Honda Civic GX Second generation

Statistics

The GX was originally introduced with a 1.6 liter I4 engine. The 2001 model make-over carried a 1.7 liter engine. Beginning in model-year 2006, the 1.8 liter inline four-cylinder engine was introduced to the Civic lineup.

Compression in the Civic GX is 12.5:1. This is to accommodate the 130-octane natural gas that powers the car. Performance of the Civic GX (113hp is significantly less than that of the comparable LX model (140hp).

The CNG cylinder (fuel tank) is carried in the trunk of the car and holds according to Honda, 8.0 GGE (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent) at 3600 psi. Although most owners report that its rare to see 8GGE fillups - 5-6GGE fillups are typical from an "empty tank."

Range on a full 3600 psi fill is variable, depending on driving conditions and driving technique. While Honda claims an estimated 225-250 miles from a full CNG tank charge, independent tests have found a lower ranges, at 180-200 miles and "just over 200 miles". The EPA rates the 2009 Honda Civic GX at 24 equivalent MPG city and 36 equivalent MPG highway. Independent tests with mixed driving usage found rates of "nearly 32" and 26.8 equivalent MPG. The estimated fuel cost for this vehicle to drive 25 miles for a combination of city and highway driving is $1.47 using CNG. The GX qualifies for HOV Lane access in California.

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Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a hybrid powertrain version of the Honda Civic sedan. Honda added a continuously variable transmission and Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system similar to that of the earlier Honda Insight thus creating a first fuel-efficient hybrid sedan in its model lineup. Honda Honda hybrid system is built around assist hybrid technology.

It was first introduced in February 2002 as a 2003 model, based on the seventh generation Civic. Along with the conventional Civic, it received updated styling for 2004. The second generation Civic Hybrid is based on the eighth generation, with some styling differences between the USDM and JDM models. Due to a delay in rolling out the second generation, the first generation Civic Hybrid continued to be sold alongside the eight generation Civics for several months in 2006.

Manufacturer : Honda
Production : 2003–present
Assembly :Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Successor : Honda Insight sedan
Class : Compact car
Body style(s) : 4-door sedan
Layout : Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related: Honda Civic

Comparison with Toyota Prius

The Honda Civic Hybrid is frequently compared to the Toyota Prius. Civic Hybrid has a smaller but more powerful gasoline four-cylinder engine 1.3L 95BHP, versus 1.5L 76BHP for the Prius. Civic electronic motor assist is 20BHP, while Prius has a significantly more powerful electronic motor, 67BHP. Prius is credited as having better fuel mileage. The base-MSRP for the Civic is (US) $22,600, and the Prius base-MSRP is $21,500 to $23,770.

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Acura CSX

The Acura CSX, or Honda Civic for Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), is Acura's entry-level luxury car exclusively designed for the Canadian market. The CSX is the first Acura model with two predecessors, the Integra sedan (1986-1996) and the EL (1997-2005). Like the EL, it is only available in Canada and built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada.

The CSX is not a rebadged JDM Honda Civic, rather Honda Japan chose the Canadian-designed CSX as the template for the JDM Civic.[1][2] The CSX shares some features with the JDM Civic, most notably the 2.0 L DOHC i-VTEC engine rated at 155 hp (116 kW) at 6000 rpm and 139 ft·lbf (188 N·m) at 4500 rpm. Also shared with the JDM Civic are the front and rear fascias and the steering wheel (also used in the USDM Civic Si and Euro Civic).

