Details on Nissan Leaf battery pack, including how recharging speed affects battery life

Interesting....
Nissan broke ground on a new battery plant in Smyrna, Tennessee yesterday (figuratively, anyway, the actual bulldozing doesn't start for a few weeks). For now, we will call this the U.S. Leaf battery plant, but it's really part of Nissan's strategy to electrify more and more of its vehicles. As we mentioned yesterday, once it is up and running at the end of 2012, the plant will have the capacity to make 200,000 battery packs a year. The nearby vehicle assembly facility where the U.S.-built Leafs will come to life will have a maximum capacity to make 150,000 Leafs a year alongside other Nissan vehicles like the Altima and Pathfinder. The extra capacity, if used, could be sold to other automakers or go into non-Leaf Nissan products.

In Smyrna yesterday, Nissan's director of product planning, Mark Perry, gave AutoblogGreen some more information on the Leaf battery pack. As we know, Nissan says the 24 kWh pack gives the Leaf a 100-mile range on the gentle LA4 cycle (meaning it probably isn't a totally reliable guide to estimate real-world driving). Still, this means the test packs have been charged and discharged a lot, because Perry said Nissan has done "hundreds of thousands" of miles of reliability testing on the battery packs, including dunking them in a pool and freezing them. Not that we'd expect him to say anything different, but Perry is confident that the battery pack is totally safe.

What's in the pack? 48 modules, each with four cells (so, 192 cells total) arranged in a big square. The part that sits under the real seat is a little taller than the rest, as the modules are stacked vertically while the other modules lay horizontal under the front seats and floor. The entire pack weighs around 600 pounds and contains around 9 pounds of lithium. How will people use the Leaf? Find out Nissan's expectations after the jump.

Once out in the real world, Nissan expects most Leaf charging to be done using Level 2 (240V) units, because that's what most people will get at home and what will be used in public chargers. Level 2 chargers can get the pack from zero to 100 percent in about eight hours. Level 3/direct quick charging could happen, but it's not widely available yet. Meanwhile, Level 1, aka recharging from a standard 110V outlet, will be "more for emergencies," Perry said. It'll also take ages (think 20+ hours).

How you recharge the pack will affect its life. Nissan has said it expects to Leaf drivers to have around 70 to 80 percent capacity left in the pack after ten years. What will get drivers to the upper or lower end of that range? The amount of fast charging one does. With regular Level 2 charging, drivers should expect 80 percent live left in the battery. With a lot of Level 3 charging – two or three times a day – the pack will only be at the 70 percent level. Level 3 charging is appealing because it can get the battery from zero to 80 percent full in under 30 minutes, but there is a very clear drawback if it becomes a habit. Perry said that most people will be happy with 240V home charging:

The people who drive EVs today, they talk about charging like this: "Charging to me is five seconds. I plug it in, I walk away and forget about it." To them, it's really pretty simple.

What might be coming down the road? Perry said there is no Moore's law in battery production, but did say Nissan is seeing about an eight percent improvement in things like cost reduction, range and efficiency, year over year. Whether this results in cheaper packs or lighter/smaller/better ones will depend on what the early adopters do with their Leafs and what they tell Nissan they want. What's your preference?

PRESS RELEASE
Type: Laminated lithium-ion battery
Total capacity (kWh): 24
Power output (kW): Over 90
Number of modules: 48
Battery pack contents:
-Positive electrodes
– Lithium manganate-Negative electrodes
– Carbon-Cells-Modules-Assembly parts
Charging times:
-Quick charger DC50kW (0 to 80%): apx. 30 min
-Home-use AC240V charging dock (0-100%): less than 8 hrs
Battery layout: Under seat & floor
Battery life: After 10 years, the battery is expected to have 70-80 percent of its original storage capacity.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/27/details-on-nissan-leaf-battery-pack-including-how-recharging-sp/

Strand Craft 122 super yacht comes with supercar and in-boat garage to hold it

All I can say is wow....
We know what you're thinking. What business does a yacht – albeit one as ridiculously lustworthy as the Strand Craft 122 promises to be – have gracing the pages of Autoblog? Somewhat surprisingly, the answer is a garage. And also a supercar. That's right, this ultra-yacht design study comes with an integrated garage in the stern that houses an 880-horsepower V12-powered supercar.

Despite the fact that the designer has shared next to nothing about the supposed supercar (other than the fact that it can theoretically travel at speeds of over 230 miles per hour), we're going to go ahead and start referring to it as the World's Coolest Tender. Feel free to check out the high-res rendering of the machine in our image gallery below.

As far as the yacht goes, we guess that's pretty cool too... what with power coming from twin Rolls-Royce engines along with an optional booster engine sporting over 14,000(!) horsepower and a top speed of 55 knots. Not too shabby, eh? Price? Well, it's all theoretical at this point, but even so, we're guessing we could pool the AB staff's money together and still only come up with enough money for a quick tour of the harbor in one.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/28/strand-craft-122-super-yacht-comes-with-supercar-and-in-boat-gar/

Euro-only next-gen Civic hatch spied

Honda may ditch the British-built Civic from the local range, but the factory's working on a replacement

Our spy photographers at Carparazzi have busted the next-generation Honda Civic testing in the Italian Alps.

The test mule shows the upcoming Civic shares many of the same futuristic styling cues as debuted on the current model, which was first launched back in 2005.

With a lineage stretching back to 1972, the Honda Civic is unarguably the brand's most readily recognised nameplate, and with looks like these, that brand recognition is certain to continue making a bold statement for a few more years yet.

Retaining similar dimensions to the existing model, the test mule appears to sport a wider track. The wheelbase remains unchanged.

A new bumper likely hides behind the protruding front bar, a fresh face likely to grace the new model.

Powertrain options will continue unchanged with the same mix of four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel offerings delivering outputs between 60 and 105kW. The current (85kW) 1.3-litre petrol-hybrid will also be carried over to the new model.

The new four-door Civic hatch is due to go on sale in Europe and the UK in late 2011 or early 2012. With exchange rates placing the British Civic at a disadvantage, there's a strong chance we won't see this car here, but Honda Australia is expected to continue offering the Thai-built Civic sedan variant.

There's no word yet on revisions to the white-hot Civic Type R.

