You’ve seen V-twins and V4 engines on motorcycles...but have you heard about the V3 powertrain?
Well, now you have. Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Honda—which seems to be having a blast at the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori (EICMA) this year—has just unveiled its new V3 engine equipped with the world’s first electrical compressor for motorcycles (according to Honda’s research).
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The electrical compressor controls, well, the compression of the air intake regardless of engine revs, so that boost can be provided even at lower RPM. And unlike your typical turbocharger, it doesn’t require an intercooler, so it can be positioned easily with the new slim and compact V3 engine to enable a better center of mass.
Honda has yet to reveal figures for its V3 engine, but it has shared that the 75-degree V3 will be water-cooled and will be developed specifically for larger displacement motorcycles.
The press release reads: “Honda sees the development of this V3 engine with an electrical compressor as a new challenge in the area of internal combustion engines, and its goal is to enable customers to further experience the joy of riding and owning a motorcycle.”
Honda will continue the V3’s development “toward mass production,” so we can expect this to actually materialize in the future. On which type of bike would you like to see this ‘turbocharged’ V3 engine?
