Nissan Planning Clean Diesel Maxima

As car companies scramble for the next big thing in alternative energy, Nissan is falling back on diesel to help it become green. Clean diesel engines just now coming to market from Mercedes-Benz and others now meet the strictest U.S. emissions rules. Nissan says its new engine will be ready for use in a Maxima by 2010.

In that amount of time, we’d guess the Maxima may be an entirely different model than the one roaming the highways today. The model has not been nearly as successful since it was redesigned in 2004 and is in need of a new direction, diesel engine or not.

Source: Nissan

Comments

[ilila]

Finally! Now we need Toyota, Honda and BMW to come to USA with car diesel engine.

[Happymantis]

woot! Now if Honda and Toyota responded with diesel versions of their existing products (anyone thinking of diesel-electric Prius?), I would definitely camp out in front my local Toyota store to plunk down a pre-order.

[Happymantis]

Having said that, Toyota and Honda have a reputation within the industry for playing it safe, so if they weren't going to launch diesel editions, it would provide Nissan with a monopoly in the Japanese diesel market (what I'm saying is that I would never buy an American or European diesel car because I'm familiar with Euro-American reliability issues). Nissan just needs a durable and quiet diesel and it could potentially start a mini-revolution within the North American passenger car market.

[Amuro Ray]

Kudos to Nissan for its attempt...I was super disappointed when C.G. announced that Nissan's NOT investing heavily into hybrids a few years ago :( but I'm seeing that he's starting to change his view lately. Go Green Technology!

In Japan, there's really not a big need...not saying that they aren't available, for diesel engines, 'coz their gasoline engines' displacement are so much smaller than here in the US (hence gas saving for Asia's JDM or KDM engines). If Nissan is successful to have a clean diesel engine like others, than sure, go ahead with diesel! (Diesel has always been the "dirty" gas, i.e. it produces more air pollution despite its efficiency. Thus, many Asian countries, with their strick emission laws, have prohibited the wide-range use of diesel - reason why you don't see too many diesel vehicles from Japan/Korea. New technology is 'bou to change that today, and in the future...)

[Dan]

Glad to see the spread of diesels again. My first car was a diesel, and I've been advocating them ever since. They've improved ALOT since then, and I look forward to having another in the future!

[Scott J.]

Hmmm. A Maxima with a diesel. I'm guessing that this would be a performance diesel. If Nissan beats VW/Audi to the punch on this one (despite their diesel motorsport experince and success), they are indeed lost.

[Dee]

I have a '91 Jetta here in Germany. Luv it, coming up on 900km's(560 miles) on the same tank!!! IMO Diesel's rock!

[dave]

man if only the US automakers would do that.

I know Chrysler is. A rockin brand with rockin looks and mercedi-esque diesel engines....man Chrysler COULD surpass Ford in sales...with a dream and even better products.

[explorer]

Another japanese innovation i think its another advantage to them.i wonder if the new sedan is using bilstein shocks - www.partstrain.com/ShopbyBrand/Bilstein - on its suspension.

[Eddie]

I can't wait until I can buy the diesel Maxima, since diesels get ~ 30 percent better mileage than gas engines. I wish they would bring out a diesel Altima and Rogue at the same time.

[Dennis]

The diesel engines Nissan use in Europe are made by Renault (except in all terrain vehicles). The last diesel engine Nissan used in a sedan made by them was in 2002 or 2003 and it was a 2.0 with 90 hp, the Renault engine they use now is a 2.0 with 175 hp. However the reliability is much lower. Those who want a japanese diesel should think twice before buying Nissan.