NEW DIESEL ENGINE JOINS CIVIC LINE-UP

The Honda Civic is to get a new diesel engine from early next year.

When the new model was launched earlier this year it was offered with a choice of 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines but no diesel option.

From March 2018 the Swindon-built hatchback will be available with a heavily revised version of the previous car’s 1.6-litre diesel.

The new engine is one of the first units to be officially tested under the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) fuel consumption and emissions cycle, which comes into force this year.

While data from the current New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test is based on a theoretical driving profile, the WLTP cycle was developed using actual driving data gathered from around the world. It is therefore designed to produce results closer to a real-world driving experience.

Honda says it has made significant improvements to the engine and the exhaust system to maximise real world performance. Inhouse testing shows it offers fuel economy from 76.3 mpg and and CO2 emissions of 99g/km under the WLTP cycle.

The 1.6-litre DTEC is is also one of the first engines to be officially tested through the Real Driving Emission (RDE) procedure to validate NOX and particulate emission levels. The diesel powertrain has a new NOX Storage Converter (NSC) system with larger catalysts and a higher content of noble metals (silver, platinum and neodymium) that store nitrogen oxide gas until the regeneration cycle. A soot sensor accurately detects when the regeneration cycle is required, extending exhaust component durability.

The engine produces 118bhp and 221lb/ft of torquegetting the Civic from zero to 62 mph in 10.4 seconds.