Honda Beat: A Terrific Japanese Kei-Roadster #blogpost

Kei-cars are popular for car enthusiasts due to it’s small, compact style and sometimes drives well because not much gizmos were installed (too small for fitting too much). Yet, most kei-cars were tall, boxy hatchbacks, the Honda Beat is another thing at all, as it is a unique Kei roadster.

Overview

Honda’s Beat was launched at the time a wave of kei car-sized sports cars launched in the early 1990s.
The car is designed by Pininfarina, and later Pininfarina sold the design plan to Honda.
There were two mainstream models of the Beat, the PP1–100 and the PP1–110. The second version, PP1-110, has some mechanical revisions from the original model.
FUN FACT: The Beat is the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda (founder of Honda), before he died on August 5, 1991. For the head and founder of a company that helped mechanize a nation after being devastated by a war, you want something a bit more…..attainable.

Power

Like any kei-car, the Beat generates 63 HP (Kei-car maximum HP) from a 660cc (Kei-car maximum displacement), 3-cylinder engine, fitted in the middle of the car (see pic). Despite isn’t enough to scare a new VW up! (101 HP on high-spec VW up!), and it’s top speed is a weedy 84 mph/135 km/h (limited), but it fitted a 5-speed manual, which is really uncommon in those times. The car is relatively light (at 760kg), which means this is a true sports car by god’s sake.

FUN FACT: For those who don't know about kei-cars, here's a info about Kei-car regulations.

Popularity

Thanks to it’s small, compact sports car style and it drives well, although is only sold in Japan, the Honda Beat is really popular. It can be seen in Intital D comics and manga. It is wildly imported by car enthusiasts from everywhere else outside Japan. Also, some tuners even tuned this micro-roadster for more POWEEEEEEEEER. Even is now getting more rarer, the car is still being popular.
FUN FACT: In 2010 a parade was held in the Twin Ring Motegi circuit as a part of an annual Beat owners meeting. Guess how many Beats where there? 569. The number is recorded in the Guinness World Records, too.

Future

5 years later after the Beat was launched, the last car rolled out from the factory in February 1996. Guess how many were made? 33,600 units.
Some say the Beat is the last Kei-roadster from Honda. But not this time. Actually, in 2015, Honda announced the S660, which had the Beat’s concept in mind. It even has the same feel. Sadly, it’s only available in Japan. (Again? WHY?????!!!!!!)

Thanks!