[Spktyr]

1. Mercedes no longer owns Chrysler. They practically gave it away to Cerberus.

2. Don’t forget to keep topping up the urea tank in your Merc, or it won’t be so clean any more.

3. Diesels have their own problems. Europe is just now waking up to the fact that their cities are getting covered in diesel particulates from all the diesel engines over there.

Mind you, I’m not defending Detroit - I’m just pointing out that the problem is a little more complex than what you present.

That said, no sympathy here for the idiots who declined a below-market-price license for the Prius hybrid technology (GM), and those who continued to churn out such garbage as the Windstar/Freestar when they also had such wonderful vans as the Transit available (Ford).

[wolf78]

Diesels have their own problems. Europe is just now waking up to the fact that their cities are getting covered in diesel particulates from all the diesel engines over there.

"Clean diesels" have been using particulate filters in Europe for a few years now. Many newer models are as clean as gasoline engines (the only way to get certified for export in all 50 U.S. states, export being important for brands like Audi, BMW or Mercedes). Although, the added exhaust resistance costs a (very) few mpgs compared to the same vehicle with out Diesel particulate filter.