Big 3 small diesels

[Redman]

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Since we have this forum, and so much time to use it. I always wonder why the big 3 haven't come out with small diesels. If one of them offered a 6 cylinder half ton and a 4 cylinder compact truck, I think they would capture a huge portion of those markets. What do you guys think?

Got to hand it to Mahindra for identifying what I think is a great potential niche in the market.

[howam00]

They all say that the cost per sale of these vehicles wouldn't allow them to make a profit. If they can sell enough to profit from it and maybe share the updated motor with other models then we'll start seeing them.

Honestly I think they all want out of the "mid-size" truck segment in the US. If they offer a 3.0 liter diesel in a full size truck (half-ton) I'd line up for that since the 4-doors of these size trucks also allow bed sizes that can haul something.

They all have very good 3 liter motors in other countries with around 240 hp and 400 lbs of torque. Although the horsepower seems wimpy the torque would be mroe thanadequate i na half ton and it'd get great mileage.

[DickIsGone]

Ford opened up a site that actually wants ideas from the public.
You ought to see all the people over there ragging on them about a small diesel truck!
Go throw in you two cents worth.

[TXBlackKnight]

Interesting find, if only they would listen to the consumer base...

[blue7.3]

Originally Posted by Dick

Ford opened up a site that actually wants ideas from the public.
You ought to see all the people over there ragging on them about a small diesel truck!
Go throw in you two cents worth.

Great Find! I gotta go fill out the "more diesel" form...

-pete

[howam00]

I responded last week when they first opened it up. Diesel was one of the if not the biggest suggestion made. i bet with Euro6 levels coming up the cost to convert to CARB isn't as difficult as it currently is. Maybe we will see more diesels in the 2013-2015 time frame.

[Forest]

To Clarify, I Don't Want a Diesel, I want a Clean Diesel.

[gomjabber]

I will take a "dirty" diesel, I got no problem with that.
I think the current diesel standards are too stringent but of course, I don't believe the religion of man made climate change.

[howam00]

Originally Posted by Forest

To Clarify, I Don't Want a Diesel, I want a Clean Diesel.

Ditto. I'll give up 1 mpg and a couple of horsepower to have something fairly clean to drive. WE have bad enough air here, we don't need any help making it worse.

[jriosa]

Not wanting to rain on the diesel lover parade, but I see absolutely NO incentive for Ford to go to diesel with its' current push on ecoboost. The numbers just don't add up. Looking at the current NA offering (and what is proposed for the '11 F150) you have a v6 with 340 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque - which puts it in the 5.4l Triton territory - and mileage jumps from 14/18 to 18/25 mpg. Now they have announced the 2.0l ecobo0st for the Edge - and this is going to be 230 hp and 240 ft/lb torque (and a bloody broad torque curve at that) - which puts it at the same torque as the 2.2 mHawk with higher horsepower. Estimates for the edge are around 29-32 mpg hwy. I would suspect it could do as well in a new ranger.

Given ford can offer these engines for 3k less than a diesel, and diesel fuel still costs higher, and they could run these engines cross platforms, I really don't see the numbers that would entice Ford to switch direction to a small diesel option.

Jim