Source;

http://ninemsn.carpoint.com.au/news/2010/small-passenger/honda/civic/euroonly-nextgen-civic-hatch-spied-19519

TOV: What's in store for model year 2011? Odyssey

Here's www.vtec.net with a little more information on the upcoming Odyssey....
Odyssey
2010 marks the 6th year of the current Odyssey's model cycle, and a replacement will be in showrooms this fall. With the 2011 Odyssey, Honda has placed greater emphasis on styling and efficiency. The new model will feature V6-only power (with VCM cylinder cut technology) and a 6-speed automatic transmission - a combo that's said to be good for an EPA highway rating of 28mpg. On the feature front, according to Honda the new Odyssey will offer two different rear entertainment systems. One of them features a 16.2" widescreen LCD which is capable of simultaneously displaying two different sources side by side. This RES also features an HDMI input, supporting hi-def sources such as video game systems and hi-def video players (WDTV Live, anyone?). A premium audio system will also be offered with 15GB of HDD storage (this implies that the HDD will be shared with an HDD-based navigation system with VGA display)

Summary: Honda's roomiest people mover gets a full makeover for 2011.
Watch For: The Odyssey takes another step forward.
Available: Autumn

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=900580

Honda Aims to Buff Up Minivan's Image

Popular Odyssey Gets Sleek, 'Athletic' Design, More Space, Better Fuel Efficiency
Honda Motor Co. is hoping to jump-start sales of its Odyssey, the top-selling minivan in the U.S., with a sleeker design that it describes as "athletic," while adding space and better fuel efficiency.
Later this year, the auto maker will launch a redesigned version of the Odyssey that is sculpted and shaped to tone down the traditional squarish look and soccer-mom image—factors that have caused many consumers to stop buying minivans and move to sport-utility vehicles for hauling kids and cargo.

Honda, which has steadily increased its U.S. market share for more than a decade, needs a shot in the arm. Honda has an aging lineup with some of its best-selling models, including the Odyssey and Civic compact, facing stiff competition. In the first four months of the year, it has gained little ground even though its biggest rival, Toyota Motor Corp., has been hindered by recall and quality troubles. From January to April, Honda's U.S. sales rose 11.5%, while total light vehicle sales jumped 16.7%. During the same period, Ford Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. saw sales rise more than 30%. As a result, Honda's market share has slipped to 10.5% from 11% in 2009 through that period.

John Mendel, vice president of sales for Honda's U.S. unit, said the company doesn't try to "chase share." Mr. Mendel added that the dip in market share this year comes after strong sales in 2009, when nervous buyers flocked to Honda, while the economy slumped and General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC sought bankruptcy protection. Honda's market share is now settling to a more normal level as the economy improves, he says.

The company is counting on the 2011 Odyssey to win over what it calls "hesitaters"—people who need the space and seating capacity of a minivan but don't like the idea of cruising around in a big box on wheels. Customer research found that people fall into three categories, said Vicki Poponi, a Honda product planning specialist in a presentation to journalists in Chicago a few months ago: "Those who embrace the minivan; those who outright reject it; and those who appreciate its practical value but remain somewhat on the fence due mainly to styling and image concerns."
More than in past years, Honda brought in customers to help them redesign the vehicle. Owners wanted to take away the boxy look and give it better handling and a sportier feel. A common desire by customers and Honda engineers was for a car that would be recognizable from 100 yards in a parking lot, said Christina Ra, a Honda spokeswoman.

To give the new Odyssey a sleeker profile, Honda gave the vehicle a more slanted windshield and a slightly tapered rear roof line. The rear-side window is angled to streamline the back end, and is also taller than the other side windows, creating a lightning-bolt-shaped line above the side panels. The Odyssey also will be wider and lower to the ground and have bumped out wheel wells, making it look more like a sport-utility vehicle. The new version will have a six-speed automatic transmission rather than a five-speed, and technology that can shut off three of its engine's six cylinders to reduce fuel consumption. This minivan, which will get 28 miles per gallon on the highway, is aimed at Gen-Y buyers, who are around 33 years old. The previous van was more suited to older couples, even grandparents who are part of the Baby Boomer generation, Ms. Ra said.

The Odyssey has the potential to be a big seller for Honda. It is the company's fourth best-selling model in the U.S., after the Accord sedan, Civic compact and CR-V crossover. But Honda faces an uphill battle with hesitaters. In Ann Arbor, Mich., Tammy McCollough, a mother of two hockey-playing boys, has been shopping for a replacement for her 2001 Odyssey, and she wants something more fashionable. "No one ever checks you out when you're driving a minivan," she said with a laugh.

The minivan segment has been steadily shrinking. Auto makers sold 424,007 minivans last year, down from more than a million in 2005, according to Autodata Corp. In 2000, total minivan sales hit 1.4 million vehicles. Minivans made up just 4.1% of the U.S. market in 2009, compared with 7.9% in 2000. Both GM and Ford have stopped making minivans and now offer seven-passenger crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Flex as family-movers.

The Odyssey will face competition from Toyota, which just updated its van, the Sienna, and Chrysler, maker of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. This year, the Town & Country has outsold the Odyssey through April.

Source;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704026204575266421160118364.html?mod=WSJ_Books_LS_Autos

Honda turns to China to develop electric vehicles

Historically, Honda has been identified as a leader in environmentally friendly and high-efficiency vehicles, but recently the automaker has struggled to deliver class-leading products, and due to policy choices, risks falling further behind the competition.

Toyota has established itself as a strong leader in the hybrid market, offering numerous hybrid vehicles, including the class-leading Prius gas-electric hybrid. Honda, by contrast, lagged behind Toyota and the rest of the market introducing hybrid vehicles, and those it has introduced have failed to make meaningful impacts either technologically, or in sales.

Other automakers, such as Ford with its Escape and Fusion hybrids – both class-leading in fuel economy, and Nissan, with its upcoming electric Leaf which is already sold out for 2010, are moving ahead with advancement previously thought to be exclusively available to Toyota and Honda.

Honda took a gamble when it decided that pure electric and hybrid vehicles would not be important vehicles in the near future, and as those markets expand the Japanese automaker is forced to play catchup. According to Reuters, Honda’s CEO, Takanobu Ito, told reporters Tuesday that he believed, “There needs to be a major breakthrough in battery technology [for electric vehicles to be viable].”

Ito also suggested that it will likely take 10-20 years before purely electric, battery-powered vehicles would be viable mainstream alternatives to fossil-fuel powered vehicles. As a direct result of Ito’s beliefs, the automaker has fallen behind in the development of partnerships and technology for cutting-edge electric vehicles, and as such, hopes to tap into the resources available in China to potentially find a way to catch up to the competition.

“If there is a suitable chance, we hope to work with China to (develop) batteries,” Ito said.

Honda does have an existing partnership with a potential partner to develop batteries for pure electric cars, but that partner is based in Japan and currently produces lithium-ion batteries for Honda’s gas-electric hybrid vehicles, as well as electric vehicles for Mitsubishi.

Source;
http://www.leftlanenews.com/honda-turns-to-china-to-develop-electric-vehicles.html

Honda to install brake override

This is an example of Honda being Honda, Proactive...

