The Honda Zest “Kei-car” (or K car) went on sale in Japan from March 1st 2006 onwards. K-cars are popular in Japan, as they provide superior fuel economy and are easy to park.
K cars are designed to exploit local tax and insurance relaxations, and are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is available for the vehicle. Engines are limited to 660cc capacity. Because the regulations only restrict physical size and engine power, manufacturers have introduced many advanced technologies to the class. One of these is forced induction, which gives the Zest added efficiency and power. Forced induction means that the amount of oxygen available to the engine is increased using a gas compressor.
The Honda ZEST comes with two types of engines. One model has a 660cc, SOHC i-DSI normally aspirated engine, making 52 horsepower at 6700rpm and 61Nm of torque. The higher-end model features a turbocharged 660cc SOHC i-DSI engine, making 64 horsepower at 6000rpm and 93Nm of torque at 4000rpm. This model features a top-mounted intercooler. Since forced induction causes the air temperature to rise rapidly, it increases the risk of knock in the engine. The intercooler helps to reduce the thermal load of the air intake.
The most fuel efficient model is the Honda Zest N, which gives you 19km per liter. The turbocharged 4WD model gives you 15.8 km per liter. The car’s short nose ensures a large cabin space. It is only available with automatic transmission.
