Honda Motor Company CEO Takeo Fukui confirmed the numerous rumors that the automaker’s luxury unit, Acura , would be getting an eight cylinder powerplant in the near future. Fukui said that the engine will pump up the RL, Acura’s largest sedan, to make it more competitive in its segment. The RL currently offers a 3.7 liter V6, but it competes against cars that offer a V8 option.
Speaking to Automotive News, Fukui said, “I don’t think that the Acura RL 3.7-liter is sufficient. We can’t compete with other premium brands.”
He said that the V8 engine will “be completely different from conventional, past-generation ones and have excellent fuel efficiency.”
It’s likely that the V8 would also see its way into the TL, which offers a choice of V6 engines. It wouldn’t surprise us to see the V8 appear in Honda products, particularly the Pilot and Ridgeline, though higher gas prices that have been turning buyers away from thirsty SUVs and pickups could negate any need for a Honda V8.