Honda Motor Co. will install a brake override system on Honda and Acura brand vehicles starting in August and expects to have equipped all models with the safety system by the end of 2011.

Congress is weighing mandatory brake override systems as a result of investigations into hundreds of reports of unintended acceleration of Toyota Motor Corp. as well as other vehicles.
In vehicles equipped with brake override systems, pressure on the brake overrides other commands and reduces the power going to the engine.

"We are committed to applying Brake Priority Logic on 100 percent of Honda and Acura passenger vehicles produced for the North American market by the end of calendar year 2011, with our first application coming to market in late August 2010," Honda's U.S. sales subsidiary said today in a statement.

Source;

http://detnews.com/article/20100526/AUTO01/5260435/1148/auto01/Honda-to-install-brake-override

Doh! A1 rolls at public demo

What seemed like a good idea at the time....
Red faces for Audi as publicity stunt goes wrong.

The faces among Audi's crack driving team matched the colour of this rather worse for wear A1 this weekend.

The car was being driven up and down a specially-constructed half pipe in the Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels as part of the build up to the car's public launch.

But instead of demonstrating the car’s skateboard-like handling and fun-to-drive character, one of Audi’s drivers got carried away and rolled the MINI-rivalling hatch onto its roof. The good news is, nobody was hurt, and the car barely damaged. (which is where Audi should have promptly went into a safety rant....)

Driver and passenger were quickly freed after the car was pushed back onto its wheels.

According to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Audi was keen that photographers didn’t take pictures of the stricken car. But a few snaps have leaked out of the innocuous event.

And while the crash is a slight annoyance for Audi as the build-up to the car’s arrival in showrooms begins, very few A1s are likely to be subjected to the full Tony Hawks X Games treatment when the car arrives here in late 2010.

Source;
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/252340/a1_rolls_at_public_demo.html

Toyota FT-86 debut to be made in 2013! Hybrid version planned!

It appears that the same thing that happened with the Lexus LFA Supercar will happen with the new Toyota FT-86. For those who don’t know, the Lexus LFA was first unveiled in a concept form back in 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show.

The production version was launched last year at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new Toyota FT-86 will likely have the same faith and people will get tired of waiting it! According to the latest reports from Japan’s Best Car magazine, the Toyota FT-86 will make its debut in 2013. The reasons for the delay would be the changing of the design but also the fact that a 2011 release may be premature…What?!?!?!?! Anyway, there is also a good news: Toyota will take a closer look to Honda’s CR-Z hybrid sports coupe and may consider a hybrid version of the FT-86!

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/toyota-ft-86-debut-to-be-made-in-2013-hybrid-version-planned/

Could Honda CR-Z Be The World's First Sexy Hybrid?

Honda’s new CR-Z hybrid coupe is schedule to hit dealerships in the UK and USA at about the same time this summer. But while the Honda CR-Z has so far remained under the radar in America, the small sporty hybrid is garnering a lot of positive press on the other side of the pond.

We can’t imagine that Honda Motor Europe’s project in group filmmaking, Live Every Litre, is the reason for the extra attention. The marketing effort—hypothetically designed to promote the CR-Z as hip—yielded a set of YouTube road trip vignettes that induce equal parts confusion and boredom. Nonetheless, a trio of British auto reviewers recently reported a much better time from behind the wheel of the CR-Z.

Quentin Willson of The Mirror was nearly ecstatic about the car. He wrote that the CR-Z “is set to become one of the most desirable cars on the planet.” Willson added, “Looking like nothing else on the road, with a wonderful swooping roofline, it's a lulu to drive.”

He praised the CR-Z’s handling and steering. “This is one of Honda's best cars yet, and the world's first truly sporting hybrid coupe…Sustainability never looked sexier.”

Jason Barlow of BBC’s Top Gear—usually no fan of hybrids—agreed with Willson. “By sticking the Insight's hybrid tech into something that doesn't look like a slapped arse,” Barlow quipped, “Honda might finally have made eco motoring sexy.” Barlow also praised the CR-Z for its handling. “It's proper fun to drive,” Barlow wrote.

Andrew English of The Telegraph was generally positive, but not as effusive as the others. English dinged the CR-Z for poor visibility in the corners and through the back, for limited space in the rear seats, for braking that feels “wooden,” and for too much body roll. Yet, he granted the CR-Z as “sporting by hybrid standards” and concluded that it’s “a likeable little car.”

Small and Sexy in America As Well?
Meanwhile back on home turf, American Honda Motor Co.’s John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, said the CR-Z will appeal to tuners, who modify and tweak their rides for maximum performance and individual style. He told Automotive News that Honda research showed that tuners are excited about the CR-Z because it’s reminiscent of the old Honda CR-X, one of the ultimate tuner vehicles.

In other words, the CR-Z might inadvertently create a whole new market of hybrid buyers. Forget about the traditional hybrid puritans, who have expressed disappointment in the CR-Z because it averages merely 37 mpg. The people most likely to buy the car probably won’t give a damn one way or the other if it’s hybrid. It just looks cool and is fun to drive. Full stop.

As far as we're concerned, anything that adds pizzazz and sex appeal to hybrids is a step in the right direction.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.hybridcars.com/decision-process/could-honda-cr-z-be-worlds-first-sexy-hybrid-27959.html

VIDEO: One Extremely Lucky Guy Avoids Oncoming Car

Wow, this guy moves like a cat!



Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/05/video-one-extremely-lucky-guy-avoids.html

Chrysler, Honda, Nissan and Toyota betting on the old minivan comeback

There are signs that the minivan will be making a comeback and carmakers are only too eager to prepare for this scenario. Later this year or early in 2011, Chrysler Group, Toyota Motor Sales USA., American Honda Motor Co. and Nissan North America will be introducing new-generation vans to the market.

Edmunds has noticed a sudden increase in Web traffic for consumers researching minivans on its site. On any typical month, only 2 to 3% of consumers on the site check out minivans but in April, this number rose to nearly 5%. Ivan Drury, an Edmunds analyst, said that this represents a definite “peak in interest.” He assumes that the public has heard about the arrival of new minivans and they want to read about them. Used-vehicle barometer LeaseTrader has also noted a rise in demand for minivans, with its Web site recording a 23% rise in interest in April. LeaseTrader works by arranging lease-swaps for consumers who want to switch to another vehicle before their lease is up. John Sternal, the company’s vice president of marketing, revealed that these consumers who are in search of a minivan have commented that “crossovers are just too expensive and not practical enough.”

Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/chrysler-honda-nissan-and-toyota-betting-on-the-old-minivan-comeback/#more-8417

2011 Honda Odyssey Interior Sketch

Here's the 2011 Honda Odyssey Interior Sketch and below is the closest 'sneak peak' I could find of the Interior....

