Diesel, Tourer versions of Accord Euro delayed

BUYERS looking for diesel power or the wagon variant of the new Honda Accord Euro will need to be patient because neither is expected to come to Australia for quite some time.

Diesel engine capacity is currently restricted because they are only produced in Japan, but a new diesel engine is under construction in the UK and should be in full swing by early 2009, which will help global supply.

Honda Australia senior director Lindsay Smalley said that new managing director Yasuhide Mizuno is a strong advocate for diesel for the Australian market and is therefore pushing to get the all-new 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine launched in Europe.

On the wagon front, Mr Smalley said it will be at least the end of 2010, when a model refresh is introduced, before an Accord Euro Tourer could be considered for Australia.

Beside the fact that wagons represent only a small niche opportunity in the local medium- car market, there is a technical issue with the international ISOFIX child seat anchorage system in the Euro and the engineering program required to make it conform to the unique Australian Design Rules is far from the top of Honda’s priority list with the new model.

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