Honda Cars : Mystery Acura finally revealed | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By: Mark Vaughn on 11/29/2012

Design studios build all kinds of things all the time and the vast majority of them never see the light of day. In many cases that's a good thing. But occasionally there's a really cool-looking styling exercise that gets into the public eye one way or another. Such was the case with the Acura Sport.

Built five years ago by Honda's Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, the sporty NSX-looking coupe was never intended to be seen outside the opaque walls of that high-security building.

“It was totally an internal advanced design concept,” said Dave Marek, director of advanced design for Honda R&D Americas.

It was built about five years ago when Honda was trying to decide what to do with the NSX. Should it be built? Should it be conservative, green and powered by a hybrid or sporty and powered by a V10? This was before the Detroit NSX concept and well before The Avengers car. The car you see here was a consideration of what the NSX could be. Sort of.

“It was a little different concept (from the NSX) but it had the same spirit of what that car was,” said Marek.

It didn't so much show up as the new NSX as it showed up in a lot of little ways on a lot of production Acuras.

“It was more, 'This studio should do form language and what could the Acura form language be?' " Marek said.

Form language is what makes an Acura an Acura and a Ferrari a Ferrari. You can see elements of the Acura Sport not-a-concept all over the current lineup.

“It trickled down into all the products.”

Look at the sides of Acuras and you'll see a hook in the fender just like the one on the Sport.

“It's not directly literal but the ILX has a lot of it in it.”

As do the wheel arches of Acuras going over the front fenders. And the way that body line goes into that hook.

But while elements of the Acura Sport styling exercise saw production, the car itself sat in seclusion.

Then Honda R&D's Pasadena Advanced Design Studio moved from Pasadena to just south of downtown Los Angeles, a block away from Staples Center and LA Live. Honda held a grand opening for invited guests only in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show. So to decorate the first floor of the new studio Marek figured it couldn't hurt to show off the Acura Sport.

And so, five years later, here it is.

Source;
 http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121129/LOSANGELES/121129863

Honda Cars : 2014 Acura RLX debuts in Los Angeles [videos] | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Acura's previous flagship never really caught on with buyers, so the company is taking a new approach by unveiling the 2014 RLX in Los Angeles.

Described as the "most powerful, spacious and technologically advanced Acura sedan ever," the RLX has conservative styling with a prominent grille, distinctive "Jewel-Eye" LED headlights and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

The model also features acoustic glass, rain-sensing windshield wipers and side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

While the exterior isn't terribly exciting, the cabin has a sporty and luxurious feel as it comes nicely equipped with leather seats, metallic accents and two large LCD displays: an 8-inch Navigation screen and a 7-inch "On-Demand Multi-Use Display" which mercifully eliminates the insane number of buttons that Acura used on the RL. Other highlights include a power tilt / telescoping steering column, a sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control and 10-speaker ELS audio system with HD radio, XM radio, Pandora, USB connectivity and an auxiliary input jack.

At launch, the model will be available exclusively with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that is rated at 310 bhp (231 kW) and 272 lb-ft (368 Nm) of torque.

Thanks to Variable Cylinder Management - which deactivates three-cylinders when they aren't needed - and a six-speed automatic transmission, the model is expected to have a best-in-class fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city / 31 mpg highway / 24 mpg combined (US).

 To ensure the car is nimbler than its size suggests, the RLX has been equipped with a Precision All-Wheel Steer system that independently and continuously controls the left and right rear-wheel steering angles for unparalleled handling, agility and maneuverability.

The Acura RLX will go on sale in the spring of 2013 and pricing will be announced closer to launch date.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112112851141/2014-acura-rlx-debuts-in-los-angeles-videos

Honda Cars : Varoius 2013 Honda Civic Videos and Pictures | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Source with artical;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2013-honda-civic-sedan-and-coupe-all.html

Honda Cars : Restyled 2013 Honda Civic Arrives at U.S. Dealerships with Premium Style, Host of Popular Standard Features | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

11/29/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The top-selling and award-winning Honda Civic returns for 2013, with a host of design upgrades and a bevy of new standard features, while still maintaining the efficiency and value that has made the Civic an automotive icon for the past 40 years. The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan receives all-new front and rear exterior styling, along with extensive interior styling upgrades on all models. Retuned steering and suspension sharpen the Civic's handling, while extensive body and chassis upgrades improve the ride comfort and interior quietness.

