Why doesn't Land Rover import Diesels into the U.S.?

 

Emissions. They don't want to pay to have their engines certified( if LR thinks it is even close to the standards). It is very costly. And Americans are really late in accepting diesel engines compared to the rest of the world.

 

EPA and DOT standards too expensive to meet.

 

Bingo - there just isn't enough interest in $75k+ diesel cars/SUV's in US to make it worth LR's costs, yet. But there is rumors floating around that they might for the launch of the redesigned Defender which is rumored to come to the US...

VW is doing better with diesel sales and Volvo and BMW have already started to bring theirs to the US. I believe there is another manufacturer that released a press release that said they are bring diesels to the US too, I just can't remember which one, maybe Lexus?

 

Who is "Michael C"?

Where are you from or where is your D2 titled?

 

Every car company to sell a car here in the US must crash test each model with each engine to prove they meet crash test standards.
That means every Chevy Cobalt must be crash tested with each different engine.
So if there are 2 4 cylinder engines and 1 V6 they have to crash it once with either 4 cylinder engine and once with the V6.
They also need to prove that all 3 engines pass emissions, thats the easy part.
Now imagine that LR had to crash test a $50,000 SUV twice, once for the V8 and once again for the diesel.
Now add that they are selling 4 models in the 2010 model year and if they offered diesels for each one that means crashing 8 trucks to prove they meet crash test standards.
Now add in the emissions laws for diesels...thats alot of money.