Special Feature Series : The Temple Of VTEC Asia Visits Tokyo !

Article 1 of a series of articles on our visit :
Honda at the 37th 2003 Tokyo Motor Show.

2003 is turning out to be a record setting year for TOV & TOVA. The latest is when my TOV principal Jeff was amongst the selected group of journalists picked by America Honda Motors (AHM) to attend this year's special trip to visit Honda Motor Co Ltd in Tokyo. Jeff's trip included attendance of the Tokyo Motor Show as well as Honda's R&D facility at Tochigi. Jeff decided that he needed help to cover the Tokyo Motor Show since it's so huge so he emailed me asking me if I am willing to join him in Tokyo. Well, what do you think my answer would be ? :) Vtec.net paid for my plane ticket using the sponsorship money from our Honda Dealership program so I really had you, TOV and TOVA readers to thank for making this trip happen ! Of course I was not able to join Jeff in his AHM sponsored visit to the Honda HQ but thanks to one of my TOVA readers, who unfortunately prefers to remain anonymous (good work should rightfully be recognized !), I was able to arrange some equally interesting extra iternary of my own for this trip.

But since the primary objective of my visit to Tokyo is to help cover the Motor Show, this first article will be my report of the 37th 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. I will cover the most important exhibit in the show - the Honda Motor Co. Ltd booth. This will be a overview of the cars that are displayed in the show by Honda. Obviously there will be some models which will be of special interest to us here in TOVA and for those, I will be covering them in a little bit more detail in later articles. Therefore this will be the first article of a TOVA special feature series on the 37th 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. To complete this series, I will also be taking a look at some of the more interesting models from our competitors. And yes, there were quite a number of models that impressed me. Indeed if I am to be completely honest, many of the models are something which I wish Honda should be making for us instead of a competitor.

For Motor Shows, Honda (and most manufacturers) typically displays a few types of vehicles. First there are the concept cars which are usually experimental models and concept studies. For this show, Honda had on display 4 such cars. Next will be the actual production models and for this, Honda had on display several of their latest models. Honda is also well-known for it's love for racing and will accordingly always also feature a Motorsports section as well. Then finally, the Honda we have grown to love so much is at its heart a technology-oriented company and for this show, Honda put up moving display models of their latest engines. Let's take a look at each section in turn.

HSC

IMAS

Honda Concept Cars

Concept cars usually makes for spectecular viewing. Because of the removal of the domestic constraint - practicality and the need to conform to certain expectations in terms of looks etc, Honda is able to go really wild with their concept cars. For the 37th TMS, Honda showcased four of their latest concept cars; the HSC Supercar, IMAS Concept, Kiwami, and the ASM Concept. The photos of the concept cars below are mainly taken with my new digital camera though I have to supplement them with photos from the official press release CD that Honda passed to the media. I would love to have taken the close ups of the cabins myself but for some reason everytime I try to get access to the cars, the Honda rep standing at the side stopped me from going in, even when when I showed him my press card. But anyway, it's no big deal as the press-release CD contains plenty of high quality photos which I can use.

HSC Super-Car

The most spectecular of the concept cars must be the gull-winged HSC. This is the car that on first sight, all Honda fans will immediately think "THIS is the next NSX !". In terms of exterior looks, the HSC is very much a futuristic version of the current NSX. Fitted to this car is a V6 engine which Honda cheekily lists as 'delivering over 300ps' ! The car features an all aluminium frame with aluminium and carbon-composite body panels, the 300+ps V6 iVTEC engine of an unspecified displacement, a 6MT gearbox with LSD and a Ferrari F50 style paddle shifters option, and several futuristic features like an electric parking brake system, etc. Of course big alloy wheels and Brembo multi-pot calipers are a given for this car.

I managed to get to meet and speak to the designer of the HSC. The first question I posted was if the HSC is the next generation NSX but of course this was asked in vain. As expected, the official response is that the HSC is 'only' a concept study and there are currently no plans to replace the NSX. I next asked for more details of the car and what was given to me are as listed above. As explained, the actual displacement of the engine seems to be a tightly guarded secret. Since the HSC is MR and this is a concept study, I asked about plans and intentions to do similar but for a 'lower' model in the range. Obviously not everyone can afford the HSC (or NSX) but more can afford a car in the S2000/DC5 range. Of course a FR or at the minimum RWD configuration would be desirable. I made a reference to the HSC as being tai-hen ii (extremely good) but that as a Honda fan, I would not be able to afford the expected price but would love for a lower priced (and suitably de-spec'ed) alternative. Unfortunately the official response is that of 'no plans for the moment' variety. Still, I guess the important part is to deliver the fan's message to the designers themselves. Hopefully he has heard.

