Photo: Tim Ireland
Honda’s official Keiji Ohtsu has recently revealed that the carmaker will mostly focus on powertrain overhaul and downsizing, with the sole purpose of weight-reduction.
The Japanese company already accomplished some incredible goals by launching five new engines, with two more to come in 2016, plus three CVTs. Apparently, Honda doesn’t want to stop here and has set more goals for 2020 and beyond.
Ohtsu also talked about the status of the turbocharged engines presented at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, with plans to introduce them by 2016. According to him, the 1.0-liter, 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter power units are currently being implemented in markets such as China, Europe and North America.
These three markets weren’t chosen by chance, but because there the emissions regulations are becoming more and more severe and also because China offers a motivational tax-break for smaller-displacement engines.
More steps will be taken towards a drastic weight reduction by changing V6s to inline-four engines and inline-fours to three-cylinder mills.
The Japanese official has also revealed that the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine on the Civic Type 3 is available in Japan too, since October, and in March 2016 the company plans to begin mass production of the new Civic lineup in the U.S.
An answer has been given to the important matter of the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine. Where possible, Honda is planning to replace it with the turbocharged, 1.5-liter power unit. According to WardsAuto, the option to discontinue the production of the 2.4-liter is out of the question. This engine option will still be available for purchase particularly in Asia or other emerging markets because it is less costly than, say, a turbocharged engine.
The Japanese car manufacturer will also focus on hybrids, where the company expects growth and a targeted sale of 20 per cent in the US and up to 80 per cent in Japan.
Another important point in Honda’s agenda is achieving a 50 per cent heat efficiency through lean turbocharging, so, in this regard, the company wants to rely on homogeneous lean-charge spark-ignition technology for its 1.0-liter turbo engine, which is not yet on the market but it might be as early as 2020.
Apparently, no further engines are to be added to Honda’s current lineup, but the Japanese engineers are thinking of a new exclusive engine for Acura, but without any specific plans yet.
Currently, Honda produces around 30 million engines per year, of which 4.5 million are for passenger cars. With the objectives that the Japanese carmaker has set for the future, this number might substantially grow.
Ohtsu also talked about the status of the turbocharged engines presented at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, with plans to introduce them by 2016. According to him, the 1.0-liter, 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter power units are currently being implemented in markets such as China, Europe and North America.
These three markets weren’t chosen by chance, but because there the emissions regulations are becoming more and more severe and also because China offers a motivational tax-break for smaller-displacement engines.
More steps will be taken towards a drastic weight reduction by changing V6s to inline-four engines and inline-fours to three-cylinder mills.
The Japanese official has also revealed that the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine on the Civic Type 3 is available in Japan too, since October, and in March 2016 the company plans to begin mass production of the new Civic lineup in the U.S.
An answer has been given to the important matter of the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine. Where possible, Honda is planning to replace it with the turbocharged, 1.5-liter power unit. According to WardsAuto, the option to discontinue the production of the 2.4-liter is out of the question. This engine option will still be available for purchase particularly in Asia or other emerging markets because it is less costly than, say, a turbocharged engine.
The Japanese car manufacturer will also focus on hybrids, where the company expects growth and a targeted sale of 20 per cent in the US and up to 80 per cent in Japan.
Another important point in Honda’s agenda is achieving a 50 per cent heat efficiency through lean turbocharging, so, in this regard, the company wants to rely on homogeneous lean-charge spark-ignition technology for its 1.0-liter turbo engine, which is not yet on the market but it might be as early as 2020.
Apparently, no further engines are to be added to Honda’s current lineup, but the Japanese engineers are thinking of a new exclusive engine for Acura, but without any specific plans yet.
Currently, Honda produces around 30 million engines per year, of which 4.5 million are for passenger cars. With the objectives that the Japanese carmaker has set for the future, this number might substantially grow.
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