Across the board, every 2013 Civic model is equipped with a suite of class-leading standard features. Standard equipment on every Honda Civic includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, USB/iPod® connection, Pandora® Interface, an SMS text feature, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and sliding center-console armrest. Even with hundreds of dollars of standard features added, the 2013 Civic arrives with only a modest $160 increase in MSRP across the lineup, with pricing for the exceptionally well-equipped 2013 Civic LX Sedan beginning at $18,165¹.

New safety technologies built into the 2013 Civic include the application of the next-gen Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure, which includes additional front end structures designed to help increase occupant protection by dispersing crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes, and should help the Civic obtain a top rating in the new small-offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Also new are SmartVent™ side airbags, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor and the availability of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems, which make their compact-class debut in the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid.

Featuring the widest array of powertrain choices available in the segment, the Civic lineup is designed to meet the diverse needs of today's compact-vehicle buyer. The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe will be available in LX, EX, EX-L and Si models, with the Civic Hybrid, Civic Natural Gas and Civic HF also available in sedan form. The entry model Civic DX has been discontinued for 2013.

Summary of Changes for 2013

• Completely revised front and rear exterior styling (Sedan)
• Enhanced standard feature content on all model grades
• Recalibrated suspension and steering
• Extensive new NVH reduction features
• Revised interior styling including soft-touch materials
• Next-gen Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure
• Standard rearview camera
• Standard Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
• Standard Bluetooth® Audio
• Standard Pandora® Interface
• Standard USB/iPod® interface
• Standard SMS text message functionality
• Available Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems
• Two new exterior colors: White Orchid Pearl and Kona Coffee Metallic
• New interior color: Black

Powertrains
The 2013 Civic lineup includes sedan and coupe models with a conventional gasoline engine and "Si" performance models. Civic also offers a high fuel efficiency "HF," hybrid and exclusive natural gas alternative-fuel sedans.

Heavily revised for the ninth-gen Civic introduction for model year 2012, the Civic's all-aluminum, 140-horsepower, i-VTEC® 1.8-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine is unchanged for 2013, continuing to provide exceptional responsiveness, refinement, and fuel efficiency. Providing 128 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, the Honda mill is paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. In the Civic Sedan and Coupe, this powertrain has earned an EPA fuel-economy rating of 28/39/32 mpg² city/hwy/combined when equipped with the automatic transmission. In the Civic HF Sedan, those figures climb to 29/41/33 mpg².

Now available in 37 states, the 2013 Honda Civic Natural Gas continues as the only mass produced natural gas sedan available in the U.S. In the Civic Natural Gas, the 1.8-liter engine produces 110 horsepower, and earns an EPA fuel economy rating of 27/38/31 mpg2 (city/hwy/combined). The 2013 Civic Hybrid features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) system, which when coupled with its Lithium-Ion battery pack, produces 110 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Civic Hybrid earns a city/hwy/combined EPA rating of 44/44/44 mpg². The Civic Sedan and Coupe, Civic Natural Gas and Civic Hybrid models all feature Honda's ECO Assist™ technology, which with the push of the green, dash-mounted "ECON" button, can help drivers operate the vehicle more efficiently.

Along with strong fuel efficiency, the Civic lineup also offers strong performance. The 2013 Civic Si Sedan and Si Coupe models are equipped with an all-aluminum, 201-horsepower, i-VTEC® 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve engine paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. Even though it provides 170 lb-ft of torque and offers exhilarating performance, the Civic Si has a remarkable 31 mpg² EPA highway fuel economy rating.
Body
For 2013, the Honda Civic has received a host of changes that far exceed the typical mid-model refresh. The front and rear styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan has been completely altered for a more youthful and premium feel, including sheet metal changes that include an all-new hood and trunk lid. Up front, a new open-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a sportier, black honeycomb mesh grille is anchored by new integrated fog lights on EX-L and above trims. The grille is flanked by new clear-lens corner lights to provide a more premium look. The 2013 Civic's more sculpted front end flows into a new taller, more deeply faceted hood.

In back, a new rear bumper design and new rear trunk lid are capped by a clean, horizontal chrome trim piece. The all-new design of the jewel-like taillights now carries into the trunk face, providing a more finished and upscale look. The rear bumper features integrated reflector treatments and a new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent. While the expressive exterior styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe remains unchanged, restyled wheels on all models help sharpen the look of the 2013 Civic.

Constructed of 55-pecent high-strength steel, the 2013 Civic's body minimizes weight and maximizes strength for greater rigidity. The 2013 Civic's body has seen a host of changes to the front floor, side sill, A-pillar, upper wheel housing and front bumper extension. This addition of high-strength steel is expected to pay refinement dividends and provide a stiffer structure for the numerous chassis updates for the 2013 Civic. In addition, the Civic's new structure is designed to help it excel in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap crash test.

