Honda City Turbo II: The 80s hatchback with a motorbike in the boot | Top Gear RETROspective

[@xjet]

Those City Turbo IIs felt a lot faster than 8 seconds to 100Km/H -- but back in the 1980s, that was a *very* quick time. Fantastic pocket-rockets they were and it's a shame they never show up in any of the old hot-hatch shoot-outs.

[@microbuilder]

Hey I know you lol

[@reiswaffel3393]

@@microbuilder 🤣

[@dunderheadgood]

these and the minica dangan!! two classics :)

[@chrisman3673]

When i first go my license I drove city pros and loved driving them. Independent suspension cornered so well

[@jama211]

Peppy little revvy engine, road noise, the sound, all adds up to a speedy feeling experience! Brilliant.

[@rajeshkadam4089]

This is what I call content. Better than just showing drag races.

[@smax13]

Janni is the shit. No literally.

[@yeluripati]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Beertje21]

Trueee

[@Shibbytwo]

Word

[@JalanCariMakan17]

I know the reference of "just showing drag races" lol

[@H4lminator]

This must be the worlds coolest car. A fridge in the dash and a moped in the back. Perfection!

[@N3ur0m4nc3r]

literally

[@Stikibits]

To register a car in Tokyo you need to demonstrate you have a parking space. People rent parking spaces and it's a large industry in Japan. That parking space may be some distance from your home, so the Motocompo would be handy.

[@Sheridantank]

That's dumb AF and why anyone wants to live in a overpopulated hell hole is beyond me. If that's not proof of overpopulation, idk what is.

[@chappy2121]

Shame they don't do something similar where I live. Always a pain when people buy a house with no parking then dump their 3-4 cars on the street. The roads are congested enough

[@TheImperfectGuy]

Overabudance of well paid jobs in the area and a strong desire to avoid long commutes seem to be the main arguments, mostly

[@yeshwantdasari2075]

Sounds like the perfect solution for central London

[@Skeletomania]

@@Sheridantank same can be said for any major city around the world...

[@TwinCam]

THIS is the kind of content we want to see in the TV show!

[@goestdummy]

Jack is a great car journalist, and so is Chris Harris but the TV show is trying to recapture what the Great Trio did, they should just give that up and go with these 2 and take advantage of what they have to offer. Chris is a hell of a driver and Jack is eloquent and asks the right questions.

[@who_stole_my_username]

Unfortunately, the current TV show is only focussed only on capturing the buffoonery aspect that had crept into the show in the later years with the Three Stooges. They seem to think that normal viewers aren't interested in anything as boring as facts or history, and only want to see things get smashed up for no reason.

[@goestdummy]

@@who_stole_my_username the best things on this channel recently are the interview on Gordon Murray, Jack's walking around on motorshows and showcasing the newest cars and projects, Chris testing the cars, his quick reviews and his conversations with Jack. If the show went with this kinds of things and left the crazy antics for the trio we'd have 2 great car shows 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@dragospahontu]

@@goestdummy it's illegal to show this on tv

[@kenneth5355]

I want the lads back.

[@skella722]

This is what we’ve all been waiting for

[@matip1158]

ah yas

[@Biker_Gremling]

110hp on 700kg!!! 🚀🚀🚀

[@amiesports]

indeed!

[@mk14dr]

I photographed that City Turbo2 when it was fresh off the boat back in 2019, a lovely little thing.

[@mk14dr]

@@JohnnyQPublic Awesome! That means there are two of them in the UK! I hope they end up at a show together, I'd love to see that.

[@vjhansen7280]

@@mk14dr I know there's a couple others floating around in the uk, 5 non turbo ones last time I checked

[@TheBousouzoku]

The City 2 was a massive success in Japan. Many of them ended up in one-make racing series. They crashed hard and rolled hard... they had it doing 13.5sec 1/4mile with extra boost. It sold in limited numbers because it cost twice as much as the regular City. We had both the Turbo2 and regular the regular City at the same time here in Oz. Turbo2 was in a class of it's own. It had great brakes, Accord front brakes from factory. Had twin walled down / front pipe for some reason. Lots of wheel spin in lower gears. It would either be off boost or on boost wheel spin in slow corners, that's why it felt slow in really tight corners. It had really good sturdy feeling, the Japanese 185kmh limiter was reached quickly. My sister drove it for years too. Absolutely no issues for 6~7 years in the family. Oh it returned 4L per 100km in the city. Turbo2 was really sorted considering the short development time and the many difference it had from the regular City. Amazing car, one of those rare gems. It probably cost more to make than it sold for.

