More Info on the 2011 Honda Civic Sedan Lineup for Canada

"What's New" for 2011 Sedan
-SE trim replaces Sport trim
-DX(AT), DX-A(AT,MT) and EX-L(MT) trims discontinued

New Sedan Trim Lineup will look as follows;

DX Manual Transmission ONLY
DX-G Automatic and Manual Transmission
SE Automatic and Manual Transmission
EX-L Automatic Transmission ONLY
Si 6-Speed Manual Transmission only

No Colour Changes from 2010 and the SE, which replaces the SPORT uses the same Black interior as the SPORT did.

No heated cloth seats on the SE trim like I thought they'd do, as far as I can tell, the SE has replaced the SPORT in name only.

Source;
Honda Canada

Honda takes green commitment to RP

Honda has undertaken worldwide efforts in protecting the environment and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) carries the same green commitment.

In marking its 20th year of operations in the country this October, HCPI is celebrating 20 years of providing fun-to-drive and environment friendly vehicles.

Voltaire Gonzales, Vehicle Sales and Corporate Communications Head of HCPI, said there are over 239,200 Honda patrons in the country today.

HCPI recently staged a four-day exhibition during the 3rd Philippine international Motor Show held at the World Trade Center to highlight is commitment to preserve the environment. The exhibit theme was "Blue Skies for our Children."

Honda has taken conservation measures as early as 1960s. In 1966, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Founder, Soichiro Honda once said, "Leave blue skies for our children." This has been Honda’s longstanding commitment for more than four decades now.

The display put up Honda’s ecologically sound technologies that remain true to its promise. It featured the latest in Honda’s roster of cars: the Honda City, Jazz, Civic, CR-V and Accord.
All powered by the ingenious i-VTEC engine, Honda vehicles make the most out of every drop of fuel by adjusting valve timing and valve opening combination to pump in fuel as needed only.

Apart from fuel efficiency, Honda vehicles are also engineered to release less harmful emissions.

Honda is the only local manufacturer that reaches EURO 4 levels for all its model line-up, even if Philippine regulations only mandate EURO 2 compliance. EURO 4 standards translate to approximately 56 percent reduction in harmful emissions as compared to EURO 2 standards.
To date, almost 82,000 Honda units with EURO 4 levels have already been sold and ply Philippine roads.

Lessons learned from the CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine technology, the first engine to meet the almost then impossible emission standards of the 1970 US Clean Air Act, have paved the way in the development of Honda’s new products and technologies which set the standard in mobility and environmental conservation.

In improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon footprint, Honda recognizes hybrid as the most practical technology at the moment. Honda’s original Insight introduced in 1999 was the first gasoline-electric car sold in the US.

Using Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology, the gasoline engine serves as the main power source of the vehicle while the electric motor provides additional power as needed. Thereafter, other gasoline-electric powered models soon emerged like the Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid.

Last year, Honda introduced the all-new Insight. Boasting excellent fuel economy at an affordable price, the Insight is designed to pass on hybrid technology to the mass market. A year after, the CR-Z model was launched in Japan.

Source;
http://www.malaya.com.ph/08312010/auto2.html

U.S. gov’t can track your location by vehicle GPS without cause, warrant

Some say we are inching our way towards a policed state....

In a world full of technology that brings us closer and closer to an Orwellian-type society each day, people are accepting but weary of much of today’s new technology which makes sense when one considers the fact that much of modern technology is based around GPS capabilities and some form of artificial intuition related to it.

Systems such as OnStar have always come under some form of scrutiny due to the constant access to a given vehicles location that it has, but there was some solace in knowing that it was rather un-indictable information in an open court, Well for a brief moment, that may have changed.

Through its denial to hear an appeal (it failed to get a majority vote) in the case of USA v. Pineda-Moreno, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has determined that it is in bounds of our constitution for law-enforcement to sneak under a car parked in a private citizen’s driveway, attach a GPS device thereto, and track the locations of said vehicle – all without a warrant.

Aside from the obvious issues with such a decision, there is a contradiction in jurisprudence, as courts have already determined that a person’s driveway falls under the privilege of curtilage granted to the rest of someone’s home. The court said that the defendant failed to demonstrate why he should expect privacy in his driveway.

Don’t despair. An example of this issue so cut and dry has yet to go before the Supreme Court, and it is my opinion that if this case is cited in future opinions, it will quickly be before the high court, where it will be cleared up. The dissenting judges had the following to say: “I don’t think that most people in the United States would agree with the panel that someone who leaves his car parked in his driveway outside the door of his home invites people to crawl under it and attach a device that will track the vehicle’s every movement and transmit that information to total strangers. There is something creepy and un-American about such clandestine and underhanded behavior.”

Source;

http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/08/27/u-s-govt-can-track-your-location-by-vehicle-gps-without-cause-warrant/

Jalponik.com : How A Cadaver Made Your Car Safer

Whoa....gruesome, but it's hard to argue with the results....
A highly-promoted feature in the 2011 Ford Explorer are its new inflatable rear seat belts. The not-so-highly-promoted working stiffs that helped make it happen? Human cadavers. Here's how automakers still quietly use dead people to make your car safer.

When automakers and safety advocates show off the results of crash tests, they inevitably run video showing empty vehicles or crash test dummies; back in the 1980s, they even turned the dummies into lovable cartoon characters. What the industry doesn't like talking about is how much of the safety innovation in vehicles was built around testing cadavers.

Since the 1930s, when researchers at Wayne State University first threw a body down an elevator shaft to see what kind of forces it could sustain, cadavers have been essential to making driving safer. Every part of a car touching on safety — from steering columns and laminated windshields to side-impact air bags — has science from cadaver tests making sure they work.

"It's still very important," said Priya Prasad, a former top safety researcher at Ford. "Even though we have very good math modeling of dummies, human modeling hasn't reached that state yet."

Automakers prefer to keep their names away from such ickiness. When a Swedish researcher told a newspaper in 2008 that General Motors and Saab were using cadavers in research, both companies quickly denied the story. And as far as the denial goes, it's true: automakers don't have the medical resources that cadaver tests require.

But universities do. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds scores of cadaver tests at schools across the country every year; many of those schools also get grants from automakers. And the data they gather can be shared widely.

That's the case with Ford's inflatable seat belts, an idea it's been testing for several years. The 2011 Explorer will be the first vehicle in the world to offer them, and Ford has made the belts a highlight of the safety features offered to compete against other family haulers.

But before the system could be sold, Ford had to answer myriad questions. Just because it has an air bag doesn't mean the belts would automatically do a better job of shielding passengers from injuries than standard seat belts. It could even be worse: What would happen to children who were sleeping on the belts when they inflated?

Most of Ford's tests used the family of dummies developed by the industry, including ones that mimic children. But without a cadaver test, Ford couldn't know for sure how the inflatable belt would affect internal organs and tissues.

Typically in cadaver tests, as the one pictured above run by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, researchers swaddle the body in stockings, including one over its face, partly for scientific reasons and partly out of respect. The arms and hands, if still attached, are bound in place to keep them from moving during a simulated crash, and sensors record the forces on various parts.