Chassis
Under the skin, the 2013 Civic has had significant alterations aimed at enhancing handling refinement and noise isolation. A reworked Electronic Power Steering (EPS) setup reduces friction and provides a quicker ratio, while stiffer wheels, stiffer front springs and a thicker front stabilizer bar with new Teflon-lined mounting bushings are designed for more fluid suspension action and a flatter, more responsive cornering attitude.

The rear suspension also receives a thicker stabilizer bar, increased spring rate, new Teflon-lined stabilizer-bar bushings, and reworked suspension bushings to increase both bump- and roll-motion stiffness. With its retuned MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, handling linearity, responsiveness and overall vehicle composure have been increased, while at the same time improving ride quality and the characteristic Honda fun-to-drive feel. For 2013, front brake-rotor diameter on automatic-equipped Civic LX, EX and EX-L Sedans and Coupes jumps 20 mm from 262 to 282 mm for improved stopping performance.

A large range of new noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures work together to reduce road, engine and wind noise in the 2013 Civic's interior. This includes a stiffer front subframe, new thicker windshield and front door glass, and additional soundproofing material in the dash, floor, doors, and rear tray to help reduce unwanted road noise, and provide a more serene ride and quieter cabin.

Interior
Inside, extensive refinements in design and construction gives the entire 2013 Honda Civic lineup a more premium feel, with an all-new tricot headliner, new soft-touch materials on the instrument panel and upper door treatment, and revised textures and panel junctions throughout the instrument panel and center console. Subtle silver accents in the interior lend a higher-quality look, along with door panel and seat fabric upgrades. Providing a more upscale environment, black carpeting and a trunk lid finisher are now standard on all Civic models. For the first time, Civic is available in both cloth and leather with an all-black interior.

The 2013 Honda Civic provides a host of new class-leading standard features, including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, Pandora® Interface, USB/iPod® interface, SMS text message function, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and a sliding finished center armrest. Available on Civic EX, EX-L, Hybrid and Natural Gas models, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition³ now includes a multi-view rearview camera and provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7-million points of interest within the continental United States. With its 16-GB flash memory system, it offers fast route calculation and includes FM traffic, a subscription-free service that alerts drivers to traffic conditions.

Safety
Named a "2012 Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Civic returns for 2013 with a re-engineered Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure. The changes that went into the ACE II body structure were designed to help increase the protection provided to vehicle occupants in a frontal collision, including the addition of front end structures to help disperse crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes. These changes should also help the Civic obtain top marks in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap frontal crash test.

Also new for 2013, the Civic features Honda's new SmartVent™ front seat side airbag construction that recently debuted in the 2013 Honda Accord. The new SmartVent™ airbag design helps mitigate the risk of excessive side airbag deployment force, while eliminating the need for the prior Civic's Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). The elimination of OPDS allows improved heating of the seatback on Civic EX-L models. Additionally, the 2013 Civic is equipped with a side curtain airbag with rollover sensors, nearly two years ahead of regulatory requirements.

A first in the compact segment, the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid will provide standard Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. FCW is designed to detect a possible collision with another vehicle or object ahead and provide visible and audible alerts to the driver. LDW provides visible and audible alerts if the driver begins to drift out of a detected lane without using the turn indicator.

The 2013 Civic's additional safety technologies include standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)⁴ with traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.

Warranty and Awards
The 2013 Honda Civic is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty and on hybrid models a 15-year/150,000-mile emissions warranty when the vehicle is registered and normally operated in California and certain states that have adopted California Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations.

Since its complete redesign as a 2012 model, the Honda Civic has received host of awards and recognition. It was named one of About.com's Best New Cars of 2012. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com named the 2012 Civic one of the "10 Best Green Cars of 2012" and one of the "Best Family Cars of 2012." In addition, KBB named the Civic Natural Gas a "2012 Best Redesigned Vehicle." The Civic Natural Gas was also named "2012 Green Car of the Year®" by Green Car Journal. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com has already awarded the 2013 Civic with a Best Resale Value award in its segment.

