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GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all put serious development into US Spec diesels. Unfortunately, falling gas prices, diesel priced 30 cents higher than gasoline, tightened US emissions, and the collapse of the auto industry all put small diesels on the back burner for a while. It takes an insane amount of money to develop..... money that US automakers simply doesn't have, or should use in better ways.
As dd pointed out, Ford and GM have several good existing diesel options across the pond, but they have decided to leave them there (for now). Generally, europeans 'get' diesel if for no other reason than taxation.
IMHO, turbocharged direct injection gasoline technologies are where they should focus, and they are. Check out the 2011 Hyundai Sonata GDI Turbo..... honestly capable of 40+ mpg (EPA est 34mpg freeway cycle), 274hp, regular 87 octane gasoline. Why pay more for a diesel, then pay more for diesel fuel? The Hyundai will flat smoke a VW TDI (pun convenient).
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