Honda introduces a revolutionary concept beyond engine & performance

The coronavirus has been a pandemic like no other in the recent past. With Hyundai bringing ‘air-filter’ in response to the virus, Honda has introduced a revolution with a ‘mask’ for its air-conditioning units. This antiviral “mask”, gets its place on top over the cabin air filter and is called ‘Kurumask’. 

The Kurumask is all set to be released by the automaker’s Access division and will come as a complementary accessory over the newly-facelifted N-Box Kei. Interestingly, the automaker also claims that its newly developed mask is able to block more than 99 percent of airborne viruses, in a short span of 15 minutes in a given experiment.

The product makes an entirely different appeal over the likes of the N95 filters that were previously introduced by Geely and all the major players in the wake of the pandemic. The difference with Honda’s offering is that the mesh covering they have developed nothing to do with keeping particles from entering the cabin. 

Instead, the automaker has taken on a somewhat different aspect of catching the virus-infected droplets circulating inside the car and taking control of the viruses, using its unique surface shape. Explained to be a simplified mechanism of zinc phosphate conversion treatment, the company is confident about killing 99.8% or more virus droplets, found in the interior surfaces. 

Talking about his recently designed innovation, Takaharu Echigo, the development expert of the Kurumask, said that, “We want to make drivers feel safe and comfortable even when they keep their car windows closed in cold weather.”

The function will be available for activation by drivers by merely covering their air conditioning filters using this product. However, as the device’s functioning suggests, the Kurumask can only be used when the air conditioning system takes in.

For now, it will be only available for the facelifted N-box Kei, but the lineup is soon expected to follow as a necessary addition to the air conditioning filter.

Also read: Honda aims to phase out pure internal combustion engines from Europe