News & Events

12-08-11 - Pint-Sized Honda N Box Debuts: 2011 Tokyo Auto Show

By Anita Lienert, Correspondent | Published Nov 30, 2011

Just the Facts:

• The Honda EV-STER made its world debut at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, previewing what the automaker calls a new-generation EV sports model.
• The small sports concept skips the traditional steering wheel in favor of twin joysticks.
• The concept is equipped with a lithium-ion battery and has an output of 78 horsepower.

TOKYO — The Honda EV-STER made its world debut at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, previewing what the automaker calls a new-generation EV sports model.

The slick concept is a significant step for Honda, which has been criticized for offering environmentally friendly, but boring vehicles. The Japanese automaker captured much of the limelight at the show on Wednesday, thanks to media reports that the EV-STER — and a new NSX — appear to be bound for production.

"We will sequentially introduce multiple new models, including a high-performance sports model which is currently under development toward market introduction in the near future," said Takanobu Ito, Honda president and CEO in a speech on Wednesday.

According to media reports, the NSX will be shown at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

The EV-STER, an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater, uses an all-new platform. Honda plans to offer the production version of the car with either a gasoline engine or as a pure electric vehicle.

The small sports concept skips the traditional steering wheel in favor of twin joysticks. Honda calls the setup "twin-lever steering."

The EV-STER is equipped with a lithium-ion battery and has an output of 78 horsepower. Honda says it sprints from zero to 37 mph in 5.0 seconds and has a range of about 99 miles. Honda says the driving range was made possible by the "adoption of carbon materials."

It rides on a 91.5-inch wheelbase and is 12 feet long.

Inside Line says: Could Honda be shaking off its design doldrums?

12-08-11 - Honda To Show Open Sports Car Concept: 2011 Tokyo Auto Show

By Peter Nunn, Correspondent | Published Nov 9, 2011

Just the Facts:

• Honda will unveil a cool new Small Sports EV concept at the upcoming Tokyo show.
• Honda's compact, two-seat electric roadster study could be a modern-day Beat.
• The AC-X, a four-door plug-in sedan concept, will also debut from Honda.
• Honda's Micro Commuter Concept explores tomorrow's urban mobility.

TOKYO — Honda will lift the wraps on a cool new electric sports-car concept at the upcoming 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.

This is the Small Sports EV and it's an open-top two-seater designed to be both earth-friendly and fun to drive. Ahead of the show, Honda is giving out zero information on the car, but sketches show a sharp, tapered design with a long wheelbase and deeply sculptured flanks. And a lot of style. Surely this has to be one of the best-looking Hondas in a very long time.

The Tokyo grapevine suggests that, if it makes production, this could turn into a modern-day version of the Beat, Honda's midengine 660cc sports car that sold in Japan in the 1990s. We'll know more when the Small Sports EV concept goes live at the show on November 30.

On the stand, Honda will also have the AC-X, standing for Advanced Cruiser-X. This is a sleek, future-look sedan, with 1.6-liter plug-in hybrid powertrain and 185 inches in overall length that places it somewhere between the Civic and Accord.

Honda sees the AC-X as a refined, next-generation sedan, high on long-distance comfort, but you can also switch to an "engine drive mode" for more aggressive driving. To back that up, the cabin sees twin joystick controls instead of a steering wheel and plush ottoman front seats.

Up front, AC-X runs with a 127-horsepower, 1.6-liter gas engine plus 120kw electric motor. Maximum driving range is 620 miles, Honda says, while overall economy is quoted at a spectacular 260 mpg.

Just as Renault has the Twizy, so Honda now has the Micro Commuter Concept: a truly avant garde EV designed for in-city mobility. Just 98 inches long, this middle-seat showcar can still carry up to three people. There are twin joystick controls and, in a joint collaboration with Honda's motorcycle R&D department, the Motor Compo, a tiny EV commuter bike, can fold up and be carried inside.

Honda will also show the N Box, a small minivan destined for Japan's buzzing 660cc kei jidosha minicar sector. Another in that genre is the N Concept, a next-generation mini somewhat in the style of the classic 1967 Honda N360.

Last but not least, the Integra is back! But hold the excitement — Honda's merely applied the badge to one of the many new-age motorcycles it has at the show.

Inside Line says: With its Small Sports EV Concept, Honda already looks to have one of the stars of the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.

12-08-11 - History of Honda Racing Picture Gallery