Honda, recognizing the potential for growth in the demand for more economical diesel engines, has made public its plans to open its first automatic transmission for a diesel motor early in 2009.The latest gearbox is ready to be introduced in the newest Accord Euro, but unfortunately the automatic option for the diesel engine will not arrive in the Acura TSX saloon of North America anytime soon. Reports gathered of late asserted that plans to launch a diesel TSX gas been placed by Honda on indefinite hold. Instead, Honda is hoping to make the Accord Euro version more attractive to a fresh section of buyers overseas, specifically in the corporate market, by the inclusion of an automatic in its i-DTEC turbodiesel engine.
Honda, which began producing diesel engines only in 2004, says that the automatic gearbox has been developed within as the company didn’t want to “compromise the performance” of its engine by joining it with a non-Honda transmission.
The new five-speed unit utilizes the same straight gate arrangement and paddle shift system as observed on the Accord Euro petrol automatic earlier. CO2 discharges are rated at 170g/km in the saloon version and 173-174g/km for the Touring wagon contingent on the model grade. Fuel efficiency, in the meantime, is rated at 44.1mpg (combined) for the saloon and 42.8mpg (combined) for the Tourer.
Ceiling speed is 129 mph for the sedan and 126 mph for the wagon. Top output is rated at 134 hp (100kW) and 258lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. The fresh automatic diesel will be available for sale in Europe early next year.
The Accord i-DTEC automatic will go on sale in January 2009 priced from £22,400 (Accord 2.2 i-DTEC ES saloon) and £23,700 (Accord 2.2 i-DTEC ES Tourer).
Now, let's hope that they can perfect this transmission so they can hit emission's standards here in North America and if the moon and the stars align....maybe,.....just maybe......
Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-accord-i-dtec-receives-automatic-transmission/