[@mach1nefan]

Imagine pulling up to the petrol station with a motocompo, and then putting it in your boot! Now THAT is a fire hazard if I've ever seen one XD

[@getchasome6230]

That was my first thought too. I bet that's why they're not very common now

[@Sheridantank]

Why would that be a fire hazard?

[@getchasome6230]

@@Sheridantank go ride a scooter around for a few minutes and feel the exhaust. Then imagine stuffing that in your well ventilated hatchback.

[@Sheridantank]

@@getchasome6230 Here's a brilliant idea, dont put the exhaust somewhere likely to catch fire. With your argument you might as well say the factory car exhaust is a fire hazard. You could park in dry grass and catch fire, or you could be aware of these things and park accordingly. As well you could be aware of where the exhaust it, and not place it somewhere dangerous. There are many things you can do to drastically reduce the chance of a fire caused by residual exhaust heat.

[@getchasome6230]

@@Sheridantank Yes, the hot exhaust on the car is a fire hazard too. The difference is you're not SUPPOSED to put the car in a carpeted hatch. Lol. Wow. I cant believe I had to type that

[@KennBravo]

I want the old one, more cooler and that turbo whistle, sounds good, it came with a 2 stroke also, man this is very complete

[@mangobooom1]

That turbo gage is epic

[@lemster101]

Top Gear is doing so well online now! I actually much prefer the online content over the TV show. From the sit down chats with Chris Harris (who never disappoints) to the videos with Jack Rix are great too. Whether it's doing a reveal on a new car or something like this. Keep it up!

[@farishanafiah8461]

Fun fact: There was a mid-engined City that later served as a rolling lab for first-gen NSX.

[@chembleton]

3:54, I love how you can actually see the fuel gauge going down while thrashing it (granted probably more due to the fuel sloshing backwards)

[@toysmostwanted]

This took me back to watching anime in the evening. The Motocompo and City was heavily featured in the anime, You're Under Arrest. It was almost like part of the cast with it's own story arc.

[@69nza]

Honda city does not discontinued. It's still in production in most of Asian countries. It came with 1.5L (130hp/350NmT) this is 2020 version of honda city

[@montesa35]

And right now, Honda City Hatchback is finally back after 26 years, also marketed for Southeast Asian countries only

[@m3rl1on]

but its a small sedan instead of a hatchback, that class now belongs to Jazz / Fit.

[@karlg1535]

But does it come with a mini bike still? That's the key seller for me lol

[@vjhansen7280]

@@karlg1535 nah, that died along with the first gen city

[@brycelummis941]

The car still gives me nightmares. Mum had hers stolen {and returned} three times. The fun things they used was to drive it down a narrow road with high banks on each side, get people at each corner then turn it around so it blocks the road. Oh at least the teens left it clean all three times.

[@antonym24]

was stealing cars common in the 80s/90s in other countries? i hear alot of these stories but never heard my parents/grandparents talk about having a car stolen here in the States and having people joyride in it.

[@sinsins3528]

モトコンポ懐かしいな シティはそれまでのスモールカーの貧乏臭さが無くてカッコ良かった

[@DeeTofa]

Now, this is the quality content I subscribed for! Thank you Top Gear Crew

[@DrVagax]

While it might never be classic Top Gear with the trio, this is the kind of content I love. More of this!

[@jordanong5114]

This is my favorite Honda. It reminds me of Skids from G1.

[@spacekii]

Holy crap Top Gear, you're really turning things around!! keep up the good content!

[@VarioFelce]

You're Under Arrest! Waiting for men of culture that knows this anime

[@bhimatamaindrana6104]

such a good anime

[@Senvae]

They make the moto compo look a lot faster than this!

