Honda is making a V-8 engine! That’s big news in the automotive world, but before you let your imagination get wild, you’ll want to read more.

This new V-8 engine isn’t the first that Honda has ever made, but those engines have been limited to motorsports. Honda is a regular participant in many racing classes, which requires the brand to have a wealth of knowledge regarding powerful engines, including those with eight cylinders. As wonderful as it is that Honda is making it’s very first production V-8 engine, you might be a little disappointed by what this engine is made for.

This isn’t the right change for the automotive market

Unless Honda is planning to build a full-size pickup truck, which is unlikely, an engine of this size doesn’t make sense in the current automotive world. Most automakers are exploring ways to transition away from these large engines by using hybrid and EV powertrains instead of gas engines. Honda is among the many automakers exploring these options, which means a production V-8 isn’t the right move forward for the Honda vehicle lineup. With this in mind, we wonder where the new engine will be used.

Honda makes everything

How many different types of machines does Honda make? That number could take a long time to compute. Honda has its hands in nearly everything mechanical. From the smallest push mower to the largest generators, the Honda name appears on various engines and machines around the world. Honda creations aren’t limited to vehicles on the road, but some vehicles that spend time on the water. That’s right, this new Honda V-8 engine will find its way too many boats, offering ample power to some impressive water crafts that we’ll see with this new production engine. This first Honda large engine will be used as the BF 350 outboard motor.

Is this new V-8 a lazy model?

Boats that will include the new BF350 engine will be at least 25 feet long. This new engine is a 5.0-liter model that produces 345 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. This isn’t as high-powered as some might expect, and it only uses single overhead camshafts, but they have Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control. This feature is cut down to an easy name that’s familiar to most people who know a thing or two about engines. That shortened name is VTEC.

This engine delivers power at the ends of the spectrum

Now that we know this new Honda V-8 engine offers the benefits of traditional VTEC qualities, the expectation is that this engine will perform in the desired manner. This means offering better fuel economy at the lower end of the RPM spectrum, making fuel last longer while cruising along at lower speeds. When the accelerator is pushed hard, the VTEC engine delivers extreme power and speed by allowing more fuel and air into the engine. This is exactly what boaters will want when they use this engine to drive slow or fast on the water.

Honda provides some interesting engine features

This new boating engine has a feature that improves efficiency. This feature is called Lean Burn Control, and it automatically adjusts the fuel/air mixture based on the speed and load when cruising between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm. This new Honda boat engine also offers cruise control to make it easy to maintain a specific speed. You’ll also enjoy an automatic tilt function when you’re moored up and docked.

It’s a boat engine, which means access is required

Honda made several changes to its outboard motor line to make sure owners could work on these engines more easily. The engine cover now has handles that make it easier to lift, and the anodes are easier to access and replace. There’s also a new oil filter flange that stops the oil from dripping when you’re changing the filter.

In addition to some of the changes made to the Honda boat engine lineup, this new V-8 engine is made to be able to run two of them at the same time. This makes it possible for boat owners to double the power, which makes a lot of sense when it’s time to head out to the deep sea for some fishing fun.

This engine is 50 years in the making

The first-ever Honda V-8 engine came into existence more than 50 years ago. This first model was used for a single Formula 1 Grand Prix. This new boat engine is an exciting change in the Honda engine lineup, even if it’s not made to be part of the automotive world.