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Honda Earth Dreams Technology engines promise class-leading fuel economy

By Brett Davis |

Honda has announced plans of a new engine family and engineering philosophy called ‘Earth Dreams Technology’. It promises to introduce a new range of engines boasting class-leading fuel economy.

The new engine family will consist of sizes ranging from 660cc and 1.3 litres, to 1.5, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4. All will feature double-overhead cams and direct injection, as well as variable valve timing and a new construction design which will see class engines drop around 15 per cent of their weight.

Honda says the new engines will feature high thermal efficiency through reducing the bore pitch and reducing the thickness of the cylinder block. Overall fuel efficiency is also set to improve by 10 per cent compared with the current crop of engines.

A 1.6-litre diesel is also being planned to replace the current overseas-only 2.2-litre diesel. Power output is said to match the 2.2 thanks to an efficient turbocharger. The new diesel unit will be more thermally efficient and be the lightest weight diesel in its class thanks to an aluminium deck for the engine block. Carbon emissions will also improve by 15 per cent compared with the current 2.2.

A new 3.5-litre V6 will also be part of the Earth Dreams Technology, featuring direct injection and an efficiency increase of over 10 per cent compared with the current V6 variants. The new engine will be used in Honda’s upcoming flagship models, and produce 231kW of power and 359Nm of torque.

Honda is also developing a new SH-AWD hybrid package to be used in conjunction with the new 3.5-litre V6. The electric motors will provide a power boost of over 70kW to the rear wheels. Honda says this will help the powertrain offer V8-like acceleration and performance with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine.

The technologies will kick off in 2012 with the introduction of a plug-in hybrid mid-sized model, and 2013 for a hybrid version.

Honda hopes to achieve “top-of-industry fuel efficiency for every category within three years”, and has set a target of reducing its overall emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 (compared with 2000 figures).


 
  • http://Nissan Mohammad is right when he says

    thats what we been waiting for from honda

  • Laa

    Well I guess this was coming.. Glad to see them doing something

  • http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

    Looks like Honda is finally c playing catch up. there doesnt seem to be anything revolutionary about these new engines tho, and some of those figures seem to be a bit of a step back. This press realease seems extremely vague compared to mazdas skyactiv campaign which has gone into great details to explain the skyactiv technologies.

    • John-piere

      It’s true. The world’s biggest engine manufacturer has been slacking off for some time. So it’s long overdue that they produced something remarkable.

      • MRL

        Such a shame this isn’t it.. Notice they’re not drawing comparisons to competitor products with these claims – they’re all based on comparisons to Honda’s current range of horribly outdated tech.

        There’s not one single claim being made that will actually seem special by them time the market actually sees “Earth Dreams” (f’n LOL at that name!)

        • Pot

          on another article they set the VW engines as a benchmark and it will beat it . didnt say in this article one i dont think

  • Pot

    fuel efficiency only better by 10%? !!!!! give me 30%!

  • F1MotoGP

    This all very nice but we will get the diesel this time or not!!!

    • Pot

      civic diesel 1.6l turbocharged is coming in 2013 confirmed.

      • F1MotoGP

        I heard Accord Euro diesel is coming too. I believe it when it is here!

  • Dangel

    NO turbo petrol , no torque , economy might be good but gutless , no thanks .

    • Mark

      They have introduced a 660cc Turbo for one of the Japanese models. This is only the start..

  • Clem

    Talk Talk Talk … Talk Talk Talk … Talk Talk Talk …
    Why Honda are so Slow? Still Talking … and Talking …

    You can really hear the echo at the end of the runway and still talking about the new invention. 15 years of talking … that’s about right!

    • Mark

      You have to remember, they are one of only a few car companies who are not in joint partnership with another company…so innovation can sometimes take a little longer.

      • MRL

        Uh huh, they have no friends, and that’s why they will always be behind the curve, until forever.

      • http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

        Mazda?

        • Pot

          all this stuff will come in 3 years! as stated.

      • M

        Mark!! Good on you for bringing that point up! Practically every other manufacturer copies, shares, borrows etc. Honda are COMPLETELY independent! They developed the first Variable Valve Timing engine technology (VTEC) all those years ago, and now it’s used by numerous manufacturers in much of their engines. It’s been successful for them for so long, and it’s great to see them developing it further!

