Along with the current Hybrid technology and Diesel engine, VTEC Turbo technology is a new addition of Earth Dreams technology for low fuel consumption, environmental friendliness and significantly reduced size compared to the engine. normally.
The Honda 1.5L VTEC TURBO engine technology introduced on the tenth generation Honda Civic is considered a powerful innovation by Honda to create a world-leading premium sports sedan. Honda’s new Prachinburi plant in Thailand will be the place to manufacture and supply the first generation of VTEC TURBO engines in Southeast Asia. Along with current Hybrid technology and Diesel engine,
The VTEC TURBO engine installed on the new Honda Civic will create a new, more powerful performance but still very fuel-efficient compared to a conventional engine. The three core technological points of the VTEC TURBO engine include:
1. Multi-point fueling – Direct fuel injection: Reduces the temperature inside the cylinder, helps to mix the air and fuel mixture quickly, makes the combustion process more efficient, helps the engine smooth and continuous running.
2. Dual variable valve control system (Dual Value Timing Control) of both intake and exhaust valves: Helps control the opening and closing of air intake and exhaust valves accordingly. This will allow the engine to operate at full power even at low rpm.
3. Turbocharger system: With an electronically controlled exhaust gas recirculation system, minimizing energy loss from exhaust gas and efficiently regenerating energy. The engine will respond very quickly to the accelerator.
The TURBO VTEC engine provides powerful performance and excellent fuel economy whether in the city or on the highway. Compared to conventional engines, it provides high torque thanks to the contribution of the turbocharger system.
For the new Honda Civic 2016, the 1.5 liter VTEC TURBO engine applies Earth Dreams technology platform for a maximum capacity of 173HP/5500rpm, maximum torque of 220Nm/5,500rpm, equivalent to a 2.4L engine conventional, but better fuel economy The 2016 Honda Civic has a European-style high-end sport design with a wider body and a lower ceiling that provides a sporty and powerful driving feeling, with a more spacious interior space. The comfortable equipment in the 2016 Honda Civic is very modern and high-class, not inferior to D-class cars. With innovative design, strong performance and excellent engine performance, the new generation Honda Civic is sure to will definitely set a new standard for the C-segment sedan segment.
In Honda’s original concept, VTEC technology also plays a role in providing more thrust at the end of the rev range (almost similar to turbocharging). Therefore, adding a real turbocharger to this engine block is like… pouring sugar into honey – which made the previous Japanese automaker almost uninterested in development. This is what makes the car-savvy community feel regret for many years. However, in the new context with the car industry’s tendency to reduce engine cylinder capacity, the combination of VTEC and turbocharger (Turbo) seems to have become mandatory.
Theoretically, VTEC Turbo maintains a variable valve timing mechanism (VTEC) in both the intake and exhaust manifolds of the engine. The difference comes from the fact that Honda also added a small-sized turbocharger to improve torque at low rpm. parallel to the direct fuel injection system. As a member of the Earth Dreams product family, both the 1.5L VTEC Turbo engine and the 1.0L “junior” engine are completely new designed by Honda and it is not difficult to see that they will be aimed at competing with Ford. EcoBoost – also present on the company’s flagship cars, typically the Honda Civic sedan or MPV Jade, Jazz… With the 1.0L version, users will have a capacity of 127 hp and 200 Nm of torque. – outperforming the corresponding Ford engine (only 123hp, 170Nm).
Notably, published data shows that the new Civic with a turbocharged 1.0L engine will have an acceleration time of 9.5 seconds from 0-100km/h and a top speed of 209km/h while fuel consumption whether the improvement can be up to 20% compared to the 1.8L version using the previous naturally aspirated system. The number on the 1.0L Civic version is even announced at a rather “shocking” level of only 3.56 liters / 100km – enough to bring this car “through” through increasingly strict environmental standards in many markets. globally. Among the characteristics of the new turbocharged engine, the most prominent can be highlighted is the thorough use of aluminum materials, the full presence of mechanisms such as dual VTC (Variable Valve Timing Control), Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) at input . In addition, Honda also arranged a mixed intake air port, high-performance cylinder top cooler, piston with separate passage, sodium exhaust manifold and variable capacity oil pump to improve operating efficiency. of the engine. The competitive trend of the new engine with EcoBoost is even more evident here when Honda’s new machine has a calibration belt for the oil pump – similar to the one on the 1.0L EcoBoost. In addition, in order to improve fuel consumption, an idle shutdown mechanism is also fully integrated.
Try “holding the reins” of Honda’s new engine
At the track of the Twin Ring Motegi racecourse, Otofun News had the opportunity to test Honda’s new engine on the Jade RS model. It is known that the 1.5L version mounted on Honda Jade in the Japanese market is also the model shared with the 2016 Civic – the model that was launched in the US market not long ago. After experiences with VTEC Turbo 1.5L on such a massive MPV (weighing 1,530kg), it can be affirmed that if Honda equips a new engine on Civic or City models, it will be a real gift. Great fun for any car lover!.
Seen more specifically, the biggest difference of VTEC Turbo 1.5L is evident in the presence of better torque right from low revs. In other words, the driver will no longer have to step on the accelerator to have the same momentum as before. With a vehicle as heavy as the Jade, that represents a pretty big difference. However, that is only half of the problem.
The second difference that experience shows is the role of the CVT gearbox. If according to the media, the CVT gearbox is often criticized as “weakening” the engine, then with this new combination of Honda – of course there are appropriate tweaks, especially the stepless gearbox has done ” soften” the vehicle’s acceleration process effectively. In other words, it erases the “shock” that the turbocharger causes when activated at low rpm. For a family car like the Jade or a luxury sedan, that would be a priceless feature. However, perhaps speed “fans” will want to have a sharper experience on sports cars using this new powertrain because while this gearbox handles quite well at the beginning of acceleration (thanks to the effectively concentrates the torque), it still leaves behind a slight “rubbery” effect that is typical at high revs. No matter what, it cannot be denied that Honda has been excellent in optimizing the CVT gearbox for the turbocharged engine.
In terms of acceleration on flat roads, what the Jade RS shows is enough for everyday use – even when you consider the situation where you often have to pass cars in the city. However, Honda’s new CVT gearbox sometimes still does not erase certain turbo lags. This is very difficult to avoid and can almost only be completely overcome with electric motors or electric turbochargers.
However, it is also undeniable that the “rubber” acceleration effect typical of the CVT transmission is almost non-existent on the powertrain of the new Jade RS – which will become the norm on many models. Honda’s popularity in the future. This difference is really obvious because even within the framework of the experience, Honda also arranged for the group of reporters a BR-V with a 1.5L non-turbocharged engine and the same transmission. In addition, the presence of gearshift paddles and seven “virtual” modes on the MPV also helps the driver to be more active in manipulation.
The VTEC Turbo 1.5L engine line will soon be introduced to the Vietnamese market and many other countries in the near future. Although this certainly cannot happen overnight, with what Otofun News has experienced and learned at Twin Ring Motegi, we can be sure that this new “gift” will be worth it. wait!
