Hiroyuki Ito

HondaDevelopment team member / Development lead

Worked on Civic development from the first to the sixth generation, and was chief engineer of the third-generation "Wonder Civic"

Timeline

1966
Joined
1979
Civic (2nd generation)
1979–1983Development team member
The Second Generation That Failed with a Soft Ride
Hiroyuki Ito was involved in development from the first-generation Civic, and after the Accord he took charge of the second-generation Civic. The second generation was developed along a soft line with a supple, cat-like ride, and it ended in failure. The second generation, called the "Super Civic," could not achieve major results. From this bitter experience, with the first-generation City that he worked on next, Ito believed customers surely wanted a hard-driving car in true Honda style, and set out to make a car that let them feel some of the sound and vibration rather than eliminating it entirely.
1983
Civic (3rd generation)
1983–1987Development lead
Worked with
Shinya IwakuraDesign lead
This time, not listening to the company
Amid a severely strong yen, the second-generation Civic was allowed neither a new design nor a new engine, and became a car that got by using the first generation's CVCC engine. Because of that frustration, Ito was determined with the third generation not to listen to the company and to build something new somehow. One development goal was a "50-mile car" that goes 50 miles on a gallon.
1987
Civic (4th generation)
1987–1991Development lead
A Fourth Generation Meant as the Culmination
Following the third generation, Hiroyuki Ito went straight on to take charge of the fourth-generation Civic as well. Toward the end of the third generation, the Shuttle's 4WD had been changed from part-time to real-time 4WD with a viscous coupling, and that technology was carried over to the fourth generation. The "Grand Civic" adopted a newly developed four-wheel double-wishbone suspension on every model, and also introduced the Hyper 16-valve engine, which achieved four valves and a center spark plug with a single camshaft. One of the happiest moments for Ito was the Golden Steering Wheel award in West Germany, which recognized the car's high driving performance in Europe. Ito had thought this fourth generation would be the culmination.
1991
Civic (5th generation)
1991–1995Development lead
Worked with
Kotaro ShigeDevelopment team member
Flying to Brazil to See the Samba
Hiroyuki Ito, who had thought the fourth generation would be the culmination, ended up taking charge all the way to the fifth-generation "Sports Civic." It was the model for the 20th year since the first generation appeared, and the target this time was the children of the customers who had bought the first generation. The body design was called the "Samba Body" and expressed vibrant motion through its whole form, with the carnival as its theme. To shape that image, Ito flew to Brazil to see real samba and grasped the Rio Carnival as a feeling. For the engine, in preparation for the coming era of fuel economy, the car carried the VTEC-E, which even used cylinder deactivation. The fifth generation won the Japan Car of the Year for the second time, and Ito's deep involvement with the Civic ended there.
2004
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