[@imthenomad]

Taiho Shichauzo!! like of course. Love those woman

[@VarioFelce]

@@Senvae that's for sure lol

[@carlosr.04]

Natsumi and Miyuki

[@akincomer]

3:57 you can literally see the fuel go down on the gauge while he floors it lol

[@skydive7054]

3:56 who else was just watching the fuel gauge slowly decreasing

[@clayduval1255]

Chapter 1. As in, we will get more of this!!!! I love old vs new comparisons

[@STAG162]

I can see Marty from MCM salivating...

[@adamkishta8797]

I was looking for a MCM comment

[@brettgump]

Cough cough... Mighty Car Mods ✌ Chopped 😆

[@DanielHatchman]

Yeah, it's a mighty mods vid for sure

[@olivera182]

Genuinely clicked this video thinking it was MCM!

[@SmallBlogV8]

The fact Honda didn't introduce an E-motocompo in parallel with the E car, in a world of 'last mile solutions' and urban 'e-mobility' scooters, is frankly baffling. I know it would leave you with zero boot space whenever you took it with you, but still! It would make so much sense for many people in cities.

[@ThePivotuserful123]

I love everything about this video, wow I wish we had a modern version of this City!

[@adityaravi3180]

Honda still makes the city lol. Not exactly the same though but it does. Just Google it

[@ThePivotuserful123]

@@adityaravi3180 ah fair enough, I should've written something like having a Honda City that also comes with a scooter as an optional extra ahah.

[@harshvardhanchowdhary5413]

I have one, 2016. Smokes everything in its segment, even a couple of cars from a segment above. I love it.

[@kornkernel2232]

They still make Honda City. I think because it just died on certain markets, but it still alove and well on others. It seems that UK just dont have Honda City being sold there thus the comment. Most southeast asian countries still sell Honda City and far more popular than Civic. Japan has class of Kei cars which the Honda City basically abandoned which is why it "died". Honda City nowadays is just smaller hatchback like VW Polo and Toyota Yaris. Modern Honda City is too big and too powerful for a Kei car.

[@Pete292323]

finally some good car content.

[@Spheredalai]

this is a certified city in the city moment

[@ytyndale3643]

The weight of the motocompo must have slowed this city 2 down, took about 11 seconds 0-62.

[@ayo0o0o0o0]

I love how the City kept that Honda N600 look. I actually owned an N600 which is even smaller like a go-kart with a 599cc engine that had a CHOKE! Lmao

[@amonrei]

I've always thought the e looks like the 1st gen Civic but it actually looked more like the City!

[@Whos-That-Guy]

I learnt to drive in a Honda turbo City 2. My dad bought it for my sister as a first car and I used it on my learners. Man what a car. I loved it. It even had a sunroof. Super heavy steering and clutch with long through gears. It was a mans car hahaha..The turbo lag was pretty bad but it moved faster than most cars, even in the late 90s when we had it. I miss it big time.

[@Afeeq1011]

5:55 ngl, I almost tear up seeing the Honda e overtaking the City Turbo. It feels like a proper comeback that you never even wanted in the 1st place. Not to mention both cars are beyong my reach and I've been vicariously living through youtube.

[@bond007rules]

This was delightful. Jack is a magnificent presenter. MORE!!

[@Johnny24rs]

3:57 the fuel tank empties fast. 5:20 You can put the shopping bags on the backseats or even on the front passenger seat, it's not mandatory by law to put them in the boot

[@huwfrancis9437]

Let’s be honest the sooner they make the TV show a feature length version of the content we get here on YT from the magazine team and Harris the better, get the shenanigans from Grand Tour and the Car news and factual stuff we still crave from Top Gear.

[@Sheridantank]

You cant replace the original trio in my opinion. As far as the banter and comedy aspect of the shows go at least.

[@huwfrancis9437]

@@Sheridantank fully agreed. I feel that because they can’t match the banter or chemistry they should focus on the reviews and more factual elements. Especially with the grand tour no longer having hot laps and car reviews

[@sparky4878]

@@huwfrancis9437 but it took a few years before they properly clicked. The early series of the re-launched Top Gear were, at times, awful and cringeworthy. Then it hit a high point, unfortunately it had started going downhill.

[@animalcol1]

Totally agree Huw. The current set up is a load of balls. Online content blows it into the weeds.

[@e19dyy42]

I'd take the old timer any day, love the old skool stuff

[@MrDownRater]

My favourite car of all time.

