Chevrolet Cruze Answers Rising Demand for Diesel Cars

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2013 Cruze Clean Diesel expected to deliver fuel efficiency and high performance

The planned U.S. introduction of a 2.0L clean turbo diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze next year is expected to benefit from growing interest in diesel cars, sales of which could double by mid-decade, according to market research firm Baum and Associates.

GM Powertrain spokesman, Tom Read, said that the diesel engine will have a 2.0-liter displacement and be turbocharged. In Europe, the Cruze already has a turbocharged 2.0-liter VCDi diesel inline-four that makes 161 horsepower and 266 pounds-feet of torque. This could very well be the engine that ends up in the U.S. model, but with some modifications.

In Honor of Earth Day: 2012's Eco-friendly cars

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In honor of Earth Day, April 22 2012, we took a look at which vehicles are noted for being eco-friendly. Hybrids, Electric, Diesel and even some fuel-sipping gasoline cars made the list.

Cars.com winner for 2012 Eco-Friendly car of the Year

2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Starting MSRP $25,995 - GET QUOTE

As a nominee for Cars.com's Best of 2012, the Volkswagen Passat has clearly impressed us as a roomy, high-quality sedan. The TDI clean-diesel version is also our Best Car for Green Drivers. Rated at an EPA-estimated 30/40 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission, the Passat TDI is an alternative to the base gasoline model, rated 22/31 mpg with an automatic. The Passat TDI wins this award both for its execution and because of what it represents: an efficient alternative to hybrids — whose driving quirks are objectionable to some buyers — and to plug-in cars that are priced higher and have inherent limitations.

Diesel or Hybrid?

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It May Be Diesel's Turn to Shine As Americans Yawn at Hybrids

American consumers are boosting their interest in — and loyalty to — clean-diesel engines at the same time they’re demonstrating more and more indifference to hybrids.

So far, Volkswagen — both with its VW and Audi brands — BMW and Mercedes-Benz have provided all of the impetus behind the nascent clean-diesel trend in the U.S. market, with increasingly popular diesel-powered versions of the Volkswagen Passat, Jetta and Golf, Audi A3 and Q7, BMW x5, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class and R-Class. And the German marques, especially VW and Audi, keep doubling down on the diesel franchise.