Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but that’s why Opel says it will consider adding hybrid-electric options to some of its diesel powertrains in the next few years, Automotive News says, citing an interview with General Motors executive Pierpaolo Antonioli. As it is, Opel is upgrading 80 percent of its engine inventory during the next three years to meet the fleetwide European requirements of a 130 grams per kilometer emissions limit for 2015. Opel’s next engine to debut is a 1.6-liter diesel coming to the Zafira Tourer minivan later this year.
By going diesel-electric, Opel would be joining a number of automakers. Mitsubishi debuted a diesel-hybrid pickup truck concept at the Geneva Motor Show in February and Volvo started selling its V60 Plug-in Hybrid Diesel in November. Peugeot has been selling its diesel-hybrid 3008 HYbrid4 in Europe since 2011.
