MrFatbooty

Honda Motor Co. has decided not to build an eight-cylinder engine because high fuel prices are pushing buyers to more efficient motors. The company will focus instead on expanding diesel and gasoline-electric engine output.

"It's not the time to make a V-8," Honda Chief Executive Takeo Fukui said. "We need to focus on diesels and hybrids first."

Fukui told reporters in Tokyo Aug. 4 that Honda was studying whether to build V-8 engines and "will decide in three years" on using them. He said Tuesday that the company has dropped any plan to build the motors.

Honda this year expects to build 70,000 diesel motors, for models in Europe, and 30,000 gasoline-electric hybrid motors, which will mainly be sold in U.S. cars. The company plans to boost diesel output to 100,000 motors in two years and hybrid production to as many as 50,000 a year by 2007.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...C04-314096.htm

98CoupeV6

Word on the street is that it's true

DVPGSR

I think it makes sense to hold back on a V8...especially with gas prices the way they are.

As for the diesel engines I want them to bring em stateside. I would jump all over a diesel Accord EX with a manual tranny with the commute I have. Every other day I have to fill my GSR up with gas.

qtiger

I think that high gas prices are the best reason for Honda to produce a V8. If they could bring out a small displacement, high economy (cylinder deactivation maybe) V8 engine they could steal a lot of customers from other brands.

DVPGSR

I see them going in the other direction. Adding IMA to their V6 with cylinder deactivation so that it gets the output of a V8 when needed but uses the gas of a 4 cyl will have that effect. We are getting to the point now where hybrid powertrains are able to really increase the power of a cars engine and I am certain Honda will be pioneering this more and more.

magnanpi

Okay....so theyre deciding againest a V8 when all there major competitors (Ford, GM, Nissan, Toyota, Chrysler) have them. ?? I understand the whole IMA and V6 engine deal, but Toyota makes these hybrids, and they make V8s. Why cant Honda do the same? They cant make a V8 for gas reasons but theyre making a V10? That makes a lot of sense.

Dorikin

Good call on Honda's part. Bring on the V10

qtiger

Yes, but hybrids are heavy and expensive. I can't see Honda being price competitive using IMA V6s against V8 competitors while maintaining similar performance.

ED9man

Of course it makes sense, the V10 is for the very low volume supercar flagship, people who buy exotics couldn't care less about gas prices.

Ochdx

People that buy 745 and s500 couldnt care about gas prices either. I think they should make a 4.0 RL with 350hp to compete with cars in that class.