Photo: Honda
Kei jidosha. That’s Japanese for light car and the long way to say kei car. Starting with 1949, the Land of the Rising Sun got around the hardships following World War II by introducing the K-car. After two eras, kei car regulations now permit automakers to fit 660 cc engines to these funny looking contraptions.
Moreover, there’s an output limit as well – 63 horsepower. Naturally, this peppy grunt also comes with extremely compact body shells. To put it simply, the K-car is a solution to the lack of space problem Japan is trying to get around of since the 1900s.
Moreover, kei cars benefit from extremely low taxes compared to normal automobiles. There’s an unbelievably wide range of Ks to choose from in the Asian country, with the new kid on the block coming in the form of this thing. Dubbed the N-Box Slash, Honda’s all-new kei car is a curious vehicle to look at. Small wheels, boxy body shell and groovy styling.
Don’t even ask about crash protection and stuff like that. The N-Box / was designed to be as light as possible, just like the original N360 from 1967. Although the fifth model in the current N-Series is slated to go on sale on December 22nd, Honda didn’t say anything about technical details.
Fret not though because there’s no surprises here. Like the rest of the N-Series, the Slash will most likely boast with a 658 cc S07A three-pot, eiter naturally aspirated or turbo'd. Mated to a CVT box, the lil’ fridge isn’t heavier than 920 kg (2,030 lbs), while its 2,520 mm (99.2 in) wheelbase is enough for four people.
Too bad for the rear occupants though – those side windows give me claustrophobia only looking at them.
Moreover, kei cars benefit from extremely low taxes compared to normal automobiles. There’s an unbelievably wide range of Ks to choose from in the Asian country, with the new kid on the block coming in the form of this thing. Dubbed the N-Box Slash, Honda’s all-new kei car is a curious vehicle to look at. Small wheels, boxy body shell and groovy styling.
Don’t even ask about crash protection and stuff like that. The N-Box / was designed to be as light as possible, just like the original N360 from 1967. Although the fifth model in the current N-Series is slated to go on sale on December 22nd, Honda didn’t say anything about technical details.
Fret not though because there’s no surprises here. Like the rest of the N-Series, the Slash will most likely boast with a 658 cc S07A three-pot, eiter naturally aspirated or turbo'd. Mated to a CVT box, the lil’ fridge isn’t heavier than 920 kg (2,030 lbs), while its 2,520 mm (99.2 in) wheelbase is enough for four people.
Too bad for the rear occupants though – those side windows give me claustrophobia only looking at them.
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