2009 Honda Accord Diesel

By Leroy Brown on June 4th, 2007

Word on the street ( and by street, I mean Interweb ) is that there will be no Accord Hybrid based on the new bodystyle. Instead, Honda is going to release a first - a mainstream diesel powered sedan. Yes, I know that VW has had diesels for years, but they’re not exactly mainstream in the same way that Honda is. There has never been a *major* diesel sedan here in the US. Europe has had a diesel Accord for years - a 138 HP 2.2 liter diesel powers that one.

If Honda does go through with this, and release a diesel powered Accord here, then chances are that it will be a slightly larger, more powerful engine. American folks just aren’t accustomed to 138 HP midsize sedans, and that might kill sales. If they bump power into the 160 HP range, then the car will have a much higher chance of success. The best part about the diesel is that it may even get better real world mileage than the current Accord Hybrid.

What I’d love to see is a 4 cylinder Accord Hybrid, as well as an Accord Diesel. Then we’ll have two fantastic choices for great fuel economy - one catered to city driving ( the hybrid ) and the other to highway ( the diesel ). Toyota has had so much success with their Camry Hybrid, it almost seems foolish for Honda to abandon this market.

Categories: Future Vehicles, Honda

9 Responses to “ 2009 Honda Accord Diesel”

NSX-R on Aug 30th, 2007 at 11:49 pm

YAH, I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THE DIESEL ENGINES. I HEAR THAT HONDA WILL SUPPLY THE RIDGELINE W/ A 3.5L V6 DIESEL IN THE MEER FUTURE.
Leroy Brown on Sep 3rd, 2007 at 9:47 am

The Ridgeline desperately needs a diesel. As it sits, the RL gets, by far, the worst gas mileage of any vehicle in Honda’s lineup. It really doesn’t fit with Honda’s “Green” image. A high-mileage diesel engine would change that around quite nicely.
Andrew on Sep 11th, 2007 at 9:00 am

With a diesel it’s not the HP it’s the torque. That 138Hp (2.2 litre 4 cylinder) engine has over 250 250lb-ft of torque. Have a look at any V6 on the market today and this engine is right with them. BMW has a 2.0 litre diesel that makes 205Hp and about 300lb-ft of torque, oh ya and gets 55 MPG in their 1 series in Europe. Besides Americans like big torque.

Andrew M
Ontario Canada
NSX-R on Sep 11th, 2007 at 10:34 am

YOU ARE ABSOLUTLY RIGHT, I JUST CURIOUS IF THEY WOULD DROP ONE IN THE S2000 OR A CIVIC MAYBE EVEN THE FIT. BUT ANYWAY I HOPE THEY FOLLOW THIS PATH. LOOKS LIKE A BRIGHT FUTURE.
Lee on Feb 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 am

No offense, but I see here the same old misconception: Diesel does not have enough HP. As Andrew pointed out, what we don’t understand here in US is that it’s the low-end torque that matters. My brother has a 7 passenger van in Germany with a 1.9L Diesel. Everybody would scoff at that here, but believe me, when it takes off at the green light, it beats my 2.4L Accord easily. A 2.2L diesel on an Accord would be a very potent engine, with amazing gas mileage too. To have success, Honda does not need a bigger diesel engine, it just needs to bring it here quicker
Leroy Brown on Feb 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 am

Lee you’re right - the low HP in the Accord diesel ( 138 ish ) wouldn’t be a problem performance-wise, with the outstanding torque. The problem would lie in perception. The general public would see 138 HP and cringe, because they’re used to 170+ in midsize sedans. Whether it performs similarly or not won’t matter, because people won’t give it a chance.

Hopefully in a few years perceptions can change, and we can get our hands on a small, crazy efficient diesel.
Benny D on May 16th, 2008 at 7:56 am

First, a comment on the actual article.
Accord did make a Hybrid. We all saw it at some point. However, after a one-generation run, Honda cut it, stating that hybrid technology works better on smaller cars. That’s completely true, because Honda doesn’t have to work on pumping up the power of the electric motor to meet stupid HP demands of the public.
2) I hope to god Honda never drops a diesel in an S2000. That would be the stupidest thing in creation. (no offense) Even though honda has made a Diesel engine that has great pickup and great throttle response, unless they made an incredibly nimble and quick diesel engine that was also light, a diesel engine in a S2000 wouldn’t work. It’s like giving a kid steroids; too much power for too small a frame. Also, Honda is considering killing off the S2000 when they advent the car to replace the NSX, a 2+2 GT
Leroy Brown on May 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

Benny:
I know there was an Accord Hybrid - on the previous body style. The article stated that there won’t be a new body style Accord Hybrid. FWIW, the Accord Hybrid could have been insanely successful, if only Honda had paired the IMA system with the 4 cylinder, instead of the V6. Midsize hybrids work great - see the Camry hybrid for proof.
NSX-R on May 18th, 2008 at 10:53 pm

lol I understand what you are saying about the setbacks for a diesel powered sports car. What I was saying that a ideal concept diesel in a s2000 will achieve a low end torque which could possibly shed some time from 0-60 in the s2000, also increasing mpg, power, and efficiency without increasing displacement. Also considering how well the f-series motor is design that a possible diesel high performance engine will only compliment the s2000 in the acceleration, mpg, efficiency and power of course major factors would have to be carefully designed which Honda always does. Which the power of the diesel can be seen in the euro version 5 door hatchback civic which uses 2.2 i-CTDi diesel which acheives a 251lbs ft of torque @ 2000 rpms with a 0-60 in just 7.6 seconds.

The new 2010 or 2011 NSX might be priced like the original NSX 90k unless they want to compete with the GTR in price.

But looking at the new nissan 370z Honda just might kill the s2000 for something better. They should just replace the inline 4 with a 3.5l v6, increase the wheel base and length etc.

Also Honda was using a cut up s2000 as a test mule for their future 550hp 5.0L v-10 powerplant for the NSX. I can’t wait to see the new redesigned NSX. Suppositly it will resemble the look of the z06, but who knows what they might do.

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