The Honda Torneo is a

mid-size Mid-size—also known as intermediate—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars. "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in t ...

sedan introduced by

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...

in 1997, exclusively for the

Japanese domestic market Japanese domestic market (JDM) refers to Japan's home market for vehicles and vehicle parts. There is a common misconception that any Japanese branded car is JDM; however, this is not true. Only a vehicle made in Japan specifically to be sold i ...

, derived from the sixth-generation Honda Accord. While the Accord was sold exclusively at ''Honda Clio'' dealerships, the Torneo was available at the other two Honda networks, ''

Honda Verno is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...

'' and ''

Honda Primo is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world ...

'' as the successor to the

Honda Ascot The is a compact sedan manufactured by Honda and marketed only in Japan from 1989 until 1997. The first generation produced two versions based on the Honda Accord CB series called the Ascot and from 1993 to 1996 a "pillared hardtop" called t ...

and

Honda Rafaga The Honda Rafaga is a compact 4-door sedan sold exclusively in Japan by Honda, introduced in January 1993, and used the same 5-cylinder engine that was used in the Honda Inspire and the Honda Vigor and shared a platform with the second generation ...

, respectively. "Torneo" means ''tournament'' in Spanish. The introduction of the Torneo continued the original approach Honda used in 1982, with the introduction of the

Honda Vigor The is a premium sedan that was derived from the Honda Accord. It was sold in Japan through the ''Honda Verno'' dealer network from 1981 until 1995, and sold in North America from June 1991 (model year 1992) until 1994 as the Acura Vigor. Early ...

in offering a unique variant of the Accord, for each of the three dealership Honda sales channels with the sportier Torneo, utilising a different front grille, headlights and tail lights, and exclusive trim packages and color choices. The Torneo nameplate was discontinued in 2002, when Honda released the seventh-generation Accord. However, the seventh-generation Accord assimilated a number of the sportier characters of the Torneo, making it effectively the successor of the Torneo and the previous generation Accord.

Trim levels and engines

The Torneo was available with HID headlights, which were uncommon at the time. Four engines were available, all equipped with Honda's

VTEC VTEC (Variable Valve Timing & Lift Electronic Control) is a system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, resulting in higher performance at high RPM, and lower fuel consumption at low ...

technology. A few sport packages were available, including the "Euro R", the "SiR-T", and the "SiR Euro". Honda Torneo Euro R

The Euro R included an H22A engine rated at , 5-speed manual transmission,

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seats, leather-wrapped

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steering wheel, helical

Torsen Torsen Torque-Sensing (full name Torsen traction) is a type of limited-slip differential used in automobiles. It was invented by American Vernon Gleasman and manufactured by the Gleason Corporation. Torsen is a portmanteau of Torque-Sensing. ''TO ...

limited-slip differential, sports suspension, sports exhaust (including 4–2–1 stainless headers) and an aluminium alloy gear shift knob. It was also fitted with a unique factory body kit that included flares and was available in some colours not available to lower trim package Accords (such as Milano Red). The Accord and the Torneo are the same car, aside from minor cosmetic differences in the exterior. All trim levels were available with Honda's internet-based navigation system called

Internavi Internavi is a vehicle telematics service offered by the Honda Motor Company to drivers in Japan. In the United States, the service is known as HondaLink, or sometimes MyLink. It provides mobile connectivity for on-demand traffic information servi ...

SiR-T (CF4, 1997–2000)

The SiR-T model included a 2.0L F20B engine rated at at 7,200 rpm ( at 7,000 rpm for automatic models) and of torque at 6,600 rpm ( at 5,500 rpm for automatic models), 11.0:1 compression, 85 mm X 88 mm (Bore and Stroke) 7,400 rpm redline. The H Series DOHC VTEC engines were limited to 7,800 rpm. The F20B had a unique blue valve cover and like all the larger displacement Honda engines, the F20B was mounted with a tilt towards the driver. F20B engines could rev at higher rpm than H22As because it had a shorter stroke. The F20B had an 85 mm x 88 mm bore and stroke when compared to an H22A which had an 87 mm x 90.7 mm bore and stroke. The F20B was also classified as a low-emissions engine.

SiR (CF4, 1997–2001)

The Torneo SiR was based on the SiR-T, but used the S-Matic automatic transmission with sequential manual shift mode. The engine was rated at at 7,000 rpm and at 5,500 rpm. Moving the gear stick over to the right allowed manual selection of first, second, third, or fourth gear using up and down shift actions. The manumatic feature would hold the gear up to the rev limiter as a manual transmission would.

SiR Euro (CF4, 2002)

The Torneo SiR Euro was offered in its very last year of production, 2002. Underneath, it was the same as the original SiR and available only with an automatic transmission, but it was presented with the same exterior styling as the Euro R. Front and rear bumpers, side skirts and arch extensions directly from the Euro R were offered onto the SiR Euro, as well as the "carbon" interior trim. The seats and steering wheel were still original SiR equipment. The SiR Euro also retained the 4-stud wheel hub and had only 1 set of 15-inch wheels available.

Demise

As sales of the Accord proved more popular than the Torneo, plus the economic effects of the

Japanese asset price bubble The was an economic bubble in Japan from 1986 to 1991 in which real estate and stock market prices were greatly inflated. In early 1992, this price bubble burst and Japan's economy stagnated. The bubble was characterized by rapid acceleration ...

or "bubble economy", the Torneo was discontinued in 2001, along with the dissolution of Honda's three dealership networks ''

Verno Verno ( el, Βέρνο) or Vitsi ( el, Βίτσι) is a forested mountain range in the southern part of the Florina and the northeastern part of the Kastoria regional units in Western Macedonia, northern Greece. The elevation of its highest peak ...

, Primo'', and ''Clio'' three years later. The succeeding Accord also effectively assimilated the sportier character of the Torneo into one car.

Gallery

File:TORNEO1 (cropped).jpg, Honda Torneo (pre-facelift) File:TORNEO2 (cropped).jpg, Honda Torneo (pre-facelift) File:1999-2002 Honda Torneo.jpg, Honda Torneo (facelift) File:1999-2002 Honda Torneo rear.jpg, Honda Torneo (facelift)

External links

Honda Torneo History (Japanese)

Honda Torneo Product Description (Japanese)

Honda Japan TV commercial for the Torneo
{{Modern Honda vehicles Torneo Compact cars Front-wheel-drive vehicles 1990s cars 2000s cars