[Adfunk Auto] Photo Gallery: Honda

[Muhammad]

Honda

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (本田技研工業株式会社 Honda Giken Kōgyō Kabushiki Kaisha) (TYO: 7267), NYSE: HMC is a Japanese manufacturer of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and scooters. They also make ATVs, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, and lawn and garden equipment. With more than 14 million internal combustion engines built each year, Honda is the largest engine-maker in the world. In 2004, the company began to produce diesel motors, which were both very quiet whilst not requiring particulate filters to pass pollution standards. Honda's high-end line of cars are branded Acura in North America. Many Japanese automakers have well-earned reputations for dependability and longevity, with production being well quality-controlled. Honda automobiles are well known around the world to be very reliable, with many Hondas going through their lives without needing a single major repair, and many people believe that these cars last "forever" because after 20 years, their [Honda] cars are still running.

Honda is headquartered in Tokyo. Their shares trade on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, as well as exchanges in Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, London, Paris and Switzerland. American Honda Motor Co., is based in Torrance, CA.


Company history


Soichiro Honda began by manufacturing piston rings in November 1937. He quickly became a sub-contractor to Toyota, and then expanded into other engine parts.

On September 24, 1948, Soichiro Honda took advantage of a gap in the Japanese market. Decimated by World War II, Japan was starved of money and fuel, but still in need of basic transport. Honda, utilizing his manufacturing facilities, attached an engine to a bicycle, creating the cheap and efficient transport that was required.

Honda quickly began to produce a range of scooters and motorcycles. By the late 1960s, Honda had conquered most world markets. The British were especially slow to respond to the Honda introduction of electric starters to motorcycles. By the 1970s, Honda was the largest producer of motorcycles in the world, a title it has never relinquished.

Honda began producing road cars in 1960, mostly intended for the Japanese market. Though participating in international motorsport (see Racing), Honda was having difficulty selling its automobiles in the United States. Built for Japanese buyers, Honda's small cars had failed to gain the interest of American buyers.

Honda finally established a foothold in the American market in 1972 with the introduction of the Civic—larger than their previous models, but still small compared to the typical American car—just as the 1970s energy crisis was impacting worldwide economies. New emissions laws in the US, requiring American car makers to affix expensive catalytic converters to exhaust systems (noticeably increasing sticker prices). However, Honda's introduction of the 1975 Civic CVCC, CVCC being a variation on the stratified charge engine, allowed the Civic to pass emissions tests without a catalytic converter.

In 1976, the Accord was immediately popular because of its economy and fun-to-drive nature; Honda had found its niche in the United States. In 1982, Honda was the first Japanese car manufacturer to build car plants in the US, starting with an Accord plant in Marysville, Ohio. They now have plants in Marysville, Anna, and East Liberty, as well as in Lincoln, Alabama (Honda Manufacturing of Alabama), and Timmonsville, South Carolina, and plan to open a new plant in Tallapoosa, Georgia. Honda's North American headquarters are located in Torrance, California.

Honda was also the first Japanese automaker to introduce a separate luxury line of vehicles. Created in 1986 and known as Acura, the line is made up of modified versions of Honda vehicles usually with more power and sportiness than their Honda counterparts.

In a move that was set to revolutionalize the way carmakers tuned their engines1989, Honda launched its VTEC variable valve timing system in its car engines, which gave improved efficiency and performance across a broader range of engine speeds. One of the first of its kind in passenger vehicles, it worked on the premise of tuning one engine to operate at two different 'settings' depending on load. Normal driving would use a "shorter" cam lobe that resulted in more efficient operation. A more aggressive, longer duration, cam engages when engine RPM reaches a set point resulting in more power during hard acceleration. The driver gets the best of both worlds; high efficiency and high power on demand. Many automakers have introduced their own versions of variable valve timing. The technology is now standard across the whole Honda range.

