2010 Los Angeles Auto Show: a Dearth of Diesels

6 p.m. | Updated

“Where are the diesels?”

That counts as one of the most frequently asked questions at the 2010 Los Angeles auto show.

The surprisingly robust show, which for the last two years has reflected the general malaise in the automobile industry, seems to have bounced back. Dozens of gasoline-electric hybrids and electric vehicles were unveiled at the show. But nary a single new diesel.

“We have a diesel here,” said Tom Plucinsky, a BMW spokesman. “An X5 — it’s someplace.” I couldn’t find it, but did see a 335d. It was not a new model, however, and it was not prominently displayed or promoted.

Mercedes-Benz used the Los Angeles venue, considered the most environmentally attuned auto show, to roll out a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the F-Cell. The German automaker also took the wraps off a mighty 550-horsepower CLS sedan, tuned by its AMG high performance unit. It was a rare performance model, a dwindling breed here, among a herd of hybrids and electric vehicles.

But no diesels.

At Audi, which last year here won Green Car of the Year honors with its A3 turbodiesel, two large gasoline-powered sedans were introduced –- but, again, no new diesels.

“Audi remains very much committed to diesel,” said Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America’s president. Yet he conceded that diesels were not proving as popular in the United States as they were in Europe.

Volkswagen, another proponent of diesel power, introduced a new Eos convertible here. The vehicle will be sold in the United States with only a gas engine. In Europe, the Eos is available with diesel options, including one that is rated at better than 50 miles per gallon.

Last year’s five Green Car of the Year nominees included two diesels. This year, none of the five was a diesel. The new winner, announced Thursday, was the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid sedan powered by a? lithium-ion battery pack and a small gas engine. (The other Green Car nominees were the all-electric Nissan Leaf, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, the Ford Fiesta and the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.)

“The show was significantly bigger this year,” said Brendan Flynn, a spokesman for the show. “We had more than 50 debuts. More than 20 of those were world debuts.”

Among the most significant new models were the 40-miles-per-gallon Hyundai Elantra, the restyled Dodge Charger, the return of Fiat to this show for the first time in 27 years with its new 500 Cinquecento compact, the Fit EV from Honda and Nissan’s Ellure concept and Murano convertible. Lotus and Chrysler announced replacements for their entire lineups.

“The industry is out of its slump,” Mr. Flynn said. “And for this show, in particular, automakers seem to be putting more emphasis on Los Angeles.”

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