Manufacturer : Acura
Parent company : Honda
Also called : Honda Civic
Production : 2005–present
Model year(s) : 2006–present
Assembly :Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Predecessor :Acura EL
Class Entry-level :luxury car
Body style(s) :4-door sedan
Layout : FF layout
Engine(s) : 2.0 L K20Z2 I4
2.0 L K20Z3 I4 (Type-S)
Transmission(s) : 5-speed manual
5-speed automatic
6-speed manual (Type-S)
Wheelbase : 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length : 4,544 mm (178.9 in)
Width :1,752 mm (69.0 in)
Height : 1,435 mm (56.5 in)
Curb weight : 1317 kg (MT)
1322 kg (AT)
Fuel capacity : 50 L (13 US gal; 11 imp gal)
Related : Honda Civic
Acura RSX
Honda CR-V
Honda Element

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Acura EL

In 1996, the Acura EL is a rebadged Honda Civic sold as a compact entry-level luxury car developed by Honda as an entry-level vehicle (the EL in the car name), and sold only in Canada. It replaced the Integra sedan in the lineup, while the Integra sedan continued to be sold in the United States until 2001. The car had two different generations, and was sold from 1997 to 2005. The first generation was a subcompact car, while the second generation became a compact car. The Acura EL was the first B-segment luxury car in North America. All ELs were built at Honda's Alliston, Ontario, Canada plant (home of the Civic), and also the first Acura built in Canada. Representing 51% of Acura Canada's annual new-vehicle sales in its first full year, the EL remained Acura's top seller in Canada from 1997 to 2003. The Acura EL was replaced for the 2006 model year by the Acura CSX. Like the EL, the CSX is available only in Canada.

Production : 1996–2005
Assembly : Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Predecessor : Acura Integra sedan
Successor : Acura CSX
Class : Entry-level luxury car
Body style(s) : 4-door sedan
Layout :FF layout
Transmission(s) : 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual

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Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a line of compact cars developed and manufactured by Honda. In North America, the Civic is the second-longest continuously-running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer; only the Toyota Corolla, introduced in 1968, has been in production longer. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded. Having gone through several generational changes, the Civic has become larger and more upmarket, and it currently slots between the Fit and Accord.

It was introduced in July 1972 as a two-door coupe, followed by a three-door hatchback that September. With the transverse engine mounting of its 1169 cc engine and front-wheel drive like the British Mini, the car provided good interior space despite overall small dimensions. Early models of the Civic were typically outfitted with a basic AM radio, a rudimentary heater, foam-cushioned plastic trim, two-speed wipers and painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut cap. The current Civic has become much more luxurious with air conditioning, power locks, and power windows, plus options like leather upholstery, satellite-linked navigation, and a six-speed manual transmission. Initially gaining a reputation for being fuel-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly, later iterations have become well-known for performance and sportiness, especially the Civic Type-R and Civic Si.

The Civic has been rebadged for international markets with such models as the Honda Ballade and Honda Domani/Acura EL. The Civic platform also served as the basis for the CR-X sport compact, the CR-X del Sol targa convertible, and the CR-V compact SUV.

As of 2008, the Civic has been the top-selling car in Canada for eleven straight years. With high gas prices and a weak economy in June 2008, the Civic supplanted the Ford F-Series to become the top-selling vehicle in the United States for that month.

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First-generation Fit

Also called : Honda Jazz
Production : 2001–2008
2006-2008 (North America)
Predecessor : Honda Logo
Class North America: Subcompact
Europe: Supermini
Body style(s) : 5-door hatchback
Layout Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Platform Global Small Car; GD1/2/3/4
Engine(s) : 1.2 L L12A i-DSI I4
1.3 L L13A i-DSI I4
1.5 L L15A i-DSI I4
1.5 L L15A VTEC I4
Transmission(s) : 5-speed manual
5-speed automatic
CVT / CVT-7
Wheelbase :2,450 mm (96.5 in)
Length : 3,845 mm (151.4 in)
Width: 1,675 mm (65.9 in)
Height: 1,525 mm (60.0 in)
Curb weight : 1084 kg (2390 lb) for 1.4 L LS with manual transmission
Related : Honda Airwave
Honda City


Second-generation Fit



Also called : Honda Jazz
Production : 2008-present
Assembly : Japan
Thailand :
Body style(s): 5-door hatchback
Layout :FF layout
Platform : GE
Engine(s) : Europe and Asia markets

