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Nissan is the latest OEM to announce clean diesel model plans for the US. The firm will introduce a compression ignition engine in the Maxima sedan in 2010, one year behind Honda’s first US diesel.

With the US warming to the idea of diesels, European OEMs might assume they have some advantage in the segment. Japan’s OEMs may disagree.

Nissan is developing the new engine with Alliance partner Renault as part of its strategy to reduce global environmental impact. Like the engines already announced by Honda, Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler and VW, it will meet strict Tier II Bin 5 legislation.

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said: “Launching a clean diesel in the US will offer customers fuel economy, CO2 reduction and good performance. There will be more diesel engines in our lineup in Japan, North America, China and Europe by 2010.”

No specifications have been released but the Maxima luxury saloon currently sells in the US with only a 190kW (255hp) 3.5 litre V6 gasoline. This suggests a six cylinder unit is needed. Renault already has a V6 diesel in the Espace MPV.

Nissan executive vice-president Mitsuhiko Yamashita said: “We can’t say yet whether the new diesel will be a four or a six cylinder, but some vehicles may need six.”

Honda has announced its first diesel will be based on the 2.2-litre four-cylinder i-CDTi engine used in European models such as the Accord. The engine features a clever NOx catalyst that develops its own ammonia, avoiding the need for the Adblue injection system used by some competitors. The system has been in development for three years.

This aftertreatment strategy can be scaled up or down for passenger car applications, making it suitable for a six cylinder engine.

Honda diesel project leader Hiroshi Ohno said: “It hasn’t been tested yet but the system will work with any size engine. One development is for a six cylinder engine.”

Honda has yet to announce which platforms will receive the engines.