Influx

On Sunday, Audi’s R10 TDI sports car won the famous 24-hour race at Le Mans. What’s remarkable is the winning car was powered by a 5.5 litre, bi-turbo V-12 diesel engine. Diesel engines have never won Le Mans or any major motor sports race with the exception of the Sebring 12-hour event that the R10 won earlier this year.

A short film on the R10 is shown below.

Audi has been pushing its TDI diesel technology for years, but this victory helps elevate one of the misconceptions that diesel powered cars lag behind in performance. Could this win be the impetus the diesel needs to make progress in the United States?

Diesel can provide 20-40% better fuel economy and offer more torque at lower revs. According to US government data, if 30% of cars and light trucks were diesel powered, crude oil imports would be reduced by 300,000 barrels per day.

A major problem for diesel has been emissions standards that as currently written, mean consumers can only purchase diesel cars in 45 states. They cannot be sold in two of the most important markets, California and New York.

Aside from the VW Group with its Audi and VW brands, Daimler-Chrysler is also keen to increase the popularity of diesel power and has diesel powered Jeep and Mercedes models.

One significant problem is the difference in the higher sulfur content of US diesel compared to its European diesel. The EPA has mandated a reduction in the sulfur levels by the end of 2006.

It looks as if Audi’s recent victory will raise the profile of diesel power in the US, but there is still some ways to go before diesel becomes acceptable.

Despite the barriers and the negatives, JD Power predicts that the number of diesel-powered vehicles purchased by US consumers will double by 2012.