Click on the above image to enlarge

Back in July, Volvo hinted that it would be introducing small cars with diesel engines into the American market. This, of course, is an idea that we can get behind. In Europe, Volvo offers two four cylinder diesel engines displacing 1.6-liters and 2.0-liters as well as a five cylinder diesel of 2.4-liters. Here in the U.S.? Nada. Thanks to a sharp-eyed reader, though, we at least know that Volvo is testing diesels here in the States. Specifically, what we see here - according to the nameplate - is a C30 with a 2.0-liter diesel engine. We can't be certain why the new model was here, as the shot was taken in Arizona near Volvo's test track. The Phoenix area is often used by manufacturers testing their cars in extreme heat (and this is the dead of summer), so this could just be an engineering mule and have nothing to do with the U.S. market. On the other hand, Volvo says it wants to introduce diesel engines here by 2010, so we can always hold out home that a diesel-powered C30 is on its way. Thanks for the tip, Brian!

click above image for high-res gallery of the Volvo C30 Efficiency

In what sounds like an extremely unsurprising move, Volvo is planning on introducing more small cars and more diesel engines. Certainly, timing could not be better as small cars are handily outselling their larger, less fuel-efficient older brothers. Diesel engines are beginning to make a comeback of sorts in the U.S. market as Volkswagen, long the only automaker still holding the inexpensive diesel flag in the states, has reintroduced its TDI engine and such automakers as BMW and Porsche are planning on offering oil burners to their customers shortly. We would absolutely be ecstatic to see a vehicle like the C30 Efficiency concept, which was shown off at the last Motor Show in Frankfurt, introduced to the U.S. market. That concept car, with its 1.6 liter diesel engine, posted extremely good fuel economy numbers of over fifty miles per gallon. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, wouldn't you agree?

[Source: Just-Auto - sub. req'd]