2010 Honda Civic Hybrid

Yes, there will be a 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid and No, there won't be any changes.

Source;
Honda Canada

Patent Search Reveals 2012 Honda Civic *update*

Or at least what it may have looked like.... This looks pretty much like the smaller Honda City sold in Malaysia, so I don't know how accurate this would have been anyway.

*UPDATE*

This was old news, and the orig. site agrees that this is the 2009 Honda City.

Source;
http://thecollegedriver.com/posts/752-Patent-Search-Reveals-2012-Honda-Civic

TOV: Rumor: Next generation (2012) Civic Si to have 2.4L? And other 9th gen Civic tidbits.

We received this tip a while back but were asked to sit on it for reasons I won't get into, but here's what we got:

"Just heard through the grapevine that the next-gen civic will definitely be getting a version of the TSX K24. Probably for Si model. Will incorporate integrated exhaust manifold"

The integrated exhaust manifold the source is speaking of is the same sort of cast-in exhaust manifold that is currently found on Honda's J-series V6 engine family. It should be noted that the source has indicated that this rumor still has legs, yet it currently sits right around a 5 on our CR scale at this point.

In other 9th generation Civic news, American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel recently confirmed something that we've been talking about here since last May (and more last September), and that's that the 8th generation cycle will be stretched by up to a year, pushing back the release of the 9th generation Civic. Mr. Mendel has only said that the next generation Civic would be released some time in 2011. For some time, we had been hearing that it would likely launch early in 2011. More recently some folks in the dealer community have pegged the intro date as June '11. If we start seeing 2011 Civics appearing in showrooms earlier than this September, then it would tend to support the notion that the 2012s would launch in the first half of 2011.

And finally, it's no secret that the Civic's delay was keyed by a midstream change during the design cycle. There were some reports from a blog or two that the redesign resulted in a vehicle that would be smaller than the current generation, but our understanding was that the original design of the 9th generation was going to be larger than the 8th generation, but then the redesign shrunk it back to the point where it was roughly equivalent in size to the current model. The latest from Automotive News lines up with this:

At the Tokyo auto show last October, Honda Motor Co. COO Tsuneo Tanai said the redesign had been altered midstream. The next Civic was planned to be larger than the current model. But its exterior has been resized closer to the current one, Tanai said

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=899102

Honda Delays Launch of HondaJet to Late 2012

Looks like I'll have to wait a little while longer for my jet, I wonder if I can get my $500 deposit back if I change my mind by 2012....
It appears the next-gen Civic won't be the only Honda product pushing away from the gate a little later than anticipated. According to Honda's aircraft division, supplier issues have prompted the company to delay the launch of the HondaJet small private jet until the third quarter of 2012.

"Our first priority is to achieve certification and first delivery of the HondaJet," Hondajet spokesman Stephen Keeney told Aviation International News. "Regrettably we've experienced delays in some components."

Although we first saw this instance of the HondaJet back in 2006, the company originally planned to launch the private jet in late 2011. Thanks to a few supplier delays, the first production-ready HondaJet (also known as the HA-420) won't take flight until this November. Assuming all goes according to plan, certification and approval from the Federal Aviation Administration won't be granted until the third quarter of 2012.

Neither Honda or GE (with whom Honda partnered with to build the HA-420's jet engines) would comment on what component delayed the program, but both remain upbeat about the launch timing. According to Keeney, customers aren't bothered by the delay -- in fact, the company still has 100 firm orders for the jet, which is roughly how many planes Honda plans on building annually. That's impressive, considering each HA-420 is expected to run buyers roughly $3.65 million a piece.

Final assembly of the HondaJet will occur in a new factory located in Greensboro, South Carolina, which won't be completed until February 2011. The company's aviation wing currently employs 450 people, but that number is expected to grow once production begins in early 2012.

Source;
http://wot.motortrend.com/6646639/miscellaneous/honda-delays-launch-of-hondajet-to-late-2012/index.html

Survey: Honda perceived to be tops in customer, quality commitment

Among seven major auto brands, consumers consider Honda to be the most committed to customers and to product quality. Ford ranked second, followed by Nissan, Chevrolet, and Toyota, based on a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Hyundai and Chrysler trailed the others by a significant margin.

To see how consumers' perception of a brand's commitment to customers and quality has changed in the wake of Toyota's high-profile safety and image challenges, the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey using a nationally representative sample. More than 1,700 interviews were completed among adults whose household owns at least one vehicle.

Honda truly stands out by this measure, being perceived as having much greater customer and quality commitment than its chief rivals. Key to this accomplishment is that Honda has a reputation for building good vehicles that perform well, are fuel efficient, and have strong reliability histories.

Ford continues its march, with strong showings in several recent Consumer Reports surveys, good overall reliability, and, unlike its domestic peers, continued goodwill among consumers for having taken no federal assistance.

Toyota had a relatively decent showing here, though trailing its chief competitors.

Although Hyundai's newer models have generally performed well in our tests, the brand's challenge still seems to be communicating this to consumers. Less than 50 percent of respondents felt that Hyundai was committed to its customers or quality.

The recent financial troubles, dealer closings, and lack of new product may have been factors in the last-place finish for Chrysler. Currently, to the average consumer, Chrysler has not been showing much commitment of any kind.

The bottom line

As we have written before, perception can differ from reality. When shopping for your next new or used car, do your homework by checking ratings and road tests. You may find that the brands you are considering have changed more rapidly than your perceptions.

Source;

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/05/consumer-reports-survey-honda-perceived-to-be-tops-in-customer-quality-commitment-.html

Honda, Toyota plan to develop diesel engines

No, they are not developing this for our market in North America, but for India, however once the technology is developed, it can be used in other markets....

MUMBAI: Japanese carmakers Honda and Toyota plan to develop diesel engines for their passenger cars even as rivals like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai spend more on building and marketing diesel cars to keep pace with demand.

Honda, which has only petrol-powered vehicles in its portfolio in the country, is developing a small diesel engine for the Indian market, while Toyota will soon roll out a diesel version of Corolla Altis, making it its first diesel-driven passenger car in India.

“We feel the need to develop a diesel engine,” said Jnaneswar Sen, vice president (marketing), Honda Siel. He pointed out that more than half the vehicles sold in Europe are diesel. The company is yet to decide the timeline for the launch and which cars it will power, an official said.

Toyota, which sells only diesel versions of its utility vehicles and SUVs such as Innova and Fortuner in the country, has 90% of sales coming from diesel vehicles.

“While diesel is cleaner advanced technology, gasoline will also be important for us,” said Sandeep Singh, deputy MD (sales and marketing) of Toyota Kirloskar Motors.

