Future automobile products are planned a few years in advance and with the volatile world markets these days the job of a product engineering team as well as a product planner is getting harder and harder.
Autonews.com has a very interesting story they managed to squeeze out of Honda’s management at the 2009 Tokyo show centering around one of Honda’s most vital platforms – the Civic platform.
The Civic platform forms the basis of other vehicles like the Stream, the CR-V, and even other Hondas not found in our market such as the Honda Element. The interview revealed that Honda’s original intentions was for the next generation Honda Civic to be even larger and more plush than the current Civic, which has already grown to last decade Accord-ish proportions in terms of length and wheelbase.
The Civic hatchback platform differs from the sedan’s and is smaller.
But that plan has been scrapped. Honda engineers have instead been told to make the Civic smaller and lighter. It’s not 100% clear what this means – the Civic may not necessarily become smaller than the current generation. It could probably mean smaller and lighter than originally intended to be, which would hopefully put it around the same size as the current generation. Honda wants to try creating an increased perception of interior space but keep the exterior dimensions within control.
Another rumour that surfaced a few months ago was that Honda could be splitting the Civic into two lines like Toyota’s Corolla and Corolla Altis, a smaller one for Japanese tax regulations and a larger one for markets that like more metal for their money.
Stream is based on the Civic platform
But such a mid-way change has caused the project to be somewhat delayed. The current Civic has just been facelifted and a new one is supposed to arrive in 2011, a 5 year cycle after its introduction in 2006. But Honda is putting in more manpower to try to meet the target. If that doesn’t happen, the Civic could be delayed for a year or so. Honda president Takanobu Ito admitted the team was struggling.
This is not unprecedented, the previous generation Corolla Altis was also delayed and we still ended up with an all-new Altis that was pretty much a reskinned previous gen.
Other new upcoming Honda products include the implementation of the hybrid IMA system across more models. Right now it is only available in small to medium cars – the Insight, the Civic Hybrid, and pretty soon the CR-Z. A hybrid minivan is coming – this could mean a few things such as an USDM Odyssey Hybrid or even a Stream Hybrid. Not much else was revealed about which minivan model. There used to be an Accord Hybrid but that was scrapped due to discouraging sales. But larger hybrid vehicles like the Accord Hyrbid is going to make a comeback soon.
Honda revealed that a dual-motor IMA system is currently under development. The dual motor system will be configured in a way that it is able to function as an e-CVT in full electric mode, much like the series-parallel system in the Toyota Prius.
This means Honda will have a two-prong hybrid strategy – a motor assist parallel mode hybrid system for smaller cars and a full hybrid series-parallel system that can be used in larger cars. A series-parallel hybrid is of course more costly and complicated to implement thus more suitable for larger vehicles that are able to carry higher price tags.
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1st~ nice planning from honda.. proton look into this oso?
forget big cars, small cars are the wave of the future
This is pure marketing skills.
wondering when proton will replace the current Waja and Perdana with a better design and better looking.. is proton implying the so called 5-year-lifecycle system?
"che pin said,
October 27, 2009 @ 1:00 am
wondering when proton will replace the current Waja and Perdana with a better design and better looking.. is proton implying the so called 5-year-lifecycle system?"
they are now, starting with exora… Waja replacement next yr, followed by new perdana (based on exora platform) in 2011, i suppose…
Perdana was launch in 1995 and Waja was launch in 2000. It looks like Proton is practicing 20-year-life-cycle. Saga also gets the same treatment. High reliability products with low cost operation (who need R&D?) and big profit $$$$ to the company.
The main point we can take here is, despite Civic success around the world Honda still think rationally. They take all into accounts. The economic worst have affect new product lining planning. Even Honda 'struggle' to make profit. This is truly a business mind, not a syiok sendiri produce cars.
once again… proton comes into the pic. amazing la.
This show Honda's foresight in the motoring industry
and this makes them market leaders and not just followers.
Proton has just too much 4-skin ..period.
Honda is building cars people want to buy, not because its cheap, because toyota is cheaper and has more models compared to honda
Waja, Gen2, Exora and Persona has been sharing the same platform. Guess most of the commentators here need to initiate a field trip to Proton Assembly Plant in Tg Malim, I am sure it benefit to most of them and Proton before one start commenting otherwise. Or maybe, they just busy snapping pictures in the plant.
Proton and Honda are targeting the same group of buyers, who prefer more dynamic than comfort, what fails Proton is not it cars character but its too attention to comfort and fitting is way too low. People who bought Perodua will never buy Proton, same as People who drove Honda will never like Toyota.
