Honda Ridgeline V8

[k757]

http://www.automotive.com/future-car...-v8/index.html

Future: Honda Builds a V-8
The future of engines to come.
By Editors of Motor Trend
Photography by the Manufacturer

Honda is rumored to be testing a new aluminum-block V-8 in the Ridgeline pickup truck. The V-8 is in the 4.2- to 4.4-liter range, with VTEC and cylinder shutoff, and is slated to appear first the next Acura RL, a 2011 model launching in 2010. Honda also is adding the engine to the next-generation Ridgeline, slated for 2011 as a 2012 model. The exact configuration is unknown, but given the displacement, it's not based on the 60-degree 3.5- and 3.8-liter V-6s, so it's probably a 90-degree configuration, typical of eight-cylinder engines. Honda engineers take up the V-8 project as they complete work on a V-6 turbodiesel. It isn't designed just for the European market, which has embraced Honda's 2.2-liter diesel four, but also would provide needed low-end torque for the Ridgeline and Pilot SUV. Low-sulfur fuel required in the U.S. from 2007 will make the engine viable and will launch about the same time as a Mercedes-Benz diesel assault on our market.

Honda also is reportedly working on a hybrid-powered Ridgeline for the 2009 model year.

[ChrisM]

I'm really curious how accurate this article really is. I have heard that Honda was working on a 6 cylinder diesel, not completing work on a 6 cylinder turbodiesel as the article states.

I was told by a reliable source that a Ridgeline Hybrid was totally out of the question and that there would be no V8 for the RL in the foreseeable future.

You can really kiss your resale value goodbye if any of these engines come to fruition in the near future. No one will want the "underpowered" V6 engined Ridgeline.

PS. The present RL drivetrain will not handle V8 nor a turbodiesel in it's current configuration. An engine/tranny transplant is a tall order in only a couple of years. Anyone got Gary Flint's cell phone number? I'd like to get to the bottom of all of this.

[k757]

We'll get a firm answer from Gary in St. Louis... else we may not let him leave. hahahaha

[Pug]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

You can really kiss your resale value goodbye if any of these engines come to fruition in the near future. No one will want the "underpowered" V6 engined Ridgeline.

Especially if the mpg's are similar.

Oh well... glad I'm not thinking of selling it for a l-o-n-g time!

[xridgelinex]

You can really kiss your resale value goodbye if any of these engines come to fruition in the near future. No one will want the "underpowered" V6 engined Ridgeline.

Just make it your beater for the winter when there is no need for more power........

[csimo]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

I'm really curious how accurate this article really is. I have heard that Honda was working on a 6 cylinder diesel, not completing work on a 6 cylinder turbodiesel as the article states.

The Honda V-6 diesel is a turbodiesel (I'm not aware of any naturally aspirated diesel engines for automotive use anymore).

The unfortunate truth is that the diesel in not a priority for the Ridgeline. You will see it in the Acura MDX first, then the Pilot, and maybe the Ridgeline sometime after 2011. The're even talking about the Odyssey getting it before the Ridgeline.

The engine is real (and real good). Here are some of the reasons I've heard why the Ridgeline is not a priority:

#1 Limited production. They don't feel there's enough people interested in a diesel Ridgeline.

#2 High cost. The $6000 or so it would add to the price results in the #1 problem above.

#3 Perception. People think that a diesel Ridgeline would compare to a Dodge/Cummins, GM/Duramax, Ford/Powerstroke combo. The V-6 diesel is not a heavy duty diesel and is not intended to increase towing or payload capacity. It's a passenger vehicle engine... not a truck engine.

Please note... I am probably the biggest proponent of a diesel Ridgeline, and if there was something I could say to anybody to change their mind I would do it. I just want to post what I believe to be the real story... and it's not good.

I have no info on the V-8 gasser. It must be beyond 2011 implementation.

No need to bother Gary. I'm sure he couldn't say anything even if he was bursting at the seams to give info. But well ask him anyway in August!

[Ruhi]

Originally Posted by ChrisM

You can really kiss your resale value goodbye if any of these engines come to fruition in the near future. No one will want the "underpowered" V6 engined Ridgeline.

How exactly do you figure that out? Why do you think 2012 model year will be competing with 5-6 years old todays current models? They will have a completely different customer base, IMO, not that I care what the resale value will be in five to six years but anyway...

[shovelhd]

The Ridgeline resale value isn't that great right now, so we should all just deal with that and move on.

[xridgelinex]

#2 High cost. The $6000 or so it would add to the price results in the #1 problem above.

Why would anyone purchase a vehicle with a $6000 premium for the same power and torque... I would.......A really good designed diesel will produce a 40% increase in fuel efficiency over gas.... Say for giggles the RL average is 19mpg, 40% increase = 7.6 more mpg = an average of 26.6mpg... With gas being around $5/gal in 2012 it would take a couple of years to recoup the $6000 at the rate I put on the miles.....

[csimo]

Originally Posted by xridgelinex

Why would anyone purchase a vehicle with a $6000 premium for the same power and torque... I would.......A really good designed diesel will produce a 40% increase in fuel efficiency over gas.... Say for giggles the RL average is 19mpg, 40% increase = 7.6 more mpg = an average of 26.6mpg... With gas being around $5/gal in 2012 it would take a couple of years to recoup the $6000 at the rate I put on the miles.....

I would also pay the extra price. The diesel would have less horsepower than the current gasser, but much more torque (and down low where we need it badly).

Diesel powered vehicles also maintain much better resale value. You recover quite a bit of the additional costs on the back end.

I like the improved drivability of a diesel.