Four-wheel-drive coupe expected from Honda
With the new Honda Civics and Accords, fitted with three-valves-per-cylinder engines, trickling on to the New Zealand market in a variety of models at present, there comes news that the Japanese manufacturer has yet another and even more interesting model on the stocks. It will probably go into production before this year ends. Strong rumours have it that Honda is preparing to join the exclusive ranks of the four-wheel-drive car (as opposed to off-road vehicle) manufacturers with yet another coupe, which will be one step up in size from the diminutive CRX model.
It, too, will feature a
transversely mounted engine driving the four wheels. There appear to be two possibilities as far as the engine is concerned. The first is a “street” version of Honda’s 2-litre V 6 Formula 2 racing engine, which has taken New Zealand-born Mike Thackwell to a handsome lead in this year's European Formula 2 motor racing championship. Thackwell has won four of the five races held so far in his Honda-powered Ralt. But motor industry observers are mostly of the opinion that the “street” version of the V 6 will first appear in the “XX” executive saloon being produced jointly by Honda and BL,
Ltd, to sell under the Rover label.
On the face of it, there seems more likelihood that the four-wheel-drive coupe will be powered by the development of the 1829 cu cm four-cylinder engine now fitted in the Prelude and the majority of Accord models.
In those cars this engine has three valves per cylinder, but in all probability a turbocharged four-valves-per-cylinder version will
power Honda’s four-wheel-drive supercar.
Honda’s only Japanese challenger to produce the first four-wheel-drive sports car may be Mitsubishi, a firm that could easily come up with a roadgoing version of its four-wheel-drive Starion rally car.
If Honda’s four-wheel-drive project proceeds, the new coupe should make its public debut at the Tokyo motor show in November.
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Press, 14 June 1984, Page 31
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323Four-wheel-drive coupe expected from Honda Press, 14 June 1984, Page 31
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