After the test, researchers would likely have used x-rays and autopsies to examine how much damage the cadaver sustained. Ford shared the results with NHTSA but deemed them confidential business information — meaning we can't access them by way of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request — but given that the belts are going on sale, we can guess the tests were successful.

Universities which run such tests have standard procedures for handling cadavers that cover every step of the process, from informing the relatives of a donor what the body will be used for to disposing of the remains.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said the company, like the rest of the industry, was trying to move into digital modeling for crash testing whenever possible. It's far cheaper to run thousands of computer simulations of a crash test with a digital wireframe than to do even one test with a dummy. And either test is less squeamish to the general public than crash-testing involving a once-living, breathing body. It's no wonder they're in no mood to publicize their continued, but still very necessary, use.

"If there's a specific need (for a cadaver test), we will look outside the company to see if someone can help, but most of our work is digital," Sherwood said.

Albert King, a professor at Wayne State who has been working in cadaver research since 1966, said the school's tests had fallen off in recent years; where it used to do one cadaver test a month on average, it now did a few a year if that. King once estimated that such tests saved 8,500 lives a year.

The major reason? After six decades, there's not much room left to improve safety inside the car. With even low-end vehicles offering eight air bags, most research has turned toward how to prevent crashes in the first place.

"We have most of the information we need," King said. "The rest of it we're doing through computer."

But it's not just cars that benefit. Researchers have drawn on Wayne State's cadaver work to design helmets that might prevent concussions in NFL players. NASA has used cadavers to test crashworthiness in the past, and the Defense Department-backed studies rely on cadaver work to better understand traumatic brain injuries.

Prasad says as good as computer models are, they still can't capture the exact essence of how human tissue reacts.

"It's always a good idea when you're developing something to do cadaver testing," he said.

Source;
http://jalopnik.com/5622667/how-a-cadaver-made-your-car-safer

Correction: Honda Civic and Insight Hybrids staying in Canada

I didn't think this would happen....
Earlier this week a report originated from a Canadian news outlet that suggested the death of the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Insight hybrids starting with the 2011 model year.

Not true, says Honda, who explained to Green Car Advisor that the automaker fully intends to continue selling both models to our neighbors to the north – despite struggling sales numbers.
When Honda first launched its Civic Hybrid in Canada the automaker predicted around 10,000 annual sales of its greenest C-segment model. Yet, of the 34,604 Civics sold so far in 2010, a dismally low 643 have been in hybrid trim.

Although Honda North America has confirmed the Civic Hybrid and Insight for Canada for the 2011 model year, don’t count out a reconsideration next year should sales continue to flop.

Source;
http://www.leftlanenews.com/correction-honda-civic-and-insight-hybrids-staying-in-canada.html

Brennan Eden Survives Airborne Crash on Highway: Video

This is one lucky guy.... I didn't want to post this until I knew the guy survived....


GREENE COUNTY, Ohio -- Beavercreek police said the man driving the car that crashed on I-675 Monday morning, was arrested and released shortly before he slammed into the cement wall of an overpass.

19-year-old Brennan Eden, of Mason, is in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital.
"Yesterday about 6:15 a.m., one of our officers came into contact with Brennan," Said Sgt. Jim Wuebben.

Police said he was parked in a far corner of the lot at the Beaver-Vu Bowling Alley with a 15-year-old girl. Sgt. Weubben said, "They told him they were lost."

After the officer called the girl's father to come and pick her up, he search Eden's Pontiac Firebird and made an arrest.

Sgt. Weubben said, "He found an unopened can of alcohol, a small trace amount of marijuana and a device used as drug paraphernalia.

Beavercreek police said the officer conducted a field sobriety test and there was no indication that Eden was under the influence of alcohol. "Mr. Eden was completely cooperative and released as it is customary and standard procedure on these types of charges," said Weubben.

The officer released Eden at 6:54 a.m., just 15 minutes before he crashed into a cement wall of an overpass on I-675 near Indian Ripple Rd.

Tuesday, Brennan Eden's family left a message for the media as their son lays in the intensive care unit that said, "Thank you all so much for your prayers for Brennan. Please continue to pray for him. If you need to reach us immediately, please call us on one of our cell phones. And I am asking that, due to Brennan's severe condition, that you respect that we are only having family and close personal friends of his, visit him now and please continue to pray."

The Xenia Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. They are using video recorded by the dashboard camera of a Sugarcreek Township Police Officer who was a witness.
The video captured Eden driving at a high rate of speed on the left shoulder of I-675 just before he slammed into a culvert, flew into the air and struck the Wagner Road Bridge overpass. The car broke into many pieces and Eden was ejected.

Several witnesses said they believe the man was driving at least 100 miles per hour.
"I mean, I never seen a car fly like that," said Rufus Thacker. He was driving a big rig down I-675 and witnessed the crash. "He probably hit at over 100 miles an hour and I just happened to see the car airborne and break up in four pieces." Thacker said.

Witnesses described Eden as driving erratically and at high speeds.

That was not the first time according to a copy of Eden's driving record obtained by WHIO-TV.
Records show that last Halloween, Eden was cited for failure to control after a crash in Warren County. Just nine days later, records show that he was ticketed for driving 90 miles an hour in a 65 mile an hour zone.

Eden just graduated from high school in Mason last year and was pursuing a career in film-making at an art school in Cincinnati. His teachers decribe him as a bright student with a bright future.

Eden worked part-time and went to school to pursue his love of films. Now all those dreams are hanging in the balance as he fights to survive his injuries from the I-675 crash.

Source;
http://www.whiotv.com/news/24725811/detail.html

2011 Honda Inspire: Small styling changes and a forest's worth of wood for JDM Accord

Here's basically another look at the 2011 Honda Accord coming....this is the Japanese version called the Honda Inspire....
Hot on the heels of the presentation of the updated 2011 Accord sedan and coupe models for North America, Honda today released the refreshed JDM version of the saloon that goes by the name Inspire in Japan. Since the Inspire already featured the 2011 Accord's reflector extensions at the back, Honda focused its attention on the front end that receives the same treatment with new grille and bumper designs as the American model. The JDM car also gets newly styled 17-inch alloy wheels.

In the cabin, it looks like Honda killed a forest to trim out the car's interior with wood (or faux wood) accents making an appearance on the steering wheel, the center, lower and rear consoles, door panels - you get the idea.

Some minor tweaks under the hood that help improve the fuel economy of the 280-horsepower strong 3.5-liter V6, which is the only engine on offer, and the now standard rain-sensing wipers complete the list of changes for the 2011 model year Inspire.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/08/2011-honda-inspire-small-styling.html

Widebody, mid-engine Honda CR-Z coming to SuperGT?

The GT Channel crew have snagged a handful of shots of a widebody Honda CR-Z being built for an unknown venue, and while it could just be an elaborate show car for this January's Tokyo Auto Salon, it's possible Honda is prepping the CR-Z for a run in Japan's SuperGT touring car series.

With one of the Honda HSV-010 teams holding down second place in the GT500 class this season, HoMoCo could be looking to capitalize off its success – and the popularity of the hybrid hatch in Japan – by fielding a CR-Z is the GT300 class. The engine and chassis restrictions are less rigid compared to the top-tier SuperGT racers, so the mid-mounted V6 (or V8?) shown in the gallery below is a-okay with JAF (the regulating body behind SuperGT) – even with a set of turbos.

