Honda to axe Diesel Cars...

[dave87]

http://jalopnik.com/5200415/honda-ax...ybrids-instead


Bit of a shame as the iCDTi (like the one in my Civic) is one of the smoothest engines in its class - much smoother than the VAG units, and a hell of a lot cheaper than the divine straight 6 BMW units.

As someone on another forum said

If Honda dont make them I wont be buying Honda...Simple

Which having driven both (the 1.8 and the 2.2 - I have yet to get my hands on a CTR), I've got to say I agree with. Any thoughts, are Hybrids yet at the stage they can provide both power (when needed) and efficiency?

[kalniel]

Well some petrol units are getting as good as diesel now - VAG's newer 1.4 TSIs spring to mind. And while diesel is still popular in europe, it's never taken off in the US to the same extent, and I think that's where Honda are targeting a lot of their sales.

[TAKTAK]

All together now:

Hate something... Change something

Hate something, change something, make something betteeeeeeeeer.

[MadduckUK]

[Disturbedguy]

TAK I saw that, lol'ed, so you get a thanks.

[Konan555]

Well some petrol units are getting as good as diesel now

Wasn't that phrase used the other way around, traditionally?

it's never taken off in the US to the same extent, and I think that's where Honda are targeting a lot of their sales.

Wider seats and heavy duty springs going to be a regular feature on Hondas now then?

[finlay666]

You're welcome for the link Dave

[MadduckUK]

You're welcome for the link Dave

[dave87]

You're welcome for the link Dave

I copied and pasted the link from Civinfo, but yes, thanks for the headsup

[joshwa]

Presumably they're talking primarily (and solely) about the US market...? as it says they were planning on introducing "Clean Diesel" engines to the US market, and aren't going to bother anymore... what's this got to do with the UK market? They'd be fools to cancel diesel engines in the UK especially as it counts for about 50% of the market at the moment...

[dave87]

The thought was that Honda will give up development of diesel engines because of the problem marketing them in America and Japan, alongside pollution regulations. As such, Europe would be stuck with the current generation of engines, and no advancements would be made.

This is unless, of course, Honda deems the demand in Europe high enough to bear the R&D costs of a new engine...

[kalniel]

Wasn't that phrase used the other way around, traditionally?

heh true.

Wider seats and heavy duty springs going to be a regular feature on Hondas now then?

The accord is bigger that I expected, but I expect mostly they'll use things like the CRV as a compact city car

This is unless, of course, Honda deems the demand in Europe high enough to bear the R&D costs of a new engine...

Should be - whole cars have been designed for the european market before. One engine isn't too much.

[Vimeous]

I suspect Honda's decision will be influenced by how fast other manufacturers get to market with others hybrid/ev vehicles. In particular the GM Ampera and Renaults determination to become electric.

If the market grown rate is good and the diesel can last another 5 years it may not need a replacement.

[Gazmondo]

Bit daft imo as diesel's are on the rise in the UK due to the credit crunch...

Also, why would they release diesels in the US? V8's are the norm over there ... even V12's aren't exactly expensive to insure / run in the states.

[Funkstar]

Bit daft imo as diesel's are on the rise in the UK due to the credit crunch...

But with the increase in eficiency from petrol cars and the difference in cost between pertol and diesel, they aren't a cheap to run as they used to be. Factor in that they are more espensive to buy in the first place and you aren't going to save yourself money buying a diesel these days.

[Gazmondo]

But with the increase in eficiency from petrol cars and the difference in cost between pertol and diesel, they aren't a cheap to run as they used to be. Factor in that they are more espensive to buy in the first place and you aren't going to save yourself money buying a diesel these days.

Still cheap enough for the majority of people to choose them over petrol cars. I was looking at buying a diesel Corsa rather than the petrol equivelant, but it was so much more expensive to buy the actual car, it would have been cheaper for me in the long run to just stick with the petrol model!

The amount of people (obviously who aren't being affected by the crunch) driving round in new V8 R32's is unbelievable, I must see 3 different ones everytime I walk to work.