Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) — Nissan Motor Co. may make diesel autos widely available in the U.S. by 2012 models as the carmaker looks to add fuel-efficient vehicles that emit less carbon dioxide, its U.S. product-development chief said.

Nissan this month said it developed methods to treat diesel exhaust and meet standards in California and other U.S. states that now bar them because of emissions. Europe, the largest market for diesel autos, will adopt rules closer to California’s in 2012, making that the time to introduce such vehicles in the U.S., Nissan’s Larry Dominique said in an interview.

(more…)

Check out this Golf GT TDI smoke (pun intended) a Nissan Skyline at the track.

From freep.com

WASHINGTON - Nissan Motor Co. will offer a diesel version of its Maxima sedan in 2010, powered by a Renault-designed engine, Renault-Nissan Chief Execuitve Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday.

In a speech in Washington, Ghosn said the move was based in part on his belief that fuel economy and emissions rules would continue to toughen around the world, while fuel prices rise as well. Ghosn said the Maxima diesel will get roughly 30% better fuel economy than the gasoline version, but at a cost similar to that of a hybrid model.

(more…)