* 1.2 L (~73 cu in) I4 i-VTEC
* 1.3 L (~79 cu in) I4 i-VTEC
* 1.5 L (~92 cu in) I4 i-VTEC

North American market

* 1.5 L (~92 cu in) I4 i-VTEC

Wheelbase : 2500 mm (98.4 in)
Length : 3985 mm (156.9 in)
Width :1695 mm (66.7 in)
Height :1525 mm (60 in)
Curb weight: 1,070 kg (2,359 lb)
Fuel capacity : 42 L (11 US gal; 9 imp gal)
Related : Honda City

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Honda Fit

The Honda Fit is a five-door hatchback subcompact car, manufactured by the Honda Motor Company of Japan, first introduced in June 2001 and now in its second generation. The Fit uses Honda's Global Small Car platform, also used by the City/Fit Aria, Airwave, Mobilio, and the Mobilio Spike.

The nameplate Jazz is used in Europe, some parts of Asia, Australia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa - while retaining the name "Fit" in Japan, China, and the America.

Also called Honda Jazz
Production 2001–present
Assembly Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Sumaré, São Paulo, Brazil
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Karawang, Indonesia
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Class North America: Subcompact
Europe: Supermini
Platform Honda Global Small Car

The Honda Fit is a five-door hatchback subcompact car, manufactured by the Honda Motor Company of Japan, first introduced in June 2001 and now in its second generation. The Fit uses Honda's Global Small Car platform, also used by the City/Fit Aria, Airwave, Mobilio, and the Mobilio Spike.

The nameplate Jazz is used in Europe, some parts of Asia, Australia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa - while retaining the name "Fit" in Japan, China, and the America.

Also called : Honda Jazz
Production : 2001–present
Assembly : Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Sumaré, São Paulo, Brazil
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Karawang, Indonesia
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Class North America: Subcompact
Europe: Supermini
Platform :Honda Global Small Car

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Honda Hydrogen fuel cell

Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
In Takanezawa, Japan, on June 16, 2008, Honda Motors produced the first assembly-line FCX Clarity, a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. More efficient than a gas-electric hybrid vehicle, the FCX Clarity combines hydrogen and oxygen from ordinary air to generate electricity for an electric motor.

The vehicle itself does not emit any pollutants and its only byproducts are heat and water. The FCX Clarity also has an advantage over gas-electric hybrids in that it does not use an internal combustion engine to propel itself. Like a gas-electric hybrid, it uses a lithium ion battery to assist the fuel cell during acceleration and capture energy through regenerative breaking, thus improving fuel efficiency. The lack of hydrogen filling stations throughout developed countries will keep production volumes low. Honda will release the vehicle in groups of 150. California is the only US market with infrastructure for fueling such vehicle, though the number of stations is still limited. Building more stations is expensive, as the California Air Resources Board (CARB) granted $6.8 million for four H2 fueling stations, costing $1.7 million USD each.

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Honda Hybrid electric

2010 Honda Insight hybrid electric vehicle (Second generation).
Honda launched in late 1999 the first commercial hybrid electric car sold in the US market , the Honda Insight, just one month before the introduction of the Toyota Prius, and initially sold for USD 20,000. The first-generation Insight was produced from 2000 to 2006 and had a fuel economy of 70 miles per US gallon (3.4 L/100 km; 84 mpg-imp) for the EPA's highway rating, the most fuel-efficient mass-produced car at the time. Total global sales for the Insight amounted to only around 18,000 vehicles.

Honda introduced the second-generation Insight in its home nation of Japan in February 2009, with release in other markets to expected through 2009 the U.S. market will receive the new Insight in April 2009. At USD 19,800 as a five-door hatchback it will be the least expensive hybrid available in the US. Honda expects to sell 200,000 of the vehicles each year, with half of those sales in the United States.

