November 2009

Honda Cars : Eco Cars: Honda Native all-electric concept vehicle can change its color | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:52 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept vehicle designed to run on electricity.

With the world in need of cars that are smarter, efficient and powered by clean fuels, industrial designers are working hard on next-gen vehicles that are light in weight, boast unique features and are powered by electric batteries. Auto designer Tudoran Liviu has come up with a concept electric vehicle dubbed the Honda Native, which packs all these requirements in a stunning package.

The concept vehicle is made of lightweight materials and uses, in some regions, a photochromatic material that allows the car to change its color when temperature, light or other environmental changes occur. The Honda Native is designed to be powered by an electric engine that is fueled by a high voltage lithium-ion battery pack.

The interiors are also designed from lightweight materials such as aluminum and offer an OLED display to provide information regarding the performance of the car and a touchscreen control panel for easy access to all other functions. No word on how long can this car run on its batteries, but considering the use of lightweight materials and the minimalist design, we are expecting some decent figures.

Source;
http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/eco-cars-honda-native-all-electric-concept-vehicle-can-change-its-color/


, , , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Benchmarking Shows Toyota, Honda Follow Different Paths to Hybridization | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:38 AM
November 2009
November 2009

LYON, France –Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. are the global hybrid leaders, together controlling 70% of the market, but a benchmarking teardown of their hybrid-electric vehicles gives a detailed view of the auto makers’ different strategies.

While Toyota has worked to constantly improve hybrid performance, Honda’s strategy has been to reduce cost, says Antoine Chatelain, director of Mavel SA’s Mavtech subsidiary, which recently presented an overview of the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Insight at the French consultancy’s technical center here.

The ’09 Insight is less hybridized than the ’05 Civic Hybrid, Chatelain says, noting the Civic has electric air conditioning and regenerative braking, which the Insight lacks.

In contrast, the third-generation Prius is bigger than the Insight but has lower fuel consumption and is equipped with regenerative braking and two electric motors.

Although Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. all have launched hybrid vehicles, they trail Toyota and Honda by far. Toyota has sold 1.1 million Prius HEVs worldwide, while Honda has delivered 200,000 Civic Hybrids.

Both the Prius and Insight are based on internal-combustion platforms: the Prius on the Auris/Avensis architecture and the Insight on the U.S. version of the Honda Jazz (Fit). The Prius weighs 156 lbs. (71 kg) more than the gasoline Auris, while the Insight weighs 159 lbs. (72 kg) more than a Jazz/Fit with the same engine.

“Toyota is weight-oriented, and Honda is cost-oriented,” Chatelain says. Not counting the hybridization, the changes made to the Prius platform shaved 32.6 lbs. (15 kg) of mass; while changes made to the Jazz platform for the Insight added 30.4 lbs. (13.8 kg).

The two hybrids have a different instrument cluster, rear seat, tailgate, windows and smaller gas tank than conventional gasoline models on the same architecture. The Prius has an electric A/C compressor and water pump, “green” tires, a different parking brake pedal, tailgate and windows. The Insight has a specific crankshaft and HVAC block, and bigger wheels.

Takahuru Echigo, who works for Honda Engineering Co. Ltd. in Swindon, U.K., confirms reduced cost was a key goal in the Insight’s development but notes performance also was a factor.
Power density nearly has doubled since 1999 when the first Insight was introduced and costs are down 60%, he says. The electric motor of the new Insight is 15% lighter than that in the Civic Hybrid, with power density increased 24%.

INRETS, a French research academy, projects the number of hybrids sold annually could reach 1 million in 2011, 2 million by 2014 and 5 million by 2020. In 2007, sales totaled 500,000 units.

“The growth of sales should be principally in mature markets, where clients have higher buying power,” says Jean-Bruno Monteil, director of material studies at Mavel. “Awareness of environmental issues is less in developing countries, and the complexity of hybrid drive discourages buyers in emerging markets.”

Mavel also believes virtually all European cars will soon have stop/start capability.

“Stop/start is not very expensive, and hybrids are expensive,” says Mavel’s Jean-Michel Prillieux. “Stop/start is not a hybrid. Cars have had electricity on board for years, with starter motors and headlights. Stop/start is a new electric feature, like ABS (antilock braking systems or EPS (electronic stability program technology).”

In Europe, gasoline hybrids have fierce competition from diesels. The Insight has a carbon-dioxide emissions rating of 101 g/km.

The Ford Focus Econetic with a diesel engine is rated at 115 g/km, and an industry engineer says it costs only about €20 ($30) to convert a conventional 1.6L diesel Focus into a higher-mileage version with a plastic underbody shield, better engine oil and environmentally friendly “green” tires.

The cost to consumers to save a gram of CO2/km is cheaper with a mild gasoline hybrid, such as the Insight, rather than a full hybrid Prius.

In Germany, a Civic Hybrid costs €23,000 ($34,312) and emits 110 g/km of CO2, while a conventional Civic is priced at €20,050 ($30,584) and emits 154 g/km, costing hybrid customers €67 ($100) for each g/km reduction.

A gasoline Toyota Auris costs €19,000 ($28,340) and emits 154 g/km of CO2, while a third-generation Prius is priced at €25,000 ($37,290) and emits 92 g/km, costing hybrid customers €97 ($145) for each g/km reduction.

Mavel’s benchmarking studied the materials used in the cars in detail, and because it has torn down dozens of vehicles, it is able to compare the hybrids’ material usage with an average midsized European car.

The Insight uses 64% ferrous material, more than an average European car. The third-generation Prius is the leader in aluminum use, at 12%. The Prius has an aluminum hood and tailgate as part of its weight-saving strategy, says Bernard Thiebault, Mavel’s director of automotive body benchmarking.

Hybridization has little impact on the bodies of the hybrids, the executive says, noting there is no impact on passive safety but slightly additional weight for battery fixation. The principal design changes to improve performance are aerodynamics on both cars, and mass reduction on the Prius.

Juan Manuel Pedrero, marketing manager for the Spanish consultant, Robotiker Tecnalia, says the U.S. and Japan are ahead in developing electrification technologies, but after a slow start, Europe is pushing hard with a €93 million ($139 million) budget to support cooperative projects next year.

The projects are to be aimed at developing sustainable surface transportation and a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020.

