Honda advanced technology


Honda Advanced Technology is part of Honda's long-standing research and development program focused on building new models for their automotive products and automotive-related technologies, with many of the advances pertaining to engine technology. Honda's research has led to practical solutions ranging from fuel-efficient vehicles and engines, to more sophisticated applications such as the humanoid robot, ASIMO, and the Honda HA-420 Honda-jet, a six-passenger business jet.

Engine and Environmental Technology

i-VTEC

i-VTEC is the acronym for intelligent VTEC, an evolution of Honda's VTEC engine. The i-VTEC engine works by controlling the timing and lifting of the camshafts depending on engine speeds. The valves open a small amount during low engine speeds to achieve optimal fuel efficiency. The valves will open wider at higher engine speeds to achieve higher performance.
Honda i-VTEC has VTC continuously variable timing of camshaft phasing on the intake camshaft of DOHC VTEC engines. The technology first appeared on Honda's K-series four-cylinder engine family in 2001.
What is this referring to: The new mechanism debuted in 2003 with the V6 3.0-liter i-VTEC engine which used a new Variable Cylinder Management technology that runs on six cylinders during acceleration but used only three cylinders during cruising and low engine loads. In 2006, Honda introduced the 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine for the Civic which could deliver accelerated performance equivalent to a 2.0-liter engine with fuel efficiency that is 6% better than the 1.7-liter Civic engine. The high power output with low emissions and fuel economy is largely contributed by the improvements in several areas:
  • Delayed valve closure timing: This controls the intake volume of air-fuel mixture, allowing the throttle valve to remain wide open while reducing pumping losses of up to 16%, which allows the engine to deliver better power output.
  • Drive-by-wire technology: This system provides increased precision control over the throttle valve when the valve timing changes, creating a better driving experience where the driver is unaware of any torque fluctuations.
  • Restructured pistons: A more compact piston prevents residual gas accumulation which in turn suppresses engine knocking. In addition, oil retention is improved thus reducing friction and increasing fuel efficiency.
  • 2-bed catalytic converter: This is positioned immediately after the exhaust manifold, providing direct contact which allows for high-precision air-fuel ratio control to drastically reduce emission levels.
  • Reduced engine weight: The mass of the connecting rods and overall materials used in building the engine frame is reduced, which helps the engine gain better power and fuel efficiency.
The i-VTEC technology is also integrated into Honda's hybrid vehicles to work in tandem with an electric motor. In Honda's 2006 Civic Hybrid, the 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine uses a 3-stage valve design, an advancement from the 2005 i-VTEC technology. Aside from weight and friction reduction, the engine operates on either low-speed timing, high-output timing or 4-cylinder idling when the VCM system is engaged, each yielding better engine output upon varying driving conditions. Its competency helped place the Honda Civic Hybrid as the third "Greenest Vehicle" in 2009.

Earth Dreams Technology

Earth Dreams Technology is Honda's comprehensive powertrain strategy, unveiled on November 30, 2011, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 30% by 2020 and achieving class-leading fuel efficiency within three years of its launch. To improve fuel economy by around 10%, Earth Dreams introduces a suite of engineering enhancements across engines and transmissions, including the adoption of DOHC architecture, variable valve timing control, direct injection, Atkinson cycle operation, high-capacity exhaust gas recirculation, and electric water pumps. Structural improvements such as reduced bore pitch, thinner cylinder blocks and camshafts, and overall engine weight reduction are also implemented, along with friction-reducing measures to improve thermal efficiency and performance.

Key components

  1. Variable valve systems: DOHC combined with VTEC, and continuously variable timing control improve combustion efficiency and reduce pumping losses.
  2. Direct injection & Atkinson cycle: enhance thermal efficiency, particularly in compact and mid-sized engines.
  3. Lightweight construction: reduced bore pitch and thinner cylinder block and camshaft walls, yielding engine mass reductions.
  4. Friction reduction: optimized internal components and coatings lower mechanical losses.
  5. High-capacity exhaust gas recirculation: lowers combustion temperatures and reduces NOx emissions.
  6. Electric water pumps: remove the need for accessory belts, reducing parasitic drag.

