How the VCM works in a 2008 Honda Accord V6 Engine

VCM = Variable Cylinder Management.

Here's how it works;

i-VTEC with 3-stage Advanced Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™)
The Accord’s available SOHC V-6 with automatic transmission includes i-VTEC with Advanced VCM. With the boost in fuel efficiency attributable to VCM, the larger and more powerful Accord V-6 with automatic transmission actually gets better fuel economy than its smaller, less powerful predecessor when tested with the same methodology.

VCM Operation
To help improve the fuel efficiency of the V-6 engine available with the 5-speed automatic transmission, the latest generation of Honda’s VCM is used. This is the first application of VCM on a non-hybrid Accord model. Unlike previous VCM systems that switched between three- and six-cylinder operation, the Accord’s system can operate on three, four or all six cylinders.

During start-up, acceleration or when climbing hills – any time high power output is required – the engine operates on all six cylinders. During moderate speed cruising and at low engine loads, the system operates just one bank of three cylinders. For moderate acceleration, higher-speed cruising and mild hills, the engine operates on four cylinders.

With three operating modes, the VCM system can finely tailor the working displacement of the engine to match the driving requirements from moment to moment. Since the system automatically closes both the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are not used, pumping losses associated with intake and exhaust are eliminated and fuel economy gets a further boost. The VCM system combines maximum performance and maximum fuel economy – two characteristics that don’t typically coexist in conventional engines.

VCM deactivates specific cylinders by using the VTEC (Variable Valve-Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system to close the intake and exhaust valves while the Powertrain Control Module simultaneously cuts fuel to those cylinders. When operating on three cylinders, the rear cylinder bank is shut down. When running on four cylinders, the left and center cylinders of the front bank operate, and the right and center cylinders of the rear bank operate.

The spark plugs continue to fire in inactive cylinders to minimize plug temperature loss and prevent fouling induced from incomplete combustion during cylinder re-activation.

The system is electronically controlled, and uses special integrated spool valves that do double duty as rocker-shaft holders in the cylinder heads. Based on commands from the system’s electronic control unit, the spool valves selectively direct oil pressure to the rocker arms for specific cylinders. This oil pressure in turn drives synchronizing pistons that connect and disconnect the rocker arms.

The VCM system monitors throttle position, vehicle speed, engine speed, automatic-transmission gear selection and other factors to determine the correct cylinder activation scheme for the operating conditions. In addition, the system determines whether engine oil pressure is suitable for VCM switching and whether catalytic-converter temperature will remain in the proper range. To smooth the transition between activating or deactivating cylinders, the system adjusts ignition timing, drive-by-wire throttle position and turns the torque converter lock-up on and off. As a result, the transition between three-, four-, and six-cylinder operation is unnoticeable to the driver.

2009 Honda Pilot Info Site Launched (Canada)

Honda Canada has launched a information site for the 2009 Honda Pilot and has a nice 360 degree 3D view of the exterior and the interior of the vehicle.

Here's the link to play around with;
http://hondapilot.ca/en/index.html

Honda Freed Official in Japan, Could it be a Eventual North American Vehicle?

Here's a nice article on the Honda Freed.

TOKYO -- Take a Honda Fit, move it up a class with new sheet metal, add two or three rows of seats and you're starting to get an idea of the Freed, Honda's innovative new mini minivan that's just launched in Tokyo.

Smaller than a Civic but with room to squeeze in up to eight people thanks to some highly astute packaging, the 1.5-liter, slant-nosed Freed is not headed for the United States anytime soon but might conceivably open up a new niche segment if it did, especially in light of skyrocketing gas prices and the American consumer's growing preference for smaller, fuel sippers.

While the Freed is nominally in the Fit ballpark, it's many times more versatile inside. Remarkably, this little Honda comes in five-, seven- and eight-seater configurations even though end-to-end it's a full 12 inches shorter than a Civic sedan.

Then there's the Freed's rakish, manga-like styling. On the streets of America's more happening cities that could really wow Gen Y and Z crowds and who knows, siphon off a few Scion buyers at the same time.

Japan Only -- For Now

The message from Honda, however, is that the Freed is a Japanese domestic model -- at least to start with. Replacing two quaint boxy multiwagons in Japan, the Mobilio and Mobilio Spike, it's been purposely designed to fit in with today's downsizing market trends and the nation's cramped parking lots.

How has Honda been able to package the Freed car so inventively? By starting out with a unique platform that mixes and matches elements of both Fit and Civic architecture. This new platform offers up a usefully low floor and comes with a wheelbase 2 inches longer than the Civic's.

