Honda Concerto
Encyclopedia
The Honda Concerto was an automobile produced by Honda from 1988 to 1994. Like its predecessor, the Honda Quint
(hatchback) and Honda Ballade
sedan (the Ballade itself an upscale version of the Honda Civic
), it shared its platform with a Rover
product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400
. The Concerto was also manufactured and sold in Japan, and sold at Honda Clio dealership sales channels, as a more upscale version of the Quint hatchback, and the Honda Ballade sedan. The Concerto was sold in both liftback and sedan form.
The name of the car comes from the Italian word "concerto
", meaning a type of music where a single instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. The previous vehicles, the Ballade and the Quint[et], had a musical theme with their names. Due to the fact that both the four-door Ballade sedan, and the five-door hatchback Quintet were both high luxury content vehicles derived from the Honda Civic, the Ballade represented a type of music, and the Quintet represented a musical group. It appears that the names Ballade and the Quintet were replaced by the single name Concerto, while keeping the musical naming theme.
In most European countries, and Australia, it was sold as the five-door liftback version only. It acted as replacement for the dissapointing Honda Integra
five-door liftback in some markets. The saloon version lasted until 1993 for most nations, especially in the United Kingdom
where sales were lower compared to the Rover 200 and Rover 400 Series, which was considered the more upmarket of the two vehicles.
Engine choices were:
In Japan and other Asian/Australasian countries, the Concerto was also available with an SOHC 1.6 L dual carb engine. Four-wheel drive was also an option in Japan.
The Concerto was sold internationally on a platform which was shared with the popular Civic
. Just like the 5-door Integra it replaced, it offered more features than the Civic and was more prestige market. The styling of the Concerto reflected an influence from the Honda Ascot
, most notably the side window treatment.
One difference between the British built and Japanese built Concertos was that the front suspension - versions built in Longbridge
had MacPherson strut
s unlike their Japanese counterparts which had double wishbones
.
Honda stopped manufacturing the Concerto in Great Britain when its partner, Rover, was taken over by BMW
in 1994.
Up until that point the two companies had been merged up to 20% equally with each other and had collaborated with this model and many others in both companies ranges. The Concerto's replacement in Japan was the Honda Domani
, which was the basis for the succeeding Rover 400
and 45. In Europe, 5-door hatchback and estate variants of the Domani were sold as a Civic, in order to avoid having two different nameplates in the lower midsize segment.
Honda Quint
The Honda Quint is a subcompact car manufactured by Honda Motor Co. Ltd. of Japan. It was introduced in 1980 in Japan as an upscale Honda Civic 4-door hatchback, and joined the Honda Prelude, Honda Ballade, and Honda Vigor at the then newly established Japanese dealership sales channel called Honda...
(hatchback) and Honda Ballade
Honda Ballade
The Honda Ballade was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan. It began as a four-door version of the Civic in 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord...
sedan (the Ballade itself an upscale version of the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
), it shared its platform with a Rover
Rover (car)
The Rover Company is a former British car manufacturing company founded as Starley & Sutton Co. of Coventry in 1878. After developing the template for the modern bicycle with its Rover Safety Bicycle of 1885, the company moved into the automotive industry...
product, namely the Rover 200 and Rover 400
Rover 400
The second generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in the summer of 1995 as a hatchback and later a saloon. This time it was based on the Honda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the European Honda Civic range in five-door hatchback form...
. The Concerto was also manufactured and sold in Japan, and sold at Honda Clio dealership sales channels, as a more upscale version of the Quint hatchback, and the Honda Ballade sedan. The Concerto was sold in both liftback and sedan form.
The name of the car comes from the Italian word "concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
", meaning a type of music where a single instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. The previous vehicles, the Ballade and the Quint[et], had a musical theme with their names. Due to the fact that both the four-door Ballade sedan, and the five-door hatchback Quintet were both high luxury content vehicles derived from the Honda Civic, the Ballade represented a type of music, and the Quintet represented a musical group. It appears that the names Ballade and the Quintet were replaced by the single name Concerto, while keeping the musical naming theme.
In most European countries, and Australia, it was sold as the five-door liftback version only. It acted as replacement for the dissapointing Honda Integra
Honda Integra
The Honda Integra is a compact luxury performance coupe made by Honda during the years 1985 to 2006. The sporty front wheel drive car is able to house five passengers with a two door hatch or four door sedan available.The Integra was on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list six times, in...
five-door liftback in some markets. The saloon version lasted until 1993 for most nations, especially in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where sales were lower compared to the Rover 200 and Rover 400 Series, which was considered the more upmarket of the two vehicles.
Engine choices were:
- 1.4 L (SOHC carb) with 88 hp DINDinDIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah ....
(65 kW) - 1.5 L (SOHC SPI) with 90 hp DINDinDIN or Din or din can have several meanings:* A din is a loud noise.* Dīn, an Arabic term meaning "religion" or "way of life".* Din is one of the ten aspects of the Ein Sof in Kabbalah ....
(66 kW) - 1.6 L (SOHC MPI) with 115 hp DIN (85 kW)
- 1.6 L (DOHC MPI) with 130 hp DIN (96 kW)
- 1.6 L (DOHC carb) with 106 hp DIN (80 kW)
- 1.8 TD turbodieselTurbodieselTurbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
, PeugeotPeugeotPeugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
-engined, sold in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
only (as a badge engineered Rover 200 diesel)
In Japan and other Asian/Australasian countries, the Concerto was also available with an SOHC 1.6 L dual carb engine. Four-wheel drive was also an option in Japan.
The Concerto was sold internationally on a platform which was shared with the popular Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
. Just like the 5-door Integra it replaced, it offered more features than the Civic and was more prestige market. The styling of the Concerto reflected an influence from the Honda Ascot
Honda Ascot
The Honda Ascot was an intermediate saloon car manufactured by Honda and marketed in Japan only from 1989 to 1997. There were two generations of the car, based on the contemporary Honda Accord and Honda Inspire, respectively...
, most notably the side window treatment.
One difference between the British built and Japanese built Concertos was that the front suspension - versions built in Longbridge
Longbridge
Longbridge is an area of Birmingham, England. For local government purposes it is a ward within the district of Northfield.Since 1905, the area has been dominated by the Longbridge plant, which produced Austin, Nash Metropolitan, Morris, British Leyland, and most recently MG Rover cars...
had MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
s unlike their Japanese counterparts which had double wishbones
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
.
Honda stopped manufacturing the Concerto in Great Britain when its partner, Rover, was taken over by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
in 1994.
Up until that point the two companies had been merged up to 20% equally with each other and had collaborated with this model and many others in both companies ranges. The Concerto's replacement in Japan was the Honda Domani
Honda Domani
The is a car made by Honda and marketed in east Asia, including Japan. It was introduced in November 1992, replacing the Concerto in Honda's lineup, although that model lasted until 1995 in Europe...
, which was the basis for the succeeding Rover 400
Rover 400
The second generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in the summer of 1995 as a hatchback and later a saloon. This time it was based on the Honda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the European Honda Civic range in five-door hatchback form...
and 45. In Europe, 5-door hatchback and estate variants of the Domani were sold as a Civic, in order to avoid having two different nameplates in the lower midsize segment.