Compact Diesel trucks that we can't get here

[roadhunter]

Anybody remember when Mahindra was going to release a no frills truck in the US? I was really looking forward to it.

Why Mahindra’s Pick Up Truck Foray in the US Failed | Forbes India Blog

View attachment 403193

 

[3930dave]

This is an entertaining thread looking at it from the other side of the fence. I really wish I could go and buy an F150 Raptor to contrast the workaday diesel 4x4s I drive for a living. More and more cars over here are diesel, I think it accounts for over 50% of new car sales. Some manufacturers have completely dropped the petrol variants of some models. My BMW X1 is one such example, only available with a range of 2l diesels.

But interestingly, the tide is starting turn against diesels. In the UK, diesel popularity was really driven not by their economy, but by the lower CO2 emissions. Because CO2 is/was supposed to be the cause of climate change, you are rewarded with various tax incentives for buying diesels, especially if you are provided a car as a benefit by your employer. But just this last month, both London and Paris have declared they want to ban diesels in the city, or at least heavily penalise them due to NOX emissions which have reached hazardous levels, and so the pendulum begins to swing back towards petrol....

Anyway here's my work cars from the last decade, all diesel....

I'd heard that Land Rovers had often been used to shift lorries off the road in the past, good to see the new ones are still cut from the same cloth.

There was a bit of coverage here in the news, about the new anti-diesel stance over your way. I'm wondering how a late model emission system compares on a VW tdi here vs. over your way - picking that engine as it's about the only light diesel here in volume use, that is also common in Europe. California certification esp. is not known for loose NOX levels, and they have been tightened up in general here elsewhere.

Specifically I'm wondering if our tdi's are running different catalytic converters ? Things tightened up here quite a bit in 2007 for Heavy Commercial truck diesel emissions; I'm not up to speed on how regs compare in the UK or the EU.

The Raptor is a cool truck if for no other reason than it was the first production vehicle to roll with Fox shocks. Your comment reminded me of Clarkson trying to park an F150 down in his local village - pretty funny sequence on Top Gear, as the truck is very large for many of your roads. Can't imagine paying to fuel a Raptor in the UK though, that would be lottery ticket stuff for me !

Unfortunately (IMO), chasing the last few ppm of emissions means burning more fuel, whether it's gas or diesel. If your Politicians want to force you to switch to gasoline engines, you better start screaming now for tax relief.

Thanks for those pics, that is a nice collection of vehicles.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Anybody remember when Mahindra was going to release a no frills truck in the US? I was really looking forward to it.

Why Mahindraç—´ Pick Up Truck Foray in the US Failed | Forbes India Blog

View attachment 403193

Thanks for posting that rh.

I started reading that article thinking "Well, the first 2 things you need for for the USA market are 1) EPA certification, and 2) a decent Crash Rating".

On the Marketing side of the house, they clearly had the Cart out way in front of the Horse.

Hopefully some other small diesel player will learn from Mahindra's mistakes, and get the product right, before running around cutting business deals. From a different angle, perhaps Elio and Tesla will get some of the antiquated dealer franchise laws changed - that could also help with USA vehicle launches from other new players.

I'd be surprised if Ford could not easily clear all hurdles necessary to bring modern diesel Rangers here, but suspect they are not wanting to cannibalize large truck and Ecoboost sales in the USA by doing that.

BTW, on my last duplicate post, I was able to find an Edit option to delete the dup altogether. That glitch seems to be getting bad lately.

(If you Edit Post, then hit Go Advanced, it gives you the Delete Message option at the top of the new screen).

Rgds, D.

 

[roadhunter]

Thanks for posting that rh.

I started reading that article thinking "Well, the first 2 things you need for for the USA market are 1) EPA certification, and 2) a decent Crash Rating".

On the Marketing side of the house, they clearly had the Cart out way in front of the Horse.

Hopefully some other small diesel player will learn from Mahindra's mistakes, and get the product right, before running around cutting business deals. From a different angle, perhaps Elio and Tesla will get some of the antiquated dealer franchise laws changed - that could also help with USA vehicle launches from other new players.

I'd be surprised if Ford could not easily clear all hurdles necessary to bring modern diesel Rangers here, but suspect they are not wanting to cannibalize large truck and Ecoboost sales in the USA by doing that.

BTW, on my last duplicate post, I was able to find an Edit option to delete the dup altogether. That glitch seems to be getting bad lately.

(If you Edit Post, then hit Go Advanced, it gives you the Delete Message option at the top of the new screen).

Rgds, D.

It worked! Thanks for the tip.

I know a guy in town who put down a deposit on an elio. Should be interesting to see how that company does. Seems like they are more of a tricycle with a faring so they may not have to meet some crash standards. At last the pics I saw didn't look like much of a body to protect you in a crash.

 

[3930dave]

You're welcome; I know I was glad to see that delete option added.

Elio is classed as motorcycle (low cost plate tags, possible lane priorities.....), but sounds like it has been designed for car-like crash protection - the smart way to approach today's market, IMO.

