Honda recently added a new 1.6L i-DTEC engine to the Civic hatchback range in South Africa. The new four cylinder diesel engine boasts of ultra-low emission figures and has a class leading fuel economy and torque figure.
As we have been telling our readers, the new 1.6L i-DTEC diesel engine from Honda is the lightest oil burner in its segment and weighs almost 47 kg lesser than Honda’s 2.2L i-DTEC engine. The new engine might be lower on displacement, but has high performance figures due to the new Earth Dreams Technology.
The new engine has been designed keeping the European market in mind and the motor is built at Honda’s European manufacturing facility in Swindon. The new purpose built diesel engine line in thie above manufacturing facility is capable of producing up to 500 diesel engines per day!
Honda says that the new engine has reduced mechanical friction and this can be gauged from the fact that at 1,500rpm, the 1.6L i-DTEC has almost 40% less mechanical friction than the 2.2L i-DTEC diesel engine. The lower friction enables the engine to have reduced emissions, improved fuel efficiency and improved driveability.
The 1.6 litre iDTEC motor comes mated to an all-new lightweight 6 speed transmission system that is 7 kgs lighter than the 2.2 litre iDTEC’s transmission.
The Executive Civic hatchback, which gets the new engine option, comes loaded with leather and heated seats, rain sensing wipers, auto headlights and reverse camera.
The Civic hatchback with 1.6l i-DTEC engine retails at R299,900.