Going beyond imagination

HONDA Motor Co. not only showcased the Power of Dreams at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show (TMS), Japan’s third-largest automaker in sales volume also transcended the “Go beyond imagination” theme of its booth, the largest area for a single brand at Tokyo Big Sight.

 

Honda presented an extensive display of dream-inspiring vehicles that fulfill its new president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo’s avowed pursuit of a new Honda which continuously develops “challenging products unique to Honda and delivers them to customers around the world.”

 

In the process, Honda came up with a wide variety of mobility products capable of advanced motorsports performance (the all-new NSX super sports car, the Civic Type R and the RC213V-S street version of the famed MotoGP machine RC213V, plus the ultimate in clean motoring (the Clarity fuel cell sedan), as well as vehicles that are useful to people’s daily lives (Odyssey Hybrid, Step WGN, the Wander Stand concept and Wander Walker).

 

Having been a motorcycle manufacturer before it segued into automobile production, aside from the RC213V-S Honda Motor also displayed the innovative three-wheeled Neowing concept model, the CRF1000L Africa Twin adventure model, the EV-Cub commuter concept, the Super Cub concept and the Honda Project 2&4 powered by the RC213V.

 

Described below are the three-star attractions of the Honda booth at the 44th TMS.

 

NSX, the new-generation super sports car

 

The NSX redefines its class with sport hybrid technology. Fusing combustion and electric power, and inspired by Formula One, Honda’s latest racing technology has helped shape the new NSX supercar.

 

It took Honda three years to redesign the new NSX. Powered by a direct-injected, midship-mounted twin-turbo V6 engine, the NSX has three electric motors (one for each front wheel and another to aid acceleration, braking and gear shifting performance) to help unleash over 550 BHP with instantaneous torque. For city driving, the driver can easily switch to electric power only to cruise with max fuel economy.

 

The electric and petrol power units are mated to a 9-speed dual clutch transmission that delivers smooth and immediate throttle response and ensures the best possible at any speed. A highly efficient and high-output Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling-All Wheel Drive) hybrid system realizes both outstanding driving performance and fuel economy.

 

Its body was aerodynamically refined in Honda’s Ohio wind tunnel to ensure agility and response like never before.

 

Sculpted to stick, by concentrating much of the mass as possible to the middle of the car, the NSX has the lowest center of gravity in its class.

 

An ultra-rigid lightweight multimaterial body and fully independent aluminum suspension maximize handling, too.

 

2016 Civic Type R

 

The combination of original Honda VTEC technology, direct-injection technology and a turbocharger resulted in a 2-liter Civic that delivers 306 BHP/

 

6,500 rpm and 400 Newton-meters max torque.

 

The Civic Type R has a short-shifting machined aluminum gear lever six-speed manual transmission and zooms from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.7 seconds.

 

Its top speed is 270 kph. Four-piston Brembo front calipers on 13.8-inch drilled rotors bring this powerful car to a halt.

 

Two functional air intakes in the front bumper, a front splitter, dual axis strut front suspension, deeply sculpted side skirts, a flat underbody, adaptive damper system, an aggressive rear spoiler, an aerodynamic diffuser, four-pipe exhaust system and 19-inch alloy wheels shod with especially designed 235/35ZR 19 rubber work together to make the Civic Type R the fastest mass-production front-wheel-drive compact car in its segment.

 

A development unit of the Civic Type R set the world lap time record (7 minutes, 50.63 seconds) for production front-wheel-drive vehicles at the legendary Nürburgring North Loop in Germany.

 

It will be limited to 750 units for the Japan market.

 

Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

 

Honda held the world premiere of the planned production model of its all-new fuel cell vehicle (FCV), the Clarity Fuel Cell at the 44th TMS. The zero-emission vehicle of the future has become a reality, helping to slow the increase in greenhouse gases.

Although Toyota’s Mirai and Hyundai’s ix35 FCEV preempted Honda in the commercial production of FCVs, Honda claims that the Clarity is the world’s first production model of a fuel cell-powered four-door sedan to house the entire fuel cell powertrain under the hood.

 

Honda reduced the size of the fuel cell stack by 33 percent over the system that was fitted to the previous Clarity, while at the same time improving power density by 60 percent to 100 kilowatts and output density of 3.1 kW per liter.

 

Thus the fuel cell stack is only as big as a V6 engine, allowing Honda to fit it under the hood—a world-first for an FCV.

 

The new configuration freed up space in the cabin for five adults, compared to the Mirai that can only seat four.

 

Honda mixes oxygen from the air with hydrogen in a tank to produce electricity that then powers the front wheels.

 

On a single tank of hydrogen, the Clarity can travel 700 kilometers (435 miles) compared to the Mirai’s 300 miles. The Clarity’s cruising range tops all other production FCVs.

 

The hydrogen storage tank can be refilled in about three minutes.

 

The fuel cell can also serve as a mobile power unit. In an emergency, it can supply electricity to homes or offices.

 

The smooth and powerful electric motor produces 130 kW/ 174 BHP max, offering direct, highly responsive and exhilarating driving and quietness at the same time.

 

The Clarity Fuel Cell fuses the use of a gasoline-powered vehicle and values that are unique to a FCV at a high level. This fusion gives the sedan-type FCV high value and potential to set a benchmark for FCVs now and in the future.

 

Depth and breadth

 

Summing up, at the 44th TMS, Honda’s depth and breadth as a manufacturer of products that enhance people’s lives toward a sustainable, hydrogen-based mobile society was impressive. Honda manufactures everything from leaf blowers to an upcoming HondaJet, which will probably be revealed at the next Tokyo Motor Show.