A European Union document states: “The 2010 call places greater emphasis on breakthrough research aiming at radically new approaches able to respond to societal need in a time horizon of 2015-2020,” when the transport system no longer will be completely reliant on fossil fuels.

Source;


, , , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Consumer Reports: Q and A: Why do car batteries die in winter? | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:19 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Q: Why do car batteries go dead in winter?

A: Cold weather is often fingered as the culprit when car batteries die, but actually warm temperatures do the most damage to them. High temperatures quicken corrosion of internal plates and vaporize the electrolyte faster. But car batteries usually go dead in cold weather mostly because damage done during the summer doesn’t show up until the battery is more taxed. A cold battery has reduced cranking power, and cold temperatures thicken motor oil, making it harder to turn the engine over. Modern electrical and fuel systems can mask a weak battery by starting an engine with a minimum of cranking, but when a weak battery is further compromised by cold conditions, it’s more likely to fail.

For more information on how to choose a car battery, see our car battery buying advice, ratings and recommendations.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/11/qa-car-batteries.html


, , , , ,

Honda Cars : New Mugen Kit for Honda Fit | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:15 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Mugen propose a 2 new Kit in Japan for the Honda Fit, with a selection of 2 different from spoiler and bumper as well as not less than 5 different set of wheels including 2 16” models and 3 15” ones.

Our kit also includes sport suspension, a sport silencer, new breaking pads a quick sifter as well as some other accessories purely cosmetics including sport pedals and shift knobs…

Source;
http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news-1193-New+Mugen+Kit+for+Honda+Fit.html


, , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Another proposed Toyota MR2 Hybrid Article | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:37 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Tell us if this sounds familiar: Hybrids will kill the driver-oriented sportscar. It's the line taken by no small share of enthusiasts, and some of them are among us here at Autoblog. But the skeptics were silenced – or temporarily hushed, at least – when Honda took the wraps off of its CR-Z coup concept. After all, anything that could bring back the CRX hatchback with added oomph at no extra cost at the fuel pumps has to sound good to anyone's ears, right? But you didn't think Toyota would let Honda have the fun all to itself now, did you?

It's far from official, but reports out of Japan suggest that Toyota may be working on a reborn hybrid sportscar of its own. The company once known for its sports-coupes recently unveiled the FT-86 concept, and could be set to follow up with a gasoline-electric resurrection of the cult classic MR2. The budget-friendly mid-engine/rear-drive sportscar had a big following who led the legions of the disappointed when the third-generation model was discontinued two years ago. But if the latest reports are to be believed, Mr. Two could be back – in hybrid form.

Details are scarce, but according to Japan's Best Car, we're looking at a two-seat two-door coupe with a gasoline engine mounted amidships behind the cabin, coupled to an electric motor in a more performance-oriented version of the Toyota Synergy Drive popularized by the Prius. Reports suggest it could adopt the MR-S nameplate, which is what the last MR2 was known as in Japan, so there's just as good a chance that it could wear the MR2 nameplate on this side of the Pacific. That's about all we've got for now, but if we all (Toyota included) play our cards just right, Japan's beloved budget mid-engined car could be coming back...with a charge.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/rumormill-toyota-mr2-to-be-reborn-with-hybrid-power/


, , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda Helpful giving out free gas to SoCal Honda owners | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:55 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Honda pays it forward....
If you live in Southern California, keep your eyes open for a blue tanker truck from now until December 31. SoCal Honda is sending their “Honda Helpful” teams to give out free gas to lucky Honda owners. The team is reportedly spread out across Southern California communities to perform good deeds including handing out umbrellas when it’s raining, handing out reusable grocery bags and feeding the homeless.

“The majority are Honda drivers, but some non-Honda drivers may also get lucky!” someone at Honda told KickingTires.

So if you own a Honda and live in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange Count, San Fernando Valley, Pasadena or Ventura Count, keep a lookout for a big blue truck that reads “Hey Honda owners, enjoy free gas and envious stares.”

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/11/25/honda-helpful-giving-out-free-gas-to-socal-honda-owners/


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Toyota to Revive MR2 as Hybrid Competitor to Honda CR-Z? Japanese Magazine Believes So | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:52 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Ever since Honda announced the CR-Z hybrid sports coupe, there have been rumors going around about the possibility of a corresponding Toyota model. Just to make it clear, we haven't heard anything official, but Japan's Best Car magazine is reporting/speculating/imagining (take your pick) that Toyota may revive the MR2 as a hybrid model called the MR-S to compete with Honda's CR-Z coupe that will go on sale in 2010.

We'll have to wait until some of our Japanese-fluent readers give us all the details from the article, but from what we gather, the MR-S would probably use a specially developed version of the Toyota Prius' hybrid powertrain.

The magazine's article is accompanied by an artist's impression on how the MR-S could like. Judging by the air-inlets at the back, the proposed MR-S most likely features a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

If true, this would make the MR-S a sportier proposal than the front-wheel drive CR-Z.

As we said before, there's nothing official about the existence of such a model, but we can't say that it sounds improbable for Toyota to develop a second sports car after the FT-86, especially if it's a smaller, lightweight hybrid.

Source: Best Car
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/11/toyota-to-revive-mr2-as-hybrid.html


, , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Lexus LFA will be available on lease in the US and Canada | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:42 AM
November 2009
November 2009

The 552hp Lexus LFA supercar will be available in North America on a lease basis for at least two years, after which, you can choose to purchase the car. Out of 500 units planned, about 140 are expected to be available in the US and 10 for the Canadian market. This is to prevent the cars from not being driven until they carry more value and subsequently sold. It also to avoid speculators from purchasing the car and selling it immediately for a huge profit.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2009/11/26/lexus-lfa-will-be-available-on-lease-in-the-us-and-canada/


, , , , , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Corvette C6.BlackforceOne, by German tuners Loma Performance | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:30 AM
November 2009
November 2009

This is one Bada$$ vette....
Germans from Loma Performance have unveiled a tunned Corvette C6, with a particulary dark look and mean specs. Dubbed the “BlackForceOnce”, this mean machine is one of the best tunes we’ve seen this year, both when it comes to the design and the monster under the hood. With hopes that the name will spark no racism debate, we continue the article on the BlackForceOnce Corvette by Loma Performance…

The inspiration is not not a bad choice. I mean, Nike did it and no one pointed at them “You’re lame!”, did they? (I mean the Air Force 1 Nike sportsshoes, killers btw google them if you wish..). We don’t know if this one will carry any President (thought I’d like to see some of their faces at 200 mph), like the Air Force 1, but we know for sure anyone driving it will feel Royal. The base model Corvette C6 (hot trivia: Introduced in 2005, it is the first Corvette to contain exposed headlamps since the C1 generation, which was produced until 1962) was pumped and redisigned to becom a true Force One on wheels… a Black Force One!

