Honda president Takeo Fukui has been quoted in the Japanese press as saying that a next generation V-6 diesel will be commercialized by Honda, and is set to slot into the Ridgeline along with other unspecified models.
First, though, Honda will kick off with its 2.2-2.4-litre class, four-cylinder “super clean” turbodiesel that’ll run in the next Stateside Accord, appearing around 2009. This is expected be a breakthrough engine, with emissions as clean as clean as a modern gasoline powerplant, able to meet even the toughest regulations in the world (i.e. the EPA’s Tier II Bin 5 regulations).
Once this Accord diesel goes on sale, the Accord hybrid will be quietly retired. Honda’s basic eco strategy going forward will be to keep hybrids for Civic-class and below offerings, with diesels for Accord-class models and over.
Or so it would seem, except that Fukui was also recently quoted as saying that Honda will consider a small diesel for the future, too. Presumably, however, if such a drivetrain is produced at all, it’ll be earmarked for Europe, where diesels make up more than half of the new-car market.
