Honda completes new diesel engine plant, U.S. still doesn't get them
Accord tourer -Click for a high res gallery
Honda still doesn't plan to offer American drivers the opportunity to buy its diesel engines, even as premium Acuras. Nonetheless, the automaker has just completed construction of a new factory in Ogawa, Japan to produce blocks and other castings for its four-cylinder diesel engines. The machining equipment is now being installed and and production of components is expected to begin in the fall. Not only are the engines efficient in operation, but Honda has also designed the new plant to reduce CO2 emissions from the casting operations by 40 percent and 25 percent from the machining lines.
The diesel engines are installed into Japanese-built Accords for the European market (twin to our Acura TSX) as well as being shipped to England for installation into CR-Vs and Civics. It's a shame that we won't get a chance to try out this engine here anytime soon, because Americans would likely appreciate the 40+ mpg efficiency and high torque characteristics of these engines.
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Honda Constructs New Lower CO2 Diesel Engine Production Facility
Honda has just celebrated the completion of a new engine plant to supply cylinder blocks and casting parts for its diesel engines in European models. The manufacturing facility, at Ogawa in Japan, will start production in autumn this year, following the installation and testing of machines and equipment.
Ogawa is the latest environmentally-responsible Honda manufacturing facility. It has been designed to decrease the amount of CO2 generated in the production of each engine by 40 per cent during the casting process, and by 25 per cent in the machining phase. The plant has only one production line, but this 'Advanced Flexible Line' can produce eight different types of engine, including the most sophisticated low-emission units.
Honda currently produces diesel engine cylinder blocks at its Suzuka factory in Japan, and will gradually transfer the casting and machining process of engine parts to the new Ogawa plant. The new Ogawa plant will then supply diesel engine parts to the Sayama factory, to go into the Accord for the European market. It will also supply diesel engine parts for Honda's factory in the UK at Swindon, which produces the Civic and CR-V models.
The completion ceremony at the new Ogawa engine plant took place on 10 April, 2009, and was attended by Shigeru Nakajima, Deputy GM of Industry and Employment at Saitama Prefecture Government, as well as Kihei Kasahara, the Mayor of Ogawa town and several Honda executives.
Editor's notes:
Outline of Ogawa Engine Plant
Location : Ogawa-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Site area : approximately 195,000 m2
Capacity : 200,000 units/year at maximum capacity (expected to produce about 20,000 units in the first few months)
Start-up: Autumn 2009
Investment: Approximately 45 billion yen
Employees: Approximately 500 at maximum production.
i-DTEC
The i-DTEC is a diesel engine from Honda that builds and improves on the performance, fuel economy and emission efficiency of the award-winning i-CTDi diesel engine (as seen in Civic, CR-V and FR-V). The i-DTEC engine is all-aluminium, transversely mounted, with 4-cylinders, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, a variable nozzle turbocharger and a second order balancer shaft. The i-DTEC currently powers the latest Accord model in Europe.
Honda's diesel engine block is cast from 'semi-solid' aluminium alloy. This semi-solid casting requires complex manufacturing, and enables the production of a strong, rigid cylinder block with closed-deck configuration to reduce noise and vibration and deliver smoother performance.
Honda has just celebrated the completion of a new engine plant to supply cylinder blocks and casting parts for its diesel engines in European models. The manufacturing facility, at Ogawa in Japan, will start production in autumn this year, following the installation and testing of machines and equipment.
Ogawa is the latest environmentally-responsible Honda manufacturing facility. It has been designed to decrease the amount of CO2 generated in the production of each engine by 40 per cent during the casting process, and by 25 per cent in the machining phase. The plant has only one production line, but this 'Advanced Flexible Line' can produce eight different types of engine, including the most sophisticated low-emission units.
Honda currently produces diesel engine cylinder blocks at its Suzuka factory in Japan, and will gradually transfer the casting and machining process of engine parts to the new Ogawa plant. The new Ogawa plant will then supply diesel engine parts to the Sayama factory, to go into the Accord for the European market. It will also supply diesel engine parts for Honda's factory in the UK at Swindon, which produces the Civic and CR-V models.
The completion ceremony at the new Ogawa engine plant took place on 10 April, 2009, and was attended by Shigeru Nakajima, Deputy GM of Industry and Employment at Saitama Prefecture Government, as well as Kihei Kasahara, the Mayor of Ogawa town and several Honda executives.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike!!ekiM 7:22PM (4/24/2009)
You know what would be Good?
If Honda build a Diesel-Hybrid!
They could then effectively compete with the Prius.
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MemphisNET 6:25PM (4/24/2009)
The oil-burner I can live without... but come'on, give us the Wagon!
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Andy 9:57PM (4/24/2009)
I hear they canceled the US plans because they couldn't get their design to meet emissions. So I bought the Jetta TDI, which btw is a mess of fun to drive! I'm on my first tank though so can't tell you my mpg yet.
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Rich 6:53AM (4/25/2009)
We just bought the Jetta TDI also. It's my wife's car but on the trips I take I've avg anywhere from 43mpg to 50mpg on each trip.
We were waiting for the diesel accord but when they canceled it in the US we started looking at hybrids and the TDI and bought the VW.
The Honda Insight, and hybrid civic were disappointing.
After driving Honda for many many years we may never buy another Honda again. Toyota beat them to the hybrid and now Honda does not offer a diesel for US. The Prius is a great hybrid. Makes the Civic Hybrid and Insight look like high school projects.
