Honda At The Paris Motor Show

Honda will reveal production versions of the new CR-V compact SUV and the high performance Civic Type R, on its biggest ever stand at the Paris Motor Show in September.

The completely new CR-V combines SUV practicality with saloon car-like driving dynamics, sophisticated styling and an upmarket, well-equipped interior that help take the car into the upper tiers of the SUV market. It will also be available with the advanced Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS), two unique and cutting-edge technologies that deliver added driver convenience and enhanced safety.

A new 2.0-litre petrol engine, together with Honda’s renowned 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel engine, ensures the CR-V continues to offer class-leading fuel consumption and performance.

The keenly awaited Civic Type R also makes its debut in production-model guise, a car which captures the same degree of exhilarating performance as its predecessor, but in a more refined package for the road.

The ‘superhatch’ Type R offers impressive performance levels with aggressive styling and improved handling characteristics to deliver enhanced predictability, responsiveness and an even more rewarding driving experience.

Also being revealed at Paris is the 2007 FR-V, which has a new engine line-up for next year. Honda’s compact multi-purpose vehicle, featuring six seats arranged in two rows of three, now features the 1.8 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine (first seen in the 5-door Civic) together with a series of detail exterior and interior changes.

Themed Zones

The Honda stand at the Paris Show is made up of three zones: Advanced Technology, Sports and Product.

New CR-V and new Civic Type R are the main ingredients of the new Product Zone. They will be joined by the revised FR-V and the recently-launched Civic Type S, as well as the gadget-laden Accord.

In the Sports zone, Honda’s success at the pinnacle of motorsport - Formula 1 - will be represented on the stand by the winning RA106, as raced by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello this season, together with the Honda RA806E V8 engine which powers this car.

Alongside will be a racing variant of the new Civic Type R. Developed by JAS Motorsport – the official partner of Honda in customer racing support - the racing Civic Type R will be fully FIA homologated for 2007 track and rally events.

The Sports zone is rounded off by a special edition of the Honda S2000 roadster in Super Platinum White and with a Passion Red and Black interior.

Honda’s pre-eminent role in developing fuel efficient and alternatively-fuelled vehicles is showcased within the stand’s Advanced Technology zone.

Honda will also be showing the very latest fuel cell technology in the form of the FCX Concept car, a sleek, premium four door saloon featuring a unique, low-floor fuel cell platform that allows a spacious cabin previously unimaginable in a fuel cell vehicle.

Displayed alongside, and illustrating how such vehicles might be fuelled, will be Honda’s Home Energy Station. This can generate hydrogen from a domestic gas supply, as well as generate electricity to power the home using its own fuel cells, and at the same time recover the heat produced to provide a supply of hot water - represented at the Motor Show by a ‘home’ set complete with TV screen and wash basin producing hot water, courtesy of the Home Energy Station.

Meanwhile, the Civic Hybrid Sports concept proves that super-efficiency can be stylish and visually-arresting. Fitted with deep front and rear spoilers and side skirts, the aggressive-looking body is finished in a special blue paint, and set off by chrome finish seven-spoke alloy wheels and exhaust tailpipes. The equally distinctive interior uses the contrast of black and white as a colour scheme, with bucket seats providing a sporting flourish.

Sharing the same part of the stand, the Civic Hybrid Cut model uses cutaways and transparent body panels to expose key elements of the hybrid technology to provide a better understanding of the technology and the benefits achieved.