2013 Honda Civic On-Sale Dates
Model	On-Sale Date	Starting MSRP
Civic Sedan	November 29, 2012	$18,165
Civic Coupe	December 5, 2012	$17,965
Civic Natural Gas	December 10, 2012	$26,465
Civic Si Coupe	December 12, 2012	$22,515
Civic Hybrid	January 23, 2013	$24,360
Civic Si Sedan	January 23, 2013	$22,715
Civic HF	February 6, 2013	$19,765

Honda Cars : The 2013 Honda Civic fully exposed | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

 

 

 

 

This of course is a Minor Model Update in response to Consumer Reports specifically.  You can see the soft touch dash and stitching, the 'faux' chrome around the vents, the 2013 Accord front and rear style ques, and from what I understand the EX-L is now changes to a TOURING model and will include a Backup Camera.

Picture Source (and a great site worth checking out I might add!);
http://carstyleblog.com/this-is-the-new-2013-honda-civic/#more-607

Honda Cars : Carscoop!: 2013 Toyota RAV4: Another Round of Photos Hit the Web! | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The all-new 2013 Toyota RAV4 SUV is a secret no more, at least as far as its exterior and interior looks are concerned, after a second set of photos made their way across the internet. 
 
We'll remind you that earlier today, we shared a first batch of pictures of Toyota's next compact crossover, which will rival the likes of the latest Honda CR-V, Ford Escape (Kuga in Europe) and Subaru Forester (just to mention a few of its competitors) on a global level.
 
The new RAV4 adopts the more modern and to some extent, sharper aesthetics from Toyota's latest models, such as the U.S. Camry and especially the European / JDM Auris series, with the interior design also following suite. 
 
There's nothing official yet from Toyota on the 2013 RAV4's specifications, and unless the Japanese carmaker decides to release the information early, we will have to wait until its world premiere at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, November 28, to find out more. 

Source (via www.woodyscarsite.com);
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2013-toyota-rav4-another-round-of.html 

Honda Cars : Honda, BMW Deploying Unmanned Concepts at Los Angeles Design Challenge | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Mercedes-Benz has received coverage aplenty for the Ener-G-Force SUV previewed ahead of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. This vehicle might anticipate the future of body design but relies on the steady hand of a highway patrol officer. The Los Angeles Design Challenge slated for November 28^th is not entirely tethered to the traditional role of the driver. This contest features entries from Honda and BMW that rely on sensors as well as wireless communications to pursue suspects in 2025. Honda and BMW are mobilizing drones along with unmanned cars to meet the eco-friendly requirements of the challenge.

Honda’s CHP Drone Squad was created as a solution to endless sprawl envisioned for Southern California by 2025. The continued expansion of freeways, spreading of communities and swelling population will create new problems for police departments. The CHP Drone Squad concept begins with the Auto-Drone, an all-electric delivery vehicle that can cover large areas with no emissions. Honda would also include at least one Moto-Drone motorcycle that could be deployed for high-speed chases. This mobile enforcement module can be operated entirely without human drivers. The Auto-Drone is capable of traveling off road and keeping up with speeding perpetrators. A design team including Jason Wilbur, Eddie Birtulescu and Raj Rihal seemed inspired as much by Knight Rider as an alt-fuel future.

The BMW E-Patrol Concept designed by Jose Casas and Won Awe focuses more on speed rather than range. BMW anticipates a future where police officers have to contend with worsening traffic and high speeds. These conditions contribute to increased accidents, speeding tickets and other incidents requiring immediate attention. A primary vehicle operated by a police officer holds three drones capable of responding to incidents within seconds of deployment. The officer can send out a flying drone that assesses accidents from above and tracks suspects until additional units arrive. A pair of single-wheel drones can pursue conventional vehicles at highway speeds and force speeders to the side of the road.

The 2012 Los Angeles Design Challenge forces automakers to create unconventional solutions for police departments of the future. This challenge requires participants to use original designs that can work in the real world while reducing environmental impacts. BMW and Honda certainly met the former requirement though details about drive systems were not yet available. A glimpse at sketches for the CHP Drone Squad and the E-Patrol Concept reveals solutions for a dystopian future akin to Robocop that are hopefully prevented well before 2025.

The Ener-G-Force, the CHP Drone Squad and E-Patrol Concept generate buzz but we must be mindful of realistic concerns for potential customers. Officials from the city level through state government could still be facing significant budgetary constraints by 2025. A realization of even a handful of green vehicles from the Los Angeles Design Challenge would require infrastructure investment that has not yet materialized. Automakers might not bring drones and unmanned police vehicles to market anytime soon but eco-friendly infrastructure must be created to ensure public safety as police departments head toward new technology.

Source;
http://www.greenerideal.com/vehicles/1121-honda-bmw-deploying-unmanned-concepts-at-los-angeles-design-challenge/