| In the largest auto market in the world, diesel engines | | | | exhibiting the potential of diesel engines. At this year's |
| are making a comeback. In the 80's, Oldsmobile | | | | staging of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi's R10, the |
| introduced a diesel engine in the United States auto | | | | diesel powered racecar outpaced all gasoline-powered |
| market. Unfortunately, the designers of the engine | | | | cars fielded in the event. With its huge torque output, it |
| seem to have forgotten to make the engine less noisy | | | | can outpace even the APC cold air intake-equipped |
| and produce less black soot. Its noisy operation and | | | | R8. |
| unnaturally black soot emissions led to the unpopularity | | | | The performance of the R10 is complemented by its |
| of diesel engines among American auto buyers. | | | | significantly lower operating noise compared to |
| The present generation of diesel engines though does | | | | gasoline-engined racecars. During downshifting, which |
| not have those unpleasant attributes of past diesel | | | | occurs as the drivers turn corners, gasoline powered |
| engines. Leading the way in the development of | | | | cars tends to produce a lot of noise which is usually |
| cleaner and better diesel engines is German luxury | | | | accompanied with the sound of a backfiring engine. |
| automaker Audi. The Volkswagen AG-owned, | | | | The R10 though produces none of that as it is |
| Ingolstadt, Bavaria-based automaker has even fielded | | | | designed to produce lesser noise especially during |
| a diesel engine-powered race car at the prestigious 24 | | | | downshifts. |
| Hours of Le Mans and has already won twice with the | | | | The dominance of diesel cars at this year's 24 Hours |
| diesel powered racecar. | | | | of Le Mans is not only shown by the Audi R10. In fact, |
| This achievements made by Audi is promoting the use | | | | aside from Audi, Renault also fielded a diesel-powered |
| of diesel engines not only in Europe but also in the | | | | racecar at this year's event after its gasoline-powered |
| United States. In Europe, diesel powered luxury cars | | | | entry last year was beaten soundly by Audi's diesel |
| are not rare. In other countries especially in Asia, diesel | | | | car. While Audi's R10 took the win, Renault's own diesel |
| engines are widely used because diesel fuel is usually | | | | racecar finished second leaving behind the rest of the |
| priced lower than gasoline. But in the United States, the | | | | gasoline-powered field of cars. |
| reputation of the diesel engines of the 80s has led | | | | The success of the Audi and Renault diesel racecars |
| Americans to stir clear of diesel engines. | | | | has surely opened the eyes of some Americans who |
| While this perception is deeply ingrained in the minds of | | | | still remember the forgettable diesel engines of the |
| auto buyers, automakers are pushing through with their | | | | past decades. As the call for more fuel efficient |
| plans to develop clean diesel engines for the United | | | | vehicles increases, the success enjoyed by Audi's |
| States auto market. Ford has already introduced the | | | | diesel racecars will go a long way in promoting the use |
| F-Super Duty with its diesel engine manufactured by | | | | of diesel engines which are considered more fuel |
| Navistar. General Motors is also joining the bandwagon | | | | efficient than gasoline engines. The price of diesel |
| as it is in the process of acquiring an Italian diesel | | | | which is lower than gasoline can also serve as a |
| engine manufacturer. | | | | reason for auto buyers to prefer diesel vehicles than |
| But Audi has outdone both Ford and General Motors in | | | | gasoline ones in the future. |