The Freed at the same time is 2 inches narrower than a Civic but as much as a foot taller. So it's the classic Japanese tallboy and uniquely in its class can be ordered as a seven-seater with the option of two second-row captain's chairs.

True, there is a plain vanilla two-row, five-seater version. But more adventurous and fun is the full-spec, three-row Freed with walk-through, a model that can take eight with the proviso that those in the third row are under 6 feet and don't mind cuddling up. Cleverly, that third-row bench splits 50/50 and folds up when not in use.

Twin powered sliding rear doors are standard-issue with the Honda Freed, which shares the Fit's impressive 1,496cc i-VTEC engine but produces a sparkier 118 horsepower.
Front-drive models get standard CVT transmission but with optional all-wheel drive that then switches to five-speed auto.

Freed Is Just Another Word
As for the name, Americans of a certain age may remember Allan Freed, one of the pioneers of rock n' roll from the '50s but that, you can be sure, has nothing to do with Honda's choice for the name.

No, Freed, we hear, has been coined from "freedom" or could be a derivation of "free" and "do. Either apply. Some see it as a pity that Honda ditched the Mobilio badge but with a new model, Honda top brass wanted a new name to match.

The final eyebrow raiser is the price. The Freed kicks off in Tokyo for the equivalent of $15,690 and so far as we can see, has no direct competitor. Honda plans to sell 4,000 units a month, which seems a pretty modest target. That's a quarter of what the Fit typically sells each month now in Japan.

Compact, clever and with many cabin tricks, the Freed's another crucial model to help Honda rebuild its Japanese domestic sales. It would seem at first sight too small, quirky and niche for North America, but then for a long time, they said exactly the same about the Fit and look what happened to that.

Source: http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/05/honda-freed-could-it-rock-n-roll-in-america.html

How the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan Works

This is Honda's hybrid answer. The Honda Civic hybrid showcases Honda's renewed commitment to Hybrid technology and gives drivers a environmentally friendly car without any compromise on style, performance or comfort.

Honda's Hybrid system is called Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Developed in 1999 it was first launched in the 2 seat-er Honda Insight which gave an idea of how advanced it was - 83 miles per gallon on a combined cycle.

Hybrid is the combination of a gas engine with an electric motor. The electric motor is coupled to a powerful battery. The electric motor helps the engine by giving it a boost during acceleration and solely runs the car at idle to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The battery that powers the electric motor charges itself up with regenerative energy from deceleration and braking. A regenerative brake is a mechanism that reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into electrical energy. A brake pedal sensor sends a signal to the car's computer, activating systems whenever the driver applies the brake. This allows braking energy from the wheels to be stored as electrical energy in the high voltage battery for future use. Therefore the car never needs to be recharged from an external power supply. This regenerative brake assistance also extends the life of the brakes and their components as it reduces its workload appreciably.

The majority of the hybrid cars available in the market today aren't that good looking. And nobody wants to drive around in a car that looks like a deflated football. Honda engineers have taken note and engineered the components to enhance looks and more importantly, help achieve their primary targets.

The elegant styling combines a sweeping roof-line, a sharply raked windscreen and short overhangs that contribute to the vehicle's advanced mono-form profile. Superior aerodynamics is achieved by ultra-tight body panels that fit firmly around the monocoque frame. A chin spoiler and a lip spoiler are also designated to aid the aerodynamics by reducing turbulence beneath and behind the car. The low-drag alloy wheels are made specifically for the Civic Hybrid so to enhance the looks and reduce excess weight while the opposable windscreen wipers serve both styling and efficient cleaning purposes.

The fuel tank is made from an innovative six-layer polyethylene composite material that blocks fuel evaporation and saves weight. The front sub-frame which accommodates the engine and transmission is produced from hydro-formed elements for increased strength and rigidity. Special rubber floating mounts minimize the level of road and engine NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) entering the passenger cabin.

But it's not all about the looks. Honda's new IMA system gives out more power than a conventional 1.6-litre engine (115PS), but only uses the same amount of fuel as a 1.1-litre car. There's no ambiguous starting procedure or complicated operating system – it looks and drives like a modern, stylish saloon with a top speed of 115mph. The Civic Hybrid's engine took top honors for three successive years at International Engine of the Year "1 litre to 1.4 litre" size category award from 2002 through 2004 and the "Best Fuel Economy" category for 2003 and 2004.

The Civic hybrid is one of the safest cars in its class. It is equipped with ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) to achieve decent stability and high braking performance. Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) assists the driver in maintaining maximum possible control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking either to the right or left wheels accordingly while controlling the throttle and brake systems simultaneously.

