Honda Cars : Toyota FT-HT Concept Makes World Premiere in Shanghai | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

With more than 50 vehicles on its stand at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, Toyota is the most active manufacturer at Asia’s most important automotive event.

Besides production cars, the Japanese company has showcased several concept vehicles, including the weird-looking Fun-Vii, but, if you ask us, there’s only one show-stopper in their lineup, and that’s the FT-HT Yuejia.

Designed specifically for the Chinese market, the FT-HT Yuejia concept sports a rather unique design, although the front fascia is somewhat similar to what we’ve seen on a few production cars as well. Developed to appeal to young Chinese consumers, the FT-HT provides cabin space for six people thanks to its three rows of two individuals seating configuration and, as you already might have guessed, it’s powered by a hybrid powertrain.

Toyota claims a production version will be built in the future, but we have enough reasons to doubt that the FT-HT will be taken to the assembly line in concept form.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/stunning-toyota-ft-ht-concept-makes-world-premiere-in-shanghai-58322.html

Honda Cars : Honda CEO Ito believes Chinese market not ripe for hybrid cars yet | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By  John Hofilena

This year’s Shanghai auto show display spaces were filled with numerous models of hybrid and electric cars – which maybe is a sign that the global auto market is moving in that general direction. It may also be a loud signal to China to consider greener automobile solutions, what with the massive clouds of smog that covered the cities these past few months. But Honda Motor Co. CEO Takanobu Ito believes that the Chinese market might not be quite into hybrid cars yet. 


Of the four new concept and production cars displayed by the Japanese carmaker at the Shanghai auto show on Saturday, none were hybrids or electric. Honda put out three hybrid vehicles available to the Chinese market last year – the CR-Z, Insight and Fit Hybrid – but the automaker revealed that it only sold 542 hybrid units in China in the whole of 2012. “Overall, we have high hopes for hybrid technology. In terms of how important it is to the Chinese market we are slowly releasing products and looking at how they do,” Mr. Ito said in Shanghai on Saturday. “But we think there are still more Chinese consumers who want to simply buy a car that fits their needs rather than buy a hybrid. By needs I mean a good-quality car with an affordable price that doesn’t break down. At present, we think these take higher priority.” The current atmosphere regarding hybrids could eventually change, Ito allowed. He said that the hybrid mentality needs a push from the Chinese government, by incorporating higher fuel-economy standards and the government’s overall backing for a green-car industry. Honda is even making plans to produce hybrid components and parts in the country in 2014.

Ito admitted that hybrid car technology would cost a bit more no matter what, and at this point this is something that Chinese consumers are not yet willing to pay. If, like in Japan, the Chinese government gives incentives and subsidies towards green car purchases, the mentality could start changing in that direction. Ito pledged that Honda will continue to offer hybrid vehicles to the Chinese market, and gradually grow its list of available models more and more, if the Chinese government makes good on enacting policies that would make hybrids the more attractive option for Chinese car buyers.

Source;
http://japandailypress.com/honda-ceo-ito-believes-chinese-market-not-ripe-for-hybrid-cars-yet-2327527

Honda Cars : Shanghai 2013: Honda Jade | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

This is the Honda Jade, the production version of Beijing 2013′s Honda Concept S MPV. This one’s to be sold by Dongfeng Honda, and will hit Chinese showrooms in September.

Honda says the Honda Jade was inspired by its namesake, a jade stone. It explains the green colour of the Auto Shanghai 2013 display car as well, though in reality I’m not sure how many will take up this particular shade at the showrooms.

Like the Honda Crider, the Honda Jade was designed for the Chinese market but unlike the fussy-looking Crider, I can totally imagine the Honda Jade design being used for the next-generation Honda Stream. It looks more ‘global car.’

What do you think of the next generation Honda Stream looking something like this Honda Jade?

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/04/20/shanghai-2013-honda-jade-is-a-people-mover-for-china/

Honda Cars : Honda Concept M introduced at 2013 Auto Shanghai | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

An MPV for Chinese market

Honda has officially revealed in Shanghai today the Concept M, following an announcement made about two weeks ago.

It represents a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) developed specifically for the local Chinese market. It was designed by the Automobile R&D Center of Honda R&D in Japan and gives us a clue about an upcoming model which will be launched in China soon.

Honda promises to bring a "new-value vehicle that offers the attributes of a passenger car while adding new value through the realization of a comfortable and spacious cabin". It has one of the busiest designs ever seen on an MPV, especially when looking at the front and rear fascias.