Honda has also been selling since 2002 the Honda Civic Hybrid (2003 model) in the US market. It was followed by the Honda Accord Hybrid, offered in model years 2005 through 2007. Honda is also planning to introduce a hybrid version of its Fit, as well as another unique small hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z sports car concept that it introduced at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

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Honda Flexible-fuel

Top: Brazilian flexible-fuel Honda Civic. Below: US Honda Civic Hybrid.
Honda's Brazilian subsidiary launched flexible-fuel versions for the Honda Civic and Honda Fit in late 2006. As others Brazilian flex-fuel vehicles, these models run on any blend of hydrous ethanol (E100) and E20-E25 gasoline. Initially, and in order to test the market preferences, the carmaker decided to produce a limited share of the vehicles with flex-fuel engines, 33 percent of the Civic production and 28 percent of the Fit models. Also, the sale price for the flex-fuel version was higher than the respective gasoline versions, around US$ 1,000 premium for the Civic, and US$ 650 for the Fit, despite the fact that all other flex-fuel vehicles sold in Brazil had the same tag price as their gasoline versions.

During the last two months of 2006, both flex-fuel models sold 2,427 cars against 8,546 gasoline-powered automobiles, jumping to 41,990 flex-fuel cars in 2007, and reaching 93,361 in 2008. Due to the success of the flex versions, by early 2009 a hundred percent of Honda's automobile production for the Brazilian market is now flexible-fuel, and only a small percentage of gasoline version is produced in Brazil for exports.

In March 2009 Honda launched in the Brazilian market the first flex-fuel motorcycle in the world. Produced by its Brazilian subsidiary Moto Honda da Amazônia, the CG 150 Titan Mix is sold for around US$2,700.

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Honda Electric and alternative fuel vehicles

Compressed natural gas

2009 Honda Civic GX hooked up to Phill refueling system
The Honda Civic GX is the only natural gas vehicle (NGV) commercially available in some parts of the US. The Honda Civic GX first appeared in 1998 as a factory-modified Civic LX that had been designed to run exclusively on compressed natural gas. The car looks and drives just like a contemporary Honda Civic LX, but does not run on gasoline. In 2001, the Civic GX was rated the cleanest-burning internal combustion engine in the world by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‎ (EPA).

First leased to the City of Los Angeles, in 2005, Honda started offering the GX directly to the public through factory trained dealers certified to service the GX. Before that, only fleets were eligible to purchase a new Civic GX. In 2006, the Civic GX was released in New York, making it the second state where the consumer is able to buy the car. Home refueling is available for the GX with the addition of the Phill Home Refueling Appliance.

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Honda Motorcycles,Motorsports

Honda CBR1000RR sport bike
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was formed in 1982 by Richard Hynda. The company combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of high potential racing machines. Its racing activities are an important source for the creation of leading edge technologies used in the development of Honda motorcycles. HRC also contributes to the advancement of motorcycle sports through a range of activities that include sales of production racing motorcycles, support for satellite teams, and rider education programs.

Soichiro Honda, being a race driver himself, could not stay out of international motorsport. In 1959, Honda entered five motorcycles into the Isle of Man TT race, the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. While always having powerful engines, it took until 1961 for Honda to tune their chassis well enough to allow Mike Hailwood to claim their first Grand Prix victories in the 125 and 250 cc classes. Hailwood would later pick up their first senior TT wins in 1966 and 1967. Honda's race bikes were known for their "sleek & stylish design" and exotic engine configurations, such as the 5-cylinder, 22,000 rpm, 125 cc bike and their 6-cylinder 250 cc and 380 cc bikes.

1979 saw Honda return to Grand Prix motorcycle racing with their exotic, monocoque-framed, four-stroke NR500. The NR500 featured elongated cylinders each with 8 valves and with connecting rods in pairs, in an attempt to comply with the FIM rules which limited engines to four cylinders. Honda engineered the elongated cylinders in an effort to provide the valveinant two-stroke racers. Unfortunately, it seemed Honda tried to accomplish too much at one time and the experiment failed. For the 1982 season, Honda debuted their first two stroke race bike, the NS500 and in 1983, Honda won their first 500 cc Grand Prix World Championship with Freddie Spencer. Since then, Honda has become a dominant marque in motorcycle Grand Prix racing, winning a plethora of top level titles with riders such as Valentino Rossi and Mick Doohan.

