Honda Motor Europe has announced a comprehensively revised 120PS 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine for its Civic range from March 2018, tested under new real world procedures.
The new engine was 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 familiar 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 said it had made significant improvements to the engine and the exhaust system to maximise real world performance. The efficiency enhancements result in fuel economy and CO2 emissions starting from 76.3 mpg and 99g/km under the WLTP cycle.
Improvements include a reduction in cylinder friction, thanks to pistons made from highly durable chromium-molybdebnum steel alloy, as well as ‘super plateau honing’ of the bores to enable smoother piston movement.
The 1,597cc engine uses the same Bosch fuel injection system as before and features a small, high-efficiency turbocharger, low-pressure EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system and a high intake flow, high swirl cylinder head port. A high strength, lightweight slender crankshaft and all aluminium, open-deck, high pressure, die cast engine block minimise the engine’s weight. Additional cast ribs have been added to the cylinder block to increase structural rigidity and, consequently, improve the management of noise, vibration and harshness.
The 1.6 i-DTEC was also one of the first engines to be officially tested through the Real Driving Emission (RDE) procedure to validate NOx and particulate emission levels. It 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.
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By GlobalDataThe engine produces 120PS at 4,000 rpm and 300Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm, powering the Civic from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in 10.4 seconds.
Assembled at Honda of the UK Manufacturing in Swindon, the revised engine will be available in both the four-door and five-door variants of the recently launched 10th-generation Civic.
A nine speed automatic transmission will further boost the Civic’s powertrain options in mid-2018, its first application in a two wheel drive car.
