GM Seen In Favor Of Expanding U.S. Diesel Line-Up

With its first light-duty diesel set to debut in a manner of months, senior General Motors officials are giving clear indications that they’re ready to launch additional applications of the high-mileage technology, including a diesel for the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.

2014 could be the year that diesels finally become a viable option for automakers struggling to meet tough need government fuel economy mandates. Among the various makers that plan to launch or expand their diesel offerings are Mazda, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi and, soon, General Motors.

The first light-duty offering will come later in 2013 in the Chevrolet Cruze sedan which will begin being offered with a modified version of the diesel now available for the compact model in Europe.

Though GM currently offers a diesel in its heavy-duty pickup line here in the U.S., it has stuck with gasoline power for the light-duty models. And a preview of the 2014 Silverado and Sierra models focused on only three gas models: a new V-6 and two V-8s. All will be significantly more fuel-efficient than the powertrains they replace thanks to the new use of such technologies as direct injection, continuously variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation.

There have been some concerns raised about whether the technology could meet upcoming revisions to federal emissions standards which further tighten restrictions on particulates and oxides of nitrogen. Improvements in after-treatment systems mean diesels are "getting better" and should be able to comply.

That raises the issue of cost, but various sources at both GM and its competitors have indicated that with diesel volumes increasing costs could come down at least somewhat. The question is whether that would be enough to satisfy consumers.

U.S. motorists were turned off to diesels by the versions of the technology that were sold back in the ‘80s. They were considered noisy, smelly, and slow. Today’s modern diesels – which account for nearly half of all new vehicles sales in Europe – are smooth, clean, and quick. The big challenge is getting buyers to accept the price premium, though it is generally less than that for better-based systems.

GM is likely to detail more of its diesel plans by the time the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups reach market early in the second quarter of 2013.

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