THE EUROPEAN MARKET has one the highest emissions standards in the world. It is also no accident that diesels are the top-selling engine variants in Europe as well.

This is because diesel is no longer perceived as a dirty, sluggish and noisy engine. Diesel has cleaned up, ready to make another entrance - though many may not recognize its freshly scrubbed face.

The truth is that diesel today offers supreme performance, low fuel consumption and low emissions.
Diesel however is not just about sales volume. I am keener to use this platform to educate drivers on the possibilities of diesel engines.

The transformation of diesel has come about in part because of cleaner-burning fuel containing less sulphur, the culprit of sooty particulates from diesel engines of yesteryears. Clean diesel cars today meet some of the world’s strictest standards such as the Euro VI 2014 emission limits and California Emission Standard.

At the same time, advancement in technology has transformed diesel engines: turbochargers and high-pressure fuel injectors have paved the way for smooth, quiet and clean performance cars.
Diesel technology offers up to 40 percent better mileage and reduces CO2 emissions by about 20 percent compared to petrol-powered engines and is on the same level as hybrids.

Yes, the image of diesel as dirty technology is outdated. Still, it lingers.

Diesel has always struggled to find a following in Singapore. Last July’s cut in the special tax on Euro IV diesel cars has done little to inject the much needed spark to sales here.

Every carmaker is looking for the fuel of the future. The truth remains that by 2020, only 10 percent of the car population will be fully-electric while other solutions, are still not viable in the near future. Hence, diesel remains the most viable alternative for those demanding performance while choosing to be eco-friendly.

And it does not stop here. Improving fuel efficiency needs a holistic approach, which is exactly what Audi is doing today: lighter car bodies, optimized aerodynamics and energy recovery systems, among others, are just examples of how such advancement will be achieved through technology.

Maybe one day, then, the mandate for clean diesel will not be such a taxing issue.