Honda Shows 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon the Flash Box, the Freed Wa, the Freed Spike Transporter and the Beat Auto Salon Special.

by By Paul Lienert, Inside Line

Just the Facts:
-At the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda is showing a variety of customized and "accessorized" vehicles for the Japanese market.
-Honda's TAS display includes the Flash Box, the Freed Wa, the Freed Spike -Transporter and the Beat Auto Salon Special.
-The auto salon is Japan's answer to SEMA.

TOKYO — Honda is having a rollicking good time at this year's 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, with the outrageously outfitted Flash Box and the delightfully named Freed Wa and Freed Spike Transporter.

The Tokyo auto salon, which is basically Japan's answer to the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas, runs this weekend, featuring a wild mix of production, concept, tuner, racing, prototype, customized and "accessorized" vehicles.

Honda said its display was designed to "present an exciting variety of approaches to customization while conveying the joy of mobility and the appeal of motor sports."

The Honda stand features the Flash Box, which is based on the new N Box Custom minicar that was released in December in Japan. The Flash Box gets custom paint and employs LEDs and reflective decals to adorn the exterior and interior of the boxy hatchback.

The Freed Wa — wa refers to traditional Japanese culture — is based on the Freed Hybrid compact minivan and showcases a lacquered exterior with a four-seasons interior motif.
Honda Racing has created another Freed spin-off, the Freed Spike Transporter, which was designed to haul off-road motorcycles.

Finally, an Auto Salon special edition of Honda's now-defunct Beat micro-roadster wears a special lower skirt and a custom paint job.

Inside Line says: The Japanese love their custom cars — the wilder, the better.

Source;

http://www.insideline.com/honda/honda-creates-best-japanese-car-name-freed-spike-transporter.html

Honda at Tokyo Auto Salon 2012

Honda has announced plans to introduce a number of customized vehicles at the aftermarket focused Tokyo Auto Salon.

Showcased vehicles include customized versions of the all-new N BOX Custom minicar, which was revealed at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Freed compact minivan and Beat models.

First up is the Flash Box which features special reflective decal sheets with embedded LEDs. It is used as a decorative element both inside and out. Although Honda has used this LED application conservatily, we can imagine how some attention seeking motorists could overuse it, considering some other LED products we have seen.

Another showcase vehicle is the Freed Wa which is based on the Freed Hybrid compact minivan. The Japanese word wa refers to traditional Japanese culture. Its exterior features the ancient Japanese art of lacquering, while flowers representing the four seasons are the theme of the interior design.

Other vehicles showcased are the Freed Spike Transporter, which loads two off-road motorcycles, and the Beat Auto Salon Special features genuine Beat accessories and special aerodynamic parts.

Lastly, as previously reported, a specially modified Honda CR-Z dubbed the TS-1X concept will appear along with the Sports Modulo NSX and the HSV-010 GT.

The Tokyo Auto Salon will be held from January 13 - 15 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112011139661/honda-at-tokyo-auto-salon-2012

Honda plans to make lighter vehicles - Nikkei

Dec 24 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co plans to adopt new design and assembly methods to make its vehicles lighter, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Some of Honda's new manufacturing methods involve welding outer panels to the frame, rather than assembling the ceiling, side and other panels, to reduce the use of bolts and reinforcing materials, the Japanese newspaper said.

Honda plans to spend tens of billions of yen to revamp production lines in Japan and overseas, using the new methods on small vehicles initially, then on all models within several years, the Nikkei said.

The automaker has begun steps to scale back on materials, parts and processing steps for producing its minivehicle, the N Box, which was launched last Friday, the daily said.

Honda modified one of the two production lines that assemble the N Box at its Suzuka plant in Mie Prefecture, the Nikkei said. The move will help make the N Box 10 percent lighter and lower manufacturing costs, the paper added.

By making lighter and cheaper automobiles, the carmaker aims to fast track its advance into emerging markets, which is one of its top priorities, the newspaper said.

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/23/honda-idUSL3E7NN2XB20111223

Honda to Begin Sales of N BOX, First Model of New Mini-vehicle N Series

TOKYO, Japan, November 30, 2011 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced it will begin sales of the N BOX, the first model of the new mini-vehicle N Series, on December 16, 2011. Honda created the N Series with a passion to create the best and new vehicle for Japan, and a newly-designed platform and powertrain were adopted for the N Series models.

Honda, which has great experience in producing minivans, developed the N BOX with the goal of creating a "mini-minivan," condensing the attractiveness and values of a minivan into a mini-vehicle. Featuring an innovative platform, the N BOX realizes spaciousness, comfort and economic efficiency beyond the concept of a mini-vehicle.

Through the combination of the new platform, the center-tank layout, and the newly-developed powertrain, the N BOX features one of the largest cabin spaces*1 among all mini-vehicles in the market. This new platform embodies Honda's M/M (man maximum/machine minimum)*2 concept, the origin of Honda's automobile design. The center-tank layout is Honda's unique packaging technology, first adopted for the Fit, which innovated the concept of a "small car.

"The newly-developed engine and transmission enabled the N BOX to realize both dynamic driving and excellent fuel economy. With the adoption of the idle stop mechanism, which has been adapted from hybrid vehicles, the N BOX realized top level fuel economy in its class*3.

