Honda To Export 1.6-litre Locally Produced Diesel Engine To Thailand

Exports of 1.6-litre engines to Thailand to begin from next month; India-spec new CR-V likely to get a diesel motor.

(Image: Honda engine moving on the belt for next phase of additions at Tapukara plant, Rajasthan)

Honda is gearing up to start exporting its bigger, 1.6-litre diesel engines to Thailand from its Tapukara plant in Rajasthan from next month. The motor will be fitted in the Thai-spec newly launched CR-V. In fact, the carmaker has already been manufacturing and exporting crankshafts and connecting rods of this engine for quite some time now and switching to complete engine body making shouldn’t be a problem for Honda. Currently, it makes 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines and 1.5-litre diesel engines at its Rajasthan facility.

Besides the daily production of 480 engine units in two shifts, the plant has an additional capability to produce 240 units. The same will be consumed by the 1.6-litre diesel engines. Moreover, these 1.6-litre diesel engines are most likely to make way into the new Indian-spec CRV launching next year.

For Thailand, it will be putting out a maximum power of 162PS and 350Nm. However, the figures will be detuned to 120PS and 300Nm when it’s shipped to Thailand’s neighboring country, the Philippines. The latter figures are likely to be kept intact in the Indian-spec CR-V as well. With diesel SUVs returning great benefits, a diesel motor-equipped CR-V could bring back the good old days for the crossover which it once enjoyed in the country.

The carmaker was already exporting budget cars like the Brio, Amaze and the City from India. The export of a diesel engine, that too, for a premium vehicle is certainly a milestone and speaks for the top-notch quality Honda is able to pull out from its Indian facility.