The stirrings are true: diesel engines are indeed making their big return. To dispel any lingering doubt that diesel will
be a major factor in the U.S. automotive market this decade, consider the following:
The Diesel Technology Forum, quoting R.L. Polk numbers, says the U.S. diesel population has grown 50 percent since 2000.
A recent UBS/Ricardo study predicts diesel and hybrid vehicles will represent 15 percent of the light-vehicle market (about
2.7 million units) by 2012, and diesels will outsell hybrids by 300,000 units.
Detroit automakers no longer supply big-block or V10 gas engines for 3/4- and one-ton pickups. Choices are now limited to
a diesel or the standard V8 that is usually chosen by budget-minded fleets. Just too many customers want the diesel, and it
wasn't economically prudent to continue development and production of a high-torque gas engine.
Ford, GM and Dodge have announced plans to offer small diesel engines in half-ton pickups.
While only Mercedes-Benz, Jeep and Volkswagen currently offer diesel cars or SUVs in the United States, Audi, BMW, Honda and
Nissan have announced plans for diesel-engine options in some of their most popular vehicles by 2010.
At first glance, the burgeoning diesel market would appear a boon for the off-road aftermarket–a bountiful new frontier to
explore and tame. However, before the industry can capitalize on these latest trends, it needs to take note of the sophisticated
new technologies and government regulations that are changing the category's game rules.
THE CURRENT MARKET
Many off-road retailers have already taken advantage of the diesel movement by expanding their catalog and shelf inventory
to include diesel-performance products. (For example, see this month's "Industry by the Numbers") Sand-buggy owners and off-road
racers use diesel trucks for towing, making off-road shops a convenient stop for modifications and parts to the toys and/or
tow vehicles. The diesel option on today's full-size pickup is about $6,000, so truck owners aren't shy about spending the
money. And from a psychographic viewpoint, diesel owners are usually fanatics about their compression engines. Now that mainstream
consumers have directed the truck market toward luxury and personal use, diesels represent the last bastion of maverick pickup
owners. (They never did mind the engine chatter, dirty smoke or 12-quart oil changes. They just wanted power and to separate
themselves from the norm.)
Demonstrating the popularity of the diesel, GM recently built its millionth Duramax engine. The Duramax has been in production
since 2001.
The diesel owner's tenacious quest for torque has always stimulated a small but focused aftermarket industry in diesel performance.
Free-flowing air intakes, larger turbochargers and huge exhausts were the easy bolt-on upgrades. The real power came from
electronic controllers that boosted fuel delivery. These controllers made astonishing power gains, and a few really greedy
truck owners plugged in two controllers, making the engine virtually drunk on diesel fuel. The black smoke erroneously signaled
power, but there was no deterrent to these modifications as heavy-duty pickups (over 8,500 GVWR) had less restrictive emissions
requirements and were exempt from biannual smog checks. All that liberty is about to end.
Off-Road Videos - Check out over ten years of extreme 4x4 action, product testing and the Off Road Nation at play. Baja racing to rock crawling, ATVs in the sand to motorcycles in the dirt, it's all here. Rate them, share them and upload your own.
ATV Reviews - Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Polaris, Kawasaki, Can-Am. First rides to long-term tests, check out the latest in ATVs, UTVs and Side-by-Side vehicles of every make and model. Read expert opinions and follow custom project vehicles.
Axxxtion Sports..... Axxxtion Sports is heating things up with their 2010 Winter Heat snowmobile calendar! Simply Sexy!
