Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Green, Honda
Accord Diesel in, Accord Hybrid out
Hybrids have now been hyped up beyond their own capabilities, so we find ourselves eagerly anticipating the comeback of the diesel engine. Volkswagen is sure to be one of the big diesel players in the beginning, having just announced its new TDI engine yesterday. But it looks like Honda might be in an even better position to bring oil burners back. Peter Nunn, Winding Road's roving reporter embedded on the isel of Nipon, claims that Honda's first diesel application in the Accord sedan will replace the Accord Hybrid sedan when it goes on sale around 2009. The diesel in question will be an ultra clean 2.2 - 2.4L four-cylinder able to meet the toughest emissions standards in the world, i.e. California's Tier II / Bin 5 standard. Nunn reports that the Accord Hybrid will be "quietly retired" upon the arrival of the four-cylinder Accord Diesel, which should be able to handily trounce the outgoing hot-rod V6 hybrid in fuel mileage at the same time delivering decent get up and go. For those wanting more power, Honda is also planning a diesel V6 that will first be used in the Ridgeline before being disseminated across the lineup in its vans and SUVs.
Honda's enthusiasm for diesels is exactly the kind of support this old yet new again technology needs to get back on its feet in the U.S. Honda's aggressive R&D dept. is no doubt developing diesel engines that will change many a mind when it comes time to choose a new a green vehicle.
[Source: Winding Road]
Related:
Honda is developing a diesel V6 for SUVs and VANs
Diesel popularity could be unstoppable
Honda develops new self-contained diesel catalyst
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
JP 12:42PM (1/05/2007)
What they really need to bring to market is a diesel hybrid.
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Bill 12:44PM (1/05/2007)
Honda will totally rehabilitate the image of diesels in US passenger cars.
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Silver 12:51PM (1/05/2007)
Too bad the price of diesel fuel is now higher than regular fuel. Diesel fuel used to be significantly cheaper. Why the change?
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ssgtakeo 12:53PM (1/05/2007)
I think so too Bill. I drove a Euro Accord diesel in Germany, and came away completely impressed.
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Fred D. 12:59PM (1/05/2007)
I'll be one of the first people in line to buy an Accord diesel. Just let it come with a 6 speed manual, OK Honda?
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GT_Arun 12:59PM (1/05/2007)
Silver, the price of fuel may be higher... but if the mileage is significantly better you will be paying less $ per mile you travel.
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Accordsforall 1:03PM (1/05/2007)
Hmm
When Honda put the Hybrid system in its 6cycl cars, it was going after the performance of the v6, paired with the eco of the hybrid. Needless to say.. the model bombed.
The deisel is a far better solution. And the Accord in Europe / UK / Japan and or overseas is very loosely related to the car with the Accord name here. Europe's Accord.. is Acura's TSX.
The Deisel is a fantastic idea for better miliage and resale value. Example.. a chief competitor the Jetta / Passat both have Deisels as an option. A Jetta can pick up 6-700 miles per gallon in its deisel form. Where as my 92 Accord 4cycl could (at its best) do 400 per tank. My 00 Accord 4cycl could definately add about 50-100miles to that. And a deisel version.. heck that would make driving the cars even THAT MUCH BETTER!
AMEN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY!!!!
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ruggels 1:09PM (1/05/2007)
"But it looks like Honda might be in an even better position to bring oil burners back."
erm, honda HAS an oil burner in europe, it's gotten some favorable press. VW on the other hand, has well over a dozen oil burners in europe, they've all gotten favorable press. given honda has one to choose from thus far, and is implying they'll bring that one over, and VAG has already stated we'll see their 4 and 6 cylinder oil burners I'm curious how they're in a better position. Also included in my skepticism is the sheer number of oil burning cars VW has sold in the last seven years in the US vs the zero Honda has sold.
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chuck goolsbee 1:13PM (1/05/2007)
#4: Taxes.
About 10 years ago or so, most states raised taxes on Diesel up to "price match" that of gasoline. The ULSD rules haven't helped.
When I started driving Diesel cars in 1982, Diesel fuel was half the price of gasoline. When others were paying $1.20 to put unleaded in their firechicken V-8s, I was paying .58-.63¢ to put barely refined crude into my VW Rabbit, and getting 50 MPG to boot.
--chuck
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aaron 1:19PM (1/05/2007)
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
I'll love to see the assKLOWNZ reaction to this..
Morons who prayed to shitheap hybrid rolling batteries that overpromise and underdeliver.. calling diesels noisy and dirty..
now the uber green japanese announce they made a sweet invention, a diesel..
oh well, a least the lemmings will be on board now.
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sp 1:24PM (1/05/2007)
How can Honda take over VW in diesels? Honda has single diesel engine in their lineup today.
VW sells millions of TDI's.
Honda's engine doesnt even exist, it is in form of PR right now.
