Honda To Release A New Range Of Fuel Efficient Engines

Honda will soon be introducing a number of new products, one after the other, in order to restore its image as a segment leader in design, innovation and a leader in fuel efficiency. Honda aims to lead the industry when it comes to fuel efficiency. Yasuhisa Arai, senior managing officer at Honda R&D Co., said that its plan for the next three years would be based on its new range of “Earth Dreams” engines, transmissions and hybrid systems. After this period, Honda hopes to boost the average fuel economy of its fleet by 10%. In the interview by Automotive News, Arai gave the time frame for the launch of the technologies on several vehicles.
Arai said that the company has been one of the leaders in fuel efficiency for a period of time but it now aims to get ahead with the innovation of Earth Dreams. However, it still has to be proven if Earth Dreams is “truly revolutionary or just evolutionary.” CFO Fumihiko Ike admitted that this technology itself is nearly identical to that of other companies with direct-injection engines.
The technologies under Earth Dreams were revealed last November. These represent the largest overhaul of Honda’s drivetrain since the late 1980s when it introduced the VTEC variable-valve timing. The most significant move for Earth Dreams is the extensive application of direct injection throughout its gasoline engine lineup. Honda is quite new to this fuel-saving technology since it had only used it for a short time in just one nameplate with a petrol engine.