Advanced Light Jet, Supercar, MotoGP Street Bike and Advanced Robotics Will Showcase Technology Unique to Honda at SAE 2015 World Congress

DETROIT, April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented display of its vision for the future of personal mobility, Honda will showcase a number of groundbreaking technologies and products under one roof at the SAE 2015 World Congress and Exhibition that convenes at Cobo Center in Detroit, April 21-23.

From the HondaJet, the world's most advanced light jet, the Acura NSX supercar and a prototype RC213V-S street bike based on the MotoGP championship winning racing machine, to ASIMO, the world's most advanced humanoid robot, and the UNI-CUB personal mobility device, Honda will help illustrate the Congress theme "Leading Mobility Innovation" at SAE 2015.

"From our very first motorcycle, Honda has been focused on advancing mobility to make people's lives better," said Erik Berkman, general chairman of the 2015 World Congress and executive vice president of Honda North America, Inc. "This pinnacle event for the global automotive engineering community is the perfect stage to showcase the many sides of Honda innovation in the world of personal mobility."

Taking on difficult challenges has been a Honda hallmark since the company's inception 67 years ago. The SAE World Congress will illustrate the depth of R&D know-how and experience that has created such a diverse array of advanced mobility products.

"Our research and development engineers like to demonstrate and explain our new technologies and ways of thinking, and we certainly won't disappoint anyone who attends the Congress this year," said Frank Paluch, president, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., and the featured speaker at the April 23 World Congress Annual Banquet.

Honda's innovative spirit will be found throughout the Cobo Center during the Congress, but below are some of the key product and technology highlights that will be on display:

Honda Technologies on Display at SAE

HondaJet: the HondaJet is the fastest, most spacious and most fuel efficient jet in its class -- with best-in-class advantages in performance, comfort, quality and efficiency.

Acura NSX: the development of the next-generation Acura NSX is led by a global design and engineering team at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. based in California and Ohio.

Honda FCV Concept:  continuing more than a decade of Honda leadership in fuel cell vehicle (FCV) technology, the Honda FCV Concept showcases the styling evolution of Honda's next fuel-cell vehicle, anticipated to launch in the U.S. in 2016.

Honda Robotics

ASIMO: ASIMO is the world's most advanced humanoid robot; a small, lightweight robot designed to operate in a human environment, and capable of walking, running, climbing and descending stairs, and avoiding objects, among other skills. ASIMO will be demonstrated regularly at the SAE 2015 World Congress. 

UNI-CUB: the UNI-CUB is a new personal mobility device with the same freedom to move forward, backward, laterally and diagonally that people enjoy when walking. This is achieved through proprietary Honda balance control technology and the world's first omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System).

Walking Assist Device: the Honda Walking Assist Device is worn outside of clothing and consists of a frame with battery-powered compact motors designed to assist people who have reduced walking ability due to injury, illness or other causes. The device was developed by Honda R&D Co., Ltd.

Honda Powersports

Pioneer Side-by-Side: the Honda Pioneer 700 series side-by-side vehicles are versatile and affordable, and now have a new dual-rate front suspension to give a smoother ride with plenty of travel and superior load capacity. The Pioneer 700-4 features the industry's first convertible rear seating design that offers the convenience and versatility of switching between two- three- or four-person seating configurations.

RC213V-S Prototype Motorcycle: developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Honda Motor, the RC213V-S is a road-going prototype of the RC213V MotoGP which won consecutive championships in the world's top motorcycle racing series in 2013 and 2014.

About Honda

Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 39,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion. Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Eight Honda auto plants in the region, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year. In 2013, more than 94 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. Those plants today manufacture 12 different models, including five passenger cars and seven light trucks using domestic and globally sourced parts.  A fifth U.S. auto plant, the Performance Manufacturing Center, is under construction in Marysville, Ohio, and next year will become the exclusive global production location for the next generation Acura NSX supercar. Honda also operates 14 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

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SOURCE Honda