If the build is taking place now (check the carbon fiber doors coming out of the autoclave), Honda or one of its racing affiliates is likely to start testing the CR-Z racer this fall before the new season kicks off in March of 2011.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/26/widebody-mid-engine-honda-cr-z-coming-to-supergt/

Honda Civic Si Takes 1st Place At SCCA RallyCross Championships

When someone says, “rally car” you probably immediately think of a Subaru WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Perhaps with the PR around the new 2011 Ford Fiesta, you think of Kent Block’s tricked out WRC Fiesta rally car. One thing is for sure, you probably don’t have your eyes set on something like a Honda Civic Si. However, much to the surprise of a lot of people, one particular stock Honda Civic Si took not only 1st place, but 2nd place in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) RallyCross® Modified two-wheel drive championships. It just goes to show that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

For the second consecutive year the SCCA National RallyCross Championships have been held in Fountain, Colo. at the U.S Truck Driving School. Last year’s event was so successful that the SCCA home office in Topeka though it would be a good idea to come back to the Rockies and run another championship event. Quite an event it was too, with almost 80 cars, some of which traveled from all over the contiguous 48 states. The real surprise though was the type of cars that come out to race at these events.

The SCCA National RallyCross Championships saw cars from the expected Subaru WRX to VW Golfs to the more unusual Chevrolet Berretta. To some degree, Rally racing isn’t so much about the type of car, as it is about the driver. Ken Cashion, operational steward of the National RallyCross Championships, wanted to prove that sometimes you don’t have to go overboard to win a Championship title. Cashion and myself set off to do what some deemed to be the impossible—win the modified two-wheel drive championships with a stock (except for rally tires and rims) Honda Civic Si with six-speed manual transmission. At 195 horsepower and with the infamous Honda VTEC motor, the Civic Si isn’t playing around. However, could it beat fully modified cars?

The answer was yes. Honda, from the factory, is able to build a car that could not only take first place in the Championships, but also claim second place (with yours truly behind the wheel) in the same category and another second place victory in the prepared two-wheel drive class. This little red Civic also claimed the fastest time of the day in its class on Sunday with myself piloting it around the course.

Bottom line—Small cars aren’t what they used to be and Honda has the proof in the pudding with the Civi Si. The question now is, will you check on out for yourself?

Source;
http://www.allsmallcars.com/blog/1048629_honda-civic-si-takes-1st-place-at-scca-rallycross-championships

So, is this the Next Gen Honda Civic?!?!

I gotta say, this WoodysCarSite.com has been a awesome site, great find if this is indeed the direction Honda is going....
Subtle changes upfront, but no major breakthrough for US/Asia version...

Size is suppose to shrink, maybe a tribute to the 4th generation model (1988-1991) which I think is perfect. Anything bigger, you might want to look at the Accord.

I just don't understand why every new generation model needs to get bigger???
Stay tune for more!

Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2010/08/2011-honda-civic-more.html

Honda CR-Z Achieves Top Euro NCAP Overall Safety Rating

The Honda CR-Z has been rated one of Europe‘s safest cars, following on from the success of the Honda Insight, according to the new independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP.

Euro NCAP's rating scheme focuses on the vehicle's overall safety performance which gives consumers an easy to understand single score. The system considers occupant protection in frontal, side, pole and rear impacts, child protection, pedestrian protection and the availability of driver aids. The Honda CR-Z has been awarded the maximum 5-star rating.

The new rating scheme, introduced in February 2009, uses a weighted score, combining many aspects of a car's safety performance: adult (50%), child (20%) and pedestrian (20%) protection assessment results with the availability of safety assistance devices (10%). To qualify for inclusion, safety assistance devices (VSA for Honda) must be fitted as standard across 90% of the EU 27 2010 model range.

The CR-Z is the most recent in a string of Honda cars to receive top marks.Since the introduction of the new rating scheme Euro NCAP have tested 4 other Honda models; Civic, Accord, Jazz and most recently, Insight. All 5 models achieved 5 stars, with the Honda Insight also being named "safest hybrid vehicle" as well as the 2nd safest vehicle tested in 2009.

Euro NCAP's new assessment reflects Honda's commitment to overall vehicle safety, complimenting Honda's long standing in-house safety testing which seeks to improve real world safety. Honda's car-to-car crash test facility at the Tochigi R&D centre analyses impacts between models of different sizes and weights and develops solutions to mitigate injuries for both for passengers and pedestrians. The omni-directional vehicle-to-vehicle crash test facility opened in 2001 and is the world's first indoor all-weather facility of its type.

Safety in the Honda CR-Z

Vehicle Stability Assist

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) is designed to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking assistance to any of the wheels as necessary and modulating the engine torque output as required.

Braking

14" ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes ensure road stability, which is further enhanced by the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE)

Developed in the car-to-car crash testing facility at Tochigi, the Advanced Compatibility EngineeringTM (ACETM) body structure is now a well-established strength of Honda's safety credentials.

The ACETM body structure is a Honda exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. The ACE design utilises a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash.

Pedestrian Protection

The CR-Z also incorporates many features designed with pedestrian-protection in mind. Research has shown that these features can dramatically improve a pedestrian's chance of survival if struck by a moving vehicle. Features include windscreen wiper pivots designed to break away on impact, energy absorbing front wing mounts and bonnet hinges, as well as an unobstructed area beneath the bonnet allowing greater space for deformation.

Airbags and Seatbelts

On all models the driver and passenger Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) front and side airbags are complemented by full length curtain airbags to protect all occupants. There are three-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts in all seating positions, the front seatbelts also have 2 stage Energy Absorption (EA) load limiting pretensioners. Additionally in the rear ISOFIX points ensure secure and correct installation mounting of child seats.

Active headrests

The CR-Z is equipped with front seat active headrests which reduce the likelihood of neck injury in rear impacts. As the occupant is pushed against the seat back, a rigid plate in the seat presses a link to the headrest pushing it up and forward to support the head.

About the CR-Z

The Honda CR-Z is a unique new car, combining the advantages of a clean, efficient petrol electric hybrid powertrain with a 6-speed manual transmission and a stylish coupe body.

The CR-Z is the first car to combine a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine and the IMA system, giving excellent fuel economy and great emphasis on driver enjoyment. The CR-Z emits just 117 g/km of CO₂ on the EU test cycle and consumes just 5.0 l/100km of fuel.

Three Mode Drive System

The CR-Z has been designed to be a car that combines driver enjoyment with excellent urban driving performance and economy. Honda's engineers have developed the 3-Mode Drive System for the CR-Z, which allows the driver to alter the characteristics of the car depending on their needs and the environment the car is being driven in. By significantly altering the responses of the car, the CR-Z's new system allows drivers to adapt to different road and traffic situations.

The new feature enables the driver to choose between three driving modes which alter the responses of the throttle, steering, climate control, Idle Stop function and the level of assistance provided by the IMA system. In developing this new facility, Honda allows the driver to decide whether they wish to maximise sportiness, economy or the best balance between the two.

SPORT Mode

When the CR-Z driver is away from the town or city and wanting to enjoy the open road, they can put the car into SPORT mode. This sharpens the throttle response, changes the behaviour of the IMA hybrid system to provide more electric motor assistance and increases the weight of the electric power steering.

