Counting hours longer to open the gates of the report of Tokyo Motor Show but the first media events and thus the first information / disclosures come from today. During such an event So Yesterday, Tetsuo Iwamura, CEO of American Honda Motor Co and head of Automobile Operations worldwide for Honda , revealed the direction in which you move the brand on the powertrains in the not-so-distant future.
This orientation includes turbocharging and twin-clutch transmissions. Regarding the engine, Iwamura-san, without entering into details, said the new, turbocharged units will replace the old, atmospheric ‘as possible.” As regards the other boxes, things are a bit more complex.
Starting from the engines, the range presented in three sets yesterday. And three, use turbo, direct injection and a variable valve timing of Honda, known as VTEC.
First in the series is the two-liter’ve met through the new 2015 Civic Type-R. This is of course four-cylinder delivers more than 280 horses and will occur in mid 2015. Definitely will be used in Europe and Honda looks and the possible use of U.S.
Second, is the engine which according to our information will replace 1,800 cc aspirated petrol. It is a four-cylinder 1,500 cc that promises 15% better fuel economy and 45% more torque. Will be presented in 2016 and in theory, intended only for the Asian and American markets, but I do not think Honda is so dumb as to “overtake” the European.
Finally , the youngest of the family, three-cylinder one liter. For this, Honda says that manages 20% lower power consumption and 15% more torque compared to the 1800ari. It also has to be presented last with the debut of having planned for the end of 2016 while the markets for which it is intended is the European and Asian. For the U.S., Honda is waiting to see how you will receive the corresponding 1000AP turbo Ford’s before taking any decision.
As for transmissions, following the presentation of the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the beginning of the year, Honda unveiled a 8-speed. This, when compared with a “conventional” 5-speed automatic transmission achieves 8% lower fuel consumption, while 10% better acceleration. Interest is the fact that Honda will combine this box with torque converter to smooth the somewhat ‘abnormal’ start box of this kind. Naturally, engineers and executives of Honda revealed no models on which to deploy the new box but the shots of the company regarding transmissions are as follows:
- Continuously variable gear boxes, CVTs, will be used in small-medium-duty vehicles of the manufacturer, replacing the conventional manual and automatic transmissions.
- DSG boxes regardless relations, cooperate generally with two-liter engines and trilitrous. Brand executives said that some models will be standard equipment while others optional.
- Traditional automatic transmissions will continue to be used in larger vehicles such as minivans and / or large SUV.