Honda Cars : Honda gears up for F1 return as engine supplier | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda Motor Co. is looking to return to Formula One motor racing as an engine supplier around 2015, a source said Monday.

Honda plans to supply new engines with small displacements, possibly teaming up with its former partner McLaren of Britain, the source said.

Honda withdrew from the F1 grid after 2008 in light of financial difficulties caused by the global financial crisis. The annual costs of joining the race are believed to have topped ¥40 billion at the time.

Honda will carefully assess the financial impact of returning to the sport before making a final decision, the sources said.

Honda, which first joined F1 in 1964, joined for a second stint from 1983 to 1992 and a third between 2000 and 2008.

During its second stint, Honda collected 69 victories under such talented drivers as Ayrton Senna da Silva, triggering an F1 boom in Japan.

The 2015 comeback would be the company’s fourth.

A comeback would likely allow Honda to use F1 technology in producing mass-market vehicles, since the race is set to make a switch in engine specifications to 1,600cc turbocharged V6s from 2,400cc V8s in 2014.

Honda plans to launch several new models around 2015.

Toyota Motor Corp. pulled out of F1 in 2009, leaving the sport devoid of Japanese automakers.

Earlier, vehicle makers Yamaha Motor Co. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. had also provided engines for F1 racing teams.

Source;
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/03/18/business/honda-gears-up-for-f1-return-as-engine-supplier/#.UUcfRjeReNo

Honda Cars : 2013 Trans Am | Hurst Edition | Official Commercial | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Pure awesomeness.....
 

Hurst Edition Trans Am

Very Rare. Very Well Done.
There are few names in the automotive world that are more respected, more revered, more trusted than the legendary Hurst brand. There are few cars that have prowled the streets with greater authority, more dominance and commanding presence than the famous Trans Am. Not since 1997 have these two iconic brands joined forces...until now.

Trans Am Depot and Hurst Performance Vehicles have teamed up to bring you the very latest in modern muscle curb appeal. This Kevin Morgan designed Trans Am is available in three color schemes; black and gold, white and gold and Hurst heritage edition silver and black. The Hurst Edition Trans Am is now available. Fill out the contact form at or feel free to contact us to discuss further details. info@TransAmDepot.com

Honda Cars : Honda Malaysia; New Honda City VA for RM93.5k – limited to 300 units! | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

A new limited run variant of the Honda City has just popped up on Honda Malaysia’s Facebook page and website! Called the City VA – for Value Added – the new model is limited to just 300 units, and features a built-in GPS multimedia system, leather seats and window film as standard.

The City VA is priced at RM93,480 on the road with insurance, a RM2,500 premium over the higher-spec (of the two launch variants) Grade E model. The most significant upgrade is the inclusion of Honda’s own entertainment and navigation system – a neatly integrated touchscreen unit housed within the dash’s fascia.

Honda’s new touch-controlled, voice-guided satellite navigation system supports a high-resolution map and 3D city-view. The unit also includes a DVD and MP3 player, iPod AUX/USB ports and a rear view camera, on top of the built-in Bluetooth hands-free connectivity.

Other new features are the black leather upholstery with grey stitching and embossed ‘City’ logos on the front seats, and standard-fit solar protection window tinting for the glasshouse.

Virtually nothing’s changed on the outside. The VA comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, front foglamps, wing mirror-mounted turn signals and a chromed exhaust finisher. The only difference to the Grade E is the deletion of chrome door handles, which are now body-coloured.

Speaking of colour, 200 of the VA will be painted in Tafetta White, the other 100 in Polished Metal (grey). The Honda City VA is now available for viewing at all Honda showrooms. A five-year unlimited warranty is included, with six free labour services, up to 100,000 km. As per the Grade E, ABS, EBD, BA, VSA and dual airbags are fitted too.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/03/15/new-honda-city-va-for-rm93-5k-limited-to-300-units/

Honda Cars : Loved Fiat's hilarious Motherhood rap? Now dads answer back with their very own Fatherhood song - starring 'insane' first time father | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

A viral video that racked up over three million hits has spawned a follow-up. The spoof rap, named The Motherhood, was the brainchild of Fiat and charted the life of one new mother for whom things aren't going quite as expected - and clearly struck a chord with mothers everywhere.

Now there is a version that presents the other side as Fiat unveil The Fatherhood. Elena Bernardelli, marketing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK said following the mother-themed video's phenomenal success they were 'inundated with requests to see Dad’s side of the story'.

Set in the dead of night, The Fatherhood, which you can view here, follows a weary father of two trying to get his screaming babies to sleep by driving them around the neighbourhood.

As he drives, he starts to sing about his long-lost youth, questioning how he has gone from Jack the Lad to Jack the Dad. With brutal honesty he sings to his newborns: 'You peed inside my bedding, but know I’ll get my own back when I’m dancing at your wedding.'

'As with The Motherhood, we wanted men everywhere to watch The Fatherhood and nod along to the story we’re telling. We hope The Fatherhood will bring a bit of fun into people’s everyday lives,' said Bernardelli.

The Fatherhood is a humorous, edgy insight into the mind of a new father, soundtracked to a synth-heavy tune similar to a hit new romantic song from the 80s. The short clip takes viewers back to the 80s with a catchy tune and a time when New Romantics were young and carefree.

With oh-so-serious poses to camera and dreamy dance sequences, the film takes visual cues from the 80s music videos everyone loves to hate.

