Honda Beat
Encyclopedia
The Honda Beat is a rear mid-engine
d two-seat roadster
kei car
produced from in May 1991 to February 1996. The Beat was the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda
before he died in 1991. The total number of cars produced was around 33,600. Most of the production (around two-thirds) occurred in the first year, and then production and sales fell drastically. The design of the car originated from Pininfarina
, who then sold the design plan to Honda. The Beat was one of many cars designed to take advantage of Japan's tax-efficient kei car
class.
There were two mainstream models of the Beat (the PP1–100 and the PP1–110) and a couple of limited edition versions. Variations on the first model were just cosmetic updates. Only the second model had any real mechanical differences. All cars were offered with the option of a driver's side airbag
. The car was sold exclusively in Japan at Honda Primo dealership sales channels.
In typical Honda fashion, the Beat's engine did not utilize a turbocharger
or supercharger
. The 656 cc engine was modified with the MTREC (Multi Throttle Responsive Engine Control) system, with individual throttle bodies for each of the three cylinders, to produce 64 PS at 8100 rpm with an electronically limited top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). Only a manual transmission
was available. The MTREC design would filter down to the 1993 Honda Today
kei car.
The Beat was part of a wave of kei car-sized sports cars in the early 1990s; its competitors included the Suzuki Cappuccino
and Mazda's Autozam AZ-1
. Together they anticipated the arrival of the Smart Roadster
over a decade later, while Japan would not see a new model of the genre until the recent Daihatsu Copen
.
At May 9, 2010, a parade held in the Twin Ring Motegi
circuit as a part of an annual Beat owner meeting. 569 Honda Beats participate the parade which is certified by Guinness World Records
as the largest parade of Honda cars. The record will be shown in the book in 2011 unless larger parade will be held by then.
Standard Equipment:
Air conditioning, Power window, 3-point seat belt, Sun visor, Front stabilizer, Front laminated glass, Side toughened glass, Halogen head lamps, Soft top, Steel wheels.
1992.02: The Beat Version F features Aztec Green Pearl color and alloy wheels.
1992.05: The Beat Version C features Captiva Blue Pearl color and alloy wheels.
1993.05: The Beat Version Z features Blade Silver Metallic color or Evergrade Green Metallic color, three black gauges, mud guards, a rear spoiler, exhaust pipe finisher, and alloy wheels.
and Honda Zest
. The FWD Beat can be an outdated rumor as MotorTrend reported in june 2010 that Honda lodged a patent suggesting that the successor of Beat could be a mid-engine car.
and the Mitsubishi Minica Dangan
.
The car is also featured in Gran Turismo 2
(Mugen tuned), Gran Turismo PSP, Gran Turismo 4
, and Gran Turismo 5
.
MR layout
In automotive design, a RMR or Rear Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive layout is one in which the rear wheels are driven by an engine placed just in front of them, behind the passenger compartment. In contrast to the rear-engined RR layout, the center of mass of the engine is in front of the rear axle...
d two-seat roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
produced from in May 1991 to February 1996. The Beat was the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda
Soichiro Honda
was a Japanese engineer and industrialist, and founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..Honda was born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan on November 17, 1906. He spent his early childhood helping his father, Gihei, a blacksmith, with his bicycle repair business. At the time his mother, Mika, was a weaver. At...
before he died in 1991. The total number of cars produced was around 33,600. Most of the production (around two-thirds) occurred in the first year, and then production and sales fell drastically. The design of the car originated from Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
, who then sold the design plan to Honda. The Beat was one of many cars designed to take advantage of Japan's tax-efficient kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
class.
There were two mainstream models of the Beat (the PP1–100 and the PP1–110) and a couple of limited edition versions. Variations on the first model were just cosmetic updates. Only the second model had any real mechanical differences. All cars were offered with the option of a driver's side airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
. The car was sold exclusively in Japan at Honda Primo dealership sales channels.
In typical Honda fashion, the Beat's engine did not utilize a turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
or supercharger
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
. The 656 cc engine was modified with the MTREC (Multi Throttle Responsive Engine Control) system, with individual throttle bodies for each of the three cylinders, to produce 64 PS at 8100 rpm with an electronically limited top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). Only a manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was available. The MTREC design would filter down to the 1993 Honda Today
Honda Today
This Honda Today was a kei car produced by the Japanese automaker Honda beginning in 1985. Its production ended in 1998.-Early:The first generation Today was introduced in September 1985 as a three-door hatchback, on a wheelbase of...
kei car.
