Honda Beat

Honda Beat
Honda Beat
Overview
Manufacturer	Honda
Production	1991–1996
Body and chassis
Class	Kei car
Body style	2-door convertible
Powertrain
Engine	E07A 656 cc I3,; SOHC 12v
Transmission	5 gear manual transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2280 mm
Length	3295 mm
Width	1395 mm
Height	1175 mm
Curb weight	760 kg (1672 lbs)

The Honda Beat is a mid-engined two-seat convertible kei car produced from in May 1991 to February 1996. The total number of cars produced was around 33,600. Most of the production (around two-thirds) occurred in the first year, and then production and sales fell drastically.

There were two different models of the Beat (the PP1-100 and the PP1-110), although there were a couple of different limited edition versions as well. Variations on the first model were just cosmetic updates. Only the second model had any real mechanical differences. All cars were offered with the option of a driver's side airbag.

In typical Honda fashion, the Beat's engine did not utilize a turbocharger or supercharger. The 656 cc engine was modified with the MTREC (Multi Throttle Responsive Engine Control) system, which included one throttle valve for each of the three cylinders, to produce 64 PS (48 kW) at 8100RPM. Only a manual transmission was available. The MTREC design would filter down to the 1993 Honda Today kei car.

The Beat was part of a wave of kei car-sized sports cars in the early 1990s; its competitors included the Suzuki Cappuccino and Mazda's Autozam AZ-1. Together they predicted the arrival of the Smart Roadster over a decade later, while Japan would not see a new model of the genre until the recent Daihatsu Copen.

Trivia

The Beat became the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda before he died in 1991.
The design of the car originated from Pininfarina, who then sold the design plan to Honda, and then in turn sold it on MG Rover who used it to build the MG F.
The Beat has lettering running down the sides proclaiming "Midship Amusement", a rather "Engrish" phrase referring to the fun handling of mid-engined cars.