In motocross, Honda has claimed 6 motocross world championships. In the World Enduro Championship, Honda has captured six titles, most recently with Stefan Merriman in 2003 and with Mika Ahola in 2007 and 2008.

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Honda Motorsports

Honda has been active in motorsports.

Automobile

Rubens Barrichello driving for Honda
Honda entered Formula One as a constructor for the first time in the 1964 season at the German Grand Prix with Ronnie Bucknum at the wheel. 1965 saw the addition of Richie Ginther to the team, who scored Honda's first point at the Belgian Grand Prix, and Honda's first win at the Mexican Grand Prix. 1967 saw their next win at the Italian Grand Prix with John Surtees as their driver. In 1968, Jo Schlesser was killed in a Honda RA302 at the French Grand Prix. This racing tragedy, coupled with their commercial difficulties selling automobiles in the United States, prompted Honda to withdraw from all international motorsport that year.

After a learning year in 1965, Honda-powered Brabhams dominated the 1966 French Formula Two championship in the hands of Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme. As there was no European Championship that season, this was the top F2 championship that year. In the early 1980s Honda returned to F2, supplying engines to Ron Tauranac's Ralt team. Tauranac had designed the Brabham cars for their earlier involvement. They were again extremely successful. In a related exercise, John Judd's Engine Developments company produced a turbo "Brabham-Honda" engine for use in IndyCar racing. It won only one race, in 1988 for Bobby Rahal at Pocono.

Honda returned to Formula One in 1983, initially with another Formula Two partner, the Spirit team, before switching abruptly to Williams in 1984. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Honda powered cars won six consecutive Formula One Constructors Championships. WilliamsF1 won the crown in 1986 and 1987. Honda switched allegiance again in 1988. New partners Team McLaren won the title in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991. Honda withdrew from Formula One at the end of 1992, although the related Mugen-Honda company maintained a presence up to the end of 1999, winning four races with Ligier and Jordan Grand Prix.

Honda debuted in the CART IndyCar World Series as a works supplier in 1994. The engines were far from competitive at first, but after development, the company powered six consecutive drivers championships. In 2003, Honda transferred its effort to the rival IRL IndyCar Series. In 2004, Honda-powered cars overwhelmingly dominated the IndyCar Series, winning 14 of 16 IndyCar races, including the Indianapolis 500, and claimed the IndyCar Series Manufacturers' Championship, Drivers' Championship and Rookie of the Year titles. In 2006, Honda became the sole engine supplier for the IndyCar Series, including the Indianapolis 500. In the 2006 Indianapolis 500, for the first time in Indianapolis 500 history, the race was run without a single engine problem.

During 1998, Honda considered returning to Formula One with their own team. The project was aborted after the death of its technical director, Harvey Postlethwaite. Honda instead came back as an official engine supplier to British American Racing (BAR) and Jordan Grand Prix. Honda bought a stake in the BAR team in 2004 before buying the team outright at the end of 2005, becoming a constructor for the first time since the 1960s. Honda won the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix with driver Jenson Button.

It was announced on 5 December 2008 that Honda would be exiting Formula One with immediate effect due to the 2008 global economic crisis.[21] The team was sold to former team principal Ross Brawn and renamed Brawn GP.

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Honda Engines, Robots, Aeroplanes

Engines

Honda is the largest engine maker in the world. Honda has a number of firsts in many categories, including the first engine to meet the 1970 US Clean Air Act (1975 CVCC).

Robots

ASIMO at Expo 2005
ASIMO is the part of Honda's Research & Development robotics program. It is the eleventh in a line of successive builds starting in 1986 with Honda E0 moving through the ensuing Honda E series and the Honda P series. Weighing 54 kilograms and standing 130 centimeters tall, ASIMO resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack, and can walk on two feet in a manner resembling human locomotion, at up to 6 km/h (3.7 mph). ASIMO is the world's only humanoid robot able to ascend and descend stairs independently. However, human motions such as climbing stairs are difficult to mimic with a machine, which ASIMO has demonstrated by taking two plunges off a staircase.

