NEW YORK – After Acura displayed its new i-DTEC 2.2L four-cylinder diesel engine at the Detroit Auto Show and announced it would debut in a US market Acura model in 2009, speculation immediately began about which model would be selected. The speculation is over with Honda’s announcement it will tap the TSX as its first American diesel.
The entry-level sedan in the Acura lineup is a re-badged version of the European market Honda Accord. The Euro Accord is smaller than the similarly badged car built and sold in the United States. The Euro Accord has been available with an older diesel engine for several years that has never been offered in the US market TSX.
The 2009 European Accord will debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4, 2008 and the 2009 TSX will arrive on US shores two weeks later at the New York Auto Show. It’s unknown at this time if Honda will confirm the diesel powertrain in New York or wait until a later date. At this time only a single photo is available.
The new TSX has significantly more aggressive styling than the current model and features a similar grille to the recently announced 2009 Acura RL
Later this year, Acura will also reveal a redesigned mid-size TL sedan with a similar look.
This column was written by Sam Abuelsamid of DieselForecast.Com
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