For those of you still hanging onto the idea of a diesel renaissance here in the States, there’s bad news: Automotive News has reported that the six of the biggest names in the auto business have halted their diesel development plans for the US.

Honda, Nissan, Toyota, GM, Ford, and Chrysler execs felt the cost in making diesel engines fully compliant with US (and especially California) air standards was too high; in addition, consumer perception was not favorable enough to dent the move towards hybrids.

Honda had been on the forefront among the six, with diesel variants of the Accord, TSX, and TL in the pipeline.  One-by-one, management axed the proposed diesels, eventually putting the whole project on hiatus.  Plans from BMW and Volkswagen, however, appear to be moving forward.

The Southeast Automotive Media Organization has handed out awards for the best concepts of 2009.  Award winning vehicles are held as positive examples of the future of the industry.  Concepts are to be more than design studies, but practical works that will be applied to the road.

The Fisker Sunset earned the Production Preview Vehicle Award.  The Fisker, which we briefly covered awhile ago, uses a special Q-Drive plug-in hybrid system.  Mileage is targeted to be as high as 100 mpg, with a 50 mile all-electric starting range.  The Sunset itself will be a four-passenger hardtop convertible, estimated to retail in the neighborhood of $100,000.

VW’s BlueSport won the award for best concept car overall.  The BlueSport is a diesel-powered roadster intended to bring excellent fuel economy to a nimble and sporty ride.  The BlueSport was rumored to have been canceled, but recent reports have since hit the Web stating development has resumed.

The Kia Soul’ster won Concept Truck of the Year.  The Soul’ster is an open-air, off-road variant of the recent Soul hatchback.  Akin to the Wrangler, the Soul’ster aims to bring outdoor roadgoing pleasure at a reasonable price.

The Cadillac Converj finished the run with the Specialty Concept Vehicle Award.  The award may sound like a consolation prize, but its purpose is to honor an example of outstanding technology for the future.  The Converj is a luxury coupe borrowing the GM Voltech extended-range hybrid system.  That will amount to a 40 mi. all-electric range (where then the gas/electric system steps in) and a 100 mph top speed.  The Converj’s beautiful shape and favorable impressions have allowed it to move into the early stages of development.

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Fisker Automotive’s sensuous Karma has received a lot of good press for its plug-in hybrid-electric concepts, the Karma sedan and the Sunset convertible.  But aiming a step ahead of its arch-rival (and courtroom adversary), Tesla Motors, Fisker will be expand its product range to four vehicles by the middle of the next decade.  The third prototype is still unnamed; Fisker’s PR rep only confirmed that it was ongoing effort set after the Sunset’s 2012 release.  (Word is that it’s either a crossover or a sports car.)  The fourth and final model will be a low-priced HEV in response to Tesla’s planned “BlueStar” segment-expander planned for the mid-2010s.

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Mazda will expand its hybrid offerings…at some point.

So comes word from the company’s PR department.  With just one hybrid, the rebadged Tribute, Mazda is vulnerable within this growing segment of the market.  With even smaller groups like Subaru and Mitsubishi now pushing ahead with hybrid development largely through partnerships, Mazda is playing catchup.

Execs desire to have their own dual gas-electric powertrain, but are seeking to arrange a mid-term deal with Ford to share its proven hybrid systems within the likes of the Mazda3 and watch last patrol the in divx 6.  There’s no word on whether Mazda’s “crossover” CXs will receive the option.

There has been interest in somehow employing the such a system within its rotary works, but emphasis will be put on its two mainstays rather than SUVs and sports cars.

Congress has passed its scrap rebate bill providing cash vouchers torwards the purchase of new vehicles.  The voucher will cover $3,500 for a vehicle 4 mpg (combined) better than the one being replaced, and $4,500 for one 10 mpg better.  Vehicles eligible for the scrappage program must be from the 1985 to 2001 production years.