Honda's robot ASIMO as an R&D project brings together expertise to create a robot that walks, dances and navigates steps.

Aeroplanes

Honda has also pioneered new technology in its HA-420 HondaJet that allows new levels of reduced drag, increased aerodynamics and fuel efficiency thus reducing operating costs.

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Honda Motorcycles

2004 Honda Super Cub
During the 1960s, when it was a small manufacturer, Honda broke out of the Japanese motorcycle market and began exporting to the US. Taking Honda’s story as an archetype of the smaller manufacturer entering a new market already occupied by highly dominant competitors, the story of their market entry, and their subsequent huge success in the US and around the world, has been the subject of some academic controversy. Competing explanations have been advanced to explain Honda’s strategy and the reasons for their success.

The first of these explanations was put forward when, in 1975, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) was commissioned by the UK government to write a report explaining why and how the British motorcycle industry had been out-competed by its Japanese competitors. The report concluded that the Japanese firms, including Honda, had sought a very high scale of production (they had made a large number of motorbikes) in order to benefit from economies of scale and learning curve effects. It blamed the decline of the British motorcycle industry on the failure of British managers to invest enough in their businesses to profit from economies of scale and scope.

The second explanation was offered in 1984 by Richard Pascale, who had interviewed the Honda executives responsible for the firm’s entry into the US market. As opposed to the tightly focused strategy of low cost and high scale that BCG accredited to Honda, Pascale found that their entry into the US market was a story of “miscalculation, serendipity, and organizational learning” – in other words, Honda’s success was due to the adaptability and hard work of its staff, rather than any long term strategy. For example, Honda’s initial plan on entering the US was to compete in large motorcycles, around 300 cc. It was only when the team found that the scooters they were using to get themselves around their US base of San Francisco attracted positive interest from consumers that they came up with the idea of selling the Supercub.

The most recent school of thought on Honda’s strategy was put forward by Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad in 1989. Creating the concept of core competencies with Honda as an example, they argued that Honda’s success was due to its focus on leadership in the technology of internal combustion engines. For example, the high power-to-weight ratio engines Honda produced for its racing bikes provided technology and expertise which was transferable into mopeds.

Honda's entry into the US motorcycle market during the 1960s is used as a case study for teaching introductory strategy at business schools worldwide.

It created the first luxury Japanese car (1985 Legend) and motorcycle (2006 Gold Wing bikes) equipped with an airbag, as well as the first mid-size pickup truck with independent rear suspension (2006 Ridgeline).

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Honda Automobiles

Honda's global lineup consists of the Fit, Civic, Accord, Insight, CR-V and S2000. An early proponent of developing vehicles to cater to different needs and markets worldwide, Honda's lineup varies by country and may feature vehicles exclusive to that region. A few examples are the latest Acura TL luxury sedan and the Ridgeline, Honda's first light-duty pickup truck. Both were engineered primarily in North America and are exclusively produced and sold there.

The Honda Civic is a line of compact cars developed and manufactured by Honda. In North America, the Civic is the second-longest continuously-running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer; only the Toyota Corolla, introduced in 1968, has been in production longer. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded. Having gone through several generational changes, the Civic has become larger and more upmarket, and it currently slots between the Fit and Accord.

Honda Automobiles is of the Big Asian Four (with Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai).

The 2006 Ridgeline was a reintroduction of the concept of a Uni-Body truck. Earlier examples of this concept are the Subaru Brat and Baja, Volkswagen Rabbit pick-up, and Dodge Rampage/Plymouth Scamp.

Honda increased global production in September 2008 to meet demand for small cars in the U.S. and emerging markets. The company is shuffling U.S. production to keep factories busy and boost car output, while building fewer minivans and sport utility vehicles as light truck sales fall.

