UPDATED: Honda hints at new European advanced design studio

On the eve of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda Design's Creative Director, Toshinobu Minami, announced that the company is looking to once again open a design facility in Europe.

The announcement came during a presentation at the R&D Center in Waco, just outside the Japanese capital and, while not confirmed, Minami-san strongly hinted that the UK would be a likely candidate to play host to Honda's revitalized European design operations. He cited the country's existing manufacturing and administration facilities, as well as a wealth of new talent from the Royal College of Art in particular. While the facility will initially only employ "around 10 designers", the collected heads of Honda Design also offered strong hints that the desire is to expand in order to fulfill demand for European-specific models, including a new Accord-replacing C-segment sedan.

The company closed both the car design and motorcycle design studios of Honda R&D Europe (HRE-G) in Offenbach, near Frankfurt at the end of September 2009 following the global financial crisis.

Honda's new president, Takanobu Ito is keen to showcase design in what appears to be a re-invigorated company.

UPDATE:

Following a further conversation with a number of senior Honda designers, it would appear that the company's move back into Europe will include recommissioning the R&D facility in Offenbach, mentioned above, which will concentrate on the development of production cars.

In addition to this, a separate, advanced satellite studio will be opened in an – as yet – undecided European city to fill the role of its now defunct Milan facility.

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By Owen Ready