Other carmakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, Tata Motors, General Motors and Ford too have stepped up production of diesel cars to cash in on increasing demand for diesel-powered cars that are more fuel efficient and environment friendly than petrol-driven cars.

Maruti Suzuki, which sells 60% of its popular Swift, Dzire and Ritz cars in diesel versions, plans to roll out smaller diesel cars, using Fiat’s 700cc engine. Maruti, which sources diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat, also plans to get 1.6 litre and 2 litre engines.

“While we will develop diesel engines, Maruti’s strength will continue to be gasoline as we make fuel efficient petrol engines,” said IV Rao, managing executive officer (engineering) of Maruti Suzuki.

With Suzuki’s global tieup with Volkswagen, Maruti may source diesel engines from the German carmaker in the coming years.

Its main rival Hyundai Motor is considering making diesel engines. “Currently we import are diesel engines. To have them in small cars it has to be cost effective,” said Arvind Saxena, director, marketing and sales, Hyundai Motor India. Currently Hyundai’s i20, Getz, Verna and Sonata have diesel options.

The Indian car market, which grew 25% to 1.9 million vehicles last year, is dominated by petrol models. Three out of every four cars that the country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki sells is petrol-driven.

But the proportion of diesel sales has been going up steadily from 15% in 2006 to 25% in 2009, thanks to superior technology and fuel efficiency that modern diesel engines offer.

Traditionally, high maintenance and premium pricing kept customers away from diesel models. This is no longer the case.

Many customers prefer diesel versions because of better fuel efficiency that makes up for the premium they pay, say analysts.

“What matters to the customer is the running cost and therefore the preference for a diesel model,” said a Mumbai-based analyst.

“Since majority of consumers go for car financing, the difference in monthly installment is marginal,” he added.

Kapil Arora, partner, automotive, at Ernst and Young, said he believed that there would be more diesel car sales in the next 4-5 years if diesel subsidies continue and if the manufacturers can mass supply diesel vehicles.

Source;
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Auto/Automobiles/Honda-Toyota-plan-to-develop-diesel-engines/articleshow/5942343.cms?curpg=1

Honda ’Lacks Confidence’ in Electric-Car Demand

May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co. remains skeptical about demand for electric cars 10 years after it stopped selling its EV Plus battery-powered model, the head of research at Japan’s second-largest carmaker said.

“We lack confidence” in the electric-vehicle business, Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s research and development unit, said in an interview in Wako City, northwest of Tokyo. “It’s questionable whether consumers will accept the annoyances of limited driving range and having to spend time charging them.”

The skepticism contrasts with an estimate by Nissan Motor Co.’s Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn that the vehicles will make up 10 percent of the global car market by 2020. While Honda plans to sell electric cars in the U.S. to help meet California emission rules, its priority is to improve the fuel efficiency of new and upgraded models, Kawanabe said.

“We are definitely conducting research on electric cars, but I can’t say I can wholeheartedly recommend them,” said Kawanabe, 58, an engine specialist who replaced Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito as head of Honda R&D Co. on April 1.

Nissan’s Leaf electric car, which will go on sale this year in Japan and the U.S., and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s i-MiEV have maximum driving distances of about 100 miles (161 kilometers) on a fully-charged battery. Running the air conditioner or accelerating for long periods of time reduces the range.

California Rules
Honda rose 0.7 percent to close at 3,010 yen in Tokyo trading today. The shares have declined 3.2 percent this year.

From model years 2012 through 2014, the largest carmakers by volume in California must sell about 60,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars combined, according to the state Air Resources Board. Nissan’s Ghosn said last week he aims to have capacity to build 500,000 electric cars a year by 2012, even as other demand estimates are lower than his.

Electric vehicles will amount to no more than 1 percent of the global market by 2020, according to Menahem Anderman, president of Advanced Automotive Batteries, a consulting firm based in Oregon House, California.

Honda, based in Tokyo, started researching battery cars in 1988 and leased about 320 EV Plus models in the U.S. and Japan between 1997 and 2000. The model used a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and ran 210 kilometers on a single charge.

While the carmaker displayed a concept version of an electric car named EV-N at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, it is focusing on expanding its lineup of gasoline-electric hybrid models and improving its gasoline engines, according to Kawanabe.

The company views hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles as the ultimate zero-emission vehicle, although inadequate charging infrastructure still hampers the technology’s mass-market potential, he said.

While Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest carmaker, has also tried selling electric cars, it only delivered about 1,900 electric RAV4 sport-utility vehicles between 1997 and 2003 in the U.S. and Japan.

Honda, which sells the Civic and Insight hybrid models in the U.S., is considering U.S. production of hybrids to avoid the negative impact of a stronger yen against the dollar, Kawanabe said, without elaborating on timing. Core parts like batteries, invertors and motors would still be shipped from Japan, he said.

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-18/honda-lacks-confidence-in-electric-car-demand-update1-.html

Honda 2010 Digital FactBook

05/17/2010 - Torrance, CA -
The 2010 Digital FactBook is an annual report which provides an overview of Honda's global operations as well as detailed historical and up-to-date information concerning Honda's sales, manufacturing and R&D operations in North America. This report includes a general chronology which highlights the significant milestones in Honda's corporate history.

The 2010 Digital FactBook includes the following:
-Corporate directory of key locations and contacts by region
-Overview of worldwide operations, sales network and 2008 production
-Overview of North America (N.A.) operations and subsidiaries
-History of Honda/Acura vehicle introductions in the U.S., Honda/Acura vehicle and industry sales data for N.A.
-List of N.A. manufacturing facilities and information on automobile, motorcycle and ATV/PWC production
-Summary of N.A. R&D/Engineering facilities
-Summary of exports of N.A. made Honda products
-Overview of South America operations, subsidiaries, manufacturing facilities and R&D centers
-Overview of Europe/Middle East/Africa operations, subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities
-Overview of Japan operations, subsidiaries, R&D centers and manufacturing facilities
-Overview of Asia/Oceania operations, subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities
-Overview of China operations, subsidiaries and manufacturing facilities
-Chronology of corporate milestones

Here is a link to the fact book in pdf format;

2010_Digital_FactBook.pdf

Autonet.ca: Quick 2010 Honda Accord Review

Accord is simply desirable
It only takes a few minutes to realize what’s so refreshing about the 2010 Honda Accord sedan - it’s almost completely gimmick-free.

There are no panoramic sunroofs, paddle shifters, cooled gloveboxes, push button ignitions or hip-sounding eco-friendly technologies to be found anywhere.

Of course there’s certainly nothing wrong with those things - most of them anyways - but listening to the average consumer and even auto journalists over the years, it’s clear there are still plenty of people who want nothing more than to own a vehicle that’s uncomplicated.

