Diesel-powered vehicles account for more than 50 percent of new vehicle sales in Europe and make up approximately 30 percent of the total vehicle fleet on the road. In North American markets, however, diesel use all but disappeared in the passenger vehicle market years ago, because the diesel engines available at that time were not as clean or smooth running as gasoline engines. With the phasing-in of cleaner diesel fuels in 2007 and advances in clean diesel technology, there is new opportunity for the expanded use of diesel technologies in North America.

Modern diesels offer some significant advantages over traditional gasoline engines. They consume 30 to 40 percent less fuel, and on a well-to-wheels basis they emit 15 to 30 percent less CO21. In addition, direct-injection diesel engines provide exceptional power and torque, resulting in better driving performance and towing capabilities. Ford engineers are developing next-generation diesel technologies that will maintain these advantages while minimizing emissions to meet strict U.S. air pollution standards. These technologies include diesel particulate filters and NOx reduction catalysts, along with advanced combustion systems that will significantly reduce the particulate matter and NOx emissions associated with diesel engines. These advances will provide another route to more fuel-efficient and cleaner mobility.

With the 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty lineup of pickup trucks, Ford introduced a new generation of cleaner, quieter diesel engines. The new 6.4-liter Power Stroke® diesel is Ford's cleanest, quietest pickup diesel ever, with particulate (soot) emissions equivalent to a gasoline engine. It is the first pickup engine in North America to use a high-precision, common-rail fuel injection system featuring piezo-electric injectors. Ford will also be launching a diesel version of the Ford F-150.