The Turbo Diesels in Europe are amazing. I've chatted with other Ford workers in Europe and have been told about the performance they have there with them (production cars). They also have had the clean (low sulfur) diesel fuel there for years, and Ford has been building cars in this market for years. You would be very impressed by the numbers; 0 - 60 in 6 seconds from a 1.8 turbo diesel, and 40 - 60 mpg.
Now that the US government has mandated the same for diesel fuel here there are many people in the know that are hoping Ford brings these engines to the US. I would certainly like to see them here. As for the diesel noise I read an article by a journalist who said, while test driving a diesel car, he had to look under the hood to believe it was a diesel because it was too quiet as diesels go.
In this article they also stated that the Mustang's panels were made from raw vegetable content. Ford is making seat foam right now (your new 2008 car and some 2007 cars) with seat foam that is made from 60% or 70% soybean oil. The big trick was taking the plant smell out of the foam. They are working on a 100% soybean seat foam. When the car gets trashed you can probably fertilize your garden with the seat foam.
Steve