For the 2007 model year, Honda plans to improve the safety of its vehicles by providing front-seat side airbags, side-curtain airbags, and anti-lock brakes as standard equipment in all automobiles available in North America (except the Insight, S2000, and Acura NSX, which will not have side-curtain airbags). By 2006, Honda plans to have as standard equipment Vehicle Safety Assist and rollover sensors in all light trucks, including the CR-V, Odyssey, and Acura MDX. Honda also plans to make its vehicles safer for pedestrians, with more safely-designed hoods, hinges, frame constructs, and breakaway wiper pivots.
[edit]

Racing history

Soichiro Honda, being a race driver himself, could not stay out of international motorsport. In 1959, Honda entered five motorcycles into the Isle of Man TT race, the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. While always having good power, it took until 1961 for Honda to tune their chassis well enough to allow Mike Hailwood to claim their first race victories in the 125 and 250 cc classes. Hailwood would later pick up their first senior TT win in 1966.

In 1968, Jo Schlesser was killed in a Honda RA302 at the French Grand Prix. This racing tragedy, coupled with their commercial difficulties selling automobiles in the United States, prompted Honda to withdraw from all international motorsport that year.

In 2003, Honda became an engine supplier to the Indy Racing League. In 2004, Honda-powered cars won 14 of 16 IRL events, including the Indianapolis 500, and claimed the IRL Manufacturers' Championship, Drivers' Championship and Rookie of the Year titles.
[edit]

Formula One


Honda also surprised everyone by entering Grand Prix racing in 1963, just three short years after producing their first road car. They began development in 1962 of the RA271 and startled the European-dominated Formula One garages with their all-Japanese factory team (except for American drivers Ronnie Bucknum and Richie Ginther). More startling was the fact that Honda built their own engine and chassis, something only Ferrari had traditionally done. In only their second year of competition, Honda reached the coveted top step of the podium with Ginther's win in the RA272 at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. Honda backed up their Grand Prix victory by dominating the 1966 Formula 2 season, winning every race that year with Jack Brabham's team.

Honda returned to Formula One in 1983 as an engine supplier for Spirit and stayed in the sport for a decade, at various times teaming with Lotus, McLaren, Tyrrell and Williams. Honda supplied engines to six constructor champions, as well as five driver championships, before dropping out of the sport again.

Honda returned yet again in 2000, providing engines for BAR. They also supplied engines to Jordan Grand Prix for 2001 and 2002. This would lead to a battle for the right to use the Honda engines in the long term. in 2003, despite their better showing in the previous 2 seasons, Honda dropped Jordan Grand Prix. In mid-November 2004 Honda purchased 45% of the BAR team from British American Tobacco (BAT, the founder and owner of BAR) leading to BAR's best season, when they were able to achieve second place in the 2004 Formula One season. In September 2005 purchased the remaining 55% share to become the sole owner. BAT will continue as title sponsor with the Lucky Strike brand in 2006, but will withdraw entirely from Formula One after that. It has not yet been decided under what name the team will race in 2006.

In all, Honda-powered cars have won 75 Grands Prix.
[edit]

Honda's strategy
Honda Goldwing
Enlarge
Honda Goldwing

During the 1960s, when it was a small manufacturer, Honda broke out of the Japanese motorcycle market and began exporting to the US. Taking Honda’s story as an archetype of the smaller manufacturer entering a new market already occupied by highly dominant competitors, the story of their market entry, and their subsequent huge success in the US and around the world, has been the subject of some academic controversy. Competing explanations have been advanced to explain Honda’s strategy and the reasons for their success.

The first of these explanations was put forward when, in 1975, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) was commissioned by the UK government to write a report explaining why and how the British motorcycle industry had been out-competed by its Japanese competitors. The report concluded that the Japanese firms, including Honda, had sought a very high scale of production (they had made a large number of motorbikes) in order to benefit from economies of scale and learning curve effects. It blamed the decline of the British motorcycle industry on the failure of British managers to invest enough in their businesses to profit from economies of scale and scope.

The second story is told in 1984 by Richard Pascale, who had interviewed the Honda executives responsible for the firm’s entry into the US market. As opposed to the tightly focused strategy of low cost and high scale that BCG accredited to Honda, Pascale found that their entry into the US market was a story of “miscalculation, serendipity, and organizational learning” – in other words, Honda’s success was due to the adaptability (and hard work) of its staff, rather than any tightly formed, long term strategy. For example, Honda’s initial plan on entering the US was to compete in large motorcycles, around 300cc. It was only when the team found that the scooters they were using to get themselves around their US base of San Francisco attracted positive interest from consumers that they came up with the idea of selling the Supercub.

