The Diesel pot gets stirred

[rkmdogs]

The in-line edition of Autoweek had an interview article with Gary Convis, of

Toyota about their application of a diesel option in a Tundra.

In addition the following pieces of news were included.

By RICHARD TRUETT | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

6:00 am, September 20, 2006

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Could Toyota break with 50 years of business practices and go outside the company for an engine?

It's not out of the question for the diesel engine being planned for the new generation of Toyota's Tundra pickup. Production of that vehicle begins next month, but Toyota has not said when a diesel option might be offered.

"We realize that to be a true truck company, it's important to develop a diesel," said Gary Convis, Toyota's executive vice president of engineering and manufacturing for North America. He spoke Sept. 8 at the groundbreaking ceremonies for Toyota's new North American Technical Center, scheduled to open in 2008.

Convis said that more than likely, Toyota will develop its own diesel or lean on its heavy-duty commercial-truck division, Hino, for diesel technology.

But Convis says Toyota has not ruled out buying one from an established supplier.

If Toyota does buy a diesel from a supplier, it would be the first time in the company's 50-year U.S. history that one of its vehicles would use a non-Toyota engine.

Possible U.S.-based diesel-engine suppliers could include Detroit Diesel Inc., John Deere & Co., Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Inc. and International Truck & Engine Corp.

Cummins and International already supply engines to automakers. Cummins builds the 5.9-liter turbocharged diesel in the Dodge Ram and has announced a new deal with an automaker for two more diesels, a V-6 and a V-8 that will be launched in 2010. Cummins has not named the automaker, but DaimlerChrysler is likely to be the customer.

International builds the Ford Power Stroke diesel and is well into negotiations with Nissan to supply a diesel V-8 for the Titan pickup.

Toyota will need a diesel for the Tundra not only because consumers are demanding better fuel economy but also because Ford, GM and Dodge are planning to use small-displacement diesels in light-duty trucks around 2010.

[Drew Dowdell]

bet they go with John Deere..... can't get much more American than that...

[PurdueGuy]

CAT would be good... Probably too expensive for them, though.

[regfootball]

toyota is trying SOOO hard.

[FAPTurbo]

Sheesh... Toyota already builds plenty of diesels in their Land Cruisers, and other SUV's and most of them are pretty decent.

[cimastain]

haha, says who?

some honda fan boys?