Honda promises the next Civic, due in 2012, will have CO
2 emissions of 110g/km thanks to its revised 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine and slippery bodywork.
That means zero VED in the first year and, at current rates, £20 per year after that. Company car drivers will also benefit from lower tax, but the Japanese firm has yet to publish exact mpg figures.
Honda's engineers reduced friction within the 2.2-litre diesel engine and cut losses from oil circulation. There's also a stop-start system, which is said to be worth a saving of five g/km on its own. As well as the emissions reduction, the new i-DTEC unit has an additional 10bhp over its predecessor with an output of 148bhp and 258lb.ft.
Refining the engine is only part of the solution to cutting emissions. Work has been carried out to reduce drag and improve aerodynamic stability.
The latest video, showing the new Civic's low emissions technology, can be seen at
www.honda.co.uk/newcivic. The Civic will be unveiled at the
Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
John Lambert - 15 Aug 2011
