Meanwhile, the global market is demanding ever more clean diesel fuels and low-sulphur petrol.
But Cruze is slated to become by far the highest-volume U.S. nameplate outfitted with clean diesel.
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That could reduce the cost of clean diesel engine technology in the future.
We're expanding the use of hybrid and clean diesel vehicles and biodiesel fuel.
In fact, the unveiling of the new Cruze could provide an immediate jolt forward for clean diesel in the U.S. market overall.
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Just look at the growing demand for clean diesel fuel for cars.
Additionally, the president called for expanding his existing tax credit proposal, which currently applies to hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles, to include those using new clean diesel technology.
But these days it's leaning more toward clean diesel engines that get high mileage and can run on newly popular fuels like gas-to-liquid synthetic diesel or biodiesel.
The European manufacturers are talking about diesel hybrids, because diesel fuel is such a big player in the European market, and we're going to be receiving the clean diesel, starting in 2007.
The TDI Clean Diesel engine makes 295 lb-ft from just 1750 rpm, while the electric motors produce their torque-133 lb-ft at the front wheels and 199 lb-ft at the rear-immediately.
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Honda announced in June that, by 2009, it will market an all-new hybrid vehicle, the company's fourth, and offer a clean diesel passenger car that will likely get 45 miles to the gallon.
This vehicle brings together MQB elements that could underpin a future generation of SUVs, such as the front and rear suspensions, the 190-horsepower TDI Clean Diesel engine from the new EA288 family, and a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.
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Add VPG to the growing list of recent green car failures: Bright Automotive (electric delivery vans) , Carbon Motors (clean diesel-powered police cars), Aptera Motors (three-wheeled electric cars), Coda Automotive (inexpensive electric sedans) and, arguably the most infamous, Fisker Automotive (plug-in hybrid sports cars).
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The forces of diesel have an important addition: the first half-ton pickup truck that will be powered by clean-diesel fuel.
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Overall, clean-diesel Turbo Direct Injection models accounted for 21.4 percent of Volkswagen of America sales in August.
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Chrysler also has stepped up to the technology with a clean-diesel version of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, its most popular SUV.
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The Forum said that automakers are set to introduce more than 20 new clean-diesel vehicles in North America this year, roughly doubling the number of diesel nameplates available.
FORBES: New Cruze Isn't Your Father's Old GM Diesel -- Or The Volt
While Volkswagen and Audi have stood out as the primary forces behind the clean-diesel market in America so far, other OEMs are nudging forward with their own models.
FORBES: Clean-Diesel Proponents Still Await Details On Chevy Cruze
At the news launch, for instance, the speakers criticised the system in which Europe imposed standards to clean up diesel cars then exported the dirty cars to prolong their lives in Africa.
Chrysler already has indicated that it will launch a diesel-powered version of its Jeep Grand Cherokee later this year and is said to be considering bringing out a clean-diesel Jeep Wrangler as well.
FORBES: Forces Of Diesel Pick Up Major New Ally in Ram 1500 Version
Because hydrogen can clean the exhaust right from a cold engine start, the plasma reformer method is 20% to 50% more efficient at reducing NOx than other clean-diesel technologies, allowing less unburned fuel to pass through in the process.
Volkswagen and Audi have been most committed to diesel in the U.S. market, with Audi planning this year to stretch its Turbo Direct Injection clean-diesel option across most of its highest-volume models, and VW pushing to get diesel penetration of its Passat mid-sized sedan to around 25 percent.
FORBES: New Cruze Isn't Your Father's Old GM Diesel -- Or The Volt
But diesels have a tough time passing our emission regulations because the diesel sold here isn't as clean as the diesel sold in Europe.
He waived the requirement that buildings and homes in New York City use only ultra-clean-burning diesel, though December 7.
The ultra-clean, synthetic diesel fuel is made from animal fats, such as beef tallow, pork lard and chicken fat.
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Urea injection, which helps catalytic converters clean up the exhaust of diesel engines, sounds like a pain in the neck.
Imagine the surprise, then, when the EPA announced in January that it had developed a prototype diesel engine that would meet clean-air requirements.
DaimlerChrysler hopes to clean up the foul image with the diesel version of its popular Jeep Liberty, the first diesel passenger vehicle sold by a U.S. carmaker in decades.
So surprisingly, the best hope for clean, green ethanol right now is to ship it in diesel-powered trucks.
Clean-air regulations in five states, including California and New York, prevent the sale of diesel passenger vehicles.
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