ECON Mode

ECON mode prioritises fuel economy in the operation of the drive-by-wire throttle, ECU, air conditioning and the hybrid system. For those times when spirited driving is not possible or desirable, the Eco Assist function, in conjunction with the ECON mode, allows the driver to enjoy beating their best economy score on the way to work, or in heavy traffic.The ECON mode reduces the sensitivity of the throttle to smooth out inputs and this action is assisted by the use of a different engine map that prioritises fuel economy. The use of the motor to assist the petrol engine is redefined with the priority given to improve fuel economy, not assist performance.The climate control system is also influenced by the ECON mode, by recirculating air and reducing compressor operation in order to reduce energy consumption. In this mode the Idle Stop parameters are dramatically increased which extends the time spent with the engine off.

NORMAL Mode

At all times the car can be run in NORMAL mode, which provides a balance between performance, economy and emissions and suits most driving situations.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1556-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Honda Jazz (FIT) Hybrid - Low Emissions and Practicality

Not for us in North America yet....
The Jazz Hybrid will make its world motor show debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, further demonstrating Honda's continuing commitment to petrol-electric hybrid technology.

The launch of the latest addition to the practical Jazz line-up will mark the first time a parallel hybrid vehicle has been available to B-segment consumers. The IMA hybrid motor and control system are shared with the Insight and CR-Z hybrids, taking advantage of the proven reliability of this important technology. With almost two decades of development and 10 years of sales behind it, the Honda IMA system has proven itself to be a flexible and dependable technology, with over half a million vehicles on the road benefitting from its combination of low emissions and fuel economy.

The new model will feature the same engine as the Insight hybrid, the 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine is combined with a CVT gearbox with an electric motor sandwiched between the two to create a parallel hybrid system. Like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models the Jazz Hybrid will be capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions.

Much of the Jazz's practicality is derived from its height but despite being taller than the Insight, the Jazz Hybrid manages to maintain fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on comparable levels.

Visually the Jazz hybrid is distinguished from the current Jazz range with revised headlights, with a blue surround, clear rear lights, new front grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate garnish. The new hybrid will also be available in a range of existing colours plus a bespoke Lime Green metallic.

Inside the cabin is also given a fresh look with darker single colour dashboard, which contrasts strongly with the blue lighting of the dials and stereo. The new hybrid is also available with leather trim, the first time this has been available on a Jazz model in Europe. The Jazz hybrid will go on sale in some European markets in the early part of 2011, prices and full specifications will be announced in due course.

Along with Jazz Hybrid, Honda stand will display a special edition of European made Civic, the 2011 model year Insight, CR-Z, the current petrol Jazz, CR-V, Accord and Accord Tourer, as well as the sports touring motorcycle VFR1200F equipped with "state-of-art" V4 engine, and a stylish PCX scooter with lower emission idle-stop 125cc engine.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1558-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

2011/2012 Honda Civic Rendering

Thought I'd post this for what it's worth, 2011/2012 Honda Civic, I would strongly suggest this to be a rendering of the Euro Civic if anything....
Source;
http://visions-autos.sport24.com/589386/Future-Honda-Civic-2011-2012/

Spied! 2012 Acura TL - Spy Shots

Out of respect to Brenda Priddy and Co, I will supply the direct link to see the actual spyshots....
Acura’s best-selling model gets a nose job.

Road & Track

Thanks to our spy photographers have captured images of the 2012 Acura TL, including the range topping TL SH-AWD model. The big news is what you don’t see on this lightly disguised test mule, specifically the large metal beak that’s affixed to the nose of the current model.

Acura calls this the “Power Plenum” grill. But Acura dealers might suggest calling it a styling disaster. The TL sedan is Acura’s best-selling vehicle, yet sales are less than half of what they were only four years ago. These spy images prove Acura heard the criticism and is scaling back the size of the controversial styling feature.

The chrome strip along the trunklid is also shrinking. Subtle changes to the front and rear bumpers are likely during this midcycle refresh—although they remain hard to spot in these images. The eagle-eyed amongst us will have noticed the SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) model no longer has its own quad-outlet exhaust tips.

We’ve always enjoyed driving the TL, especially the SH-AWD model with its 305-bhp 3.7-liter V-6 and 6-speed manual transmission. Tech-savvy car buyers will appreciate available options like the navigation system with voice recognition, real-time weather and traffic reports, as well as Acura/ELS Surround audio and Bluetooth compatibility.

With a less-polarizing design, the 2012 TL could claw back some lost sales. We’ll get a better look at this new TL when it makes its debut at either the 2011 Detroit or New York Auto Show. Sales are expected to begin sometime before next summer.

Source (with the pic's that you are looking for!);
http://www.roadandtrack.com/future-cars/spy-photos/spied!-2012-acura-tl

Infographic: High-Tech Combo Could Yield "Theft-Proof" Car

Interesting....
GPS tracking, cell-network tracking, immobilizers, and secure key fobs are all common these days, but what if you were to roll all of the anti-theft technology available on the market into a single car? Would it be possible to theft-proof it? This infographic attempts to answer that question.

The proposed "theft proof" car packs in everything but the cops themselves. Combining GPS tracking, GSM cellular remote fuel cutoff and communication, biometric secure ignition tech, a keyless alarm system, a passive immobilizer, ultrasonic interior monitoring, and a radio-frequency transmitter to signal the car's location to police, the "theft proof" car certainly looks very, very had to steal at the least. There are banks that would be easier to rob and get away from.

In addition to the high-tech proposal, the infographic contains some key stats about car theft in the U.S., so spend a few minutes and figure out if it's worth the trouble to make your car a mobile anti-theft command center. Then let us know what you think in the comments below.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1048585_infographic-high-tech-combo-could-yield-theft-proof-car

Inside Line's Take: Honda Future Vehicles

2011 Honda Accord: The upgrades on the 2011 Honda Accord coupe and sedan are a little more sedate than we expected. There's no six-speed transmission as we had hoped. Instead, Honda changed the gearing of the five-speed automatic to improve mileage. The four-cylinder models are now expected to get EPA ratings of 23 city and 34 highway mpg when equipped with the automatic transmission. The V6 automatic is expected to get 19 city and 30 highway mpg.

The rest of the 2011 Accord's changes are styling updates on the exterior and some minor changes to the interior. On the outside there's a new grille, revised bumper, updated wheel design and a new trunk lid. Interior upgrades include shift paddles for V6 coupes and USB ports on all coupes and some sedans. Revised climate controls are also part of this year's upgrades.

2014 Honda Accord: A full redesign of the Honda Accord will most likely arrive in the 2013 calendar year. Honda Accord Crosstour

2013 Honda Accord Crosstour: Honda's version of the Accord wagon should be ready for a refresh by 2012. Honda CR-V

2013 Honda CR-V: After some minor upgrades in 2010, expect to see a full redesign of the CR-V in 2012. Honda delayed work on the CR-V's underlying platform in 2009, so this redesign could come as late as 2013.

2011 Honda CR-Z: This hybrid sport coupe is scheduled to go on sale in the fall of 2010. It features a 122-horsepower hybrid drivetrain and a six-speed manual gearbox. Its EPA mileage estimates are 31 city and 37 highway.

