Acura TSX to receive 54MPG diesel engine

[mustfield]

Honda sells its Accord Euro in Europe and other markets with a range of four-cylinder engines including two petrol units displacing 2.0 and 2.4L, respectively, as well as a 2.2L four-cylinder i-DTEC turbodiesel engine. The same car is set to go on sale in the U.S. as the Acura TSX but in the world’s biggest car market the new model is only available with a 201hp 2.4L petrol engine.

Honda will sell a diesel version of new Acura TSX next year complete with the latest 2.2L i-DTEC turbodiesel. Developed in conjunction with German auto parts supplier Robert Bosch, the new engine fitted in the Accord Euro returns a fuel economy rating of 54mpg on the highway, 34mpg around town, and 44mpg for the mixed cycle.

The car is no performance slouch either, as its turbocharged engine delivers a peak output of 140hp and 250lb-ft of torque. The engine meets all 50-state emissions laws in the U.S. and it doesn’t require owners to replace its filtering system with urea like some rival clean-diesel models. Honda’s patented pollution system generates its own ammonia to fulfill the same mission.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/s...-diesel-engine

[ARCANGEL]

thats a sweet engine!!

[Quickening]

So even though its extremely ugly and not the most compelling sport sedan. And from the reviews and peoples comments on the views there isn't much reason to buy it over the Accord. Well until now, that will sell like hot cakes.

[CamaroCrazy]

The door is wide open for GM to introduce their diesels to the US market. Let's not do another "late to the party" stunt if GM doesn't intro their diesels until something like 2013. I sure hope they have stuff on the planning boards for a 2010/2011 debut.

[Htay7500]

wow, hook me up!

[HoosierRon]

This appears to be a British site. If so, it probably is using Imperial gallons. If it is, it would translate to 45 miles per U.S. gallon. (A U.S. gallon is 83% of an Imperial gallon.)

[BGH]

That's close to double the fuel economy of the regular TSX and accord. I hope their isn't too much of a price hike.

[big swede]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

This appears to be a British site. If so, it probably is using Imperial gallons. If it is, it would translate to 45 miles per U.S. gallon. (A U.S. gallon is 83% of an Imperial gallon.)

I would think you're right considering in real world testing the new Honda diesel got 34mpg in mixed driving in the, even smaller Civic.

[mustfield]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

This appears to be a British site. If so, it probably is using Imperial gallons. If it is, it would translate to 45 miles per U.S. gallon. (A U.S. gallon is 83% of an Imperial gallon.)

Motor Authority is an American site. Those are American numbers. The British imperial gallon units are higher. (highway mileage = 61.4mpg, city mileage = 39mpg)

Real World Testing in America

As with other diesels I’ve driven recently, the Honda’s frugal highway mileage and versatile power are important advantages over the typical hybrid. The Accord covered the zero-to-60 run in just under 9 seconds in my testing, which doesn’t sound spectacular on paper. But its passing power from 30, 50 or even 70 miles an hour was terrific, as the Honda easily shot past slower cars.

And as more hybrid owners are discovering, their cars deliver little or no mileage gain on the highway. That’s because battery packs and electric motors add several hundred pounds, and the system also contributes negligible energy at freeway speeds.

Also unlike hybrids, which require drivers to go easy on the gas pedal, watch the speed limit and coast when possible to improve the mileage, the diesel Honda delivered brilliant economy with no special effort. Even spirited driving didn’t dent the mileage much. The Accord delivered 50 m.p.g. even during a 75-m.p.h. cruise and 40 m.p.g. when I flogged it like a Nascar yahoo.

The Acura’s only diesel telltale is an idle that’s slightly louder than a gasoline car’s, though it’s not at all obtrusive. There was no trace of diesel smell or black exhaust and except for the enormous diesel decal on the car’s side, my passengers would have been unaware that a diesel was under the hood.

[mustfield]

Originally Posted by big swede

I would think you're right considering in real world testing the new Honda diesel got 34mpg in mixed driving in the, even smaller Civic.

Check post above. In real world driving, it got 44mpg.

[genjy]

Diesel is the way to go.

Turbo + diesel... yum.

Where's my Mini Cooper D?

[big swede]

Originally Posted by mustfield

Check post above. In real world driving, it got 44mpg.

We already discussed this guy before and it seems he does the typical local car report that we all see in our Sunday paper. Those glowing reports that never even hint at anything realistic and carry on about how fantastic every car is that they write about. They have to keep the local dealers happy by giving glowing reviews on everything they report on so the local dealers will continue to supply them with cars to write about which, in turn, keeps them in a gravy job.

[zabolots]

Does the MPG advantage of a diesel justify the add'l price of motor and the fuel (last seen by me at $4.99/gal here in the Chicago burbs)? Seems unlikely to me but I haven't run the numbers.

[PhishPhood]

There is nothing definite about these numbers. They are NOT the official EPA values just road test numbers. VW just ran into the same mess with the new Jetta. The EPA numbers fell a leetle short of expectations. To be revisted soon.

Price-wise it's going to be a premium vehicle, using high-priced fuel. I'm guessing that they have very very modest expectations for it.

[jkennedy293]

With diesel supplies already tight, I wonder how much of an impact all these new diesels will have on the cost of the fuel. What good is 50mpg if diesel costs $7.00/gal