Force One cause the engine was twin-turbocharged to gush out some 783 horsepower (794 PS), from the basic C6, out of which real engine-reaching power is 666 hp (675 PS). Coincidence or not, this makes the car even more interesting… You reach 62 mph / 100 kmh in 3.4 seconds, making it one hell of a fast car. Top speed 205 mph (330 km/h). But could the standard-body of the Corvette stand this fury? We don’t want to find out nor do we need too as Loma Performance offers in the BlackForceOne: carbon-ceramic discs on stock brakes, suspension, wheels, tires, exhaust and the entire drivetrain redone with newer better materials. Sport tires from Michelin Sport Cup that are 275/30R19 in front and 335/25R20 out back have been mounted on the BlackForceOne. They’re mounted on 10 x 19 and 12 x 20-inch shining black OZ Racing Ultraleggera HLT alloy wheels. More can be read in the Press Release, down after the Photo Gallery of the BlackForceOne.

The exterior is what you’d expect from some crazy Euros messing around with a Corvette. The car was widened from 179cm to more than two meters at the rear, to make it more Bat-mobile looking. You can choose from three matte paint finishes, all looking devilish though I must admit I prefer the black one. Take a look at the photo gallery and decide for yourself.

Price for all-included full-house extra-topping is a bit under 200K Euros. No comments here…
Well, till the C7 appears, this is probably the hottest Corvette on Earth. Only 25 C6.BlackForceOnes will be designed, so if you think you should have one contact the guys over at Loma Performance right away. The BlackForceOne debuts officialy at the Essen Motor Show.

Source (with more photos);
http://www.mibz.com/2732-corvette-c6-blackforceone-by-german-tuners-loma-performance.html


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Two Japanese Carmakers Leads Over All Other Mainstream Brands.Toyota, Honda | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 8:57 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen Take Top Spots in ALG's Fall 2009 Perceived Quality Study
Las Vegas (CRWENEWSWIRE) Nov. 23, 2009 Two Japanese carmakers, Toyota and Honda were the top performers among mainstream brands in ALG’s Fall 2009 Perceived Quality Score (PQS). German carmaker Volkswagen (VW), takes third spot .

Ford Cars showed the strongest year-over-year improvement in perceived quality, followed by Ford Trucks/SUVs. Ford’s ability to avoid bankruptcy and launch new models in 2009 has likely generated increased consumer confidence in the brand.

Hyundai rounded out the top three in terms of greatest year-over-year improvement.

Consistently lead the industry when it comes to perceived quality are Toyota and Honda. These companies have maintained a long history of durable and reliable powertrains.

About ALG
Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG is a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the “Automotive Lease Guide” – the standard for Residual Value projections in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for over 37 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets. ALG is a company of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRAK).

About DealerTrack
DealerTrack’s intuitive and high-value software solutions enhance efficiency and profitability for all major segments of the automotive retail industry, including dealers, lenders, OEMs, agents and aftermarket providers. Our solution set for dealers is the industry’s most comprehensive. DealerTrack operates the industry’s largest online credit application network, connecting over 17,000 dealers with over 750 financing sources. Our Dealer Management System (DMS) provides dealers with easy-to-use tools with real-time data access that will streamline any automotive business. With DealerTrack Inventory Optimization, dealers get better data along with the tools to make smarter, more profitable inventory decisions. Our Sales and F&I solution enables dealers to streamline the entire sales process, quickly structuring all types of deals from a single integrated platform. DealerTrack’s Compliance solution helps dealers meet legal and regulatory requirements and protect their hard-earned assets. DealerTrack’s family of companies also includes data and consulting services providers, ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) and Chrome Systems. For more information, visit www.dealertrack.com.

Source;
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=142354&cat=1


, , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda tops 2009 corporate fuel economy charts, Chrysler trails | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 8:51 AM
November 2009
November 2009

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently in the process of compiling the the fleet average fuel economy numbers for model year 2009, which recently concluded, and it looks like Honda will be on top yet again. The final numbers are still some months away as the data is collected on exactly how many cars were sold and in what configurations. Based on early numbers, Honda's fleet average comes out to 23.6 mpg with Hyundai-Kia close behind at 23.4 mpg. Both of those companies are down slightly from 2008 when they averaged 23.9 and 23.7 mpg, respectively. Of course, last year Honda sold huge quantities of Civics and Fits when gas went to $4 / gallon. This year, those sales – along with everything else – are down, bringing the average mpg number down.

The three Detroit brand automakers brought up the rear with Ford, GM and Chrysler at 20.5, 19.9 and 18.7 mpg, respectively. All three of those manufacturers had a higher proportion of truck sales than cars but even their car numbers are lower because they sell more large cars than their foreign counterparts. As the new small cars from GM and Ford come to market in the next 12-18 months, this should change their position significantly. Chrysler will have to wait a bit longer for Fiat-based cars to hit the U.S. market before their numbers improve. You can find the full 2009 report here.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/honda-tops-2009-corporate-fuel-economy-charts-chrysler-trails/


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Acura Announces Pricing and On-Sale Information for 2010 ZDX | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:54 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Provocative four-door sports coupe goes on-sale December 15
TORRANCE, Calif. - 11/20/2009
The all-new 2010 ZDX four-door sports coupe is set to go on-sale at Acura dealerships on December 15 with a manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $45,495, plus a destination and handling charge* of $810, Acura announced today.

Designed, developed and manufactured in North America, the ZDX has already generated a tremendous amount of excitement since its world debut at the New York Auto Show in April, thanks to its stunning coupe-like styling combined with flexible utility, a commanding presence and outstanding performance.

