Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0400
Reply-To: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Akiba <syncrolist@BOSTIG.COM>
Subject: Re: Now: Subie & Bluetec Diesels Was: T3s & RHD Japs in Vancouver
Island.. ramblings & rantings
In-Reply-To: <ac1f198b0809110248m3f2d0654t2db77933bab4b2e7@mail.gmail.com>
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That's confusing, so I'll clarify. 2011 is my earliest if ever
estimate... 2010 is the "overheard" subie line on earliest if ever.
On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 5:48 AM, Jim Akiba <syncrolist@bostig.com> wrote:
> A subie 2.0L 4 cyl. was released in Europe in May I think, no word on
> the diesel 6. Current estimate for a possible earliest US release of
> the 2.0: 4 cyl diesel is 2010. As of last year however, the release of
> the diesel 6 was going to happen in early 08 but hasn't. I think just
> two days ago subaru announced the 2.0D version of the Forester for
> Europe for later this month, but didn't mention anything at all about
> the US. As I've maintained when people first started talking about
> clean diesels, watch the bluetec. More likely than not Subie is doing
> the same waiting to see what happens with the 50-state bluetec from
> VW/mercedes, since they're talking schedule always followings the same
> pattern of announcements and delays as the bluetec, esp since the
> bluetec is having so many problems. I just heard today that the
> bluetec grand cherokee rollout is in danger and isn't looking good,
> but I don't have more detail... I suspect they are finding the project
> is killed by much worse performance than they anticipated to pass
> testing. If the next bluetecs that are in danger(the VWs) do get out,
> it looks like no earlier than august 09. The mpg numbers are now in,
> and just as I had found hard to believe that they could do 50 or 60
> mpg with the bluetec, they can't... Here's a post from Feb this year,
> I was commenting about the bluetec mpg that Chris S. had been talking
> about:
>
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0802c&L=vanagon&D=0&P=51149
>
> If the VW bluetec flops, it would likely spell immediate doom for the
> future of diesel in US passenger vehicles. It's a tough thing to
> expect it to be worth it to add all the active urea catalyst system
> and particulate filtering and slice deep into the mpg that people want
> it for in the first place.. the new jetta tdi bluetec boasted 60mpg
> hwy in the 07 announcements that got folks on the list drooling but
> got backhanded into 41mpg as built and passing testing for release
> since then. The now on the road bluetec mid-size suv from benz was
> supposed to see 40, but it now has a 23 hwy from the EPA but I've read
> people talking more in the high teens and being very disappointed..
> which is why I guess the grand cherokee bluetec rollout is in
> jeopardy... let's hope that VW can both stick to schedule, and not
> take a similar hit and offer even more disappointing mileage. If the
> bluetec/gas cost/mile gap dwindles into single digits as it's now in
> danger of doing, I think it'll be time to start tolling the bells for
> it. So figure on a minimum 2011 earliest as of today for the US subie
> boxer, if everything doesn't hit the fan., and if it comes out here,
> it'll likely take a big hit in economy as well.
>
> Jim Akiba
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 11:51 PM, Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Any news on the Subaru dieselboxer? These should be on the road by now. =
>> I'd be interested in how reliable these turn out to be long-term, which =
>> is VERY difficult to find out. And how well they perform. However, with =
>
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