Honda's Clean Diesel to Debut in Acura Models
By Todd Kaho
Clean diesels now account for more than 53 percent of all new car purchases in Western Europe. What do they know that we don’t? While we complain about gasoline hovering around $3.00 per gallon and threatening to go to $4.00, European fuel prices are much higher and as a simple matter of economics, diesel has become the primary fuel of choice. A diesel delivers on average 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline powertrain.
With the implementation of ultra low sulfur clean diesel fuel as the standard at pumps across America, we now have the missing link for automakers to bring clean diesel hardware here. European manufacturers are poised to capitalize on their long history of diesel development.
We weren’t surprised to learn in 2006 that Honda, a quiet technology leader, was well on its way to producing super efficient clean diesel engines. Its approach incorporates an innovative catalytic converter that significantly cuts oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions and helps the engine meet strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II Bin 5 requirements. Importantly, it will do this without the need for onboard urea to treat emissions, an approach followed by some competitive brands in order to meet required levels.
The new i-DTEC diesel will debut in the European Accord this year. Many have speculated that the popular Accord would also be the platform for the North American version when it’s scheduled to appear in here 2009, but that’s not the case. Honda will launch its clean diesel in the Acura line in the U.S. first, perhaps in the next generation Acura TSX or RDX crossover.
This is a second generation of the i-DTEC that has been available in Europe since 2003. It utilizes reduced fuel injection time and an optimized combustion chamber design to minimize the traditional diesel noise and vibration issues. The new catalytic converter structure has two layers, allowing it to absorb NOx from the exhaust while producing enough ammonia to allow a chemical reaction in the second stage that converts the remaining NOx into nitrogen.
No performance specifications have been released for the new 2.2-liter, four cylinder i-DTEC, but it should deliver over 150 horsepower and 260 or more lbs-ft of torque. A prototype Accord running in the U.S. has demonstrated better than 50 mpg on the highway, so combined real world mileage in the 40 mpg range seems very obtainable.
Want to know more about advanced diesel vehicles? Be sure to check out these articles on GreenCar.com:
BMW’s Advanced 335d and X5 Clean Diesels
VW’s Clean Diesel Tour
Mitsubishi’s Concept-RA Champions Clean Diesel Power
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