INCREASING pressure from fleets on manufacturers to introduce new-technology diesel cars has seen Honda make a U-turn on its no-diesel policy, announcing that it is considering re-introducing diesels to its Accord line-up. This comes after the manufacturer announced the 2.0-litre direct injection Accord diesel model available elsewhere in Europe would not be coming to the UK.

A Honda spokesman said: 'We will at some point have diesels in the range, if only because they are the best way to reduce CO2 emissions for company car drivers' tax purposes. But this does not mean we will alter our view that hybrid petrol/electric technology provides another route to improved economy and reduced emissions.'

The debate over the best way to achieve performance and economy will continue, but in the meantime manufacturers are investing huge amounts of money in ensuring the future of diesel. Peugeot spent £40 million in the development of a particulates filter for its new 2.2-litre HDi in the forthcoming 607 executive car. And this is expected to mark the way forward for particulates filters in all of the Peugeot HDi range, followed in the not-too-distant future with the introduction of the filters to Citroen's common rail HDi line-up. The particulates trap cuts out almost all the local pollutants from diesel emissions, meaning that not only will diesel rate lowest for CO2, but the Government will also no longer be able to penalise it on local pollutants.