You can finally buy a Honda V8!

longboat · Sep 21, 2023

However, it will be in the form of an outboard motor.

As promised, Honda's 350hp V8 is here:

Honda Marine Debuts All-New BF350 Outboard Company’s First V8 Motor Available Commercially, Flagship Model Offers Premium Power and Unparalleled Performance for Extraordinary Boating Experiences

Headlining preparations for the upcoming International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in Tampa, Florida, October 3-5, Honda Marine announced today the introduction of the Honda BF350, the newest high-power outboard motor to join its comprehensive lineup.

hondanews.com

Interestingly, it is a VTEC design...

Soichiro1906 · Nov 8, 2023

Agreed. It wouldn't be my first choice if I was towing and hauling frequently and I can definitely see where it would fall way short of the competition.

Yeah, I was amazed how that Silverado effortlessly got up to speed. And yes, that's the nice thing about forced induction is the ability to tune it up if you want or need to. I'm surprised but I applaud Chevy would even offer that!

BTW I think Cadillac put that 2.7T in one of their models too.

ISO Truck · Nov 8, 2023

I guess what I’m saying is that if Honda could somehow get us a big boost in low end torque, the Ridgeline WOULD be a great choice for towing and hauling moderate loads.

I don’t expect that they will, though (which is a shame imo.) Honda’s engine designs are focussed on automobile performance/sportiness, and their approach to achieving that is with high revving engines that produce more HP than torque. In a truck, the goal is to have an engine that produces more torque than HP, without needing to rev the engine high to achieve it.

But Honda doesn’t make that kind of engine nor do they have a transmission that could handle it if they did. So we get an automobile engine/tranny combo because that’s all they have available.

I would love to see Honda buy that GM 2.7 I4/transmission combo and stick it in the G3 Ridgeline.

Soichiro1906 · Nov 8, 2023

ISO Truck said:
I guess what I’m saying is that if Honda could somehow get us a big boost in low end torque, the Ridgeline WOULD be a great choice for towing and hauling moderate loads.

I don’t expect that they will, though (which is a shame imo.) Honda’s engine designs are focussed on automobile performance/sportiness, and their approach to achieving that is with high revving engines that produce more HP than torque. In a truck, the goal is to have an engine that produces more torque than HP, without needing to rev the engine high to achieve it.

But Honda doesn’t make that kind of engine nor do they have a transmission that could handle it if they did. So we get an automobile engine/tranny combo because that’s all they have available.

I would love to see Honda buy that GM 2.7 I4/transmission combo and stick it in the G3 Ridgeline.

Are you going to buy another Ridgeline when the time comes or do you have something better suited for towing in mind?

zroger73 · Nov 8, 2023

The new J35Y8 has to turn even faster to develop peak torque than the J35Y6 does. It sounds like you'll be leaving the Honda brand soon.

ISO Truck · Nov 8, 2023

I may not be purchasing a new automobile from them again, but we won’t be leaving the Honda brand any time soon. Our CRV, Pilot, and Ridgeline are all from a different Honda era and have quite a bit of reliable service life remaining.

And there is a good chance I’ll be buying a few more motorcycles from them, at any rate…

longboat · Nov 8, 2023

Good news is that there is a place in the bed of the G2 to bolt on a full-size spare. Bad news is you give up a bit of bed space and a little visibility out the rear window.

longboat · Nov 9, 2023

FWIW, the LPL for the G2, Kerry McClure, stated that the donut was designed to handle a Ridgeline with full payload or towing, for whatever the design parameters are (50 miles at 50mph, or something like that... I've slept a lot since then...).

longboat · Oct 2, 2024

It just seems a shame that Honda would limit this engine to outboards only. I think it would make for a great truck engine, or even an NSX!

https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-marine/releases/release-1128768177ab00a73471b1938c0ffab6-honda-marine-bf350-v8-outboard-secures-prestigious-industry-accolades-for-innovation-and-design

john brown · Oct 3, 2024

I have run honda outboards and they last forever under very rough conditins and minimal maintenence, but I can also tell you that honda may advertise a horsepower and have different rearing to the propr but Honda does not get the performance out of the engine that other manufactures do with the same stated HP, but it is a good test field running those engines in the ocean for years before putting them in vehicles

ISO Truck · Sep 22, 2023

longboat said:
Also, most of the Tohatsu outboards (one of the most popular worldwide, just not so much in the U.S.) are re-branded Honda units.

Only the larger HP Tohatsus are Hondas. Tohatsu’s smaller engines are home grown. I forget where the cut-off is, but vaguely remember at 115hp and above.

Oddly, Tohatsu offers a better warranty than Honda, including on the re-branded Hondas. And they sell them for less money. So a larger Tohatsu/Honda is a smart way to go if you are shopping the Honda engines.

To make things more confusing, Tohatsu makes Mercury’s smaller engines (under 75 hp).

ISO Truck · Sep 22, 2023

longboat said:
Honda has the specs on their marine page:

Honda BF350 Outboard Engine | 350 hp 4 Stroke Motor Specs and Features

The Honda BF200, BF225, and BF250 are 4-stroke 200 hp, 225 hp, and 250 hp marine engines. These powerful, quiet outboard motors are ideal for pontoons, center console, multi-hull, bay boats, and more.

marine.honda.com

Unless they are offering a much better price, they are going to have a tough sell. Mercury’s 350 is a 5.7L V-10, and weighs about 80 lbs less. That weight is a huge factor, especially in multi-engine applications.

Honda Marine Debuts All-New BF350 Outboard Company’s First V8 Motor Available Commercially, Flagship Model Offers Premium Power and Unparalleled Performance for Extraordinary Boating Experiences

You can finally buy a Honda V8!

Honda Marine Debuts All-New BF350 Outboard Company’s First V8 Motor Available Commercially, Flagship Model Offers Premium Power and Unparalleled Performance for Extraordinary Boating Experiences

Honda BF350 Outboard Engine | 350 hp 4 Stroke Motor Specs and Features

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