The Civic Hybrid uses multiple "load paths" to limit penetration of the car's structure by absorbing more of the crash energy if it encounters a collision. Whatever energy gets through is mitigated by the car's eight standard air bags. The Civic Hybrid has earned top safety rankings from NHTSA and IIHS. To help reduce pedestrian injuries in the event of a collision, the Civic Hybrid's bonnet and wing areas are designed to deform if contacted by the head of an adult or child pedestrian. Energy-absorbing collapsible bonnet supports, wiper arms and wing mounts are designed to allow a degree of deformation in an impact making this car very safe to travel in.

For more information on some other 'Green Cars' check out the link;
http://www.automotoportal.com/article/5-best-selling-green-cars

More Misc. Info. on the 2009 Honda Pilot

The Pilot's top-hinged tailgate design is improved with the addition of lift-up glass hatch for improved access to the cargo area. The glass hatch can be opened via the remote key fob (on the Pilot LX, EX, EX-L), a button on the top right side of the license plate garnish, or a button inside the vehicle located on the lower part of the driver's door. The tailgate glass incorporates an electric defogger system, activated by a button on the dash, along with an intermittent rear wiper and washer nozzle.

Every 2nd generation Pilot includes an integrated tow hitch as standard equipment. The Class III hitch supports a maximum tow rating of 4,500 pounds (2,045 kg) on four-wheel-drive models and 3,500 pounds (1,590 kg) on the two-wheel-drive LX. To supplement the Pilot's towing capability, standard cooling equipment includes a high-capacity radiator with dual high-power fans, transmission cooler and power steering cooler. The Pilot 4WD's 4,500-pound (2,045 kg) rating is calculated to include up to four passengers and their cargo. Pre-wiring is included for trailer lighting and an electric brake controller. Pilot Touring models are equipped with a 7-pin trailer unit and harness.

The primary heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) controls are located on one easy-to-use panel in the centre instrument console and include individual controls for temperature, fan speed, vent selection (centre, floor and defogger vents), rear electric defogger and fresh or recirculated air. Independent control of the rear HVAC unit is standard. To maximize passenger comfort, the Pilot LX features a front and rear air conditioning system with air filtration. The controls for the rear zone are conveniently located on the rear of the front console.

Introducing, The 2009 Honda Pilot

Well, just got filled into what is going on with the Honda Pilot here in Canada, so Here goes;

There will be 6X Trim Levels;
2008 Honda Pilot LX 2WD
2008 Honda Pilot LX 4WD
2008 Honda Pilot EX 4WD
2008 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD
2008 Honda Pilot EX-L RES (DVD) 4WD
2008 Honda Pilot Touring

The new 2008 Honda Pilot is all around bigger, length, width, height, track, everything. New for 2009 will be that every trim level will get the Heavy-duty automatic transmission cooler, the Heavy-duty power steering cooler, and a integrated Hitch with a cover. The new Pilot can now tow 4,500 pounds on a 4WD model and 3,500 pounds on a 2WD model. All models come equipped with Hill Start Assist timer, which will stop the vehicle from rolling back when switching from brake petal to acceleration petal on a incline, great for pulling boats out of water! The brakes are also bigger and built for towing.

Under the hood (btw, the hood is much lighter now due to the fact that it is now all alluminum) is a 3.5 litre V6 SOHC i-Vtec engine that puts out 250hp and 253torque. The engine will also use the VCM II (Variable Cylinder Management) and will deactivate cylinders to run from 6 to 4 to 3 to maximize gas mileage. This will be like having 3X different engines under the hood. The engine is mated together with a nice 5 speed automatic transmission. Still only Regular fuel. Even though the Pilot is a little bigger and heavier, it is expected to maintain current fuel ratings.

The shifter is now located on the dash console as opposed to on the floor or attatched to the steering column, this makes it out of the way and gives more use of space. The console is massive. Honda has also adopted the 'One Touch Starter' from the Acura RL, you turn the key over just once and it will continue to crank until started for you (crank's for approx. 10 sec). Starting at the EX and up trim levels, Honda has also added Tri-zone Automatic Climate control. Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel is also added throughout the lineup.

Inside the front console between the front two seats is a nice big storage bin that also has a auxillary input jack for a i-pod or a mp3 player. There is also a USB connector in the Touring models only that will charge the i-pod and allow you to interact with the interface of the Navigation screen. You can also hook up normal memory sticks to the USB port as well. There is also a low wattage 110 AC outlet for small devices like a laptop or a Game system.

The rearview camera located in the rearview mirror makes it's way to the 2008 Honda Pilot EX-L and Touring models. The 2008 Honda Odyssey EX-L and up has this feature and is it a nice touch.

