Honda N600-derived retro city car revealed?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Japan, Hatchback, Honda

A spate of images depicting what looks like a new kei car from Honda have jumped online. The diminutive five-door looks to have borrowed its lines from the N Concept 4 that the Japanese automaker first showed off at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. That funky little machine lifted design elements from the much-loved Honda N360/N600 of the late 60s and early 70s.

This development comes as no surprise, as Honda officials told us in November that the concept's warm reception would lead to a production model. These black-and-white shots look to be lifted from patent filings, though there are no solid details available. That hasn't stopped the web from guessing about everything from final dimensions to what's under the hood. Japan has strict regulations governing what can actually be considered a kei car, which means this retro-looking creation will almost certainly be no more than 133 inches long and 58 inches wide.

Also in-line with kei-class regulations, the vehicle will likely boast a 660cc VTEC four-cylinder engine good for around 64 horsepower, though we won't know for certain until Honda reveals the official details on the finished product. Don't expect to see this machine on our shores, however. With its diminutive size and output, odds are this one will stay reserved for the Japanese market.

Honda N600-derived retro city car revealed? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Honda N Concept 4 is production-ready cuteness

Chris Paukert — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Hatchback, Honda, Design/Style

Remember Honda's nifty EV-N concept from the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show? Honda has updated it for 2011 in the form of this, the N Concept 4. Like the EV-N, this showcar harkens back to Honda's original N series of minicars from the 1960s, typified by the N360.

The N Concept 4 was a surprise presentation from the automaker, and while Honda is not yet issuing further details about it, officials tell Autoblog that this car will go into production next year as the next model in its growing N series of Kei cars. The production version will undoubtedly be powered by a 660cc gasoline engine, though whether it will receive some sort of forced induction is an open question.

We love the car's mix of rounded features as they disguise the overall form's boxy proportions and we hope Honda can find a way of preserving the N4's bright-eyed, friendly face when they make the inevitable switch to production lighting. Check out all the cuteness in our high-res gallery.

Honda N Concept 4 is production-ready cuteness originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments