The era of the light-duty diesel pickup truck may finally be upon us


Back in 2007 and 2008, every company that builds full-size pickups announced plans offer versions with diesel engines by the end of the decade. Then diesel fuel prices spiked, demand for trucks dropped and everyone of those plans was cancelled. 

Among those that intended to build diesel pickups was Toyota http://greenfuelsforecast.com/ArticleDetails.php?articleID=425

Now in the wake of Chrysler launching a diesel Ram and Nissan announcing a Cummins diesel for its next-gen Titan, Toyota is back on the compression ignition bandwagon. So far, GM's ready for production 4.5-liter Duramax V8 remains on the shelf http://green.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/general-motors-4-5l-light-duty-diesel-v8-was-on-track-for-25-mpg/ but it could be revived. GM has already indicated that it will offer a smaller diesel in upcoming US versions of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size trucks. 

That leaves just Ford which has given no indication that it will offer a light duty pickup diesel. Ford will offer a 3.2-liter five cylinder diesel in the upcoming Transit full-size van and the 4.4-liter V8 it had planned to install in the F150 a few years ago did end up finding in a home in European market Range Rovers. For now, Ford remains committed to gas-fueled EcoBoost technology for the pickups. ?

Toyota Eyes Cummins Diesel Engine for Tundra | Edmunds.com
Toyota may offer a Cummins turbocharged diesel engine in its Tundra pickup truck line, Edmunds has learned.

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