Diesel?

[college boy]

Anybody predict a diesel equipped FLC avialable in the US in the next few years? CB

[college boy]

sorry! FJC

[woody]

given the new diesel emissions requirements, don't hold your breath...

you might search this section tho, the question has been brought up in the past...

[sos10]

I hope so..I love my FJ, but it does consume way to much... Toyota has Diesels ready.. In Europe you wont be able to buy a non-diesel Land Cruises at all.

And no worries about the new regulations.. the D-cat Diesels from Toyota meet those regulations without any problem.

[fullnelson]

I think Toyota is waiting for ultra-low sulfur diesel to be readily available. Their currently produced injector pumps are not designed to handle the higher sulfur content of the fuel available in the States.

[Pete483]

I heard something on NPR today about the diesel Audi winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They also talked about how Audi is banking on diesels being the answer to alternative fueled vehicles with biodiesel and their already improved mileage over gasoline. They also mentioned in the piece that this was counter to Toyota's commitment to Hybrid technology.

I really hope this isn't the case. Hybrids are great for city driving, but worthless on highways with the AC blasting. The only thing holding me back on an FJ is the lack of a diesel and the IFS (though less so).

[Tapage]

keeping in mind Diesel are more expensive than gas engines ..

[sos10]

this is no longer true.. in Europe most diesel version sell for the same price nowadays.

[C5Drvr]

September the new Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) hits the US market. Earlier in California. That is what I am waiting for. Nothing like the sound of a purring diesel under the hood of an FJ. I got to imagine that Toyota will have to put one in the FJ for milage reasons.

[Alacrity]

Originally Posted by sos10

this is no longer true.. in Europe most diesel version sell for the same price nowadays

Not entirely true. In some markets VW is very agressive in pricing diesels (as are some other) - but due to market conditions, not the comparitive cost of building. Even then most VW diesels are more expensive. In most markets diesels are still significantly higher to purchase. Keep in mind, many countries, diesel operation costs are less due to tax advantages

Example UK
Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC Exec £21,900
Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDi Exec £23,100

Toyota RAV4 2.0 WT-l XT5 £24,495
Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D XT5 £25,795

SE 1.6 FSI 115PS 5 spd 5dr £15,375
SE 1.9 TDI 105PS 5spd 5dr £16,265

VW Golf GT 2.0 TDI 140PS 6spd 3dr £17,995
VW Golf GT 1.4 TSI 170PS 6spd 3dr £18,095

But in Germany the TDI GT is @ $3100 USD more. In italy the difference between Petrol and Diesel (same trims) is about €2000, pretty much across the board.

D-CAT is clean - but would still need some work for US standards. Doesnt meet TierII bin5 NOx requirements. I wonder if it would meet FUL, based on some of the durability issues with NOx absorbers. Euro4 durability is 100k km, US EPA FUL is 150k miles/10 years. I would like to believe this could be overcome without much difficulty, but many mfgs who meet Euro requirements are having a hell of a time (VW had to scrap TDI-PD for a CRD engine and wont have a diesel passenger car back until '08)

Toyota's June 13 press release indicates no plans for diesels - http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/06/0613.html

Not conclusive, but this in line with comments from Mike Love indicating no diesels outside the Tundra near term.

Honda gave the greenlight to the 2.2 CTDi so perhaps that will cause Toyota to re-evaluate.

[Mustard Dog]

Originally Posted by Pete483

The only thing holding me back on an FJ is the lack of a diesel and the IFS (though less so).

If that's the case you'll probably never own one

[C5Drvr]

Oh, I am pretty sure that I will own an FJ one day. I actually don't live in KY. I am in NJ, I just figured that I would stop by a dealer while I was there so if I didn't want to talk to a salesman for a year while I arrange my finances (I wan't planning on replacing my Durango for another two or three years) I could just blow the dude off saying I lived in another state. Looks like that is what I am going to do anyway. You are right about the test drive thing. Kept hinting at how the thing rode. Would it ride ok for being a daily driver? It knew it was capable off road, how did it handle on the street? Did he even offer a test drive, NOPE. "if you are interested in this or any other Toyota on the lot, let me know. Here's my card." and walked away. I want to be treated like I am important to him, not just another sale. Maybe I should just buy off the internet. They need Priceline for cars.

