Honda Today
Honda Today | |
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![]() 1990–1993 Honda Today JA2 | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Honda |
Production | 1985–1998 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Kei car |
Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive Front engine, all-wheel drive |
Chronology | |
Successor | Honda Life (1997) |
The Honda Today (Japanese: ホンダ・トゥデイ) is a kei car produced by Japanese automaker Honda beginning in 1985. It was replaced by the Honda Life in 1998.
The Today represented Honda's reentry into kei car production. Honda had abandoned kei passenger cars in 1975, choosing only to keep manufacturing the
The Today name has since been used by Honda for a 50 cc scooter manufactured in China, available from 2002 until 2016.
First generation
Honda Today (JW1-JW4, JA1-JA3) | ||
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Curb weight |
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The first generation Today (JW1) was introduced in September 1985 as a three-door hatchback—it was originally only sold as a light commercial van, as the tax structure favored such vehicles. The rear axle was a coil-sprung torsion beam, while the front axle used struts with forward-reaching control arms.[1]
Only intended for the Japanese domestic market,
Originally available with either a four-speed
A five-speed manual became available on the special edition Today G in September 1987. Another special edition appeared in February 1987; the Today M-based "Pochette" received special colors and was aimed at female buyers. The Pochette became a regular model by 1990 and remained available into the second generation.
In a market where three-cylinder engines were the norm, the ultra-compact EH was already outdated and was replaced by the 547 cc three-cylinder, four-valve, single overhead camshaft
The suspension was also upgraded, as was the dashboard. Chassis codes were JW2 for the commercial model and JA1 for the passenger model. Available trims were F, M, G, Ri, Ri-Z (JW2), XG (JA1), and XTi (JA1). The XG and all fuel injected models were better equipped to handle highway driving, featuring front stabilizing bars and front disc brakes. The fuel-injected versions were equipped with progressive coil springs at the rear axle.[5] Later, lower-cost XE and XL passenger versions were added as light commercial cars began losing their domination in the segment. Power outputs varied, since commercial vehicles suffered less stringent emissions regulations. The lower-end models all produced 36 PS (26 kW), although the passenger models used a "PGM-carb" electronic carburettor.[5] The fuel-injected models produced 44 PS (32 kW) in commercial cars, 42 PS (31 kW) in automatic vans and manual passenger models, and 40 PS (29 kW) in passenger models with the automatic transmission.[4][6]
660 cc era
In accordance with new kei car regulations in March 1990, the Today's bumpers were enlarged to give the car a length of 3,295 mm (129.7 in), and the engine was enlarged to 656 cc. Power output was 42 PS (31 kW) for carbureted models and 52 PS (38 kW) for fuel-injected models. The new chassis codes were JW3/JW4 (commercial 2WD, 4WD) and JA2/JA3 (passenger version 2WD, 4WD). April 1990 saw the addition of a permanent four-wheel drive version with an independent rear axle and struts.
Discontinuation
The second-generation Today was introduced in 1993 and was designed around passenger comfort, unlike the more utilitarian original model. As such, the passenger models of the original Today (JA2/JA3) were discontinued immediately. The lineup was further reduced in September 1994 to the basic Pro F, the Humming X, and the four-wheel-drive Pro QP and Humming QX models. The fuel-injected version had already been discontinued and the five-speed manual was only available coupled with four-wheel drive.[7] The other models received a four-speed manual or an optional three-speed automatic.[7] The well-equipped Humming models were an attempt at recapturing buyers who were put off by the lack of a rear hatch of the second generation Today, and proved more popular than the newer model. Both the Pro and Humming models continued to be built in parallel until kei car regulations were changed again in October 1998.
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Interior of the original Today
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First facelift Today Van (JW2; rear)
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Honda Today Humming, one of many later special editions (JW3; 1994–1998 light van)
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JA3 Honda Today "Season" featuring Realtime 4WD
Second generation
Honda Today (JA4/JA5) | ||
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Curb weight | 650–760 kg (1,433.0–1,675.5 lb) |
In January 1993, a redesigned Honda Today was announced. Unlike the first generation, which was originally designed to meet light commercial car requirements, the second generation Today was designed as a passenger car from the outset. Thus, the suspension was tuned for a more comfortable ride and the car did not have a hatchback; in its place was a downwards-opening tailgate, like on the 1992 Civic three-door (although unlike the Civic, the Today's rear window did not open). This influenced the "Pochette" trim name ("pouch" in French), which described how the tailgate opened. While the unusual, wraparound rear window was designed to maximize the view to the car's sides, the design also increased the rigidity of the bodyshell.[8] As with the original Today, the interior was not symmetrical. With the second generation, Honda took full advantage of the extra space on the right and made the driver's seat slightly wider than the front passenger seat, at 500 and 460 mm (20 and 18 in) respectively. These features were decided on after research indicated that the car's target audience were mostly single young women who often drove alone, with little need for cargo space or room for additional passengers.[9]
Initially only available as a two-door, the four-door Today Associe was added in May 1993. On four-door models with power windows, the rear windows were still manually operated. Aside from on the lowest equipment level (Mi), a driver's side airbag was offered as an option. On the better equipped front-wheel drive models, an ABS system was also available, although this encroached considerably on the space in the luggage compartment.[10] Ordering the airbag or ABS system was also the only way to get three-point ELR (emergency locking retractor) belts on the rear seats instead of the usual waist belts.[11]
The 1993 Today was available with two engines, a standard fuel-injected 656 cc three-cylinder
Both engines were available with either a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive (using Honda's Realtime 4WD technology) was available only in the Qi trim level; unlike in the first generation Today, four-wheel drive was also available with an automatic transmission. Similarly to the first-generation Today, front-wheel drive models had a coil-sprung rear beam axle located by two trailing arms and a Panhard rod (though the first generation used a torsion beam rear axle), while four-wheel-drive versions had independently sprung rear wheels using struts.
