Linamar Corporation and its McLaren Engineering division announced today a new alliance with Honda Marine, a business division of Honda Power Sports & Products.
Through an Official Licensed Product (OLP) agreement, Honda Marine and McLaren Engineering will collaborate on the production of the McLaren Performance M300, a performance-inspired marine outboard that delivers enhanced top-end power of 300 hp, premium quality, outstanding reliability and durability underlined by a dynamic engineering collaboration rooted in a heritage of technical excellence.
McLaren Engineering, owned by Linamar Corporation , is the leading-edge technology and product development team for the Linamar mobility business segment as well as the full-service provider of design, development, integration, manufacturing, and testing services. Honda Marine, which markets a complete range of outboard marine four-stroke engines ranging from 2.3 to 350 horsepower, pioneered four-stroke engine technology and has been designing and building four-stroke outboard motors for 60 years, setting the benchmark for fuel efficiency, quiet operation and low emissions.
Overall, the collaboration extends both partners the ability to make their respective customers successful by offering the marine market an enhanced performance-inspired outboard engine. The new OLP agreement allows McLaren Engineering to sell the McLaren Performance M300 engine (Honda OLP) to selected Honda-affiliated OEMs. Beginning in the 2025 model year, these OEMs will offer the McLaren Performance M300 when configuring new boat builds, providing greater flexibility in serving recreational marine customers. The alliance with Honda Marine is designed to help McLaren Engineering and Linamar enhance value for its own customers and meet future market needs; in turn, the collaboration with McLaren Engineering powers the Honda Marine mission to be a marine mobility leader, offering integrated, high-power solutions for the global marketplace that enable extraordinary boating experiences.
A Closer Look at the McLaren Performance M300 Outboard
The all-new McLaren Performance M300 engines are based on the existing high-power Honda BF250 hp marine platform, the proven Honda 3.6-liter V6 engine that integrates legendary Honda, durability, quality and reliability and performance-leading technologies including:
- Honda VTEC® provides a unique blend of power, torque and efficiency (an example of shared technology with Honda vehicles, demonstrating proven Honda engineering across businesses).
- Honda Intelligent Shift and Throttle® (iST®) command and control system delivers superb control plus plug-and-play installation of Honda Marine products and third-party controls and devices.
- Programmed Fuel Injection delivers precise amounts of fuel and air to each cylinder, for easy starting, instant throttle response and low fuel consumption / excellent fuel efficiency.
- Dual channel, indirect-air-circuit induction system for optimal airflow, directs moisture away from throttle body; 2-pass cooling system for long-term durability.
- Tough corrosion resistance: Honda Corrosion Protection System components incorporate high-corrosion resistant aluminum alloy; fresh-water flush port directs debris and saltwater out of engine; extreme-duty, durable gear case.
- Engine Alert System monitors vital engine functions / alerts operator of engine function status.
- Easy Ownership, Simplified Maintenance: reduced maintenance time for routine tasks; 3-latch lock & seal cover design; NMEA 2000 compatibility for interface of engine data with on-board systems and systems displays.
- Honda True 5 Warranty: transferable, non-declining, five-year warranty.
Applying its precision engineering technology expertise, McLaren Engineering will performance-tune base models of Honda BF250 high-power engines to enhance top-end power (to 300 hp) and mid-range torque. McLaren Performance modifications include the integration of a new camshaft for enhanced valve timing and high lift; a new Engine Control Unit (ECU) that controls protection and boosts efficiencies (IG mapping, knock control); new fuel injectors for higher fuel supply; and excellent fuel efficiency (3.5+ MPG@cruise, 90 octane). The result is a performance-inspired outboard engine with an improved horsepower to weight ratio that offers top-end power for boats in the 24 ft. and higher segment, including pontoons and fiberglass boats, for inland and coastal fishing and pleasure boating.
What Stands Behind the Brand
McLaren Engineering is a developer of complete vehicle powertrain and driveline systems for the global market of electrified and traditionally powered vehicles. McLaren Engines Inc. was the engineering backbone supporting a 55-year track record in racing distinction established when motorcar driver, designer, engineer and inventor Bruce McLaren created a North American racing unit. The McLaren Engines team achieved tremendous success racing in Can Am, Indy Car, IMSA and LeMans series. This same racing heritage continues to inspire McLaren Engineering development teams, fueling their focus on the continued advancement of innovative product technology at the company.
To underscore the McLaren Engineering commitment to the new partnership and the significance of the endeavor for both partners, McLaren Engineering developed a new brand identity for the McLaren Performance line of marine engines. The brand name was chosen to land squarely on the concept of performance as the vision for the collaboration between Honda and McLaren Engineering. A new logo integrates the McLaren Engines racing heritage with the McLaren Engineering ownership by Linamar, while the logo colors encompass the persimmon color of the Linamar logo, along with two cool shades of marine blue. In a nod to the past, the logo encompasses three stylized graphics representing kiwi birds, borrowed from the McLaren Racing logo from the late 1960s reflecting Bruce McLaren's New Zealand heritage. Looking to the future, the words McLaren Performance are presented in a sleek, sans-serif font.
Expanding a Long-Term Partnership
This new collaboration between McLaren Engineering and Honda Marine strengthens the relationship between two formidable technology partners, each with distinct and complementary strengths. The McLaren Engineering-Honda relationship dates to 2014 when McLaren Engineering's parent, Linamar Corporation, began supplying components to the American Honda engines manufacturing facility in Anna, Ohio. As a supplier to Honda for the past 10 years, McLaren has demonstrated its expertise in high-precision, high-quality engine component manufacturing. Today, McLaren Engineering is extending its R&D and performance excellence to Honda Marine outboard motors.
"Our work at McLaren Engineering is designed to help Linamar enhance value for our customers and meet future market needs, and we look forward to collaborating with a partner who is equally committed to performance excellence in product offerings. The unparalleled reliability of Honda Marine outboards, powered by four-stroke engines that integrate with performance-leading, exclusive technologies, makes Honda the preferred partner to collaborate with on product offerings and solutions that benefit marine customers on critical fuel economy, emissions, cost and quality needs," said Mark Stoddart, Linamar Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
For its part in the collaboration, Honda Marine draws on the technological prowess of its parent company—from generators to motorcycles to automobiles to jets, Honda produces millions of engines per year, with technology and economy of scale benefiting boating customers. Honda and McLaren Engineering designed features into the McLaren Performance M300 to build on the Honda reputation of superior dependability and decreased maintenance, adding up to peace of mind for the owner, more time on water and more pleasure with the boating experience.
"Our collaboration with McLaren Engineering to enhance marine engine technology, coupled with the recent introduction of our new BF350 marine engine, illustrate our next-level strategy and how we intend to move forward with the Honda Marine business to make our customers successful," said Daniel Sherlock, Director, Honda Marine Division. "Honda Marine is transforming, and our mission is to be a marine mobility leader. We are capitalizing on the technology of Honda worldwide and further developing strategic alliances that produce performance-inspired power product offerings that make extraordinary boating experiences possible."
Additional details regarding the Honda Marine and McLaren Engineering alliance, designed to produce integrated solutions that maximize the pleasure of the boating experience, will be announced in early 2025.
Learn more about the partnership at www.mclarenengineeringperformance.com/honda-marine-partnerships