"Acura dealers are seeing strong interest from customers for the ZDX well before its official on-sale date," said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. "The ZDX is like nothing you have ever seen before from Acura."The ZDX will be available in three trim packages, the well-equipped ZDX; ZDX with Technology Package; and the ZDX with Advance Package. Highlights of standard features on the ZDX include the world's longest panoramic glass roof, concealed rear door handles, and a hand-stitched leather dash, center console and door panels. Powering every ZDX is a 3.7-liter VTEC® V-6 that generates 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque while achieving a class-leading EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg**. Standard on every ZDX is Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system that provides outstanding handling as well as excellent all-season capability.

The ZDX with Technology Package adds an Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ with Traffic Rerouting™, AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ with radar image maps, a full VGA display screen and an innovative new multi-view rear camera.

Additionally, the Technology Package includes an upgraded Acura/ELS Surround® 415-watt Premium Audio System with a built-in 15-gigabyte hard disk drive (HDD) media storage system (that allows the ZDX owner to download and store up to 3,500 songs***), a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system and Keyless Access System (with Smart Entry and push button ignition).

In addition to the features found in the Technology Package, the Advance Package adds several premium technologies including a new blind spot information system (BSI), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigating Braking System™ (CMBS™), an Integrated Dynamic System (IDS) active damper system, heated and ventilated front seats with Perforated Milano Premium Leather seating surfaces, premium brushed tricot headliner material and a sport steering wheel.

Trim MSRP* EPA**
ZDX $45,495 16/23/19
ZDX with Technology Package $49,995 16/23/19
ZDX with Advance Package $56,045 16/23/19

for more information about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com. For additional media information, please go to www.acuranews.com.
*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $810.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
**Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
***Approximate capacity based on an average size of 4.2 MB per song at a 128kbps bitrate

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/793/releases/5324


, , , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : 2010 Honda Accord CrossTour Canadian Pricing | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 3:18 PM
November 2009
November 2009

Well, here we have it....Official sales date will be Nov 24, 2009, although we are said to recieve our first ones Nov. 20, 2009.
2010 Honda Accord CrossTour EX-L V6 2WD Automatic
$34,900 plus freight and pdi ($1,550 here in Manitoba), plus taxes

2010 Honda Accord CrossTour EX-L V6 4WD Automatic
$36,900 plus freight and pdi ($1,550 here in Manitoba), plus taxes

2010 Honda Accord CrossTour EX-L V6 4WD Navigation Automatic
$38,900 plus freight and pdi ($1,550 here in Manitoba), plus taxes

Source;
Honda Canada


, , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda arrives fashionably late | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:13 AM
November 2009
November 2009

With the Accord Crosstour, Honda finally has a five-passenger mid-size crossover in this important market segment. The car maker may have taken its time – but it’s got it right

Ford has the Edge. Subaru has the Outback. Toyota has the Venza. Nissan the Murano. Mazda the CX-7. Hyundai the Santa Fe. And now, coming later this month, Honda has the 2010 Accord Crosstour.

Yes, Honda is late to this game. Very late. And even at that, Honda really is only dipping its big toe into a segment where so many others have found success and won fans.

In fact, Honda has exceedingly modest expectations for the Crosstour: annual sales of about 3,000 for a car that amounts to a tall station wagon with a long list of standard upscale features.
Toyota has been selling more than 1,000 Venzas a month lately and Subaru's sales have exploded with the introduction of the newly updated Outback.

Officially, the Crosstour – with an estimated price of about $35,000 – is a crossover, which means it's a car sort of pretending to be an SUV. Pretending, indeed. In standard trim, the Crosstour is a front-driver, just like the Accord sedan on which it is based.

In reality, though, the Crosstour is a Honda Accord with a big hatchback at the rear and optional all-wheel-drive, leather seats, power everything, an excellent sound system, a lovely carpeted cargo area with nifty little hatches and cubbies all over, all powered by a strong and fuel efficient 3.5-litre V-6 (271 horsepower).

You read that right. Honda is only offering the Crosstour with a V-6. That's not entirely unusual. The Edge is a V-6-only ride, as is the Murano and the Santa Fe. On the other hand, Subaru has a four-cylinder Outback and Toyota can barely meet demand for its four-banger Venza.

Caution, thy name is Honda. But that's been the whole story of Honda for this past year.

More than a year ago, Honda began making radical moves to cut costs and align production with the falling demand of a global recession. To save money, Honda jettisoned its Formula One racing effort, offered buyouts to scores of workers, negotiated pay cuts with others, carefully revisited its new model development program and moved quickly to do its best at aligning production to falling demand. Honda's problems have been compounded by a strong yen that makes exports from Japan expensive in Canada and the United States.

The result of all Honda's diligence: a profit last year and Honda is predicting a profit for the fiscal year that ends next March 31.

“This was a really tough year,” Honda Motor president Takanobu Ito recently told trade journal Automotive News. “We are barely making a profit. This is something we had anticipated from the very beginning, and our projection turned out to be true.

“Especially in the United States, our biggest market, the recovery, for us at least, is slow. And Europe's recovery is even slower. This is having a major negative impact on our corporate performance.”

But not as bad as Ito might lead you to believe. Honda is predicting an annual profit of $2.1-billion (U.S.) for the current fiscal year. Jerry Chenkin, Honda Canada executive vice-president, says Honda is obsessive about earnings; without profits, there is no money for new-model development. And without new models and new technologies, Honda will fall behind the competition.

Yet while Honda does have leadership in many areas, including having Canada's best-selling car for nine straight years in the Civic, the Crosstour is an example of Honda chasing the competition.

This may be because Honda has been reluctant to tamper with its current lineup. In Honda's world, the Crosstour fits in between the Honda CR-V compact crossover and the Honda Pilot SUV. Honda apparently did not feel it needed something to fill that gap – until now.
It's possible Honda is not offering the Crosstour with a four-banger in order to avoid competing against the CR-V and hurting sales of the latter. Honda isn't saying. But the body language of company types suggests Honda Canada would rather have a four-cylinder Crosstour and let the CR-V – given a facelift for 2010, by the way – fend for itself.

The Crosstour, in fact, is a perfectly sensible Honda Accord hatchback. Moreover, it looks much better in person than any of the pictures might suggest. The newest Honda isn't quite as large and heavy as the Pilot or the Odyssey minivan. Yet it has roomier passenger quarters than the CR-V.

