Honda Power Equipment national sales manager Ray Briffa sets great store on its four-stroke engine technology, believing it is the way ahead not only when it comes to reducing exhaust and noise emissions (compared to two-stroke engines) but also in the all-important area of cheaper running costs.

The company, which recently showcased its latest range of powered products at a demonstration day held in Sunbury, Victoria, looks to be winning over customers based on the fuel-savings associated with its four-stroke engine line up.

Honda says tests by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University delivered running cost savings of up to $425/year when one of its brushcutters was compared to a rival two-stroke model.

Then there’s that all important easy-start attribute.

“Our four-stroke engines use 30 percent less fuel than the majority of two-stroke products,” Mr Briffa said.

“Another big difference is in oil consumption with our engines using 85 percent les oil than two strokes.”

With worldwide Honda Power Equipment sales totalling some 5 million-plus units a year, the move to phase out two-stroke technology, made about 12 years ago, looks to have been vindicated.

Interestingly, the company is on schedule to build its 500,000th lawnmower at its Melbourne plant, which is developing serious export credentials.

As well as supplying the domestic market, 11 different lawn mower and five brushcutter models, are exported to the Middle East, Asia, Pacific Island and South Africa.

Meanwhile, the company is buoyed by its operating performance in the 12 months ending March 2009 - a period in which it notched up record-breaking sales to further reinforce its position as Australia's leading manufacturer of four-stroke power equipment.

Just recently, its dealers were given a preview of some soon-to-be-released models likely to be unveiled during the next 12 months.