why is diesel fuel so expensive in the US? This is the way to save fuel, then government should sponsor both factories which produce diesel and individuals who buy it, at least by tax reduction. In Europe gasoline:diesel price is 1:1, and diesel car of comparable power gets 20-30% better MPG than gasoline one.

Of course if in the US diesel fuel costs 20-30% more than gasoline - what is the reason to switch to diesel? This is the perfect reason Audi does not bring diesels there.

more diesel refining capacity is coming online by late 2010 into 2011. Also by then all 50 states will have the same diesel fuel specs. But by then both gas and diesel will be so high the difference will be within 10% of each other. Diesel might actually be cheaper than regular gas like a just a few years ago.

The price is diesel compared to gas right now is distorted but will even out over the next few years as refining capacity is adjusted. However it will probably be gas rising in cost instead of diesel falling. By 2010-2011, I wouldn't be too suprised to see $7 gas and diesel.

I agree with those that think the 2.0T would have been the better choice for the US instead of the 3.2 V6. But I know Audi is hesitant for marketing reasons of putting a "small" 4 cylinder engine when the competition is putting 6 cylinders, and the customer doesn't know any better when the Lexus sales guy tells a sucker "yeah, (snicker) that Audi Q5 only has a 4-banger in it!". Meanwhile, chip that 2.0T and it will smoke the Lexus.

2011 will bring very strictly law for emission in EU.
Diesel motors, which meet that standarts will be very expencive and less effective than now.

What I've read on the subject is that there are 2 oil refining methods used around the world. One produces among others more gasoline and the other more diesel fuel. Guess which one is used in the EU and which one in the US. You guessed it right I hope.
Add to that the recent Federal mandate to produce low sulfur diesel fuel and the resulting infrastructure upgrades cost, higher demand for it and the supply / demand works its magic.
That said any fuel in the US is still half price what it's in most EU countries. Fuels are heavily taxed in the EU, very little in the US, i.e. giving the EU countries more flexibility when it comes to shifting prices. Besides EU governments have historically interfere with the economy more than the US. When was the last time a major EU company went bust without being rescued by tax payers? Almost never happens there. Companies go out of business all the time here.

my point is that currency exchange rate illustrates how much investments national economy can attract. And now looks like US economy is not very attractive to international investors. I hope in the near future US economy will prove its model is better than socialism in EU, and rate will refrect this. I'm tired of waiting though, because most of our customers are in the US, and our local prices are depending on Euro very much...

benefits of a "small" 4 cylinder diesel engine over the gas guzzling V6. I suggested to Johan that they run Audi TDI Driving Experiences all over the US. For those of you who have attended such events, you know that side-by-side comparisons are very convincing.

Currently, fuel in Europe is $8.00/gallon. We'll we get there? I don't think so. Why? Because market forces will take over, like they are starting to at $3.50+/gallon. Small car sales were up 14% last month. Ridership on public transportation is up. More people are riding the train, instead of going on planes. New technology is on the way i.e. Chevy Volt - a plug-in hybrid. I could go on and on. . .

I still want a TDI for many reasons. Saving money isn't one of them. Power is my main reason as is fuel mileage. I'll pay more for fuel if it means I'll use less and have to stop less often as well.