Mitsubishi may offer a diesel in the U.S.

Autoweek reports: a diesel engine that Mitsubishi is developing for Europe also could be sold in the United States.

"We plan to have the diesel ready for Europe first before 2010, but we are not excluding the U.S. market," said Hiroshi Harunari, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc.

Harunari reportedly said the four-cylinder engine is being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. The CEO reiterated that should U.S. car buyers accept the technology (that Honda and other automakers are set to launch in the country), Mitsubishi will do the same. At the same time Harunari also expressed doubts on whether U.S. car buyers are really interested in small cars instead of larger, affordable cars that deliver good fuel mileage.

Mitsubishi has said it will bring an electric car to the United States, but no timetable has been set for that vehicle. Harunari also says Mitsubishi is studying whether to sell vehicles in this country that burn ethanol.

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