From the VWVortex Forum:
"Diesel enthusiasts in this country are a hardy bunch. Thanks in no part to the dubious efforts thrown forth by Detroit in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, they’ve endured years of ridicule and misunderstanding for their choice of transportation. Never mind that the Europeans have developed the diesel engine to a high art; here in America, the home of cheap gas and big cars, diesels are typically relegated to truck duty.
Thing were looking up with the announcement that low-sulfur diesel fuel would finally become available here starting in late 2006. But before we could all abandon our gas-guzzlers and jump on the Euro bandwagon, the EPA decided that diesel-equipped passenger vehicles would be required to meet a strict new set of emissions standards starting with the 2007 model year. Despite advanced engine technology and cleaner fuel, today's diesels still produce too much particulate matter (soot) and too high a level of NOx (oxides of nitrogen) to meet the new standards. 2006 therefore effectively marks the end of the road for the current generation of diesel cars in this market.
Volkswagen is one of the few carmakers to consistently offer a diesel option here- in fact every generation of the Jetta has been available with a diesel option. For 2006, Volkswagen’s bread-and-butter sedan once again houses..."
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/article_1639.shtml