In terms of dimensions, well, the Crosstour is similar in width and height to the likes of the Venza, Murano and Outback, though the Honda has less ground clearance than these three rivals. Nonetheless, the Honda sits higher off the ground than a normal Accord sedan.

The whole point of the ride height here is twofold: It makes entry and exit easier for the targeted baby boomer buyers; and when equipped with the Real Time four-wheel-drive system from the CR-V, the tall-ish Crosstour gives you a shot at escaping your driveway after a snowstorm.

As a family ride – or an empty-nester baby boomer utility wagon – the Crosstour is just excellent. With 2,871 litres of cargo space when the 60/40-split rear seats are folded, the Crosstour has more space than a Venza and Outback. The rear seats fold completely flat, too – with an easy pull of handles that are an easy reach in the cargo hold.

On the other hand, with the rears up, the Crosstour‘s cargo hold is 728 litres, versus 869 and 972 respectively in the Toyota and Subaru. That means if you load up four sets of golf clubs, you'll need to pull out the drivers and tuck them here and there, creatively. Honda has included tie-down hooks, which are useful, indeed.

Moreover, Honda put the spare tire under the car and it has a plastic cover down there to keep it clean. With the spare out of the way, there is additional storage space below the rear floor in the cargo hold. A deep and hidden removable utility box provides storage, while on each side there are two recessed areas providing some hidden space, also.

Up front, ahead of the back seats, everything is essentially an Accord. That's good. The design here is clean and completely sensible, the materials durable looking and nicely put together. You will not find yourself looking for a knob or a control.

The cabin's soft-touch plastic material looks and feels fairly expensive and the steering wheel is meaty, fitting nicely into your hands. The dials are big and thoroughly legible. The dash has a simple flow across it. With Honda, function trumps art.

Not only is the Crosstour functional, it is a fine car to drive. Ride quality is almost identical to the Accord, which should not be a surprise; these Hondas share basic suspension components. Honda says minor revisions to the chassis have yielded a 20-per-cent increase in bending rigidity, along with a 3-per-cent increase in torsional or twisting rigidity.

The V-6 is plenty powerful and has Honda's fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation feature (Honda's Variable Cylinder Management). Mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission – the only downside to this tranny is a hesitance to downshift – the Crosstour boasts pretty decent fuel economy using regular fuel: 11.5 litres per 100 km city/7.2 highway for the front-driver and 12.3 city/8.0 highway for the AWD version. The Honda is slightly more efficient than the six-cylinder Venza and Outback.

Honda expects the Crosstour to have all the best scores in crash tests and it certainly comes with the full range of active and passive safety features – from airbags all over to an anti-skid system. So it really is the full package.

Honda is late with the Crosstour and still lacking a four-banger, too. Nonetheless, the competition should be taking notice. In its niche, this new crossover is a standout.
2010 Accord Crosstour

Type: Five-door, mid-size cross-over wagon
Price: $35,000 (estimated)
Engine: 3.5-litre V-6, SOHC
Horsepower/torque: 271 hp/254 lb-ft
Transmission: Five-speed auto
Drive: Front-wheel-drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km):
11.5 city/7.2 highway for FWD;
12.3 city/8.0 highway for AWD; regular gas
Alternatives: Ford Edge, Subaru Outback, Toyota Venza, Nissan Murano, Mazda CX-7, Hyundai Santa Fe
Like
Good fuel economy for this class
Functional hatchback design with a clean and useful interior
Creative storage space
Honda’s history for high quality and excellent safety scores
Don’t like
Sloping roof compromises rear-seat headroom
Cargo area design means you’ll need to be creative when loading four sets of golf clubs
Transmission is a bit reluctant to downshift
Source;


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 27 winners of 2010 Top Safety Pick award | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:46 AM
November 2009
November 2009

new requirement to win is good rating for protection in rollovers

ARLINGTON, VA — Nineteen cars and 8 SUVs earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award for 2010. For the first time, good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover is required to win. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control, which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. This is the second time the Institute has tightened criteria since announcing the first recipients in 2005.

Subaru is the only manufacturer with a winner in all 4 vehicle classes in which it competes. This automaker earns 5 awards for 2010. Ford and subsidiary Volvo have 6 winners, and Volkswagen/Audi has 5. Chrysler earns 4 awards, continuing a recent trend of improving the crashworthiness of its vehicles. Two new small cars, the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul, join the Top Safety Pick list for 2010.

"With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "Consumers can use this list to zero in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety."

Good rollover ratings: A new requirement for strong roofs winnows the list of Top Safety Pick winners from a record 94 in 2009. The addition of this criterion recognizes manufacturers with vehicles that provide good protection in rollovers, which kill more than 9,000 people in passenger vehicles each year. The first rollover ratings were released in March. Vehicles rated good have roofs more than twice as strong as the current federal standard requires. The Institute estimates that such roofs reduce the risk of serious and fatal injury in single-vehicle rollovers by about 50 percent compared with roofs meeting the minimum requirement.

"Cars and SUVs that win Top Safety Pick are designs that go far beyond minimum federal safety standards," Lund points out.

Missing the mark: Not a single model from the world's biggest automaker by sales is represented among this year's winners. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion subsidiaries had a strong showing in 2009 with 11 winners but were shut out for 2010. Four other manufacturers whose vehicles have earned Top Safety Pick in the past didn't have a qualifying vehicle for 2010: BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Saab. The Honda Accord picked up the award the past 2 years, but the 2010 didn't earn the required good roof strength rating to qualify (the roof is rated acceptable). The Ford Fusion is another midsize car that dropped off the list for the same reason.

"Honda and Ford would have to make only minor changes to achieve good ratings for roof strength, as the Accord and Fusion just missed the mark," Lund explains.

The midsize Toyota Camry would have qualified with good ratings, except for its rear crash evaluation. This car's seats and head restraints are rated marginal for protection against whiplash injury. A change to good would have earned the Camry a Top Safety Pick for 2010.

Other automakers have improved head restraints to win. For example, inadequate head restraints kept earlier Chrysler models from earning awards, but in 2010 the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Journey, and Jeep Patriot all earn good ratings and Top Safety Pick. Likewise, General Motors upgraded the seats and head restraints in the Chevrolet Malibu to win.