        Honda is an incredibly innovative company; ASIMO, HondaJet etc. I’m excited for the next chapter of engine technology to come from one of the industries last remaining innovative and independent company’s!

  • Lazybones

    “Earth Dreams”….vomit!

  • MRL

    If all of this was happening in current-gen Honda’s I’d say great, but this is all future talk, so sure to be outclassed before it actually hits the market.

    • matt

      my god, look at all of you know it all arm chair experts crapping on as usual… i challenge YOU to build an engine in around 4 years from complete scratch…. good luck

  • Shak

    Sorry but only a 10% increase in economy? And all the technologies them seem to be labeling as ‘dreamy’ have been out in the industry for a long time and adopted by many other manufacturers. This is just seems like a rehash of their existing technology. C’mon Honda wheres the innovation you are so renowned for???

  • Alexander

    I think Honda relys too heavily on its reputation. Sure their engines and tech used to be great, but now it’s outdated. They were one of the first to do a hybrid system in mass production, yet they havent developed from the basic mild assist hybrid from 11 years back. They still cling to mild hybrids when competitors have gone full hybrid at not that much extra cost and with the widespread use of stop/start systems the mild hybrids are looking even more basic. Honda needs to lift their game.

  • F1

    It’s worth to take note that you should take the mpg rating of any brand with a grain of salt.. Because you’ll never achieve their claimed figures.. Unless of coarse you drive with windows up, no a/c, drive on flat terrain, do not rev over 2k rpm, use premium fuel and do not have more then 2 passengers with no cargo..

  • Al Juraj

    Honda’s current line of V6 cars are notorious with fuel, especially the Legend. It’s a gutless donk having to power all four wheels. A 10% improvement won’t really translate to astonishing figures. Turbo and an auto gearbox that’s up with the times are the way to go.

  • PS

    Ugh, so much hatred in this forum… Why don’t you guys take some chill pills and relax, huh? Honda is probably still the number 1 engine manufacturer in the world. Any sort of substantial changes will take longer to roll out as they have to change production plans in a lot of their factories.

    and enough about this ‘gutless’ ‘no torque’ argument! Any half intelligent person with understanding on gearing will know that torque figures on the engine increases dramatically after gearing factor and Honda is well known for their gearboxes.

    • Mark

      Good point about the gearing/torque argument.

  • anthony

    Hondas reliability and quality are second to none…the Accord Euro ,for example,is such a brilliant package,just wish we had the diesel,wagon,and V6 options,as in other global markets…

  • KO

    the power and torque figures sound great
    but they leave out the important figures
    @ what RPM are they obtained?

    honda’s are notorious for getting awesome power at 8000rpm
    great for the track

    not very useful driving round town

    • Mark

      It little exaggerated don’t you think about the 8000rpm statement. Most of the Honda motors don’t even rev to that!

      Besides, Honda engines are probably the most flexible NA engine on the market.

  • Mr Gaspo

    Oooooh, some innovation from Honda! That’s more like it. May even give some potential buyers wet earth dreams. Good concept, the name is kind of lame though.

  • moonie

    @”Honda says the new engines will feature high thermal efficiency through reducing the bore pitch and reducing the thickness of the cylinder block.”

    So, in other words a long stroke engine like a Ford Prefect.
    And a narrow wall cylinder block that can’t be reconditioned only replaced like a 1985 Toyota Camry, Rover 800 (yay !) or Chevrolet Vega (double yay !).

  • MrDucati

    how is this class leading fuel economy? mazda had cut 20% with their new skyactive technology, adding another 10% from the new i Eloop braking regenerative system so a total of 30%, if u can do your maths right…

  • MazMagic

    Coming soon….. Mazda (SkyActiv) vs Honda (Honda Earth Dreams Technology) coming to CarsAdvice soon…… oh yeah, let’s not forget VW too.

  • MrDucati

    Did i say something offended your little mind to vote me down? I never pulled that out of my back pocket that’a what mazda claims.

  • Pauly

    Common Honda…

    Earth Dreams Technology?
    Super Handleing All Wheel Drive?
    The Power of Dreams?

    Is it just me or is Honda’s marketing team run by children?