Customers can choose from several types and packages to accommodate their preferences. In addition to the base grade, which offers the spaciousness and sense of security suitable for a family with children, N BOX Custom is offered for customers who seek a vehicle with strong individuality and a sense of presence.
*1
Honda internal research, after the current mini-vehicle standards were applied (as of November 30, 2011)
*2
Honda's "man maximum, machine minimum" concept is a basic approach to Honda car design calling for maximizing the space available for people and minimizing the space required for mechanical components
*3
Honda internal research, "super-height" class (as of November 30, 2011)

Key Features of N BOXComfortable cabin space beyond the concept of a mini-vehicle:
・One of the largest cabin spaces among all mini-vehicles in the market was realized through the combination of the long cabin length, shortest engine room length among all mini-vehicles*4 and the low-floor design made possible with the center-tank layout.
*4 Honda internal research (as of November 30, 2011)

Ease-of-use beyond customers' expectations:
・An easy-to-operate and versatile seating arrangement was realized by maximizing the benefit of the center-tank layout. With a low floor and large opening the tailgate offers excellent convenience for loading luggage.Sense of security and visibility beyond the mini-vehicle category:
・In addition to realizing the same eye height as a minivan, installation of mirrors which help eliminate blind spots around the left-front wheel, left-rear wheel, and lower rear made it easier to pull up closer to an object on the side or to park.New powertrain realizing both top class fuel economy and excellent output performance:
・The newly-developed DOHC engine and the newly-developed CVT (continuously variable transmission) with high power efficiency realize both driving performance which enables the driver to enjoy a stress-free experience during everyday urban driving and long-distance travel as well as the class-leading fuel economy of 22.2km/L*5.
・N BOX Custom adopts a high performance turbo charger, which is combined with the newly-developed DOHC engine to generate maximum torque from a low-speed range of 2,600rpm and realize powerful acceleration.
*5 N BOX and N BOX Custom FWD vehicles (excluding turbo model) measured in JC08 mode (Testing by Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)

Newly-designed body which pursues a lightweight body and high efficiency:
・A highly efficient frame was realized by reviewing every step of the manufacturing processes. The adoption of the most advanced production technologies, such as the world's first tailored blank and hot stamping of molded trim, to help increase the tensile strength and reduced the weight by approximately 10%*6.
・Conventional welding methods were reviewed and an inner frame was adopted for the first time in Japan, which resulted in the reduction of the number of parts and significantly increasing binding rate.
*6 Honda internal research, compared to the previous models

Newly-designed chassis that realized a sense of security and excellent fuel economy:
・Compared to conventional Honda mini-vehicles, N BOX's stability during driving was improved due to the long wheelbase. In addition, newly-designed suspensions significantly improved driving and riding comfort.High safety performance and enhanced safety features:
・Class-leading omni-directional collision safety performance was realized with the newly-designed engine and new load distribution structure.
・VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) system is standard equipment on all types.
・HSA (Hill Start Assist) that temporarily prevents the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on an upward incline, is installed as standard equipment on all types.
・Driver-side i-SRS airbag system (with continuously staged inflation) and SRS airbag system for front passenger are standard equipment on all types.
・Combined with the front seat i-side airbag system, the side curtain airbag system which helps mitigate head impact in a side collision will be available on select model types.
・The impact-mitigating headrests in the front seats which are designed to help mitigate the likelihood of a neck injury in the event of collision, and the interior which protects occupants' heads from impact are adopted.Environmental performance:
・All types are certified by Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as complying with the 2005 - 75% emissions standard and comply with the 2010 + 25% fuel economy standard.
・More than 90 percent of the entire vehicle is recyclable*7.
*7 Calculated based on the "Definition of and Guideline for Calculating the Percentage of Recyclable Materials in New Automobiles" (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc., 1998)

Source;
http://www.hondanews.info/news/en/auto/4111130eng-nbox

Honda Targets Sales in Japan With Hybrid Freed, New Minivan

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s third- largest carmaker, will start selling a hybrid version of its Freed minivan tomorrow as it seeks to boost sales among domestic consumers looking for more fuel-efficient cars.

The hybrid Freed will start from 2.18 million yen ($28,700), according to a statement by the Tokyo-based company today. The new gas-electric version has a fuel-economy rating of 24 kilometers per liter, compared with 17 kilometers per liter for the conventional gasoline model, according to Honda.

“With the new Freed, we hope to attract the increasing number of ‘downsizers’ in the Japanese market,” Sho Minekawa, a managing officer at Honda, said today at a press conference in Tokyo. “We expect to get half of our sales from hybrid models by the end of March next year.”

The company aims to sell 10,000 units of the Freed hybrid minivan a month, Minekawa said. Honda will begin selling a revamped Insight hybrid starting Nov. 11 from 1.9 million yen and a new minicar from mid-December called the “N Box.”

Honda shares rose 2.75 percent to 2,393 yen at the close of trading in Tokyo. The stock has slid 26 percent this year, compared with a 15 percent drop for the broader Topix index.

--Editors: Chua Kong Ho, Frank Longid

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-27/honda-targets-sales-in-japan-with-hybrid-freed-new-minivan.html