The Beat was part of a wave of kei car-sized sports cars in the early 1990s; its competitors included the Suzuki Cappuccino
Suzuki Cappuccino
The Suzuki Cappuccino is a small 2-door, 2-seater demountable hardtop roadster produced by Suzuki Motor Corporation. The vehicle was designed to meet Kei car specifications for lower tax and insurance in Japan. Weighing just , the Cappuccino is powered by a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 657 cc DOHC...
and Mazda's Autozam AZ-1
Autozam AZ-1
The Autozam AZ-1, known as the framecode PG6SA, is a mid-engined two-seat sports coupé kei car, designed and manufactured by Suzuki but sold by Mazda under its Autozam brand. It debuted in October 1992 until production ceased in 1994, and was perhaps most noted for its gullwing doors...
. Together they anticipated the arrival of the Smart Roadster
Smart Roadster
The Smart Roadster is a two-door sports car first introduced in 2003 by Smart GmbH. Sales of the Roadster and Roadster Coupé met expectations, however warranty claims resulted in a halt of production of both models in November 2005 after 43,091 Roadsters were made...
over a decade later, while Japan would not see a new model of the genre until the recent Daihatsu Copen
Daihatsu Copen
The Daihatsu Copen is a 2-door roadster with an aluminium retractable hardtop built by the Japanese car company Daihatsu. It first debuted at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, as the Daihatsu Copen concept...
.
At May 9, 2010, a parade held in the Twin Ring Motegi
Twin Ring Motegi
is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the facility having two race tracks: a oval and a road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel...
circuit as a part of an annual Beat owner meeting. 569 Honda Beats participate the parade which is certified by Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
as the largest parade of Honda cars. The record will be shown in the book in 2011 unless larger parade will be held by then.
Versions
Various versions:Standard Equipment:
Air conditioning, Power window, 3-point seat belt, Sun visor, Front stabilizer, Front laminated glass, Side toughened glass, Halogen head lamps, Soft top, Steel wheels.
1992.02: The Beat Version F features Aztec Green Pearl color and alloy wheels.
1992.05: The Beat Version C features Captiva Blue Pearl color and alloy wheels.
1993.05: The Beat Version Z features Blade Silver Metallic color or Evergrade Green Metallic color, three black gauges, mud guards, a rear spoiler, exhaust pipe finisher, and alloy wheels.
Successor
In April 2009, Best Car reported that Honda was planning on the successor of original Beat. It would be a front engine car using the platform and 660cc engine from Honda LifeHonda Life
Introduced on 21 August 1973, this version of the Life was designed as a pick-up truck. Production ended in 1974, with no more than 1,132 vehicles produced.-Second generation :...
and Honda Zest
Honda ZEST
Honda Zest is a kei car, released in 2006, by Honda. Equipped with a turbo charged engine, 3 cylinders, and 4 doors. It was the first kei car available with optional side curtain airbags. It was available in two distinct versions — Zest and Zest Sports. In fall/winter 2008, the Zest Sports was...
. The FWD Beat can be an outdated rumor as MotorTrend reported in june 2010 that Honda lodged a patent suggesting that the successor of Beat could be a mid-engine car.
Media appearances
The car has been featured on the popular British television program Top Gear together with the Daihatsu MiraDaihatsu Mira
The Daihatsu Mira , is a kei car-type vehicle built by the Japanese car maker Daihatsu. It comes with a variety of options and chassis variations, with the latest variant having four models: "Mira", "Mira AVY", "Mira Gino" and "Mira VAN"...
and the Mitsubishi Minica Dangan
Mitsubishi Minica
-Minica Sedan:The first Minica was first introduced in October 1962 as a two-door sedan based on the Mitsubishi 360 light truck, sharing its front-mounted ME21 359 cc twin-cylinder air-cooled engine driving the rear wheels, transverse leaf springs in front and beam axle/leaf springs at the...
.
The car is also featured in Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo 2
is a driving simulator / racing game for the Sony PlayStation. Gran Turismo 2 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999. The games serves as a sequel to Gran Turismo...
(Mugen tuned), Gran Turismo PSP, Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
is a racing simulator for the Sony PlayStation 2 which was developed by Polyphony Digital. It was released on December 28, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong , February 22, 2005 in North America , and March 9, 2005 in Europe , and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line...
, and Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo 5
is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing video game series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010...
.