Here's something I never thought I'd hear: Honda Motor CEO Takeo Fukui has confirmed a new Acura will house the company's first V8 engine, Jalopnik reports. There's no official word on which car will get the engine, but it's widely expected that the redesigned 2010 Acura RL will be the recipient.

Fukui even said as much in an Automotive News interview: "I don't think that the Acura RL 3.7-liter is sufficient. We can't compete with other premium brands." For years, Acura has steadfastly held onto a V6-only lineup in the face of eight-cylinder competition from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and other high-end brands, saying that it offers similar performance with lower weight and improved fuel economy.

It's going to be interesting to see how this model is received, given that some automakers are beginning to shy away from larger engines in the current energy climate.