[warpdriv]

From reading at http://www.greencarcongress.com it looks like 2010 will be the big push for diesels in all vehicles.

[Alacrity]

Originally Posted by warpdriv

From reading at http://www.greencarcongress.com it looks like 2010 will be the big push for diesels in all vehicles.

Warp - didnt see the info - is this because of EURO-5? If so, Im not sure '10 is the magic number. Euro-5 still allows more than twice the PM and less than half the durabilty of EPA. I dont think people realize how strict US requirements are. Heres a graphic.

http://whnet.com/4x4/pix/diesel_standards_eu5.jpg

Doesnt really address the issues of the NA market tho. Mfgs in general are reluctant to invest where the regulatory enviroment is harsh and in flux (VWoA lost 3 models to emissions failure - well 4 if you count Jetta/Golf as separate), the market is at best ambivelent (Euro taxes make diesels attractive to the consumer - US has diesel aversion) and theres no marketing advantages (Hybrids are sexy and you can get Hollywood to drive them to the Oscars).

Toyota specifically has committed to Hybrids in the US and Japan - and I bet they wish Europe would get it as well. They sell more Hybrids than all their competitors combined - hell they sell hybrid components to other mfgs. They have a huge competitive advantage. Plus the greenwashing beneifts and the fact Eiji instituted the project - its vested in Toyotas corporate culture. They sell diesels in Europe because they hafta. Im not optimistic about Toyota diesels in the US unless conditions change to mirror Europe.

[SuperDuperCruizer]

About the hybrid comment... I drove a Hybrid Prius & I agree about your comment concerning highway and city driving. I've been hearing more bits here and there about diesel/electric hybrids. My gripe about my VW TDI golf is the city driving, but it does great on the highways. Wouldn't a diesel/electric hybrid be ideal? Since, the electric component would help where diesels hurt the most... acceleration.

[IBCRUSN]

Originally Posted by SuperDuperCruizer

Wouldn't a diesel/electric hybrid be ideal? Since, the electric component would help where diesels hurt the most... acceleration.

IIRC from a few years back when Toyota talked about getting into the US 2500 & 3500+ truck market there was mention of a diesel/electric powertrain. I think it went so far as diesel engine & electric motors at the wheels, like seriously large dump trucks (other than Caterpillar).

[badass]

I just called TOYOTA and asked if they were going to offer a fjc diesel. The guy said that this discussion has come up in the company, however they have decided not to go with diesel. He said they are thinking of hybrids!!!

[C5Drvr]

Call em back and tell them they are idiots for not offering a diesel and no one would trust a hybrid in the bach country yet much less try to fix one if it broke. Diesels are where it is at for now. Bullit proof and reliable, more torque in the low band, plus more fuel efficent. Hybrid? MORONS.

[denis]

The are morons for building the FJC in the first place, ha

[Tonka]

there is already a company importing FJCruisers into Europe. I made a initial enquiry, and the unexpected response was the company will be plonking in diesel into these machines.

No way would a v6 fourbie sell in quantities in europe.

one option i havent heard on any forums is the use of Liquid Propane Gas commonly retrofitted to cars in Australia even some dealerships supplied the conversion with the new car.

[denis]

There's a difference between advertising and actually working the things out.

[VoodooBlue]

ok, i'll pose a question. I have no real idea about the dimensions but how about a Banks crate motor or a plain ol' Powerstroke? They are already engineered for this countrys reg's and available. would something like that even fit in the space? Nevermind the fab-ing that it would take for bell housing, radiator, tranny upgrades & motormounts.....