Turbocharged, Direct-Injection (TDI) Diesel Engines

Unlike diesel engines sold in this country during the 1970s and 80s, modern passenger car diesels are quieter, smoother, more responsive and almost entirely free of diesel odor. They are also substantially more energy efficient and considerably cleaner.

The "new" diesel engines directly inject fuel into the combustion chamber rather than having part of the combustion occur in a prechamber (indirect injection). The advanced fuel injectors atomize the fuel into a fine mist in two stages; the combustion chamber "swirls" the air and fuel; and a computerized electronic management system controls the engine operation and turbocharger, fine-tuning the entire process for fuel efficiency and emission control. This process eliminates heat loss, increases fuel economy by 20% over conventional diesels (40-50% over conventional gasoline engines), and softens the combustion process, making the ride seem more like a gasoline engine.