- Dec 18, 2024
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Toyota is unsurprisingly the dominant brand, which, from that 9.8 percent share, Toyota accounts for half of the total hybrid vehicles sold. This is followed by Honda at 19 percent and Ford at 11 percent. That doesn't mean that Honda is a loser in this race, though. Take note that Honda doesn't have body-on-frame SUVs and pickups, but in the other segments like crossovers and sedans, Honda has solid, well-rounded offerings that are competing head-to-head sales-wise with Toyota's equivalents.
That brings us to their next-generation hybrid system, which is branded everywhere but North America for some reason as e:HEV. This also became the perfect time for Honda to announce the Prelude's arrival in late 2025, so buckle up and be ready as you'll get to know what Honda has in store for its hybrids moving forward.
Just so we can be universal, we'll be labeling Honda's hybrid system as e:HEV from this point forward, okay? Anyway, I've written in numerous articles about how the Honda e:HEV hybrid system works. I've even compared it to how it's different from the Toyota Hybrid System (THS), even if, on paper, they are similar. The gist of it all is that, Honda's solution for their e:HEV system results in a hybrid system that combines both efficiency and a sportier driving experience versus if Honda followed the usual hybrid route of other automakers.
That's because other automakers have chosen various routes for their hybrids. Hyundai Motor Group has a parallel hybrid system, while Toyota uses a series-parallel hybrid system that uses an e-CVT. That's a similar recipe that Honda uses, but their e-CVT implementation couldn't be any more different. Honda only chose to call it an e-CVT, because otherwise, it would sound so complicated to the normal folk.
That's because Honda's system doesn't have a traditional transmission. Instead, you have a lockup clutch system that connects and disconnects the engine from the wheels. At low speed or low throttle inputs, the engine is disconnected from the wheels--even as it charges the battery. When more throttle is needed, the clutch-based system connects the wheels to the engine.
As a result, the Honda has a smoother driving experience at low speeds or when coasting. At the same time, when the clutch packs connect the engine to the wheels, it works together with the Linear Shift Control that controls the power delivery and engine sound to simulate the sound and sensations of a multi-speed transmission. In simpler terms, the Toyota system has a lot of engine drone, while the Honda system feels far more linear and more sporty.
And one of the key highlights that Honda showcased in their Prelude announcement is what's called the S+ Shift. This is basically a new, sportier shift logic program that Honda will add to their next-generation e:HEV system, not only in the Prelude, but in every Honda hybrid with this system. It builds upon today's Linear Shift Control by enabling the engine and electric motor to work together to deliver shift shocks and linear power delivery. Together with the paddle shifters, enabling S+ in the Prelude and in future Honda hybrids will now let you cycle through various gear ratios.
So, yes, it's basically a simulated multi-speed automatic--even if it's using the aforementioned lockup clutch-based system rather than a traditional transmission. This is even complete with synthetic engine noise piped through the speakers, and even strong shift shocks that are absent from today's Linear Shift Control. Is it unnecessary? Kinda, but more on what it feels like in the real world.
While the S+ Shift is indeed the main highlight of the next-generation e:HEV system, there are a few noteworthy things as well that will also play a key role in Honda's multi-solution approach for an electrified future--albeit with sporting intentions.
Forming the backbone of Honda's next-generation e:HEV systems are the new 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter direct-injected Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engines. At the moment, details about these two engines are scarce, but what we do know is that they'll be much more efficient than before. Honda says that the 1.5-liter, in particular, will offer a significant 40 percent improvement in fuel economy versus the previous 1.5-liter e:HEV system, which was achieved by "expanding the range where engine RPM becomes highly efficient in balance with engine torque".
Honda is also developing a new vehicle architecture for midsize vehicles. Combined with the new e:HEV systems in 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter versions, Honda is promising an efficiency improvement of more than 10 percent versus today's systems. For handling improvements, a new “steering stability index" will let certain parts of the vehicle's body to flex as a way to control the load on each tire during cornering. These improvements will be accompanied by a simplified body structure, wherein parts commonality will allow reduced weight by as much as 10 percent. More importantly, Honda is aiming for a commonality ratio of 60 percent across vehicles in the same platform, reducing the company's costs to the tune of 50 percent when these new hybrids launch in 2027 versus hybrids launched in 2018.
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