Honda remains committed to developing sports cars

Honda remains committed to developing sports cars

Honda may be making a transition to green with its 2030 Vision plan, but that doesn’t mean that the automaker has forgotten about the driving enthusiast. If anything, sports car development is set to continue. According to Honda president and CEO Takahiro Hachigo, the company remains committed to building cars that will help brighten people’s lives by giving them the joy of driving.

“When you talk about the joy of driving, this naturally means sports cars. Now, we have the new-generation NSX and Civic Type R and also the S660, and our priority will be to continue these sports models that we have introduced,” he told journalists in Tokyo last month.

The tack may change somewhat with the shift to electrification, as hinted by the debut of the Sports EV Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, which by all accounts should eventually be honed into a series production model.

The company hasn’t stated if the study will become a working reality, but the Urban EV Concept – which shares the same platform – is set to go into series production in 2019, and the two-door coupe is very likely to follow, with Hachigo’s measured words providing an intimation. “I personally love sports cars, so I hope we can develop sports cars in different ways, somehow,” he said.

He however added that while it was possible for the automaker to develop and introduce more sports car models, much will depend on market demand and, ultimately, whether they will translate into sales, because the business aspect cannot be ignored.

“As a former engineer in research and development, I personally know that that there are quite a few sports cars lovers at our R&D department. So, in terms of manpower, we are capable of going ahead with development immediately, but though it’s possible for us to devote effort into sports cars, the big question is, will they sell?” Hachigo said.

“That is the big question, and this makes the decision difficult. If voices in the different regions were to be loud enough supporting sports cars, then we would definitely love to make them,” he explained.

A final note regarding the Sports EV Concept – fans shouldn’t be expecting a drop-top to appear in a series production model if and when it comes about. Its designer, Makoto Harada, told paultan.org at the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show that the car was envisioned from the start with only a fixed top in mind, and nothing along roadster lines were penned or deliberated on for the study.

GALLERY: Honda NSX

GALLERY: Honda S660, 2017 Tokyo Motor Show
GALLERY: FK8 Honda Civic Type R
GALLERY: Honda Sports EV Concept, 2017 Tokyo Motor Show

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Fahmi jaes on Nov 07, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    Jazz TypeR 240hp.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Somebody on Nov 07, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    Please bring back the Integra Type R and S2000

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • sam123 on Nov 08, 2017 at 10:39 am

    Joy of driving doesnt mean sport car, although s660 got 2 door its still a kei car.. my point is why dont you offer MANUAL GEARBOX in malaysia..

    MANUAL GEARBOX = JOY OF DRIVING
    SPORT CAR = MANUAL GEARBOX

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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