At the last EICMA 2021, Honda anticipated the return of the legendary Hornet name. Now the Japanese house has made public the first design sketches of the new model.
These designs come from from the Honda research and development center in Rome, which, in close collaboration with the research and development department in Japan, is already responsible for the design of many successful European Honda models, including the CRF1100L Africa Twin, il CB650R e l’X-ADV.
Unfortunately, no technical details are provided on the upcoming Hornet. The focus is totally on the design, which aims to represent the “Combination of technical beauty and aggression”.
Honda Hornet, the design entrusted to the Italian Giovanni Dovis
For the new Honda Hornet concept, the design of the motorcycle was entrusted to the young Italian designer Giovanni Dovis, who at the age of 28 recently designed the lines of the Honda ADV350 scooter.
“Honda’s design philosophy is to create something pure and functional with simple shapes. The sketches show how the Hornet design concept promises agility, dynamism and lightness thanks to its contained proportions, pointed tail section and razor-sharp lines. They create a new compact and proportionate image and present characteristics of strength and aggression from the front to the rear, underlining the true sporting character of the Hornet ”.
In the sketches shown you can see the aggressive design of the new Hornet, which it emphasizes its biomorphic style as if it were a wasp. In fact, “hornet” is a hornet in English.
In one of the drawings is even drawn the head of a hornet with its antennae, which merges into a perfect symbiosis with the body of the motorcycle. Just like a wasp’s body, the Hornet will be streamlined, with a very sharp and aggressive design.
Knowing more or less its aesthetics, we just have to know which engine it will use and what displacement. This should most likely be revealed at the next EICMA.