HONDA
SPORTS NOW
NSX
and HONDA SPORTS
Recently In Japan, RV(Recreational Vehicles) are selled a lot. HONDA sell
a lot of creative movers (including Odyssey, RV made by HONDA has good
feeling to drive) this company named. Of course this is the important fact
for HONDA. But we imagine that HONDA is the company challenge to race,
and they have NSX for flagship car. Are they satisfied with this as the
company making NSX really? After I was thinking about this doubt, HONDA
launched Type-R for "INTEGRA" and "CIVIC". It seemed
to clear hazy atmosphere by themselves. These two models are exciting cars
with higher driving performance and nice feeling to encourage our hearts.
This project succeeded because many enthusiasts expecting such cars release
welcomed. Considering FF sports made by HONDA, they were almost what was
called specialty car. But these two cars are closed to "SPORTS"
at a breath. Real sports models that other makers never could make, were
born beyond my expectation.
The engines mounted on HONDA cars have gotten
excellent appraisal everywhere and every
time, that have high performance, smooth
feeling and HONDA-sounds associated from
the Formula-one engine conquered the world.
On the other side, the weakness of chasis
and strength of body were pointed out badly
for FF sports at that time comparing with
excellent engine. The criticism is that,
"It has excellent handling on smooth
surface road like mirror, but on small rough
road that is bad, because suspension cannot
work well". Although, it was not big
problem for chasis mounting DOHC typed ZC
or B20, driving public road. But HONDA had
to improve the chasis fundamentally, because
they produced new mechanism "VTEC"
for higher performance of engine. And we
needed revolutionary car to FF sports evolve
into real sports. Then NSX debuted.
NSX was first car and experience for HONDA. And they have completed the
real sportscar representative of Japan and proud to world, having incredible
effort for this big project of NSX. Every time HONDA lose the rationality,
because of seeking for ideal. I think HONDA got technical information concerning
chasis demanded on rough road surface or cruel circumstance, and they had
a opportunity to meet many good technicians and test drivers who could
analyze precisely and recognized how important strength of body was, when
they tested prototype NSX in Nurburgring. I am convinced that these experience
had influence on concepts of suspensions or strength of body made by HONDA.
On a circuit former HONDA car showed unstable action caused by less strength
of body, due to make bonnet lower. The stroke of suspension was shortage,
then early stage response was sharp, but we couldn't control by hard understeer.
(CR-X,EF8 was not controllable with tack-in because it had short wheel
base.)
After release recent model including Type-R, HONDA FF sports have flexible
suspension with enough stroke and ensured enough strength of body. The
reason why HONDA could launch Type-R, based on INTEGRA and CIVIC, were
that they improved and strengthened every parts thoroughly to complete
a real sports car with extraordinary method. (Only HONDA polish the portholes
of mass-produced engine.) HONDA could not get this improvement without
good qualities of basic plan in original car.
INTEGRA or CIVIC Type-R are different from NSX entirely.
But I can say these cars are excellent comparing with NSX from another
view.INTEGRA Type-R has sharp handling unlike FF. We can control flexibly
by acceleration or steering work. It's capacity is wide. The engine has
sharp response better than NSX's one. Combination with low geared leads
fine acceleration in starting. I enjoy to drive this car in TSUKUBA circuit.
CIVIC Type-R is easy to control comparing severe INTEGRA. INTEGRA has advantage
over sharpness of handling at tight corner, but CIVIC is stable at high
speed corner. I'll choice CIVIC if I attack SUZUKA circuit. In any case,
there is no FF cars having such excellent handling in Japan or overseas.
That engine has sharp response and it's sound is fascinating. I want to
more racing-like production to interior of both cars, but considering their
reasonable prices, this is not disadvantage for the people who are expecting
such cars.
I think NSX is not merely just a car for
HONDA and the people who loves HONDA SPORTS.
Although most influenced from NSX are INTEGRA
or CIVIC Type-R, other model made by HONDA
inherit the heredity factor of NSX. I certainly
say, NSX owners or HONDA users without NSX
benefited by NSX.
NSX, is top of HONDA SPORTS, has another character behind easy handling.
We often overlook the real character in deep. Once I tried to ascertain
real NSX, but I gave up it because it was too difficult to control in limits
for amateur me. And now I revive to challenge a race after ten years blank(It
is only a play), I notice my decision is too early. I challenge the race
"MGF TROPHY" with MGF, has midshipped engine like NSX. This race
fights in low speed area, but action of car looks like NSX. actually driving
MGF racing, I realize that it is too early judge I can control NSX or not.
Because I am short of technique and experience for driving. It is my secret
that I challenge with NSX after I train and experience.
Introducing
Hiroshi Hashimoto
Born in Dec.1964. I am a born enthusiast
influenced from father. I were interested
in moving a car since I were a child. I had
a lesson how to drive a car from my father
on passenger's seat. When I were third grade
in elementary school, I drove my father's
car and thrown out. I experienced circuit
run in student. Since that time I enthuse
high speed driving. I work in a laboratory
of company. I have been challenging MGF TROPHY
since 1997. (Wanted. Sponsors!!.) I respect
Paul Frere very much. I am one of old directors
in our club.
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