[Padgett]

Have thought for years that direct injection plus boost in a gas engine would do anything a diesel could without the drawbacks. A good example is the Ford EcoBoost even if they can't figure out how to package or sell it. 3.5 is perfect for a tow car but they keep concentrating on the 2.7.

My Vixen was both the first diesel I ever owned and the most useful. 2.3 liter/115 hp but in a 6300 lb RV could keep up with traffic and run 65-70 all day (did have a non-stock second radiator and extra temp gauges because a turbo diesel will keep making power until it burns up). And that was 1980 technology. Company went under by 1989 though mainly because of the GM diesel disaster.

BTW is nothing wrong or puny about engines of the 80's, just before DOHC and VVTi&e all the power was low down for highway MPG (best at 2000 rpm at 70 mph) so power dies by 4000 rpm. HP is a function of RPM so seems really low for those cars. What you need to look at is the torque figures and the number of gears.

If anything good comes from the current diesel debacle, it is that we will be seeing more 87 PON engines with similar capabilities.