Putting aside all the diesel emissions scandal currently facing Volkswagen, diesel has been making successful inroads in Malaysia and the rest of South East Asia for the passenger vehicle market, especially with lifestyle pickup trucks and SUV’s based on these pickup trucks. These diesel powered pickup truck have become so popular that the Isuzu is already selling an all new 1.9 Ddi engine that produces 150hp and 350Nm of torque, and is paired to a 6-speed Sport Shift gearbox with their popular D-Max. This Euro5 ready diesel engine will soon make its way to Malaysia and the rest of the region.
This is why Ford recently announced a new 2.0L EcoBlue engine that is going to hit the markets soon. The ever popular Ford Ranger is sold with 2.2L diesel and a 3.2L diesel engines and there still exists a waiting list of months for the 3.2L Wildtrak model. With high quality Euro5 diesel now available at 110 BHPetrol stations around the country, it will be easy to Isuzu and Ford to launch their new low capacity diesel engines soon.
The new Ford EcoBlue diesel engine will make a whole lot of sense even when fuel prices are at significant low levels still in Malaysia as this will spur more car buyers to move up to a lifestyle diesel truck.
