BLOG CATEGORIES

honda

  1. Everyday Hero - Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 1 - Concept and Design

    Everyday Hero - Direct Fit Catch Can R&D Part 1 - Concept and Design

    Every superhero has a weakness or villain thwarting them at every turn. Superman has those glowing alien rocks. Batman is constantly putting out fires both figuratively and literally set by some deranged clown, and the internal combustion engine has its respiratory system clogged up by its own lifeblood. Yes, we're talking about blow-by. Granted, carbon buildup from blow-by might not seem as serious as the threat of a supervillain, but it's an affliction that affects every engine out there, even your new Honda Accord.

    IMG_2301

    The 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T might not be flying around Metropolis or Gotham punching criminals in the face, but this generation of Honda's full-sized sedan is taking the heroics of daily driving to a new level. Utilizing the K20C4 derived from the heavy-hitting Civic Type R, Honda ditched the V6

    Continue Reading »
  2. Daditude - Performance Intake Development Part 1 - Stock Review

    Daditude - Performance Intake Development Part 1 - Stock Review

    Since its inception in 1976, the Honda Accord hasn't exactly screamed performance. In fact, for the longest time it has carried the stigma as the typical family sedan. That image has started to fade in recent years as the Accord developed somewhat of an attitude with the 8th and 9th generation, especially when it comes to the Sport trim V6 models. In fact, Road and Track made the bold claim that the 9th generation was the last true American muscle car. While the Accord is improving on its bad boy image, there is still work to be done toward injecting some more attitude into the 2.0T powered grocery-getter.

    IMG_2287

    The V6 Accord might be a piece of Honda's history,

    Continue Reading »
  3. InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Performance Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 6 - Dyno Testing Results

    InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Performance Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 6 - Dyno Testing Results

    Investing in an intercooler shows some similarities to going to college. Hear me out. When that acceptance letter arrives, it's understood that there's a lot of money about to be spent as a down payment on the future. Some of us might have held a job or two while in school, but the general idea is complete your degree, and get your dream job, or at least something that is enough to pay off those loans.

    020818_NLT_CTR_Dyno_WEB_3

    A bigger intercooler is an investment in your Civic Type R's future, especially for those who are doing builds and expect big numbers from the K20C1. Depending on the car and the design, adding more fins and surface area to the intercooling system usually gives you some power right off the bat. Our new design does squeeze a few extra drops of power from the CTR, but the main objective

    Continue Reading »
  4. InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Performance Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 5 - Piping Production Sample

    InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Performance Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 5 - Piping Production Sample

    It goes without saying that the intercooling system is an integral part of any turbocharged vehicle. What's the sense of trying to cram more air into the cylinders if it can't be compressed that easily. In fact, that almost defeats the entire point of having a turbo installed on your engine. For those of you who have a craving to crank up the heat on your hot-Honda by lowering your intake temps, we already devised a solution for you. However, much like how your CTR transports you from A to B, your chilled charged air still requires a delivery method.

    Until we can somehow devise a pipe-less intercooler system, ensuring that we improve on the stock pipes is always a requirement.
    Until we can somehow devise a pipe-less intercooler system, ensuring that
    Continue Reading »
  5. InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Performance Intercooler Kit R&D Part 4 - Intercooler Production Sample

    InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Performance Intercooler Kit R&D Part 4 - Intercooler Production Sample

    When it comes to shopping for an upgraded intercooler, the first thing any of us look for is the temperature drop figure. For our new design, that information has still yet to come. For now, we'll focus on the next most interesting specification, which, naturally, is the size of the core. In the case of our new core, that number is 1003mm³. That might just look like a number, but compared to the stock unit, it's a 169% increase in size. One-hundred and sixty nine percent. Crushed it.

    020518_NLT_CTR_INT_WEB_10

    How does the number compare, though? What does a 169% increase in size look like in relation to the FK8? Well, lucky for you, the difference in size is quite notable, as it should be when we're more than doubling the size of the stock unit. The stock unit appears as if it fills that entire lower

    Continue Reading »
  6. InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 3 - Piping Design Plans

    InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 3 - Piping Design Plans

    Honda might have changed the game in the world of hot-hatches with the latest generation of the Civic Type R, but if you recall from the stock review, the FK8's intercooling system barely met the classification of "gamechanger." We're already well on our way to elevating the Type R's charged air heat exchanger to that level, as we covered in our last post, but what about the piping? After all, the car is an ecosystem and can only be as strong as its weakest component.