KIWAMI

ASM

IMAS Concept

I think the best description of the IMAS would be that its the new generation of bicycle-automobile hybrid that many of the forward looking manufacturers are now dabbling in. The IMAS is more or less a car body mated onto a bicycle frame. Indeed, the cabin itself features an aluminium bicycle-like frame in the middle, eventhough there is a steering wheel and two seats side-by-side with two '+2' seats at the rear. The body itself is carbon composite with a super light bodyweight of only 700kg and aerodynamically tuned to a drag coefficient of 0.20 ! Powerplant is a refined IMA petrol-electric hybrid spec'ed to deliver in excess of 40km/l fuel economy. Other state of the art technologies in the IMAS includes the 'shaftless VGS' steering wheel (probably meaning it's electronically controlled via sensors and not a mechanical shaft coupling system) as well as drive-by-wire throttle.

KIWANI

The KIWAMI is Honda's fuel-cell technology concept car. Honda is right at the forefront of alternate fuel cars, the Honda FCX being the first commercially marketed fuel-cell car. The Kiwami is Honda's presentation of the next generation fuel cell vehicle. Exteriorly, the Kiwami looks more at home in a science-fiction movie than a Motor Show ! The focus of the Kiwami however is in its design, both exterior and interior - the interior designed to evoke the feeling reminesence of a japanese enjoying a finely sculptured garden for e.g. The idea is to create a driving experience that is the ultimate in comfort and hospitality. Technology wise, the Kiwami features many new advanced features - I have not studied the fuel cell system so unfortunately I am unable to appreciate the many advancements featured in the Kiwami as yet except for the 'stable synchronized-control 4WD'.

ASM Prototype

The ASM is a prototype and so is technically closer to being a real-world model than any of the three concept cars above. It is Honda's idea for the next generation of mass people mover - a passenger van-car like the Odyssey but which can handle up to eight persons ! Supposed to be designed in the image of an ocean cruiser, the ASM features a low & flat floorpan and so is able to accomodate the 8 persons in comfort for relaxed freeway or city driving. Powerplant is again the proven Honda IMA hybrid - this engine is going to figure prominently in many future Honda models as Honda pushes for clean environment and ultra LEV models for the future. It is a V6 engine featuring Honda's new 'Variable Cylinder Management' (VCM) technology which uses VTEC to switch off some of the 6 cylinders during light cruising operation. Together with the electric motor assist, this gives the large V6 engine very low emissions and very good fuel economy ! Again, who says a large engine will always drink fuel ? Certainly Honda will beg to differ with their VCM V6 engine ! The ASM will feature the well loved double wishbone suspension front and back as well as Honda's new Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMS) which features sensors mounted at the front of the car to detect potential collision situations and to suitably apply pre-tension to the seat belts as well as brakes to prevent it. This new CMS has already debutted in the several current production Honda models including the new Honda Inspire luxury sedan.

Current Production Models and the Engine Technologies Section

Besides the concept cars above, the Honda booth features heavy emphasis on the new, great-looking Honda Odyssey. The original Odyssey sort of revolutionized passenger van-car driving along with Toyota's Estima. The new generation Odyssey features a fantastic new look along with a new low roofline and a low and flat floorpan. The low roofline is an important improvement as apparently the previous generation Odyssey has problems with certain low-roof car parks and the new Odyssey is specifically designed to be able to clear all such car-parks. Powerplant for the new Odysseys is a new 2.4l DOHC iVTEC engine coupled to a new CVT gearbox ! This new version of CVT gearbox is different from that used on the Civic, Fit, et al in that it features a torque converter. The Honda literature credits the torque converter CVT with the ability to allow 'powerful starts' - i.e. a better move-off from standstill. It is also fitted with the popular 7-speed mode. Note that the 2.4l DOHC iVTEC engine is rated at 160ps which means this new CVT gearbox is able to handle much more power than the current non torque converter equipped ones though with the penalty of extra power loss. To emphasize the ideas that went into the new Odyssey's interior cabin, Honda even has on display an Odyssey with 1 side completely cut away, revealing interior cabin's design clearly.

The Odyssey Absolute variant is a sporty variant with 215/55/R17 wheels, a low center-of-gravity sporty exterior and a 'sporty interior' which includes a sports three-spokes leather-wrapped steering wheel ! The powerplant is a re-tuned version of the 2.4l DOHC iVTEC with a much higher 200ps max power rating ! Gearbox for the Odyssey Absolute is a 5AT with S-matic sequential shifter mode. This variant additionally features a new intelligent Highway Cruise Control (iHCC) system which provides cruise control based not only on speed alone but also a measurement of the distance to the vehicle in front (called intervehicular distance control). This means the iHCC will not only strive to maintain the pre-set cruising speed, it will also attempt to brake and re-accelerate, reacting to slower moving vehicles blocking our way in front ! The new CMS collision avoidance system is also fitted to this van-car. It may be a mass-people-mover, but trust Honda to make it a technological showcase as well !

