View source for Honda Z

{{Distinguish|Nissan Z-car|Honda ZR-V}}
{{about|the subcompact car|the series of minibikes|Honda Z series}}
{{Infobox automobile
| image        = Honda 600.jpg
| name         = Honda Z
| manufacturer = [[Honda]]
| aka          = Honda 600 coupe<br />Honda AZ600<br />Honda Z360/Z600 <br /> Honda Coupe <ref>[https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/416371928040158277/ Honda Coupe magazine advertisement, 1972, www.pinterest.com.au] Retrieved 7 March 2021</ref>
| production   = 1970&ndash;1974<br />1998&ndash;2002
| successor    = [[Honda Today]] (Z360)<br />[[Honda Civic]] (600 variants)
| class        = Z600 [[Microcar]]<br />Z360 [[Kei car]]
| body_style   = 2-door [[coupé]]
| layout       = [[FF layout]]
| engine       = 354&nbsp;cc [[Straight-twin engine|I2]] <br />356&nbsp;cc ''[[Honda E engine#EA|EA]]'' I2 <br />598&nbsp;cc I2
| transmission = 4/5-speed [[manual transmission|manual]]<br />2-speed Hondamatic
| wheelbase    = {{cvt|2000|mm|in|1}}
| length       = {{cvt|3125|mm|in|1}}
| width        = {{cvt|1295|mm|in|1}}
| height       = {{cvt|1280|mm|in|1}}
| weight       = {{cvt|595|kg|lb}}
| related      = [[Honda N360|N360/600]]
}}
The '''Honda Z''' (marketed also as the '''Z600''') is a two-door [[hatchback]] [[kei car]]/[[city car]] manufactured and marketed by the [[Honda|Honda Motor Company]], from 1970 until 1974. Exports mostly ended after 1972, when the domestic market models received redesigned pillarless bodywork.
Honda subsequently marketed a kei-class SUV from 1998 to 2003, bearing no relation to the first 'Z', but bearing the same nameplate.
==1970–1974==
The two-door Honda Z debuted in October 1970 and was marketed until 1973 in most countries. American sales (only with the larger 598&nbsp;cc engine) lasted for model years 1970 through 1972, ending prior to the 1973 introduction of the [[Honda Civic|Civic]]. Marketed as the "sport coupé" version of the [[Honda N600|N600]], the two were sold side by side at American motorcycle dealerships until the first stand-alone automobile dealers opened to market the Civic. Total production was 40,586 units.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}
In certain countries, such as the US, the Z600 name simply reflected the engine's size of {{cvt|598|cc|cuin|0}}. The smaller-engined Honda Z360 was available in Japan (and other markets, such as Australia) with a {{cvt|354|cc|cuin|0}} twin. In the UK they came only in 600&nbsp;cc form and were called simply "Honda Z" with no mention of the engine size in the name.
As with all cars in the [[kei car|kei]] class, the Z360's specifications were tightly governed. The Z360 originally featured an air-cooled, 354&nbsp;cc, two-cylinder [[SOHC]] engine with a four- or five-speed transmission driving the front wheels. Outputs were {{cvt|31|PS|kW hp|0|lk=in}} at 8,500&nbsp;rpm for the Act and Pro versions, and {{cvt|36|PS|kW hp|0}} at 9,000&nbsp;rpm for the sportier TS and GS models.<ref name=nippon>{{cite book | title = 360cc: Nippon 軽自動車 Memorial 1950→1975 |trans-title=Nippon Kei Car Memorial 1950–1975 | language = ja | publisher = Yaesu Publishing | year = 2007 | page = 76 | location = Tokyo | isbn = 978-4-86144-083-0 }}</ref> The Z600 model's 598&nbsp;cc [[SOHC]] engine was rated at {{cvt|36|PS|kW hp|0}}. In December 1971, the Z360 received a facelift and a water-cooled engine, it also produced {{cvt|36|PS|kW hp|0}} at 9,000&nbsp;rpm. Only a month later, the 31&nbsp;PS engine used in the lower spec variants (Standard, Deluxe, Automatic, Custom) also became water-cooled.<ref>''Nippon Kei Car Memorial'', pp. 83–84</ref> The engine's technical achievements reflected influences from Honda's larger, 1.3 L, air-cooled four-cylinder used in the [[Honda 1300]] coupe and sedan.
