Honda Today
Encyclopedia
This Honda Today was a kei car
produced by the Japanese automaker Honda
beginning in 1985. Its production ended in 1998.
of 2330 mm (91.7 in). The Today was initially launched with three different model specifications, with the entry model being model 'F', followed by a model 'M' and the top of the range 'G'. It was powered by a 2-cylinder (water-cooled) Honda EH series OHC 545 cc engine, which was the same as used in the Acty
truck. In a market where three-cylinder engines were the norm, it was outdated and was replaced by a three-cylinder four-valve 547 cc by February 1988. The rear axle was a torsion beam with coil spring
s. Together with the new regulations in March, 1990 the bumpers were enlarged to give the car a length of 3295 mm (129.7 in), and the engine was enlarged to 656 cc. By April, 1990 came a permanent four-wheel drive
version with an independent rear axle.
In January 1993, a redesigned Honda Today was announced. The car did not have a hatchback
; in its place was a trunk lid that opened downwards like the 1991 Civic
three-door (the Today's rear window does not open). The interior is not symmetrical: the driver's seat is slightly larger than the front passenger seat. 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. Initially only available as a two-door, in May 1993 a four-door version was added, named the Today Associe.
The 1993 Today was available with two engines, a standard 657 cc three-cylinder fuel injection
engine, and a high output version of the same engine with MTREC technology, borrowed from the Honda Beat
. Both engines were available with either a five-speed manual
or a three-speed automatic gearbox. All wheel drive (using realtime 4WD technology) was available with the Q trim level.
For the Today's early-1996 facelift, Honda eliminated the pickup
-style rear door, and replaced it with a proper hatchback
door. This necessitated some redesign in the rear end, because the rear window had originally wrapped around to the sides.
's success, Honda also devised a minivan
-esque kei car
called the Honda Life
. The first Honda Life launched in 1997. When the kei car
regulations changed in October 1998, necessitating a redesign, the Life received a redesign, while the Today was axed for good.
's anime and manga "You're Under Arrest!" as the main transport for the lead characters. The vehicle featured was a highly personalized police mini patrol car with nitrous oxide, turbo and various other modifications.
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
produced by the Japanese automaker Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
beginning in 1985. Its production ended in 1998.
Early
The first generation Today was introduced in September 1985 as a three-door hatchback, on a wheelbaseWheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
of 2330 mm (91.7 in). The Today was initially launched with three different model specifications, with the entry model being model 'F', followed by a model 'M' and the top of the range 'G'. It was powered by a 2-cylinder (water-cooled) Honda EH series OHC 545 cc engine, which was the same as used in the Acty
Honda Acty
- External links :*****...
truck. In a market where three-cylinder engines were the norm, it was outdated and was replaced by a three-cylinder four-valve 547 cc by February 1988. The rear axle was a torsion beam with coil spring
Coil spring
A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
s. Together with the new regulations in March, 1990 the bumpers were enlarged to give the car a length of 3295 mm (129.7 in), and the engine was enlarged to 656 cc. By April, 1990 came a permanent four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
version with an independent rear axle.
In January 1993, a redesigned Honda Today was announced. The car did not have a hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
; in its place was a trunk lid that opened downwards like the 1991 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...
three-door (the Today's rear window does not open). The interior is not symmetrical: the driver's seat is slightly larger than the front passenger seat. 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. Initially only available as a two-door, in May 1993 a four-door version was added, named the Today Associe.
The 1993 Today was available with two engines, a standard 657 cc three-cylinder fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
engine, and a high output version of the same engine with MTREC technology, borrowed from the Honda Beat
Honda Beat
The Honda Beat is a rear mid-engined two-seat roadster kei car produced from in May 1991 to February 1996. The Beat was the last car to be approved by Soichiro Honda before he died in 1991. The total number of cars produced was around 33,600. Most of the production occurred in the first year, and...
. Both engines were available with either a five-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or a three-speed automatic gearbox. All wheel drive (using realtime 4WD technology) was available with the Q trim level.
For the Today's early-1996 facelift, Honda eliminated the pickup
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
-style rear door, and replaced it with a proper hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
door. This necessitated some redesign in the rear end, because the rear window had originally wrapped around to the sides.
End
In light of the Suzuki Wagon RSuzuki Wagon R
The Suzuki Wagon R is a kei car first introduced in Japan in 1993, and is still in production by Suzuki. The R stands for Recreation. It is one of the first cars to use the "tall wagon or tall boy" design in which the car is designed to be unusually tall with a short bonnet and almost vertical...
's success, Honda also devised a minivan
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
-esque kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
called the Honda Life
Honda Life
Introduced on 21 August 1973, this version of the Life was designed as a pick-up truck. Production ended in 1974, with no more than 1,132 vehicles produced.-Second generation :...
. The first Honda Life launched in 1997. When the kei car
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
regulations changed in October 1998, necessitating a redesign, the Life received a redesign, while the Today was axed for good.
Media appearances
The Honda Today featured frequently in Kōsuke FujishimaKosuke Fujishima
is a Japanese manga artist.Born in Chiba, Japan, he first came to public attention as an editor of Puff magazine, his first job after completing high school. Fujishima originally intended to be a draftsman, but took the editorial role after failing to get a drafting apprenticeship...
's anime and manga "You're Under Arrest!" as the main transport for the lead characters. The vehicle featured was a highly personalized police mini patrol car with nitrous oxide, turbo and various other modifications.