I'd like to see the fuel mileage on a diesel civic or whatever that smaller Honda is called.

I'd like to see an awd, diesel accord.

I like to see the bulge in my pants after this news.

Great news!

MAYBE, finally people will agree that modern diesels can polute less than gas ones.. (in a couple of months we will have diesels on the market that comply with the EPA 2010 standard)

tell me if you have seen development like this the the gas engines lately?!

You mean the Insight?

If they got a hybrid diesel engine, it probably would get 50-100MPG if it were designed with the Insight's body and layout and Prius's Synergy Drive. The IMA is fine, but the Synergy Drive is definitely much more efficient, since it can propel the car up to 40MPH using the electric motor alone. Couple that with an AC plug-in and high-capacity lithium-ion polymer batteries and you've got 150MPG+.

Now that'd be awesome.

"zippy:
I like to see the bulge in my pants after this news."

Oh no, did you crap your pants?... :)

Ignatius,

I really like the idea of the hybrids, but i think we are not just there yet. I mean, the hybrids of today are far to complicated system compared to a simple gas car.. Of course we can come up with something more feasible in the future.. (who would have thouhgt of a common rail injection in a very high tech diesel engine 30 years ago) but im afraid it will take a couple of years..

In other hand there are avaiable technologys that can be used right now to turn our cars better.. For example, modern cars use more and more electric devices, soh, why not change the battery for one more capable and inteligente brakes that convert kinetic energy in useful energy other than heat (MB an BMW are already using something like this in theirs top models). Maybe we could have an electrical AC.. these would save some gas...

"Unplug" the alternator from the engine during aceleration would reduce a little bit the need for torque fore the same result, meaning that you could use a smaller (lighter) engine.

Style is very important, but it has to come with aerodynamics.. Im impressed to see modern car with CX's bigger than 70's..

My point is, a combination of these simple technologies would bring a better result TODAY than hybrids...it wouldnt cost significant more than todays car neither would be harder to mantain.

The Insight, without the IMA system (there is a person who's IMA has failed, yet it still recharges the 12V battery) gets around 40-50MPG with careful driving.

I don't see how merging Prius hybrid technology with a diesel engine and a great design like the Insight's and some modern battery technology with the plug-in option could be any more difficult.

The diesel engine could be ran instead to charge the batteries rather than propel the car.

Ignatius wrote: "The diesel engine could be ran instead to charge the batteries rather than propel the car."

Even better, since that engine is detached from traffic requirements, it could be run at it's constant, best efficiency speed until the battery is charged.

Again, gas mileage is a function of mass, rolling resistance, acceleration, , gearing, speed and sometimes aerodynamics. We can approach the "ideal" engine, but we are only approaching an "ideal" engine efficiency.

If we really want better gas mileage, we need smaller, lighter, needle bearing, "CVT", less powerful and more aerodynamic vehicles. That's it, it's not rocket science... Although all the same rules apply to that, also.

Hybrid technology is great because it takes two inefficiencies and turns them essentially into thrust. 1) excess power during drive state. 2) braking energy. But even that has only so much room, because when you make the car lighter, you have less braking energy and when you provide excess power, part is always wasted.

When you start talking about other fuels, I mean other than combustibles, you are in a completely different argument. The question then becomes... What does it take to produce THOSE fuels. Hopefully, someone will figure out how to make a super high efficiency fuel cell that runs off of human excrement.

Better yet, maybe we can make cars that run off anger with a supercharger that feeds off of half-cocked arguments, then THIS website could power the driving needs of half the world. Teenage rock stars can do the rest.

-OD

Oh, KW and Ignatius,

You do realize you're describing the Volt by Chevrolet, right?

Oh, and Diesel trains... Since the 40s or so...

Just checking.

I realize that's what Chevy claims some of that for it's concept car, yes. I take those claims with a grain of salt, as Chevy and Ford have claimed lots of good ideas, while pumping out trucks.

OTOH, these Honda diesel promises are just as incorporeal. I really shouldn't have any more or less faith inshoved out of the w them.

But I think it's a good idea, and I'd prefer for a US brand to get a head start on this. But Honda isn't going to dawdle. Chevy either needs to move, or get run over.

(Sorry, the above message got garbled)

Yes I realize Chevy claims some of that for it's concept car. I take those claims with a grain of salt, as Chevy and Ford have promoted lots of good ideas, while producing few of them.

OTOH, these Honda diesel promises are just as incorporeal. I really shouldn't place much faith in them either.

But I think the basic concept is good, and I'd prefer for a US brand to get a head start. But Honda isn't going to dawdle. Chevy either needs to move on this, or get run over.

I love to own a diesel, however the E320 is way to pricy.

I don't know if a DIY man will be able to work on a diesel engine anymore though. Doubt it. The new fuel system is way too sophisticate, and I don't want to touch that fuel rail ever.

Davit,

The diesels today are way to complicated to DIY. What is a shame for engine lovers like us (me at least).
But i think its a fair price for what we get.. huge noise an vibration reduction. Enormous torque. Great bHP. and very low emissions...

i would like to see awd aws honda diesel....hu huh.

....allright most of you guys are makeing a good point (except homeboy that keeps touching his bulge)

now forgive me for getting off subject..
but heres my question,a few years ago there was a guy in the states that made an engine run off of water ok? OFF OF WATER im talking about you putting a garden hose in you car and fill her up with regular tap water. This guy sent the desine and the engine to GM and what did they do? they tossed the thing in the trash and distroyed the disine....then the same guy who just solved the worlds oil problems was found dead....wtf is going on?
we have guys who made cars run off of sunlite and cooking oil yet
auto makers refuse to make fossile fules a thing of the past...

ill tell you one thing man this honda engine will take some getting use to over here in the us. but hopefullly it will start to catch on.
although id still prefer to fill her up with used cooking oil that i could get for free at the moment thats one good thing about diesel
engines you dont even need a convertion kit or anything all you have to do is filter the oil and she'll run fine