Another Honda Accord? Nope. Just the future of the Acura brand in the body of an Accord.
The most important bit of tech here is version 2.0 of the SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system. Driveshafts are so yesterday's news with Electric SH-AWD, or E SH-AWD if you like. Instead, you have a pair of rear, 20kW electric motors -- one for each wheel. At low speeds (perhaps up to 30-40 km/h, though Honda hasn't decided the threshold), these motors can drive this prototype on their own, so it's a rear-wheel-drive EV experience.
Up front, there's a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine; it's the same architecture used in today's cars, but now it has a D.I. and benefits from various friction reduction measures -- helping it to "over 310 hp" and a flatter, longer-lasting torque curve. There's also another electric motor up front. This one is rated at 30kW and drives the front wheels. And when you floor the throttle, you have the engine and all three electric motors working to move the car down the road. Of course, there's a lithium-ion battery pack in this car, but the engineers won't tell us how big.
Oh, and we should mention that the front electric motor is built into a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and this DCT isn't just a specialized hybrid transmission, say the Honda engineers. It could be, and no doubt will be offered in Acuras with regular old internal combustion engines.
Of course, E SH-AWD is meant to be more than just a backdoor into hybridization, as the system torques up the outside rear wheel to tighten your line through corners (using energy recovered from the motor on the inside wheel). We were allotted 5 minutes to take the Accord mule through a handling course (with a couple good corners and a slalom), and while that was nowhere near enough seat time to draw any conclusions, it was clear that this all-wheel-drive system can hasten the turn-in of what was undoubtedly a really heavy car.
Engineers tell us the system will be used in the next-gen RL, TL and MDX, and well, we'd be very surprised if the reborn NSX didn't get in on the SH-AWD action some way, somehow.
stpierrewm says:
06:23 PM, 11/29/11
Honda has woken up and smelled the coffee!
jonl913 says:
06:35 PM, 11/29/11
"yo dawg, i heard you liked electric motors.."
mcloffs says:
07:32 PM, 11/29/11
What are the wheels on the Accord? They're better-looking than anything Honda sells here.
nefariousnigel says:
09:29 PM, 11/29/11
@ mcloffs:
That picture looks like a Honda Inspire which is a slightly better looking version of our American Hand a Accord (The JDM Accord is the Acura TSX). I believe those rims are from the 2008-2010 Acura RL.
I agree...they are sweet. Unfortunately, Acura changed the design to some putrid 50 spoke style for 2011. But you can still get them here.
nefariousnigel says:
09:32 PM, 11/29/11
BTW, if this article is true, Acura just trumped everyone (including the Germans AT Acura's price point) in one fell swoop. Of course, I'm assuming this triple electric motor, E-SH-AWD, advanced transmission, DI fuel sipping engine will come in at about 50K for an MDX.
If it comes in at 60K, it runs into difficult competition.
coolb944 says:
12:53 AM, 11/30/11
Looks like Honda was not as asleep at the wheel as we might have thought. They're just really freakin' conservative and took waaaay too long to introduce these new technologies to the world.
On that wheel question, they look like the wheels off the previous generation USM Accord V6, pre-refresh.
A seven speed DCT and a DI 3.5 V6 for Acura...man, this company might actually get some sporting techno mojo back. Clothe the cars in truly stylish sheet metal again, and they will truly be back in the game! Imagine it...a handsomely styled TSX with 7-speed DCT, 3.5 DI V6 with ~320hp, and SH-AWD. Hmmmm, new 335i? What, what's that?!
throwback says:
06:23 AM, 11/30/11
"..what was undoubtedly a really heavy car."
Remember when Hondas were always the lightest cars in their class? One of many reasons why they were some much fun to drive.
blackdynamite1 says:
06:53 AM, 11/30/11
I'd only expect a Honda Pilot to use the 3.5
Acura will use it the rest of the time
BD
blackdynamite1 says:
06:54 AM, 11/30/11
And the 3.5 would work in the Odyssey
BD
rayzor says:
07:19 AM, 11/30/11
Wow, wow. wow!! Honda is BACK! Better late than never!!!
lowprofile says:
07:25 AM, 11/30/11
jonl913 says:
"yo dawg, i heard you liked electric motors.."
I don't know if everyone got that reference, but I thought it was hilarious! good job! :)
cr_driver says:
08:24 AM, 11/30/11
Welcome to the twenty first century Honda.
Oh wait, you have nothing of that in a current production car! Sorry kiddo.
Ha, just keep working Honda.
audikrazy1 says:
09:24 AM, 11/30/11
So this would replace the 3.7 in the TL? because last i checked the TL-SH-AWD used the 3.7 and the 3.5 was used in the FWD version
hondacura4 says:
10:12 AM, 11/30/11
Actually those rims are from the last generation Euro Civic Type R.
The "new" 3.5 will replace all current V6 offerings from Honda/Acura. However, Acura will get all the technologies while Honda will only get a few. The best part about the Honda version is there will no longer be a compromise in torque production because of the VCM system. Honda somehow managed to include the system yet increase power/efficiency over the current VCM and non VCM engines. In case you didn't know the current VCM system eliminates the performance enhancing mechanicals of the VTEC system which unfortunately hurts torque production at low to medium engine speeds. The new system has no compromise in torque production, performance or efficiency.
The Acura V6 will still use SOHC architecture yet include intake/exhaust valve timing/lift (a production first currently applied to the 3.7 TL/RL), a host of friction reducing methods and of course DI and other technologies that provide class leading efficiency and engine performance.
The one thing I am really impressed with is the fact that Honda decided not to implement turbocharging like so many other manufacturers have done to get good EPA numbers.
jps429 says:
05:23 PM, 12/ 7/11
those rims are from the 2002-2005 NSX