Top News

With stricter emission norms set to take over in the next few years, manufacturers have had a tough time finding the right balance between fuel economy and performance. As a result, we have seen many new innovations in internal combustion engines (ICE)  in recent years, especially in highperformance cars and bikes.

Honda unveiled its new V3 engine at EICMA in November 2024. The watercooled 75degree V3 motor is being developed for Honda’s upcoming larger displacement motorcycles. The most highlighted feature about this power mill is an electric compressor, the first in the world for a twowheeler ICE engine.

Honda V3 engine: New sound, new character

Honda recently shared a teaser of the upcoming V3 engine concept on its YouTube channel and while the 51second clip doesn’t reveal anything new about the powertrain, we do get a small sneak peek of what this engine might sound like. We suggest, you wear a good set of headphones before you hit the play button. Only keen Honda fans will be able to tell the difference— the usual raspy note is replaced by a burbly baritone. 

Throughout the video, there are strategically placed censor blocks in some of the test bench footage that do a good job of piquing your interest. For those, who aren’t able to note the difference, the highlight lies in the final 12 seconds of the video where if you crank up the volume on your headphones, you’ll be able to hear that intake whine of that electric compressor.

Honda V3 engine: More power, better fuel efficiency

It’s not just the symphony that the recent teaser gives out. The video begins with Honda showcasing its rich motorcycling legacy and technical expertise, focusing on its DCT and EClutch innovations. It then transitions to a short clip capturing the V3 engine’s distinctive exhaust note, marked by an uneven tone and firing order characteristic of Vtype engines. 

This is followed by a brief shot of a dyno display revealing the V3 prototype operating at 2,740rpm, with over 1,100 hours of runtime—indicating the powertrain has progressed well past the concept stage. The presence of a dualdial setup and a Japaneselanguage interface further suggests that extensive validation testing is currently in progress.

The engine looks compact and flexible, particularly suited to motorcycles, where space is always a constraint. As revealed previously, Honda’s engineers have focussed more on mass centralisation to improve balance and handling, while eliminating the need for an intercooler in order to further preserve space. Apparently, Honda has utilised its experience with bikes like the RC211V MotoGP machine to finetune crankshaft and piston timing.

With the help of an electric compressor, a 750–800cc engine can deliver performance comparable to a 1,000cc unit, while also offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. We believe a production version of this V3 engine will most likely break covers at EICMA in Milan, Italy this November.