EICMA is anything and everything to do with motorcycles. Having seen some radical new motorcycles and concepts, it’s time to see something interesting — Honda’s new V3 engine. Showcased at EICMA mounted to a trellis frame, the engine has raised a lot of excitement about the manufacturer’s future.
Honda V3 engine — What is it?
The Honda V3 engine configuration sees two cylinders facing forward and one facing the rear, effectively forming a 75-degree V. In between the cylinders sits an electric compressor to give the engine a boost, similar to a turbocharger, but in a more effective way.
While turbochargers need an intercooler and exhaust gas to drive the impeller, the electric compressor uses electricity to spin the impeller, making it more effective since the air is compressed independently and can effectively remove the turbo lag. This is a first for the company, but the V3 configuration itself is not. Honda introduced a two-stroke V3 40 years ago with the NS400R, but this is a modern take on it with an electric compressor.
Honda V3 engine — Specifications
Honda has not revealed any numbers regarding the engine, displacement, horsepower or torque — nothing. The engine was mounted in a trellis frame at EICMA, however, this could just be to showcase the components clearly. Honda intends to mass produce the engine for larger displacement motorcycles.
The setup at EICMA, the engine mounted on a steel trellis frame suspended by USD forks, twin discs up front, a single-sided swing arm, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres intend on the engine being sporty in nature. No matter what motorcycle the new engine will debut on, Honda’s concept looks interesting.