The Z featured [[Coil spring|coil sprung]] and independent front suspension and leaf springs on a beam axle rear suspension. The interior accommodated two adults, with a very small rear seat.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} A rear glass hatch with a black plastic surround opened to a shallow cargo area. Below the cargo area a compartment, accessible via a lid beneath the number plate, held the spare wheel and tools. Later versions, after a November 1972 facelift, deleted the extra lid and also moved the license plate down to the position it vacated. These also received the new ''EA'' engine of {{cvt|356|cc|cuin|0}}, now only available in a more powerful, {{cvt|36|PS|kW hp|0}} version.<ref>''Nippon Kei Car Memorial'', p. 87</ref> Production ended in 1974, after the new Civic had arrived and the [[1973 oil crisis|oil crisis]] had diminished the market for "fun" cars.
===Europe===
In Europe only the Z600 was marketed, as the Z360 had been considered underpowered. 918 cars were sold in Europe, most of them in France and Switzerland. A large number of these cars found their way to Germany (where it had not been marketed), where the engines were downsleeved to 242&nbsp;cc in order to fit a particular "Class IV" category of [[Driving licence in Germany|driver's licenses]] which did not require an exam.<ref>{{cite web | title = N, LN, TN und Z | language = de | date = 2008-05-12 | url = http://www.hondaoldies.de/N.html | work = Hondaoldies.de | access-date = 2014-04-13 }}</ref> These models first appeared in 1969 after the last 250&nbsp;cc car in regular production, the [[Goggomobil|Goggomobil 250]], had been discontinued. The engine offered from {{cvt|12.5|to|14|PS|kW|1}} and provided a top speed of {{cvt|85|km/h|mph}}.<ref>{{cite web | title = N 250 | language = de | url = http://www.hondaoldies.de/Korbmacher-Archiv/Honda/Keicars/N/1st/n250.htm | work = Korbmacher-Arkiv | publisher = Hondaoldies.de | access-date = 2014-04-13 }}</ref>
{{gallery | height = 130
|File:Honda Z, Bj. 1972, 600 ccm (2019-06-02 Sp).JPG|Honda Z 600
|File:Honda Z GT rear.jpg|Late Honda Z360 GT, note pillarless design
|File:HondaZ360interior.jpg|Interior
|File:1972 Honda Z360.jpg|1972 Honda Z360
}}
{{commons category|Honda Z600}}
==1998–2002==
{{Infobox automobile
| image        = Honda Z 1998.JPG
| name         = Honda Z
| manufacturer = [[Honda]]
| aka          =
| production   = 1998&ndash;2002
| successor    = [[Honda Life Dunk]]<br />[[Honda That's]]<br />[[Honda HR-V]] (as an SUV)
| class        = [[Kei car]]
| body_style       = 2-door [[Mini SUV]]
| layout           = [[M4 layout]] / [[Four-wheel drive|AWD]]
| engine           = 656&nbsp;cc ''[[Honda E07A engine#E07Z|E07Z]]'' NA/turbo [[straight-3|I3]]
| transmission     = 4-speed [[automatic transmission|automatic]]
| wheelbase        = {{cvt|2360|mm|in|1}}
| length           = {{cvt|3395|mm|in|1}}
| width            = {{cvt|1475|mm|in|1}}
| height           = {{cvt|1675|mm|in|1}}
| ground_clearance =
| front_track      =
| rear_track       =
| weight           = {{cvt|960|–|970|kg|lb|0}}
| top speed        =
| related          = [[Honda Life]]
}}
The '''Honda Z''' was a [[retro]]-styled [[subcompact car|subcompact]] (656&nbsp;cc) SUV by [[Honda|Honda Motor Company]], introduced in 1998 at ''[[Honda#Japan|Honda Primo]]'' Japanese dealerships, and discontinued in autumn 2002. It was a two-door version of the [[Honda Life]] with the engine installed in the center of the vehicle.
Launched on October 9, 1998, the '''PA1''' Honda Z was manufactured for Honda by Yachiyo Industry Co, a Honda subsidiary manufacturing light trucks. The basic structure of the Z, including its midship-mounted engine placement and 4WD drivetrain was shared with its [[Honda Acty]] sibling. Unlike the Acty though, it was a four-seater passenger car which also meant that it had to pass passenger car safety standards. The 656&nbsp;cc [[Honda E07A engine#E07Z|E07Z]] three-cylinder engine was available in a naturally aspirated as well as in a turbocharged variant.
