Recently Honda announced plans to create new ultra clean diesel engines for their vehicles to meet all the latest emission standards. Their design would differ from the Mercedes BlueTec technology because the new catalytic converter would produce ammonia on board to use for treating the nitrogen oxide. This would be a zero maintenance design that requires no periodic replenishment of the urea supply. Initial indications were that a 2.2L four cylinder diesel would be built for use in various passenger car models starting in 2009. In an interview with Automotive News CEO Takeo Fukui revealed that Honda will also be building a V-6 diesel for their bigger vehicles like the Ridgeline pickup, the Odyssey van and the Pilot and MDX SUVs. The new V-6 diesels will also meet all the new diesel emission standards for cutting particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions.

[Source: Automotive News - subscription required]