Honda On Direct Injection: Don't Wait For It; We Have Other Priorities

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

Last week, in our post on Hyundai’s new DI (Direct Injection) Theta II engine, we questioned Honda’s long-standing engine technology leadership. We also assumed (wrongly) that they would be joining the DI club shortly, given the advantages DI technology affords. Turns out we weren’t the only ones wondering, except that in the case of auto, motor und sport, they weren’t asking it rhetorically, but the person in the know: Honda CEO Takanobu Ito. In an interview with Europe’s leading car magazine (print edition), Ito gave DI a pass with his answer to the question: “Honda was once the leader with its internal combustion engines. Did your competitors overtake you with gasoline Direct Injection?” In classic corporate speak, rather than directly acknowledge DI or his competitors, Ito had this to say:

We have limited resources, and we are concentrating on Hybrids. We want to build the optimal engines for hybrids. And if we’re going to talk about hybrids, we have to talk about the costs for the consumer. Hybrids are very expensive. The fact that our hybrids (Insight) are selling so well in Japan is because of government incentives.

Well, the part about why the Insight is selling well in Japan was refreshingly candid, given its poor sales in the US versus the Prius. Ito goes on to share the dilemma facing Honda (and presumably others) in dealing with tightening efficiency demands and expectations:

One option would be to make cars smaller and lighter. But the consumer will not accept any compromises in comfort. So given the demands to reduce CO emissions and the expectations of continued gas price increases, adopting hybrid technology (further) is simply easier.

Just one problem with that, as we see it: why is Hyundai implementing both DI and hybrid technology?

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • Genetuck Genetuck on Dec 01, 2009

    "There’s an IP royalty to pay on any Gasoline Direct Injection technology, either to Orbital Engine Company (of Australia) or other players. " I don't think there is a royalty on the high-pressure system used in all production DI models now. Those inject fuel only. The lower pressure Orbital system injects fuel with compressed air, which expands and breaks up the fuel into smaller droplets (8-microns). I think the royalty charged by Orbital is based on the size of the engine. A wild guess for an auto size engine is $50. I think Orbital charges about $8 to $10 for the scooters and small motorcycles that use its system, and more for the outboard engines (Mercury, Tohatsu, Nissan). Saab was all set to put out a car with the Orbital system several years ago, but GM bought out Saab and canceled the plans.

  • Lenoardtt Lenoardtt on Jul 03, 2010

    Honda already has their own GDI engines in the Japan market Stream. So they have the technology and they can bring it out anytime they want - but if they think that they can do without GDI, then we'll just wait and see, since they can pretty much do lean burn with iVTEC already.

  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
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