New Honda Beat for 2013 ?
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The Honda beat was a cute little 2 seater convertible produced from 1991 to 1996.
It was never sold in the US. As it was even much smaller than a Miata.
There has been rumors about a new Beat for years. A larger one that would be sold overseas, including the US.
A more direct competitor to the Mazda MX5/Miata.
A new rumor mentions a small 2 seater based on a shortened CR-Z platform. Using a small 1.3 or 1.5 Liter engine, but no hybrid.
I guess we’ll hear more about this soon…
Wow, and it only took Honda 20 years to get around to thinking about a U.S. Miata fighter. Way to go!
Forgetaboutit !
Nobody and I mean NOBODY will able to dethrone the MX-5 (aka Miata)!!!
Mark my words !!
How do I know this…. Well, err, uhmmm, I am an owner of a 2007 MX-5 retracable hardtop and there is nothing like it on the mkt. Granted, it is NO Porsche, but nor is it intended to be. It is a great all round convertible that offers alot of value for its money…
Sam I Am
LOL @ the comment about 20 years! Sorry to see the Beat's original mid-engine layout go.. but it is high time for a Beat/S2000 successor, and that rendering looks to be just the ticket!
Yes, Honda needs mojo badly in their lineup. Something like the S2000, Prelude, ITR…they are quickly being dethroned by Hyundai.
I saw a Beat on the road in Torrance years ago. I was in a Lotus Europa at the time with it's myriad mechanical troubles. l later ended up in the S2000…reliable but not as fun as the Lotus. Would love a modern Beat if it were midengined.
it will not compete with mx5 let alone s2000 or any lotus. it will most likely come with an engine that makes barely 100 hp and most definitely FWD. it's more of a honda fit convertible than anything else
The reason why the S2000 sold so poorly was…DUH…overpriced. There's only a very small market for $35k-$40k small 4 cyl sporty cars. The $18k-$22k is where honda should have priced the S2000. It's where Honda was and Hyundai-Kia are now.
Offer the best car you can at an affordable price. In todays economic climate, it's "Value" that people are looking for. Honda ruled the 80's and 90's with well engineered fun AFFORDABLE cars. CRX, Prelude, Civic hatch/coupe Intergra. Honda's success went to their heads and it shows now with Hyundai-Kia taking over their spot.
Forget about trying to beat Toyota. Let Toyota beat Toyota. Stop chasing the market and just focus on giving the consumers what they want, and the market will come to you.
Just my $0.02. Thanks for posting.
I lived in Japan from 91 to 93 and really wanted to get a Honda Beat. Those were really cool cars back then. However they are so small they make a Miata look big. I simply couldn't comfortably fit my 6'2" frame into one.
Instead of the Beat, they should just take the hybrid components out of the CR-Z and put in the 2.0. Not only would it up the performance, it would also drop the price.
"Anonymous said…
Wow, and it only took Honda 20 years to get around to thinking about a U.S. Miata fighter. Way to go!
June 19, 2011 10:32 AM"
Reading comprehension is something you need to work on.
"Speedoswimmer said…
Forgetaboutit !
Nobody and I mean NOBODY will able to dethrone the MX-5 (aka Miata)!!!
Mark my words !!
How do I know this…. Well, err, uhmmm, I am an owner of a 2007 MX-5 retracable hardtop and there is nothing like it on the mkt. Granted, it is NO Porsche, but nor is it intended to be. It is a great all round convertible that offers alot of value for its money…
Sam I Am
June 19, 2011 12:27 PM"
You as well.
The S2000 wipes the floor with a Miata, in every single respect.
This is coming from someone who owns a FM turbo'ed '90 True Red Miata with the 1.8 swap, full suspension work and a HardDog roll bar.
"The S2000 wipes the floor with a Miata, in every single respect."
You, sir, are the winner. S2000 is a great car. Even for the price.
Honda needs not a Beat but a great sporty car like the Prelude or CRX. Get rid of the stupid slow engine in the CRZ and add a civic V-TECH engine. Then I'll look at Honda again.
This market is tiny, car is too tiny, probably pricey….it won't sell!
"Anonymous said…
The reason why the S2000 sold so poorly was…DUH…overpriced. There's only a very small market for $35k-$40k small 4 cyl sporty cars. The $18k-$22k is where honda should have priced the S2000. It's where Honda was and Hyundai-Kia are now.
Offer the best car you can at an affordable price. In todays economic climate, it's "Value" that people are looking for. Honda ruled the 80's and 90's with well engineered fun AFFORDABLE cars. CRX, Prelude, Civic hatch/coupe Intergra. Honda's success went to their heads and it shows now with Hyundai-Kia taking over their spot.
Forget about trying to beat Toyota. Let Toyota beat Toyota. Stop chasing the market and just focus on giving the consumers what they want, and the market will come to you.
Just my $0.02. Thanks for posting.
June 20, 2011 4:59 AM"
You are a joke as well.
Might want to look up how well the S2000 sold WHEN IT WAS NEW, and as well as 4 years later. Might want to check what the MSRP was as well, because you are off by quite a bit.
Of course a dated vehicle won't sell as well as a new one, the model was almost 10 years old.
I hate it when people who have no idea of what they are talking about try to comment.
If it's being built on a shorten CR-Z platform then it's a big fail! People actually actually like the Miata for its light weight platform that happens to be RWD!
I hate it when people continuously quote everyone else on here, like they're the teacher grading other's papers. Get over yourself.
Reminds me of the old Lotus Elise they made back in 80s