• The New York Times, Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:32 AM

Betting that diesel power will become an alternative to the hybrids popularized by Toyota and other Japanese carmakers, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen all plan to sell new diesel automobiles in the U.S. in the coming year. Many of them are being shown at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in Germany this week.

A lot of Americans recall diesel, circa 1983, as a dirty fuel that made cars noisy and hard to start on freezing winter mornings. But the technology, European car executives say, has advanced since then--with the latest generation of diesel engines virtually indistinguishable from gasoline engines in performance. They emit less carbon dioxide because they burn fuel more efficiently.

Americans will soon be able to choose from three Mercedes sport utility vehicles, and its E-class sedan, as well as several BMW models. Volkswagen--which currently sells a diesel version of its Jetta in the U.S.--plans to introduce a model with a cleaner engine, as well as a diesel version of its new compact SUV, the Tiguan.

Read the whole story at The New York Times »