Honda's tiny Fiat 500 slayer, N-1, is pokemon slipping on its spectacles

29/08/2012 - 11:37 | Honda | Shrawan Raja

The Honda N Concept_4 presented at the Tokyo Motor Show of 2011 ideated a compact kei car that would rival the Fiat 500. Honda had not detailed the car's mechanical package, but promised variants including an electric model were possible.

Honda N-1 2012 body color optionsHonda N-1 2012 dashboard

The new product harks back to the N series models sold in the 1960's and is a spiritual successor to the Honda N360 manufactured between 1967 and 1972.

Honda N-1 2012 rearToday CarScoop blog presents images of the production form of the N Concept that heads into the crowded Japanese kei car market by December 2012. The leaked brochure scans reveal the car's exterior that takes its complete inspiration from the N Concept_4. Its commercial name could be the Honda N-1.

Of course certain concept car trimmings may not be feasible to present on a production model. LED head- and tail- lamp units have been replaced with conventional bulbs and the tail gate is revised with a tinge of chrome over the license plate fixture.

The interiors are a mix and match of current Honda models, the lower part of the dashboard for example is borrowed from the N Box +, while the underpinning is also shared with the same JDM model.

Persuading it forward is Honda's 660cc three-cylinder petrol motor in naturally aspirated and turbocharged avatars, mated to a CVT rolling the front- or all-four wheels.

Honda may not market this vehicle outside the Japanese market, but our hearts melt at the sight of its puppy dog-eyed headlights!

[Source - Ameblo via CarScoop.Blogspot.com]

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