Honda Car Forum

Remarks by Takeo Fukui - 2005 NAIAS Auto Show

Detroit 01/11/2005 -- Good morning everyone. Thank you for joining Honda
again today.

Honda is at its best, when we are creating new value for our customers.
We achieve this when Honda associates take initiative ...by setting
impossible targets ... and then create new technologies to achieve them.
The value of this initiative can be seen in our newest efforts to
advance safety and the environment ... even as we maintain our passion
for fun-to-drive products.

When I joined Honda 35 years ago ... we were heading in a challenging
new direction ... to create clean engine technology. I clearly remember
that our entire team took initiative ... focused on the goal of leaving
"blue skies for our children." The result was the cleanest internal
combustion engine in the history of the industry. Today, these words
remain powerful and clear within Honda. Importantly ... this is not a
single mission. It includes a commitment both to reduce emissions ...
and improve fuel economy. And to introduce the most advanced technology
across our entire lineup ... not just one or two models.

This fall, we will begin launching an all-new Civic. This will be the
8th generation Civic ... with total global production now approximately
16 million units. And it remains a benchmark among compact cars. In
order to exceed these global customer expectations, the next generation
global Civic lineup will include 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-door models. It will
be produced in all six of Honda's regional operations.

The concept for the new Civic will focus on emotion and a fun-to-drive
spirit. I am excited about the ability of the new Civic lineup to meet
the needs of people who love to drive. To achieve this direction ... we
have designed a completely new engine and body.

In fact ... Civic will offer four advanced powerplants in its first year
on the market. This is an industry first. The new Civic will have
Honda's latest i-VTEC engine ... with new technology that achieves even
higher fuel economy and low emissions. This means every Honda and Acura
sold in the U.S. will have a next generation engine. We also will
introduce the Civic Diesel in Europe with Honda's award-winning diesel
engine. The natural gas Civic is the cleanest internal combustion engine
in the world and will continue to be made in Ohio. And a new Civic
Hybrid will have a hybrid system with significantly higher fuel economy
and performance.

Honda is the first automaker to offer three different hybrid models ...
including two of the industry's top selling models. And we are advancing
this technology for future expansion. But we believe the effort to
improve fuel economy should not be limited only to hybrids. We also have
introduced Variable Cylinder Management technology to the Honda Odyssey
and Accord Hybrid. This technology has achieved the optimal balance
between high performance and superior fuel economy during highway
driving. This fall, we will add this cylinder cut technology to the
Honda Pilot. This means we are adding this technology to our top selling
V-6 light truck models. And we have made a major commitment for the
future ... with an all-new research facility in Japan. This facility is
focused on achieving the ultimate in fuel efficiency through internal
combustion engine technology.

We also continue to advance fuel cell vehicle technology. We have 11
fuel cell vehicles in the U.S. ... in the hands of customers now ...
including the state of New York. This year ... we will achieve another
world's first. We plan to put the FCX in the hands of an individual
customer for the first time in history. This is just a first step ...
but it demonstrates that Honda's fuel cell technology is ready for real
world use.

But we haven't stopped with development of a vehicle. Honda associates
are taking initiative to develop a fueling infrastructure. This includes
a home refueling unit that produces hydrogen from natural gas. By
testing this device in New York ... together with the Honda FCX ...
Honda is taking a comprehensive approach to advance both the vehicle and
a hydrogen-based transportation system. We believe this technology will
be a primary fuel source in the future.

The strategy of applying advanced technology across our entire lineup
.... that has been so important to Honda's environmental leadership ...
we are applying to the area of safety as well. We call our commitment
"Safety for Everyone" ... because we believe everyone has the right to
safety no matter how much they pay for their vehicle ... or the size of
that vehicle. To achieve this ... we have created new safety
technologies ... that will be standard equipment on virtually every
Honda and Acura vehicle in North America.

Honda engineers developed collision compatibility technology that makes
our customers safer ... and makes our cars and trucks less aggressive to
people riding in other vehicles. It also includes pedestrian safety
technology ... now on more than two million of our vehicles on American
roads.
Now ... we are introducing another new safety technology in America. Our
Acura brand is a technology leader in so many areas. This fall, the
Acura RL will introduce the world's most advanced Collision Mitigation
Brake System. This system uses millimeter wave radar ... to detect a
collision before it happens ... it alerts the driver ... and applies
braking force if a collision cannot be avoided. It is natural for Acura
to lead the industry in this advanced technology.