2012 Honda Civic: The full redesign of the Honda Civic is not expected to arrive until early 2011 after some last-minute changes to the design of the platform. Unlike most Civic redesigns of the last couple decades, this Civic will actually be smaller on the outside compared to its predecessor. So far, the only prototypes spotted in public have been four-door hatchbacks, a body style sold in Europe but not in the U.S. Honda Element

2012 Honda Element: After mediocre sales, the Element was expected to die off when the current model was ready to retire, but Honda says it is now planning to release a full redesign in the next couple of years.

2017 Honda FCX Clarity: Honda's hydrogen-powered sedan is currently being offered to a select group of consumers as a demonstration vehicle. If an actual production version ever makes it to market, it's not likely to happen until 2016 at the earliest.

2011 Honda Fit: A hybrid version of the Fit was planned for release in late 2010. Honda officials have said publicly, however, that the company is struggling to deliver the car at an affordable price.

2012 Honda Insight: This hybrid hatchback has struggled in the marketplace so expect to see a midcycle refresh sooner than usual. Honda officials have said publicly that the car is too small for American tastes, but that's not likely to change until a full redesign arrives in the 2017-'18 timeframe.

2011 Honda Odyssey: A fully redesigned Honda Odyssey is scheduled to arrive in late 2010. The new Odyssey is roughly the same size as the current model and uses the same engine. Most of the changes were reserved for the interior that features seats that slide sideways, an onboard refrigerator and the latest in electronic connectivity. Honda Pilot

2012 Honda Pilot: Given that the Pilot just had a full redesign in 2009, a midcycle refresh probably won't arrive until 2011 at the earliest. Honda Ridgeline

2013 Honda Ridgeline: After a mild refresh in 2009, the Ridgeline should get a full redesign by 2012.

Source;

http://www.insideline.com/honda/future-vehicles.html

Honda's ‘Mad Men' close-up

I've never watched this show but I've heard that it is good, thanks for the find 'Tim'....
LOS ANGELES --The year is 1965, and an upstart motorcycle maker is ready to pitch a review of its $3 million advertising account with an equally upstart ad agency.

The company: Honda Motor. The agency: Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

Of course, the event never happened because the agency is the brainchild of the AMC Network's “Mad Men,” one of the few consistently brilliant shows on television.

Acting and dialogue on the show are true to the pre-free-love era. That means skinny ties and tight suits for the men, short skirts and superstructure brassieres for the women, and whiskey on the office sideboards consumed like so much iced tea.

That also means the not-so-quiet racism and sexism that simmered throughout the early '60s, which bubble to the surface during the Honda review. Neither Honda nor the agency comes out shining.

The agency is clearly in deep water dealing with the Japanese. Agency executives cram by reading The Chrysanthemum and the Sword and dining at Benihana.

The Honda executives, meanwhile, openly leer at Joan, the well-endowed office manager, and make jokes about her stature. In a more subtle bit of arrogance, the Japanese also put conditions on the review that mean SCDP could never win the account.

Meanwhile Roger Sterling -- the agency's silver fox, who fought in the Pacific -- can't get over the fact that he must bow to countrymen of those who killed his buddies on some blazing sand pit 20 years prior.

After returning from a conveniently scheduled lunch to discover he was left out of the pitch, Sterling sabotages the review, confronting the Honda executives with thinly veiled references to Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. T

he agency is shamed. Sterling nearly comes to blows with an agency Young Turk, who tells him to forget the past. Sterling then is stomped by agency shaman Bert Cooper, who asks why Sterling didn't rage when Bernbach won the contract to do business with Volkswagen.

Here's the thing: This was no product placement. “Mad Men” writers never contacted Honda about the script, American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel said. He didn't even know Honda was going to be a crucial plot element before the episode aired.

Clearly, Honda wasn't involved, or off-color dialogue like Sterling telling his colleagues to fraternize with their “new yellow buddies” would have been expunged from the script.

But unsanitized dialogue is part of the authenticity of the show. You must wonder what key advertiser BMW thought about all the World War II references in the episode, especially now that “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm is the voice of Mercedes-Benz commercials.

About the only plot misstep is that Honda is supposedly pitching the account in early 1965. That's just two years after Grey Advertising blew open the U.S. market with the legendary “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” campaign on the Academy Awards, although Honda sales were already starting to back down. Still, a continuity check would have helped.

Ahem, back to the soap opera. Through the fireworks, the teetering agency soldiers on, keen to win the account or else risk bankruptcy. Does SCDP win the Honda business? If you didn't see it live, best check the reruns this week. Better yet, start from the beginning. Season one, episode one.

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20100824/BLOG06/100829937/-1

Honda Civic moved to archives on Honda Japan website – next generation coming soon?

There’s something very interesting happening over at Honda Japan’s website – the 8th generation Honda Civic have been removed from all the car line-up pages. The only reference to the Civic can now only be found under ‘Archives’ area. The page linked in the previous line lists the 8th generation as having a lifespan of 2007/09 to 2010/08! The Civic Hybrid based on the 8th generation car remains to be listed.

What does this mean? Only one thing – Honda is likely going to unveil the 9th generation Honda Civic very soon, since they’ve sort of ‘phased out’ the 8th generation non-hybrid sedan in Japan. Thanks to reader Calvin/lanarshad@8GCC for the tip!

Source;
http://paultan.org/2010/08/24/honda-civic-moved-to-archives-on-honda-japan-website-next-generation-coming-soon/

RUMOUR ALERT: Honda Abandons the sale of Honda Civic and Insight hybrid

Hmmm....No doubt about it, Hybrid sales are slow, I just attributed it to low (are we really desensitized to $1/litre now?!?) gas prices, I don't think that Honda would go to such a drastic measure, but I've been wrong before....Not surprisingly one day or another. With sales exceeding 175 copies since the beginning of the year in Quebec, the hybrid Insight became a burden instead of a source of pride for Honda. Is it too much like the Toyota Prius, its rear seats bit inviting or I do not know what other avatar, but one thing is certain, Honda intends to significantly slow the commercialization of its hybrid cars in the Canadian market. This includes not only the Insight, recently renovated, but the Civic Hybrid.

At first, according to a dealer who prefers to remain anonymous, Honda had decided to remove completely the sale of the Insight and Civic Hybrid, leaving only the new model this year, the CR-Z coupe only hybrid. Such an approach had been an admission of failure on the part of Honda, so that both cars to disappear benefit from a stay that will allow consumers to order. That's what we told the director of public relations for Honda Canada for Quebec, Nadia Mereb. "Our dealers do not keep any of these models (Insight and Civic hybrid) in stock and the customer who wants to buy one should place an order and wait for the car be delivered to him," was echoed by Ms. Mereb.

It is a blow to all those who work to spread products less damaging to the environment and is also proof that Quebecers are shy to adopt greener solutions. Some say that the wrongs come from Honda which has not found the right recipe to woo customers with these two hybrid cars.

It is expected that this new raised much debate in the areas concerned.

