The only thing that VTEC may be kicking soon is the bucket, if the latest speech on Honda Motor Co’s business direction by its Chief Executive Officer Takahiro Hachigo is anything to go by.
With stricter emission and fuel economy regulations looming, Honda believes that compliance is only possible by adopting hybrid powertrains on an even larger scale, in the absence of charging infrastructure and how consumers use automobiles generally. Hence, the electrification of Honda vehicles in the next decade will be driven by its latest hybrid technologies.
To achieve this, Honda will expand the i-MMD (for Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) 2-Motor hybrid system to the entire line-up of Honda vehicles. In addition to the powertrain which has already been seen in the new-generation Honda Accord – a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine mated to two electric motors – Honda is developing a smaller i-MMD system for its compact cars, starting with the all-new Honda Fit/Jazz which is expected to make its world premiere at the forthcoming Tokyo Motor Show.
To learn more about the i-MMD hybrid system, click here.
