Auto News 5

Honda, one of the world's largest-volume producers of internal-combustion engines, is a famously multifaceted organization. Even as it launches the vitally important new Civic (page 70), the company is celebrating a milestone in its mission to become the only automaker to manufacture airplanes (but far from the first; see next page). After several delays, the first FAA-conforming example of the $4.5 million HondaJet has begun test flights, achieving a top speed of 489 mph and moving a step closer to production.