Honda Domani
Encyclopedia
The is a car made by Honda
and marketed in east Asia
, including Japan
. It was introduced in November 1992, replacing the Concerto
in Honda's lineup, although that model lasted until 1995 in Europe
. The Domani was another example of Honda taking one product and selling multiple versions at different dealership sales channels in Japan, called Honda Clio for the more upscale Domani, Honda Integra SJ at Honda Verno locations from 1996-2000, and Honda Primo for the , along with the Civic 3- and 5-door hatchbacks ("ferio" is a version of the word férié, and is French for "holiday"; férié was in use by Nissan on the Nissan Leopard J Ferie
).
"Domani
" is Italian for "tomorrow". It was also the name of a Italian song popular in the 1950s, and continued Honda musically inspired names for upscale sedans and 5-door hatchbacks derived from the Civic.
It is mechanically identical to the early 1990s version of the Honda Civic
(chassis code EG) and production ended in September 2004. The Domani saloon had 1.5 and 1.8 engines at first (from 1992 to 1993), then a 1.6i petrol engine from 1993 onwards. Trim levels were DX, LX and EX. In Japan, it was offered as a 4-door sedan only. In Europe
, 5-door hatchback
and wagon
variants were available, replacing the Concerto sedan and 5-door hatchback. The Japanese version also was available with Honda's Real Time Four Wheel Drive System borrowed from the Honda CR-V
and Honda HR-V
(vehicles developed from the Civic).
The Honda Domani has a very close relative in the Rover 400
saloon, with which it shared virtually all its main components. Renamed the Rover 45 when facelifted in 1999, it was also sold as a saloon, called the MG ZS
, from 2001. The Rover/MG variant was produced until Rover
went into administration
in 2005 - by which time the design was 13 years old.
In Japan
, the Domani was also rebadged as the Isuzu Gemini
.
An Acura version of the Domani was also built in Canada for the Canadian market, called the Acura 1.6EL. This car was also exported back to Japan and Taiwan, but with the Domani badging. They are the same car in the way that the Acura RL is the Honda Legend outside of North America. In Japan, the Domani was replaced by the Honda Fit Aria as the compact sedan at Honda Clio dealerships for model year 2002.
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
and marketed in east Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, including Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was introduced in November 1992, replacing the Concerto
Honda Concerto
The Honda Concerto was an automobile produced by Honda from 1988 to 1994. Like its predecessor, the Honda Quint and Honda Ballade sedan , it shared its platform with a Rover product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400...
in Honda's lineup, although that model lasted until 1995 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The Domani was another example of Honda taking one product and selling multiple versions at different dealership sales channels in Japan, called Honda Clio for the more upscale Domani, Honda Integra SJ at Honda Verno locations from 1996-2000, and Honda Primo for the , along with the Civic 3- and 5-door hatchbacks ("ferio" is a version of the word férié, and is French for "holiday"; férié was in use by Nissan on the Nissan Leopard J Ferie
Nissan Leopard
The Nissan Leopard is a line of luxury sports cars built by Japanese carmaker Nissan. The Leopard began life in 1980 and was discontinued in 1999. Leopards were initially based on the Japanese market Nissan Skyline and Nissan Laurel and the American Datsun 910/Nissan Maxima, then later based on the...
).
"Domani
Domani
"Domani" is a 1955 song written by Ulpio Minucci with lyrics by Tony Velona. The most popular version of the song was recorded by Julius LaRosa, released by Cadence Records as catalog number 1265...
" is Italian for "tomorrow". It was also the name of a Italian song popular in the 1950s, and continued Honda musically inspired names for upscale sedans and 5-door hatchbacks derived from the Civic.
It is mechanically identical to the early 1990s version of the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
(chassis code EG) and production ended in September 2004. The Domani saloon had 1.5 and 1.8 engines at first (from 1992 to 1993), then a 1.6i petrol engine from 1993 onwards. Trim levels were DX, LX and EX. In Japan, it was offered as a 4-door sedan only. In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, 5-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
and wagon
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
variants were available, replacing the Concerto sedan and 5-door hatchback. The Japanese version also was available with Honda's Real Time Four Wheel Drive System borrowed from the Honda CR-V
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a compact suv, now called crossover, manufactured since 1995 by Honda. It was loosely derived from the Honda Civic to satisfy a public demand for a sport-utility vehicle from Honda. There are discrepancies as to what "CR-V" stands for, with Honda sources in different markets...
and Honda HR-V
Honda HR-V
The Honda HR-V is a mini SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Honda from 1999 until 2006. The abbreviation HRV officially stands for High Rider Vehicle although sometimes referred to as Hybrid Recreation Vehicle...
(vehicles developed from the Civic).
The Honda Domani has a very close relative in the Rover 400
Rover 400
The second generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in the summer of 1995 as a hatchback and later a saloon. This time it was based on the Honda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the European Honda Civic range in five-door hatchback form...
saloon, with which it shared virtually all its main components. Renamed the Rover 45 when facelifted in 1999, it was also sold as a saloon, called the MG ZS
MG ZS
The MG ZS is a sports family car. The ZS is essentially a badge engineered Rover 45 . The 45 in turn is a facelifted version of the Rover 400 which was launched in hatchback form in 1995 and saloon form in 1996. The Rover 400 had much in common with the Honda Civic of 1995-1999...
, from 2001. The Rover/MG variant was produced until Rover
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
went into administration
Administration (insolvency)
As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – an alternative to liquidation – is often known as going...
in 2005 - by which time the design was 13 years old.
In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the Domani was also rebadged as the Isuzu Gemini
Isuzu Gemini
General Motors sought a replacement for their world car T-body Kadett / Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents...
.
An Acura version of the Domani was also built in Canada for the Canadian market, called the Acura 1.6EL. This car was also exported back to Japan and Taiwan, but with the Domani badging. They are the same car in the way that the Acura RL is the Honda Legend outside of North America. In Japan, the Domani was replaced by the Honda Fit Aria as the compact sedan at Honda Clio dealerships for model year 2002.