The base model was originally called the Mi, with a better-equipped Pochette available with two doors only. The corresponding Gi trim was only offered on the Associe. Qi was the four-wheel-drive version, and the Xi was the sportiest model, using the MTREC engine. In March 1994, the base model was renamed Ji and three-point rear seat belts were made standard fitment. Until 1996, Today buyers could specify traditional Japanese fender-mounted mirrors on the base Mi and Ji models, a feature that was still popular with professional drivers at the time.[12]
For the February 1996 facelift, Honda replaced the unconventional tailgate with a traditional hatchback door. This necessitated a thorough redesign of the rear end (resulting in a look very similar to that of the Honda Logo, which appeared a few months later), because the rear window had originally wrapped around to the sides. The option of a driver's side airbag was now available across the range, whereas before it had only been offered on select models.[13] The five-door arrived one month after the three-door and was now simply called "Today", forgoing the "Associe" name. The front was also reworked with a thin grille and different bumpers. The chassis numbers remained JA4 and JA5 (FF/4WD). Reflecting changing market conditions, the five-door Today was no longer available with the more powerful MTREC engine, as buyers tended to appreciate more economic models.
One part shared between both generations and all models of the Today was the single windshield wiper. While never successful in a changing market, where "tallboy" designs were prevalent, the low slung JA4/JA5 Today with its comparably rigid construction has since developed a strong following with racers and tuners nowadays. There is a thriving aftermarket for the Today, helped further by sharing an engine with the Beat.
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Honda Today Pochette 2-door (pre-facelift, rear)
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Facelift 3-door Today Gs
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Honda Today Associe Gi (4-door, pre-facelift, rear)
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Dashboard of pre-facelift Today Associe
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The facelifted 5-door received a proper rear hatch (Qi 4WD version)
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Facelift Today Gf 5-door
Discontinuation
In light of the Suzuki Wagon R's success, Honda decided to introduce a modern version of its 1970s Honda Life "StepVan" microvan, and reintroduced the Life model name in 1997. When kei car regulations changed in October 1998, necessitating a redesign, the "tallboy" Life was updated, while the Today, a modern interpretation of the first Honda Life three-door hatchback, was discontinued.
References
- ^ a b c d Csere, Csaba (November 1986). "Honda Today: Space efficiency doesn't have to be ugly". Car and Driver. Vol. 32, no. 5. CBS Magazines. p. 109.
- ^ ISBN 3-444-00458-3.
- ^ Csere, pp. 110-111
- ^ a b c d 自動車ガイドブック [Japanese Motor Vehicles Guide Book 1988–89] (in Japanese), vol. 35, Japan: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, 1988-10-25, p. 131, 0053-880035-3400
- ^ a b c "四輪製品ニュース 「ホンダ・トゥデイ」" [Automobile Product News: Honda Today]. Press Information (in Japanese). Honda Motor Co. 1988-02-08. Archived from the original on 2004-02-19.
- ^ Automobile Guide Book 1988–89, p. 239
- ^ a b "ホンダ トゥデイ 1994年9月(平成6年9月) 発売モデル" [Honda Today, 6 September 1994 model release]. Goo-net (in Japanese). Proto Corporation. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03.
- ^ "ホンダ トゥデイ 1993(平成5)年1月 発売モデル" [Honda Today, 5 January 1993 model release]. Goo-net (in Japanese). Proto Corporation. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03.
- ^ "ニューカー速報 トゥデイ" [New Car Bulletin: Today]. Gold Car Top (in Japanese). No. 72. Kotsu Times sha. 1993-03-10. p. 59. T1063644480347.
- ^ Today Associe (Brochure) (in Japanese), Honda Motor Company, Ltd., May 1993, p. 9, 93TD4-KB-304Ⓜ
- ^ Today Associe (Brochure), May 1993, p. 13
- ^ Suzuki, Shunji (ed.). "トゥデイ(1996年2月終了モデル)" [Today: Model built until February 1996]. Old Car Catalogue (in Japanese). Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 2011-01-13.
- ^ "ホンダ トゥデイ 1996(平成8)年2月 発売モデル" [Honda Today, February 1996 model release]. Goo-net (in Japanese). Proto Corporation. Archived from the original on 2015-04-23.
External links
Media related to Honda Today at Wikimedia Commons