Honda is one of the newcomers to the Car production industry. Started in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, the company started making motorbikes. Japan was cash and petrol-starved after World War II, and there was a demand for an inexpensive, fuel-efficient mode of transport.
Honda's bikes developed quickly from engines stuck on bicycle frames. In 1949 , the D-Type could reach 50 mph and offered a steel frame and front and rear suspension. A year later, the Juno scooter arrived to combat the Vespa copies that were popular in Japan at that time. The C100 Super Cub followed a few years later. This was remarkably easy to operate and featured a crossbar-free frame that made it popular with women; it went on to become the first Honda motorbike sold in the U.S. as part of the establishment of American Honda Co. in 1959.
By the early 1960s, the Honda had built its first car for the Japanese home market and surprisingly entered Formula One racing. But it wasn't until 1970 that it imported its first car, the diminutive N600, into the US. This was not the greatest success, but in 1973 Honda introduced of the Civic. The car was bigger than Honda's previous models, but it was still small in comparison to America's own compacts. Its fuel efficiency and affordability made it Honda's first American success story. By 1976, the Civic had been joined by the Accord, which also became a firm favourite with America.
By the 1980s, Honda's success and its reputation as a maker of reliable cars and motorcycles continued to grow. It began building Accords in the U.S. in 1982 and by 1989 had earned the distinction of making America's most popular car. This was also the decade in which Honda created the Acura brand as a way to sell more upscale and luxurious vehicles. Throughout this decade and into the 1990s, Honda continued to innovate through such technologies as VTEC variable valve timing, aluminium body construction, improved safety features and new gasoline/electric hybrid power plants.
Today, Honda's lineup includes fuel-sipping hybrids, spacious minivans, reliable family sedans, rugged SUVs and even a pickup.
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Check Honda insurance groups - select a model to start
Whether you currently own a Honda or you are considering buying a model from
the Honda range, it helps if you understand insurance groups and how they affect
your premium.
Insurance group ratings take into account performance, security, damage and parts costs, new
car values, availability of body shells and repair costs and times. What you'll typically
find is that cars in lower insurance groups attract a lower premium, whilst cars in higher
insurance groups attract a higher premium - usually because they are high performance models
or have high repair or replacement costs. Just choose a model to check its insurance group ratings.