While the fuel efficiency of our competitors has been improving, we did not put fuel efficiency first, but rather pursued an exhilarating and nimble driving experience for the Civic, even at the expense of a bit of fuel efficiency. To provide more value than expected, we made subtle advancements in ride comfort, quietness, ADAS, connectivity, and other features, in introducing the 11th-generation model as the first hybrid Civic in North America. I believe that these efforts were highly appreciated.

It made everyone behind the wheel smile, and was also highly praised by journalists.

We considered introducing a hybrid Civic to the North American market when the 11th-generation Civic launched in 2021, but decided against it at the time as the market demand of hybrids was not as high as it is now. Instead, we introduced a hybrid model in North America at the minor model change stage, and we are very pleased that it has been so well received.

While inheriting the universal “human-centric” values of the Civic that have been passed down through the generations, we have expressed “exhilaration” by focusing on both familiarity and a feel of specialty. We are developing this car to be a joyful partner to strengthen a connection with society, rather than the driver staying at home.

Take, for example, familiarity is the wide open and refreshing field of vision. You will immediately notice the noiseless and spacious visibility as you get into the car, with a design that hides the windshield wipers from the driver’s viewpoint.

The Civic’s manual transmission sports grades Type R and RS not only pursue traditional values, but also comfort through the addition of new features. These models have evolved with technology such as an automatic brake hold that maintains the vehicle at a standstill even when the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal, making uphill starts easier. Also the rev-matching system, which electronically and automatically adjusts the engine rpm when shifting gears to make driving not only sporty and enjoyable, but also comfortable and smooth.

In addition, the Type R RACING BLACK Package, launched in January 2025, features suede material, conventionally used only in luxury cars, on the instrument panel and upper door areas to give the interior a special feel so that drivers can concentrate on exhilarating driving.

Light reflections are a distraction while driving, so we wanted to use suede for the instrument panel that would eliminate diffused sunlight reflection as much as possible. But, since suede does not stretch, it was difficult to mass-produce the material because it took time and effort to fit the instrument panel’s complex shape, requiring the sewing of small pieces of the material by hand. For this reason, it has been used only in a few high-end cars until now.

For this model, Honda developed a proprietary machine molding technology that has made it possible to mass-produce suede material to fit the complex instrument panel in one piece, without stitching needed.

In fact, this technology was developed by shortening the fastest development time record by another 4 months by a group of young engineers who voluntarily stepped up, driven by their own passion. It was a development project that made me keenly aware of their strong will and the ability of staff in the field to continue to go all the way to mass production.

The Civic has a long tradition, beginning in 1972. The comfortable cabin space of every Civic generation was designed based on the M/M (man-maximum, machine-minimum) philosophy, which minimizes mechanical parts and maximizes space for people. In addition to this M/M philosophy, the Civic has inherited universal values such as crisp driving, easy handling, economy, and environmental friendliness, while quickly updating its technology to meet the changing times and the characteristics of each region.

Historically, when air pollution became more of a concern with the spread of automobiles in the 1950s and 1960s, the so-called Muskie Act was enacted in the United States to regulate photochemical smog caused by exhaust emissions, and efforts were made by various companies to comply with the regulations, which were said to be the strictest in the world. Honda was the first company to comply with these regulations with its revolutionary engine combustion technology, and the Civic was the first to be powered by the CVCC engine. The fact that Honda boldly took on the challenge of setting high goals and introducing technology earlier than any other company represents both the universality and innovation of the Civic.

More recently, in the model launched in September 2024, we updated the Traffic Jam Assist in ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) faster than any other model. This update significantly improves the feeling of being too fast when the distance from the car ahead gets too close, and conversely, the feeling of being too late when the car in front pulls ahead.

When development of the minor change model began, the trend toward electrification was very strong in the automobile industry, and it was not an atmosphere in which we could say we wanted to include a manual transmission the internal combustion engine (ICE) line-up. However, the staff had already come up with ideas for improvements that would make the car even better, and could be realized.

We want to create a sports model that could satisfy everyone on public roads, in other words, the best sports car for city driving. With this in mind, the entire team worked together to improve the suspension, steering, lightness of the flywheel, and dampers, all of which are important for exhilarating driving.

Fortunately, the Civic is available worldwide, and we use the most suitable components for each region and sell the model that matches the region. By gathering the best parts of the Civic from around the world, development period and production cost of new parts can be minimized.

To prove this, the development experts secretly built a test car. When I drove it, I immediately knew it was special, and we just had to make it. I desperate worked towards getting the board members to test drive the car as soon as possible to get their approval.

They loved it, and wanted to get it to market as quickly as possible. From there, we proceeded with development at a rapid pace and prepared it for mass production. I was deeply moved that we were able to create the fantastic RS with the commitment and expectations of so many people, a car that would not have been possible without the voices of those in the field. I think we were able to do this because Honda has a bottom-up culture that listens to the voices of people in the field.

One example is the torsion bar at the end of the steering shaft^*3.

In order to control electric power steering, the force with which the driver turns the steering wheel, or the steering load, needs to be determined with sensors. The torsion bar twists, and a sensor measures the torsion to determine how much the driver is turning the steering wheel. Since the torsion bar must twist, it is thinner than other parts of the car. However, making the torsion bar thinner has the negative effect of delaying the directness of steering feel. With the Type R, we conducted research to develop a highly rigid torsion bar that could sense steering loads even though it was thin. By using this for the RS model, we achieved improved and agile steering response and linear handling.

I originally joined Honda because I was interested in sports engines as a student and wanted to be involved in engine development. In the engine department, I worked on the development of the first-generation VTEC engine, was in charge of the engine for the S2000 (two-seat convertible), and was also in charge of F1 engines because I wanted to experience the pinnacle of engines.

However, I realized that winning in the world of F1 is not something that can be achieved with just the engine or the effort of a single person.

I had been aiming for the pinnacle of engines, but this was the moment when my thinking changed completely. I wanted to be involved in the development of cars that would please customers around the world. That is why it feels like I quit “Honda engine Co.”^*4 and rejoined “Honda Automobile Co.” ^*5

With this in mind, I have been involved in the development of new models, and I feel honored to finally be in charge of overseeing a model.

I felt the responsibility of being in charge of a traditional and popular model that represents Honda, and I was determined to develop the Civic so that its universal value and character would not be lost.

If you ask me which process was the most difficult, I would say they are all always difficult, but I have become used to it. Once the car is complete, happiness wipes out the hardship felt.

A dream is something that you want to pursue when you become interested in it, when it becomes a longing, and when it develops into a dream. I realized that my personal dream of creating the world’s best engine was self-indulgent, and I came back to car development because I wanted to create something that would be built by a team, by everyone.

Now, we can directly listen to our customers' opinions through social media and other means. There are many things that I have realized through the various voices coming in from all over the world. Whenever I see a happy customer, I feel happy to have created such a car. I want to make cars that realize the joy of driving. That remains my dream.