List of Honda transmissions
Encyclopedia
Honda
has long built nearly all of its own automobile
transmissions
, unlike many other manufacturers which often source transmissions from other makers.
Automatic transmission
Honda's automatic transmission
s are unusual in that they do not use planetary gears like nearly all other makers. Instead, the Hondamatic
and its successors use traditional, individual gears on parallel axes like a manual transmission
, with each gear ratio engaged by a separate hydraulic clutch pack.
This design is also noteworthy because it preserves engine braking by eliminating a sprag between first and second gears
Honda was forced to invent their new system due to the vast array of patents on automatic transmission technology held by BorgWarner
and others.
Honda initially chose to integrate the transmission and engine block for its first application (in the N360
) as in the Mini
. The Hondamatic incorporated a lockup function, which Honda called a third ratio, and had manual gear selection. The company's early transmissions also used a patented torque converter
which used stator force rather than hydraulic controls for shifting.
The company's naming scheme is also confusing, as it is specific to a single model of vehicle and some identifiers are reused.
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
has long built nearly all of its own automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
transmissions
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
, unlike many other manufacturers which often source transmissions from other makers.
Automatic transmissionAutomatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
s
Honda's automatic transmissionAutomatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
s are unusual in that they do not use planetary gears like nearly all other makers. Instead, the Hondamatic
Hondamatic
The Hondamatic was Honda's first automatic transmission. It was produced from 1973 through 1979. The Hondamatic name is used on all automatic transmissions from Honda....
and its successors use traditional, individual gears on parallel axes like a manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, with each gear ratio engaged by a separate hydraulic clutch pack.
This design is also noteworthy because it preserves engine braking by eliminating a sprag between first and second gears
Honda was forced to invent their new system due to the vast array of patents on automatic transmission technology held by BorgWarner
BorgWarner
BorgWarner Inc. is a United States-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. It is primarily known for its powertrain products, which include manual and automatic transmissions and transmission components, , turbochargers, engine valve timing system...
and others.
Honda initially chose to integrate the transmission and engine block for its first application (in the N360
Honda N360
The Honda N360 is a kei car, designed and built by Honda and produced from March 1967 through 1970, while its larger N600 brother lasted three more years. After a January 1970 facelift, the N360 became the NIII360 and continued in production until 1972...
) as in the Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
. The Hondamatic incorporated a lockup function, which Honda called a third ratio, and had manual gear selection. The company's early transmissions also used a patented torque converter
Torque converter
In modern usage, a torque converter is generally a type of hydrodynamic fluid coupling that is used to transfer rotating power from a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, to a rotating driven load...
which used stator force rather than hydraulic controls for shifting.
The company's naming scheme is also confusing, as it is specific to a single model of vehicle and some identifiers are reused.
- 1973–1979 H2 — 2-speed
- Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
, Honda AccordHonda AccordThe Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Honda PreludeHonda PreludeThe Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
- Honda Civic
- 1979–1985 H3 — 3-speed
- Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
, Honda AccordHonda AccordThe Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Honda PreludeHonda PreludeThe Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
, Honda CRX
- Honda Civic
- 1983–1991 H4Honda H4 transmissionThe H4 was Honda's first 4-speed automatic transmission. It is distinguished from the later H4A by its use of two rather than three shafts.Applications:* 1983 Honda Accord * 1983–1985 Honda Prelude * 1984–1985 Honda Accord...
— 4-speed (aka AS/AK/F4/CA/P1/K4/L4/PY8A/ML4A/MY8A)- Accord, Prelude, Integra
- 1986–1990 G4Honda G4 transmissionThe G4 was a strengthened version of Honda's first 4-speed automatic transmission, the H4. Introduced in 1986 on the new flagship Honda/Acura Legend, it was replaced by the updated MPYA.Applications:* 1986–1987 Acura Legend...
— 4-speed (aka L5/PL5X)- Honda/Acura LegendHonda LegendThe Honda Legend is a mid-size luxury car made by the Japanese automaker Honda. It was the result of Project XX, a joint agreement started in November 1981 with the Austin Rover Group of Great Britain and was mechanically related to the Rover 800 series....
- Honda/Acura Legend
- 1989–1991 Civic AWD — 4-speed (aka MPSA/S5)
- Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
AWD
- Honda Civic
- 1990–1997 H4AHonda H4A transmissionThe H4A was a modified version of Honda's first 4-speed automatic transmission, the H4. Introduced in 1990 on the flagship Honda Accord, the H4A series had three shafts, rather than the two found on the H4...
— 4-speed (aka A6VA/AOYA/APX4/APXA/BOYA/MP1A/MP1B/MPJA/MPOA/MPWA/MPXA/PX4B)- Honda AccordHonda AccordThe Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Honda PreludeHonda PreludeThe Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
, Honda OdysseyHonda OdysseyHonda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda:* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold in Japan and other parts of the world* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold primarily in the United States and Canada...
/Isuzu OasisIsuzu OasisThe Isuzu Oasis was a minivan produced as result of an agreement between Isuzu and Honda from 1996 to 1999. It was the only minivan sold by Isuzu....
, Acura CLAcura CLThe Acura CL is a model of automobile manufactured by Honda's Acura brand from 1996–1999, and from 2001–2003. The CL is often thought to have been a replacement for the Acura Legend coupe, but with the advent of the TL in 1996, which directly replaced the Vigor, the CL is more precisely a TL coupe...
