With growing interest and sales of diesel-powered cars in the US, automakers other than the Germans are now seriously looking into adding oil-burning engine options to some of their more popular models. Chrysler, according to Ward's Auto, is now looking to possibly introduce its new 3.0-liter turbo=diesel V6 to the big 300 sedan. This is the same diesel found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee where it's paired up with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Chrysler chief Saad Chehab stated that his company is still investigating the idea, but a final decision has yet to be made. "It's a matter of how much the customer is willing to pay for that premium," Chehab stated. The Lancia Thema, a rebadged Chrysler 300 sold in Europe, is offered with the same diesel V6, but customers on that continent are more willing to pay more for diesels. The US-spec diesel Grand Cherokee, for example, costs an additional $4,500, so Chrysler is likely waiting to see how those sales go. Chehab also mentioned the next Chrysler 200 may have a diesel option at some point as well.