Honda claims it has produced the world's lightest diesel engine. The 1.6-litre unit will replace the current 2.2-litre common-rail direct injection diesel available in overseas models such as Accord and CR-V.
The unit complete with cooling system apparatus weighs approximately 170kg. Honda engineers told motoring.com.au they used the specifications of Volkswagen's turbodiesel engine offerings as a minimum to beat for its own new engine.
Motoring.com.au drove both the 2.2-litre and 1.6-litre diesel options equipped in Accord models at the Motegi TwinRing circuit before attending this year's Tokyo Motor Show. After a lap in each version we can affirm the new diesel is more responsive. Both were equipped with CVT.
Honda Australia's Principal Advisor to the Board, Lindsay Smalley told motoring.com.au the new diesel would be introduced to Australia in 2013. It will be offered in the Civic first, he confirmed. The new Civic sedan we drove at Motegi has sharper front and rear styling and much-improved interior.
Visit motoring.com.au again for our upcoming review of Honda's latest roll-out of models including the Brio, new Civic and SH-AWD equipped Legend with torque vector control.
More Tokyo Motor Show news on motoring.com.au
Full Tokyo Motor Show photo gallery on motoring.com.au
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