V8 for Honda?
- Thread starter NetViper
- Start date
Here is another article from the Toronto Star June 26.
AN ACURA V8?
When the next-generation Acura RL was introduced at the New York auto show, earlier this year, some observers were surprised that it was still powered by a V6 engine, not a V8.
There may be a V8 in Acura's future, however, perhaps in an even more upscale car.
The company needs both, it believes, in order to compete effectively with established luxury manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
According to a source within Honda, a V8-powered mule is already being tested.
That engine could also find its way into the MDX sport-ute and the next-generation NSX, if there is one.
Even before the V8 appears, rumours suggest, Acura will add a new, smaller-than-MDX crossover vehicle, probably based on the RDX show-car that debuted at the Detroit show in 2003.
Logic suggests that, if that is the case, its styling will be toned down a notch or two.
AN ACURA V8?
When the next-generation Acura RL was introduced at the New York auto show, earlier this year, some observers were surprised that it was still powered by a V6 engine, not a V8.
There may be a V8 in Acura's future, however, perhaps in an even more upscale car.
The company needs both, it believes, in order to compete effectively with established luxury manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
According to a source within Honda, a V8-powered mule is already being tested.
That engine could also find its way into the MDX sport-ute and the next-generation NSX, if there is one.
Even before the V8 appears, rumours suggest, Acura will add a new, smaller-than-MDX crossover vehicle, probably based on the RDX show-car that debuted at the Detroit show in 2003.
Logic suggests that, if that is the case, its styling will be toned down a notch or two.
Even more:
Acura likely to use V-8 in several places
Acura's next new vehicle line will be a small crossover-utility vehicle, based on the RD-X prototype that the company showed at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The upscale Honda subsidiary will introduce the vehicle before 2007. The next new Acura model line after that is likely to be a premium sedan with a V-8 engine. Honda has built a V-8 prototype and tested it in the sort of no-frills demonstration vehicle known as a "running mule." Analysts say that Acura needs a larger sedan with a V-8 engine in order to compete with top-tier luxury manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and a Honda vice president confirmed the likely plans for the premium sedan as well as the V-8, saying that Acura "needs" the larger power plant.
The V-8 is also likely to appear on the next-generation Acura NSX coupe. The vice president said that vehicle "almost has to have a V-8" if only, as is the case with the premium sedan, for image. Despite some rumors to the contrary, Acura is working under the assumption that there will be a new NSX. Recent published reports have said that Honda will not turn its HSC coupe prototype from last year's Tokyo Motor Show into the new NSX, and the vice president said that the problem with the HSC is that its interior is not up to Acura's standards. He also said that Acura could install its new V-8 engine into a version of its popular MDX sport utility. Finally, the official said that, following recent announcements by competitors regarding similar plans, Acura is likely to begin selling cars in Asia -- but Japan will probably not be its first destination there.
Acura likely to use V-8 in several places
Acura's next new vehicle line will be a small crossover-utility vehicle, based on the RD-X prototype that the company showed at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The upscale Honda subsidiary will introduce the vehicle before 2007. The next new Acura model line after that is likely to be a premium sedan with a V-8 engine. Honda has built a V-8 prototype and tested it in the sort of no-frills demonstration vehicle known as a "running mule." Analysts say that Acura needs a larger sedan with a V-8 engine in order to compete with top-tier luxury manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and a Honda vice president confirmed the likely plans for the premium sedan as well as the V-8, saying that Acura "needs" the larger power plant.
The V-8 is also likely to appear on the next-generation Acura NSX coupe. The vice president said that vehicle "almost has to have a V-8" if only, as is the case with the premium sedan, for image. Despite some rumors to the contrary, Acura is working under the assumption that there will be a new NSX. Recent published reports have said that Honda will not turn its HSC coupe prototype from last year's Tokyo Motor Show into the new NSX, and the vice president said that the problem with the HSC is that its interior is not up to Acura's standards. He also said that Acura could install its new V-8 engine into a version of its popular MDX sport utility. Finally, the official said that, following recent announcements by competitors regarding similar plans, Acura is likely to begin selling cars in Asia -- but Japan will probably not be its first destination there.
I'm going to post a buzzword here and I will then pull up this thread in the future if I'm right about Honda's future crossover vehicle. Are you ready for this one?
TURBO
No need to flame me, lets just wait and see what happens.
Of course, a new V8 could put an end to that plan rather quickly.
TURBO
No need to flame me, lets just wait and see what happens.
Of course, a new V8 could put an end to that plan rather quickly.
