HONDA'S new generation of petrol engines will be launched in the summer, initially in the Civic and the Accord. The new VTEC engines will kick off with the 2.0-litre and will be followed by 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.2-litre variants in order to replace all the current types of engine by 2005.

Honda says the new generation will offer fuel consumption improvements of 20% and will meet anti-pollution standards required until at least 2010. In addition the manufacturer says power and torque characteristics will be improved alongside noise levels. The engines will be built at Honda's Swindon factory, which is where the new supermini will be made when it goes on sale in the UK in autumn 2001. A new plant is presently under construction at the factory. To plug the gap in its armoury until then, Honda will import the Logo from Japan.