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MkBruin 1:27PM (1/05/2007)
based on the above comments, you would assume that Honda's next trick is to cure cancer, then walk on water. Par for the course here on Impwhortblog.
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Tim UF 1:31PM (1/05/2007)
Now, all honda will need to do is convince the fuel industry to get more diesel (or biodiesel) pumps out on the streets.
Sometimes i wonder if its a good thing these cars have such great range, just to be sure you've got enough legs in your to help you find the next diesel filling station!
Or you could get a biodiesel conversion and run on old fryer oil... so long as you live in a warmer climate where the oil won't solidify in your fuel lines.
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nagmashot 1:33PM (1/05/2007)
VAG has
3 cyl
4 cyl
5 cyl
6 cyl
8 cyl
10cyl
car diesel in program...ranging from 60hp up to over 300hp with up to 90mpg on stock vehicles... Honda has to do a long run to get that experience to face europen companys eye to eye in diesel technology!
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Mojo 11:19AM (6/15/2007)
>>nagmashot @ Jan 5th 2007 1:33PM
>>VAG has
>>3 cyl
>>4 cyl
>>5 cyl
>>6 cyl
>>8 cyl
>>10cyl
>>car diesel in program...ranging from 60hp up to over >>300hp with up to 90mpg on stock vehicles... Honda >>has to do a long run to get that experience to face >>europen companys eye to eye in diesel technology!
WOW, impressive. Except that not many people buy VW any more in the United States.
In 2006, VW sold about 200k cars in the US. Among that 200k, about 40k~50k are diesel cars.
Honda sold close to 400k Accords in 2006. That is, if the future diesel Accords count as more than 12% of total Accords sold. Honda can beat VW with no problem, no matter how many cylinders those overpriced German craps have.
asurroca 1:43PM (1/05/2007)
Holy crap, now us diesel diehards can keep saying "I told you so" to all the folks hyping up hybrids!
With Volkswagen, even Mercedes doing diesel in the US, I think it's still got a reputation along the lines of "oh those kooky Germans and their weird diesel engines". With Honda adding diesels, it will suddenly not be a Euro thing.
I find it hilarious that Honda is finally working on a diesel at the same time that Volkswagen is finally working on a hybrid though. Which begs the question, Why won't you mate a BlueTec TDI to a hybrid powertrain, Volkswagen?!?! It would be the holy grail of fuel economy!
I'm looking forward to welcoming the Honda kids to the diesel club.
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ruggels 1:43PM (1/05/2007)
"Honda's engine doesnt even exist, it is in form of PR right now."
Erm, Honda's engine has been on sale in europe for some time now.
"ranging from 60hp up to over 300hp with up to 90mpg on stock vehicles.."
You missed the V12, it's currently putting out 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque... so that list goes all the way up to 500 now ;)
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Charles S 1:45PM (1/05/2007)
"...the arrival of the four-cylinder Accord Diesel, which should be able to handily trounce the outgoing hot-rod V6 hybrid in fuel mileage at the same time delivering decent get up and go."
...and this is base on what data?
There is no Accord Diesel tested under US's mileage rating system, and UK uses imperial gallons, which helps inflate the mileage numbers. Either way, I'd wait and see before I'd gush over diesel mileage right now.
In terms of performance, according to a UK site, Accord diesel does 0-60 in 9.2 seconds. According to a US site, the Accord Hybrid does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds.
The bias of the reporter just makes me lose all respect for Autoblog.
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k0an 1:45PM (1/05/2007)
JP, I agree, but I think it should be a Diesel Hybrid that works in Series as opposed to in parallel (Prius). Basically the diesel engine would run at a steady RPM and be separated from the drivetrain. It would just act as a generator for the battery pack. They are already thinking of using this for trucks and this is how trains have worked for a long time. It's very efficient because the diesel engine is running at the perfect RPM.
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hondafan 1:47PM (1/05/2007)
Honda is the largest manufacturer of engines (cars, motorcycles, boats etc). If this diesel engine is the one with the plasma NOx conversion technology, you can probably bet that other companies will buy this engine for their own vehicles instead of trying to engineer their own. VW/MERC has the urea technology where you have to actually fill the reservoir every month. Whether this is can be done by you or you having to take your diesel in every month to the dealership is not known by me. Honda's technology is self contained so no need to tinker with or refill it.
AS for Honda's Accord Hybrid. Honda goofed big time with their marketing. They never marketed the car as a gas miser. It was only to dispel the myth that hybrids can't have power. People who bought the car were led to believe that the car was a GREEN CAR when it's not. Adding to the ire of those who bought it was the fact it didn't get the mileage that was stated (which is the case for EVERY car sold).
Although, Honda's marketing HAS ALWAYS been horrible. So, it will be interesting to see just how they introduce their diesel car(s) in 2009.
I do think they will change how people view diesel and help the company big time.
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