- "This wonderful kei sports car offered style and driving excitement never seen before in Japan."
- ―In-game catch text for the car, from GT7's car collection
The Honda BEAT '91 is a kei car produced by Honda. It first appeared in Gran Turismo 2 and has been featured in all subsequent mainline games except Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec. In Gran Turismo Sport, it was part of Update 1.23.
Colors[]
There are four colors available for this vehicle:
- Creta White
- Blade Silver Metallic
- Festival Red
- Carnival Yellow
In-Game Description[]
- "Those in the market for a reasonable mid-engine sports car won't be disappointed with this one. The Honda Beat was built in accordance with Japanese 'kei car' specifications. It features a naturally-aspirated three-cylinder engine, with individual throttle-bodies on all three cylinders. It's an impressive unit that can be pushed to over 8,000 rpm in everyday use. 'Kei' sports models like these were especially popular in 1990s Japan... And the Beat is famous for being at the forefront of this trend."
- ―In-game description of the car, from GT7's Used Car Dealership
Car Index (GT7)[]
Appearing in 1991, the Honda Beat created the lightweight 2-seater trend, along with cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino and the Mazda AZ-1.
The proportions are 3,295 mm in length, 1,395 mm in width and 1,175 mm in height. At only 760 kg, it is an ultra-lightweight vehicle. It was a full fledged 2-seater with no roll bar, and though the top was folded manually, because of its light weight it could be easily opened or closed by a single person.
The weight distribution was ideal at 43% for the front and 57% for the rear, and the rear wings were equipped with real air intakes for cooling the engine. In pursuit of perfect handling, tyres of different diameters were adopted, 13 inches for the front and 14 for the rear. The brakes too were performance oriented, utilising four-wheel disc brakes for the first time on a lightweight car.
The 656 cc, inline-3-cylinder normally aspirated engine delivers 63.1 BHP and features multi-throttle and engine control systems brought about from F1 technology. The gearbox was a 5-speed MT, with its shift stroke tuned to be very short.
Users commented that the drive was quite delightful. Even without driving on winding roads, it was possible to enjoy the pleasures of a sportscar simply by driving along familiar streets. The production of the Beat continued until 1996, reaching total sales of 33,672 units. Though it was a pricey vehicle, the Beat is one of the jewels many people wish Honda had continued to produce.
Café Conversations (GT7)[]
Stella[]
The long and storied history of Japanese kei cars has seen many of these small sportscars. And the Honda Beat stood out as one that happened to double as a convertible! While the NSX may be Honda's genuine midship sportscar... The Beat's weight balance is pretty much the same. And the fact that it was a midship car with an open monocoque body... Made it the first of its kind in the world!
Fabio Filippini[]
The Honda Beat's darling design... Is the result of a historic collaboration between Honda and Pininfarina. It remains a symbol of the Japanese two-seater convertible kei-car of the 1990s. Note how its clean and simple design perfectly envelops the super compact mid-engine package. In addition to side air inlets, it features a 'clamshell' bonnet... And aerodynamic side mirrors. The perforated steel rims and motorcycle-like gauges work to reinforce the sporty spirit of the car. And a special mention goes to the zebra-print seats! They were all the rage in '90s Japan.
Acquisition[]
| Game | Purchase location | Credits | Other methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Turismo 2 | Honda Used Car Dealership | Approx. 9,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 4 Prologue | --- | --- | Complete the Lesson #18 in Driving School |
| Gran Turismo 4 | Early 90's Used Car Dealership | Approx. 5,000 | Available from the start in Arcade Mode |
| Gran Turismo PSP | Honda Dealership | 13,800 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 5 | Used Car Dealership (Lv. 0+) | Approx. 11,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 6 | Honda Dealership | 13,800 | --- |
| Gran Turismo Sport (  v1.23+) |
Honda Brand Central | 13,800 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Used Car Dealership | 15,900 | --- |
Customization[]
Engine Swaps (GT7)[]
| Engine | Price | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| K20C1-Civic-'20 | 127,500 | v1.25 | --- |
Trivia[]
- Despite appearing in nearly all Gran Turismo games to date (with the exception of Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec), it didn't receive an updated model and interior view until Sport.
- In GT7's GT Auto, the Type A rear wing is based on the Version F (installed only in GT2) and Version Z models, although without the rear brake lights, while the Type B wing is based on the one present on the Mugen Beat.
Gallery[]
Liveries[]
Videos[]