I started a thread on Elio, somebody on TBN also put something down on one. If it comes to pass for him, I think he was planning a long road trip with it - that would make for a fun pic thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/290493-elio-has-anybody-driven-one.html

Rgds, D.

 

[HHR]

You're welcome; I know I was glad to see that delete option added. Elio is classed as motorcycle (low cost plate tags, possible lane priorities.....), but sounds like it has been designed for car-like crash protection - the smart way to approach today's market, IMO. I started a thread on Elio, somebody on TBN also put something down on one. If it comes to pass for him, I think he was planning a long road trip with it - that would make for a fun pic thread. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/290493-elio-has-anybody-driven-one.html Rgds, D.

I'm still planning on picking up the Elio at it's assembly plant in Shreveport, LA and drive it to Homer, AK to go visit relatives before returning to MN. I may have to throw on a set of snow tires if the Elio enters production the end of 2015 like they are projecting.

 

[Bluest]

I'd heard that Land Rovers had often been used to shift lorries off the road in the past, good to see the new ones are still cut from the same cloth.

There was a bit of coverage here in the news, about the new anti-diesel stance over your way. I'm wondering how a late model emission system compares on a VW tdi here vs. over your way - picking that engine as it's about the only light diesel here in volume use, that is also common in Europe. California certification esp. is not known for loose NOX levels, and they have been tightened up in general here elsewhere.

Specifically I'm wondering if our tdi's are running different catalytic converters ? Things tightened up here quite a bit in 2007 for Heavy Commercial truck diesel emissions; I'm not up to speed on how regs compare in the UK or the EU.

The Raptor is a cool truck if for no other reason than it was the first production vehicle to roll with Fox shocks. Your comment reminded me of Clarkson trying to park an F150 down in his local village - pretty funny sequence on Top Gear, as the truck is very large for many of your roads. Can't imagine paying to fuel a Raptor in the UK though, that would be lottery ticket stuff for me !

Unfortunately (IMO), chasing the last few ppm of emissions means burning more fuel, whether it's gas or diesel. If your Politicians want to force you to switch to gasoline engines, you better start screaming now for tax relief.

Thanks for those pics, that is a nice collection of vehicles.

Rgds, D.

When it's comes to the towing, we are a bit more technical than we used to be. We have a load cell that goes in line with the tow strap and gives you the force at the tow ball. It has a wireless display that the driver can see. As long as you don't exceed a specific value in kilo newtons your good to keep pulling. As long as the brakes aren't jammed on, you can pull virtually anything.

Had a quick look, he cheapest used Raptor I could find in the UK is advertised at £35k so I'll have to save up a while yet. In the meantime, this'll would do me nicely, they just stopped making this year so I reckon there'll be collectors item in the future. Used 1985 Land Rover Defender 110 200 TDI Pick Up for sale in Buckinghamshire | Pistonheads

I could be wrong, but I don't think diesels generally use a catalytic converter here, just DPF and sometimes urea injection. All trucks have a big urea tank next to the diesel one these days.

 

[3930dave]

I'm still planning on picking up the Elio at it's assembly plant in Shreveport, LA and drive it to Homer, AK to go visit relatives before returning to MN. I may have to throw on a set of snow tires if the Elio enters production the end of 2015 like they are projecting.

I was thinking it was you, but I was running out of eyelid-open time last night :zzz: to check. I hope that comes to pass for you, and we get lots of reports from that trip !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

When it's comes to the towing, we are a bit more technical than we used to be. We have a load cell that goes in line with the tow strap and gives you the force at the tow ball. It has a wireless display that the driver can see. As long as you don't exceed a specific value in kilo newtons your good to keep pulling. As long as the brakes aren't jammed on, you can pull virtually anything.

Had a quick look, he cheapest used Raptor I could find in the UK is advertised at ｣35k so I'll have to save up a while yet. In the meantime, this'll would do me nicely, they just stopped making this year so I reckon there'll be collectors item in the future. Used 1985 Land Rover Defender 110 200 TDI Pick Up for sale in Buckinghamshire | Pistonheads

I could be wrong, but I don't think diesels generally use a catalytic converter here, just DPF and sometimes urea injection. All trucks have a big urea tank next to the diesel one these days.

That load cell sounds pretty trick. If you can post a few pics of that in it's own thread in this sub-forum, I'd expect that would get a lot of interest.

Tried to check rockauto just now for parts..... seems there are more tdi models in recent years than I thought.... so far, no cats listed. They've had EGR a long time... maybe I have that wrong re. cats ? Still scratching my head on present NOX ppm limits..... I can't picture California as high vs. over your way...

I've only seen one 110 p/u over here - you realise that ad has now probably had 10 calls from this side 'o the pond !

Rgds, D.

 

[buickanddeere]

It's been a while since 2006 . Who expects Tier IV emissions to be dropped back to Tier II ? And diesel priced less than gasoline ?
Until those events both occur, don't get your hopes up on a new diesel vehicle such as those sold in Haiti.