New diesel engine to strengthen Honda’s European line-up

Before tighter emission limits go into effect in 2014, Honda Motor Company will put its diesel engine into a broader range of models in Europe. Early this year, Honda decided to start manufacturing the diesel engine and plans to make versions of the new CR-V sport utility vehicle (SUV), Civic and Accord sedans with the new engine through 2013. Honda said that the engines for the CR-V and Civic models will be made at the company’s Ogawa plant in Saitama Prefecture and will be shipped to the U.K., where they will be installed in the vehicles assembled there. The engines for the Accord sedans will also be made at Ogawa and then installed in vehicles manufactured at the company’s Sayama plant, for shipment to Europe. The new diesel engine has a displacement of 1.6 liters and weighs less than the previous models. It has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions, and has a high fuel efficiency rating which will comply with the forthcoming Euro 6 emissions standards. Diesel vehicles are more expensive than their gasoline counterpart, but their fuel economy ratings make them more affordable to operate. Diesel vehicles account for more than half of the European passenger car market, which is estimated at 14 million units a year. European carmakers have been the leaders in passenger car diesel technology, having developed engines with very low carbon emissions. (March 17, 2012)