[@williammactavish3913]

The parallel park was iffy at best!!! :O

[@Sheridantank]

It was iffy at worse

[@PDLM1002]

No power steering mind you 🙃

[@statementleaver8095]

@@PDLM1002 keep the wheels moving then! What's the next excuse.... No parking sensors lol

[@scharkey84]

I'm restoring my City Turbo 1, she's getting a new turbo too, more boost and maybe a repro Motocompo. I love the boxy shape.

[@kimthakkukimchi9]

1980s, Honda City Turbo 1990s, Honda Civic Type R Hatchback 2000s, Honda Accord Type R 2010, Honda Civic Type R 2020, Honda NSX Honda is the best design ever made in car history

[@mypfpisyourdad422]

Yo, VTEC just kicked in!

[@ZeeBri]

That Honda E is absolutely enormous

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

Last time I went to the Mecum auctions here in Vegas, everyone was drooling over Vincents, Brough Superiors, and an NR750. I was drooling over a Motocompo and a CB175.

[@L.m.wachtiiiii06]

Really want a city turbo , but alone in Swiss it +35k Can’t imagine what it would cost in Germany

[@mendo1]

You can see these “combo” with police woman. Search You’re Under Arrest(taiho Sichuan zo) in Japanese 90s Anime

[@hirokishinguji]

Ah yes. The MiyuNatsu combo.

[@shingosshojiopoulos6608]

You are under arrest is a great anime but it had a Honda today not a City Turbo ll(though you can see a City Turbo sometimes )

[@yittmashups]

The huge side decals are so 80's, I love it.

[@brandonregalado1029]

Honda City is still being produced in south east asia. Currently owning one. Very good inside the city.

[@chrisl4661]

its kinda funny how this channel and the mag in general is better than the show at this point sure will make it easier once media shifts even more.

[@llegacy1870]

Honda is the only car company that can make me smile when I see there older cars.

[@benchandler8374]

Wow, this is the best thing I’ve watched all year

[@rohanbanerjee_]

Long deserved jack Rix sub show, love it

[@rjhs01999]

Miyuki Kobayakawa & Natsumi Tsujimoto and YUA Fans thank the video. Great content I hope this will be the new old formula for TG!

[@shawashawahametal]

City Turbo2 has a feature called "Scramble Boost". Then full throttle when less than 4000rpm 10% improvement in boost pressure only for 10 seconds.

[@ひろぽん-c9x]

I’m from Japan and I used to steal many motocompo & squash(motocompo’s brother) back in the days.

[@mongoose1618]

A Bike and a cooler. I am sold !

[@rutwikkarekar4666]

I Am So Happy That My Family Own 2009 Honda City ivtec s

[@SpikeyOfficial]

*POWER!!!*

[@nicksimpson88]

awesome idea for a series

[@montesa35]

In Southeast Asia, Honda City hatchback is finally back after 26 years and just recently launched last week

[@bigmanmegee]

Who else loves this top gear series

[@oLoGoS]

you can see the fuel guage emptying at 4:00 lol

[@Oli_Hudson]

Great spot Logos!

[@sparky4878]

I’m hoping it wasn’t drinking petrol that quickly. Maybe the fuel sloshing about in the tank and confusing the sender?

[@oLoGoS]

My old fc rx7 had the same talent :)

[@CT37BN]

More of this content TG/UK. Great car, super genius idea from Honda.

[@ALMX5DP]

I'm kinda excited that Honda released a new Motocompacto, especially given how reasonably priced it is in the US.

[@tsf1685]

Honda City is still available but in the form of a Sedan. Sold in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Australia, China and Pakistan.Now City has entered the 7th generation.

[@Simon78]

You might notice the digital boost gauge didn’t work...the soldering on the circuit board for the gauges cracks with age. I had one of these fifteen years ago. Had a hunting engine due to a vacuum leak I couldn’t trace on one of the 30 hoses lol. LOVED it. Put a bigger exhaust on it sounded surprisingly decent.

[@DarioVidili]

God I can't get enough of hatchbacks.

[@Android-vk8yh]

Honda always ahead of their time but keep it back from the UK which is always frustrating, the people carriers and K cars are so cool but we never get them here sadly, probably boring UK government restrictions

[@93upton93]

Even though K cars were created to comply with boring Japanese legislation...

