Honda To Conquer The Skies

The sky is the limit! And Honda Motors has already announced its plans to accept sales orders in the U.S. for their very first jet, the HondaJet. Honda made the announcement at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture 2006.

Honda also announced that they have plans to enter the aviation industry and to build a business alliance with the co-developer of the HondaJet, Piper Aircraft Inc. Honda Motors and Piper Aircraft will work together and collaborate on sales, services, and development in the general aviation business. Complete details on the collaboration of Honda and Piper Aircraft were, however, not included in the announcement.

The first public world debut of the HondaJet took place at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The EEA AirVenture is the largest annual aviation gathering. The HondaJet was built using the latest technology in the aviation development industry, the patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration, a natural-laminar flow (NLF) wing, fuselage nose, and the advanced all-composite fuselage structure. The said features were the innovative output of a 20-year aviation research of Honda Motors. Some say that the HondaJet was an aircraft version of the Honda Civic.

Satoshi Toshida, Senior Managing Director of Honda Motors said: “Aviation has been an important dream of Honda for more than four decades. Our goal is consistent with the philosophy of other Honda products -- to provide convenient and efficient transportation that will make people’s lives better. We are excited now to enter a new dimension of mobility. In Piper we believe we have a partner we can collaborate with in our effort to bring new value to customers in the very light jet market.”

“Honda is a company with a rich heritage of bringing high quality, innovative products to market. This business alliance is a perfect fit given the commitment both Piper and Honda have to providing our respective customers with world-class products and services. Piper is very excited about this alliance and the way it complements our vision for the future,” said James K. Bass, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft, Inc.

The HondaJet’s main specifications include a 7-seater capacity, two GE-Honda HF118 TurboFan engine, and maximum speed of 778 km/hour (420 knots), 12,497 operational ceiling, and a range of 2,037 km. As of the moment, the development of HondaJet by Honda Motors and Piper Aircraft is still ongoing. Moreover, Honda is currently building automotive products such as Honda motorcycles, cars, and other Honda Civic parts in 13 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and other regional subsidiaries.

By Terry Brown.

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Hybrid Technology Develops as the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

The company that popularizes the hybrid technology is producing the better hybrid vehicles year after year. Although Toyota starts the technology to their Prius in 1997, Honda produces, develops, and uses the technology continuously to their cars. Honda’s first hybrid car, the Honda Insight was released in the United States in 1999. This was soon followed by the Honda Civic which marked the radical change in the hybrid technology and changed the way people’s to a car.

Hybrid cars use the combination of technologies such as internal combustion engines (ICEs), electric motors, batteries, hydrogen, and fuel cells. This saves a lot of gas fuel that becomes the preference of car buyers.

The hybrid technology improves year after year as Honda’s hybrid vehicles become popular. Then, the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid is by far the best Honda hybrid, or hybrid vehicle in the market.

A 3.0l V-6 engine of the Accord is the biggest among its class. It is the first hybrid that can match or even surpass other gas-engine vehicles. With 255 horses pushing it, the Accord is the most economical V-6 vehicle.

The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid drives like the conventional gas-engine powered vehicle. And without the “hybrid” badges on the vehicle, you wouldn’t know the difference.

This Accord uses the same automatic transmission like that of the gas-engine instead of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), Toyota and Ford uses to their hybrid. Its so the IMA or the integrated motor assist which always at the gas mode and kick to electric for additional power when needed, unlike Ford and Toyota which uses the electric as long as possible then switch to gas when needed.

Fuel economy is not a question for the Honda Accord Hybrid. With 37 mpg fuel consumption on highway and 29 mpg in city, the Accord allows driver to save more money. Accord doesn’t need to be plugged in. It automatically recharge itself during braking and, if necessary, via the gas engine. To save more fuel, both systems automatically shuts off at stoplight and long stops.

The only backslash of the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid is its price tag of about $30,000 which is $3,400 more that its gas model. But for a vehicle that saves more fuel the regular vehicle, it is a better buy in the long run.

By Jenny McLane.