Leaving behind a cleaner air and bluer skies

THE NEW City is Honda’s first vehicle in its lineup to be locally certified to comply with Euro 4-level emission standards.

AUTOMAKERS and vehicle emissions standard enforcers often make a tricky dance routine. As automakers continue to create their next fun-to-drive and dependable machines, the enforcers must make sure these rides conform to their ever tough standards.

And there are reasons for doing so: In United States alone, transportation has been identified as the largest single source of air pollution, contributing more than half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons emitted into our air.

This air pollution carries significant risks for human health and the environment.

The World Health Organization reported that air pollution has become a major environmental risk to health, and by reducing air pollution levels, countries can reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.

Moreover, outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012.

The same agency said that the lower the levels of air pollution, the better the cardiovascular and respiratory health of the population will be, both long- and short-term.

Stunning progress

Consumer demand for better products and the ingenuity of the global electrical, chemical, mechanical and financial engineering have brought about stunning progress in the automotive industry.

These developments have resulted in the emergence of smaller displacement engines, engines with technology that allow them to utilize every liter of fuel to the fullest, or engines that employ lighter materials.

Today, it is simply harder to buy vehicles that get really pathetic fuel mileage.

PART of Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology range, the 1-liter (above) is a three-cylinder turbocharged VTEC unit that generates 127 HP and 200 Nm while the 1.5-liter turbo generates a whooping 201 HP and 260 Nm torque.

A few years ago, Japanese automotive giant Honda unveiled a plan to unveil “top-of-industry” fuel economy technology in every vehicle class. Called the Earth Dreams Technology, this program intends to create lineups that combine dynamic performance, class-leading output and excellent fuel economy.

The major focus of the program is to improve Honda’s famous Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system and reduce friction inside its engines. At the same time, Honda also began improving its continuously variable transmissions which would allow its engine to operate at its optimum revolutions per minute rather than revving constantly like a normal gearbox.

Early this year, the company finally rolled out the production version of its first-ever turbocharged Civic Type R.

Powered by a four-cylinder 2-liter direct-injected turbo VTEC engine, the turbocharged Civic Type R generates a whooping 306 HP at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 2,500 rpm—both of which are the highest-ever figures for a Honda Type R model. The Type R rockets from zero to 100 kph in 5.7 seconds.

The market should watch out for Honda’s two new direct-injection VTEC turbo engines, which are also part of the company’s Earth Dreams Technology range.

The first is a new three-cylinder 1-liter turbo that is rated to deliver 127 HP and 200 Nm of torque as well as a 20-percent improvement in efficiency over its 1.8-liter non-turbo counterpart. The other is a new four-cylinder, 1.5-liter turbocharged unit that is rated to deliver a potent 201 HP and 260 Nm of torque.

These new units are based on a completely new engine structure and utilize newly developed turbo systems. They also feature variable valve motion technology that reduces friction and achieve “class-leading output and environmental performance.”

Less emissions

In doing so, Honda was able to come up with vehicles that produce less emissions.

In fact, this early, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) announced that its New City has officially acquired Euro 4 emission-standard certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The New City became the first vehicle in Honda’s lineup to be locally certified to comply with Euro 4-level emission standards, ahead of the January 2016 deadline that mandates all new passenger and light vehicles, and heavy-duty motor vehicles made available in the market should comply with Euro 4 emission standards from the present Euro 2 emission standards (DENR Administrative Order No. 2015-04).

A Euro 4-compliant vehicle emits a much lower levels of harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.

‘Leave blue skies’

“It has always been one of our thrusts to leave blue skies for our children. As part of our continuing mission to do so, we at Honda are one with the government’s endeavor to help protect and sustain our environment and do our part to ensure breathable clean air. We would like to assure our customers that Honda takes proactive actions to help contribute in reducing the destruction of our ozone layer and the effect of global warming,” said HCPI president and GM Toshio Kuwahara.

He added Honda will assure customers that the emissions coming from their vehicles have minimal effect on the environment.

It is interesting to note that since 2004, HCPI has been introducing Euro 4-level-ready products and by the end of 2006, all Honda models sold in the Philippines were already at Euro 4-level.

Kuwahara said HCPI has always been proactive explaining that even before the deadline was set, all Honda vehicles, from smallest Brio up to the Odyssey minivan are already Euro 4-compliant.

(For more information regarding the New City and other Honda automobiles, please visit www.hondaphil.com or any of the authorized Honda dealerships nationwide.)