Comments on: Honda develops greener VTEC

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 03:35:29 +0000

Nothing new here. Yawn. Someone let me know whenever Honda starts building RWD Civics. Then I’ll care.

By: SSTRFSTR

SSTRFSTR — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:24:40 +0000

Who cares?

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 04:04:35 +0000

The engine this technology is built on, the K24, produces more than 160 ft·lb at around 3000 – 4000 RPM, depending on the model. The new turbocharged K23 delivers 260 ft·lb @ 4500 RPM.
Honda car engines are basically an extension of their motorcycle range. They love to REV! For daily driving, keeping them below 5000 RPM is adequate. If you need to go, drop the tranny one (or two) gears. What you get is an engine that delivers both outstanding fuel economy and/or performance, depending on how you drive it. All this with bulletproof reliabilty.
Now granted, this requires driver involvement that exceeds the patience or capability of some people raised on big lazy V8s that run out of breath at 5000 RPM, attached to a 3- or 4-speed slushbox. These are the people that have kept GM and Ford alive long after they should have gone bankrupt.

By: InvisibleEcho

InvisibleEcho — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:58:12 +0000

global_lightning, I’ll believe it when I see it. Just a little skeptical when I don’t see anything honda makes in the 4 cylinder range make more than 150lb/ft of torque. At any rpm. But if they do, yay for them.

By: Saud

Saud — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 11:34:59 +0000

Honda is making some seriously awesome engines now.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 01:42:50 +0000

Amazing, none of you read the line “…a significant increase in torque at all engine speeds”.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:06:41 +0000

Yeah, you’re both probably right about that. Damn, that’s a shame ’cause I’m a huge torque fan. I’ll take torque over horsepower any day.

By: InvisibleEcho

InvisibleEcho — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 21:51:01 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out as the greener the VTECs get, the less torque they produce per displacement cc’s. In 2025, I bet the latest VTEC engine would produce nothing but a flowery scent out the tailpipe, and have just enough torque to move a radio flyer…

By: blitzkrieg79

blitzkrieg79 — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:01:23 +0000

1c3d0g, actually the new World Engines developed by Mitsu/Hyundai/Chrysler are good little engines for small cars but once you put that engine inside an over 3000 pound vehicle then even the Honda engine wouldn’t be able to adequately power it and be as responsive. Besides, check out the torque numbers of the Honda engines and they are not that great where for example Mitsu engines are more balanced out offering about 1:1 HP to Torque ratio.

By: Veda

Veda — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:35:53 +0000

Expect to see this in the US Accord, Asian Odyssey, the CRV. The TSX will probably get the turbo in the RDX to keep up with BMW’s new turbo.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:15:35 +0000

See? This is the tech that needs to go in, for example, the Jeep Patriot. Right now it’s using some I-4 2.4 L Hyundai/Mitsubishi crap that’s better left to power lesser vehicles. Though, it doesn’t say how much torque this new engine produces, so that *might* be a problem.

By: Brendino

Brendino — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:01:30 +0000

good for them…what are they going to put it in?