Honda adds one more feather to its
list of accolades. Two Honda Earth Dreams Technology engines powering the all
new 2013 Honda Accord were listed in Ward’s 10 Best Engines list for 2013. The
honored engines are a direct-injected 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine while the
other is a 3.5-liter V6 coupled to Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). Both the
engines have been designed to increase driving performance and fuel efficiency.
Almost all the Accord on sale in the US is powered by either of the honored
engines.
The Ward’s 10 Best Engines is one of
the prestigious titles in this category. Now in its 19th year, the
title is meant to honor powertains of engines that have set new benchmarks in
its respective segment. Nominees for this award need to have a base price at
$55,000 must be all-new or significantly improved and should be available in
production vehicle that will be on sale by first-quarter of 2013.
“Honda is first and foremost a motor company, and the new
Earth Dreams Technology engines once again assert Honda's desire to lead the
industry in powertrain efficiency while providing responsive power and fun for
drivers," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and
logistics at American Honda. "Having both the 4-cylinder and the V-6 from
the 2013 Accord honored on Ward's 10 Best Engines list shows that world-class
powertrain technology doesn't have to come at a premium price."
"The 2.4L 4-cyl., Honda's first direct-injected engine
in North America, is stunningly efficient and delivers ample low-end torque and
a wonderful mid-range punch," said Tom Murphy, executive editor of
WardsAuto World. "We drove the car 537 miles, and two editors exceeded 33
mpg, not bad for a generously proportioned sedan."
The new direct-injected 2.4-liter i-VTEC in-line 4-cylinder
is standard on Accord models and is capable to churn out 185 horsepower and 181
lb-ft of torque. The engine delivers 4-percent more horsepower and 12-percent
more torque compared to its predecessor. It can be coupled to either 6-speed
manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.
The 3.5-liter V-6 engine pumps out 278 horsepower and 252
lb-ft of torque. It is coupled to a new 6-speed automatic transmission that significantly
improves both acceleration and fuel efficiency.





