Honda: Making Money on Clean Diesels

Automotive News reports from the Detroit Auto Show: Honda Motor Co. CEO Takeo Fukui said the company plans to launch its clean diesels in the United States in 2009, and unlike their low to no profit hybrids, Fukui claims "our diesel cars are going to have an appropriate level of profit from the start." To keep costs down, Honda will use an aluminum cylinder block, instead of cast iron, so that the engines can be produced in current gasoline engine manufacturing plants. And unlike many of the European diesels that use urea injection systems, the new Honda diesel will employ a simpler (and less expensive to maintain) ammonia two-layer catalytic converter to control NOx emissions. According to Fukui, Acura, Honda's premium line, will receive the first 4-cylinder engines, and then additional models with V-6 diesels will be rolled out after 2010.

We love diesel engine efficiency and think this is great news from Honda, but if you happen to be a real hybrid aficionado, do not despair, the company is not about to give up on gasoline/electric drivetrains. Fukui says that a new low cost and improved hybrid system is in the works and is planned for the next redesign of the popular Civic Hybrid and a yet-to-be named sports car.

i-DTEC diesel engine - photo © Honda Motor Co.