Honda engineering highlights from the 1990s

Honda's automotive history in the 1990s is highlighted by two distinct engineering approaches: the pursuit of cleaner two-stroke technology and the creation of miniaturized performance vehicles.

To combat tightening anti-pollution standards that threatened the viability of two-stroke engines, Honda developed the EXP-2 (Experimental 2-Stroke) prototype. This rally machine utilized Activated Radical Combustion (ARC) technology, which turned engine knocking—typically a destructive defect—into a controlled method to trigger combustion and reduce incomplete burning at low loads.

Simultaneously, Honda addressed the Japanese kei car market with the Honda Beat. Released in 1991, this small roadster utilized a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive architecture similar to the Honda NSX. Despite its 656cc three-cylinder engine producing only 63 hp, the Beat was noted for its high-revving performance and driving dynamics within the strict dimensions and displacement limits of the kei car category.