A CAR which is claimed to be the cleanest on the road is to form part of a major new drive to win more fleet business for Honda. The Japanese company is understood to be planning to make a special, super-clean Civic available to corporate buyers towards the end of next year.

Based on the domestic-market Ferio saloon launched six months ago, it will boast exhaust emissions measuring just one tenth of the level allowed under Japanese regulations, which are among the most stringent in the world.

But officials at Honda UK are thought to have decided to charge only a modest premium for the sophisticated gadgetry which will allow the 1.6-litre Civic to be billed as a unique solution to the growing problem of transport- related air pollution.

The car will produce 105bhp for sprightly performance with economy of up to 50mpg. Supplies of an estate version, badged Partner, will not be imported because production of the Civic estate concept, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, is due to start at Swindon in November.The new British car may be equipped with the ultra-clean engine when it goes on sale in January.