A small but significant diesel passenger car market is starting to emerge in North America, according to the latest Ricardo diesel market report.

Diesel penetration of the USA passenger car market (excluding pick-ups) rose to a peak of 6 per cent in 1981, when the figure for Europe at 10 per cent was not much higher. However, diesel noise, exhaust smoke and poor performance of engines 20 years ago were unacceptable to American motorists.

But the driving force for the diesel market in the US are the driveability benefits of high torque diesel engines coupled with 30-50 per cent better fuel economy.