I saw a racing magazine from this month, in a doctors office, and the inside cover ad was for Honda, it had an INDY car in a garage with a new engine next to it. On the valve cover it bore the logo "indy V8". So, there is an actual Honda V8 for racing that maybe they will derive some pravtical data for a production model from.
A honda rep i was talking to told me that honda actually has a v-8 engine that has just been sitting in their california office(?) for quite awhile now.
It would make sense as to why they scrapped HSC development. Probably realize the V6 wasn't enough and now have to redesign the chassis/car.
satan_srv said:
Makes sense to me. The 3.5 L V6 was not going to cut it.. at least not NA.
NetViper said:
Hah I love their excuse...the interior wasn't good enough. Like the interior needing to be changed results in scrapping the entire chassis?
This HSC thing has been quite the roller-coaster ride! My concern
is that rumors of a V8 have been around before and nothing materialized. I agree with Dave that it could be why development of the present version of the HSC has apparently been stopped. Who knows? not holding my breath!
is that rumors of a V8 have been around before and nothing materialized. I agree with Dave that it could be why development of the present version of the HSC has apparently been stopped. Who knows? not holding my breath!
NsSeX said:
too bad it wasn't a honda rep, but a lowly acura dealership employee who works behind the counter doing whatever it is he gets paid to do
if anything, the motor the guy was probably refering to (hence his emissions mambo-jambo talk he was saying) would be the racing v8 used by the honda indy teams.
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NetViper said:
Let it go Dave... let the V8 go...
(I'd have to say you're the most ipersistent person on prime hoping Honda will someday produce a V8. I hope for your sake they do someday. You've earned it.)
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What if one of the main reasons for Honda scrapping this was because of the comments posted about the V-6/HSC posted on this site? I mean surely some Honda execs would have wandered onto this site on more than one occasion. What better way to test the waters and see what the future buyers and enthusiasts thought about the car than to browse through the "Prime" forums? For me, this is the only place for NSX/HSC fans to even go to. It's kind of a scary thought to think that we as a collect group helped determine the fate of the HSC and the direction that Honda goes in the future.
T-8
A T-8 would be cool. It's an idea Ford played with 10 years ago, or so. It's basically two 4's stuck together end-to-end, but with the transmission jutting out from the intersection of the two blocks. A great layout for mid-engined cars.
In terms of power, I could live without 8 cylinders. So I hope they don't go overboard with the displacement. Afterall, I'd like to be able to rev the thing up without going into a powerslide.
A T-8 would be cool. It's an idea Ford played with 10 years ago, or so. It's basically two 4's stuck together end-to-end, but with the transmission jutting out from the intersection of the two blocks. A great layout for mid-engined cars.
In terms of power, I could live without 8 cylinders. So I hope they don't go overboard with the displacement. Afterall, I'd like to be able to rev the thing up without going into a powerslide.
White92 said:
Call me a cynic, but I doubt it. Maybe Lud can check the logs and see if anyone is originating from Honda IP space
I think it is more likely that Honda slapped that HSC concept together and put the V6 in it to gauge the buzz it created and it didn't create enough. Then they looked around and noticed that the manufacturers getting the big press don't plan on stopping until everyone is driving a 900hp deathtrap and figured, "we'd better up the power a bit".
Personally, I think the HP wars can get a little insane and will definitely be staying WAY clear of those 700hp benzes on the highway since they are bound to kill plenty of people. That said, Honda does need to get the performance of the HSC in line with a 911TT or Viper SRT10 and, for that, they would almost definitely need a V8. I think a lightweight V8 in a lightweight, nicely balanced, chasis making about 450hp of NA power would be sweeeet indeed.
Honda CAN compete with Dodge and Chevy on quality and reliability if they can close the performance gap a bit. It's just gotten too ridiculous with the Z06 and Viper. And while those two cars, when it comes down to it, really are pieces of crap next to the NSX in build quality, a sports car is nearly alway measured primarily by the performance.
Against Porsche, Honda will have to deliver more for less to overcome the power of the brand.
Also, to Porsches credit, I've been testdriving 911TTs since Im 90% likely to be trading the X for one in the near future and they are very, very nice indeed. Far, far nicer in every respect than the parts bin and glue feel of a Viper or Z06 and yet with a massive amount of power on tap and very docile manners around town. Thats a truly high bar to compete against, but I think Honda CAN do it if they really want to.
satan_srv said:
They scrapped the HSC!?! When did they do that? (See what happens when you don't pay attention?)