Since this is just a concept, we expect the production version to look significantly toned down, but not necessarily in a good way judging by the looks of the Crider which is essentially a production version of the quite appealing Concept C.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113042056786/honda-concept-m-introduced-at-2013-auto-shanghai-video

Honda Cars : Acura Concept SUV-X arrives in Shanghai | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Production model due in three years 

Acura is previewing a new crossover with the Concept SUV-X exhibited at 2013 Auto Shanghai starting today.

The Japanese marque announced at the beginning of the month a new concept for the Chinese auto show and we assumed it was a crossover.

We were right as the Concept SUV-X is a small SUV which was designed specifically for the local market. It represents Acura's first ever concept to be unveiled outside of North America.

It has been confirmed a production version will go on sale in China in approximately three years from now.

The concept is being characterized as offering "emotional and sharp styling and driving performance" along with "environmental performance" and the utility you normally get in an SUV.

Unfortunately, Acura did not release any details about what powers the Concept SUV-X but most likely some form of hybrid tech is included.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113042056790/acura-concept-suv-x-arrives-in-shanghai-video

Honda Cars : Honda Crider is the production spec Concept C sedan. Images leaked | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The Honda Concept C has been making a lot of news since some time. The production spec Concept C, which will cater to the fast developing D+ segment of the Chinsese car market, will make its official debut at the Auto Shanghai 2013 that will begin in a few hours.

The upcoming D+ segment sedan will slot in between the Civic and the Accord in the car maker’s product portfolio and would be the chief rival to the upcoming Hyundai Mingtu aka Sonata Lite.

The production model of the Concept C has been named as the Honda Crider and images of the new car have leaked a few hours before the official debut. Just in case you are wondering what the name could mean, allow yours truly to tell you that it has been derived from the words, “Criteria” and “Dream”.

The new Honda Crider will be built by Guangzhou-Honda joint venture and we won’t be too surprised if the JV soon starts exporting this car to certain markets.

Powering the Crider is a 1.8 litre petrol engine that will come with two transmission options- a 5-speed manual and an automatic gearbox. The car might also get a 2.0 litre engine but more details won’t be available before the official debut.

The new Honda Crider stays quite true to the Concept C and gets a heavily chromed front grill that would probably appeal to Chinese car buyers. The car also has a loud set of headlamps that seems to have got quite an overdose of LEDs. We like the car in profile view, in which the car does seem to have a slight resemblance with some of the other Honda sedans. The car has a swooping roofline which helps in imparting a hint of sportiness to the design. At the rear, the car comes with wrap around tail lights that might not appeal to all.

Overall, we feel that the car looks well proportioned and the design cues from the Concept C are clearly evident. Nothing is yet known about the interiors but stay tuned to this space for more details on the new Honda Crider D+ segment sedan.

Source;

http://motoroids.com/news/honda-crider-is-the-production-spec-concept-c-sedan-images-leaked/

Honda Cars : Honda UK Taking Pre-Orders for NSX Supercar! | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The second chapter in the book of the NSX is being written right now by Honda's R&D teams in Los Angeles, California, and Raymond and Ohio. However, because the first chapter had such cult following, people already want to be a part the next.

Honda UK just made a shock announcement, saying that it's opened a pre-order bank for the hotly anticipated supercar. All you have to do is sign your name on the dotted line and hand over a deposit of £5,000 ($7,650 or €5,850 at the current exchange rate) and you can be one of the first people to own one when deliveries start in 2015.

The news of a pre-order bank follows in the footsteps of the previous NSX which saw 25 pre-orders being taken a year ahead of its UK launch.

Unlike the old NSX, the futuristic car you are drooling over right now will be powered by an all-wheel drive hybrid drivetrain, centered around a mid-mounted, direct-injected V6 engine. It will also utilize a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system. This will even generate negative torque on one of the front wheels to improve cornering.

“We are really pleased with the interest we’ve already seen for the new NSX. We are still two years away from the launch of the car and yet we’ve received over 20 deposits and that’s before we’ve even announced prices or seen the final production car. With this process in place we are confident demand will remain strong and early hand raisers can now visit any Honda dealership in the UK and place a deposit,” Phil Crossman, Managing Director, Honda (UK), commented.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-uk-taking-pre-orders-for-nsx-supercar-58179.html