Honda Accord, Fit and Pilot to receive Dreamy new engines, CVTs

Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-...photo-5054859/

Honda is set to unveil its new "Earth Dreams" family of engines, and while the lineup will make its debut in the all-new Accord, the more efficient powertrains are poised to spread throughout the lineup.

According to an Automotive News report, the direct-injected, dual overhead cam powerplant range is said to be good for a 10-percent increase in fuel economy over the current lineup.

Also mentioned in the story is the possibility of getting a 1.6-liter diesel with 220 pound feet of torque here in the States, and possibly a large-car hybrid setup. Will Honda renew the short-lived Accord Hybrid?

The report is not limited to engine technology, as Automotive News says Honda will move to Continuously Variable Transmissions in a much larger way. We've known for some time that the Japanese automaker is poised to go the belt and pulley route, but it hasn't been clear what vehicles will receive the transmission. Not every vehicle will get a CVT, as the report states that "performance models and off-road vehicles will retain geared transmissions."

AN also provided a breakdown of future product plans, which include a redesigned Fit in summer of 2014, with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder paired with a CVT. Europe will get a hybrid Fit, but American plans for the hybrid version have reportedly been nixed. Honda's smallest offering, may also spawn a compact crossover, slotted below the CR-V, but it's not expected until Spring, 2015.

In other portfolio news, the aging Pilot three-row crossover will receive a new 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V6 when the model is redesigned for 2014. Power is expected to be on the order of 310 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, and a CVT is also part of the program, but only on front-drive models. Also included is additional confirmation that the Civic will get an emergency refresh, a mere 18 months after its launch triggered a lackluster response from critics.

Finally, the AN report also dangles the possibility of reviving the S2000 to compete with the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, but then dashes hopes by saying that its not a priority for the Japanese automaker.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/h...-engines-cvts/

 

Several thoughts:

Do it Honda. People have lost faith in you thus far

310hp vs the current 250. At 310 that is the most of any mainstream SUV for it's category. Only the Caddy SRX puts out a few more hp. (I always wished the CX-9 would get the 305hp version of the 3.7L V6 from Ford vs the current 272hp)

Darn straight..

With the 14' Mazda6 coming out, Honda needs to go back to the drawing board

 

I read that Honda's 2nd quarter profits quadrupled to $1.7 billion so they have the money to make the needed changes and updates. The 1st quarter was equally strong for them too.

 

Thank the hot selling CR-V

 

thats silly statement, they always had money :-).

 

better late than never, but '14 Mazda6 has nothing to do with Civic and even with Accord, Mazda is not serious competitor, like it or not.

 

Only their cars.

Their motorcycles, boats, generators, and lawnmowers are pretty good.

 

I guess I mean't design. Nowhere near the quantity of the Accord.

We want cake and want to eat it too

edit, the first sentence was aimed at the Civic, the sentence following was meant toward the picture of the Accord. hence the Mazda6/Accord comparo, edited post

 

Earth Dreams. Come on Honda, really?

 

Big incentives or not,25K Civic sales in July vs 14K July '11 helped too.

 

I know... Toyota too, not just Honda.

Avalon gave me some hopes, but those Rav4 pics look ok so far, nothing special. Now AB reports how Corolla will make bigger transformation than Avalon.. so lets see... words mean nothing.

Our European Toyotas are usually a bit nicer, but not that nicer. While I can understand that in US they want to make Lexus the stylish choice, for Europeans, Lexus is not an viable option so we need our Toyota's to be not just reliable but stylish too.

 

And after all that the 3.5L V6 engine is still SOHC!

 

And now they have more money.

 

so true, and will it be direct inject at least? Honda/Acura has come of the oldest motors around, they might as well put the eblems "EFI" or "6 speed auto" on the back of the trunk lol

 

The reason they have so much money is because they're hardly even trying and selling arguably sub-standard cars in more than a few cases with technologies that have long since paid for themselves to overly loyal customers who are still happy to pay way more money than they should be all for that beloved "H" emblem.

A lot of companies would kill for customers like those.

Wow CVTs, direct injection, and finally some 6 speed transmissions. Welcome Honda you've finally made it... to 2007!