However ... safety is not only for performance luxury sedans. The Honda
Accord is the only midsize car to offer all of these standard features
you see here ... including side curtain air bags. The next generation
Civic in the U.S. will introduce this same standard safety equipment to
the compact segment.

Finally ... an important area where the initiative of Honda people
creates new value is in the challenge of racing. Racing is not a mandate
of our company. It is the spirit of Honda people. Through their efforts,
last year, Honda won 14 races to earn the IndyCar Triple Crown. This
year ... we plan to take the checkered flag in Formula-1 racing as well.
In Formula-1, we have been challenging not only to develop the engine
.... but also the chassis. This is a big challenge ... but it is helping
Honda advance our technology ... and also our people.

By having this kind of fun as a company ... by continuing our commitment
to "blue skies for our children" ... by offering Safety for Everyone ...
and by advancing products that are fun-to-drive... Honda will not only
meet the needs of our customers ... we will achieve our goal of being a
company that society wants to exist. Thank you for your attention. And
have a good year.

It's exactly this attitude, especially the part about advancing fuel
economy across ALL of their vehicles, that convinced me to switch from
VW to my '04 Accord.

Go Honda!

Richard Hofer wrote:
> It's exactly this attitude, especially the part about advancing fuel
> economy across ALL of their vehicles, that convinced me to switch from
> VW to my '04 Accord.
>
> Go Honda!
------------------------------

The gas mileage on our GTI didn't scare us . . it was the visualization
of driving around in winter with my windows stuck down inside my doors
that really helped us decide to switch to from VW to HONDA :-(

'Curly'

Richard Hofer wrote:
> It's exactly this attitude, especially the part about advancing fuel
> economy across ALL of their vehicles, that convinced me to switch from
> VW to my '04 Accord.
>
> Go Honda!
>

so is the 5 door civic going to be the jazz?

motsco_ _ wrote:

> Richard Hofer wrote:
>
>> It's exactly this attitude, especially the part about advancing fuel
>> economy across ALL of their vehicles, that convinced me to switch from
>> VW to my '04 Accord.
>> Go Honda!
>
> ------------------------------
>
> The gas mileage on our GTI didn't scare us . . it was the visualization
> of driving around in winter with my windows stuck down inside my doors
> that really helped us decide to switch to from VW to HONDA :-(
>
> 'Curly'
>

it was the water leaking from my windshield seal to the fusebox that
made me switch from VW to honda.

I have worked in a chevy garage for 33 years, been driving Honda cars the
last 15 years. Latest is 04 Accord EX-L. The best one yet.

SoCalMike wrote:
> motsco_ _ wrote:
>
>> Richard Hofer wrote:
>>
>>> It's exactly this attitude, especially the part about advancing fuel
>>> economy across ALL of their vehicles, that convinced me to switch from
>>> VW to my '04 Accord.
>>> Go Honda!
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> The gas mileage on our GTI didn't scare us . . it was the
>> visualization of driving around in winter with my windows stuck down
>> inside my doors that really helped us decide to switch to from VW to
>> HONDA :-(
>>
>> 'Curly'
>>
------------------

>
> it was the water leaking from my windshield seal to the fusebox that
> made me switch from VW to honda.


-----------------------

Sounds like the "New Beetle / Same old Crap" model . . I'm sure there's
a good Yoko joke around here somewhere.

'Curly'

"Chopface" wrote in message
news:cs4tqe$onj$1@news.doit.wisc.edu...

> Remarks by Takeo Fukui - 2005 NAIAS Auto Show
>
> Detroit 01/11/2005 -- Good morning everyone. Thank you for joining Honda
> again today.
>
> Honda is at its best, when we are creating new value for our customers.
> We achieve this when Honda associates take initiative ...by setting
> impossible targets ... and then create new technologies to achieve them.
> The value of this initiative can be seen in our newest efforts to
> advance safety and the environment ... even as we maintain our passion
> for fun-to-drive products.
>
Recollect when I saw the 750 four cylinder Honda motorcycle at the 1968
Tokyo motor show when I was stationed in Japan and was amazed. Honda did
not produce cars at that time, but it was obvious they were innovative,
forward looking and willing to take risks. The Accord introduced in the mid
70s was another example. They have kept it up ever since. In 1962, GM
ridiculed the Japaneses automobile manufacturers -- look where they are
today compared with GM.