Diesel powered Civic Type-R?

According to our Japanese sources, Honda is scheming a diesel-powered Civic Type-R said the company's top powertrain engineer, Kenichi Nagahiro.

"As long as it is in keeping with the Type-R brand we will do it." he told us. "But high revving has to be part of it and that's what we're working on."

A Civic Type-R D is most likely to be powered by the most powerful version of next year's new 2.2-litre diesel which will be launched in the new Accord. It's likely to have at least 180bhp and 320lb ft of torque.