Overview of Exhibit for the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013

"Live Outside the Box"

October 23, 2013 - Honda announced its exhibits at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 at Tokyo Big Sight. (Press days: November 20 - 21, 2013, Public days: November 23 - December 1, 2013).

This year, Honda has adopted the theme of "Live Outside the Box" to propose its original mobility products generated from Honda's innovative inspirations unbounded by precedent or conventional wisdom. Honda will unveil the Honda S660 CONCEPT, an open-top sports-type mini-vehicle (which I believed to have evolved from the EV-Ster CONCEPT showcased at the show in 2011. The NSX CONCEPT, the next-generation super sports model will also be shown.

With the aim of breaking the stranglehold of Suzuki in the mini-vehicle market, Honda will yet debut another model of its B-series, the N-WGN. It is the 4th model of the series and will enhance the variety available to the mini-vehicle buyers in addition to the successful N-One and N-Box.

Honda S660 CONCEPT

NSX CONCEPT
N-WGN

In addition, Honda will premier the planned production model of the second model of the Global Compact Series which is based on the URBAN SUV CONCEPT. First seen in January at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, this model will be officially launched by the end of this year. Honda will also launch the all new Honda Odyssey and showcase the Accord Plug-in Hybrid, along with the Fit which was launched last month. It surely seems that 2013 would be the year which Honda launches the most number of new models in its history.

Quoting Honda's press release, "Striving to realize the joy and freedom of mobility and a sustainable society where people can enjoy life, Honda will continue taking on new challenges to create new mobility and continue offering dream-inspiring products for its customers."

Honda S660 CONCEPT: The next-generation open-top sports-type mini-vehicle that features a dynamic and advanced styling design as well as various new initiatives such as a Super cockpit interior that thoroughly pursues the ultimate space for the driver.
NSX CONCEPT: A super sports model which features the next-generation direct-injected V6 engine mounted on a lightweight vehicle body in a mid-ship layout as well as a highly-efficient and high-output SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD® (Super Handling - All Wheel Drive™) hybrid system, which realizes both outstanding driving performance and fuel economy. Moreover, the NSX CONCEPT realizes low and wide with the dynamic and alluring proportions as well as an interior design developed under the concept of a "Human Support Cockpit," offering excellent visibility and an exotic driving position.

Below is the list of products that will be on display courtesy of Honda Motor Co., Ltd

[Automobiles]

< Overview of exhibits >

( Exhibition model, Production model, World premiere, Japan premiere )

[Automobiles]

Concept models:
Honda S660 CONCEPT <>
NSX CONCEPT <>
Planned production models:
N-WGN <> * Announcement of the production model is scheduled on press day.
The planned production model based on the URBAN SUV CONCEPT <>
*Exhibited prior to the product announcement scheduled in December of this year.
Production models:
N BOX * Refreshed model will be exhibited prior to the start of sales scheduled in December this year.
N BOX +
N-ONE
Fit
Fit Shuttle
Accord Plug-in Hybrid
CR-Z
Freed
All-new Odyssey * Product announcement scheduled at the end of October of this year.
Step WGN Spada
Racing machine:
RA271 (Honda's first F1 machine raced in the Formula One World Championship in 1964)
Other models:
MC-β <> (A micro-sized short distance EV commuter proposed by Honda which will be used in field tests jointly with local governments. The model will be exhibited at the SMART MOBILITY CITY 2013.)
Sports 360 (The first automobile Honda announced to the public in 1962. Based on this small sports model, S500' Honda's first sports car, S600 and S800 were mass-produced. It can be said that this model is the starting point of Honda's automobile business. New replica model will be on display.)

