The big diesel initiative that once saw more than one in five Volkswagens sold in America wearing the TDI label has now kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain, and joined the choir invisible. Volkswagen’s new North American operations chief says the company’s push to establish clean, affordable diesel powertrains as its green technology solution is over. That may come as little surprise to most observers in the wake of the emissions scandal, but initially the company was suggesting diesel was merely stunned and would come around. It listed 2016 models of the Golf, Jetta, and Passat with TDI engines in its catalog but under stop-sale, pending EPA approval of a technology solution that would bring their emissions of nitrogen oxides into regulatory compliance. Now we have it from the top. Hinrich J. Woebcken (pictured), president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told us, “I wish to make clear that the push for diesel for the brand is done” in North America. In an interview following our drive of the company’s upcoming mid-size SUV in Chattanooga, Woebcken said, “We don’t foresee that the strength of diesel will come back for this market.” He spoke in answer to our question regarding when he expected certification of 2017-model TDI engines and said he wanted to make clear that he was speaking only for the VW brand on this continent, suggesting diesel may still play a large role for the comp...