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HONDA DIESEL SETS NEW WORLD RECORDS

Honda’s new Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport has this week set no fewer than 19 world speed records and achieved 3.07 litres / 100 km (92 mpg) fuel economy to boot. British racing driver Robin Liddell and freelance journalist Iain Robertson were part of the European record-setting team.

Amongst the speed records set, which were all achieved in Production Car Class B (2000 – 2500 cc), were 133.04 mph (1 mile flying start), 84.25 mph (1 mile standing start) and an average speed of 130.38 mph over a 24-hour endurance period. These records were all set at Papenburg high-speed oval test track in north-west Germany on 1 and 2 May, and are all subject to FIA ratification.

Two production cars, randomly selected by FIA officials, were used to undertake the speed records, and apart from the fitting of roll-cages, racing harnesses and radio equipment for track-to-pits communication, no other modifications were made to the cars.

Following the speed record attempts, the same two cars were then driven 419 miles from Papenburg test track to Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt in order to complete the fuel economy run. The route comprised of a mixture of motorway and non-motorway driving, during which one of the Accords achieved a staggering 92 mpg average.

The project, whose aim was to demonstrate the performance and economy of the Accord i-CTDi, was a joint production between Honda, the FIA and Italian-based JAS Motorsport, who managed fuelling and pit-stops.

Honda UK’s driver in the speed record attempt, Robin Liddell, who has previously raced at Le Mans 24-hours, as well as the American Le Mans Series and the BRDC British GT championship, commented: "The car’s performance is very impressive, demonstrated by the records we’ve achieved. Honda has made real steps forward in styling, ergonomics and interior design with the new Accord Diesel and now has a package that can take on the best cars in its class."

A complete list of speed records, all subject to FIA ratification, is as follows:

1 mile
Flying start
133.035 mph

1000 metres
Flying start
133.115 mph

1/8-mile
Standing start
42.865 mph

500 metres
Standing start
58.672 mph

¼-mile
"
54.198 mph

1000 metres
"
73.277 mph

1 mile
"
84.250 mph

10 kilometres
"
118.487 mph

10 miles
"
123.138 mph

100 kilometres
"
130.435 mph

100 miles
"
131.036 mph

500 kilometres
"
130.381 mph

500 miles
"
131.032 mph

1000 kilometres
"
130.629 mph

1000 miles
"
130.786 mph








1 hour
Standing start
131.257 mph

6 hours
"
130.490 mph

12 hours
"
130.378 mph

24 hours
"
130.379 mph





The Accord i-CTDi went on sale in the UK in February (4dr) and March (5dr) respectively, and to date, 1,500 units have been sold. The record breaking car will be displayed on the Honda stand (Hall 5, Stand 250) at this year’s Sunday Times Motor Show Live at Birmingham NEC.