CleanMPG Previews the 2007 Honda Civic iCDTi-S 2.2L Turbo-Diesel

Click here to read the entire review

Hi Jeff:

___Let me first say that if there was ever a vehicle made to meet your requirements, this one is possibly it.

___I believe the Insight 5-speed would have offered you the FE you have always wished for but its somewhat delicate nature would have proven to be too much of a burden imho. The HCH-I’s and II’s acceleration and braking performance(s) would have left you asking why again and again? I see your frustrations with the 8th Gen Civic EX yet it keeps asking for more. If only that 1.8 was a lean-burn … And then we have the European iCDTi equipped Civic. With its 6-speed stick, discs all-around, a truly thrashable and always leanburn running CI-ICE capable of FE to die for in a semi-lightweight Civic with performance Z’s underneath, I know you would absolutely enjoy it for years to come. Whether the build quality and total capability would meet your needs, only you would know but reading about your wants and needs this past year and a half, I can honestly say this is a machine built just for you.

___The 5-door hatch is a bit small to say it would be the platform of choice for the NA market place but in a std. LX/EX sedan, this thing would turn out to be pretty slick by all appearances.

___And to try and answer your questions? The intake uses two tuned ports with a swirl-vane in one to control the low, medium and high output modes this thing can run in. The all-in-one exhaust manifold into the variable vane turbo is probably a necessity so as to light off the Oxidation CAT and the De-NOx CAT after that just a few inches beyond the turbo as fast as humanly possible.

___What Honda does once it arrives is anybodies guess? I would like to see a Civic EX equipped with the iCDTi vs. a yet released loaded up EX-L w/ all the bells and whistles or whatever comes out of Marysville in years to come but you know Honda. Max profits and MSRP + in the first few months only to tick off their multi-generation owners until the vehicles begin to stack up like cord-wood. That is when the real behind the scenes and under the table fire sales begin. I still see Honda having a problem with installing an Auto capable of the iCDTi’s torque in a Civic and the US’ distaste for sticks boxing them in somewhat wrt this excellent turbo-diesel. Either way, it will make for an excellent platform to stave off the Toyota juggernaut for a few short years until the PHEV’s truly arrive in quantity. At least for a few that do not mind driving sticks anyway?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks for the answers. So it does have a two stage intake manifold along the same design vein as the R-18's. It makes good since to have the single port exhaust like the R-18. Many R-18 folks want to turbo them. And the single port is like custom made for those folks. Fact remains they will have to deck out the top of the block to get the R-18 to hold any true boost. I wonder if the oilier
Has a decked out block or is it open topped like the R-18? Hummm

Im going to have to look into this engine some more. It maybe nothing more than a heavy duty R-18.

psy

Wayne,

I bet You and Rich had a Great time driving those FE Vehicles.

You did a Bang up job on the Review of the Diesel Honda Civic. I wish Honda would have a 6-Speed Auto available like VW in their Diesels. The 6-Speed DSG Trans. that I drove in the VW Bug did a great job and was a pure delight in City Traffic.

I like the looks and the Performance of the Honda Diesel that is almost 3-Seconds quicker than my HCH II.

Thanks for the Excellent write-Up and Sharing of Info.

Terry (tigerhonaker)

This is a interesting mill.

http://world.honda.com/HDTV/news/2003-4030226_1a/

psy

Hi Jeff:

___There is a lot more besides the iCDTi vid including the new CAT tech chemistry coming as well. I am saving the internal structure (ceramic glow plug to help the 16.x:1 Compression ratio light off), costs and Tier II/Bin5 tech for a full blown review.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

OOOO Ok I'll stop digging and not comment until your done.

But but, I keep learning more everytime you dig.

I had a dream they actually made a diesel hybrid, but then I woke up.

Hi All:

___It looks like we may actually be able to test drive this vehicle for some real world distances and on our own daily commutes for a week plus starting either August 13 or August 21. This information came about through my contact, Ryan Eichler of Weber Shandwick, the Company in charge of the many Turbo-Diesels we saw and experienced two weeks ago in Detroit. I also asked if we could take the BMW 330d out prior to those dates but I have not received nor expect a response wrt that question so soon after firing off the “Yes, we will take it” E-Mail yet

___Jeff, I wish you and Randall lived closer as this would be a heck of a review with your commentary added afterward If either of you would have any business to be in the Chicago area about that time, fly in and I will provide the accommodations.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I think you should make a podcast of your commute and experience with this car. Pretty please xcel!

I second that request! With video footage, please!