Apparently the 3rd row has alot more room, room enough for adults. You wouldn't know it by this photo, but I did see an adult sit in the back of one of these and he did look comfortable.

The 2008 Honda Pilot also features Honda's ACE body structure (Advanced Compatability Engineered) which will disperse the energy of a crash better than ever and also strengthens the roof line. The spare tire is located under the rear of the vehicle. 17" wheels on all models along with wider tires result in added traction to go along with the ABS, EBD, TC, and VSA.

The 3rd row headrests no longer have to come off in order to fold the seats down, they are integrated into the seat now. You'll notice on the base of the drivers side rear pillar that there is a side compartment with a handle, this will swallow a full 4.5 litre jug of washer fluid with room to spare, By The Way, 6.5 litres of washer fluid can now be held in the resevoir.

Where the 3rd row headrests were held before is now much larger and deeper and has approx. 79 litres of space, perfect for a small stroller or some golf clubs, not to mention what is in the photo. The tailgate on the Touring model is powered.

Other bits of info:

-The glass in the EX-L and the Touring models are called 'accoustic glass', which is 2 sheets of glass put together with a special resin sandwiched between to act as a sound dampener.

-Headlights Auto On/Off on ALL trim levels

-2nd and third row heating ducts.

-Moonroof with Tilt feature on Leather models only.

-XM Satellite radio on Leather models only.

-Touring model now has 2nd row heated leather seats.

Anyway I can't wait to see this now.

Green Cars that Automakers WON'T Sell You

Here's one that I didn't know about;

The new 2008 Honda Accord boasts an environmental first: a six-cylinder gasoline engine that's cleaner than many hybrid systems.

There's only one catch: You can't actually buy this ultra-green Accord, or the four-cylinder version that also produces near-zero pollution. That is, unless you live in California, New York or six other northeast states that follow California's tougher pollution rules. Only there can you buy this Accord, or the roughly two dozen other models that meet so-called Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle standards, PZEV for short.

Not only can't you buy one, but the government says it's currently illegal for automakers to sell these green cars outside of the special states. Under terms of the Clean Air Act—in the kind of delicious irony only our government can pull off—anyone (dealer, consumer, automaker) involved in an out-of-bounds PZEV sale could be subject to civil fines of up to $27,500.

So, just how green is a PZEV machine? Well, if you just cut your lawn with a gas mower, congratulations, you just put out more pollution in one hour than these cars do in 2,000 miles of driving. Grill a single juicy burger, and you've cooked up the same hydrocarbon emissions as a three-hour drive in a Ford Focus PZEV. As the California Air Resources Board has noted, the tailpipe emissions of these cars can be cleaner than the outside air in smoggy cities.

That's amazing stuff. But what's more amazing is how few people have a clue that the gas-powered, internal combustion engine could ever be this clean.

Naturally, no company wants to bring too much attention to a car that most people can't buy, unless it's Ferrari. And there's the catch. PZEV models are already available from Honda, Toyota, Subaru, VW, Volvo, Ford, and yes, GM. They're scrubbed-up versions of familiar models.

It's not all the fault of the car companies. The crazy quilt of environmental regulations is forcing carmakers to design and build two versions of the same cars. And it costs real money to make a car this green. So in states where there are no regulations to force their hand,automakers don't want to have to boost their prices for the green versions—or to simply eat the extra cost and make less profit.

Honda appears to be doing just that. It currently charges Californians and other green-staters about $150 extra for these solid-citizen models. But experts suggest that it costs carmakers closer to $400 a pop to install the gear.

Another issue: The PZEV cars don't get any better mileage than conventional versions. Would most self-interested Americans even pay a lousy 100 bucks for cleaner air that doesn't put fuel savings back in their pocket? "With hybrids, the selling point is fuel economy, so there's a dollar amount on that," said William Walton, Honda's product planning chief for U.S. cars. "We want to give people the cleanest vehicles we can produce, but how much are people willing to pay for clean air?"

As often as automakers express envy and resentment over Toyota's image, you might think Honda would be filming TV ads, erecting billboards, shouting from rooftops that the Accord is the world's cleanest six-cylinder car. In the green game that Toyota has played like a chess master, it seems like this is a lost opportunity for Honda, Nissan and the rest to siphon off some of Toyota's goodwill.

So give Honda's talented engineers credit for this clean-burning Accord. But give its marketing department a big, smoggy raspberry for keeping it a virtual secret—and keeping it off-limits to buyers in 42 states.

Source: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=434502
By Lawrence Ulrich