New engines from Honda

[Sabre]

Torque Report

A wide range of engines including the 660cc, 1.3L, 1.5L, 1.8L, 2.0L, 2.4L, and 3.5L will feature the new technology, which includes an enhanced VTEC system, direct-injection technology and the Atkinson cycle. A new downsized diesel engine is also part of the plan as well as new CVT transmissions that will be used by mini, compact and mid-size vehicles. A two-motor hybrid system a high-output 120kW motor that features three driving modes and a high efficiency electric powertrain for all-electric models are also being developed.

The more exciting part of the announcement is the introduction of a new high output electric SH-AWD hybrid system that will be used by large-sized vehicles. It combines a 3.5L V6 engine with two electric motors that reportedly has the power of a V8 engine, but is as fuel efficient as a four-cylinder engine. The two electric motors power the rear wheels, while the V6 mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with a built-in 30kW electric motor power the front wheels.

When will all this technology actually debut? Well the good thing is that some of it will start arriving next year.

According to the Automotive News here are some of the preliminary specs, which are likely understated:

- The 3.5L V6 will pack 310 horsepower and 265 lb-ft. of torque, up 30 horsepower and 11 lb-ft. in the current Acura TL.

- The 2.4L four-cylinder will have 181 horsepower and 177 lb-ft. of torque. It will be the base engine in the all-new 2013 Accord that is expected to debut next spring.

- The 1.8L four-cylinder will have 148 horsepower and 133 lb-ft. of torque, which could debut as early as 2013 in the refreshed Civic.

-The 1.5L four-cylinder will get upgraded to 127 horsepower and 111 lb-ft. of torque and used by the Fit.

- A 1.6L turbodiesel will have power that is similar to the current 2.2L diesel, but will have better fuel economy

Good to see. They have always been the model of efficiency, so it's great that they keep on improving on it!

[PGT]

They've fallen WAY behind of late. It's like they focused on plain vanilla cars to increase market share instead of keeping their edge.

[Mr Kleen]

They've fallen WAY behind of late. It's like they focused on plain vanilla cars to increase market share instead of keeping their edge.

sad.


true.

[Raven]

I don't think they've fallen behind so much as everyone else has caught up. Their cars are vastly superior to whatever Toyota has to offer. I mean Mazda/Ford and Chevy still don't have anything that can do what VTEC does. They simply haven't got cam switching, the best they can do is cam phasing.

[chicken n waffles]

their engines might be ground breaking, but they're wrapped in increasingly-unappealing cars.

the accord is the size of a truck now.
the civic is the size of the older accords, and have you seen the down-syndrome'esque dash layout of the new model? not to mention honda has decked it out in the latest hollow, hard, shiny plastic. *puke*
the cr-z tries to be sporty and fuel efficient, and manages to do neither very well.


the only model that's appealing to me at all is the fit.

[Sabre]

the only model that's appealing to me at all is the fit.

Funny, I always thought the fit would make a fun commuter car

[chicken n waffles]

the only model that's appealing to me at all is the fit.

Funny, I always thought the fit would make a fun commuter car

totally.

they're fun little cars. even the auto w/ paddle shifters. got a ride from a coworker in his auto fit the other day. damn nice little econobox for the money.

[PGT]

it handles really well....better than it should. Mashing the right pedal is just a steady move towards speed without ever feeling like there's excitement. Put the K20 in that car and it would be a hit.

[drwrx]

Once I had decided I was dumping my DD Mazda I was looking at the Fit.
However all the used ones under 70k miles with auto were all 13k. 13k!
Thus I purchased an 04 WRX auto with 64k miles.
Now, with a few mods and a tune, mashing the right pedal brings speed and a smile that no Fit can match.
OK, so I'm not getting 30mpg. But paying an extra $120 a year in gas is a small price to pay.