Honda’s Next Generation A-VTEC Technology Borrows a Page From BMW

We’ve been hearing rumors of a next generation VTEC technology for years. In 2005, Honda finally confirmed that they were well along on the development path of their next generation Advanced VTEC (A-VTEC) system. Apart from promises of superior economy and performance, scant details were revealed. Our suspicions were that this would be a system that could continuously vary lift or duration (akin to BMW’s innovative Valvetronic system), rather than using a stepped change as both VTEC and i-VTEC have used. As tidbits of information began to coalesce into a meaningful picture, some of our readers pointed us to a patent filed by Honda for a continuously variable lift system. After poring over the details of this public document, it would seem that the cat is out of the bag. With a high degree of certainty, we believe that this patent does indeed represent the next generation A-VTEC valvetrain technology.
Read Article

EL34i - 2/16/2007 12:24:52 PM

+2 Boost

That doesn't look like the only thing Honda has borrowed from BMW.

5MTenthus - 2/16/2007 1:16:49 PM

+2 Boost

No doubt it will be more reliable than ever-failing VANOS heads...

razzy23 - 2/16/2007 2:13:16 PM

0 Boost

i have 82k on my 5 series with VANOS-it HASNT failed me! WTF!

silverarrow2 - 2/17/2007 5:12:26 AM

+1 Boost

That's nothing, I have 2k on my '97 528i.
I drive it every day instead of the '03M5.

5MTenthus - 2/16/2007 2:31:45 PM

+1 Boost

A miracle!

monkeyrun - 2/16/2007 2:38:27 PM

0 Boost

Haven't Japaneses been "borrowing" things for a long time?

silverarrow2 - 2/17/2007 5:13:57 AM

+2 Boost

But of corse!! Japaneses don't invent, they improve
Ex...Lexus/Toyota.

M53R - 2/16/2007 2:54:46 PM

+1 Boost

Its more of developing. They know germans are the innovaters so they just take technologies fro them. Anyway thats a step forward for honda. Btw, bmws vanos system isnt a failing one as someone here mentioned. Bmws engine problems are so little.

M53R - 2/16/2007 2:54:47 PM

+1 Boost

flozel1 - 2/16/2007 3:57:18 PM

+3 Boost

Borrowing?!?! Uh, I hate to break it to you guys but
VTEC has always been a patented Honda technology.
A-VTEC is simply an advanced evelution of that tech.

The real question is whether the VANOS system was derived from VTEC concept.

1000rrRider - 2/16/2007 4:17:04 PM

-1 Boost

For every technology borrowed by the Germans from the Japanese the Japanese steel and copy hundreds of ideas and innovations form Germany.
Let’s have a game and all you Japanese car fans list all Japanese automotive inventions and I'll list the German once lets see who has more.

flozel1 - 2/16/2007 5:26:32 PM

+1 Boost

How the flying f*ck is your comment relevant to this thread. We're talking about variable management technology, you're talking generalizations.

Everybody and his stinking dog knows that the German manufacturers own the majority of innovations in automotive technology, the majority from a long long time ago(not to mention the invention of the automobile itself).

But dude, stick to the subject matter.

silverarrow2 - 2/17/2007 5:23:11 AM

-1 Boost

Stupid Trany upgrade is not borrowing, if it were then you could say Toyota borrowed it from Mack.

Stop being childish and grow the F** up.

Any good improvement is good for the markets this how the freaking world works, who the hell cares as long as we can reap the benefit.

AE86 - 2/19/2007 3:16:20 PM

+1 Boost

Will somebody tell me why an 8 speed transmission is better than a 6 speed? (I won't accept an answers such as, there are two more gears, or it increases fuel economy).

If you have driven the LS460, you realize the extra gears are extra confusing for the car's electronics. I could not get a good launch off the line, the throttle response is horrific. I don't know what kind of power braking these testers are doing to get mid 5 and even 6 second 0-60 sprints.

ceric - 2/16/2007 5:51:56 PM

+2 Boost

Gee, guys, why every thread has to turn into Japanese vs German debate? It is getting old.

