Honda showcases the Power of Dreams

HONDA Motor CEO Takahiro Hachigo presents the Honda Clarity fuel cell vehicle and the Honda Super Cub concept motorcycle.

HONDA Motor Co. needed the largest floor area at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show to showcase all its innovative, dream-inspiring vehicles embodying the theme, “Go beyond imagination,” under its “The Power of Dreams” global brand slogan.

Japan’s third-biggest automobile manufacturer in sales volume exhibited a wide range of mobility products created to be useful in the everyday lives of people worldwide and/or to pursue advanced driving performance on and off the track.

The exciting new vehicles on display included four key models: the Clarity fuel cell vehicle (FCV), the world’s first mass-production fuel cell sedan featuring an under-the-hood fuel cell powertrain, a spacious cabin that seats five adults comfortably, and a cruising range of more than 700 kilometers.

The all-new NSX super sports car attracted admiring crowds with its midship-mounted twin turbo VTEC V6 engine, Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling-All Wheel Drive) hybrid system, and low, wide, dynamic exterior styling.

The all-new, aerodynamic Civic Type R is powered by Honda’s new 2-liter direct injection VTEC Turbo engine with a six-speed manual transmission.

The development version set the world lap time record for mass-production front-wheel-drive vehicles at the legendary Nürburgring North Loop in Germany.

The spunky S660 open-top mini compact, propelled by a 1.3-liter DOHC turbo engine, interested people who wanted something that looks and drives like a little sports car but gets 24 kilometers per liter.

For motorcycle fans, there was the Honda Project 2&4 fusing together the values of two- and four-wheel mobility. It packs a street spec version of the V4 engine that powered the RC213V racing motorcycle to two consecutive winning seasons in the MotoGP World Championship.

Another motorcycle attraction was the Neowing concept, an unusual three-wheeled vehicle equipped with a hybrid system that combines a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine and electric motors to generate massive torque for powerful acceleration.

This three-wheeled sport hybrid model offers excellent cornering feel and stability.

HONDA Philippines president Toshio Kuwahara with the all-new Honda Civic Type R ardie lopez

Speaking onstage at the TMS press presentation, Takahiro Hachigo, who assumed the helm of the company in June, said that when he became president of Honda, one of the themes he set in pursuit of a new Honda is “continuous development of challenging products unique to Honda and delivering them to customers around the world.”

In 2002, Honda was the first automaker to put the ultimate clean car, a fuel cell vehicle, into practical use. The FCV emits only water.

Since then, Hachigo said, Honda has been advancing and improving the performance of its FCVs, capped by the development of the Clarity FCV.

Honda has long been recognized as a leader in green, environment-friendly technology.

Honda has also been in the forefront of developing driver safety assistance technologies toward the end in view of eventually producing a safe, fully automated car.

Hachigo pledged that Honda will continue pursuing its goal to advance automobiles to the point where they will have “zero social footprint” and “zero accidents” to realize the joy and freedom of mobility in a sustainable society.

The 44th Tokyo Motor Show featuring 30 vehicle manufacturers from around the world opened to the general public on Oct. 30 and will close on Nov. 8, at Tokyo Big Sight. Press days were on Oct. 28 and 29.