Volvo glitch: The Institute identified a problem with the Volvo XC60 in the side test. A piece of plastic trim on the driver seat pushed against a service release button for the safety belt, which then detached from its anchor during the test.

"This would be a serious issue if it happened in a real crash, but it's not likely to happen and it's fixable," Lund explains. "Still, belts shouldn't come loose in a crash test. Volvo is fixing the problem so it won't be an issue with XC60 models produced after November 2009. Top Safety Pick applies only to these modified XC60s."

Consumers who own 2010 XC60s already on the road should see their Volvo dealer for repairs, Lund advises.

Improved protection: Front and side impacts and rollovers killed 24,056 passenger vehicle occupants in 2008. Rear-end crashes usually aren't fatal but result in a large proportion of crash injuries. Neck sprain or strain is the most commonly reported injury in two-thirds of insurance claims for injuries in all kinds of crashes.

"In safety terms, we've come very far, very fast in just the past decade," Lund says. "When the Institute began conducting frontal tests for consumer information in 1995, few vehicles earned top ratings. Now almost all do. Most cars failed the side tests we added in 2003. Test results in that initial round were so bad we nearly broke our budget for repairing the crash test dummy, but now most vehicles ace the side test thanks to side airbags and stronger side structures. Factor in improved head restraints to protect against whiplash and electronic stability control to prevent crashes, and consumers are the clear winners."

Safety equipment is increasingly standard. Ninety-two percent of 2010 model cars, 99 percent of SUVs, and 66 percent of pickup trucks have standard side airbags with head protection. Electronic stability control is standard on 85 percent of cars, 100 percent of SUVs, and 62 percent of pickups.

"Now that roof strength is a priority, we think manufacturers will move quickly to bolster roofs to do well in our roof strength test. This means consumers likely will have more Top Safety Pick choices for 2011," Lund predicts.

Keep in mind vehicle size and weight, he adds, because larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones. Even with a Top Safety Pick, a small car isn't as crashworthy as a bigger one.

The Institute awarded the first Top Safety Pick winners to 2006 models and then raised the bar the next year by requiring good rear test results and electronic stability control as either standard or optional equipment. Early this year the Institute alerted auto manufacturers to the new criteria for roof crush and asked them to nominate candidates for testing.

How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a 5th percentile woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.

In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is rated poor.

ALL 27 WINNERS

Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80

Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu built after October 2009
Chrysler Sebring 4-door with optional electronic stability control
Dodge Avenger with optional electronic stability control
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30

Small cars
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza except WRX
Volkswagen Golf 4-door

Midsize SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Source;
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr111809.html


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda P-NUT Coupe Concept Destined for 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:37 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Crack as many jokes about the name as you want, but the P-NUT -- or Peronsal-Neo Urban Transport -- concept will be another look at an ultra-futuristic Honda coupe.

Few details (and no images, the one above is a random logo pic) are being released at this time, but Honda does note that the concept, which is designed and crafted by the automaker’s Advanced Design Studio in Los Angeles, demonstrates “a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact, aggressively designed coupe.” The same studio was also responsible for the FC Sport concept (pictured) shown at last year’s L.A. show.

We’re told this will have no relation to either the concept or production CR-Z, and won’t focus on powertrain innovations. Instead, expect Honda’s designers to toy with new ways of packaging an ultra-small coupe. This could literally mean anything -- a two passenger urban-commuter like Nissan’s Land Glider isn’t completely out of the question, although some of us yearn for a modern take on the Beat roadster…

We’ll have all the details on the P-NUT come December 2, when the car makes its debut at the Los Angeles auto show in the afternoon. Stay with Automobile Magazine for all the latest news surrounding the Honda concept and the 2009 L.A. show itself.

Source;
Honda, and;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6608271/news/honda-p-nut-coupe-concept-destined-for-2009-los-angeles-auto-show/index.html


, , , , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda India: Honda may roll out new Small Car before 2011-12 | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:54 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Interesting....
NEW DELHI: Honda Motor’s small car is likely to hit the Indian market earlier than expected. The new car (code named 2CV) being developed especially for India may be launched before 2011-12 to take on Toyota and break Suzuki’s stronghold on the Indian market.

Toyota plans to launch its small car next year, while Suzuki with its seven compact models dominates the Indian small car segment with over 60% market share. Honda doesn’t have a small car in its portfolio and has been looking at new models to gain market share in India.
The 2CV may come with a 1.1 litre petrol engine and could double Honda’s volumes in India, currently hovering around 52,000 cars per year. The car is expected to roll out from its stalled manufacturing plant in Rajasthan , where Honda plans to have targeted capacity of one lakh small cars per annum.
The company refused to confirm the developments on the new car and said that nothing has changed from its earlier stated position. “All plans of the new small car are going as per schedule,” the Honda spokeswomen said. An executive in the automotive component industry said that Honda’s small car project is on track and it may also have a diesel variant at a later stage to gain on the rising popularity of diesel cars in India.
The car will be pitted against the growing tribe of premium hatchback cars like the Maruti Swift, Hyundai i10, General Motors Aveo UV-A, Tata Motors’ Indica, Fiat’s Punto, Ford Figo and Toyota’s yet to be launched small car. This is the fastest growing segment in the domestic market with over 2.5 lakh cars sold every year.
The new car will be much smaller than Honda Jazz, its other hatchback, but is expected to have an affordable price tag of Rs 4-4 .5 lakh for the petrol variant. It may share platform (common manufacturing line and spares) with the Jazz including the same iV-TEC engine technology, but will fit as a small entry-level A segment car.
The same car will also be made in Thailand where it is expected to be developed and sold under the Thai government’s Eco-Car project, which enjoys many tax concessions. However any such eco-variant is ruled out for the Indian market for the time being.
Source;


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Fuel cell vehicles finish 707-mile demonstration run in Japan | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:39 AM
November 2009
November 2009


Toyota, Nissan and Honda all participated in a fuel cell demonstration run in Japan last week. The three automakers brought their most advanced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles out for the two-day trip from Tokyo to Fukuoka with an overnight stop in Osaka. The driving teams piloted a Honda FCX Clarity, a Nissan X-Trail FCV and a Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv. Back in 2007, a Toyota FCHV traveled from Osaka to Tokyo on one tank of H2.
Over the course of the trip the three vehicles covered 706.5 miles and consumed 28.8 kg of hydrogen. That works out to an average of 73.6 miles / kg. One kg of hydrogen has roughly the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline, so the mileage works out to about 73-74 mpg.
The drive was organized by the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel cell project. While all three of the automakers are developing plug-in battery electric vehicles, all three also continue to work on fuel cells. Both Toyota and Honda maintain that they feel hydrogen remains the best long term solution for full function vehicles.
Source;


, , , , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Special Star Wars Kit for Honda Del Sol (sorry sold out).... | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 12:12 PM
November 2009
November 2009


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : 7tune; New Super GT Honda Confirmed | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 8:25 AM
November 2009
November 2009

With the last race of this year’s Super GT already over and done with, fans of Honda have been left wondering what will replace the current NSX GT car for next season.