[Motorcycles]

Planned production models:
Dunk <>
CB1300 SUPER BOL D'OR <>
CB400 SUPER BOL D'OR <>
CB400 SUPER FOUR <>
CBR250R
Production models:
CTX700
CTX700N
CBR400R
400X
GROM
Custom concept models:
Dunk Custom Concept <>
Cross Cub Custom Concept <>
Racing machines:
RC142 (Honda's first machine raced in the Isle of Man TT Race in 1959, 125 cc, replica model)
RC213V (Raced in 2013 Road Racing World Championship MotoGP Class)
CRF450 RALLY (Will be raced in 2014 Dakar Rally- Argentina, Bolivia, Chile)
CBR250R Sports base model (Dedicated racing model)
Others:
Super Cub C100 (The first model of The Super Cub 50 produced in 1959)


* For Motorcycles, three world premiere models and 16 Japan premiere models are scheduled to exhibit.
[Power products]

Production models:
Salad CG FFV300 mini tiller
HSL2511 large-sized snow thrower
BF250 marine outboard engine
Others:
F90 tiller (Honda's first full-fledged heavyweight tiller equipped with air-cooled diesel engine. This model was introduced to the market in 1966.)
Miimo robotic lawn mower * Developed exclusively for European market

[Honda Robotics]

All-new UNI-CUB <>
ASIMO

Initial Impressions of 9G Accord Sport in USA

Background
Early March 2013. I had come across videos on Youtube by a Honda enthusiast by the name of Jason Richmond, who had been presenting weekly news on Honda under the title of "HondaPro Jason". It had struck a cord with me as I had this idea flashing past in my mind several years ago.

Mid March 2013. I landed in Chicago, Illinois, and wanted to meet Jason. We exchanged messages and I was set to meet him, on my birthday. I was excited as I wanted to meet this man who had demonstrated his passion on Honda with his weekly Youtube videos.

The day came and I took a Metra train from downtown Chicago to Schaumburg. Jason came in the latest version of the 2013 Civic EX to fetch me from the train station. He was very friendly and we spoke as if we knew each other for a long time. We subsequently decided that we would meet again in New Jersey for the Honda Day 2013 @ Atco.

April 2013. We met at Hilton Garden Inn and he arrived in a 9th Gen Honda Accord 2.4 Sport. These photographs were taken at the carpark before we set off to Atco. I was surprised to find that although the new Accord looked similar to the previous generation from afar, the car was curvaceous when scrutinized! Check out the photographs and you will notice the bulged lines at the waist level the Honda designers had managed to subtly craft into the new model. This reminded me of the 1994 Accord which had similar bulged lines when viewed from the rear three quarters. Of course, Honda designers did not forget to include details such as the daylight LEDs that lined the headlights and the bumpers and the Jewel Eye headlights that started off the Acuras recently. Distinct design characteristics of the Accord Sport includes honeycombed grilles for the air dams, 18" Honda wheels, lowered body and sporty carbon fibre "look" of the interior.

I had the chance to ride in this Accord from Atco, New Jersey to New York, a trip of about 200 miles to and fro. On most part of the journey, we were travelling on the expressways at speeds between 60-90mph. Impressions as a front seat passenger were memorable.

Engine Performance

Very smooth and refined for a 4 cylinder, the new EarthDreams' direct injected engine coupled to the new CVT didn't disappoint. I felt the strong mid range torque when Jason accelerated from cruising speeds for overtaking. The operations of the CVT also felt seamless. Not once did I feel any abnormal jerks of the CVT catching up with the engine typical of CVTs.

Ride and Handling

The Accord Sport was able to soak up the big bumps from the uneven tarmac on the highways without large intrusions experienced in the typical Japanese sedans. I wasn't able to compare this to a regular Accord, but I certainly felt that it was very well damped even at high speeds resulting in a very stable ride, very similar to the Acura RL a.k.a the Honda Legend in Asia. The car was remarkably stable and yet agile despite its size.

Interior
The Accord's interior looked fresh. Even though Honda did not incorporate the latest interior design trend of the dashboard angled towards the driver, they had focused on the functional aspects of the cockpit. The touchscreen for the new Honda Link system was within easy reach and the there was a separate LCD screen for GPS, etc. The seats were comfortable, but I would not mind the seats from the Acura TSX which was hugging and well contoured for sports driving.

Conclusion
To conclude, the new Accord Sport presents itself as a comfortable and sporty large sized sedan, with a sporty drivetrain. The K24Z, coupled to the new chassis, felt lightweight and agile, unlike its V6 brothers. The impression left me with a great desire for a test drive which I eventually had when I attended the Accord's launch event by Kah Motor in Singapore.

*Special thanks to Hondapro Jason for the first hand experience of the Accord Sport*