- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDYCAR: Honda Reveals First-Gen 2012 Engine
Visitors to the North American International Auto Show got a treat from Honda this week as it revealed a demo of its first-gen 2.4-liter 2012 IndyCar engine.
Honda's new-for-2012 2.4-liter IndyCar engine was used for development behind the scenes, and played a role in the 2.2-liter powerplant that will be used this season by its partner teams. (SPEED)
Visitors to the North American International Auto Show got a treat from Honda this week as it revealed a display version of its first-generation 2.4-liter 2012 IndyCar engine.
Announced by the IZOD IndyCar Series on June 2, 2010, the series detailed a change in its engine regulations for 2012, with 2.4-liter turbocharged engines of up to six cylinders replacing the naturally-aspirated V8 motors that had powered its cars since 1997.
Honda, through its Honda Performance Development arm in southern California, was the first manufacturer to declare its intent to build the new 2.4-liter engine on August 7th, 2010, followed by Chevrolet on November 12th and Lotus on November 18th.
At the behest of one of the manufacturers, INDYCAR announced a reduction in engine displacement from 2.4 liters to 2.2 on January 11th, 2011, and with HPD already far down the road under the original engine rules, the choice was made to complete and dyno test the 2.4-liter motor while a new, 2.2-liter design was commissioned.
"This engine was already well underway in the design/manufacturing process when the rules change came about,” HPD Technical Director Roger Griffiths told SPEED.com.
“The engine served to prove out many development concepts and allowed the new 2.2-liter engine to be more advanced from the outset than it would have been had we not done the 2.4."
With numerous changes implemented since its creation, the presentation version of the first-gen Honda “HI12RT” engine (as shown at the NAIAS show) is similar to the 2.4-liter engine Griffiths and the HPD team used for dyno testing.
By the time Honda, Bryan Herta Autosport and the late Dan Wheldon commenced track testing on August 8th last year for the IndyCar Series, HPD’s new 2.2-liter engine was ready for use in the series’ Dallara DW12 chassis.
Featuring a lightweight carbon fiber intake plenum, integrated chassis mounts and a host of other details improvements over the 2.4-liter demo model, the 2.2-liter version of the HI12RT will make its competition debut on March 25th at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR Honda's First-Gen 2012 IndyCar Engine
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Announced by the IZOD IndyCar Series on June 2, 2010, the series detailed a change in its engine regulations for 2012, with 2.4-liter turbocharged engines of up to six cylinders replacing the naturally-aspirated V8 motors that had powered its cars since 1997.
Honda, through its Honda Performance Development arm in southern California, was the first manufacturer to declare its intent to build the new 2.4-liter engine on August 7th, 2010, followed by Chevrolet on November 12th and Lotus on November 18th.
At the behest of one of the manufacturers, INDYCAR announced a reduction in engine displacement from 2.4 liters to 2.2 on January 11th, 2011, and with HPD already far down the road under the original engine rules, the choice was made to complete and dyno test the 2.4-liter motor while a new, 2.2-liter design was commissioned.
"This engine was already well underway in the design/manufacturing process when the rules change came about,” HPD Technical Director Roger Griffiths told SPEED.com.
“The engine served to prove out many development concepts and allowed the new 2.2-liter engine to be more advanced from the outset than it would have been had we not done the 2.4."
With numerous changes implemented since its creation, the presentation version of the first-gen Honda “HI12RT” engine (as shown at the NAIAS show) is similar to the 2.4-liter engine Griffiths and the HPD team used for dyno testing.
By the time Honda, Bryan Herta Autosport and the late Dan Wheldon commenced track testing on August 8th last year for the IndyCar Series, HPD’s new 2.2-liter engine was ready for use in the series’ Dallara DW12 chassis.
Featuring a lightweight carbon fiber intake plenum, integrated chassis mounts and a host of other details improvements over the 2.4-liter demo model, the 2.2-liter version of the HI12RT will make its competition debut on March 25th at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR Honda's First-Gen 2012 IndyCar Engine
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. He also contributes to Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Latest Gallery
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
LE MANS: Briscoe Aiming For Dream LM24 Debut
Level 5 Motorsports driver settling in quickly to Le Mans... -
DE CHAUNAC: Le Mans 2005, The Only Time I Wanted To Give Up
This was definitely the 24 Hours of Le Mans where I suffered the… -
LE MANS: Audi Leads Wednesday LM24 Qualifying
Audis 1-2-3 in incident-filled and shortened opening day of qualifying… -
LE MANS: Lotus LMP2 Returns To Track
Seized parts returned to Lotus LMP2, No. 31 car rebuilt and completes… -
SPEED, SPEED.com Plan Live & Continuous LM24 Coverage
In-car streaming of Corvette Racing highlights two-screen experience...… -
VIDEO: 8Star LM24 Wednesday vBlog
Rui Aguas checks into SPEED.com prior to the start of practice and… -
LE MANS: Corvette On-Board Pass Returns For LM24
Watch! Live in-car and garage cameras from Corvette Racing during… - More News