I love both companies. Two of the best technolgy-oriented auto makers. Look into VANOS and A-VTEC technologies and you will find that the fundamental principles may be the similar but the implementations are very different. Again, Honda's is simpler and should be more reliable.

cktoo - 2/22/2007 10:40:54 PM

+1 Boost

Here, here!! Both of these companies are great engine builders, but they just take different approaches. Nothing wrong with that. I've always wondered why they actually haven't gotten together as one company. Granted you would have some cultural differences, but the "automotive brains" from both of these firms together would be phenomenal.

Like the linked article says, we'll be able to compare even more after the A-VTEC is released in the 08 Accord. And thumbs up for the link to that site (TOV), best Honda/Acura site out there...especially when you get "notyper" talking about the technical stuff.

Matthew1 - 2/17/2007 5:32:08 PM

+1 Boost

VTEC wasn't even the first valve-timing system anyway...

Rupert - 2/17/2007 6:34:35 PM

+1 Boost

Imagine if Germany and Japan were one Empire? That would screw up most of the arguments on this site.

2JZSoarer - 2/18/2007 1:19:28 AM

+1 Boost

Toyota had VVT in the late 80's in the 4AGE 20V,Honda's first vehicle with VTEC was the NSX in 1990,then they applyed it the the econo boxes like the Civic and Intergra,do get me wrong they are great cars,but don't give Honda all the credit!!

As for Lexus improving the German technology instead of inventing,It's pretty clear now that Lexus wants to be known as innovators now,of course I'm talking about the LS460 and LS600HL with many of the world's first technology features..

Agent63 - 2/18/2007 1:37:08 AM

+1 Boost

Of course they were innovative in the rear interior that seems to look like a Maybach inspired look but for a cheaper price.

kart1 - 2/18/2007 10:10:15 AM

+2 Boost

Come let up guys, BMW fans need to justify why they paid more for their cars.

But seriously how many times do we have to go through this Germany vs. Japan debate??? Is the advancement so scary that the German fans need to come out and pull the same old stuff over and over again?

kart1 - 2/18/2007 10:11:50 AM

+1 Boost

How about bringing something new to the discussion?

BMWreplicat - 2/18/2007 6:48:07 PM

+1 Boost

Wow, first of all, Variable Valve control was invented by Chrysler in the 70's and it was no biggy, since it didnt offer much extra power. (And we all know that fuel economy wasnt a big deal either back then, so the $700 upgrade to the cars wasnt big.

The technology slept until Honda came out with the B16 in 1988 as the 1989 model Honda Integra in Japan. And that was when the craze over the technology began.

Honda my have borrowed the idea of steplessly varible lift or whatnot, but they will do it in a more practical and inexpensive AND RELIABLE WAY! (I am a BMW technician and I can tell you the the VANOS heads suck ass...ive done at least 150 in 3 years)

BMWreplicat - 2/18/2007 6:48:11 PM

+1 Boost

Type707 - 2/19/2007 6:00:58 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like a BMW 3-series sport coupe...BITERS!

Matthew1 - 2/22/2007 10:16:43 PM

+1 Boost

Duh, it is a real pic!

Whattt - 2/23/2007 10:34:16 AM

+1 Boost

Fiat was the first auto manufacturer to patent a functional variable valve timing system which included variable lift. Developed by Giovanni Torazza in the late 1960s,(US Patent 3,641,988).

wanga - 2/23/2007 11:46:27 AM

+1 Boost

I like the 3s from bmw,hate the 5,7 and MB the are just like old expensive 80s chevy Impala.My favorate
cars are Ford Mustang and Hondas

Matthew1 - 2/23/2007 1:35:58 PM

+1 Boost

Fiat? I did not know that. Thanks for the info.