Honda produces the Insight, an affordable hybrid electric vehicle that competes with Toyota Prius

Its first entrance into the pickup segment, the lightduty Ridgeline, won Truck of the Year from Motor Trend magazine in 2006 (also in 2006, the redesigned Civic won Car of the Year from the magazine, giving Honda a rare double win of Motor Trend honors).

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Honda Background

Honda headquarters building in Japan
Honda is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Their shares trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, as well as exchanges in Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, London, Paris and Switzerland. American Honda Motor Co. is based in Torrance, California. Honda Canada Inc. is headquartered in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, and is building new corporate headquarters in Markham, Ontario, scheduled to relocate in 2008; their manufacturing division, Honda of Canada Manufacturing, is based in Alliston, Ontario. Honda has also created joint ventures around the world, such as Honda Siel Cars and Hero Honda Motorcycles in India, Guangzhou Honda and Dongfeng Honda in China, and Honda Atlas in Pakistan.

With high fuel prices and a weak US economy in June 2008, Honda has reported a 1% sales increase while its rivals, including the Detroit Big Three and Toyota, have reported double-digit losses. Honda's sales were up almost 20 percent from the same month last year. The Civic and the Accord were in the top five list of sales.Analysts have attributed this to two main factors. First, Honda's product lineup consists of mostly small to mid-size, highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Secondly, over the last ten years, Honda has designed its factories to be flexible, in that they can be easily retooled to produce any Honda model that may be in-demand at the moment.

Honda is the 6th largest automobile manufacturer in the world as well as the largest engine-maker in the world, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year. As of August 2008, Honda surpassed Chrysler as the 4th largest automobile manufacturer in the United States. Currently, Honda is the second largest manufacturer in Japan behind Toyota and ahead of Nissan.

Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, three of the strongest vehicle companies in the world, were still not immune to the global financial crisis of 2008, as these companies reduced their profitability forecasts. The economic crisis has been spreading to other important players in the vehicle related industries as well.

Honda spends about 5% of its revenues into R&D.

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Honda

Honda Motor Company, Ltd. (Japanese: Honda Giken Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha?, Honda Technology Research Institute Company, Limited)is a Japanese multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. Honda is the largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines and motorcycles in the world as well as the second-largest Japanese automobile manufacturer since 2001.

Honda was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand in North America with the debut of Acura in 1986. Aside from their core automobile and motorcycle businesses, Honda also manufactures garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft and power generators, amongst others. Since 1986, Honda has been involved with artificial intelligence/robotics research and released their ASIMO robot in 2000. They have also ventured into aerospace with the establishment of GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004 and the Honda HA-420 HondaJet, scheduled to be released in 2011.

History

From a young age, Soichiro Honda had an interest in automobiles. He worked as a mechanic at a Japanese tuning shop, Art Shokai, where he tuned cars and entered them in races. A self-taught engineer, he later worked on a piston design which he hoped to sell to Toyota. The first drafts of his design were rejected, and Soichiro worked painstakingly to perfect the design, even going back to school and pawning his wife's jewelry for collateral. Eventually, he won a contract with Toyota and built a factory to construct pistons for them, which was destroyed in an earthquake. Due to a gas shortage during World War II, Honda was unable to use his car, and his novel idea of attaching a small engine to his bicycle attracted much curiosity. He then established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan, to develop and produce small 2-cycle motorbike engines. Calling upon bicycle shop owners across Japan to take part in revitalizing a nation torn apart by war, Soichiro received enough capital to engineer his first motorcycle, the Honda Cub. This marked the beginning of Honda Motor Company, who would grow a short time later to be the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles by 1963.

The first production automobile from Honda was the T360 mini pick-up truck. Powered by a small 356 cc straight-4 gasoline engine, it was classified under the cheaper Kei car tax bracket.

The first production car from Honda was the S500 sports car. Its chain driven rear wheels points to Honda's motorcycle origins.

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