If you were watching the race last night, you saw an Audi diesel win Sebring. The pitstops for the Audi were filled with photographers snapping pictures of the developing story. You could almost see and feel the enormous change in perception about to take place as millions of people realized the new word for performance was diesel.
Diesel pickups have been a growing tide for some time now, the performance options are amazing, a plug in tuner can add 100 horsepower or more and your wrenches stay in your toolbox. Diesel cars, at least in the US, hardly exist since everyone “knows” diesels are noisy, smelly, low performance dogs.
It’s hard to overemphasize what happened last night. The gearhead community and racing fans will know right away but it will take a bit longer for news of this to spread to Joe car buyer. Once it gets out, combined with the clean diesel fuel coming this year, diesels are going to start growing fast. Diesel motorcycles? You bet. The Bulldog is coming, the Roush diesel quad, too, and maybe all of those other diesel bikes will get the attention they deserve.
The Kneeslider: Diesel Engines to Race LeMans
The Kneeslider: Bulldog Diesel Motorcycle
The Kneeslider: Roush Diesel Quad ATV
aaron says
I want to know what the durability of a tuned to the teeth turbodiesel will be.
the old M-B wagon may be noisy (from the outside) smelly (the greatest antitailgating device may be a deisel haze!) and low performance (still faster than a chevette from the same era, though, and it weighs twice as much! handles better too.). but at 260K miles, the mechanic at the shop said it was “nearly new”!, and that at 400K I should consider bringing it by for an inspection
If a similarly abused tdi sport type a4 (RD4?) wagon could get to 250K without cracking anything open (beyond an injector rebuild) while making 250hp, I know what my next car will be!
In a bike, beyond the wierd factor, a deisel isn’t very appealing to me. but the wierd factor can go a long way – I’m developing an unhealthy obsession with thumpers lately……
Prester John says
Fred Agabashian, call your office!
Tom
kneeslider says
Good one, Tom! I never knew that.
see: Diesel racers