Tokyo, July 2, 1997
Introduction
Honda has always been committed to the pursuit of ultimate driving pleasure through improved vehicle dynamics. This commitment goes hand in hand with a similarly unwavering stance toward safety. Ultimately, interface between man and machine, or how automobiles can be made to further contribute to our lives is what has been directing these efforts.
We believe that whatever the circumstances or the person driving, vehicle stability is an essential element in the pursuit of both ultimate driving pleasure and safety. Honda has thus focused its efforts on chassis stability, increasing the car's basic ability to accelerate, corner and brake, to further enhance active safety.
As a further step in its development of proprietary high performance front wheel drive chassis technology, Honda is introducing today the following new technologies:
- An all new 5-Link Double Wishbone Rear Suspension for a new level in driving stability and ride comfort.
- A new EPS (Electric Power Steering) + VGR (Variable Gear Ratio) system redefining steering linearity and response.
- A VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) system enhancing active safety by adding slide control to ABS/TCS (Anti-lock Braking System/Traction Control System) systems.
With the incorporation of these new technologies, Honda is setting new standards in chassis performance, with an unprecedented combination of safety and driving pleasure. These technologies will be offered on mass production vehicles, bringing a new spectrum of driving pleasure to a wider range of customers.
Honda's Chassis Philosophy
In 1992, Honda established and reported a new and original control theory that allows improved analysis of vehicle dynamics, the "ß-method". It allows a very effective analysis of the vehicle in motion, using the same evaluation standard in conditions ranging from normal to extreme driving situations. Vehicle behavior can thus be evaluated at a glance, significantly improving analysis efficiency. This method has contributed to the design optimization and effective setup of suspension geometry and VSA control algorithms, and will continue to serve as one of the important elements in Honda's chassis development process.