The most recent school of thought on Honda’s strategy was put forward by Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad in 1989. Creating the concept of core competencies with Honda as an example, they argued that Honda’s success was due to its focus on leadership in the technology of internal combustion engines. For example, the high power-to-weight ratio engines Honda produced for its racing bikes provided technology and expertise which was transferable into mopeds.

Honda's entry into the US motorcycle market during the 1960s is used as a case study for teaching introductory strategy at many business schools worldwide.
[edit]

Robots

* ASIMO ASIMO, a bipedal humanoid robot

Past Robots E0 E0 (1986) Honda E1 E1 (1987 - 1991) E2 (1987 - 1991) E3 (1987 - 1991) E4 (1991 - 1993) E5 (1991 - 1993) E6 (1991 - 1993) P1 (1993 - 1993) P2 (1993 - 1993) P3 (1993 - 1993) ASIMO (2000 - Today)
[edit]

Related Topics

* List of Honda engines
* List of Honda Engine Throttle Body Sizes
* List of Honda vehicles
* Honda Automotive VIN codes
* List of Honda motorcycles
* Acura
* Honda Type-R
* VTEC

[edit]

External links
Commons
Wikimedia Commons has more media related to:
Honda

* Sites for only Automobile
o The CRX Community Forum - Friendly and helpful community of CRX afficionados.
o The Honda CRX Performance Forum - One of the oldest performance forums for CRX owners. No rice. Lots of expertise.
o CB7tuner.com, 1990-1993 Honda Accord enthusiast site
o Temple of VTEC, enthusiast site
o Official automobiles site (US)
o Official parts and accessories site
o S2000 International, S2000 enthusiast site and technical expertise
o NSX Prime, NSX enthusiast site and technical expertise
o HondaShowOff, enthusiast site
o EPA 2004 Fuel Economy Report (Honda)

* Sites for only Motorcycle
o Official motorcycles site (US)
o Honda Gallery an enthusiast site — features every Honda motorcycle by Motorera.com
o Honda motorcycle resources, SOHC4 enthusiast site

* Sites for both Automobile and Motorcycle
o Honda Groval site
o Honda USA
o Honda UK
o Honda Australia
o Honda-Tech, technical expertise
o Honda Press Library (Japanese, but with graphical timelines of car and bike models)

* Sites for Portable Generators
o Honda Generators

* Adverts
o Famous Honda Accord - The Cog - TV Advert
o Honda - Crazy Sensible - TV Advert
o Honda FR-V - Dots - TV Advert
o Honda - Yume no Chikara - TV Advert

[edit]

References

* "Move Over, Volvo: Honda Sets New Safety Standard for Itself", an article in the "News" section of the March, 2004 issue of Motor Trend, on page 32
* 2004 Annual Corporate Report
* The story of Honda's entry and growth in the American market is documented in Terry Sanders' film The Japan Project: Made in Japan.


Part of the
Honda series
Honda logo

Cars: Accord Accord Hybrid Ascot Ballade Beat City Civic Civic Hybrid CR-X CR-X del Sol Concerto Crossroad CR-V Domani Element EV Plus FCX HR-V HSC Insight Inspire Integra Jazz Legend Life Logo MDX N360 N600 NSX Odyssey Orthia Passport Pilot Prelude Ridgeline Stream S2000 S600 Today Vigor Z600 Z
Motorcycles: CB series CX Series CBR series CR series XR/XL series Bros/HawkGT VF/VFR series VT series VTX series ST series Valkyrie GL series
Mopeds and light motorcycles: Ape models Cub series CT series ST series S series Z series
Planes: HA-420
Engines: 4-cylinder A-Series B-Series B20A D-Series E-Series F-Series F20C G-Series H-Series K-Series DOHC i-VTEC I Circle L

