Side by Side training for Honda drivers

By Neil MacDonald

IT'S not a motorbike and it's not a car.

But Honda's new baby, the Side by Side, could well offer the best of both worlds for those seeking motorcycle-like attributes in a car.

Confused? Well the Side by Side combines the advantages of two- and four-wheel vehicles to create a new type of motor-sport category.

You could call it a junior Formula 1 car.

Honda Motor Co has just unveiled the single seater car in Japan, where it will be used for circuit practice and driving school purposes.

It will be used exclusively on closed circuits.

Weighing in at 390kg, it is powered by a 742cc V-twin motorcycle engine used in the XRV750 Africa Twin motorcycle. This compact and lightweight engine was chosen for its narrow dimensions.

It is located next to the driver on the right side of the vehicle. The vehicle itself is a tubular space frame design.

The radiator is in front of the engine and an oil cooler is located on the left hand side.

The five-speed sequential transmission is another carryover component from the Africa Twin.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a chain drive with a simple change of the driven sprocket allowing the tailoring of gear ratios to circuit characteristics.

Thanks to very low polar inertia and near perfect weight balance, the car boasts outstanding slide controllability. The polar inertia relates to the car's on-track dynamics.

Handling is well-controlled, with Honda claiming that the car has a reduced tendency to sudden change from understeering to oversteering behavior.

The Side by Side is sure to be a popular introduction to racing for many.

Its easy-to-handle power and size opens the door of formula car driving.