As we draw nearer and nearer to the Frankfurt Motor Show, which will open its gates to the public in about a month’s time, carmakers are starting to reveal more details about the models they will unveil at the IAA.

Honda, which has already shown us photos and a video of a heavily camouflaged version of the all-new European market Civic hatchback that will be built exclusively at its Swindon UK factory, today revealed that one of the available engines in its lineup will be an ultra-frugal and clean 2.2-liter turbodiesel.

The revised 2.2-liter i-DTEC engine produces 150-horses, 10 more ponies than the outgoing model’s 2.2L CDTi unit. At the same time, CO2 emissions are down 29g/km to 110 g/km, 29 g/km.

This has been achieved by cutting friction in the engine’s moving parts, making aerodynamic refinements to the bodywork and fitting an auto stop-start system as standard in the manual gearbox-equipped models, which itself lowers CO2 emissions by 5 g/km.

“To achieve a good CO2 figure, you need to optimise every aspect of the car,” said Katsushi Watanabe, Development Leader for the engine. “Reducing the emissions was our key target and we’re proud to say that we have achieved this without compromising the high performance character of the engine. We want our customers to have fun when they drive this car.”

CIVIC FACTS

  • This is the ninth generation Civic
  • The first Civic was launched in 1972
  • Over 20 million Civics have been sold globally
  • Over 650,000 have been sold in UK
  • The eighth generation Civic went on sale in January 2006
  • Over 170,000 of the eighth generation Civic have been sold in the UK
  • The Civic range is produced in 14 countries and regions and sold in approximately 160 world markets
  • Civic production was brought to the UK in 1994

KEY DATES

  • August-September – Further information packs released
  • 12 September – Preview party/viewing in Frankfurt
  • 13 September – Global unveil at Frankfurt Motor Show
  • November – Pan-European test drive event
  • December/January – New Civic on press fleet
  • Early 2012 – New Civic on sale in UK

VIDEO

PHOTO GALLERY