Picture an old-school Mercedes sedan struggling up a hill. The engine rattles. The driver downshifts. Black smoke billows from the tailpipe. That image sticks in the American mind. It defines diesel for many: noisy, dirty, underpowered.
Diesel fuel costs more here than in Europe, where roughly half of all cars run on it. Emissions rules in some US states go further, banning the sale of certain diesel models entirely. The stereotype is entrenched.
But that era is ending.
Modern technology has stripped away the soot and the noise. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are pushing out clean-burning diesels. These engines pass the strictest regulations, meaning they can be sold in all 50 states. They are more powerful. They are more reliable. And they are surprisingly efficient.
Take the European 2008 BMW 120d Coupe. It delivers an estimated 55 mpg (23.4 km/l). That is serious mileage.
It begs the logical next question.
What happens when you combine that efficiency with hybrid technology?
How would a diesel hybrid perform on the road? Would it break the bank? What kind of environmental impact would it actually have? We are looking at several approaches to this combination. You might be surprised by the data.
