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Here you go, actual dynometer measurements - at the wheel. Electrics can be strong and powerful, but they do not rule the road. There are stronger, higher power ICE engines on the road - the Duramax being one (with 850+ lb-ft at the wheels).

Also, there are a number of diesel performance tuners. Even old 80s diesels can put over 150HP to the ground, see http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/ (scroll down for English forums). Modern TDIs can do well over 200HP.

A few years ago, Gale Banks dropped a modified Cummins turbodiesel into a Dodge Dakota. Project Sidewinder pulled somewhere around 600 hp from the engine and set a new speed record in its class of about 213 mph.

I've got a small block Chevy sitting in the corner of my garage just waiting for a project like that. Get ahold of me when you get that ginormous grinder, and a blower (or possibly one of the Banks twin turbo kits). :)

"Rednecks in Alabama finally decide to stop fighting over who makes a better truck, Ford or Chevrolet."

Um... Dodge.

Never underestimate the power of the diesel!

Modern diesel engines are very competitive with gasoline engines when it comes to performance, and always outperform "gassers" in fuel economy. As an example, the Mercedes E320 CDI outdoes the gasoline E320 in many ways:

• 0-60mph acceleration (CDI 6.6 seconds, gas 7.1 sec);
• torque (CDI 369 lb-ft, gas 232 lb-ft);
• fuel economy (CDI 27 mpg city and 37 highway, gas 19 and 27).

Given that the current land speed record for a pickup truck is held by a diesel, diesels can go very fast. In the case of the land speed record, the truck from Banks Power is street legal in California. It hauled its own team trailer to the Salt Flats, and then immediately made qualifying runs of 172 and 192 mph. After some "tuning," it set an official record of 217.314 mph. A peak speed on another run was 222 mph.

Slightly more mundane, but still impressive, is the speed records set by a production Honda Accord diesel. As the article states: Honda's new Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport has this week set no fewer than 19 world speed records and achieved 3.07 litres / 100 km (92 mpg) fuel economy to boot. (Note: Imperial gallon is 25% larger than U.S. gallon.)

So, you can pass all the gas cars on the Autobahn, in your diesel, and leave them really far behind because you don't have to stop to refill your tank!

On another diesel performance note, check out:

Land speed record for pickup trucks (217.202 mph) is set by street-legal diesel-powered truck, which pulled its own team trailer from L.A. to the Salt Flats. And, it wasn't trailing a plume of black smoke!