Is this Honda concept engine the outboard's future?

Here’s what you get when you give Honda’s Advanced Design Group in the US a clean sheet of paper with the brief to create the future outboard engine.

Drawing inspiration from Honda’s NSX Supercar and its HA-420 business jet, the design concept engine revealed at the 2017 Miami International Boat Show is a “blue sky vision for what future marine engines could look like.”

Honda Marine, a division of American Honda Motor Co. Ltd, turned to automotive, marine and aeronautical industries for design cues.

Will Walton, Assistant Vice President at Honda Marine America, used the unveiling as an opportunity to reinforce the Japanese brand’s commitment to the marine industry.

"The Honda Marine Design Concept Engine is a clear indicator that Honda is committed to the marine business, continuing its legacy of innovation and ground-breaking marine products with a vision of what future Honda Marine power could be."

RUSH OF EXCITEMENT
Designers at Honda’s Advanced Design Group started with some sketches and then moved to digital modelling to create the dimensions and look of the concept engine.

"The inspiration for the design of this engine was driven by the feeling you get when at the helm of a powerful boat on the water — the rush of excitement, the exhilaration and freedom, the feeling that hits you immediately with the boat at full throttle and the water and air around you," Walton explains.

The concept engine is taller than conventional marine engines, with sculpted lines that are said to tie the concept to traditional outboards while promising creativity with regards to future power sources.

For exceptional aerodynamics, the tailored packaging includes a sculpted centre channel inlaid with a honeycomb mesh trim. The heat ducts feature an interwoven design with black honeycomb mesh that are reminiscent of the intakes on the 2017 Honda NSX.

FLOATING WINGED BLADE
But the curious aspect of the Honda Marine design concept engine is the floating winged blade.

Inspired by the 2017 Honda NSX Supercar, the floating winged blade helps reduce the overall appearance of the large cowling, resulting in the concept engine having an aerodynamic, sleek, vertical look.

In today’s centre console market with racks of outboard engine, Honda's concept would look petty cool. Anglers mightn’t beg to differ in respect of creating a new place to foul lines, however.

The Nouvelle Blue Pearl colour of the design concept engine was matched to a 2017 Honda NSX also on display at the 2017 Miami boat show. Honda says the design concept engine could be available in a variety of colours to match the lifestyle of the customer.

However, there is currently no production intent for the Honda Marine engine design concept. The idea was simply to deliver a vision of the boating lifestyle of the future. We guess time will tell how close they are to the money and if they scored the attention they hoped for at busy Miami boat show.

Closer to home, Honda recently released new BF4, BF5 and BF6 outboard engines on the Australian market.