Honda Worldwide | Timeline - Research & Development

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Foundation

'72

CVCC low-emission engine released.

CVCC engine first to comply with 1975 U.S. Clean Air Act.

'77

Civic ranks first in U.S. fuel economy tests for 4th consecutive year.

1980's

'82

EPA ranks Civic first in fuel efficiency among gasoline vehicles.

'87

Anti-lock braking system for motorcycles released.

'88

Highly fuel-efficient, high-output VTEC engine released.

1990's

'93

Honda's power product engines first in the world to meet California emissions regulations.

'95

Honda's gasoline vehicles first to meet California's ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) standards.

'96

Humanoid robot prototype released.

Honda EV electric vehicle developed.

AR Combustion, an improved combustion system for 2-stroke motorcycle engines, developed.

'97

360°-tilting ultra-compact 4-stroke engine released.

ZLEV (Zero Level Emissions Vehicle) technology released.

'98

G-CON vehicle collision safety technology released.

'99

Civic GX receives Engine Environment Award.

FCX-V1 and FCX-V2 fuel cell vehicles released.

2000's

'00

World's first indoor omni-directional Crash Test Safety Facility established.

2nd-generation pedestrian test dummy POLAR II with advanced injury date measurement capability developed.

ASIMO humanoid robot released.

New-generation DOHC i-VTEC engine released.

'01

New-generation 1.3-liter 4-cylinder i-DSI engine released.

Rental of ASIMO to private enterprises begins.

'02

Side-curtain airbags developed.

'03

First test flight of HondaJet.

'04

World’s first Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system announced.

Legend equipped with world’s first Intelligent Night Vision System released.

Pop-up hood that reduces collision impact to pedestrians developed.

Hybrid scooter developed.

'05

A subsidiary of Honda R&D and Nagoya University becomes the world’s first to isolate a rice gene that dramatically increases crop yield.

World’s first mass-produced motorcycle with airbag system released.

ASV-3 Advanced Safety Vehicle completed.

1.8-liter i-VTEC engine that continuously optimizes camshaft phasing in response to driving conditions developed.

'06

Plant-based BioFabric developed.

'07

Experimental fuel cell hydrogen-supply system for households, Home Energy Station, introduced. Human-Friendly Transmission (HFT), new automatic transmission for motorcycles, developed.

AI technology enables ASIMO to interact with other ASIMO robots.

'08

World's first electronically controlled Combined ABS for super sport bikes developed.

Collaborative testing of Walking Assist Device begins.