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Honda Readies Accord 2.2L for US launch
by Scott Anderson
ANN ARBOR, MI - The clock has started on the Accord diesel entry to the US: T-minus
two years and counting.
At the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Honda let it be known that its 2.2L i-CTDi will
in fact be the diesel mill for the Accord by 2009.
On our test drive of the Accord i-CTDi on loan from a fleet maintained by Bosch
USA, we find the European market model to be loaded with torque compared to its
gasoline counterpart and as civilized.
The i-CTDi scores a 30 percent fuel economy performance over the gasoline version,
with 39 city and 63 highway mpg. But it’s also a torque-lover’s dream, pushing
forward with 250lb-ft at 2000 rpm, compared with the gasoline 2.0L iVTEC Accord,
which delivers 140lb-ft at 4,500 rpm. Horsepower on the i-CTDI tops 140hp, versus
155hp for the gas iVTEC.
When it comes to performance, the six-speed manual Accord i-CTDi reaches a 132
mph top speed and 0-62 mph in 9.3 seconds - virtually identical with the iVTEC,
five-speed gasoline Accord.
Honda has vowed to include four-cylinder diesel in its US lineup by 2009, followed
by a V-6 soon thereafter.
And while the confirmation of the Accord diesel comes as no surprise, the automaker
also dropped hints that it could be just the tip of the iceberg for Americans
eager for more options. The European Accord is based on the Acura TSX for Europe,
and not the North American Accord.
According to press reports from Tokyo, Honda engineers say the NOx removal system
for the Accord, which doesn’t require additional onboard urea, is scalable to
larger diesel variants.
The automaker is now currently configuring the 2.2-liter i-CTDi diesel to use
a NOx catalytic converter to meet the U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions regulations
in 2010.
Inside the converter are two layers, one which absorbs adsorbs NOx from the exhaust
and converts a portion of it into ammonia, and a second that adsorbs the resulting
ammonia and uses it to detoxify the remaining NOx into harmless nitrogen. This
process takes place without the need for additional urea injection, which other
carmakers have said is necessary clean emissions of larger diesel vehicles, such
as SUVs.
When Honda does settle on its diesel powertrain and the trim level it may occupy,
the model will join a more powerful lineup of Accords taking aim at larger mid-luxury
sedans.
The just released 2008 Accord packs the most powerful gasoline engine ever for
the model with a 3.5L V-6. The performance boost also applies to the Accord’s
standard engine, a 2.4L i-VTEC four-cylinder with 177hp, which enjoys a 7 percent
power hike over its forerunner. A second option is a 190hp inline four-cylinder.
The sedan is available with a five-speed manual in addition to automatic.
The ‘08 Accord coupe comes with either 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder, putting out
190 hp; and two versions of a new 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, iVTEC (automatic models)
and the six-speed manual transmission.
Bosch has been circulating its fleet of diesel import models to journalists and
during special events. The fleet includes a Chrysler 300, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series
and the two-seater Smart diesel, in an effort to drum up interest.
While the Accord was in the Diesel Forecast garage in Ann Arbor it drew more
than a few curious gawkers, but also several inquisitive passersby wondering when
they will be able to drive one off a dealership lot.
One interested party even left a note on the dashboard addressed to the vehicle.
“I’ve seen you driving around, and I’ve heard that you are one of the quietest diesels
on the road! ... Are there any plans to bring you to the United States. How can
I learn more about you?”
The public interest in diesels only continues to rise. According to a recent
study by financial services and investment firm UBS, diesel vehicles will out
strip hybrid electric models - 1.5 million units to 1.2 million units in projected annual sales by 2012.
NOVEMBER 2007
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