Honda Delays TSX Diesel, V6 Almost Here

Since Honda's officials announced at the Detroit Auto Show that the Japanese carmaker plans to introduce a clean diesel engine to the United States, most people already knew that Honda actually talked about the TSX, a car model which was rumored to be launched in the last months of 2008. However, it may seem like the diesel TSX has no chances to be released in the near future due to emissions testings, according to various sources, with the automatic variant failing to pass certification.

The six-manual transmission-equipped TSX passed all emissions testings, VTEC reported today, but the automatic variant didn't pass the emissions standard. Because of that, the i-DTEC TSX “has been delayed indefinitely”, the aforementioned source added, with increasing chances to see the project canceled. “Acura believes that the demand for a TSX diesel would be greatly compromised if it were only offered with a 6-speed manual, so the decision was allegedly made to put the TSX diesel on indefinite hold,” VTEC wrote.

But even so, the V6 version may arrive anytime in the neat future, according to the same source, but still without a diesel variant that may encounter the same problems as TSX.

Honda already announced a couple of measures supposed to minimize the consequences of the global economic crisis in United States so a clean diesel variant would be pretty important for the Japanese manufacturer, especially if taking in consideration the fact that most people are interested in more fuel-efficient models. Although it is regarded as an entry-level luxury car, such a diesel would be welcomed on the North American market since the majority of clients already demanded less-powerful engines providing lower fuel consumption that most models built by American brands.