Honda Rafaga
Honda Rafaga series CE 4/5 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Overview | |
Production | 1993 - 1997 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | compact |
Body style | 4-door sedan |
Layout | FF layout |
Related | Honda Ascot CE series |
Powertrain | |
Engine |
2.5 L G25A Straight-5 2.0 L G20A-5 Straight-5 |
Transmission |
4 speed automatic 5 speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,770 mm (109.1 in) |
Length | 4,555 mm (179.3 in) |
Width | 1,695 mm (66.7 in) |
Height | 1,425 mm (56.1 in) |
Curb weight |
1,280 kg (2,821.9 lb) (G20A engine) 1,380 kg (3,042.4 lb) (G25A engine)[1] |
Chronology | |
Successor | Honda Torneo |
The Honda Rafaga series CE4 and CE5 was a compact 4 door sedan sold only 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 CE series Honda Ascot. "Rafaga" is Spanish for "gust" or "blustery". The engine is installed longitudinally, the same configuration used in the Vigor and Inspire. The Rafaga was third in Hondas hierarchy of sedans, and a sister car to the Ascot, which was sold at the Honda Primo dealership network. The Rafaga was sold in Japan at Honda Verno dealerships, and was one level up from the Honda Integra. As with other Honda products, the Rafaga used double wishbone suspension at the front and rear wheels. The "2.5 S" trim level came with a front suspension upper strut brace in the engine compartment. In Japan, the smaller G20A engine used regular grade fuel, while the larger G25A engine used premium grade fuel.
The Rafaga and the Ascot were introduced to serve as Honda's compact sedan for the Japanese market when the Accord's dimensions grew as a result of demand for the Accord in North America needing a wider car. The wheelbase of the Rafaga was shorter than the slightly longer Inspire and Vigor, which measured at 2,805 mm (110.4 in), a difference of 35 mm (1.4 in), which didn't leave much room for rear seat passengers. Furthermore, due to the lengthwise installation of the five-cylinder engine, and the requirement that the overall length of the car comply with Japanese government regulations concerning cars classified as "compact", compromises were made with regards to rear passenger accommodations, and sales suffered as a result.
The grille is in the shape of an inverted triangle that flowed into the front bumper, and a small Honda "H" logo at the top. The Rafaga also had a long and low front engine compartment due to the placement of the engine, and a short trunk, adding to its aerodynamic ambitions. Under Japanese Government exterior dimension regulations, the Rafaga was a compact sedan, thereby supplanting the previous Honda Accord, which grew in exterior dimensions slightly. This approach thereby redirected compact sedan buyers to Honda Verno and Honda Primo locations.
The interior came with genuine wood panels provided by Japanese furniture maker Tendo Mokko on the dashboard and center console, with leather available as an option on the "2.5 S". In 1994, dual airbags for front passengers and ABS were available, as well as a glass moonroof.
As the recession began to take hold in Japan, known as the "bubble economy", and demand for the Accord remained strong, the Rafaga and the Ascot were discontinued and replaced with the Honda Torneo in 1997.
References
External links
![]() |
Look up ráfaga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honda Rafaga. |
« previous — Honda road car timeline, 1980s–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
Kei car | Today JA | Today JA4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today Associe JA4 | Today JA4 | Life JB | Life JB5 | Life JC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life JA4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That's JD | N-ONE JG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zest JE | N-WGN JH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acty Street VD | Street HH | N-BOX JF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vamos HM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subcompact | Brio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brio Amaze 2TP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
City / Jazz AA | City GA | Logo GA3 | Fit / Jazz GD | Fit / Jazz GE | Fit / Jazz GK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
City 3A | Fit Aria / City GD8 | City GM | City GM6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Civic SL | Civic AG | Civic EC | Civic EG | Civic EJ | Insight ZE2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballade SS | Ballade AJ | Concerto MA | Domani MA4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compact | Domani MB | Civic EM | Civic FA | Civic FB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quint SU | Quint Integra DA | Integra DA7 | Integra DB6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Integra SJ EK3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accord SJ | Accord SY | Accord CA | Accord CB | Accord CD | Accord CF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vigor SZ | Vigor CA | Ascot CB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ascot Innova CB3/CC | Accord CG7/CH5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accord CB3/CC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accord Inspire CB5 | Ascot CE | Torneo CF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rafaga CE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vigor CB5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mid-size | Accord CG | Accord CL | Accord CU | Accord CR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inspire / Accord UC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vigor CC | Inspire / Saber UA | Inspire / Saber UA4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inspire CC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full-size | Inspire / Accord CP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend KA | Legend KA7 | Legend KA9 | Legend KB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coupé | Ballade Sports CR-X AE | CR-X EF6 | Civic Coupe EJ1 | Civic Coupe EJ7 | Insight ZE | CR-Z ZF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Integra Coupe DA5 | Integra Coupe DC | Integra Coupe DC5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accord Coupe CA6 | Accord Coupe CB6 | Accord Coupe CD7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prelude SN | Prelude AB/BA | Prelude BA4 | Prelude BA8/BB | Prelude BB5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend Coupe KA3 | Legend Coupe KA8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roadster | Beat PP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S2000 AP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Convertible | City Cabriolet FA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CR-X del Sol EG | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport compact | Civic Type R EK9 | Civic Type R EP3 | Civic Type R FD2/FN2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Integra Type R DB8/DC2 | Integra Type R DC5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sports car | Accord Type R CH1 | Accord Euro-R CL7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Torneo Euro-R CL1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NSX NA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NSX Type R NA1 | NSX-R NA2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mini Crossover | Z PA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HR-V GH3 | Vezel RU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compact Crossover | Crossroad RT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Element YH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CR-V RD | CR-V RD4 | CR-V RE | CR-V RM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mid-size Crossover | Crosstour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pilot | Pilot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MDX YD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SUV | Jazz UCS69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Horizon UBS25/UBS69 | Passport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crossroad LJ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Station wagon | Airwave GJ | Fit Shuttle GG | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Civic Country WD | Civic Shuttle AJ | Civic Shuttle EF | Orthia EL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accord Wagon CB9 | Accord Wagon CEI | Accord Wagon CF6 | Accord Wagon CM | Accord Tourer CW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avancier TA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mini MPV | Capa GA4 | Mobilio Spike GK | Freed Spike GB3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mobilio GB | Mobilio DD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compact MPV | Stream RN | Stream RN6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S-MX RH | Edix / FR-V BE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Step wgn RF | Step wgn RF3 | Step wgn RG | Step wgn RK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minivan | Odyssey RA | Odyssey RA6 | Odyssey RB | Odyssey RB3 | Odyssey RC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LaGreat/Odyssey RL | Odyssey RL3 | Odyssey RL5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elysion RR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pickup | Ridgeline | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Microvan | Acty Van VD | Acty HH | Acty HH5 | Acty HA8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Van | City Pro VF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Civic Van VC | Civic Pro AJ | Civic Pro EF | Partner Van EY6 | Partner GJ3 |