If cars had middle names, ‘simple’ or ‘uncomplicated’ would fit the four-door Accord perfectly.

Now, there’s sure to be detractors who would replace the ‘refreshing’ description with ‘routine’, but our EX-L tester feels nothing of the sort. It just feels ... good.

This eighth-generation Accord doesn’t receive a lot of changes for 2010. In fact, we drove a nearly identical model - not just in looks, but in features and price - in 2008 and it still feels nothing short of familiar a couple years later. The only real difference between the two is their transmissions. The 2010 version has a five-speed automatic (standard on all trims except the lowest-priced LX), which does its job admirably, providing smooth shifts during typical driving situations, while gearing down quickly when quick acceleration is needed.

The only downside to the auto is the higher fuel consumption numbers.

The five-speed auto is mated to a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine that produces 190-horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque, which is about average for this segment. It’s not exactly whiplash-inducing power, but it allows for quick passing manoeuvres when needed. It’s quiet, too, thanks in no small part to the well-insulated interior.

Speaking of which, the best part about the Accord sedan is the interior and how it fits four passengers like a glove. Seats are covered in supple leather and have lots of padding to keep backs and bums from getting sore. On paper, the rear seats aren’t as spacious as a lot of competitors, but no matter - they still stand out as some of the most comfortable in the segment.

Up front, the office is laid out predictably. Honda and Acura products are typically button-heavy and though the Accord is no exception, it’s still easy to find everything thanks to a bias toward text (as opposed to indecipherable symbols), and a bit of colour to draw the eye to an oft-used control like temperature.

It’s worth noting the excellent quality of the Accord. Nothing about the interior is chintzy and materials have an upscale look and feel.

When it comes to extras, there isn’t much the EX-L is missing. It has a ton of safety features, an upgraded sound system, sunroof, eight-way power driver’s seat and steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls, just for starters. A navigation system is the only available option, and it comes highly recommended as it adds Bluetooth connectivity for your phone - a nigh-essential piece of equipment with hands-free laws becoming more and more commonplace.

The ride itself is soft but stops short of ‘floaty’. This sedan isn’t bred to pull off any really fancy footwork but stays composed around corners regardless, keeping body lean to a minimum.

So the Accord may not be nearly as flashy as ever-evolving competitors, but there’s something to be said about its being so reliable and easy to use. It also happens to stand as an excellent in-between for those who aren’t ready to commit to the Accord Crosstour and its wagon bodystyle, but need something more practical than the coupe.

Source;
http://www.autonet.ca/autos/search/testdrives/2010/04/23/13691641-autonet.html

CarShark Software Lets You Hack Into, Control And Kill Any Car

Whoa! Yikes!
CarShark's a computer program that'll let someone hack into a car's onboard computer system to kill the brakes, disable the engine, blast music and otherwise wreak electronic havoc. It's both clever and absolutely frightening. Here's how it works.

A team of researchers led by professors at the University of Washington and USCD hacked the Controller Area Network (CAN) system installed on all new cars built in the United States to show how potentially vulnerable the system is. The CAN is supposed to allow onboard vehicle systems to communicate so problems are easier to diagnose, but the hands of these hackers it's the open door to disabling a vehicle.

The researchers connected to the car via a simple OBD-II computer port and using the CarShark program, identified the packets of information being trafficked across the CAN. For some hacks they used a process called "fuzzing" and sent random bits of code to disrupt them. This caused horns to blow, trunks to pop and even the brakes to stop functioning. There's supposed to be a failsafe override for the brakes, but jamming the ABS solenoids could lock up the brakes so they're not usable.

The most frightening attack is called "self-destruct" and essentially counts down from 60 seconds on the dash clock and then shuts off the engine and locks the door.

Don't freak out too much. It's not a simple task for someone without a degree in computer science to access the CAN and rewrite the code for a modern car, but that it's possible at all is something scientists think automakers need to consider when protecting these systems.
The full research report can be found here.

Source;
http://jalopnik.com/5539181/carshark-software-lets-you-hack-into-control-and-kill-any-car

Honda Mileage Marathon winner beats official mpg figure

The winner of Honda’s Mileage Marathon challenge for fleet drivers recorded an average of 63.6mpg in a Honda Insight, beating the official economy figure of 61.4 mpg (combined).
The challenge involved six high mileage company car drivers swapping their existing cars for a Honda Insight for a month, to see if the hybrid could reduce their fuel costs.

E-ON company car driver, Ray Hadlington, usually drives a Vauxhall Zafira Diesel. He improved his typical fuel economy by over 10mpg, which saved nearly £50 in fuel bills over the month.

“Fuel prices are likely to rise again due to the weaker pound, and with the recent increase in duty, fleets will be looking at how they can reduce their fuel costs,” says Graham Avent, Manager – Corporate Sales at Honda (UK). “The results of this challenge show how switching the average company car driver into a Honda hybrid could save around £600 in fuel annually, or £1,800 over a 3-year contract.” *

As the CO2 emissions of the Insight are just 101g/km it sits in the lowest 10% Benefit in Kind (BIK) band. This means that company car tax starts from just £28 a month.

“Driving the Honda Insight was really no different from driving my Zafira, but the dashboard graphics reminded me to ease off the accelerator a little more than usual,” said winner Ray Hadlington. “The Benefit in Kind cost saving is probably the hardest element for me to ignore.”

Fleets taking on the Honda Insight also stand to benefit from low whole life costs due to a combination of solid residual values, low SMR and low fuel costs. In addition, Insight has low Class 1A National Insurance contributions and is exempt from the London congestion charge.

Source;
http://www.automotoportal.com/article/honda-mileage-marathon-winner-beats-official-mpg-figure

Next-generation Honda Civic delayed until 2011

News, but not unexpected news, the current Civic is still extremely competitive....
We’re in dire need of a redesigned Civic (gotta admit, we're coming due....); however, according to John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co.’s executive vice president, the redesigned Honda Civic won’t arrive until 2011 (as a 2012 model of course). The schedule is well past the typical five-year product line for the compact car.

Mendel said that changing market conditions and tougher fuel-economy regulations have affected the development of the next-generation Honda Civic, which was originally scheduled to arrive this fall.

Mendel now says that the redesigned Civic will be unveiled sometime next-year, although he declined to give a specific timeline.

“In general, we are not changing cycles,” he said. “We change vehicles as need be. The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change [based on] what you see happening in the marketplace.” (in other words, they don't want to just put something out to stay competitive, they want to make sure that they stay ahead of the pack....)

The Honda Civic sells about 1 million units a year globally, with the U.S. accounting for one-third of those sales.

