Team-BHP - Diesel Power for Honda Accord

Motoroids has reported that Honda is going to launch Honda Accord with Diesel Engine in March 2010. It will also be showcased in January Auto Expo. The car is being tested in Pune. Pune Bhipians any spy Photos?

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Motoroids’ very own Rash a.k.a Rohit Paradkar caught a diesel engined Accord undergoing ARAI testing on the streets of Pune city. The Indian Accord is similar to those which Honda sells in markets like the US and South-East Asia. But a diesel engined variant is not available in either of those markets. However, thanks to popularity of diesels in India and the fact that the new Skoda Superb has been spoiling Honda’s party in the marketplace, the excellent i-DTEC mill from the European Accord might soon find its way under our Accord’s hood.
The 2.2-litre, DOCH, inline-4 from the ‘biggest engine manufacturers in the world’ is touted as one of the best in the business. It delivers a peak power of 148bhp@4000rpm and 350Nm of torque at just 2000 rpm. The engine is good enough to propel the portly Honda from 0 to 100 kph in 9.7 secs and to a top speed of 210 kph. The oil-burner is known to be supremely refined and pull well from low engine speeds.
If Honda does manage to keep the price in check, the Accord will definitely become the unchallenged segment leader it was for the last decade.
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SOURCE: Motoroids - The Free Revving Species

1) There has been a long tall talk going on for this, but now I will only believe the news once the car actually hits the road. We have spy shots for 2.2 diesel CR-V. If CRV had made it to production lines in India with this diesel, times would be tough for Fortuner. But did we ever see 2.2D CR-V even as CBU ? NO.

2) This was a good engine when launched, but IIRC, this is the only diesel engine Honda has. There is some economy record associated with this engine. That record was with previous generation EU accord IIRC.
This is now quite an old engine block as compared to new ones. I am not at all impressed with the specs of this engine considering that even Chevy Cruze has almost similar specs at a much lower cost. Honestly we can expect this car to have around 160-170 bhp and more torque.
This engine has reached its limit for upgradation.

3) But for India, this car will be a block buster. Watch out Skoda, this car is really going to hit every one, in that segment, hard. At the end of the day, its welcome move, but quite late.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarvodaya (Post 1535333)

The excellent i-DTEC mill from the European Accord might soon find its way under our Accord’s hood.
The 2.2-litre, DOCH, inline-4 from the ‘biggest engine manufacturers in the world’ is touted as one of the best in the business. It delivers a peak power of 148bhp@4000rpm and 350Nm of torque at just 2000 rpm. The engine is good enough to propel the portly Honda from 0 to 100 kph in 9.7 secs and to a top speed of 210 kph.]

Even if the do bring it to India, at what cost as sriram said? 33L on-road? And one more thing, see the figures, don't they have an uncanny resemblance to the 12.5L on-road Chevrolet Cruze?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhrishikesh (Post 1536128)

Its a good news for all Indian buyers as petrol pricese are going higher & higher these days.
But what we are talking about that Accord is coming with 2.2L diesel powered engine has been in talks since very long. Is Honda-Siel Cars India has given any type of confirmation on this ? Is CR-V is also coming with diesel option ?

Crude prices are going higher, not petrol.

Both petrol and Diesel are derived from Crude.

In some markets Petrol is cheaper than diesel. In India Diesel is subsidized by Govt to keep the economy going for truckers, and deliver your food ration.

Since all Indians want to become diesel truck driver these days, the trend may even change, due to supply-demand and eventually the difference between price of petrol and diesel may become negligible.

Honda is the only mainstream car manufacturers in India to offer a purely petrol car lineup. Diesel cars account for over 1/3 of all car sales today; this is only expected to grow. Heck, Maruti for all its anti-diesel lobbying in Delhi, finally joined the bandwagon with Fiat sourced diesels.

Honda needs diesels to improve its market share in India. The Accord diesel will help strengthen Honda' s presence in the 20 lakh segment. Yet, what could really shake things up is a diesel for the City and / or Civic. The Altis is rumoured to be coming with a 1.4 turbo-diesel in 2010. Honda doesn't have any small diesels.

Of course, an Accord diesel will be a step in the right direction and hopefully pave the way for more (smaller) diesel engines from Honda. This 2.2 engine has rave reviews wherever you look. Though, as Aaggoswami comment, they better improve on the BHP / liter numbers (even the Fortuner has more BHP!). After all, Honda's petrols offer amongst the max BHP / segment.

I'd expect a 2 lakh rupee premium over the I-4 petrol Accord.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RP_812 (Post 1535350)

I was under the impression that Honda had mentioned that it's "pristine" Diesel engines would not function with Indian Diesel.

Change of Face eh ? , if this is true.

Nothing but gibberish. When Merc & Beemers' sophisticated diesels run just as well on our fuel, I don't understand that Hondas crying about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaggoswami (Post 1535570)

This is now quite an old engine block as compared to new ones. I am not at all impressed with the specs of this engine considering that even Chevy Cruze has almost similar specs at a much lower cost. Honestly we can expect this car to have around 160-170 bhp and more torque. This engine has reached its limit for upgradation.

Well said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aparth (Post 1537261)

I hope that Honda prices this one right!

Never expect that from HONDA as far as pricing is concerned.
That would be more expensive than a car diesel in that segment without offering any features for its price.

When is Toyota rolling its corolla with its diesel eng?Sid the scoop master where are you dear?
Will 1.4L servers good for its huge body of corolla?