If your next Cadillac is dieseling

[Bruce Nunnally]

http://www.autonews.com just posted a bulletin quoting http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/ that GM is confirming that Cadillacs will be available soon with diesel power plants.

GM has at least two diesel engines under development. A 4.5-liter V-8 is due in 2010 for light-duty pickups and SUVs. The other engine is a 2.9-liter V-6 being developed with Italy's VM Motori S.p.A.. The V-6 will be launched in Europe in the 2009 Cadillac CTS, which will later appear in the United States.

The actual video is an interesting discussion of diesel technology.

Here is the video they are quoting:

Factoids: A traditional diesel engine costs GM $1K-2K more than a gas engine; new low exhaust diesels costs add another $2K, or $3K.

Diesels tend to be 15% more efficient than modern gas engines; less when compared to direct injection, and = if compared to stratified charge direct injection engines, which is the next generation after the new engines.

Summary: Don't assume that diesels are the panacea we need to get to new lower MPG goals.