History of the diesel car Production diesel car history started in 1933 with Citroën's Rosalie, which featured a diesel engine option (the 1,766 cc 11UD engine) in the Familiale (estate or station wagon) model. The Mercedes-Benz 260D and the Hanomag Rekord were introduced in 1936. Immediately after World War II, and throughout the 1950s and 1960s, diesel-powered cars began to gain limited popularity, particularly for commercial applications, such as ambulances, taxis, and station wagons used for delivery work. Most were conventional in design. Mercedes-Benz offered a continuous stream of diesel-powered taxis, beginning in 1949 with their 170D powered by the OM-636 engine. Later, in 1959
Avion (car) updated version was entered in the Progressive Automotive X Prize competition. Recent testing, using the original body and replacing the original Volkswagen Rabbit diesel engine with the Smart Car ForTwo diesel show 80 MPG at and a remarkable 114 MPG at . The car was designed to be manufactured in small volume using existing automotive components, including a small automotive diesel engine. A lightweight composite body of highly aerodynamic design is attached to an aluminum frame, and features Butterfly doors. Avion (car) The Avion is a prototype sportscar that achieves over 100 MPG. The Avion car is based on a