    072617_NLT_CTR_INT_WEB_2

    Discussing the new piping requires a brief recap of our design plans for the intercooler itself. Specifically, we'll start with the revised end tank design. In the Type R's stock form, the piping was a combination of a rubber hose

    Continue Reading »
  7. InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 2 - Design Plans

    InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 2 - Design Plans

    The car is like an ecosystem. All the components under the hood of your Type R depend on each other to create the lovely symbiotic relationship resulting in speed. When one component falls behind in comparison to the others, the ecosystem as a whole lags. Our goal, as stated where we last left off, was to strengthen all the weak points and keep that turbocharged, aero-dripping, torque-vectoring machine carving corners and exceeding the expectations of FWD vehicles.

    072517_NLT_CTR_INT_WEB_2

    Extreme heat exposes a subtle weakness in your Type R. The excess heat will rob your CTR of its full potential on the track and the street, especially when we're talking about the intercooling system. Not only is the hotter air much harder to compress for effective forced induction, it can become a detriment to the

    Continue Reading »
  8. Bring a Jacket: Mishimoto's Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo Performance Intercooler R&D Part 4 - Dyno Results

    Bring a Jacket: Mishimoto's Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo Performance Intercooler R&D Part 4 - Dyno Results

    There are two things that are guaranteed to get just about everyone at Mishi HQ away from their desk for at least a few minutes. The first is as soon as something new or unique rolls into one of the bays. It doesn't matter if it's a massive diesel truck, C6 Corvette, or one of the 10th Gen Civic Hatchback Sports. Nearly everyone wants to get a close look at what we've brought in for R&D. The second thing that gets people shuffling through the shop is when that new car makes its way to our Dynapack system. Our conspicuously red FK7 was no exception. Everyone here was curious about how the scrappy L15B7 performs with a little help from Mishimoto, and I'm going to venture to guess that you are too.

    083117_NLT_CivX_INT_WEB_6

    Continue Reading »
  9. InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review

    InterCOOLactic Planetary - 2017+ Honda Civic Type R Intercooler Kit R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review

    The weeks surrounding the new year are always a time for both reflection and a look ahead. If we look back on how Honda did in 2017, one could say that they made a splash. The previous year was the release of their spiced-up models, such as the Sport Hatch, aka the pseudo-Si, and the real Si as well. How could we forget the hatchback to rule them all, the Type R? Not only did Honda's ramped up hatchback rival the likes of the seasoned veterans of this field, specifically the AWD Focus RS, but it also took the crown for FWD cars at the revered Nürburgring. Even with these accolades, the CTR is still a mass-produced car. This means that it's inherently going to have some drawbacks due to budgets and production deadlines. We're spending 2018 to strengthen the chinks in the Type R's armor.

    080217_NLT_CTR_INT_WEB_2

    Continue Reading »
  10. The Civic has Boost! 2017+ Honda Civic 1.5T Intake R&D, Part 5 - Civic Si Development

    The Civic has Boost! 2017+ Honda Civic 1.5T Intake R&D, Part 5 - Civic Si Development

    Ever since the mid-1980s, the Si has had a reputation for adding just the right amount of flavor to the standard Civic. With a tablespoon of suspension upgrades, an ounce of body kitting and interior trim, and just a dash of extra power, the Si follows the same recipe that Volkswagen set with the MK1 GTI. As the Civic has grown and evolved overtime, so has the spiced-up version, and while the Si hatchback might not be around anymore, the formula is still the same.

    The newest Si sets itself apart from the standard EX-T. The aggressive new styling, 18" alloys, and sporty interior let everyone know that you're not driving just a Civic. The improvements don't stop there. Along with the enhanced styling, the Si also gets a helical limited slip differential to evenly distribute the extra 25 horses and added torque to the front wheels. Under the hood, however, one might take note that the L15B7 powering the updated Si is the same powerplant that can be found throughout the Civic line, which

    Continue Reading »
Page