V6 C-Series J-Series



* honda * honda parts * honda civic * honda pilot * honda car parts * honda radiator * honda dealership * honda prices * honda accord parts * honda crv accessories * honda body parts * cheap honda parts * honda dealerships * honda cr v * used honda * honda goldwing parts * honda remote * honda hybrid * honda 2000 * honda suv * honda accord tail lights * orlando honda * honda rebel * honda odessy * atlanta honda * honda graphics * honda transmission * honda generators * used honda for sale * honda atvs * honda accessories * honda accord mirror * honda vehicles * honda crx parts * honda civic dx * honda maryland * honda tail light * honda civic for sale * honda after market parts * honda car * honda truck * honda atv * honda lawnmowers * honda civic lx * honda civic rims * honda 250r * california honda dealer * honda memphis * purchase honda * honda motorcycle part * honda headlight * honda lawn mowers * honda seat cover * 2002 honda civic * honda replacement parts * honda illinois * honda lawn mower * honda service manual * 2001 honda accord * honda si * honda valkyrie * honda touch up paint * honda hitch * honda crv ex * 1995 honda civic * honda cd * honda emblem * ohio honda dealer * honda accord for sale * honda manual * new hampshire honda * honda helix * honda hood * honda oem * honda air filter * 1992 honda accord * honda accord * tennessee honda * used honda prelude * florida honda dealer * honda civics * honda civic manual * honda emblems * honda outboards * 2004 honda element * 2002 honda civic lx * 1997 honda * lute riley honda * honda brake * honda engine parts * 2004 honda * honda 70 * arizona honda * 2006 honda * honda pilot reviews * 1999 honda civic si * fort worth honda * honda trail 90 * honda elite 80 * honda shadow motorcycle * 1987 honda * honda boat motors * honda prelude * honda crx * used honda s2000 * 1989 honda prelude * honda civic coupe * 1984 honda * rock honda * used honda crx * honda accord v6 * 91 honda accord * honda mini trail * 1988 honda prelude * columbus honda * honda shadow spirit * honda civic type r * honda chopper * 2006 honda civic * honda specs * honda motorcycles * honda seats * honda accord maintenance * www honda * honda accord reviews * honda motorcycle * 2004 honda cr v * 99 honda accord * honda elements * honda accord transmission * 1988 honda accord * honda door * honda element * honda shadow * austin honda * honda aero * 99 honda civic * jdm * crx * hayabusa * goldwing * cars * motorcycle * civic * dealers * motorcycles * acura * shadow * accord * scooters * hyundai * generators * dealerships * dealership * moto * integra * mowers * 125 * horsepower * prelude * isuzu * rsx * cbr * sedan * s2000 * crv * tsx * mtx * mdx * vehix * atvs * minivan * nighthawk * hatchback * vtec * dirtbike * vtx * wheelers * interceptor * ruckus * virago * yzf * cycletrader * cog * powersports * civics * 50cc * kymco * hx * gsr * crf * hendrick * hrc * fairing * outboards * quads * taillights * vfr * trx * hondo * hondas * saddlebags * snowblower * accura * 250r * bajaj * ariens * atv's * dax * motorbike * 250cc * burgman * sportbikes * f4i * automall * dohc * b16 * minivans * cbr600rr * accords * sohc * goodson * dominator * 400ex * silverwing * 125cc * lxi * givi * cvt * cb750 * rc51 * 6r * handa * fairings * motorbikes * motegi * cush * s200 * vtr * neuspeed * acord * snowblowers * motorcyclist * deauville * zc * hond * tillers * b20 * fjr1300 * hyosung * microfiche * cbr600 * tenzo * gs500 * camshafts * comptech * keihin * scarabeo * cr250 * xr50 * cogs * nsr * kah * acerbis * indiglo * cvr * preludes * b16a * z1000 * mbx * cbx * vti * asimo * vios * akrapovic * scoopy * tourer * varadero * souped * motorrad * rcb * fireblade * biaggi * hrv * lml * s800 * cb1 * biketrader * transalp * husaberg ©

--
Posted by Muhammad to Adfunk Auto at 10/25/2005 11:22:00 PM