Honda introduces tiny new 1.6L high-performance diesel

So far, Honda has not said whether this tiny powerhouse will be coming to North America, but its introduction will certainly shake up the popular diesel movement in Europe. The little 1.6-liter i-DTEC puts out 120 PS and 300 Nm of torque while outputting only 95 g/km of CO2.

The tiny displacement and high output of the engine means that it will be setting bechnmarks on all fronts. The engine will be built at Honda's Swindon, United Kingdom plant for European distribution in the 2013 Civic and will be running along the production line alongside the larger 2.2L i-DTEC already being offered. Later in 2013, the new 1.6L diesel will be offered in the CR-V crossover and may see more model proliferation in 2014 and beyond.

The new engine is the lightest diesel in its class (measured by output) with engineering meant to not only reduce size, but drop weight through small changes to various components. It's aluminum cylinder head and block lightens the load considerably, dropping 47kg when compared to the 2.2L engine. Cylinder wall thickness is 8mm, versus the 9mm in the 2.2, and lighter pistons and connection rods have been used. Advanced production techniques and new component designs allow for the smaller sizes and new metallurgy without compromising function or strength.

Reducing mechanical friction was a big part of the 1.6L i-DTEC's design. Less friction means not only better efficiency, but fewer problem points that can reduce the robust nature of a diesel engine. The result is 40% less friction in the 1.6L versus the 2.2L - putting the smaller engine on par with gasoline engines of the same size in terms of friction loss.

A new, fourth-generation Garrett turbocharger uses a variable nozzle design which allows for precise rotational speed control to minimize turbo lag and give optimal low- and mid-range performance. To go with this is a Bosch solenoid injection system capable of operating at up to 1800bar, which allows for higher fuel pressures for better injection rates and a finer fuel atomization in the spray. All of this leads to better fuel:air mixing and better burn, which in turn means higher efficiency and lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The 2013 Honda Civic with this new 1.6L i-DTEC engine will achieve a European combined fuel efficiency of 78.5 mpg at an emissions rate of only 94g/km of CO2.