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Honda at Geneva Motor Show 2012

Earth Dreams Technology
Honda has created a new engine and transmission series known as Earth Dreams Technology which will be applied to products to realise both "fun" and "environmental" values at a high level.

The new Honda NSX Concept will be shown for the first time in Europe at the Geneva Motor Show 2012. The NSX Concept features a Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system which is part of Earth Dreams Technology and maximises the overall drive train efficiency, reaffirming Honda's commitment to reducing CO₂ emissions.

The first use of Earth Dreams Technology in Europe, will be on the new 1.6-litre i-DTEC, a small diesel engine debuting in the Honda Civic in late 2012. By combining this new technology not only with diesel engines, but also with petrol engines, and a new CVT series, Honda strives to achieve top-of-industry fuel efficiency for every category of its engines within the next 3 years.

Geneva Motor Show is the setting to show the European CR-V Prototype for the first time. Already on sale in US and Japan, the European CR-V will make its debut at the Paris Salon in September.

Honda will also have the European premiere of the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model in the form of an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater convertible sports car.

The Honda Jazz line up is enriched with 2 more variants:
one is the Jazz Si, which features an upgraded sporty suspension package and styling changes to the interior and the exterior; the other is the Jazz 1.2 which now features idle stop, bettering its environmental credentials by a reduction of 3 g/km of CO₂ emissions.

Honda is also displaying the rest of its model line-up comprising of the new Civic, the hybrids Jazz, CR-Z and Insight as well as the Accord range in sedan and Tourer guise. In addition, the FCX Clarity makes another appearance to the public as the world's first production fuel-cell vehicle.

Honda NSX Concept

Honda presents the new Honda NSX Concept for the first time in Europe, highlighting the design and technology direction for the next-generation supercar.

The dynamically-styled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next great performance vehicle from Honda. Making use of lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX Concept employs several new technologies, including an innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) system.

Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd, who was part of the development team of Honda's first NSX supercar, recently explained the values of the new NSX, "Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."

While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept represents the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio.

Utilizing a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system, the new hybrid all-wheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, which Honda anticipates will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems. In addition to the handling benefits of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, a powerful next-generation VTEC V-6 engine with direct-injection, works in concert with a dual clutch transmission and a third electric traction motor integrated within the transmission housing, to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.

This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of, "the synergy between man and machine," added Ito.  "The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way."

The new NSX, which is expected to go on sale in the next three years, will be developed by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio, USA and is targetted for true sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.

Honda EV-STER

Honda exhibits the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model.

Featuring a dynamic and innovative styling design and excellent environmental performance, the EV-STER, an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater convertible sports car, will propose a new way to enjoy a sports type model which is unique to the electromotive mobility. The adoption of carbon materials made it possible to reduce the vehicle weight contributing to the vehicle's high driving performance and range of approximately 160km. The easy-to-operate twin-lever steering was adopted for the thorough pursuit of the joy of driving. Moreover, the new concept model enables the driver to make his/her own adjustments to some vehicle characteristics such as motor output and suspension settings, to embody the joy of driving to the fullest extent.

Furthermore, the instrument panel features not only meters, but also the vehicle information display which enables the driver to enjoy driving as well as the network display used for the audio and navigation systems and also for the internet access. The thoughtfully designed layout of the meters and displays enables the driver to concentrate on driving and enjoy the comfortable space.

Honda remains committed to developing sports models beyond the expectations of its customers and offering exciting and thrilling mobility products.

Honda CR-V Prototype

At Geneva, Honda has on display the European CR-V Prototype, which provides the first official glimpse of the styling direction for the all-new, fourth-generation CR-V for Europe, set to go on sale in autumn 2012.

The CR-V Prototype embraces a distinctive and bold styling direction. Compared to the previous generation, the model takes on a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and

a bolder front fascia. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward to convey SUV capability, while the overall lower front bumper design now integrates more smoothly into the fascia for improved aerodynamics.

The CR-V's vertical taillights remain for the next model with a more three-dimensional style that

wraps further into the design of the vehicle. Equipped with more efficient engines compared to the current model, the new CR-V is expected to deliver improved fuel economy.

The CR-V is one of the top-selling SUVs, sold in more than 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa. This 4th Generation CR-V is already on sale in North America and Japan and the European version will make its official debut at the Paris Salon in the autumn of 2012.

Earth Dreams Technology Honda's new generation of drive trains



New 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine for Europe
At the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011, Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that Honda is developing a new generation of drive trains named 'Earth Dreams Technology'. This new  series of engines and transmissions will deliver excellent performance and environmental values and will be gradually introduced throughout the Honda range.

Number one in fuel economy
With the exceptional environmental values of Earth Dreams Technology, Honda strives to achieve top-of-industry fuel efficiency for every category of its engines within 3 years.

The first engine from this series for Europe will be a newly developed 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine. Designed for the European market, this new smaller diesel engine will first be mounted on Honda's new Civic and will be launched in late 2012. It is lighter than any other diesel engine of its size and with CO₂ emissions of 95g/km and a maximum power output of 120 PS (at 4000rpm), the engine delivers a class-leading balance of fuel economy and performance. The 300Nm of torque (at 2000rpm) results in excellent driveability for models equipped with this engine.

Honda will also have the European premiere of the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model in the form of an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater convertible sports car.

Photo gallery Honda NSX Concept

Photo gallery Honda EV-Ster Concept

Photo gallery Honda CR-V Prototype