Honda’s been slow to bring a small capacity turbocharged diesel engine to market, but now that it has, it wants to convince the rest of the world of its qualities.
The number one priority for the 1.6-liter 120 PS i-DTEC engine is to be efficient, so they’re taking it on a 8,500-mile drive across Europe to prove just how frugal it is.
The 13,670 km journey will take the Civic Tourer diesel across 24 of the 28 member states of the European Union, setting off in Aalast, Belgium, with the aim of returning there 25 days later. Countries they’re not reaching are the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta.
The journey kicks off June 1st and Honda aims to gain a Guinness World Record by completing it. It’s “based on strict and rigorous guidelines, the record attempt will have the car enter each of the 24 countries specified, collecting a range of evidence including a fuel/mileage logbook, GPS readings, video, photographs and independent witness signatures to prove that it has done so.”
It’s not particularly clear what the record entails, but it’s called “Lowest Fuel Consumption – all 24 contiguous EU countries.”
The drivers for the task are two Honda R&D colleagues Fergal McGrath and Julian Warren. They will be taking turns at the wheel, driving 7.5 hours per turn.
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