New car design proposed by Honda's new "Vezel"

Who is the style for?

I once talked to the legendary designer who was in charge of designing the Honda N360 and so on. When I just joined Honda as a designer, Mr. Soichiro Honda said, "If the designer leaves it to his own taste, he can't make a product that the customer likes. It's only when you have a product that you can make that you can get the heart of the customer. And I know the customer better than anyone else. " He was shocked by the fact that he had just graduated from college and was enthusiastic about his motivation to compete with his own designs. At the same time, he was the catalyst for rethinking what car design is.

If the charisma founder Soichiro Honda's Hondaism is alive and well, what will the design of this new Vezel be for users? Before the test drive, a piece of news jumped into the place where I was thinking about that.

"We have received an order for a cumulative total of about 30,000 units in the first month after the launch. It is a good start, which is more than six times the monthly sales plan." Certainly, it is a great number for the initial order. The reasons for the purchase were the high safety of the driving support system "Honda Sensing" and the high fuel efficiency and high environmental performance. Another point was the result of the questionnaire, which was the design of the front mask, which had both presence and fearlessness. The result is that the design is judged to be attractive to the user.

Immediately face the actual vehicle. The front mask has a considerable impact even in commercial images, but when you actually see it, it looks surprisingly urban and smart. It was composed of straight character lines that were in line with Honda's design so far, and I felt the freshness as if to break away from the expression that was studded with glitter. The front mask, which exquisitely blends the softness that makes you feel warm and the futuristic sharpness produced by the louver of the same color as the body, gives you a unique elegance.

Look at the rear style. The coupe style became stronger by tilting the rear pillar forward than the old model. However, the highlight is the rear combination lamp unit, which is thin on the top and bottom and is designed to run in a straight line. Despite the recent fashion, the urban Honda style design made the coupe style more stylish. The resulting body was developed at the wind tunnel experimental facility of "HRD Sakura", which is in charge of the design and development of the F1 machine, and has obtained top-class aerodynamic performance as an SUV.

Design reduces a lot of stress

Let's take such a design-conscious Vezel out to the city. The delivery has just begun, and the power of receiving orders for 30,000 units is attracting a lot of attention. Of course, this momentum will not continue steadily, but if we maintain stable sales, it is also an important factor that the freshness of the design does not decline. I don't think you need to worry too much about that.

After running for a while with that impression, I realized the further appeal of this design. The feeling of the car body is very easy to grasp. In addition to the good visibility of the front screen, there is no extra protrusion such as the clean surface composition of the body side and the front and rear bodies that seem to be cut off with stones. Therefore, there are really few situations where you need to be careful when you put it in the parking frame.

There are still. At the high speeds that were entered in the Honda Sensing test, the engine was often used during cruising, but it was possible to move quietly. The wind noise is low, and comfortable cruising continues with the running noise of shoes. This also has a design with excellent aerodynamic characteristics.

On general roads, the cabin is one class higher, probably because of the comfortable ride while softly absorbing the swell of the road surface, and the two-motor hybrid system that runs most of the daily scenes with a motor. It was comfortable. Not only low fuel consumption, but also thanks to such seamless driving and good design finish, stress is reduced.

After tasting the run, look at the design inside the car. The horizontal instrument panel is simple and has almost no messy feeling. In addition, the switches are placed in a position that can be reached naturally without breaking the sitting posture. And what I was worried about from the time I got in was the adoption of dial-type switches and the moist texture of metal on those operation switches. The operation feeling of the dial is also soft and there is no sense of cheapness. Since the old Vezel was a touch-type switch, I am very happy that it became a dial type that can be operated sensuously.

Highly satisfying design for both exterior and interior. What if Mr. Soichiro Honda saw this new Vezel? Since it is said to indicate the direction of Honda design in the future, it may be evaluated as "well done".

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to talk for a few minutes at the Suzuka Circuit with Soichiro Honda during his lifetime. I tried to talk about F1 and car making because it doesn't matter.Then

"The young guys are doing well and I don't need to talk about anything anymore," he laughed loudly and interrupted this question. Only the ruggedness and high pressure are highlighted, but at that time Soichiro Honda was a kind-hearted old man who entrusted everything to young people.

A word of "design for the user" that seems to be mundane. I finished the test drive, thinking that it would be a word that should never be forgotten in order to maintain "Honda-ness".

Composed of louvers of the same color as the body, the unique front mask that gives a feeling of the near future has a design that is common to the rear style.

Achieves both simple and beautiful exterior design and excellent aerodynamic performance without equipping aero parts.

A simple instrument panel with a horizontal tone. The operation system is also within reach. In addition, the parts that touch the body are equipped with a soft tactile pad.

You can enjoy the quiet and seamless acceleration peculiar to the motor straight.

Pursuing a comfortable space so that not only the driver but all the occupants can move comfortably.

The area around the knees and feet is secured, realizing a comfortable habitability.

A dial type with a good operation feeling is adopted for many operation systems such as temperature control. The moist texture is high quality and luxurious.

A dial type is also used for the air conditioner outlet. "Breeze outlet" where the wind flows backward along the side window as if stroking the cheeks of the front seat occupants from the L-shaped air outlet.

"Honda remote operation" that enables operations such as door lock and air conditioner ON / OFF with a smartphone

A unique 2-motor hybrid system that uses various drive modes, mainly for motor driving.

When the rear seat is tilted forward, a flat and spacious luggage compartment appears.

spec

Model name: e: HEV Z (FF)

Price: 2,898,500 yen (tax included) Body size: Overall length x width x height: 4,330 x 1,790 x 1,590 mm Vehicle weight: 1,380 kg Drive system: FF transmission: AT engine: In-line 4-cylinder DOHC 1,496cc Maximum output: 72kw (98PS) / 5,600-6,400rpm Maximum torque: 127Nm (13.0kgm) /4,500-5,000rpm Front motor: Maximum output: 96kW (131ps) /4,000-8,000rpm Maximum torque: 253Nm (25,8 / 0-3,500rpm Contact: Honda Customers Consultation Center 0120-112010

TEXT: Atsushi Sato (AQ editorial department) A lot of information on the theme of "how to enjoy life with vehicles" from 2 wheels to 4 wheels, centering on general magazines such as men's weekly magazines, lifestyle magazines, evening newspapers, etc. A car writer who makes transmissions and suggestions. His book "Witnesses of the History of the Car World" (published by Kodansha). He is a member of the Automotive Journalists Association of Japan (AJAJ).