The Z was only ever available with a four-speed automatic transmission, the same that was used on the EF [[Honda Civic]]s. The centrally mounted engine was placed in an upright position underneath the rear seat, a layout called "UM-4" (stands for ''Under Midship 4WD'') by Honda. Engine oil changes and minor maintenance work is done through an interior door. As with other mid-engined, four-wheel-drive vehicles, such as the [[Lamborghini Diablo#Diablo VT|Lamborghini Diablo VT]], a [[Viscous coupling unit|viscous]] center [[Differential (mechanical device)|differential]] was used. Some noteworthy and unusual design features of the Z included the comparatively large-diameter tires, chunky "grip-style" door handles, and the adoption of perspex double-cover headlights.
[[File:Honda Z 202.JPG|thumb|left|Fully equipped Z Turbo]]
While the [[Honda Capa]] was the first car in the "J-Mover" series, the third generation [[Honda Life#third|Life]] and new Honda Z made up the "K-Mover" series. Famous rock group [[ZZ Top]] made the introductory commercial, including a song and video ("ZZ Top on the Z"). Since the car's name has always been pronounced "zed" (ゼット) by Honda, in the British fashion, the Americans in ZZ Top had to follow suit.<ref>{{ cite web | url = http://zztop.hippy.jp/e_honda.htm | title = Honda Z: We were surprised when boyzz appeared on TV! | work = ZZ Top in Japan | access-date = 2011-04-19 }}</ref>
In June 2000 a special "Super Emotion" package appeared, with body-colored bumpers, CD player with speakers and tinted glass for a small extra cost. This proved so popular that body-colored bumpers were soon made standard on turbo models. In August 2002, with stricter exhaust emission about to take effect, Honda ended production of the Z. This was to be Honda's first and last SUV Kei-car. Honda also sold a side-mounted step and wheel-arch protector, but these were only for after-market fitment as they made the car too wide for [[Kei car|kei]] regulations and were not crash tested. The naturally aspirated version had {{cvt|52|PS|kW|0}} at 7,000&nbsp;rpm, while the turbocharged and intercooled version pushed out {{cvt|64|PS|kW|0}} at 6,000&nbsp;rpm. The engine had four valves per cylinder, Honda's [[PGM-FI]] fuel injection system, and were classified as [[Low emission vehicle|LEV]]s.<ref name=Honda>{{ cite web | url = http://www.honda.co.jp/auto-archive/z/2002/grade_data/ | title = 2002 model Honda Z: Specifications | publisher = Honda Motor Co | access-date = 2011-04-19 }}</ref>
==Land speed record==
[[File:Honda Z600 Coupe -Evil Tweety- Bonneville 2009.jpg|thumb|right|1971 Honda Z600 ''Evil Tweety'' at the Bonneville Salt Flats for Speed Week 2009.]]
On August 19, 2008, a 1971 Z600 coupe named ''Evil Tweety'' set a new speed record for stock body production cars with {{cvt|750|cc|cuin}} engines at {{cvt|167.336|km/h}}, with a stock 600 engine bored to {{cvt|700|cc|cuin}}. The record was set by Eric Burns at the [[Bonneville Salt Flats]]. The next day Chris Clay took "Evil Tweety" to a new record for altered gas cars with {{cvt|750|cc|cuin}} engines at {{cvt|171.445|km/h}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scta-bni.org/Bonneville/SpeedWeek_08/records_event_cars.htm |title=SW 08 Results - Car Records |access-date=2012-09-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018105903/http://scta-bni.org/Bonneville/SpeedWeek_08/records_event_cars.htm |archive-date=2012-10-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://jdmtown.garagecity.com/600hondaavenue/97/ |title=Evil Tweety |access-date=2009-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813142644/http://jdmtown.garagecity.com/600hondaavenue/97/ |archive-date=2009-08-13 }}</ref> These records were beaten three years later, the production car record by a [[Saab 96]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Honda Z360, Japanese sales brochure, #ZK1-7009 (1970)
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Honda Z360}}
*[http://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/Products/HONDA/HONDA_Z/HONDA_Z.htm 1970s Honda Z Sales Brochure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004234738/http://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/Products/HONDA/HONDA_Z/HONDA_Z.htm |date=2008-10-04 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828062420/http://www.hondazcar.co.uk/ Hondazcar]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081002234559/http://www.honda.co.jp/auto-lineup/z/2002/ 2002 Honda Z (japanese)]
*[http://www.honda.co.jp/pressroom/library/auto/N/ Honda Z family tree (japanese)]
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{{Honda}}
{{Early Honda vehicles}}{{— Honda road light truck/SUV timeline, international markets, 1993–present —}}
[[Category:Honda vehicles|Z600]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1970]]
[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Mini sport utility vehicles]]
[[Category:Kei cars]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 2002]]