Honda Ballade

TheHonda Ballade(Japanese:ホンダ・バラード,Hepburn:Honda Barādo)is a subcompactautomobilebuilt byHondaofJapan.It began as a four-door higher equipment content version of theCivicin 1980. The Ballade was developed at the same time theHonda Vigorappeared, which was a higher contentHonda Accord.In Japan, the Ballade was sold exclusively atHonda Vernodealerships alongside theVigor,Prelude,CR-X,andQuint.In the UK it was launched at the same time as the very similarTriumph Acclaimwith which it shared a Honda-built engine.

Honda Ballade series SS/ST (1st gen) AJ/AK (2nd gen)
Overview
Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	Triumph Acclaim(1st gen) Honda Civic(2nd gen) Rover 200-series(2nd gen) Honda City(2011–present)
Production	September 1980 – 2000 2011–present (South Africa)
Assembly	Suzuka,Japan Cowley, Oxford,United Kingdom Longbridge,United Kingdom East London, South Africa(Mercedes-Benz South Africa)
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car(C)
Body style	4-doorsedan
Powertrain
Engine	1.3LEJI4(1st gen) 1.5LEMI4 (1st gen) 1.3LEVI4 (2nd gen) 1.5LEWI4 (2nd gen)
Transmission	2-speedHondamatic(1st gen) 3-speedautomatic(2nd gen) 4/5-speedmanual(1st and 2nd gen)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,320 mm (91.3 in) (1st gen) 2,450 mm (96.5 in) (2nd gen)
Length	4,095 mm (161.2 in) (1st gen) 4,160 mm (163.8 in) (2nd gen)
Width	1,600 mm (63.0 in) (1st gen) 1,630 mm (64.2 in) (2nd gen)
Height	1,345 mm (53.0 in) (1st gen) 1,385 mm (54.5 in) (2nd gen)
Chronology
Successor	Honda Integra SJ(sedan) Honda Concerto(hatchback)

History

The name of the car was taken fromballade,the French word for aballad.Because both the four-door Ballade sedan and the five-door hatchback Quintet were both high luxury content vehicles derived from the Honda Civic, the Ballade represented a type of music, and the Quintet represented a musical group. The Ballade competed in Japan with theToyota Sprinter,and theNissan Laurel Spiritas the Civic competed with the Corolla, and the Sunny.

It was launched in September 1980, nine months after the agreement between Honda and British Leyland to produce their own versions of the car and work on future cars together. Although the original Ballade was never sold in Europe, British Leyland produced its own version of the Ballade - theTriumph Acclaim- from 1981 to 1984. In North America the Ballade nameplate was never used, the model instead being sold as the Civic Sedan.

Triumph Acclaim

A second generation Ballade from 1985 shared most of its body panels with the Civic, except for a sportier front end, and formed the basis of theCR-Xsports car and theRover 200.The top model - the EX-i - featured a 1.5L naturally aspirated 12-valve all-aluminium engine with multi-point fuel injection (using Honda's PGM-FI system) developing 100 bhp (75 kW), the same engine was used in the CR-X. Other features of the EX-i included electric windows all-round, electric and heated wing mirrors, metallic paint, vented front disc brakes and hydraulic power-assisted steering. Lower specification models featured the same 1.5L engine but with fueling provided via a carburetor, producing 85 bhp (63 kW).

In keeping with the styling trend shared with otherHonda Vernoproducts, the second generation car adopted partially concealed headlights starting in 1983, shared with the Vigor, Quint Integra, Ballade Sports CR-X, and the Prelude.

The Ballade in Japan was replaced in September 1987, with theHonda Concerto5-door hatchback and sedan as the luxury Civic offering at newly establishedHonda Cliodealerships in Japan. As the Ballade was essentially a luxury version of the Civic sedan, Honda repositioned the Ballade fromHonda Verno,first with the Concerto name, then renamed again as theHonda DomaniatHonda Clio,and introduced it with theHonda Accord,theHonda Inspire,and theHonda Legendin 1992, with the Civic now headlining atHonda Primostores. The sport-oriented version of the Civic loosely held by the Ballade evolved into theHonda Integrain 1985, and assumed the market position originally held by the Ballade atHonda Vernodealership locations.

In South Africa, the nameplate was revived in 2011 for theHonda Citysold in other markets.

South Africa

1980–1983

1300cc Twin carb, 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic E-series engine

1984–1987

Known in South Africa as the SC9, or informally as the "popup" as to not confuse it with the SH4. This particular model had motorised eyelids which popped up when the main headlights were switched on.

Engines included 1.3-liter 12-valveEV,1.5-liter 12-valveEW,1.5-liter 12-valve PGMFIEWand ZC (first gen)D-series.

1988–1991

Also known as theHonda Civic series EF(internationally), theCivicCoupe and Sedan, or the Ballade series SH3 and SH4 (South Africa). Known on the streets of South Africa as "DOHC" as not to confuse it with the SC9 or SR4

Engines includes: D15B3 D16A7 D16A9

D-series engines

1992–1995

South African chassis code SR4, which internationally is sold as theHonda civicfifth gen (EG)

Engines: D15B3 - 69 kW D16A7 - 86 kW D16A9 - 96 kW B18B3 - 97 kW

1996–2000

In 1996 theBalladeandCivicgot a facelift with a total of 12 changes. Honda & Colt(Mitsubishi) Division of Mercedes-Benz of South Africa marketing manager Guy Franken says: "With a total 12 derivatives in the range we believe that we have the entire small/intermediate car market covered and offer value in performance, specification, safety and affordability."

These changes include:

• A beverage holder
• The velour colour of the bolsters in the Luxline has been changed to a more modern blue/grey.
• A more pronounced grooved styling line in the bonnet.
• A larger H-emblem on the grille.
• Redesigned bumpers with no inserts.
• A Becker A7 radio/tape was fitted in all Luxline models.
• An anti-shock gearbox on the Ballade 180i Luxline Automatic.
• Lightweight alloy wheels on the 180i and VTEC models and full wheel covers on the others.

There was also an AMG (Mercedes Benz) version sold at AMG dealers since AMG Managed the racing team. It had some small modifications that allowed it to produce 129kW in B16A6 format. A Sport trim was also available, it added Sport badges, an aluminum gear knob like the DC2 Type R and subtle suspension tuning.

The engines available: D15Z4 D16Y9 B18B4 118 kW B16A6

D-series enginesandB-series engines

Ballade (South Africa) reintroduction

For the 2011–present Ballade, seeHonda City.

The Ballade name continued to be used for a Civic-based model in South Africa, where it was used instead of Civic on locally produced versions until 2001. South African Ballades were assembled by the local subsidiary ofDaimler-Benz,which wanted to market a smaller and cheaper car in addition to its Mercedes-Benz models. The Ballade name was adopted because it was perceived to have more luxury and upmarket connotations than the Civic name. This was important because the Ballade was sold through the Mercedes-Benz dealership channel.

Since March 2011, theCityis sold as the Ballade in South Africa.

External links

• Official website