    Applications

  • Gasoline engines: from 660 cc kei-powered S‑series to turbocharged VTEC units; includes K‑series Earth Dreams i‑VTEC and VTEC‑Turbo engines.
  • Diesel engines: notably the 1.6 L i‑DTEC; features lightweight aluminium block, turbocharging, common‑rail injection, EGR, and DPF, targeting sub‑100 g/km CO2 ratings.
  • Transmissions: upgraded CVTs with reinforced belts, electronic oil pumps, and "G‑Design Shift" logic, improving efficiency by ~5-10%.
  • Hybrid and electric systems: include i‑MMD/ i‑DCD dual‑motor hybrids, Sport Hybrid SH‑AWD with torque-vectoring, and dedicated EV powertrains.

    Philosophy

Honda's naming of the system as "Earth Dreams" reflects its dual goals of protecting the environment and preserving driving enjoyment. The approach integrates incremental improvements across engines, transmissions, and electrified systems for optimized overall efficiency.

Hybrid Technologies

Honda has developed multiple hybrid systems to improve fuel efficiency and performance across its vehicle lineup. The evolution began with the Integrated Motor Assist system in 1999, which used a single electric motor to support the engine, offering mild hybrid functionality. In 2013, Honda introduced the Intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive system, which added a dual-clutch transmission and enabled full electric drive at low speeds. The same year, the Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive system was launched, featuring a two-motor setup that seamlessly switches between EV drive, hybrid drive, and engine drive for optimal efficiency. For high-performance applications, Honda developed the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, which combines a V6 engine with three electric motors to deliver both all-wheel drive and torque vectoring capabilities.

Integrated Motor Assist

The Integrated Motor Assist, or IMA as it is commonly known, is Honda's hybrid car technology that uses a gasoline-electric drive system developed to achieve higher fuel economy and low exhaust emissions without compromising engine efficiency. The IMA system uses the engine as the main power source and an electric motor as an assisting power during acceleration. It was first designed for the Honda Insight in 1999, which combined the electric motor with a smaller displacement VTEC engine and a lightweight aluminium body with improved aerodynamics. Low emissions target was realized when the car achieved the EU2000. In 2001, the Honda Insight Integrated Motor Assist system was declared "Best New Technology" by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
The development of the IMA system is a result of optimizing the various technologies that Honda has built over the years, including the lean-burn combustion, low-emission engines, variable valve timing, high-efficiency electric motors, regenerative braking, nickel-metal hydride battery technology and the microprocessor control. The target of this integrated system was to meet improvements in several areas:
  • Recovery of deceleration energy
With the IMA system, the amount of energy regeneration during deceleration is optimized and friction is reduced. The recovered energy is used to supplement the engine's output during acceleration.
  • Reduction of energy displacement
The IMA supports the engine during a low rpm normal driving range by utilizing the electric motor to generate a high-torque performance. When the gasoline engine enters a higher rpm range, the electric motor ceases and power output is supplied by the VTEC engine. The assistance from the electric motor reduces the work of the gasoline engine, allowing the engine to be downscaled. This results in better mileage and reduces fuel consumption.
The power from the electric motor is generated and conserved when the vehicle moves forward. When brakes are applied, the IMA system shuts off the engine and conserved power from the electric motor is utilized. This minimizes vibration of the car body and saves fuel when the engine is idling. When the brakes are released, the electric motor will restart the engine.

Among the Honda car models that are using IMA

Sport Hybrid i‑DCD is Honda's compact, single‑motor parallel-hybrid system introduced in 2013 with the third-generation Fit Hybrid. It marries a 1.5 L Atkinson-cycle i‑VTEC engine with a high-output electric motor integrated into a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, providing EV drive, sporty performance, and excellent fuel efficiency. The i‑DCD system was offered primarily in Japan and introduced to Malaysia in 2017, making these the only markets to receive mass-market i‑DCD-equipped models like the Jazz Hybrid, City Hybrid, and HR-V Hybrid.
However, the compact DCT has exhibited overheating and clutch problems under heavy stop-and-go conditions: the actuator fluid degrades from heat and moisture, leading to clutch slippage, fluid leaks, and transmission overheat warnings, issues preventable with regular fluid changes every ~20,000 km and transmission oil replacement every ~30-40,000 km. Moreover, in Japan, about 81,000 Fit and Vezel Hybrids produced from July 2013 to February 2014 were recalled due to software glitches in the DCT control unit that caused gear engagement failures, requiring software reflashes and, in some cases, component replacement to resolve start-up delays or non-engagement problems.