With a new Honda Pilot arrives a new edition of Honda’s evergreen V6. This time around, the 3.5-liter motor adds dual overhead cams even as it dispenses with Honda’s signature VTEC system. There is certainly a slight energy improve as nicely, but nothing drivers will most likely discover.
Notably, as Motor vehicle and Driver points out, the engine marks Honda’s very first by natural means aspirated DOHC V6 considering that the unique NSX. Even so, that wonderful motor was augmented with VTEC, Honda’s activity-altering variable valve timing method. VTEC consumption camshafts had two profiles, a person for small-rpm efficiency and 1 for functionality that would activate at a certain rpm. It all worked mechanically, employing oil pressure to swap profiles. Contrary to in the NSX, nevertheless, the Pilot’s V6, referred to internally by motor code J35Y8, does not have VTEC.
VTEC was slicing edge System 1 tech in 1989, but in this article it is really been changed with cam phasers that consistently change timing for each ingestion and exhaust valves. From a driver’s standpoint, this usually means electrical power will be delivered additional smoothly without that trademark VTEC jolt. Electrical power grows a little bit, up 5 horses to 285, while torque stays the similar 262 pound-ft. Maximum output of both equally arrive a couple hundred rpm higher.
The heads arrive courtesy of the TLX Type S (also, the MDX Kind S). They’ve been engineered with the cam bearings caps forged into the valve addresses to lessen the in general top of the engine by 1.2 inches.
Mixed with a new direct-injection system with tension cranked up by 50%, gas supply is additional managed. The program can inject three squirts of gasoline for every combustion cycle. The final result is a lowering of NOx and particulates by 40% to 50%, in accordance to Honda, which gives the V6 an SULEV30 score. That indicates it is really regarded a tremendous-extremely-reduced-emission light-responsibility car by 2030 criteria.
A cleaner burn alternatively than outright effectiveness was Honda’s purpose. As these, expect this V6 to proliferate through Honda’s big SUVs until finally the electric Hondas get there.