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Honda working on 'new concept' engine for 2017

Published on 26 Apr 2016 11:00
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By: Rob Veenstra

Honda is working on an all-new engine concept for 2017. That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, despite the fact McLaren's engine partner has made clear progress this year after the nightmare start of the works collaboration in 2015. "The car feels good and we're definitely heading in the right direction, but we need to keep pushing and working hard to bring more improvements and power for us to see further progression," said British driver Jenson Button.

Indeed, although McLaren-Honda is no longer a backmarker, the long straight in Shanghai showed that in engine power alone, the team is more than 10kph down on the field-leaders Mercedes and Ferrari. Auto Motor und Sport says more power is coming in Canada in June, reportedly by Honda replicating an innovative spark ignition trick pioneered by Mercedes.

But correspondent Michael Schmidt says Honda now acknowledges its fundamental mistake in having placed the turbo unit within the 'V' of the six-cylinder internal combustion engine. "The bitter pill is that the new engine will only be ready for 2017," he said. (GMM)

F1 News Jenson Button Mercedes McLaren Ferrari Honda

Replies (9)

Vet5

Posts: 225
Well Honda said last year the main problem was the MGU-H not discharging as much as the rest of the competition due to its size, and they said would be fixed for this year, give them there due they have seemed to make it a bit better, but now its the turbo being situated within the V? Do they not mean the compressor? the photo above shows the bloody turbo. Honda just do you're job and get people in to help, look how Renault are getting on after receiving help from Illen!
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- Apr 26 2016 - 11:23
- Wolfgang
  
  Posts: 313
  i think they meant i´d have been better to put the compressor in front of the V..
  
  Like Merc did it..
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  Apr 26 2016 - 12:32
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Actually, the photo isnt just of the turbo unit. The photo depicts the engine without the hybrid bits. The dark component on top protects the turbo, and the metallic things on the side with the "Honda" name on them are the cylinder houses (thats what they're called in Swedish, sorry, I forgot the english name!). I believe the compressors are situated inside that black casing aswell, but I dont remember.
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  Apr 26 2016 - 17:28
- khasmir
  
  Posts: 893
  That picture is not from the actual Honda engine, you might even call this "an artists impression".
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  Apr 26 2016 - 18:15
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Of course it is a render, and its a render of the 2015 unit, but it looks very similar to the RA615H unit as seen on the Tokyo motor show, with a few exceptions, e.g the black things on this render are metal parts on the real thing, and the Honda plate is missing. The top thing is also shaped differently. Otherwise its a good model picture. Not sure how different the RA616H looks.
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  Apr 26 2016 - 19:52
Vet5

Posts: 225
Ah now that makes sense! haha Well hopefully they make gains!
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- Apr 26 2016 - 13:04
mclarenfan1968

Posts: 1,027
There are no fundamental mistakes at this level, they made a trade off and it didn't pay off, it's as simple as that. To suggest otherwise by these arm chair clowns is insulting to academia.
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- Apr 26 2016 - 15:08
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
So we can likely expect the Honda unit to grow in size, even if it might be a very slight increase in size. Then again, the cars will grow in size next year, so the PU's dimensions might not matter as much next year. As long as the power output will increase, Im happy.
The spark ignition gimmick might add a sizable amount of ponies to the unit, Mercedes boast quite a bit about it, so it could be an important step for them.
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- Apr 26 2016 - 17:36
khasmir

Posts: 893
That innovative spark ignition trick is most likely HCCI.
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- Apr 26 2016 - 18:28