Warning: pure speculation ahead, please dont use it for your thesis reference
Innovation in honda engine:
1. Aggressive cylinder cutting, hence load per active cylinder is higher, less complexity to arrange ignition timing in part throttle (less part throttle per active cylinder), in expense of rougher and 'peaky' torque. Improved fuel efficiency.
2. Common Block for both ICE and Mguh, with insulator between them. Could explain their short circuit issue. Not seen on dyno because their ICE is not contacted to ground. Also, very thin layer of insulator provide less moving margin and also increase rate of TC and MGUH failure because of vibration. Benefit would be: lowest (not lower) COG, increase overall stiffness, and the most important is aero (everybody know their overhead opening is the smallest) because they May use same water jacket with their ICE, and utilize the same radiator! =D> wonder why there is soooo many blue censor here in testing (temp and cardiograph)
3. Absolutely they use TJI, the dual anchor! This could explain their low power, bad drivability, detonation on Stoffel. You must analyze why Hasegawa not too panik and still looking confident they can solve this: it is related to ignition and fuel spray timing! This area is the weakest point in honda. Buuuttt its related to software, how to create harmony in their engine. Remember that andy cowel always mention this? He should be very proud of their IT team. Hell, why cant the customers team win with the same equipment with merc? IT IS THEIR SOFTWARE! basically what merc give to customers is a safe mode, with no chance to overclock it.
4. Honda scrap their 2016 engine, so that someone resigned because 2015 and 2016 engine architecture belong to him. Look like he dont believe with honda TJI and put emphasis on exhaust energy, or simply because the double anchor is tooo complicated to work on, especially with zero TJI experience.
5. Hasegawa always said that in upgrading 2016 engine, they put 2017 in mind. It is their New manufacturing technique to create lighter material. Also i think they experimenting in TC (low exhaust energy) to get better understanding with 2017 one. And one mishap for me is their 2016 VLIM, as not used in 2017 engine, what a shame.