Due to new Super GT regulations forcing the use of FR cars for the 2010 season, fans of the mid-engine Honda saw the last race of their venerate NSX earlier this month at Twin Ring Motegi Circuit here in Japan. With it’s first debut back in 1997 at the then All Japan GTC (followed by the JGTC and now Super GT), the NSX has had an illustrious career, claiming 49 poles with 36 race wins from 105 starts. With all this, Honda and the NSX teams have obviously attracted a multitude of fans and supporters over the last 13 years. But now, with rule changes forcing the end of the NSX’s career, Honda has announced that it will continue it’s participation in the Super GT. With an FR S2000 you say? Well no, actually with none other than it’s shelved FR Super Sports V10.

The shelved project, which had to be put on permanent hold along with Honda’s F1 involvement due to the economic crisis, will find new life and will be used as the base for the GT car in season 2010.

But surely it’s not possible!? While at first the idea may seem a little far fetched it all makes good sense. Before being given the axe, the FR V10 was under going development and work on a Super GT variant was already in place. It’s release was to coincide with the release of the road going version into the market. Times have changed though and whilst the race version of the car will be released next year, its road friendly counterpart will not. Honda will use special permission from the organizers of Super GT to allow this to happen and let the car compete in the GT 500. This will also let Honda off the homologation hook, meaning no limited run of V10s will have to be made or sold unlike the unicorn like NSX-R GT.

While details at this point in time are still sketchy, Honda will be releasing more details shortly and we await what FR goodness will be in store for us come 2010.

Source (with more pix);
http://www.7tune.com/new-super-gt-honda-confirmed/


, , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda’s Rodney Dangerfield of Alt-Fuel Vehicles | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:48 AM
November 2009
November 2009

With all the excitement about electric vehicles these days, the natural gas Honda Civic GX just doesn’t get any respect. Perhaps that’s because it still burns fossil fuel in an internal combustion engine, which may seem to some like incremental innovation. But a closer look at the car, which debuted in 1998 and has sold several thousand since then, reveals an interesting story about the cleanest internal combustion vehicle in the United States.

The Civic GX program was born of an era when the enemy was smog emissions and air quality, not global warming.

“At the time, we were considering the ZEV mandate,” Steve Ellis, Honda’s manager for alternative fuels sales and marketing, said in reference to the California Air Resources Board mandate that large manufacturers produce a certain number of zero-emissions vehicles. “The goal was originally clean air, so Honda engineers set out to use the cleanest fuel — natural gas.”

The program was launched alongside the EV Plus, Honda’s contribution to the first wave of modern, production electric vehicles spurred by California regulators in the 1990s. Honda leased about 300 EV Plus cars from 1997 to 1999, but ended the program shortly thereafter in favor of more extensive development of its hydrogen-fuel-cell program.

It is fairly easy and cheap to convert internal combustion engines to run on natural gas, but the results of a simple conversion are not very good. While the internals of an engine running on natural gas are very similar to those of a gasoline engine, the natural gas engine must run at a much higher compression ratio to generate the same power as a gasoline engine.

These days a typical gas engine runs at a compression ratio of about 9-to-1. A high performance car might run at 10.5-to-1. Generally speaking, the higher the compression ratio, the more power an engine can produce, but above a certain ratio gasoline will prematurely and spontaneously ignite in the chamber, which is something to avoid. The higher the octane rating of the fuel, the more it can tolerate high levels of compression.

Natural gas has a very high octane rating, so Honda engineered an engine with a 12.5-to-1 compression ratio, allowing it to produce roughly the same output as a similarly sized gasoline engine. To run that high, the internal components of the engine read like a spec sheet from an import-tuner magazine: forged pistons, modified valve seats, modified crank journals and a forged crankshaft. Even with these mods, the 1.8-liter Civic GX engine produces only 113 horsepower compared to 140 for the standard gas-powered 1.8 liter. Perhaps Honda should bump the compression to 15-to-1.

The fuel-delivery system is completely different, since it is delivering compressed gas from a 3,600 psi “tank” to the fuel rail at 40 psi instead of delivering liquid gasoline to the injectors. The catalytic converter is also different, having been optimized for natural gas combustion. As a result Honda claims smog emissions from the Civic GX are so low as to be immeasurable. The GX is the cleanest internal combustion car in America.

But the environmental debate about cars has moved on from the old enemies of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide. Part of the reason is manufacturers have made internal combustion engines so “clean” with respect to smog emissions that customers can no longer kill themselves leaving the engine running in a closed garage. The other reason is that carbon dioxide, the friendly gas of soda pop and champagne and the same gas we exhale with every breath, has emerged as public enemy No. 1, surely dooming our civilization to mass extinction if we don’t act before the next election cycle.

What then will become of the Civic GX, which starts at $25,340? There is no way around the fact that when you burn a hydrocarbon you create carbon dioxide. Even though natural gas is the least carbon-intensive of fuels, with just one carbon atom to four hydrogen atoms, it saves only 25 percent on CO2 emissions per mile when compared to a comparable gas-powered car, according to Honda.

So the Civic GX may get no respect from the global warming crowd, but there are still reasons to support natural gas as a viable alternative to gasoline. While the carbon footprint per mile doesn’t compare favorably to an electric drivetrain, the fuel being burned is almost entirely domestically sourced, with only 2 percent imported from other countries.

