Honda exhibits world premiere of Honda BRIO prototype, developed for Asian Markets at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo 2010

2011 Honda BRIO Prototype

BANGKOK, Thailand - November 30, 2010 - Honda debuted the world premiere of a prototype of Honda BRIO, the new small-sized vehicle developed for Asian markets and scheduled to be introduced in Thailand and India in 2011, at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo starting November 30, 2010 (press day: November 30, public days: December 1-12.)

Honda BRIO Prototype is being developed with Honda’s advanced technologies, while further advancing Honda’s “man maximum, machine minimum” concept^*1. Being developed as a commuter which is easy-to-use even in urban areas, the Honda BRIO prototype adopts an easy-to-handle compact body (length 3,610mm x width 1,680mm x height 1,475 mm) while ensuring enough cabin space achieved by highly efficient packaging. With this vehicle, Honda thoroughly pursued the creation of an advanced exterior form, which is compact while asserting a strong presence.

For the mass-production model, which will be an entry-level car, for which demand is increasing in newly emerging nations, Honda will develop unique versions for Thailand and India to reflect different customer needs in those markets. Moreover, with this vehicle, Honda will leverage the resources Honda has cultivated through its motorcycle business and utilize local sourcing of parts and materials such as sheet steel.

For the Thai model that is scheduled to be introduced in March 2011, the fuel economy of more than 5liters/100km^*2 will be targeted so that the vehicle will qualify as an eco-car by the Thai government, and a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht will be targeted as well. For the Indian model that is scheduled to be introduced within 2011, local customer needs for a small car will be reflected and local content will be increased to create a model that achieves a good balance between vehicle performance and price.

“Honda would like to expand the joy of mobility to more customers in Thailand, India and other Asian countries through the introduction of a new small vehicle with compact and highly efficient packaging by utilizing our own experiences cultivated by motorcycle business here in Asia,” said Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor.

*1 Honda’s “man maximum, machine minimum” concept is a basic approach to Honda car design calling for maximizing the space available for people and minimizing the space required for mechanical components.
*2 Measures with ECE R101 mode

Images : 2011 Honda BRIO Prototype

[Source : HONDA]

Solar energy for the e-tron

Green electricity from new charging station

• Photovoltaic equipment to be extended at Ingolstadt production plant
• New electric car charging stations use green electricity
• Audi Plant Manager Peter Kössler: “We aim to set the standards in every area”

Audi is to use solar energy for future mobility: at the Company’s main plant in Ingolstadt, Audi e-tron models will in future have their batteries charged with current obtained directly from photovoltaic equipment on the plant site. The Company is greatly extending its solar energy capacity: by the end of the year additional photovoltaic modules will have been installed on a 7,500 square meter area of the new Audi A3 body construction building’s roof.


“This concept shows that Audi is tackling the topic of electromobility systematically,” said Plant Manager Peter Kössler. The photovoltaic installation uses innovative thin-layer modules that satisfy the most stringent environmental protection, efficiency and flexibility standards. “We aim to set the standards in every area,” added Kössler.

Audi is again extending its cooperation with Green City Energy: in 2009 this Munich-based company installed photovoltaic modules on an area of 11,600 square meters at the Ingolstadt plant. Audi has now made an additional 7,500 square meters of roof area available on the Audi A3 body construction building, with a peak output rating of 500 kilowatts. Approximately 460 MWh of electricity can be obtained from this new installation, enough to satisfy the annual needs of around 180 households. The extension increases the total annual output from all the plant’s installations of this type to about 1,500 MWh, of which approximately one third is used directly where it is generated.

This is the first time that solar energy generated on site has been used directly in Audi’s electricity network. As well as the new battery charging stations for electric cars, other production facilities will also use this green electricity. By reducing transmission losses, consumption at the generating point makes a worthwhile contribution to energy generation according to climate-friendly principles.

Audi also makes use of solar energy at its second German production plant in Neckarsulm. The photovoltaic installation there is located on the roofs of several garage parking facilities, and generates more than 1,000 MWh of electrical energy annually.

[Source : AUDI]