Diesel fueled vehicles make a lot of cents because:

• Diesel has over 10% more energy per gallon of fuel. Gasoline has 114,000 BTU per gallon and Diesel has 129,500 BTU. This means that although Diesel costs more, you are receiving more energy/mass for your dollar. So Diesel does not actually cost more dollar per dollar then gasoline. Below is a comparison chart that shows the equivancies to a gallon of gasoline. Source

• Diesel engines are more energy efficient. Although there is only about 10% more energy in the fuel, diesel engines are often up to 30% more efficient then a gasoline counterpart. An examples is the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Gasoline model which achieves 24MPG City and 34 MPG highway, while the TDI clean diesel model alternatively gets 30MPG city and 42 highway or a combined increase in MPG of 20%. That is quite a jump for a car that has the same shape nearly 2x the torque output and weights 300 lbs more then the gasoline model. Source
• Ultra low sulfur Diesel also known as Diesel #2  in the US has cleaned up diesel vehicles. America was one of the last countries in the modern world to clean up their diesel fuel, but in  2007 the US joined in with providing a cleaner diesel.  Starting in 2007 the maximum  sulfur content was lowered from 500 ppm to only 15 ppm. This was great for the environment and human’s health, but this newer fuel does not have the same lubricity properties of the old fuel. It is highly recommended to run a diesel fuel additive with your Diesel fuel to help the engine run on the newer fuel.

So why is doesn’t everyone buy diesel vehicles?

• Cost: The diesel engines usually cost about 2k more then a gasoline engine. This is partly because the low volume of diesel sales, but the components to build a diesel vehicle are more.
• Diesel fuel is less common then gasoline. Although most service stations do have a diesel pump, it is much less prevalent then gasoline pumps. As America chooses to use diesel more, this will change.

What is next for Diesel in America?

• Starting in 2013 GM is planning to offer a diesel version of their Chevy Cruze.
• No other American automotive manufacturer has plans to offer a diesel car.

Diesel VS Hybrid

• Today a diesel vehicle is a great alternative to a hybrid like the Toyota Prius. Many diesel vehicles cost less and get very similar fuel economy without using new overcomplicated technologies.

Diesel fuel prices

• Even if American consumers decide to start purchasing more diesel fueled vehicles, there should not be a huge spike in diesel fuel prices. America produces much more diesel fuel then it can use, so the majority of it is exported.

Diesel fueled vehicles are a great alternative to gasoline and if you decide to spend a little more when you purchase your new car, you will reap in the benefits of owning a diesel very quickly.

-Josh M.- DieselPowerProducts.com

For more information on the rise of diesel checkout these 2 sources:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1075519_sales-of-diesel-cars-rise-by-40-percent-in-1-year-but

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/05/09/energy-in-america-diesel-fueled-cars-making-comeback/?test=latestnews

Fisher-Price has come out with a Ford F-250 Super Duty for kids. This pickup truck is designed to look just like dad’s, with forward leaning grill, engine sounds, and a secret storage compartment under the seat (for storing tools? towing equipment? pacifiers?)

What else does this mini Super Duty come with?
Chrome grille? Check.
Flashing lights? Check.
Badassness? Check.

The Foot to Floor (FTF) truck costs only $42 dollars, which is a bit cheaper than Dad’s version.

Take for instance the 2012 Ram 3500, the 2012 Ford F350 Super Duty, and the 2012 Chevy Silverado 3500HD. When deciding between these 3 hardcore trucks, it might seem like a daunting task. The chart lines everything up so neatly, comparisons are made much easier. Starting with base price and working all the way down to model warranty, MSN Autos compares 6 main categories (Summary, Photos, Engines & Performance, Interior, Exterior, and Safety) and 30 sub categories.

Curious which truck has the most horsepower? Boom. Hurr ya go. It’s that easy.

This vehicle is being marketed to families of Lamborghini drivers, making it a “family car.” Interesting.

Instead of side mirrors, this vehicle has aerodynamically optimized cameras that monitor traffic conditions.

Navigation, entertainment, and climate control are all operated through a touchscreen (also available for those seated in the 2 rear bucket seats.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, says “The Urus is a very concrete idea for the future of Lamborghini, as a third model line and as the perfect complement to our super sports cars.”

And by truck, I mean this thing:

Being called a 1957 Other Makes 603 BWD, this monster has power steering and a 5.9 liter Cummins Diesel engine.

The truck has 2 large winches in the front and rear, 2 tow packages in the front and rear, tool boxes under seats, and adjustable front and rear suspension.

With only a few hours left to bid on Sunday, bidding was at $10,000. That number jumped drastically in those final minutes.

As gas prices continue to climb, Americans continue to purchase fuel efficient vehicles. Therefore, the U.S. small automobile market continues to improve.

“I expect clean diesel auto sales to increase further as several new diesel cars are introduced in the U.S. market in the next year,” says Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

During the first quarter of 2012, U.S. hybrid car sales increased by 37.2%. Sales of the plugin electric car increased by 323%. Clean diesel automobile sales increased by 35%.

GM’s Chevy 2013 Sierra HD pickup and Silverado HD pickup with the bi-fuel option are said to cost an extra $11,000. That’s on top of the approximately $32,000 you’d be spending anyway.

GM reminds customers that using CNG will save drivers somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 over the first 3 years of owning the trucks. A gallon of CNG is now less than $2.00, compared to current gasoline costs of around $4.00 If gas prices continue to skyrocket, the truck could be worth your while.

GM says the Chevy pickup trucks have a 6 liter Vortec V8 engine that moves between gasoline and CNS.

So, spending an extra $11,000 on a bi-fuel heavy duty pickup will end up being cost effective if the car lasts at least a few years.

A review of the new 2013 SRT Viper has been published by Motor Trend.

Changes and updates to the vehicle begin with stability control, which is now legally mandatory.

Supposedly, the Viper engine now has an easier rev to its 6200 rpm, along with better acceleration due to tightened gear ratios.

A few things haven’t changed. The Viper is a V-10, with side exit exhaust pipes. There is only a standard, rear-drive option.

Motor Trend reports that lovers of the classic Viper will not be disappointed.

A few other things. Chrysler’s 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system is standard. Also standard is a 7-inch digital display in the center of the gauges.

The designers of the Viper claim to have used the same quality leather used by Bentley and Lamborghini. Sabelt, makers of the seats of Ferrari, designed the seats for the SRT.

Ralph Gilles, brand chief of the SRT and head Chrysler designer said this 5th generation model was a redesign of the entire Viper car, not just a few modifications.

For more photos and information about the 2013 SRT Viper, check out Motor Trend’s article.

Said to debut at the 33rd Bangkok International Motor Show next week (March 26 to April 8), the Chevy Trailblazer will go on sale in Thailand first.

The vehicle will be available in 2 different four-cylinder Duramax diesel units, paired with 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions.

The Trailblazer SUV was designed by GM South America Design Center in Brazil.

It remains unknown whether the Trailblazer will be offered in the U.S.

With both the Pentastar V6 and the eight-speed transmission, this pickup will give Dodge a major advantage against Ford’s F-150. The 2012 Dodge Ram engine gets 2 mpg less than Ford’s F-150. The eight-speed will supposedly reduce fuel guzzling by up to 12% over the five-speeds.

It is expected that the 2013 Ram will debut at the NY International Auto Show in April.  No other auto shows will be in the United States until November 2013.

The Dodge Ram pickup hasn’t seen a redesign since the 2009 model year.