[Bob_Young]

Amen JB,
The story of diesels in U.S. consumer vehicles has become a horsepower race. Everyone out to be the "Baddest". If they can build vehicles for the truck racing "niche market", why can't they build them for the save-a-buck on fuel "niche market"?

The old 12 valve Cummins that went into Dodge pickups in the early 90's were sweet runners, good pullers and got terrific mileage even if they were less than 200HP stock. I still tow with one and have yet to feel underpowered, even with 3.55 gears and 10K in back. Why can't vehicles practical for U.S. roads can't be made with economical 2, 3, or 4 liter diesels?

Heck, small Toyota pickups with diesels were all over south China in the early 90s when I worked there. A little flat-front crew cab Toyota pickup was pretty popular there at the time. It would seat 5 not-so-big Chinese and used either a 1.3 or 1.5 liter diesel. They weren't hot rods, but they never held up traffic...and traffic moved at a good clip where I was. Why has it taken so long to get them over here?

I have a theory that U.S. auto companies share too many Directors with the Boards of the oil companies. But that doesn't explain the reluctance at Toyota and Nissan.
Bob