Europeans and the rest of the world love diesel, Americans not so much. Here the diesel is considered a dirty fuel despite the emergence of clean diesel in the last few years.

Diesel and gasoline-powered cars are quite different in the way they drive, typically diesel cars have a lot of torque, and need lower revs, although many now have turbochargers and produce torque at low revs. Diesels typically don’t rev much past 5K and for this reason don’t offer the sportiness of many gas powered equivalents. Diesel technology has been around for years, and is very popular among European car buyers.

The German manufacturers, Audi, VW, Mercedes and BMW have most of their models available with a diesel engine option. Here in the US Diesel power is typically available in larger pickup trucks and heavy machinery. The diesel internal combustion engine differs from the gasoline powered Otto cycle by using highly compressed hot air to ignite the fuel rather than using a spark plug (compression ignition rather than spark ignition). In the true diesel engine, only air is initially introduced into the combustion chamber.

Diesel is more efficient and currently is cheaper in most states than regular gasoline. Diesel cars return much better EPA numbers and several offer in excess of 50mpg.

So let’s take a look at 6 of the Fastest Accelerating Diesel Powered Cars, some of which are available in the US and some are not.

Audi A6 TDI

 

Numbers: 428 lb ft, 0 – 60 in 5.3 seconds.

Audi’s A6 is a bit of a sleeper with only 240 hp, however, a the TDI’s whopping 428 lb ft will have it surging through license losing speeds via its silky smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox.

BMW 335d xDrive

 

Numbers: 465 lb ft, 0 – 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.

This has the excellent 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six diesel engine that producing 308 bhp and 465 lb /ft of torque. You can only get one with BMW’s all-wheel drive system, xDrive, and the wagon shown above is not available here.

Audi A8 4.2 TDI

 

Numbers: 627 lb/ft, 0 – 60 in 4.8 seconds.

The not available over here Audi A8 4.2 TDI is almost as fast as the S8 and has more torque, 627 ft lb to be exact. Also like the S8 it doesn’t look fast, but put your right foot down and it surges forward effortlessly.

BMW M550d xDrive

 

Numbers: 546 lb ft, 0 – 60 in 4.7 seconds.

Another glorious car not available her in the US. Anyway this car has huge reserves of power from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six and xDrive all-wheel-drive. 546 ft lb of torque is available from 2,000 rpm. It’s not an M5 but it’s close.

Audi R8 6.0 Quattro V12 TDI

 

Numbers: 738 lb ft, 0 – 60 in 4.2 seconds.

Powered by a Hungarian-built twin-turbodiesel V12, this car will do 60mph in 4.2sec, 100mph in less than 10sec, and more than 190mph flat out.

and the fastest is……………………………………….

Trident Iceni

 

Numbers: 700 lb ft, 0 – 60 in 3.7 seconds.

Under the curvaceous bodywork lies a 395bhp 6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel engine developing 700 lb ft of torque. Coupled with a six-speed automatic gearbox, it is able to propel the Iceni from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of over 190mph.