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Honda's new diesel engine 'critical for fleet'

Date: 27 July 2012   |   Author: Hugh Hunston

Honda's new lightweight 1.6-litre diesel engine will play a "highly significant" role in the company's business car market recovery when it first appears in the Civic in December, contributing to a 30,000-unit fleet sales target during 2013, compared with 16,800 last year.

That is the bullish forecast from corporate operations manager Ed Hummel, who described the 120hp power unit, apparently capable of a 94g/km CO2 rating, as a "game changer".

Hummel was speaking at the unveiling of Honda's new more fuel-efficient and lower-emission CR-V, which will also be fitted with the company's long-awaited smaller diesel, but not until next summer, eight months after its UK autumn launch.

He said: "Although the March arrival of the 2.2-litre diesel Civic was instrumental in our 26% true fleet sales increase during the first half of this year, its smaller counterpart will be highly significant.

"When I joined last year from VW I knew that with the right strategy on true fleet business and the right engines I would be a fool to fail, and stand by my commitment to deliver 30,000 fleet cars next year.

"Honda should be on top of its respective models' fleet sectors in terms of pure fleet, almost totally minus captives, daily rental and minimal Motability."

The 1.6-litre diesel engine should account for 70% of Civic fleet sales, and having not benefitted until March from the model's first 2.2-litre diesel, Civic business car volume trebled up until the end of June.

Last year that lack of a lower medium diesel compounded by Japanese tsunami-related supply disruption led to product shortages, and Hummel said: "Most were retail models and petrol into the bargain."

He continued: "The 1.6-litre diesel will be a game changer, a serious threat to premium and mainstream rivals. It will almost certainly have a 94g/km figure, so qualifying for the first-year 100% capital allowance write-down."

Honda predicted the new, roomier 2.2-litre diesel manual CR-V in two-wheel drive form would have a 119g/km CO2 figure while the all-wheel drive counterpart should be rated at 149g/km, 30g/km lower than the current model.

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