Honda GEAR Concept Debuts At Montreal Auto Show

Honda Canada unveiled at the Montreal International Auto Show today its GEAR Concept Study Model, a vehicle that showcases the company’s understanding of what Generation-Y types are looking for in a ride. According to the vehicle maker, the GEAR Concept, inspired by fixed-gear bicycles, represents an entirely new way of envisioning a sub-compact vehicle. What Gen-Yers want, said Honda Canada, is a vehicle that, while down-to-earth, is customizable and loaded with personality. “Subcompact cars are usually either utilitarian, but uninspiring or they’re fun, zippy cars that are impractical and too expensive for the Gen-Y buyer,” explained Dave Marek, design director at Honda R&D Americas, in a statement. He added that the GEAR Concept “tears down those walls.” According to the vehicle maker, the GEAR Concept was joined by the company’s 2013 Honda Accord Coupe HFP, a car that is exclusive to the Canadian market place. The Accord HFP, which will be the latest vehicle to join the company’s Honda Factory Performance line-up, takes things up a notch by including limited-edition performance and style. According to the company, the Accord HFP builds on its 2013 Accord Coupe ES-L V6 Navi by including refined handling and more robust styling. Exterior-styling improvements are the results of a wider and lower appearance made possible courtesy of a 10-millimeter suspension drop, the addition of 19-inch wheels and a body kit. The vehicle, which features a 278-hp VS engine, will also include two transmissions, those being a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. (carpages)