Just seven months after road testing the N360, Britain's Motor magazine tested a Honda N600 in November 1968. Only 1,500 examples were sold until early 1969 when the N600 was discontinued in Japan because of its larger engine it did not qualify for any of the tax and insurance breaks given to kei cars even though it was as small as one. It was also briefly sold in the domestic Japanese market, however, where it went on sale in July 1968 as the N600E. The larger-engined N600 was developed alongside the N360 in order to target export markets like the US and Europe, where motorways demanded higher top speeds. The Hondamatic-equipped N360AT which appeared in August 1968 was the first kei car equipped with an automatic transmission. This occupied the narrow slot between the 360 and the 600 in most markets where it was available it was only sold as the N400 L with better equipment. A 401.54 cc engine was used in the similar N400, a model sold in certain export markets beginning in late summer 1968. The updated version is referred to as the N II. Īn upgraded 36 PS (26 kW) engine was added in October 1968 for the N360 TS, which was sold as the N360 Touring following a minor update in January 1969. It uses either a single or double constant velocity (CV) carburetor of comparatively large bore this design helps it run smoothly at low engine speeds in spite of the parallel twin engine layout. The two pistons travel together, eliminating the need for a distributor but making for additional vibrations. Unlike most air-cooled automobile engine, it does not use an oil cooler. The N360E engine was unusual in several ways: its two cylinders sat rather far apart, with the cam chain running between them. As does the original Mini, but unlike the succeeding Life, the N360/600 had its gearbox mounted in the sump rather than bolted on as a separate unit. The water-cooled engine was better able to comply with newly enacted emission standards in Japan, and reflected an industry wide move away from air-cooled as well as two-stroke engines. One of the primary differences between the N360 and the Honda Life that followed was the N360/600 had an air-cooled engine, and the Life had a water-cooled engine. The engine's technological specifications reflected engineering efforts resulting from the development of the larger Honda 1300, which used an air-cooled 1.3-litre engine. The roadsters and trucks built up to then had specific, targeted appeal. The N360 was a new market segment for Honda, providing an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-maintain vehicle that had broad market appeal to private car ownership. The N360 was an all new, clean-sheet product, and did not share its chassis with the Honda Sports roadster, or the Honda L700 commercial platform. The LNIII 360 was built until late 1971, when the Life Van took over. After a January 1970 facelift it became the LN III 360, with a new non-reflective dash, bigger turn signals, and the same new front end as the sedan. The LN360 had the same 31 PS engine as the sedan, and a top speed of 105 km/h (65 mph). It has a horizontally divided rear gate and boxier rear bodywork for maximum load capacity. ![]() Honda marketed the N360 as a two-door sedan, with a three-door wagon (considered a commercial vehicle in Japan, and therefore called a "Light van") called the LN360 arriving in June of the first year. Versions 1969 Honda N360 air-cooled engine 1967-1968 Honda N360 Type M 1967 Honda LN360 Van, rear view showing split door ![]() In 2012, Honda introduced the Honda N-One, an homage inspired by the 1967–1973 N sedans. The simple N360 name, along with its variants, used the "N" prefix, which stood for norimono and translated from Japanese to English as vehicle (or car) - distinguishing the cars from the company's motorcycle offerings. This same engine was used in the Honda Vamos, where it was coupled with a beam axle/ leaf spring rear suspension. While ultimately derived from Honda's motorcycle engines, the N360E engine has a 360-degree crankshaft angle (" parallel twin") unlike the 180-degree "vertical twin" setup typically used on Honda's two-cylinder motorcycle engines. The N360 featured front wheel drive and an air-cooled, four-stroke, 354 cc, 31 PS (23 kW 31 hp) two-cylinder engine. All models used a straight forward two-box design that complied with kei dimensional regulations - though vehicles with the 401 cc and 598 cc engines exceeded the kei engine displacement limits and were largely intended for markets outside Japan. A larger-engined variant, the N600, was marketed through 1973. The Honda N360 is a small front-engine, front-wheel drive, two-door, four-passenger car manufactured and marketed by Honda from March 1967 through 1970 in Japan's highly regulated kei class - as both a two-door sedan and three-door wagon.Īfter a January 1970 facelift, the N360 became the N III360 and continued in production until June 1972.
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