, repowered Super Duty until early 2007 as an '08 model.
Brazil's New Biodiesel
Brazil has created a new diesel fuel that's mixed with different kinds of vegetable oil, yet again leaving the United States in its alternative dust. The H-Bio fuel is targeted at preventing the country from having to rely on imported diesel, which will save ginormous amounts of money-and dependency. Brazil has already become the poster child for ethanol. And waxing. Now Brazil is the poster child for everything.
Liberty Diesel Bites the Big One
Here's the thing about experiments, they come to an end. So the only good Liberty ever produced (seriously) is being killed off. Jeep launched the diesel Liberty as a barometer for interest in a diesel product. They built it, people came, so they got all the research they needed. Oh, there's also this little thing called tougher emissions standards, and due to the Lib's low GVWR (less than 6,000 pounds), it would have taken way too much time, effort, and cash to make this diesel-equipped Jeep pass. It's also possible there's just not enough room under the Liberty to package all of the exhaust aftertreatments that would be required. But don't fret too much about the demise of the 2.8L CRD-when the Liberty is redesigned for 2008, a diesel will likely be on tap. Meanwhile, the Liberty CRD will continue to be sold in Europe.