Tokyo, September 6, 1999 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced the technical outlines of its next-generation engines for its three divisions-automobiles, motorcycles, and power products-as well as its 2005 targets for fuel consumption and exhaust gas purification.
Automobiles
- To surpass the government's 2010 fuel-consumption target - in all vehicle weight categories - by 2005
- To have all Honda engines generate exhaust gas emissions of less than half the levels set by the Japanese government for 2000 by 2002
- To achieve an average fuel efficiency of 25% or more above its 1995 figure by 2005
- To reduce hydrocarbon and NOx exhaust gas emissions to 25% of 1995 levels by 2005
Honda claims its next-generation lightweight and compact 2-liter in-line 4-cylinder engines achieve low fuel consumption and generate exhaust gas emissions at levels 50% or less than those mandated by the government for 2000. At the same time, the company announced its intention to replace its entire engine lineup with these next-generation engines by 2005.
Motorcycles
- To achieve an average fuel efficiency of approximately 30% or more above its 1995 figure by 2005
- To reduce total exhaust gas emissions of hydrocarbon by approximately 1/3 by 2005
In the area of two-wheeled vehicles, Honda forged ahead in a new direction this year with the introduction of its Giorno Crea, a scooter powered by a water-cooled 4-stroke engine. The company is targeting 2002 for introduction of such engines to all of its two-wheelers except for certain racing models. Also planned for two-wheelers of all engine displacements, including the inexpensive 50 cc class, is the installation of electronic control fuel injection systems. While electronic control fuel injection has become essential in today's automobiles owing to the performance gains and environmental benefits it confers, in the comparatively low-priced motorcycle market, issues of cost and technical problems have restricted its use to all but the bigger machines. As a world-leader in motorcycle development, Honda is determined to overcome these difficulties, and to create a new standard fit for motorcycles of the 21st century. Honda hopes to achieve this target by around 2005. Also by 2005, the company aims to achieve an improvement of 30% in average fuel efficiency compared with the 1995 figure, as well as an overall reduction of hydrocarbon and NOx exhaust gas emissions by about 1/3.
Power Products
- To achieve an average fuel efficiency of about 30% or more above its 1995 figure by 2005.
- To reduce average exhaust gas emissions of hydrocarbons and NOx to about 30% of 1995 levels by 2005
Honda is also intent on improving engines in its power products, and modifying combustion chambers, applying catalytic converters and implementing other measures in order to achieve a 30% improvement in average fuel efficiency and a 30% average reduction of exhaust gas hydrocarbons and NOx emissions by 2005. (Compared with the figures for 1995).
Honda plans to develop engines that will most effectively counter the problems of air pollution and global warming for all of its products. As a company that produces 10 million engines worldwide on a yearly basis, Honda is determined to fulfill its social obligation to increase the performance of the engines that drive its products. These efforts will also serve to increase the attractiveness of its products to customers.