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/05/17/next-generation-honda-civic-delayed-until-2011/

Business News: Consumer Reports Says Honda (NYSE:HMC) and Ford (NYSE: F) Top Brand Loyalty

A new survey from Consumer Reports shows that Honda (NYSE: HMC) is currently the top auto manufacturer in terms of customer loyalty, with 68% of current owners saying that they are likely to purchase another Honda as their next vehicle.

Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) ranked second in the report, with 61% of its owners saying that their next vehicle would likely be a Ford. This is a notable increase from its numbers two months again when Ford was fourth on the list, and just 51% of its drivers said they were loyal to the brand.

Consumer Reports surveyed 1,704 U.S. adults that currently own a Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Honda or Toyota vehicle.

Toyota took a major hit in loyalty from their customers after several highly publicized news items came out questioning the quality of and safety issues in several of their models. As a whole, the Japanese automaker has slipped to number three with 57% of its customers saying that they would buy a Toyota as their next new vehicle, a 13% decline from their December 2009 results when it had a 70% probable customer retainment rating.

Source;
http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2010/05/16/consumer-reports-says-honda-nysehmc-and-ford-nyse-f-top-brand-loyalty/

Honda’s VTEC System Explained

VTEC stands for Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control and represents a variable valve control system developed by Japanese car manufacturer Honda for its gasoline engines. The system was the first of its kind and although most car makers worldwide started developing their own variable valve timing and lift control systems, the VTEC witnessed the biggest success becoming a trademark and an integral part of Honda’s consumer perceived identity.

History of the VTEC System

Because of the growing demand in the early 80s for high powered sports bike engines Honda embarked on a mission to try and achieve an engine that would display both high power output and driveability over the entire revolution range. So following a feasibility study, Honda’s research and development team set on course to achieve a 200HP per liter power output and stable idling. The team discovered they needed to come up with a method to counteract the air inlet resistance from low to medium engine revolutions.

The solution arrived through the REV (Revolution-modulated valve control) valve pausing mechanism. The system had the task to forcibly stop multiple valves when needed in order to optimize airflow and achieve a stable idling and increased smoothness for low to medium engine operation. The first production motorcycle marketed with the new REV system was the CBR400F in 1983.

From the REV used in motorcycle engines, Honda developed the VTEC valve actuation system for automobiles by building on the idea to have both variable valve opening times and two camshaft profiles: for low to middle engine speeds as well as for middle to high engine speeds. The first Honda automobiles to receive the VTEC system were the 1989 JDM-spec Integra and Civic CRX SiR, which used a 160 hp B16A DOHC engine. The American market received the VTEC system in 1991 with the Acura NSX supersports car which used a DOHC VTEC V6 unit which developed 270 hp at 7100 rpm.

So How Does VTEC Work?

Initially designed for DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) gasoline engines, Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control has the role to switch between fuel saving operating mode to performance operating mode. This is done by running in a low speed valve timing and small cam profile at low engine speeds for improved fuel consumption and leaner fuel burning. On the other hand, when the engine needs more power a higher output is achieved through the VTEC system by speeding up the valve timing and switching to the larger cam profile which allows for a further and longer valve opening time.

The switch from the low profile cams meant for improved fuel consumption to the high profile cams meant for increased power output is done via a locking pin which connects the two independent cam lobes at a certain engine speed. Now depending on the engine’s characteristics this can be set to occur further up the engine range or lower for increased torque but poorer fuel savings. On the returning phase, when the engine switches from high profile cams to the low profile ones, the pin retracts at a lower engine speed than when it first activates in order to avoid the engine running around VTEC activation border.

The VTEC system works much in a way as a mechanical compressor or turbocharger would, by creating a high swirl effect and excellent filling efficiency materializing in higher power output. In terms of reliability, most of you have probably heard in the news regarding the automotive industry that Japan's second largest car maker has an outstanding positive record in this respect and the VTEC units are no exception from this rule.

Honda has developed several VTEC variations over the years, altering the valve system to suit different engine output or fuel consumption requirements. The VTEC system can also be applied to SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft) engines, but loses the high profile cam advantages on the exhaust side, as there is only one camshaft to activate the lift. So, even with further developments the SOHC engine can benefit from the VTEC system only during either the intake or exhaust side.

To better understand the mechanism we recommend you take a look at the short video clip below, depicting the VTEC activation system.

As mentioned earlier, Honda worked on several variations of the VTEC system:

VTEC-E : is a valvetrain system in which the two normal cam profiles which activate the valves have different sizes. The shorter one allows one valve to open just a small amount and achieve better fuel consumption. As with the original VTEC system, when the engine hits higher rpms, the pin locks the high profile cams and valve timing increases to reach higher power output.

3STAGE VTEC : this variant uses three different cam profiles that literally operate in three stages. Each one controls a different valve timing and lift pattern.

i-VTEC : which stands for Intelligent VTEC is the Japanese manufacturer’s most successful valve actuation system to date and saw broad implementation in production models. The i-VTEC system was introduced in 2001 and uses continuously variable intake valve timing and computer controlled management for optimized torque output and fuel efficiency.

AVTEC : Advanced VTEC was announced by Honda in 2006 and seeks to combine the benefits of the i-VTEC system with continuously variable phase control, which is meant to respond to the driver’s power needs independent of engine speed. Honda announced the AVTEC system will allow for 13 percent better fuel economy over i-VTEC and 75 percent lower emissions than the 2005 standards. As of early 2010, the AVTEC system still hasn’t been implemented in production vehicles.

So what does it do and why is it so important?

Well Honda’s VTEC system represents a very important milestone in gasoline engine research and development because it identified and successfully handled a very delicate matter of any internal combustion engine: operating efficiency. The fact of the matter is most people today, just like most people a century ago, have little knowledge about the working principles of the things that make their daily lives easier and they just take them for granted (like a computer or a car’s engine). So, as you would expect, before this mind-the-environment propaganda began, people settled for thirsty and inefficient petrol engines looking to make their lives better through uncontrolled spending. And why shouldn’t they? After all, progress requires hard work and dedication and who likes that?

Leaving the jokes aside now, what people looked and still look for in vehicles are power and thrilling sound. And as Honda followed for most of its time a policy which believed in passion for engines and doing what you love (an attitude which earned them respect in many countries all over the world and an approach which led to numerous technological achievements most of which never even entered production), they started to work on their engines to better optimize and develop them. Thus, the VTEC valve actuation system was born, which not only increased a gasoline engine’s combustion efficiency, but managed to offer customers the perfect marriage between low fuel consumption and performance characteristics from a single powerplant.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/hondas-vtec-system-explained-20338.html

Second Opinion: 2010 Acura RDX Technology

Launched in 2006 as a 2007 model, the Acura RDX was the first vehicle to challenge BMW’s sporty X3 in the premium compact SUV market. A lot has happened since then. The segment is now congested with offerings from Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Audi, VW, Volvo, Cadillac, Infiniti and Mazda – and the term CUV (crossover utility vehicle) has come into favour.