The Fatherhood features the new Fiat 500L, Fiat’s latest addition to the Fiat 500 family and was inspired by a nationwide survey that revealed new parents drive on average 1,300 miles a year trying to drive their children to sleep. Nick Hastings, Creative Founder of krow communications, said: 'We wanted to make another film that mums and Dads find funny simply because it's true.

'We decided to use a different musical style to the rap in The Motherhood - that would just be re-heated soup - and chose the 80s, a time when our Dad was young and carefree, and music videos were weird and funny. We're all delighted with how it turned out.'

The Fatherhood is the second film from Fiat that tells what they say is the truth about life as a parent. Their first film, The Motherhood, was a 2012 YouTube sensation. It told the story of a mother who has swapped her designer clutch bag for a 'snot-stained sack', and the pithy lyrics clearly struck a chord: the video has been watched globally by more than 3.5m viewers.

Source;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2292688/EXCLUSIVE-Loved-Fiats-hilarious-Motherhood-rap-Now-dads-answer-Fatherhood-song--starring-insane-time-father.html

Honda Cars : Honda Canada recalling vehicles due to braking problem | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

No reported crashes or injuries because of possible brake issue, Honda says

Honda Canada says it is recalling about 7,800 vehicles to repair a potential malfunction that could affect braking — part of a global recall involving nearly 250,000 vehicles.

The problem lies with an electrical component of the Vehicle Stability Assist system, which on some cars, may have been damaged during manufacturing.

The automaker says the malfunction could apply a small amount of brake force without the brakes being touched, or apply too much brake force when the brakes are used.

Honda says there have been no reported crashes or injuries because of this, but it has received several complaints about the malfunction, which will be repaired free of charge.

The recall covers 3,200 Honda Pilot vehicles, 700 Acura RL vehicles and 3,800 Acura MDX vehicles from the 2005 model year, and 100 Acura MDX vehicles from the 2006 model year.

Honda says the owners of all affected vehicles will be notified by mail next month. In the meantime, owners can learn more about the issue by going on-line to www.honda.ca/recalls and www.acura.ca/recalls or by calling (888) 9HONDA9 for Honda owners or (888) 9ACURA9 for Acura owners.

Honda Motor Co. said the recall includes more than 183,000 vehicles in the U.S., 56,000 in Japan and others in Australia, Mexico and Germany.

Source;
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/03/14/honda-recall.html 

Honda Cars : Pagani Huayra ‘God of Wind’ Short Film – When Automotive Bliss Meets a Dramatic Climax | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The new Pagani Huayra is undoubtedly a true work of automotive art taking cues from nature and our humanistic abilities to create and indulge in the finer things in life. Just to put this notion in literal motion, Prestige Imports of Miami have introduced an eccentric promotional video featuring a scantily dressed young woman and man having a rendezvous with each other on some fine white linen. The video leaves our mouths watering for more and the dramatic climax ceases to reach its demise. Oh, and the video does feature the new Pagani Huayra with a few ‘money-shots’ to express the true genre of this video. We welcome you to take out a full 2 minutes of your life and watch this video – because it is Good. You’re welcome!

By Malcolm Hogan of www.automotiveaddicts.com

Source;
http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/36817/pagani-huayra-god-of-wind-short-film-automotive-bliss-meets-dramatic-climax

Honda Cars : McLaren and Honda getting back together? | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Greg Stuart on 11 March 2013 in F1

 

The dream team from 1988-1992 could be reunited in 2015…

Between 1988 and 1992, McLarens powered by Honda engines won four Drivers’ titles – three for Ayrton Senna and one for Alain Prost – and the same number of Constructors’ championships.

Now the latest rumour going around the F1 paddock is that Honda could be back in F1 by 2015 and looking to provide engines to the team again.

Speaking to Autopsort magazine recently, McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh was non-committal about whether Mercedes-Benz would continue to provide the team’s engines beyond the 2014 season.

"We have a contract that covers the next three seasons at the moment and we will certainly go into next year [2014] with Mercedes-Benz,” said Whitmarsh.

"There is nothing to announce at the moment,” he added. “I can't elaborate any further.”

Whitmarsh’s comments were analysed by Autosport’s F1 Editor Edd Straw, who was unconvinced that the McLaren/Mercedes-Benz partnership would exist beyond 2014.

“That he specifically confirmed next season, but dodged the issue of 2015 is telling,” said Straw.

“While the dotting of the i’s and the crossing of the t's might be incomplete, both McLaren and Honda plan to renew their partnership on track in 2015,” he added.

Should the rumour turn out to be true, it would bring to an end one of the most established manufacturer/engine supplier relationships in the modern Formula One era.

Following Honda’s withdrawal from the sport at the end of the 1992 season, McLaren languished for several years, using uncompetitive engines from Ford and Peugeot as the Renault-powered cars of Benetton and Williams drove off into the distance.

Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula One as an engine supplier in 1995 and were initially used only by McLaren. Four seasons later, the partnership took its first Drivers’ title with Mika Hakkinen, and claimed the Constructors’ title in the same year. Another Drivers’ title followed a year later, with Lewis Hamilton adding a third in 2008.

The relationship has even continued onto the road, with McLaren and Mercedes-Benz having jointly developed the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren road car back in 2003.

But even though McLaren has seen its fair share of success using Mercedes-Benz power, there’s no doubt that a return to Honda engines, and the subsequent evocation of the Senna/Prost era, would make for a great story.

Source;
http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/f1/stories/1331583536261/mclaren-and-honda-getting-back-together-