Honda Unveils World's Most Fuel-Efficient Gasoline Vehicle at the 1999 North American International Auto Show

DETROIT, Jan. 4, 1999 — Honda unveiled its VV hybrid prototype vehicle at the 1999 North American International Auto Show today, announcing plans to introduce a production version of its gas-electric hybrid later this year. Honda is the first company to announce plans to sell a hybrid vehicle in the U.S. this year.

The Honda hybrid will be one of the world's most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicles, achieving more than 70 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The vehicle will also meet California's Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards, making it one of the most environmentally responsible vehicles on the road.

"With ultra-low emissions and ultra-high fuel economy, the Honda VV establishes a new high-water mark for environmental sensitivity in a gasoline-powered vehicle," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "This vehicle is a major technological achievement for Honda, incorporating a wide range of technologies developed over the past two decades of Honda research and development into cleaner automobiles."

In 1995, several Civic models became the first mass-produced vehicles to achieve LEV certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), with emissions reduced by 50 percent over previous models. Two years later, the 1998 Accord became the first gasoline-powered vehicle to meet California's more stringent Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle certification. And in 1998, Honda began selling the CNG-powered Civic GX, the cleanest vehicle ever made with an internal combustion engine.

In the category of Zero-Level Emission Vehicles (2LEV), Honda began a pilot lease program of its EV PLUS electric vehicle, the first production EV to employ advanced nickel-metal hybrid battery technology.

At the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda displayed a prototype ZLEV engine with virtually zero tailpipe emissions—and in some conditions, negative emissions—the air coming out of the tailpipe being cleaner than the ambient air going into the engine.

The Honda VV utilizes an innovative and ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain in combination with a wide range of weight savings and aerodynamic styling to achieve a new level of efficiency in a gasoline-powered vehicle.

The Honda VV powertrain represents the further evolution of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) powertrain concept, first introduced in the company's J-VX concept vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997. The Honda VV employs a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder, lean-burn VTEC^™ engine in combination with an electric motor/generator and a battery pack to boost both the performance and efficiency of the gasoline engine. The VV is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The Honda VV also employs a host of weight-saving technologies, including an aluminum frame and suspension, and body panels of plastic and aluminum for a total vehicle weight of less than 2000 pounds.

Despite its light weight, the Honda VV will have world-class safety performance and a full complement of comfort and convenience features, including automatic climate control, anti-lock brakes, electric power steering, dual air bags, AM/FM cassette stereo, digital instrument panel and Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System.