Motorcycles: Honda is the world's largest producer and seller of motorcycles. American Honda helped ignite the motorcycle market in the U.S. in the early 1960s and now offers a wide variety of technologically advanced, environmentally conscious vehicles including ATVs, motor scooters, off-road and sport bikes, and large touring motorcycles. Significantly improved designs for 2001 include the Gold Wing and the CR-51.
The completely redesigned Gold Wing offers a powerful new fuel injected 1832cc six-cylinder engine that produces 118 horsepower and 125 lb./ft. of torque while meeting California Air Resources Board 2008 emission standards. A potent new sport bike, the CR-51, introduces world championship winning Superbike performance to enthusiasts seeking the most powerful, best-handling V-twin sports bike.
Power Equipment: Honda builds and sells a diverse line of power equipment including lawn mowers, trimmers, tractors, generators, outboard marine motors, snow blowers and other products. In 1998, Honda became the first company with an entire line of performance outboard motors to meet the EPA's year 2006 emission standards. Honda outboard marine motors come in sizes that produce between 2 horsepower and 130 horsepower. On land, legendary Honda commercial-grade OHV engines power a wide variety of equipment from tillers to lawn mowers and power generators. These engines are reliable, easy-to-start and incredibly rugged. Honda GX Series engines meet all EPA and CARB emission level standards. Honda's rear tine tillers feature the patented ARS System® (Active Rotary System) which offers superior tilling with true counter-rotating tines. Four outside tines turn forward while the four inside tines turn in reverse. Honda lawnmower engines also feature innovations such as the 5.5 horsepower GCV160 that boasts the world's first internal timing belt and is perfectly matched, with power in reserve, for demanding mowing conditions.
Automobiles: Honda and Acura have consistently been the first automaker to achieve certification of automobiles that meet the Low and Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. More than two-thirds of all Honda and Acura cars sold in the U.S. in 1999 were low emission vehicles.
In 2000, Honda also introduced and Accord model that was the first Super Ultra Low Emission Certified Vehicle, which has since been joined by the Civic GX natural gas powered vehicle. Honda also leads the way in fuel economy with the new gas-electric Insight, ranked by the U.S. EPA as the most fuel-efficient car ever. New gas-electric technology will be available in other Honda products -- including an upcoming version of the all-new Civic. In addition to efficiency and low emissions, Honda engines are among the most powerful in the industry. The S2000's 2.0-liter engine produces the highest specific power output (120 hp per liter) of any normally aspirated production engine in the world - while qualifying as a low emission vehicle.
Motorsports: Honda's unique commitment to racing will continue to be an important part of the definition of Powered by Honda. Unlike most companies, Honda builds its own engines and supports them from race to race with a team of Honda R&D engineers. Honda not only develops its own unique engine technology, but through the heat of racing competition, Honda also forges the engineers who create this technology. Honda competes in the CART Fed-Ex Series where Team Penske, a Honda team, won the 2000 CART Fed-Ex Series Championship with driver Gil de Ferran. Honda has dominated the series, winning the previous four championships in CART. In 2001, a total of nine Champ cars will compete in CART cars using Honda powerplants. Also significant, Honda re-entered Formula One competition in 2000 with British American Racing and will expand its role in Jordan Racing in 2001.
Founded in 1948 as a manufacturer of small motorcycles, Honda today maintains more than 100 manufacturing facilities for automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment in 33 countries. Honda is considered an automotive industry leader when it comes to powertrain technology.