(Tue 18 Nov 08)

It's not many years since the idea of a diesel Honda of any description seemed unlikely, given chief engine designer Kenichi Nagahiro's famous distaste for the very idea. But that's all in the past now, and Honda is making a further step forward with the introduction of its first car to have both a diesel and an automatic gearbox.

The car is the Accord, which in diesel automatic saloon form will have a top speed of 129mph, combined fuel economy of 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 170g/km, and will cost from £22,400 depending on trim level. An estate version, which is slightly slower and less economical, will also be available priced from £23,700. Both cars will go on sale in January.

Honda's decision to expand the Accord range in this way is based on the need to increase the number of potential customers. "Company car tax legislation has driven much growth in diesel sales and resulted in traditional 'petrolheads' re-assessing their choice of powertrain," says Honda UK's Corporate Sales Manager Graham Avent. "For many of these drivers, the final hurdle in their transition to driving a diesel is whether or not it is available as an automatic."

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