The Honda CR-V Range will shortly be expanded with the launch of a new high-power 1.6 i-DTEC engine combined with all-wheel drive. The new more powerful diesel engine will also come with the option of a new nine-speed automatic transmission.

The new 1.6-litre i-DTEC four-cylinder diesel engine, from Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology series, provides considerably higher power output than the 2.2 i-DTEC which it replaces. The engine power is boosted 160bhp and torque rises to 350 Nm.

The engine can be twinned with two transmissions, either a six-speed manual, which emits 129g CO2/km to get the best from the new engine’s efficiency, a new nine-speed automatic transmission. With the nine-speed automatic unit the CR-V emits from 134 g/km of CO2, a 20% reduction compared to the previous five-speed automatic transmission.

The new 1.6 i-DTEC 160 with All-wheel drive will be in Ireland in manual form from mid-March; the automatic model arrives in June. The reduction in CO2 emissions also means lower VRT and lower prices. Prices for the new all-wheel drive CR-V will start from €37,495 for the manual and €39,995 for the automatic.