HONDA (UK) AUGUST NEWS ROUND-UP

Honda's 'green' coupe for the 21st century is to be called "Insight"
Previously known by its code name 'VV' and shown first at the Detroit Show, the two-seat petrol/electric model will go into production next month built at the company's Tochigi plant alongside the Honda S2000 and NSX.

The insight features Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system that combines a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder VTEC engine with an ultra thin electric motor. The car is expected to achieve 83 mpg (3.4 litres/100 km) in the EU Combined Cycle fuel test - and will also meet California's Ultra Low Emisson Vehicle (ULEV) standard, currently the most stringent globally. UK sales of the Insight commence spring 2000.

Honda on a high
Sales of Honda cars in the UK achieved a new high during the first seven months of 1999. With over 40,000 sold, the number is 32% up on the same period last year - and double the number sold five years ago.

British-built cars continue to spearhead the company's growth, with the Civic 5-door / Aero deck and Accord 4-door accounting for more than 60% of sales. Honda's recreational vehicles are proving increasingly popular with the CR-V and newly-launched HR-V taking nearly one fifth of all Honda (UK) car sales.

Globally too, Honda sales are increasing. Worldwide car production rose to 1.18 million vehicles during the first half of this year, with Honda overtaking Nissan (seventh in terms of global production during the 1998 calendar year) in the process. Despite Japan's continuing sluggish economy, Honda's domestic sales edged up to nearly 343,000 sales - helped by a 32% jump in mini-vehicle sales. Honda's car production outside Japan grew by nearly 10%, with sizeable increases both in America and Britain.

'V' plate arrivals
With the UK's first September number plate change fast approaching, Honda joins most other manufacturers by rushing their latest models to market.

Biggest news is the sales debut of the Accord 5-door, along with the new 'VTEC SE Sport' Accord derivatives in both 4-door and 5-door. The new versions double the number of Accords on offer - with the range now comprising more than 30 models available in two body styles, with 1.8, 2.0 or 2.2-litre engines and choice of manual or sequential shift automatic transmissions.

Hottest property is the Honda S2000 - and it's anticipated that around 250 enthusiasts will be taking September delivery of the long awaited roadster. Lucky people. Meanwhile, the Prelude 2.0i has recently been upgraded to become the Prelude 2000 Sport. The new version gains 16 in alloy wheels (as previously seen on the Motegi) plus body-colour rear spoiler and '2000 Sport' decals. At the same time, the Prelude 2.2 VTi gains a rear spoiler and 17in alloy wheels, while all Motegi versions are now fitted with lowered suspension. On the road prices of the Prelude remain highly competitive at UK�19,075 and �22,700 for the 2000 Sport and 2.2 VTi models, respectively.

A traffic cop with a Type-R? Give up now....
Many British police forces are now selecting Honda cars for a variety of applications - and the order take is growing daily.

"During the first half of this year, we have won contracts to supply vehicles to 15 police forces, as well as several MOD establishments, " says Brian Jameson, Honda's Corporate Aftersales Manager. "Honda wants to be seen as a good corporate citizen and is proud to support Britain's emergency services with vehicles that are locally built. And what better endorsement of our products than for them to be selected on merit for use by Britain's police, fire and ambulance authorities," says Jameson.

"These body shells were previously kept as support for major accident repairs, but are four or five years old. Replacement of a bodyshell at this age would no longer be a viable repair," says Bob Murdoch, Honda (UK)'s Parts Operations Manager. "Rather than scrap these bodyshells, we prefer to donate them to training establishments. Here, they can be used to teach modern car body repair techniques, allowing students to perfect their skills to the benefit of the whole UK car body repair industry," he says.

Sounds like a cheap method of disposing of them to me!

Cleaner Hondas
Honda cars are among the first to meet the more stringent Euro 3 exhaust emission standard set to become mandatory for new model cars from 1st January 2000 - and for all new cars from 1st January 2001.

Currently Honda is among just five marques whose products meet the standard - as represented in the latest DETR New Car Fuel Consumption and Emission Figures booklet issued by the Vehicle Certification Agency. Models listed include all Honda Accord 2.0-litre models and Accord Type-R and all 1.4 and most 1.6 Civic variants. The New Honda S2000 also meets Euro 3, so when blasting around the countryside you are doing relatively little environmental damage.

The new limits - which are combined with a tougher test cycle including emission measurement from a cold start - specify maximum emission levels for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen respectively of 0.2, 2.3 and 0.15 gms per kilometre.

In 1992 European exhaust emission limits (now known as the Euro 1 standard) were introduced for all new cars which resulted in the fitting of catalytic converters for petrol-engine cars. Further reduced emission limits came into effect in 1997 and 1998 (depending on vehicle type) and are known a Euro 2.

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