Hope Honda would bring a few of UK version Civic and Honda K cars to Malaysia.
btw where is our new perdana (mitsubishi 380) and new waja (new lancer)? or proton still insist to put campro into them and delay it?
I wonder if they are any grey importers out there who can bring my dream car – the civic hatchback to Malaysia. I will let go all of my cars for that wonderful car. :)
NA said,
October 27, 2009 @ 10:42 am
Proton and Honda are targeting the same group of buyers, who prefer more dynamic than comfort, what fails Proton is not it cars character but its too attention to comfort and fitting is way too low. People who bought Perodua will never buy Proton, same as People who drove Honda will never like Toyota.
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U sure bout this stmt???…last time i had a wira & a kancil…lots of ppl nowadays have both
Honda target safety for its customers, they wont sacrifice the price to meet the customers need such affordable price and throw away importants things such as airbags etc. Like toyota, they really in mass production, they prefer to throw the airbags away for vios because want sales and affordable for customers =.=
Well, it’s just different business practices… in the end, it’s up to the buyer to decide isn’t it?
Belissimo!
If the article is true, then i would expect the next civic will not be as good as the current model, no more spacial interior, more compact. light weight also means lower quality material…. it's all abt cost cutting, maximize profit.
che pin said,
wondering when proton will replace the current Waja and Perdana with a better design and better looking.. is proton implying the so called 5-year-lifecycle system?
Proton car life cycle is 20 years+ lol……until today still have saga and wira…
dirtyoldmen said,
October 27, 2009 @ 7:46 am
once again… proton comes into the pic. amazing la.
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it's means we loved proton so much..just we want them to be better n better.. make a good car like honda n other makers..
Imagine if in 1983 Malaysian Government decided not to have Proton BUT to follow path taken by Thai Government, without own indigenous brand; say make Honda like Toyota in Thailand instead of Mitsubishi.
Even better if Proton doesn't exist at all. We'll have better transportation and better quality of life as we do not sacrifice our hands and legs for recond (USED) cars from Japan, UK.
Just to remind most of your that oil is fast running out. By 2012, Malaysia will be net importer less you forget….
The reason for Proton to be setup and around for such a long time is NOT because Malaysia proud to have Proton..what's there to be proud of? Merely rebranding and building problematic cars dont give me any pride of having Proton as our national car. It's for some other reasons which has already manifested into many other areas, from buildings to stationeries purchases.
Still, the majority of the Malaysians interest of affordable transportation and better quality of living isnt the cup of soup for our ruling political party so far. Do they give much care if we have to squeeze in the LRT just to get to work on time? Waiting at the bus stop for over 30 mins for the bus? Cant a human being have the right to at least own a affordable and pleasant transportation, be it public transport or personal automobile? Making a car that cost no more than 20k, like the Perodua Kancil, no frill but just a reliable A – B car if they cant get teh basic transportation right?
Since we have PROTON, i dunno what is the exactly number of people killed by PROTON on the road , when u see the proton arena(same platform of wira ) crash test video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ltl5Ij1sg .Not to offence wira owner since i was proton owner too. We paid PROTON RM40-50K to buy a car , but we risk our life on their hand . If G wanna create this PROTON , please make sure it come out a quality product , at least for safety. …… we DO NOT want to drive a junk metal box on the road and risk our life everyday .
That wira is old product from Mitsubishi 20 years ago, a rebadge of Lancer of 2 generation. Its there any different between Wira and Kancil in term of the ride and quality? Should I need to specifically state its about Proton own design new model?
considering civic 1.8/2.0..to the power of dreams..
the current sedan civic is a big hit. only area they dont do as good in is in advertising.
many future cars will be modelled around the civic type of shape where it creates the feeling of spaciousness but using the same space. things i think they should focus on is tightening up the handling a bit more and fix cabin sound insulation and material on thier bread and butter models like the civic. apart from that improve thier quality in thier thai production plant and provide higher class paint job. the current paint quality is unacceptable.
in terms of engine i am pretty sure they will get it right whether it be hybrid, diesel or petrol.
an integra halo model and a consumer line will always be welcomed.
the accord euro model will always do good like it is so no need to worry about that. just keep it made in japan.
proton is irrelevant as a car company. they are in the same breath as companies like cherrie, great wall motors and LNG. they are cars i would never buy, never recommend and always criticize for the fun of it. its a national disgrace and does not deserve a whiff of patriotism. period.
Great news