Acura finally caves to the Magic 8 Ball
Honda's engines have always been a bit special. Not Mazda rotary, miller-cycle or tiny V6 special, but a bit off the beaten path and resistant to market trends. For decades the Japanese automaker insisted on making engines that rotate the opposite direction than the rest of the industry (in line with its motorcycle roots), and took what seemed like an eternity to go back on its founders aversions to any more than four cylinders. Well, as anyone who's stepped into an Acura dealership knows, a V6 still doesn't cut it when you're trying to lure customers away from the likes of Lexus and BMW. And the new TL may have the company's most powerful V6 to date, but even in today's socio-economic climate, luxury consumers still want V8 muscle. Reports now indicate that Honda is ready to cough it up.
The confirmation reportedly comes straight from Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, who says that a V8 engine will be earmarked towards the company's luxury brand Acura. No official word on where the eight-cylinder engine will land, but we can expect it to find its way into the engine bay of the top-of-the-line RL and probably an SUV, as well. Fukui reportedly promises his V8 will be highly efficient, but while we won't expect it to rotate in the opposite direction, it promises to plug the gap between the company's existing V6s and the V10 in the highly anticipated successor to the NSX.
[Source: All Cars, All the Time]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
dwightB 6:54PM (10/19/2008)
Let's hope they don't do something stupid and let it "land" in a vehicle that is FWD...
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Pengwin 7:01PM (10/19/2008)
no, it'll have SH-AWD...aka fake awd.
AMcA 7:48PM (10/19/2008)
Audi better start worrying.
They've got the AWD franchise. This could totally put them to shame.
SIGN MY PETITION BELOW
seanleeforever 1:03AM (10/20/2008)
mind to explain why SH AWD is not a better choice than RWD? the GT-R has already demonstrated that a well tuned AWD is much more agile than two wheel drive layout because it knows how to apply the law of physical to maximize every bit of its power.
Majarvis 1:27AM (10/20/2008)
Penguin: "no, it'll have SH-AWD...aka fake awd."
You're an idiot if you think Honda's SH-AWD system is "fake" AWD. How is it "fake" in any way? It's more sophisticated than any other system on the market currently. You clearly have no clue what you're talking about. Stick to knitting, Penguin.
YYO 3:54AM (10/20/2008)
Correct me if i'm wrong. But isn't SH-AWD the same system that the gtr uses. AWD in certain terrains (Snow), and RWD by default. If so, what's wrong with that?
Gabagool 8:20AM (10/20/2008)
@ Penguiwin
I heard nothing but good things about Acura's SH-AWD.
MikeW 9:26AM (10/20/2008)
No. The GTR is mechanically rear drive (with torque sensitive differential) with a clutch coupled front axle (with open differential)
Honda's sh-awd is front wheel drive with an individually clutch coupled rear wheel. In some applications there is a clutched overdrive unit to help transfer more torque to the rear wheel(s)
Honda's system is meant to camouflage the cars front wheel drive heritage (cough accord) and inherent driving behavior (cough understeer), and front weight bias (58/42)
Hershey Lover 9:43AM (10/20/2008)
Nissan's awd, ATTESA-ETS. Is conventional in that it apply brakes to the inside wheel to control yaw and direction. It uses a limited-slip differential for power delivery. And that it favors driving the rear wheels.
Honda's awd, SH-AWD, overdrives the outer wheel in a corner instead of applying the brake to the inside wheel in a corner. It uses planetary gears and clutch packs to control which wheel gets the power instead of a limited-slip differential. Honda's system favors driving the front wheels until the rear wheels are need.
I think that about correct.
Hershey Lover 9:55AM (10/20/2008)
Darn, got there to late.
AkulaX1 7:00PM (10/19/2008)
I remember that back about 6 years ago every import guy was so proud that their Japanese car came with I4 engine and that V8 was a waste now it seems that finally Japanese automakers caught up to making V8 models and I wouldst be surprised if I hear same people say that V8 is the best thing ever made.
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dwightB 7:36PM (10/19/2008)
I own a Japanese I4 (Honda) and a V8 (Lexus)... So, I've already got the best of both worlds, lol
srp 8:08PM (10/20/2008)
that was a silly comment, "about six years ago" lexus ls and infiniti q45 always have V8, since 1986, 87 or 88,
Igenius 8:27PM (10/20/2008)
That was a silly comment, "back about six years ago" the lexus ls and the infiniti Q45 had V8 dating back to 1986, thats back over twenty years ago...
Torrent 7:00PM (10/19/2008)
It IS going to be RWD, right?
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3seriesisking 7:50PM (10/19/2008)
If it doesn't, I may seriously loose all respect for the company.
MemphisNET 7:55PM (10/19/2008)
If they start doing RWD, I'll have MORE respect, and actually start looking at their product too.
3seriesisking 8:04PM (10/19/2008)
I feel the same way Memphis, although they definitely need to change their current design staff before I can really start looking their way....
zamafir 8:43PM (10/19/2008)
I lost all respect a long time ago. And americans talk about Audi not being able to compete with the big guys, just look/drive acura's lineup.
*shudders*
StarkRavingMad 7:02PM (10/19/2008)
Oh dear... I cant wait to see Civics with "V8 vtec owns joo" sticker on the boot.
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