--- title: "Honda’s ‘Bending’ Platform Shatters Decades of Car Design Rigidity" date: "2025-11-06" modified: "2025-11-06" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/rigidity-is-a-lie-hondas-new-platform-will-bend-on-purpose-for-better-cornering" categories: - "Honda News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # Honda’s ‘Bending’ Platform Shatters Decades of Car Design Rigidity ![Honda 0 Series Platform]() When your [next-generation Honda Pilot]() or Civic goes around a corner the front-end structure is going to deform in the name of handling. Yes, really. In Japan, [Honda]() engineers explained last week that it’s completely rethought how vehicles are designed in an effort to lower weight, lower cost, and most interestingly, improve dynamics. The solution? A front end structure that bends, twists, and deforms while cornering. For forever and a day automakers have sold everyone how they’ve increased the rigidity of their latest model and then improved the tuning of their suspension system to enhance corning capabilities. Honda’s now done the opposite. ![Honda 0 Series Platform]() **Joel Feder** The new platform, which will underpin both its midsize and large vehicles ranging from the Civic and CR-V to the Pilot and Odyssey, will optimize body rigidity rather than simply aim to increase it. To that point, Honda’s shifted where the structural reinforcements are placed around the front structure rather than having it all centralized under the engine. The same principles are being applied to the upcoming 0 Series EV platform as well. The result? When a vehicle goes around a corner the outside of the structure will deform to push the outer wheel down and load up the grip to help improve steering and cornering for less push and more feel thanks to more tire contact. The car’s going to handle better. It should also be quieter and more comfortable thanks to the ability to absorb impacts. Honda said the new structure is modular with fixed dimensions for the front and rear sections improving commonality. The modularity and new platform design is expected to shave 198 pounds and reduce cost by 10% compared to today’s structure. The new structure is expected to enter production in 2027. *Honda provided The Drive with travel, accommodations, and access to engineers for the purpose of writing this story*. ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()