We talked about this back in January and have been hearing about it as long ago as 2005, but Honda seems set to make it official. There will be no new Accord Hybrid in their lineup. Instead the North American market will get a diesel Accord to fight the mileage wars. Honda will still develop hybrids for the Civic and "another subcompacts currently under development" according to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, but don't expect a hybrid Accord. Midsize and larger vehicles will go the oil-burner route with Honda's new clean diesels that we expect to see in 2009.
The diesel in the Accord will likely be an ultra-clean four-cylinder rumored to be in the 2.2 - 2.4L range and capable of meeting California's strict Tier II / Bin 5 standards, which are the toughest diesel emissions standards in the world. While horsepower isn't likely to match the outgoing V6 hybrid, torque and fuel mileage should be more than a match. For those that still need a little more power, Honda is also working on a diesel V6 that will first appear in the Ridgeline and then find its way into Honda's vans and SUVs. While the Germans have been advancing the acceptance of diesels for years, a mainstream player like Honda will really push the technology to the forefront in North America.
[Source: Forbes]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
paul34 @ Jun 4th 2007 2:29PM
Go go Honda! Start the diesel revolution!
Racedriven @ Jun 4th 2007 2:41PM
If that's true, that sounds great. That hybrid accord wasn't all that good and as of now, U.S. buyers don't have that many diesels to choose from, but for this to have an effect in whether or not it would go on my short list is it must meet the California's strict Tier II / Bin 5 standards which my state Massachusetts adopted.
Hopefully more diesels (Cars, Wagons and SUV) will come out for U.S. buyers, there's two bio-diesel stations in Mass and I would like to use them.
See Yeah!
Omer @ Jun 4th 2007 2:50PM
Why can't we have diesels /hybrid cars??
paul34 @ Jun 4th 2007 3:02PM
1) Companies are still trying to figure out how to effectively do mass-market, 50 state compliant diesels. The technology is there, but there's still R&D to be done to actually get it into vehicles
2) Bad image due to the disasters GM put out in the 70's.
Nick Dasko @ Jun 4th 2007 3:11PM
We will hopefully have diesel/hybrids soon. Volvo is working on a diesel hybrid C30.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/volvo-c30-hybrid-concept/
Racedriven @ Jun 4th 2007 3:23PM
Exactly, a diesel-hybrid would be great, expensive, but great, that would save alot of diesel in most major cities, cars just idling or going less than 25 miles per hour.
Mercury made a diesel-hybrid concept years ago, check it out here..
http://racedriven.blogspot.com/2005/11/automobile-news-and-notes-entitled_25.html
See Yeah!
Schmeltz @ Jun 4th 2007 2:56PM
Great to hear what sounds like an official confirmation on the Honda Accord diesel we have been hearing about for some time. As for the death of the Accord Hybrid, well it it always seemed like it was one of those things that was a good idea, but executed poorly. It would cost thousands more than a regular Accord, and only achieve a few mpg more. Toyota's Camry Hybrid achieves 38/40 mpg EPA, a milestone for a car of its size. I just don't know what Honda was thinking. Also, the car never stood out. In today's market, cars can't just be "good enough", they have to be a star, or they wind up lost in the shuffle.
paul34 @ Jun 4th 2007 3:05PM
Oh, and its funny. I never really paid attention to diesel prices before... but it can now be had for around $2.70 - whereas prices are JUST starting to fall below the $3/gal mark on gasoline.
I mean, I would'nt have cared even if it was more expensive (since you go a lot farther on a gallon of diesel anyway), but seeing that just makes me more tempted. Of course, it might not necessarily stay that way once more and more people get diesels (increase demand), but I'm sure production will also change as well.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater @ Jun 14th 2007 1:57PM
Diesel prices fluctuate with the home heating oil season.. In winter it costs more (sometimes much more) than gasoline, in summer it costs less (sometimes a lot less). I typically find diesel costing more than premium gas in winter, less than regular gas in summer.
Nick Dasko @ Jun 4th 2007 3:09PM
We will hopefully have diesel/hybrids soon. Volvo is working on a diesel hybrid C30.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/volvo-c30-hybrid-concept/
Guenther @ Jun 4th 2007 3:53PM
2009 is still along way away. I don't want to wait that long. Diesel Ridgeling might just be the ticket for me though...
Doogs @ Jun 4th 2007 4:07PM
2009 probably refers to model year. So late 2008.
roadside observer @ Jun 4th 2007 3:56PM
Who would have thought that the first casualty of the hybrid car wars would be Honda?
The Accord hybrid was admittedly a joke, since it got mileage roughly equal to the four-banger Accord. Makes you wonder why Honda even came out with it.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater @ Jun 14th 2007 2:03PM
They thought folks would like performance hybrids. The Accord Hybrid gave V6 performance at 4-cylinder efficiency, instead of giving 4-cylinder performance at micromotor efficiency.
That ultimately failed, but at least they were trying new things.
Honda's always been about the engines, trying new things. I just wish they'd apply more of their philosophy to their bikes, maybe Hossack forks, better ABS/traction control and diesel motors to completely obliterate BMW for a lower price :/
JB @ Jun 4th 2007 4:05PM
So glad to hear the good diesel news. A diesel CRV or better yet Odyssey would be a great vehicle - both would have excellent range and mileage. Also the new Pilot would benefit as well, since it uses the same engine.
Nice thing about the diesels - they should be able to be serviced for the life of the vehicle rather easily. The only new items are emissions related it seems.
I really like the idea of 750 miles per 18 gal. tank. I would even give up some performance. I hope Honda plans to offer a large capacity tank as well. Getting great mileage doesn't seem to be such a big deal if you still have to fill up all the time (even if it is filling with less gal. per tank).
Greg A. @ Jun 4th 2007 4:36PM
"...capable of meeting California's strict Tier II / Bin 5 standards..."
Won't Tier II / Bin 5 go into effect nationwide on Jan. 1, 2008?
As for the Accord Hybrid's relatively low fuel economy: Don't forget that it's quicker than the Accord V6 (if I'm not mistaken), so it must've been designed for acceleration rather than economy.
Phil L. @ Jun 4th 2007 4:46PM
Well - The Accord Hybrid has a V6, so no surprise there...
Typesbad @ Jun 4th 2007 4:55PM
I have an Isuzu Oasis, basically a rebadged first generation Honda Odyssey. With its 150 hp 2.3L 4-cyl. it was derided for being underpowered. I think those claims were a bit exagerated by our power obsessed automotive journalists, but I have always thought that a good Honda-built turbo-diesel of about the same displacement is just what that car needs.
Yes Honda - pave the way for diesel cars in the US!
Dave @ Jun 4th 2007 4:59PM
We still arent seeing any cost-effective diesels.
In recent years, VW only offered diesels in higher trim levels and now Honda will offer a Diesel in the Accord rather than the Civic or the Fit.
G Hoppa @ Jun 4th 2007 4:59PM
Yeah that’s right diesels are more efficient anyway and I am sure more cost effective to manufacture anyway.