Honda has never built a V8 engine for one of its road cars but what it has just done is create a V8 that incorporates VTEC for the boating industry.
This engine has been brought to life by Honda Marine and is known as the BF350. Sure, it won’t go on to power any exciting cars from the company but it will work for 25 feet+ boats and promises good performance as well as smooth power delivery and “excellent fuel efficiency.” We bet it sounds pretty good, too.
The BF350 displaces an even 5.0 liters of naturally aspirated goodness and produces 350 hp at the propeller shaft while running on 86-octane unleaded gasoline. It also uses Honda’s famous Variable Valve Time & Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system that uses a mild cam profile at low rpm and a high-output cam profile at higher revs. Honda has also incorporated its Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST) system that advances ignition timing when the accelerator is fully depressed.
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A handful of technologies have also been developed to improve fuel efficiency. For example, Lean Burn control technology adjusts the air/fuel mixture according to speed and load while Programmed Fuel Injection delivers just the right amount of fuel and air into each cylinder. Honda’s Friction Reduction Technology adds ion plating to the piston rings and also contributes to strong efficiency.
Complementing the V8 engine is Honda’s Intelligent Shift & Throttle command and control system operated through a top-mount controller with separate buttons for Trim Support, Automatic Tilt, Cruise Control, and Trolling Mode.
The BF350 isn’t light, nor is it cheap. In fact, it tips the scales at 765 lbs (347 kg) in its lightest form and while Honda hasn’t officially announced pricing, a recent leak suggests that it’ll cost an eye-watering $46,000.