Natural gas is a viable alternative across all types of vehicles in the fleet, from small cars like the Civic GX to large cargo haulers. So, the ability to displace foreign-sourced gasoline miles with domestically sourced natural gas miles is very attractive to those whose motivation to get off gas is more closely tied to energy independence and foreign policy.

Last but certainly not least, natural gas has been consistently cheaper than gasoline for the past decade by about 50 cents to a dollar per “gasoline-gallon equivalent,” and natural gas cars avoid the significant expense of batteries.

Even optimistic projections of electric-vehicle adoption still have internal combustion vehicles as the dominant form of transportation for many decades to come, so driving a shift from gasoline to natural gas is a smart goal to pursue in parallel with the electrification of the nation’s vehicle fleet.

Source;
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/honda-civic-gx/


, , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Honda Civic Type R Euro Tuned by Mugen | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:40 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Sorry folks, only for Japan and Europe....
As you know, the European version of the Civic Type R is now available in Japan, and just a couple of days after its launch in Japan, Mugen decided to provide its Own kit for this very special guest in Japan.

The kit obviously includes some aero parts, but also some performances ones like improved sport suspension, brakes and so on…

Source;
http://www.nihoncar.com/en/news-1188-Honda+Civic+Type+R+Euro+Tuned+by+Mugen.html


, , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Dartz drops the idea of whale penis interior | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:31 AM
November 2009
November 2009

File this one under "You've gotta be kidding me...."
After a month of protests, PROMBRON has decided to drop its plan to deck the interior upholstery of the Dartz Prombron, an ultra-luxury armored SUV, with whale penis leather. Apparently, the negative e-mails from Greenpeace, WWF and also Pamela Anderson, made it decide against its initial plan.

In a release, the company explained that it never intended to kill the whales and that the penis leather was chosen because it was pointed out to be the most expensive material that was deemed ideal for its luxury car. The Russian carmaker said that it has realized its mistake and instead, will now be focusing on the world’s most advanced nanotechnologies to achieve interior highest quality using artificial materials. The release went on to say that the company wanted to greet all whales, which it referred to as “sea brothers.” That’s a rather amusing turn of events considering what the company wanted to do with its reproductive organs. The carmaker said that it will be paying attention to the glass on its new car model that will be using special technology. Reportedly, these artificially grown crystals will reduce the glare of IR and UV rays.

“We have no any ideas to kill the whale or something like that. All we want - to make just luxury car. Real luxury car which will be world number one car. Our brand was started at 1869 when in Riga was opened Coach Factory or Russo Baltiysky Vagonnij Zavod - PBVZ, and first products was luxury train coaches. At 1907 was made a decision to open Car Department, and at 1909 first car left factory - the name of this car was RussoBalt. This was luxury and sport cars. At 1911 specially for Monaco Rally car got french style name - RussoBaltique. At 1912 factory made world first 4 x 4 wheel drive car, and at 1914 - armored car. All we want to unite luxury and armoring traditions of RussoBalt factory in one car, which brand celebrated 100 years now. At 1922 RussoBalt was renamed to PROMBRON’ (ex.RussoBalt).

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/dartz-drops-the-idea-of-whale-penis-interior/


, , , ,

Honda Cars : Lest We Forget.... | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:54 AM
November 2009
November 2009

To all the men and women that have protected and continue to protect our lands, thank you.


, ,

Honda Cars : Honda Tuner; 1994 Honda Del Sol | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:17 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Here's a great article about a Honda Tuner's personal project car....
1994 Honda Del Sol S - The Beater
When Your Daily Looks Better Than Most People's Project Cars, You Know You're Working On A "Miracle Whip"
By Joey Lee
Photography by Rodrez

Ferd Natividad's 1994 Honda Del Sol S Anyone who has ever built a project car that has reached any amount of success will promise the next project will be even better. The hunger just doesn't die. If you build a car and it ends up in a magazine, then you definitely have to come back even stronger than before. It's often hard to pinpoint why, though it could be attributed to pride. Maybe you just want to prove to yourself that it wasn't a fluke. Either way, the thirst to create never really goes away. Nobody wants to be a one-hit wonder. If you can produce hits, why not keep going? There's no such thing as true satisfaction when it comes to building Hondas; people are always striving to do more or change something up. If you run out of something to do to your car, more than likely, it's time to move on to something else. Even the person who says "I'm just going to enjoy my car now" is still tinkering with something here and there.

For the full article, follow the link;
http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/features/htup_0912_1994_honda_del_sol_s/index.html


, , , , , , , ,

Honda Cars : 2010 Honda Accord CrossTour Review Video | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 7:06 AM
November 2009
November 2009


Honda Cars : LA Preview: Toyota set to debut 2011 Sienna minivan | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:52 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Soccer moms, NASCAR dads and empty-nesters rejoice! It looks like Toyota is going to debut its 2011 Sienna minivan in Cali next month at the 2009 LA Auto Show. Although the minivan market doesn't get a lot of playtime on enthusiast websites, the segment remains an important (if shrinking) one for full-line manufacturers. While Toyota's past minivans have ranged from the bizarrely interesting (Previa) to the drab but competent (current Sienna), word has it Toyota plans to introduce a van that will once again make it the segment's top choice.

No specifics have been released, but we've previously heard that the new Sienna would be shifting to the MC platform that Toyota uses for the Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Venza and even the Prius. Personally we're hoping for a lower, wider, luxury vehicle with an available hybrid model. That, or something like the JDM Alphard/Vellfire we saw at SEMA. We'll have all the details and a bunch of live shots on December 2 when we see it at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but in the meantime.

[Source: Toyota]

PRESS RELEASE:All-New Third-Generation Toyota Sienna to Make World Debut at 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., November 9, 2009 - - Toyota will stage the world premiere of the all-new 2011 Sienna minivan at a press conference at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.The press conference will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 10:35 a.m. at the Toyota exhibit space in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. A video clip of the press conference will be available for viewing following the event on the Toyota.com website.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/la-preview-toyota-set-to-debut-2011-sienna-minivan/#continued


, , , , , ,

Honda Cars : Various Bit's of Information about the 2010 Honda Accord CrossTour | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Unknown | 6:45 AM
November 2009
November 2009

Here's some more of what might be considered 'little known facts' of the 2010 Honda Accord CrossTour....
Source;
Honda Canada


, , , , , , , ,

November 2009 November 2009 November 2009