Rajame 12:19AM (4/25/2009)
Dear Honda - Have driven nothing but Honda's for 18 years. Have been waiting for the CR-V in diesel for 3 years. Have been reading about it awards in - every place but here - for at least that long. Will go elsewhere for my next vehicle. Give me a good diesel engine. Want a good engine that does not take a an electrical enmgineer to fix.
From what I have read from Europe, South Africa and Australia the diesels have been doing better than your hybrids here. What gives? How about one that can run on B100. Now that would be green!!!!!!
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Steve-O 7:55AM (4/25/2009)
Awwww, come on Honda!
Look at those Jetta TDIs FLYING off the lot! And your vehicles are generally better than theirs so you COULD sell them here!
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Steve-O 7:59AM (4/25/2009)
No offense to you Jetta owners BTW, not knocking them. The Jetta TDI and sportwagon look awesome, more of a comment on the VW gasoline powertrains there.
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Andy 1:58PM (4/25/2009)
Yes, I love how my Sportwagon looks! Great design.
I've been warned from all sources about VW reliability. I expect that will cost me in resale value, but not in the short term. The wagons are still selling around $3000 over MSRP because they are so rare. Deals are to be had on the sedans though due to better supply and the stuttering economy.
Steve-O 2:04PM (4/25/2009)
Yeah, I see that. I would really like when but when ecery other car selling 20% below sticker or more these days it's hard to justify sticker for any vehicle. But you would think other manufacturers would be following VW's lead on this here in the USA.
Snowdog 8:52AM (4/25/2009)
I would definitely be more interested in a Honda Diesel than a VW (reliability ???) diesel.
But the only vehicle they were going to bring to North America was a Acura TSX diesel which in Canada already starts at $10000 more than a Jetta. Blowing it out of my price range before you even add the diesel premium.
It would have to be in a Civic or even Fit before it would be in my price range. But there would be less pricing cushion to try and bury the diesel premium in.
In the end though, this looks like it will be a VW only game. Other manufactures have little incentive to spend the R&D for a share of the tiny diesel niche.
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Gordio 12:30PM (4/25/2009)
That's the biggest reason for me too. Why can't they release the manual TSX...only the automatic failed. c'mon! That can wait.
diffrunt 10:23AM (4/25/2009)
drive a jetta tdi & you will probably buy it. Can,t wait to test the GTD & Golf TDI! even though I,ve owned mostly GM for 5o yrs.
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bioman 5:23PM (4/25/2009)
I guess I won't be buying a Honda soon. My next car will be a diesel 4X4.
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jharlan 2:33PM (4/25/2009)
I have to agree totally with you TDI guys. I have been a Honda supporter and have owned 3 of their cars, but I am just disappointed in Honda .
I sure like what the Germans are doing. I like the idea of a usable sized, comfortable, roomy, excellent performing car getting better mileage than any non hybrid econobox. I think they hear what the market really wants and are cashing in. That's the way the system is supposed to work. Produce what the people want, not what you think will be best for them.
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ryan 7:05PM (4/25/2009)
Just lost four grand on my investment into my Jetta TDI. Drove the car twice before it died. Shouldn't have bought it at auction. Shouldn't have bought a VW in the first place.
I am still a proponent of diesel, but won't be getting a non-Japanese oil burner ever again. Bring them on Honda!
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Sean 6:35PM (5/26/2009)
I wont buy another Honda without a Diesel engine. In fact I might just fix my car indefinitely. I drive a 1997 VW PASSAT TDI and love it, however it is falling apart around the engine. I have 160k miles on it and expect the engine to go another 190k miles. I still get 42 MPG and that is because my timing is off. Next time I get the timing belt replaced I will make sure it is done better and expect my 53 MPG to come back; like when I first bought it.
My wife has a 2005 Honda Pilot we enjoy it, and I was excited when I thought Honda was going to drop a Diesel in it. I planned to buy two of them but to no avail.
HONDA GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND BRING DIESELS TO THE USA. Forget about California....
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Joe Swintosky 2:32PM (7/09/2009)
The diesel in my Element would make it my perfect vehicle. PLEASE Honda!
fourpastmidnight 8:57AM (8/06/2009)
Too bad. I was really looking forward to a diesel Accord here in the US. Now I just might have to go elsewhere for diesel. A real shame, cause I love Honda's Accord--it's cabin, interior, control placement, and of course, the Accord's superb handling on the road. Alas, if they won't deliver in the US, I'll have to buy someone else's car. It's time for Honda to take a risk, or risk losing a significant amount of customers.
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lwdeboer 1:58AM (10/12/2009)
Honda bites it on this
In England no one buys a Honda Gasser. So I went on the list for an Accord diesel. I've driven diesels all through Europe. Our Accord Hybrid is absolutely great, My Mercedes Diesels I have had both the 5 cylinder Wagon and a 190 D have been great but there have been significant quality issues in Mercedes in the past- look at Consumers' Reports and look at all the red dots Mercedes has earned..
Why is Honda holding out on the USA market. Do they have something holding up the works?? Does their management need some training in letting loose of Great things.
Honda had great quality but bad bad bad management. Add it up and great and bad equal Bad. I'll have to get a Jetta Sport Wagen even though it is not the Honda that I want.
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ezalg54 7:51PM (10/12/2009)
Honda, it's ok if you don't think you have what it takes to take on VW & Benz in the USA with diesels! We understand. It's ok. Even though I thought I would try one of those TSX Diesels, I know that you have lost your nerve and backed down, I will go ahead and try one of those VW Sportwagon TDI's. No problem Honda, if you can't do it, VW can!