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While the TSX, RL, and TL have been redesigned for 2009, Honda’s vice president for corporate planning in North America, Dan Bonawitz, admits that none of these cars are up to ‘tier’ 1 standards. However, in a recent interview with Automotive News, Bonawitz boasted that the situation will change in 2010 when an “all-new vehicle about the same level as the TL” arrives.

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Honda's engines have always been a bit special. Not Mazda rotary, miller-cycle or tiny V6 special, but a bit off the beaten path and resistant to market trends. For decades the Japanese automaker insisted on making engines that rotate the opposite direction than the rest of the industry (in line with its motorcycle roots), and took what seemed like an eternity to go back on its founders aversions to any more than four cylinders. Well, as anyone who's stepped into an Acura dealership knows, a V6 still doesn't cut it when you're trying to lure customers away from the likes of Lexus and BMW. And the new TL may have the company's most powerful V6 to date, but even in today's socio-economic climate, luxury consumers still want V8 muscle. Reports now indicate that Honda is ready to cough it up.

The confirmation reportedly comes straight from Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, who says that a V8 engine will be earmarked towards the company's luxury brand Acura. No official word on where the eight-cylinder engine will land, but we can expect it to find its way into the engine bay of the top-of-the-line RL and probably an SUV, as well. Fukui reportedly promises his V8 will be highly efficient, but while we won't expect it to rotate in the opposite direction, it promises to plug the gap between the company's existing V6s and the V10 in the highly anticipated successor to the NSX.

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TOKYO — Honda Motor Co. CEO Takeo Fukui says he's fine with direct loans from the U.S. government to the Detroit 3. Meanwhile, he will fortify the Acura brand with a new V-8.

"I think it's only natural that the U.S. government tries to provide some support to U.S. manufacturers," Fukui said last week in an interview, referring to $25 billion in government-backed loans for U.S. automakers.

Foreign automakers building cars in the United States also are eligible for the loans. But Fukui said Honda has no intention of seeking any: "At this point in time, no."

Fukui supports the loans partly because he fears a backlash against Japanese automakers if an American rival goes under. But the loans also will help Honda suppliers, he said. "It's not just that the help is only being provided to American manufacturers. If I consider all the parts and components manufacturers, that would not be only U.S. companies," Fukui said.

Separately, he confirmed plans for Honda to launch its first V-8 engine in an Acura. Fukui said Acura, with U.S. sales down 15.3 percent through September, needs something extra under the hood, especially in its flagship RL sedan. "I don't think that the Acura RL 3.7-liter is sufficient. We can't compete with other premium brands."

The upcoming engine will "be completely different from conventional, past-generation ones and have excellent fuel efficiency," he said.

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LOS ANGELES — Acura dealers say they have been told that Acura will offer a V-8 engine option within 18 months.

"It's confirmed," says Dave Conant, principal owner of the multibrand Conant Auto Retail Group in Cerritos, Calif., which includes one Acura dealership.

Dealers say an eight-cylinder is a must for Acura to compete against luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

"To elevate the brand, they've got to have" a flagship sedan with an eight-cylinder engine, says Mark McKellop, general manager of Acura of Mission Viejo in suburban Los Angeles. The store is part of the Conant group.

Honda has long talked about making Acura a top-tier luxury brand. At a dealers' meeting in April, Acura "put the stake in the ground" and made it official, says Jeff Conrad, vice president of the Acura division at American Honda Motor Co.

But Conrad would not confirm that a V-8 is coming. Instead, he said Acura looks "pretty smart" for not having big engines in times of high fuel prices.

A new, large luxury sedan, due out in 2011 or 2012, may be fitted with a V-8. But Acura's 18-month pledge to its retailers at the April meeting suggests the engine may be available sooner.


"Dealers have been led to believe the next RL would have a V-8," says John Hawkins, president of Great Metro Autogroup in suburban Los Angeles. Great Metro includes one Acura dealership.

A redesigned RL is due in 2010, dealers say. A reskinned RL went on sale this summer with a 300-hp, 3.7-liter, V-6, the most powerful engine ever for an Acura sedan.

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A reskinned RL went on sale this summer with a 300-hp, 3.7-liter, V-6, the most powerful engine ever for an Acura sedan.

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