Honda, Toyota Plan To Develop Diesel Engines

Japanese carmakers Honda and Toyota plan to develop diesel engines for their passenger cars even as rivals like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai spend more on building and marketing diesel cars to keep pace with demand.

Honda, which has only petrol cars in India, is developing a small diesel engine for the Indian market, while Toyota will soon roll out a diesel version of Corolla Altis, making it its first diesel-driven passenger car in India.

“We feel the need to develop a diesel engine,” said Jnaneswar Sen, vice president (marketing), Honda Siel. He pointed out that more than half the vehicles sold in Europe are diesel. The company is yet to decide the timeline for the launch and which cars it will power.

Toyota, which sells only diesel versions of its utility vehicles and SUVs such as Innova and Fortuner in the country, has 90 per cent of sales coming from diesel cars. “While diesel is cleaner advanced technology, gasoline will also be important for us,” said Sandeep Singh, deputy MD (sales and marketing) of Toyota Kirloskar Motors.

Maruti Suzuki, which sells 60 per cent of its popular Swift, Dzire and Ritz cars in diesel versions, plans to roll out smaller diesel cars, using Fiat’s 700cc engine. Three out of every four cars that Maruti Suzuki sells is petrol-driven. Maruti, which sources diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat, also plans to get 1.6 litre and 2 litre engines. Its main rival Hyundai Motor is considering making diesel engines

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monster - 5/20/2010 2:03:40 PM

+2 Boost

Why don't we have cheap diesel cars in US? Why is it that US always get the technology last. If there were any Honda, Nissan or Toyota diesel car, I would get that in a heart beat.

pepito66 - 5/20/2010 2:07:55 PM

-3 Boost

At the end they have to follow German rules , diesel models like Mercedes,BMW and Audi let see what happens next....What is the point of the hybrid cars if the price of the battery pack is too high and we also need to refuel with gas ?? Do you think about that.
Sound better the option of complete ELECTRIC car but will see when they are ready to hit the market. This is not a new option but they hold and hold...

91z4me - 5/20/2010 2:58:12 PM

-3 Boost

Isn't the Nissan Leaf hitting the market soon?

mpls - 5/20/2010 2:46:48 PM

+5 Boost

No true,

BMW and Mercedes are also developing Hybrids, thought they are far behind the Japanese..
The japanese are covering their bases because like the artticle says Diesels accound for over half European new car sales..
In regards to hybrid, the new Toyota Auris Hybrid has a 1.8 litre petrol engine with electric motors, giving it 2.0 diesel like performance whilst still acheiving a claimed diesel like economy of 74mpg..

mpls - 5/20/2010 2:48:13 PM

0 Boost

I read that Honda are still currently scpetical about pure electric due to their limited range..
I like the idea of hydrogen fuel cell..

nguyenvuminh - 5/21/2010 2:44:01 AM

+3 Boost

European car companies are supplementing their historically strong diesel line up with soon-to-arrive hybrid models. Now Japanese companies are supplementing their historically strong hybrid line up with future diesel models. Both are trying to address i) future gas price shocks ii) regulatory pressure of higher fuel economy and improved emission standards (aka green movement) and iii) unique preference between the two large auto markets of US and Europe. So where does that leave the American and Korean car companies which don't have historical strength in either one of these two technologies? Even Ford Europe is not known for their diesel models. I can't help but think American car companies will survive only in N America while both Europe and Japanese continuing to expand their footprint in N America with broadening portfolio of technologies while defending their home markets with their historical strengths.

truckman - 5/21/2010 9:00:54 PM

+2 Boost

I was tempted to buy the VW Golf wagon TDI, but VW's quality is so bad I bought a Civic, I would be interested in Honda'a new diesel. The reason we don't have the diesels here is because we like to collect gas tax in Canada. Almost none of the gas tax goes to maintaining and building roads.

truckman - 5/22/2010 3:20:52 AM

+3 Boost

I meant I was looking at the Jetta wagon, not a Golf...