Honda Beat

 

The Honda Beat is practically a mini version of the S2000. It was built from 1991 to 1996 and was initially only sold in Japan, designed to fit into a class of vehicles in Japan known as kei cars. Powering the Honda Beat is a mid-engine 656cc three-cylinder with a multipoint injection system producing 64 horsepower and 44 lb-ft of torque sending power to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. It launches from zero to 60 mph in around 13 seconds and can reach a top speed limited to 84 mph. The Honda Beat is one of only a few kei cars with a mid-engine rear-wheel drive setup, and its design was commissioned by well-known Italian design firm Pininfarina. Its underpinnings consisted of an independent front and rear suspension system with coil springs and 4-wheel disc brakes. Due to its small size, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that the Honda Beat weighs in at 1,670 pounds, providing for an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

Its interior has a fairly simple layout and is relatively spacious for its driver and passenger. Since it falls under the federal 25-year import rule, the Honda Beat can be legally imported to the U.S. and is a popular vehicle for American enthusiasts to have imported Stateside and even modified to a great extent. An example that has been imported to the U.S. is currently worth around $15-20,000, and its closest competitors are the Suzuki Cappuccino and Mazda's Autozam AZ-1. Honda debuted the Beat's spiritual successor, the S660, in Japan in 2015, which was in production until early 2022 and never made its way to the U.S. As for the example featured in this post, I saw it on display at two different car shows last month, and it immediately grabbed my attention since the Honda Beat was never officially sold outside of Japan and I had never seen anything like it on the road before. Overall, it may not have the most impressive specs, and I don't see myself driving one on a regular basis, but the Honda Beat is one of the most intriguing and fascinating kei cars ever made.

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