July 31, 2003—Honda Motor Co., Ltd has announced that it will introduce two new 4-stroke marine engines, the BF150 and BF135, which will be the world’s first outboards to feature DOHC VTEC^*1(variable valve timing and lift) and a Variable Air Intake Port System. The two new models will go on sale September 30th at Honda outboard dealers throughout Japan.

Both the BF150 and the BF135 achieve outstanding clean exhaust performance that exceeds US CARB (California Air Resources Board) emissions regulations for 2008—the most stringent emissions standard in the world—while at the same time delivering superb performance, fuel efficiency, and reliability. 

The engines employ DOHC VTEC variable valve timing^*1 and a Variable Air Intake Port System to achieve high output and a flat torque curve that ensures even power output throughout the entire speed range. Lean-burn operation is also achieved through the use of a fuel injection system equipped with LAF (Linear Air/Fuel Ratio) —another world first in a marine outboard engine—resulting in 20% higher fuel efficiency than the previous model^*2 in the same output range.

Honda is taking steps to ensure that all 19 models in its marine outboard engine lineup for Japanese market, from the BF2 (2PS) to the BF225 (225PS), will deliver emission performance equivalent to standards set out in US CARB 2008 regulations by the fall of this year, making it the world’s first outboard engine manufacturer to make its entire lineup CARB 2008 compatible. As a symbol of their clean operation, all outboard motors destined for Japanese domestic consumption will display an “Ultra-Low Emissions” label to promote them as part of the world’s leading environment-friendly engine lineup.