Honda N360 and N600 (1967 – 1972) Review

Some would say that the Honda N360 and its more powerful N600 were perfect Mini-rivals that improved on Issigonis' concept in a number of key areas. For one, when it came to Europe in 600cc form, the N600 was not ony faster than the Mini 850, but it was also more economical - and a fair bit better made. But the N600 wasn't without its foibles.

The original N360 was launched in 1967 tocompete in Japan’s Kei-Class, and was certainly an excellent showcase for Honda's engineering talent. It was launched in 360cc form and featured an advanced specification that allowed it to punch well above its weight – its 354cc air-cooled ohc twin-cylinder engine pushed out 31bhp, and it handled tidily thanks to well-engineered FWD chassis. In 1968, the N600 joined the range, and was designed specifically to compete in European markets. The additional power really benefited the N-Series, giving it an impressive 85mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of less than 20 seconds. Despite being a technical miracle, it failed to sell in big numbers in Europe – but many lessons learned were incorporated into its (European and US) replacement, the Civic.