Source;
http://monvolant.cyberpresse.ca/dossiers/dossier-auto-ecolo/201008/20/01-4308342-honda-delaisse-la-vente-des-civic-et-insight-hybrides.php?utm_categorieinterne=trafficdrivers&utm_contenuinterne=cyberpresse_B2_automobile_508450_accueil_POS1

Honda’s Hot New Hybrid a Blast from the Past

*Edit*
Here's a really good read on the new CR-Z by Jim Bray.... out of respect for Jim, I have just added the link, check it out, you'll find a well thought out article, all the best Jim!

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/26815

Honda Odyssey gets makeover for 2011

Here's a nice little article explaining the basic changes for the next gen Honda Odyssey....
The industry's best-selling minivan, the Honda Odyssey, has been completely redesigned for 2011, and goes on sale in early fall.

No prices have been announced yet, but there will be a new fully equipped top model called the Touring Elite, which comes with a long list of standard equipment, including leather seating and navigation.

Other special features include an ultra-wide rear entertainment system with split-screen capability so two programs can be shown at one time; and there is even a small refrigerator, which Honda calls a “cool box,” that works when the engine is running.

This is the fourth generation of the Odyssey, and it was first shown at the Chicago auto show in February.

Honda says the new Odyssey “seeks to redefine the concept of the minivan with its aggressive stance and sporty ‘lightning-bolt' beltline.”

The roof is more steeply raked toward the rear than the current Odyssey, making the vehicle 1.6 inches lower than the current model, which was introduced for 2005 and given a mid-cycle makeover for 2008.

While there are many changes, the new model is still quite recognizable as an Odyssey. Besides the lower stance, the 2011 Odyssey is 1.4 inches wider than the 2010 model, and has improved aerodynamics to help boost fuel economy.

The new model is 202.8 inches long, 78.5 inches wide and 68.3 inches high, with a 118.1-inch wheelbase.

There are improvements inside to make the vehicle more family-friendly, and that's really where Honda makes its mark both in the minivan and sport utility segments. Nobody does family friendly interiors better than Honda. Busy families spend a lot of time in their minivans, and the Odyssey's designers kept that in mind.

“The Odyssey established its reputation by providing families with what they most want in a minivan — great functionality, an emphasis on safety and good fuel economy," Vicki Poponi, American Honda's product planning chief, said during the Chicago introduction. “The next-generation Odyssey promises to take these strengths to a higher level while adding more style and personality.”

Even with its sportier exterior styling, the new Odyssey has better outward visibility for those sitting in the third row.

Outside, the Touring Elite model comes with high-intensity-discharge headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, 12.6-inch ventilated front disc brakes, power side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a power-operated tailgate.

Interior features of the top model include an AM/FM/XM/CD premium audio system with 12 speakers; the Honda voice-activated navigation system; the rear entertainment center; a 110-volt power outlet for game consoles and other electronic devices such as laptops; a media tray with integrated cup holder; a removable first-row center console with hidden storage; a 10-way power driver's seat with memory; enough anchors for up to five child safety seats; a total of 15 cupholders; second- and third-row sunshades.

There's even a ring to hold a trash bag. Trash can pile up in a hurry on a road trip while the kids having their snacks.

Among other new features are projector beam headlights, LED taillights and “form-fit” fog lights, Honda said.

Advancements in engine design and the vehicle's aerodynamics give the new Odyssey EPA fuel-economy ratings as high as 19 mpg city/28 highway.

The current model has ratings as high as 17 city/25 highway when equipped with Honda's three-mode Variable Cylinder Management. It cuts out either two or three cylinders at cruising speeds to save fuel. Without the cylinder management, the 2010 model is rated at 16 city/23 highway.
Under the hood will be the latest version of the 3.5-liter V-6 engine used in the 2010 model, which puts out 244 horsepower and 240 foot-pounds of torque. Honda hasn't released final performance data for the 2011 model, however.

The new Odyssey will have room for seven or eight passengers, depending on the seating configuration chosen. The middle row has two captain's chairs with a smaller seat in between that can be folded out of the way to create a pass-through to the rear seat.

The third row, which seats three (and is best left to the kids) is Honda's so-called “Magic Seat,” which has a 60/40 split and can be folded completely flat into the floor either in sections or all together to create a larger cargo area when the seat isn't needed for passengers.

The new Odyssey faces stiff competition from the redesigned 2011 Toyota Sienna, which is already on sale and has been its most formidable import-brand competitor.

Standard safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes, electronic stability control with traction control, front seat-mounted side air bags, and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows.

The vehicle also features Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, designed to lessen its impact on pedestrians and other vehicles in the event of a collision.

Honda assembles the new model at its plant near Birmingham, Ala. Design and engineering work were done in California and Ohio, rather than in Japan.

Source;
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/topdown/detail?entry_id=70599

Facebook’s ‘Car Town’ Gains Honda Ads in Games Shift

Aug. 23 (Bloomberg -- Honda Motor Corp.’s campaign for its new CR-Z car features the hybrid vehicle in some colorful roadside billboards that can’t be seen from a freeway.

The ads are on display in Facebook Inc.’s virtual game “Car Town,” as Honda advertises on the social-network site for the first time today. The game, which allows users to collect and customize cars, has 3.1 million users. It was released on Facebook two weeks ago by Cie Games Inc.

Brands are turning to social networks to reach an audience with leisure time on its hands and the patience to sit through branded messages. Walt Disney Co., Electronic Arts Inc. and Google Inc. have all bought games makers in recent months to benefit from millions of users signing up to play.

“You can have 200,000 people drive past a billboard on an L.A. freeway every day, but you don’t have the same level of engagement as when people select “Car Town,’” Steve Center, Honda’s vice president for advertising, said in an interview. “Marketers and game developers will discover they are building powerful channels and that there’s enormous property for sale.”

Dove Soap and Breyers Ice Cream are running ads on “TikiFarm,” while Energizer batteries are promoted on “Family Feud.” Microsoft Corp., Cascadian Farm Organic and 7-Eleven have all marketed themselves on “Farmville,” a game with more than 62 million users that lets users try their hand at farming. A player grows and harvests crops, purchases items like shovels tractors and rakes and raises livestock.

Farmville, Mafia Wars

Global advertising in social games and applications will total $293 million next year, a 60 percent increase from 2009, according to researcher EMarketer Inc. in New York. By comparison, expenditure on television advertising was $166.9 billion in 2009, according to ZenithOptimedia.

As ads move online and marketers follow consumers to the Internet, traditional advertising in print newspapers and magazines has suffered declines. Internet ads are forecast to make up 17.1 percent of the ad market in 2012 from 12.7 percent in 2009, ZenithOptimedia Group Ltd. a London-based ad buyer owned by Publicis Groupe SA, said last month.

Zynga Inc., the top maker of Facebook games whose titles include “Farmville,” “Texas HoldEm Poker” and “Mafia Wars Game,” said it’s in talks with numerous brands about advertising.

“We believe that advertising will play a larger role at Zynga by providing brands the reach of TV, the measurability of online and the most engaging ad integrations available,” said Manny Anekal, director of brand advertising at the company.

Microsoft’s Bing

“A lot of the growth around Facebook has been because people play social games so much,” said Simon Mansell, chief executive officer of TBG Digital, a London-based digital ad agency that also sells ads on Facebook. “Users spend so much time playing that during downtime in the game they can respond to offers.”

