Honda Ascot

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the Honda motorcycles branded "Ascot", see Honda Ascot (motorcycle).
Honda Ascot
Sayama, Saitama, Japan
Body and chassis
ClassCompact car
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
SuccessorHonda Torneo

The Honda Ascot (Japanese: ホンダ・アスコット, Honda Asukotto) is a

Rover 600. The second generation was a platform improvement, shared with the Japan-only sedan called the Honda Rafaga
. The "Ascot" name was chosen with reference to the Ascot Racecourse and Ascot tie, in order to add the model an alleged air of class and elegance. Honda Ascot was also used on a range of one-cylinder motorcycles in the first half of the 1980s.

First generation (CB1/2/3/4)

Honda Ascot (CB)
Curb weight
1,360 kg (2,998.3 lb)

The first Honda Ascot was borne out Honda's strategy to diversify its sales channels in Japan. In 1985, two separate dealer networks were established, under the names of

kei cars, as well as the Honda Civic, the Clio stores focused on larger models, including the top-of-the-line Honda Legend. With the arrival of the fourth-generation Honda Accord (CB)
its sales were assigned solely to Honda Clio.

That meant, however, that the Honda Primo network needed an Accord-based compact sedan for the dealership channel. Honda adopted a rather simple solution of creating a "

sister car" to Accord, the Honda Ascot. Technically, the Ascot was identical to the Accord sedan, and the interior, including the dashboard, was shared with the Accord. The exterior sheetmetal was unique to the Ascot, with cosmetic differences provided for a different look, befitting the Ascot's upmarket role as the top-of-the-line model of Honda Primo, which sold small, entry-level products. The headlight units were borrowed from the Honda Inspire
, adding to its luxurious appearance, as well as installing LED high mounted brake light in the trunk rear spoiler.

It came in five trim levels; the FB and the FBX came with the 1.8 litre engine, with the 2.0Si, 2.0FBX-i as the mid-level package, with the top level 2.0FBT-i included four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, a viscous coupling differential, mechanical four-wheel steering, and four-wheel double wishbone suspension, with the 2.0 Liter PGM-FI fuel injection engine. Two different engine displacement choices were given so as to allow the Japanese driver which annual road tax obligation they were willing to pay. The fuel economy for the top level engine was rated at 10.4 km/L (29 mpg‑imp; 24 mpg‑US) according to figures quoted in sales materials. Here's a Honda promotional video introducing the Ascot FBT-i.

The Ascot had a six-light

greenhouse compared to the regular Accord's four-light layout, and featured a different front end with a more formal grille, as well as a revised rear end with an Ascot specific rear tail light treatment, installing the rear license plate indented into the rear bumper. The styling approach was also duplicated on the smaller Honda Concerto
, a platform shared with the Honda Civic of the same time period.

The Ascot was launched on September 13, 1989, and the

Take the A-Train" jazz standard A-train commercial. Later on, Honda decided to change the marketing image of the car, employing Eric Clapton to do the commercials
. In August 1991, a rehashed Ascot was presented, allegedly "refined to better suit the Japanese taste". In March 1992, Honda presented an all-new Honda Ascot Innova (see below), while the regular Ascot was replaced by an all-new model in 1993.

Ascot Innova (CB3/4)

Honda Ascot Innova
Curb weight
1,370 kg (3,020.3 lb)

Launched on March 5, 1992, the (

Mitsubishi Emeraude
. The Ascot Innova was sold in conjunction to the Ascot, and did not replace it.

The Ascot Innova was available in three four-cylinder engine choices: the 2.0-litre

SOHC, 150 PS (148 bhp; 110 kW) in the 2.0Si trim with DOHC, and the H-series 2.3-litre H23A engine fitted in the export versions of the Prelude, producing 165 bhp (167 PS; 123 kW) (the 2.3-litre versions were designated 2.3Si-Z). While the 2.0-litre versions maintained the 1,695 mm (66.7 in) width which allowed them to remain in the favorable tax class, the 2.3-litre Innovas were 1,710 mm (67.3 in) wide, as the engine displacement didn't allow them to remain in the lower tax band, and buyers in Japan were also liable for a higher annual road tax bill
also.