Honda featured two other production models in their booth; the new JDM Honda Inspire luxury sedan and the new Honda Life. The Honda press release literature also made references to the JDM Honda Accord Euro-R and Accord Wagon but strangely I don't recall seeing either cars being displayed.

The Honda Inspire is one of the many high-end luxury sedans in Honda's JDM line-up. The new Inspire debutted just a few months ago and Honda probably took many people by surprise by basing it on the export (US and Asia-Oceania) version Accord. The unit Honda has on display is a black unit and comes with fully luxury leather interior. The JDM Inspire has always been a powerful car and so too is this new Inspire which is fitted with a 3.0l V6 VTEC engine with VMC. The other car is the new Honda Life. This little K-car is meant to be a lithe and agile runabout for the roads around Japan's large Metropolis'es like Tokyo, Yokohama, etc, which surprisingly can still have very narrow back lanes. The Honda Life's jump to the limelight came courtesy of its Life Turbo variant, a 660ps SOHC Turbo-Intercooled model with 65ps and 4WD. The Life on display in the TMS however is the regular NA version. The Life also features a flexible seat layout which gives it impressive carrying abilities akin to the Fit/Jazz and CR-V, a feature probably overlooked by us non-JDM fans who are only intent on the Turbo version. I have taken extensive photos of both cars and will cover it together with the Inspire in a later article of this series.

Of great interest to me was the section where Honda featured cut-out versions of many of their current engines. These includes the iDSI engines used on the Fit/Jazz, the new V6 DOHC iVTEC engine with the Variable Cylinder Management system as well as many other models. The bonus is that Honda make them 'teaching' models in the sense that the various mechanisms featured in the engines; iDSI, CVT 7speed mode, Variable Cylinder Management, etc are clearly demonstrated by actual moving parts. I have taken videos of some of the more advanced systems and will be putting them up for downloading (together with the proper coverage) in a later article in this series.

"We Love Racing !"

In many ways saving the best for last, coverage of the Motorsports section is mandatory. I feel Honda has sort of underplayed its Motorsports section for the 37th TMS. In terms of space, this section is comparatively small and is backed by a huge backdrop which unfortunately serves to visually cut the section off from the main exhibit area, making it as if the Motorsports section is something akin to a 'window display' instead of an integral part of the booth. Perhaps the reason is because of the vehicles on display. Honda participates in so many types of racing that its really only possible to feature the best. And of course the pinnacle of 4-wheel based Motorsports is Formula-1. Perhaps because of the relative lack of success in this year's F1 season, Honda decided to go low key in the Motorsports section. To compound the problem, Honda has already withdrawn from CART and is instead featuring its 2003 IRL (Indycar) race car. I personally think the Motorsports section should be given more emphasis. Perhaps next year.

On show then are both the 2003 BAR-Honda Formula-1 car and the 2003 IRL (Indycar). A big bonus was that Honda also put on display the 2003 RA003E F1 engine. To supplement these two top racing cars, Honda put the recently revised S2000, a beautiful yellow specimen with black-red leather interior. On the other side of the two race cars is an even more intriguing car, which Honda cheekily calls a 'concept' racing Fit (Jazz). I will be putting up the extensive photos of the yellow S2000 in the later article together with the Inspire and Life but the 'concept' Fit really crys out for a special article of its own. I made a special effort to ask to speak to the designer who created the 'Concept Fit'. Is this going to herald the arrival of the much awaited Fit Type-R ? Or does it indicates something else by Honda. I will cover this in its own dedicated article later in this series.

Conclusion

As I explained at the beginning of this article, I am only attempting to do an overview of the Honda booth and exhibits in this 37th 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. There are a lot more to talk about and I will be running a series of articles on the Tokyo Motor Show as well as my Tokyo visit where besides the Motor Show, I was very fortunate to be able to visit the Honda Saitama manufacturing plant in ShinSayama (where they make models like the Odyssey, Accord, etc) and also to visit the Spoon Sports Ltd head office which is also located in Tokyo, both visit in a journalist capacity. These visits are of course equally if not more exciting than the Tokyo Motor Show itself and they too will be the focus of several articles in this 'TOVA Visits Tokyo' series.

This first overview article will form the 'anchor' article for this series. Following articles can all be read by following the links listed below so this article actually forms a starting point for the whole series. The articles listed below are by no means exhaustive (meaning I think I will probably be adding more articles than just those listed) and once an article becomes available, there will be a link besides the title or else the article is still being written at this time ! So make sure to check back here often to follow this special series.

To discuss this article, please visit our TOVA forum's special discussion thread at TOVA Forum Tokyo Motor Show Series.