Microsoft Corp. gave virtual currency to “Farmville” users who became fans of the Facebook page of the Bing search engine, according to Lynn Rowe Girotto, senior director for Bing marketing. Users then received status updates linking Bing search results to “Farmville.”

The result was 425,000 new fans of Bing on Facebook and 70 percent of those fans visiting Bing in the next month, she said.

“As long as it’s done well, and it’s not overly intrusive, I think it’s a good thing,” John Schappert, Electronic Arts’s chief operating officer, said in an interview. “It does offset the development cost and provide an early revenue stream for these games, for which many people don’t spend a dime on now.”

Google’s Games

Earlier this month, Google bought Jambool Inc., a provider of virtual-currency software and Slide Inc., a maker of games and apps for social sites. Walt Disney snapped up Playdom Inc., the second-biggest maker of games on Facebook, in July for $563 million. Japan’s Softbank Corp. invested 13.5 billion yen ($158 million) in Zynga and Electronic Arts in November bought games maker Playfish Inc. for $400 million.

More than just advertising in games, brands are also spending money developing social applications to attract consumers. American Family Insurance created the “IamFam” game that allows a user to build an avatar, settle into a neighborhood, outfit a house and shop at a local store.

Nestle SA’s Purina PetCare Co unit created the “Friskies Wonderland Quest II’’ game, where users find hidden food ingredients like salmon and chicken to move onto higher levels.

‘Still Too Small’

“We’re running 20-odd campaigns now on Facebook with advertisers,” said Dave Madden, a vice president for ad sales at Wild Tangent, a games company that worked with American Family Insurance and Nestle Purina. Wild Tangent also developed an in-game ad platform where brands air short commercials in return for users receiving virtual currency and items.

“These ads have to add value and they cannot take away from the game,” he said. “We’ve seen solid growth in our ads business and to say they would triple is a relatively achievable forecast.”
Not everyone is embracing in-games advertising, including some of the developers. Bigpoint GmbH, one of the world’s largest online-game providers, sees the market as “still too small for it to be interesting for us,” Chief Executive Officer Heiko Hubertz said in an interview last week.

“For now we make more money from promoting our own games than by selling ads for the games,” he said, estimating that casual players of social games on Facebook spend 10 euros a month on value-added services versus hard-core gamers who can spend 40 euros.

Vital to Marketers

With total ad spending on Facebook estimated at $1.28 billion this year, according to EMarketer, social media is vital to marketers.

Companies view social media as a core part of their online marketing spending, and not an “experiment,” said Victoria Ransom, the founder of Wildfire Interactive Inc., which has helped Nestle SA, The Gap Inc. and PepsiCo Inc. build social marketing campaigns.

“One of the ways we’re going after younger folks is to be in the places they are,” Honda’s Center said. “Young people are online; they live online and communicate online. We want to catch people where their interests lie.”

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-23/facebook-s-car-town-gains-honda-ads-in-games-shift.html

Toyota Evokes James Bond in New Push for Sports Cars

Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Maurizio Raffone bought a Toyota Motor Corp. Prius hybrid for its top-of-the-line fuel efficiency. In his current search for a new sportscar, he said the Japanese carmaker hadn’t sprung to mind.

“Would I consider buying a Toyota high-end sports car?” said Raffone, a London-based director at Commerzbank AG. “I might think about it, but ultimately I’d choose something with a trident, a prancing horse or a bull on its hood,” he said, referring to cars made by Fiat SpA’s Maserati and Ferrari marques, and Volkswagen AG’s Lamborghini.

As the world’s largest carmaker tries to rebuild its reputation for quality following record recalls, President Akio Toyoda, a racing fan, has said he wants to add more fun to his cars. Under Toyoda, who became president in June 2009, the company has taken orders for the Lexus LFA $375,000 supercar, is readying an “affordable” rear-wheel drive coupe and may even add a sporty version of the Prius.

“Cars like the LFA are brand-builders in the overall product portfolio,” said Ashvin Chotai, London-based managing director of Intelligence Automotive Asia Ltd., an industry consultant. These cars, at the periphery of Toyota’s business model, “are less about volume and more about excitement.”

The projects fall under a new Sports Vehicle Management Division set up in January, a month before Toyoda flew to Washington to face congressional questioning on the company’s recalls for problems related to unintended acceleration.

The unit expands a similar group spearheaded by Toyoda in 2007 and aims to “reinforce sports vehicle product planning,” according to a company statement.

‘Affordable’ Sports Car

The “affordable” sports car, known as the FT-86, is being developed with affiliate Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.’s Subaru unit. Toyota plans to introduce the model by the end of 2011.

Toyoda touts the role of racing in car development and started participating in a 24-hour endurance race in 2007 in Nurburgring, Germany, where various versions of the LFA were tested.

His fervor for racing is reflected on his business card, where a cartoon image of Morizo, his race-car driver alter ego, flashes a peace sign with one hand and cradles a helmet in the other.

The carmaker has firm orders for all 500 units of the limited-production LFA, according to the company. The car will enter production in December.

Toyota gained 1.8 percent to close at 3,085 yen in Tokyo.

‘Technologically Brilliant’

“The LFA is technologically brilliant, but completely overpriced” at almost triple the price of Porsche SE’s 911 Turbo, said Mark Sweeting, an investment banker in London who has owned numerous sporty European cars.

Toyota’s sports cars no longer in production include the Supra, built between 1986 and 2002 and featured in the 2001 racing movie “The Fast and the Furious,” the MR-S roadster that ended production in 2007, and the Celica, made between 1970 and 2006. The company’s first supercar was the 2000GT, which was featured in the 1967 James Bond movie, “You Only Live Twice,” starring Sean Connery.

“Toyota used to have cool sports cars like the Supra and Corolla Levin,” said Kosuke Kakizawa, a sports car fan in Tokyo who owned a Toyota Cynos coupe in the mid-1990s. “Now, when you think of sports cars, you think of the foreign brands,” he said. Kakizawa now owns an Audi TT coupe.

Raffone, the Prius owner, agreed.

“Toyota should really focus on its cutting edge eco- friendly technology and leave the sports cars to the niche manufacturers,” he said.

Lowered Suspension

Last month, Toyota held a test-drive event for its new “G Sports” versions of the Noah and Voxy minivans, which were developed and tuned with the help of race-car drivers and have lowered suspensions, more responsive steering and high- performance brakes.

“These are cars that are sporty without being hardcore sports cars,” to be enjoyed by drivers with families, said Tadashi Yamashina, a senior managing director in charge of the company’s development of sports cars in an interview at the event in Yamanashi prefecture, northwest of Tokyo.

Sports models contribute little to sales volume and profit, Intelligence Automotive’s Chotai said. Toyota sold 1,300 units of the MR-S in Japan in 2006, the last full year it was offered. That compares with 2.27 million cars sold domestically in the fiscal year ended March 2007.

Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. also cut back on sporty cars over the last decade, axing plans for a revamped NSX supercar and ending production of the S2000 roadster in 2009. Instead, Honda introduced the sporty hybrid CR-Z in February.

Toyota displayed a concept hybrid sports car, the FT-HS, at the 2007 Detroit auto show.

