Even the most advanced workshop is useless for the Honda engineer when a particular piece of equipment missing. A tool that elusive and invisible, but palpable passion. The passion which the dream of founder Soichiro Honda created for all people mobility. The passion that Honda every day to encourage new developments to create the best solutions. And the passion for one of the most advanced cars of this moment. Cars from passion.
 |
| http://thebestcarreviewblog.blogspot.com/ |
Founder
Soichiro Honda started his career as a boarding student at Tokyo Art Shokai, a topgarage for automobiles, motorcycles and racing cars. In 1928 he started a branch of Art Shokai in Hamamatsu. Because he was not limited to the usual repairs but is much occupied with all sorts of inventions, Honda quickly became the "Edison of Hamamatsu 'mentioned.
In the thirties exchanged Honda off work and training. He acquired metalworking, production and calibrating machines. It was Soichiro Honda to producer, businessman and car racer. But the most he was a dreamer. He dreamed of a better way to make affordable transportation for ordinary people.
Motorcycles
 |
| http://thebestcarreviewblog.blogspot.com/ |
In 1948, Soichiro Honda founded the company that bears his name. In a barn he built in Hamamatsu to bicycles to motorcycles. A year later he achieved his dream of an affordable transportation. He built Honda's first real motorcycle, the Dream D-type. The company was also a time licensee of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Honda was the mid-fifties the first of many Japanese companies that the European and U.S. markets were approaching. Initially, Honda exported slight, but later also very heavy motorcycles. In 1959 Honda introduced the first Japanese motorcycle in Amsterdam, the 250cc C72 Dream. Even now for Honda motorcycles are a major source of income.
Cars
Honda's car history began at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1962. Since the manufacturer showed a small sports car, the S360. The following year were the first commercial vehicles T360 and S500 sports cars of the band. On the basis of the S-series also appeared sedans, the so-called N-series. Although the S-and N-series fun, fast cars contain, crushed the cars outside Japan is not very appealing.
The great success for Honda came in 1972. Then started the sale at a competitive price, the compact, front-wheel drive Honda Civic. The Civic is now over 35 years and eight generations later, still one of the major pillars under the Honda sales. The current Civic, with satellite navigation, six-speed automatic locking, a lot more luxurious than the basic Civic in 1972.
The Accord was a popular model, both here in America. Between 1982 and 1997, this model continuously the best selling car in the United States. It was also the first Honda model that was produced in the U.S. (from 1982).
Pioneer
Honda is the pioneer among Japanese automakers. The brand brings many new technologies first. One example is the development of the first navigation system in the world, in 1983. The analog system worked with an accelerometer, GPS because at that time did not exist. Honda put much honor some years ago in his self-developed 2.2 liters common rail turbodiesel engine.
The NSX (New Sportscar eXperimental 'or' New experimental sports car) Honda sought a perfect balance between strength and reliability. This was done by Formula 1-racer Satoru Nakajima, Ayrton Senna and Bobby Rahal involved in the development. F1 designer Gordon Murray took the NSX better than all the Ferraris of the time: "The NSX was a catalyst, a car that has brought about changes, the NSX gave the establishment a kick."
In 1998 the company celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. For this occasion brought the limited edition Honda S2000 roadster. This shared no parts with other Honda cars, but was a big show of technological knowledge that Honda had in the house. The S2000 was at the Geneva Motor Show 1999 was named Cabrio of the Year.
The fast models Honda NSX and S2000 had to clear the field during the economic crisis that began in 2008. Honda also ended its participation in F1. But now the Japanese brand is focused again on a new mining field: environmental technology.
Hybrids and more
 |
| http://thebestcarreviewblog.blogspot.com/ |
Since 2000, the Honda Civic hybrid sedan available. In our country it is environmentally friendly design, with an electric motor in addition to the gasoline sold. In the first half of 2009 was the hottest new lease. The defeated temporarily, the Toyota Prius, the model that was until then seen as the hybrid car.
There were models from the outset was designed as a hybrid. For the Insight (2009), the IMA system, Honda's hybrid powertrain, renewed. The CR-Z coupe was one of the first sporty hybrids on the market. Meanwhile, the Jazz compact is also available as a hybrid. A fully electric version follows.
Honda has also started production of a fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity sedan. Equipped with electric and hydrogen tank is nothing more than water droplets emitted. For now, the Clarity only available as a prototype in Japan and parts of the United States. The planning in 2018 to proceed to mass production. There is also a hybrid version of the FCX Clarity.
Lines and Models
Honda was the first Japanese car manufacturer that a separate premium line on the market. From 1986 published cars - in some markets under the name Acura - who were sportier and more luxurious and had more engine power than the other Honda's. The first model was the Honda Legend, a larger sedan or coupe with a 2.5 liter engine that produced over 150 hp.
The Legend was scornfully received by European brands, but for years was the flagship of the Honda fleet. The current offer still contains the Honda Accord and also the CR-V SUV. The best-selling Honda Jazz (a hatchback) wins all the years Autoweek Satisfaction Award in the class of compact cars.
Growth
 |
| http://thebestcarreviewblog.blogspot.com/ |
Until the economic crisis in late 2008 Honda grew considerably. In 2007 the company built about 3.6 million cars. In markets such as China and South America, sales of Honda models explosively, with more than 30 percent in 2007.
North America was Honda's biggest market (1.7 million cars in 2007). Today, Honda produces even more cars in the United States than in homeland Japan.
 |
| http://thebestcarreviewblog.blogspot.com/ |
In addition to car production has parent company Honda Research Institute Company divisions for motorcycles, garden machinery industry (generators, water pumps) and shipping. It also has a known robot development, with the 'human' robot Asimo (Advanced Step In Mobility) at the center.
 |
| http://thebestcarreviewblog.blogspot.com/ |
A company that works closely with Honda's Mugen Motorsports. This racing and tuning company founded by Soichiro Honda's son include Hirotoshi Honda, provides aftermarket accessories for Honda enthusiasts who want to enhance or increase. It also brings racing versions of the Honda models. The Japanese word "mugen" as in the slogan "Mugen Power" means "without limits".
