Nissan To Launch First Clean Diesel Vehicle Next Year
Tokyo (AFP) Aug 06, 2007 Nissan Motor has unveiled plans to launch its first 'clean diesel' engine vehicle in Japan next year as part of efforts to catch up with rivals in green motoring. Japanese automakers are competing to be the first to launch the low pollution diesel engines, which some analysts predict could eventually become more popular than petrol-electric hybrids due to their lower production cost. Nissan said its new clean diesel engine, which is based on technology developed with French partner Renault, would be put in the X-Trail sport utility vehicle, which is due to be introduced in Japan in autumn 2008. The X-Trail will be Nissan's first vehicle to be powered by a clean diesel engine, said company spokesman Yuichi Nakagawa. Nissan, Japan's third largest automaker, did not release any details on the engine's fuel efficiency. In December, Nissan announced a five-year "green program," including plans to develop its own hybrid as part of a push to catch up with rivals such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in energy-saving, low pollution motoring. Honda said in June that it aimed to introduce vehicles with clean diesel engines "as soon as possible" in Japan. Toyota -- which has been the leader in petrol-electric hybrid cars -- plans to outsource production of low-pollution diesel engines to its partner Isuzu Motors Ltd. so as not to be left behind, according to Japanese reports. Nissan also announced Monday that a new clean diesel technology it is developing shows good potential and may be able to meet the US state of California's strict standards for so-called super-ultra-low emission vehicles.
Source: Agence France-Presse Related Links Car Technology at SpaceMart.com
See What You're Spewing As You Speed Along Manchester UK (SPX) Aug 06, 2007 In future drivers may only have to glance at the dashboard to see the pollution spewing out of their vehicle's exhausts. A team from The University of Manchester has constructed a laser measuring device capable of recording levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane from directly inside an exhaust. Once optimised, the process could be incorporated into onboard diagnostic systems that would monitor emissions as vehicles drive along - and potentially help people reduce their emissions by adjusting their driving style. |
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