Clean new engines from Honda

• Ethanol-burning engines launched this year
• New petrol and diesels within three years
• Fuel-cell car also on the way in limited numbers

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Honda has unveiled a suite of future new engines that run on petrol, diesel, ethanol and hydrogen.

First to arrive are 1.4- and 1.8-litre engines that can run on petrol or 100% pure ethanol. Until now, engines have been limited to using petrol/ethanol blends up to up to 85% rich in ethanol, but Honda says it has overcome problems with the cold-start cycle when using the crop-derived fuel.

Sales of the engines will start later this year in Brazil where ethanol from sugar cane crops is highly popular.

Within the next three years the company will also launch new petrol engines that provide more pulling power but, also, improved fuel economy. Honda says a 2.4-litre will be 13% more fuel-efficient.

A new diesel with greatly reduced exhaust emissions will also be launched by 2009. By using ammonia in its catalytic converter, the diesel engines have greatly reduced nitrous oxide emissions.

Finally, limited sales of an all-new fuel-cell powered vehicles will kick off in 2008. Selected customers in Japan and the US will be sold the cars which are based on the FCX concept car unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.