The development of diesel technology and its associated emissions controls has become one of the chief pursuits of engineers in the US, according to new research.

A study by ABI Research claims that a host of engineers in the automotive research and development sector are now focussing on diesel emissions controls, balancing costs against performance.

"The engineering goal in the American market is to maintain or improve performance while simultaneously improving economy and emissions," ABI declared in a press statement.

"This can be accomplished, but it adds to vehicle cost. So particularly in North America, with its very stringent emissions standards, engineers have their work cut out for them when it comes to producing vehicles that are clean enough and at the same time inexpensive enough."

The results of the "Diesel Light Vehicles" report also led ABI Research to suggest that automotive manufacturers should target non-urban markets, where users would most likely get better economy with a diesel than with a hybrid.

ABI also warned that efforts to regulate NOx and particulate emissions with exhaust aftertreatment could be prohibitive, with the diesel option ultimately costing as much as hybrid-electric gasoline powered systems.

The study highlighted that Europe was comfortably the largest regional market for diesel light vehicle sales.