Acura Nixes Diesel and Horsepower Battle, Plans to Focus on Fuel Efficiency With Power

Washington DC August 19, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that according to AOL's Autoblog.com, in typical Honda fashion, its premium Acura division will take a different path and has decided not to get sucked into a power race with its rivals.

Acura had already made clear its intent to shelve plans for a larger V8 engine and a rear wheel drive platform. Product planning manager John Watts told Automotive News that the brand will instead focus on doing what needs to happen to meet the 2016 fuel economy standards which will be "tough."

Acura's decision seems to run counter to some competitors such as BMW that are introducing new hybrid systems paired with even more powerful V8 engines. American Honda has not been specific about how it plans to meet the new regulations, but with plans to introduce diesel engines in the U.S. market also shelved, hybrid seems the likely path.

Honda has acknowledged developing a next-generation hybrid system which will be applicable to larger vehicles. Weight reductions and technologies like direct injection and more turbocharging will likely play a part as well.