The Honda N-One that was spotted in a leaked brochure earlier this summer has now gone on sale in Japan. The retro-styled "kei car" uses a 660cc engine that can be had with or without a turbocharger to boost output and performance.
The car is too small for U.S. sales, and it's not meant for European consumption either, Automobile wrote. It borrows design elements from another Honda microcar, the 1967 N360. Both are upright, flat-sided, and sport round headlights, and small taillights mounted midway.
The car can be had with LED interior and exterior lighting, xenon headlights, and a two-tone paint job. The interior maximizes space thanks to a fold-flat Magic Seat system like the one used in the Fit. The gas tank is in the center of the car. A new feature for the segment and Honda is an Emergency Stop Signal safety system that will automatically activate the four-way flashers when the brakes are suddenly applied.
Aa for the mechanical bits, Honda uses the same engine and powertrain as Honda's N Box and N Box +. A CVT sends engine power (up to 64 in the turbo model) to either the front or all four wheels (turbo only). The naturally aspirated models are rated at the equivalent of 63.5MPG as per Japanese standards. At 133.3 inches long, it's nearly three inches shorter than Fiat's 500, though sports a longer wheelbase.
Pricing starts at 1,150,000 yen (about $14,375) with a Premium model with a higher-quality interior and a dressed-up exterior going for 1,390,000 yen (nearly $17,260). There are 11 solid colors on offer along with five two-tone combinations.
