Internal combustion engines are dead, right? Wrong. At the EICMA show today, Honda showed a new three-cylinder engine with a V-pattern layout. Yeah, a V3. We were surprised too.
And to make things even more interesting, the new V3 engine has an electrical compressor that packs air into the intake, similar to a supercharger, but without needing the intricate plumbing or other design challenges involved with that.
Here’s how Honda described the new engine:
The water-cooled, 75° V3 engine is being newly developed for larger displacement machines and has been designed to be extremely slim and compact. It features the world’s first electrical compressor for motorcycles, which is able to control compression of the intake air irrespective of engine rpm, meaning that high-response torque can be delivered even from lower rpm.
In addition, the electrical compressor allows a high degree of freedom of layout of all components in the limited space available on a motorcycle, and an efficient centralization of mass. It also does not require an intercooler.
Those with long memories will remember the last time Honda had a V3 engine for the road – the seminal two-stroke NS400R of the mid-1980s. Now, 40 years later – and in a completely different world – the potential of this new direction is obvious, with breathtaking possibilities in terms of models to come. Development will continue towards mass production and towards Honda’s goal of enabling customers to further experience the unique joy of riding and owning a motorcycle.
Honda didn’t announce any new bikes built around this motor, or even really get into the engine’s specs. But it will come along eventually, and we’re quite interested to see how that works out.
DKW built and raced a “V” 3 in the 1950’s. I owned an NSR 400. History repeats. The basic concept is old.
For someone who rode in the 1980’s this is big. My first sport bike was the original VF750F followed by the VFR750. I drooled over the NSR400 at the dealership.
It would be interesting to see if Honda produces a bike with the trellis frame and single sided swing arm.