- Honda Accord
- 1990–2000 Integra — 4-speed (aka MP7A/MPRA/RO/S4XA/SKWA/SP7A)
- Acura Integra
- 1991–1998 Vigor — 4-speed (aka M1WA/MPWA)
- Acura VigorAcura VigorThe Honda Vigor is a compact sedan sold in Japan from 1981 to 1995. It was sold in North America from 1992 to 1994 as the Acura Vigor, a mid-size luxury car. It was replaced in North America with the Acura TL and in Japan with the Honda Saber...
, Acura TLAcura TLThe TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
- Acura Vigor
- 1991–2003 MPYA — 4-speed (aka MPYA/M5DA/M5HA/MPYA)
- Acura LegendAcura LegendThe Acura Legend, sold as the Honda Legend outside the U.S., Canada, and parts of China, was a luxury vehicle sold from 1986 to 1995 as both a sedan and coupe. It was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura nameplate, until being renamed in 1996 as the Acura 3.5RL. The 3.5RL was North...
, Acura TLAcura TLThe TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
, Acura RLAcura RLThe Acura RL is the flagship car for North American luxury brand Acura — marketed in Japan as the Honda Legend and manufactured in Saitama, Japan...
- Acura Legend
- 1992–2003 S24A — 4-speed (also A24A/A2YA/A4RA/B46A/B4RA/B7ZA/BDRA/BMXA/M24A/M4RA/M4TA/MCVA/MDLA/MDMA/MRVA/S4RA/SLXA)
- Civic, del Sol, CR-V
- 1995–2002 B7XA — 4-speed (aka B7TA/B7VA/B7YA/M7ZA/MPZA)
- Honda AccordHonda AccordThe Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Acura CLAcura CLThe Acura CL is a model of automobile manufactured by Honda's Acura brand from 1996–1999, and from 2001–2003. The CL is often thought to have been a replacement for the Acura Legend coupe, but with the advent of the TL in 1996, which directly replaced the Vigor, the CL is more precisely a TL coupe...
, Honda OdysseyHonda OdysseyHonda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda:* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold in Japan and other parts of the world* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold primarily in the United States and Canada...
/Isuzu OasisIsuzu OasisThe Isuzu Oasis was a minivan produced as result of an agreement between Isuzu and Honda from 1996 to 1999. It was the only minivan sold by Isuzu....
, Acura TLAcura TLThe TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
- Honda Accord
- 1996–2003 Multimatic — CVTContinuously variable transmissionA continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
(also M4VA/MLYA/SLYA)- Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
HX CVT, Honda CityHonda CityThe Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981. Originally made for the Japanese, European and Australasian markets, the City was retired without replacement in 1994...
- Honda Civic
- 1997–2002 M6HA — 4-speed (also B6VA/BAXA/MAXA/MDWA/MGRA)
- Honda PreludeHonda PreludeThe Honda Prelude was a sports coupe produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1978 until 2001. It replaced the Honda S800, a front-engined, front wheel drive sports car...
, Acura CLAcura CLThe Acura CL is a model of automobile manufactured by Honda's Acura brand from 1996–1999, and from 2001–2003. The CL is often thought to have been a replacement for the Acura Legend coupe, but with the advent of the TL in 1996, which directly replaced the Vigor, the CL is more precisely a TL coupe...
, Honda AccordHonda AccordThe Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
, Honda OdysseyHonda OdysseyHonda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda:* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold in Japan and other parts of the world* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold primarily in the United States and Canada...
/Isuzu OasisIsuzu OasisThe Isuzu Oasis was a minivan produced as result of an agreement between Isuzu and Honda from 1996 to 1999. It was the only minivan sold by Isuzu....
- Honda Prelude
- 2000– H5Honda H5 transmissionThe H5 is Honda's first 5-speed automatic transmission.Applications:* 2000 Acura TL * 2001–2003 Acura CL * 2001–2003 Acura CL * 2001–2003 Acura TL * 2001 Acura MDX * 2002–2003 Acura RSX...
— 5-speed (also B7WA/BAYA/BCLA/BGFA/BGHA/BYBA/M7WA/MAYA/MCLA/MDKA/MGFA/MGHA/MRMA)- Acura TLAcura TLThe TL "Touring Luxury" debuted as 1996 model, first with the 1996 2.5 TL available with the 2.5 L 176 hp SOHC 20-valve 5-cylinder engine from the Vigor. The 3.2 TL used the 3.2 L 200 hp SOHC 24v V6 from the second generation Acura Legend. The 2.5 TL was positioned as the...
, Acura CLAcura CLThe Acura CL is a model of automobile manufactured by Honda's Acura brand from 1996–1999, and from 2001–2003. The CL is often thought to have been a replacement for the Acura Legend coupe, but with the advent of the TL in 1996, which directly replaced the Vigor, the CL is more precisely a TL coupe...
, Acura MDXAcura MDXThe Acura MDX, or Honda MDX as known in Japan and Australia , is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Acura since the 2001 model year. The MDX was the first crossover SUV to have third-row seating. It is related to the Honda Pilot. The alphanumeric moniker stands for...
, Acura RSXAcura RSXThe Honda Integra DC5 is a Japanese performance sports car, which was also known as the Acura RSX in North America . It is available in base and "Type-S" models in North America, and a "Integra iS / Integra Type S" and "Type R" version sold in Japan and Oceania...
, Honda OdysseyHonda OdysseyHonda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda:* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold in Japan and other parts of the world* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold primarily in the United States and Canada...
, Honda AccordHonda AccordThe Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
- Acura TL