Swindon to assemble new engine

Honda has announced that its Swindon plant will begin assembling the 2.2-litre four-cylinder, all-aluminium diesel engine launched earlier this year in the Accord before the end of 2005.

The new engine will be offered as an option in the in the revised CR-V, production of which will soon to start at the plant. Initial supplies of the turbodiesel will come fully assembled from Japan.

The Swindon factory already builds 1.4, 1.6 and two-litre petrol engine for the CR-V and Civic and installs imported Isuzu 1.7-litre diesel units in Civic models.

Of the 120,000 CR-Vs built at Swindon a year, nearly half will be diesel models in 2005.