[@halukcakir6074]

Jack Rix, in my opinion, is the most successful TG presenter after the original trio.

[@srspresso]

It had a refrigerated dashboard compartment, WOW. Why modern manufacturers don’t think of that? That’s such a practical option.

[@oneanddone7992]

Not quite a refrigerator, per se. When the A/C is on, it blows cold air over the enclosed compartment. I have one, and it actually works, even on an 80-degree day.

[@leslawangelo]

I wonder if reduction in drag caused by lack of traditional side mirrors fully compensates electricity used by cameras and screens.

[@boozy8659]

Arguably I think Honda’s most iconic bikes are the smaller powered machines. Eg: Super-cub, SS50, Z50, NSR (125), cb100, etc

[@fireoil]

That turbo II have the same power output and displacement than my bmw motorcycle flat twin 1200cc. That's amazing in both ways

[@bassmith448bassist5]

The moment I saw that car/ scooter I went looking for one on ebay. Seriously. I did. That whole setup just really appeals to my inner car geek. Not sure what I'd do with one if I found one but...... I just gotta have one!!!!!!!!

[@LOTUSELISE340R]

I REALLY wish the Honda-E had a bigger battery. That design is just phenomenal, both retro and future simultaneously.

[@briannicholls2893]

While it may be true to say that the original City and its turbo versions "never really took off " overseas, where Honda made little effort to sell the car, in Japan it was a big seller in all versions, helped by those zany Madness adverts, and good Turbo IIs are still much loved and in high demand.

[@PETERGRlFFlN]

I got excited for a moment when he opened the hatch of the e... i thought there's a preview of the new honda ebike/scooter

[@420Ard]

Now this is fun! Love those sporty 80's microcars. I once owned a MK1 Suzuki Swift GTi and it was just amazing! ... Apart from the build quality...

[@rjnation5042]

I had a JDM import over here & it had a 1.2ltr twin cam turbo, I'm pretty sure it was the Mugen because it had huge E30 M3 style flared guards, to get it registered in Oz I needed to replace the wheels so I put 15in by 7in alloys with semi slick racing tyres, it was quite quick & had a huge amount of grip, really kind of miss it now while thinking about it, Rj in Oz

[@paleoph6168]

Natsumi Tsujimoto from You're Under Arrest uses her MotoCompo to great effect.

[@labounti]

Gran Turismo 5 and the City Turbo 2 was fun to tune.

[@nomad667]

Omg.. so many decades of progress! Honda E prolly has double the top speed and like 1/3 of the acceleration times of the turbo II. Citius, Altius, Fortius! Like the average modern man.

[@richardllewellynme]

This could be an EPIC series. Good work peeps.

[@GeorgesChannel]

Great episode! Please more of these 80's marvels...

[@katchaontheflipside]

Love this story, yes please!

[@joseescobedo7899]

Since I first saw this car form Mattel hotwheels idk y but I've been obsessed with it

[@phil8437]

I love these cars and the Motorcycle. I have a Suzuki Cappuccino which is a similar concept to the Honda City with even less room. Japanese engineers are very clever.

[@thetreblerebel]

The City Turbo fugging RULES!

[@kueiseong]

the crazy 80' that always think out of a box.

[@xapaiz]

I'd buy the car just for the Motocompo combo!!

[@alfonsomartinez7919]

the Honda City was not discontinued. it's still being sold and now in its 7th gen.

[@IDann1]

That’s a blast from the past..I had one of these but sadly not the turbo

[@TheEldorado666]

Anybody else make a connection between this and MKBHDs Retro Tech Series, given that he’s collaborating with Top Gear now, it only makes sense to think he has some hand in this as well.

[@alhassanabid]

7:55 best part of this video..

[@himaro101]

Genuinely thought the video was by Might Car Mods for a few seconds after seeing the thumbnail...

[@GJCanave]

i look forward to this series! looks great so far as it does'nt have the boring/anoyying presenters

[@Tejvir7]

You can’t criticise anyone when you spell like a 4 year old.

[@Tejvir7]

Go back to playing Fortnite this is a channel for mature people.

[@GJCanave]

@@Tejvir7 duly noted. thanks for your unrelated opinion

[@Jack-cu7rl]

@@Tejvir7 and you think commenting that is mature? I think not