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Honda's new 2.2 i-CDTi SE sounds like great value; it comes stuffed with plenty of equipment and fine 2.2 turbodiesel engine - designed by the same bloke who invented the legendary VTEC system.

The price? A bargain bucket £18,600 which, when you compare spec-for-spec, stacks up mightily well against established rivals like Ford's Mondeo and the Renault Laguna.

There's just one problem. Honda is referring to it in is literature as the 'Price Fighter' specification, which is about as sexy as calling it the 'Happy Shopper Exclusive Edition'. No, Honda. No.

Still, if you're put off by the daft name, there's also the new Sport GT model. It also uses the 2.2 turbodiesel, but looks a bit sportier thanks to 17in alloys, dark chrome grille and door handles, boot spoiler, carbon-effect interior inserts, and the option of racy White Pearl paint.

Better than that, you won't have to hang your head when you tell people about it down the pub.

You can buy the Sport GT from September 1 for £20,767.

Ярлыки: Honda

In what may signal a major strategy shift by Honda, the Japanese automaker will phase out the gas-electric version of its Accord next year and replace it with a clean diesel, according to the Nikkei.
The move is expected to reflect Honda's future emphasis on clean diesels, in contrast to Toyota's focus on hybrids. The report says Honda will offer clean diesel options in its CR-V and Odyssey minivan as well.

In North America, Honda apparently will only offer hybrid systems in its smallest vehicles, including the Civic and a Fit-based subcompact car.

Inside Line has learned from supplier sources that the upcoming Accord diesel is likely to be a torquey 2.5-liter unit that gets 45 mpg on the highway and is inspired by diesels from Fiat and Renault. Honda is also said to be working on multiple-displacement diesels for the U.S. market. The move toward diesels by Honda is seen as a very significant step that may ultimately rewrite the book on diesels, since Honda is widely viewed as a leader in powertrain engineering. The Accord diesel is also expected to help Honda regain sales momentum that it has lost to Toyota in the alt-fuel fight.

The Accord Hybrid puts a premium on performance above fuel economy and is priced nearly $4,000 more than a conventional model. The automaker sold approximately 5,600 Accord Hybrid models last year, compared with more than 31,000 hybrid Civics. Toyota sold nearly 107,000 Prius hybrids in 2006.

Ярлыки: Honda