For 2010, the turbocharged four-cylinder RDX, with a base price of $39,990, gets a mid-cycle refresh to keep it in the game. My tester was the Technology model listed at $42,990.

The biggest visual upgrade is the addition of Acura’s new corporate grinning metallic grille, giving the somewhat non-descript RDX a little more presence. New 18-inch 10-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, updated HID headlights, a more aggressive rear bumper fascia, rectangular exhaust tips, revised taillights and satin finish trim round out the changes.

New standard interior features include a rear view camera with display in the auto-dimming mirror, electronic compass, a pull handle to make closing the rear hatch easier, auto-function headlights, ambient footwell lighting, a centre console storage tray, improved cupholders, USB-port connectivity for iPods and iPhones, and Note function for XM Radio which stores song information for later reference.

Bluetooth connectivity, Homelink, dual-zone climate control, and multi-function display continue as standard equipment.

The RDX has always been a sporty number, and its personality goes unchanged for 2010. It is still arguably the most athletic in this group – the main ingredients being a punchy 240 hp, 260 lb.-ft. 2.3L turbocharged four, SH-AWD (super handling all wheel drive) and firm underpinnings.

You won’t mistake this CUV for the easy riding Mercedes-Benz GLK350 or the Land Rover LR2. Over the uneven streets of the GTA, the RDX pitched and jostled, making its sports-car-on-stilts intent quite evident. Get past that (some potential customers might not) and this thing does know how to carve a corner. The steering is well-weighted and communicative (not like the electric racks in the Acura TL and TSX), and it turns in sharply with little body roll. When putting the power down in the corners, the SH-AWD with its torque-vectoring rear differential (Acura was the first automaker to market with this technology) pushes the RDX through with alacrity.

Adding to the car’s personality is the 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder. It’s a surprisingly strong unit, and it doesn’t deliver power in the linear way of a V6 – there’s a hint of turbo lag before the Variable Flow Turbocharger (VFT) spools up, after which it delivers an escalating torque curve that peaks at 4,500 r.p.m. with 260 lb.-ft. The five-speed auto-box responds quickly to inputs from the paddle shifters, furthering the RDX’s sporting demeanour. This really is quite an entertaining little CUV, but then again, the raucous four-banger does not have the refinement of a V6, despite the use of a new thicker turbo inlet pipe claimed to reduce noise during high boost situations. The 2010 RDX also incorporates a dual-stage radiator fan to further reduce cabin noise.

The fuel economy ratings are improved eight per cent from 2009 due to higher-ratio 4th and 5th gears, better aerodynamics, improved lock-up clutch and other enhancements. It’s rated at 11.7 L/100 km city and 8.7 L/100 km highway. Of course, dipping into the boost regularly will sabotage any hope of attaining those optimistic figures. I was more into the low-twelve range. Premium fuel is required.

The RDX has very good heated leather front seats offering exceptional comfort and support – eight-way powered with two position memory for the driver and four-way for the passenger. The steering column tilts and telescopes as well, so it was easy to dial in a comfortable driving position. Visibility is generally good all round.

The 60/40 split back seats offer decent leg and head room, and there is a generous 788 litres of storage behind them.

Along with the standard amenities found in the base RDX, the Technology Package adds a very good sounding 410-watt Acura/ELS Surround AM/FM/XM/6-disc in-dash CD changer premium audio system with 10-speakers, DVD-Audio, MP3, WMA and Dolby Pro Logic II, along with satellite navigation with bilingual voice recognition, off-road tracking, rearview camera and steering wheel-mounted controls.

The voice controls work well for the most part – you can ask the system for everything from the current time to directions to the nearest Japanese restaurant.

The upgraded eight-inch screen still can get washed out in bright light however – it seems Mercedes-Benz knows something about this most other automakers don’t.

The Acura’s interior is well executed but a bit dull, especially when compared with the Audi Q5 or Infiniti EX35 which delight in their use of multi textures and fine detailing.

So where does the 2010 RDX fit into this ever expanding premium compact CUV landscape? If sports car-like handling and strong acceleration are high on your wish list, the RDX delivers, although the method in which these are achieved feels a tad dated. When the RDX was in development, Acura was obviously gunning for the BMW X3, which at the time handled well but rode like a rickshaw. The game has moved on, and offerings such as the Audi Q5 and VW Tiguan prove you can get engaging dynamics in a small SUV without having to loosen your fillings. Similarly, the turbo four is not the model of refinement and shows a thirst for premium fuel.

Nonetheless, the 2010 RDX Technology is well-priced, solidly built, loaded with gizmos, and is always ready for spirited run.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/05/13/second-opinion-2010-acura-rdx-technology.htm

2011 Honda CR-Z: the car for today’s and yesterday’s tuners?

Regarding the Honda CR-Z sports hybrid coupe, the Japanese manufacturer’s main target are today’s and yesterday’s tuners. How is that?

Well, according to John Mendel, executive vice president for automobile sales at American Honda Motor Co., the research shows that the “young people and guys my age, because it’s reminiscent of the CR-X, which was the ultimate tuner vehicle.” “We thought maybe the hybrid would turn the tuners off,” Mendel said. “Basically, they just say, ‘It’s 20 extra horsepower — what the hell.’ ” In order to reach younger buyers, the Japanese manufacturer is planning to use social media but sponsoring the concert tours of musical acts with a multigenerational appeal might work with both groups. For those who don’t know, the Honda CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-liter petrol engine delivering 102 hp and an electric motor capable to deliver 20 hp. This means that the car has a total output of 122 hp and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm (123 lb-ft on CVT-equipped models). P.S. You may also want to check the Mugen CR-Z and the CR-Z ZF1 by C-West!

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2011-honda-cr-z-the-car-for-todays-and-yesterdays-tuners/#more-8160

Canadian Exclusive: Acura announces limited edition TL A-Spec

Apparently this car will only be available in Canada....
Toronto, Ontario – The new Acura TL A-Spec limited edition package is now available in Canada, priced at $51,290. The package adds 19-inch wheels, an aero kit and other features.

The 2010 TL A-Spec features Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and includes all of the features of the TL SH-AWD Technology Package trim, with either a six-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic transmission.

Unique to the A-Spec are its 19-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires, full aero kit package with front, side and rear skirts, midnight chrome grille and rear piece, and A-Spec badge and floor mats.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/05/12/acura-announces-limited-edition-tl-a-spec.htm