A

moonroof, passenger airbag, cornering lamps or ABS. The television advertising campaign was built around the slogan "Hardtop Innovation" and featured the American actress Geena Davis
.

The Ascot Innova itself remained a JDM-only model, and a Honda Primo exclusive, with no JDM sister cars. It was the result of shared efforts with British partner Rover Group, and the car was sold as the European Accord, which was made in Swindon, UK and marketed in Europe as Honda Accord instead of the North American version. The European Accord and the Ascot Innova differ only slightly, with the Euro-Accord being wider and featuring framed windows. Normally, this type of vehicle with a sports car influence would have been sold at Honda Verno, however because of its strong similarity to the Prelude, and Honda Verno already had a luxury sports sedan called the Honda Vigor, the Ascott Innova was assigned to Honda Primo instead, as Honda Clio had the Honda Legend.

The European Accord was in turn the base for the

Rover 600 saloon, developed under Honda's long-standing relationship with the British Rover Group. The Rover 600 and the Swindon Accord also shared two engine options not available for the Ascot Innova - Honda's F18A 1.8-litre unit and Rover's 2.0-litre L-series turbo-diesel
. The Ascot Innova remained in production until 1996, while the European Accord saloon continued until 1998, with a facelifted model in 1996. In 1998, it was replaced with an all-new model.

Trim Levels

  • 2,000cc SOHC F20A engine (135 PS)
    • 2.0i･C
    • 2.0i
    • 2.0i･4WS
  • 2,000cc DOHC F20A engine (150 PS)
    • 2.0Si
    • 2.0Si･4WS
  • 2,300cc DOHC H23A engine (165 PS)
    • 2.3Si-Z
    • 2.3Si-Z･4WS
    • 2.3Si-Z･TCV
    • 2.3Si-Z･TCV･4WS

Second generation (CE)

Honda Ascot (CE)
Curb weight
1,280 kg (2,821.9 lb) (G20A engine)
1,380 kg (3,042.4 lb) (G25A engine)[2]

The next-generation (CD) Accord grew in size considerably, mostly to satisfy North American market efforts, and thus became too wide to fit within the favorable

JDM
market, and this duty was assigned to the new Ascot

Rather than being directly based on the now larger Accord, the new Ascot was given its own platform, with the codenames CE4/5, which was a platform improvement of the previous generation. Like the Inspire, Vigor and the even larger Honda Legend, the CE Ascot had its engines mounted longitudinally, contrary to the Accord and most other FWD cars, employing the transverse setup, thereby placing the weight of the engine aligned and behind the front axle and improving vehicle weight distribution between the front and rear axles. In Japan, the smaller G20A engine used regular grade fuel, while the larger G25A engine used premium grade fuel.

The new Ascot had a sloping appearance resembling a

coupé, rendering the vehicle shorter and taller than both the CD Accord, Ascot Innova and the Inspire, thus continuing the first Ascot's role as a premium entry-level formal sedan. It was fitted with the 5-cylinder inline Honda G engine, also employed by the Inspire and Vigor, in two displacement versions - 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre, with the gearbox slotted behind it. The wheelbase of the Ascot was shorter than the slightly longer Inspire and Vigor, which measured at 2,805 mm (110.4 in), a difference of 35 mm (1.4 in), which didn't leave much room for rear seat passengers. Furthermore, due to the lengthwise installation of the five-cylinder engine, and the requirement that the overall length of the car comply with Japanese government regulations concerning cars classified as "compact", compromises were made with regards to rear passenger accommodations, and sales suffered as a result. The Ascot also spawned a sister car, the Honda Rafaga, which was sold at Honda Verno stores, which differed from the Ascot only by different external trim details. Both models were replaced by the CF series Accord platform twin Honda Torneo
in 1997.

References

  1. ^ http://www.honda.co.jp/news/1992/4920303.html Honda Ascot Innova (Japanese)
  2. ^ "Ascot & Rafaga 1993.10".

External links

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