Honda’s next powertrain is targeting its largest vehicles like the Pilot, the Passport, the Odyssey and the Ridgeline with innovative six-cylinder tech.
According to CarBuzz, the hybrid system was developed with a strong emphasis on frequent off-roading and towing. To maximize the efficiency, the automaker put a dedicated electric motor on the rear axle, avoiding the use of a crankshaft. Apparently, Honda believes such a setup to be quite sufficient for serious AWD applications; the company stresses that the e-motor at the back isn’t just there to let you start or accelerate faster.
Most parameters remain to be disclosed, including even the displacement volume. CarBuzz speculates that it could amount to three liters, but claims that the design is all-new – none of the parts are recycled from Honda’s current V6. Among other things, using an engine created from scratch enables the company to optimize its output for hybrid-only use cases – it’s already official that we won’t be seeing this mill in non-electrified cars.
Another interesting thing about this still-unnamed V6 is a feature called the S+ Shift. Like many similar solutions, it allows drivers to pick their virtual “gear”, but Honda claims it unlocks full and precise powertrain control for those who like to be in charge of their car. Some degree of virtualization will likely be applied to the company’s VTEC system as well. Last but not least, we are told that the engine will be able to switch between generating power for the motors and driving the wheels via a transmission.
