Honda's Green (Diesel) Machine

摘要

HONDA MOTOR CO. HAS long sought to prove if s the greenest of automakers. In 1999 the company became the first major car manufacturer to launch a hybrid in the U.S., the Insight, and it has been a leader in developing fuel-efficient-and peppy-engines. But in recent years, archrival Toyota Motor Corp. has stolen the green mantle from Honda with its popular Prius and other hybrids. Now Honda is trying to take it back. Its technology of choice: the stinky old diesel engine. Or make that a not-so-stinky new diesel. By 2009, Honda plans to sell "clean diesels" in the U.S. These cars will likely go some 30 percent farther per gallon than gasoline models. The 2.2CTDi diesel-powered Honda Civic, sold now in Britain, delivers 43 miles per gallon in town and 55.4 mpg in combined city-highway driving. The hybrid Civic manages only 50 mpg in combined driving, while a gas Civic averages 33 mpg. "We're leading the way to cleaner diesel engines," says Honda Chief Executive Takeo Fukui.