Small car. Big personality.

The Beat was the last car Soichiro Honda personally approved, and you can feel why. It is a tiny roadster with a mid mounted engine, three separate throttle bodies, and an 8,500 rpm redline, built to a rule that said no more than 660cc and no more than 64 horsepower.

It does not need to be fast

On paper the numbers are laughable. On a tight road, none of that matters. The engine sits right behind your shoulders and sings, the steering is light and honest, and the whole car weighs about as much as a decent motorcycle with a side car.

Speed limits are a suggestion in a big car. In a Beat they are a challenge you can actually keep.

Living with one

You will need to care for it. The cam belt is on a strict schedule, the soft top eventually splits, and the rear tires want attention, but the community is generous and the parts situation is better than you would think.

If you have ever wondered what a sports car looks like with the volume turned down and the fun turned up, find a Beat.