Flagship GT-R

Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third-largest automaker, came out with a more powerful version of its flagship GT-R sports car in 2007.

“The sporty push is understandable since the whole industry is so fixated on improving vehicle fuel economy, which leaves something to be desired” for enthusiasts, said Koji Endo, an auto analyst at Advanced Research Japan in Tokyo.

More sports models may also raise morale inside the company. “Sports cars keep the engineers motivated,” said Edwin Merner, president of Atlantis Investment Research Corp. in Tokyo.

“They are worth doing on a limited scale.”

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-19/toyota-evokes-james-bond-in-new-push-for-sports-cars.html?chan=autos_autos+--+lifestyle+subindex+page_top+stories

Quakecon 2010 Attendee sells raffle ticket to 2010 Shelby GT500

Ouch, this has gotta hurt....

Quakecon 2010: Attendee Blunder of the Year from Daniel Harris on Vimeo.

Source: www.autoblog.com

Tested: 2010 Honda Element, Dog-Friendly Package

We've always thought of the Honda Element as one of the best vehicles for dog owners. Thanks to its tall cabin, easy-clean cargo floor, and versatile seating arrangement, it's long been a favorite among active folks with dogs.

For 2010, Honda finally took advantage of the Element's usefulness—or pawtential, we've said—by introducing a new Dog Friendly Element. Our own pooch, Owen, is usually a willing adventurer, if a little anxious as a passenger, so it seemed like a no-brainer for us to hop in a Dog-Friendly Element, test out its creature comforts, and head for a hiking trail.

The Dog Friendly package includes a host of additional accessories, which Owen and I put through the paces on the way to and from our hike. Special second-row seat covers allowed Owen to be belted in with his harness (you should never let a dog ride shotgun, or be loose in the vehicle) in a special dog pattern, as well as rubbery bone-pattern floor mats.

The centerpiece of the Dog Friendly package is a soft-sided car kennel, made by the safety supplier Takata, of seatbelt-grade vinyl webbing. Owen fit into it perfectly, the floor is soft, and it includes a ventilation fan and water dish. All that said, it was a little too claustrophobic for him, especially when we zipped up the screen; but plenty of dogs dig that.

The package also includes an extendable (five foot or so) ramp that stows under the kennel floor in a separate compartment. It would surely be handy for the smaller or arthritic pups, but my hound just didn't get the need for this either.

As we've reported about other Honda Element models in the past, including the 2010 Element, this utility vehicle is hard to beat for people who often have one or two people plus gear to carry.

The Element's suicide-type door setup (back doors are hinged at the rear) allows a very wide opening for loading, and the back seats fold down easily, with the tall, boxy body enabling more useful cargo capability than in most other utility vehicles.

Only when you try to fit adult passengers in back do you run into the tradeoffs: flat, short cushions back there that aren't very comfortable for longer trips, as well as a door arrangement that requires back doors to be closed before the front ones.

The Element's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine doesn't have awesome thrust, but it's quick enough, and the five-speed automatic shifts smoothly most of the time (except when rolling back onto the throttle out of a tight turn, when it would often hesitate between gears for a moment). The most surprising thing about the Element, for those who've never driven one, is that it doesn't at all feel tipsy, and even with some crosswinds on the highway it still tracks straight. At lower speeds especially, the Element feels confident and nimble—credit underpinnings that are shared with Honda's small cars.

And it's frugal: Over a week, I covered about 250 miles in all, with and without Owen, and averaged about 25 mpg—beating the 4WD test vehicle's 19 mpg city, 24 highway EPA rating.

The Dog Friendly package costs just $995, which brought the price of our top-of-the-line 2010 Honda Element EX (with navigation) up to $27,365. I'm pretty convinced that's a good value, but Owen is still hinting that it could buy the mother lode of kibs.

Source;
http://www.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1048529_tested-2010-honda-element-dog-friendly-package

Canada: Honda Accord also gets a 'Special Edition' for 2011

It's official, Honda Canada is sending out the slightly revised 2011 Honda Accord with a "SE" edition, no word on what that SE will have, however in the US they have confirmed that it adds heated leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power lumbar on the driver’s seat, and SE (Special Edition) badging. It is available only with the 177-hp version of Honda’s 2.4-liter iVTEC four-cylinder engine, mated to either a five-speed manual or automatic.

From what I see this is how the 2011 Honda Accord Sedan lineup will look like;
-SE
-EX
-EX-L
-EX-L Navigation
-EX-V6
-EX-L-V6
-EX-L-V6 Navigation

Seeing as the SE is replacing the LX and is lower than the EX, I can't see leather as being the option, however I'd love to see heated cloth seats! Honda hasn't done that in the Accord since 2002!

Source;
Honda Canada

2012 Honda Civic Rendering (or Acura CSX photoshop?)

Personally, I don't think so, I think the car is going to see changes that are "radically" different than this. I can't see them using the same body with a front end change, the front end is using a revised Acura shield which leads me to believe that this could be a Minor Model Change for the Acura CSX here in Canada....at the end of the day, only Honda really knows....
The design of Honda’s next generation Civic will not be radically different, according to reports.

Honda has taken longer than expected to bring out the new Civic, which has recently been overshadowed by the competition.

By the time Honda releases the new Civic (2012, we hear), Hyundai would have designed the Elantra twice. There have been no test mules of the booted Civic spotted anywhere in the world yet. This is a clear indication that the next generation Civic is still sometime away.

If this rendering is even close to the actual car, it looks far from stylish especially when compared to Hyundai’s utterly gorgeous Elantra. The current gen Civic doesn’t have a diesel engine in India and Honda has lost out on volumes due to this reason. Honda’s been regularly giving the Civic new features and recently even conducted a cosmetic surgery to keep it fresh. However, this will not work for very long.

Has Honda lost the plot by making the current generation Civic perfectly, preventing the design team from making it any better?

http://indianautosblog.com/2010/08/is-this-the-new-honda-civic#ixzz0x3mUgFkn

2012 Honda Civic SPY VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7LLdBrzj2Y&feature=player_embedded

2012 Honda Civic Camo'd VIDEO

I am going to go on the record and say that this is for sure the UK model, I just can't see this car in the US....

Honda Builds More Cars Here Than There - News

Puts a new spin on buying domestic....What’s more, Camry and Accord are the most American of all.

In the second quarter of this year, Honda built 236,819 cars in the U.S., a dry bit of data until you realize that in the same time frame it built 236,559 cars back in Japan. It’s a tiny edge. It may not last for the whole year. But it’s the first time that Honda produced more cars here in the U.S. than at home.

The background is also compelling: Japan’s home market continues to shrink, while U.S. sales appear to have bottomed out and are experiencing a slow uptick. According to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assoc., which keeps tab of such things, its members now operate 31 U.S. manufacturing plants and have 34 major R&D facilities here.

Automakers are truly international businesses; all of them. For example, a Toyota and a Honda built here beat out the likes of Ford, GM and Chrysler in terms of domestic content. Top of the list compiled by Cars.com is the Toyota Camry built in Georgetown, Kentucky, and Lafayette, Indiana. Second is the Honda Accord, among those 236,819 cited above, built in Marysville, Ohio, and Lincoln, Alabama. First “domestic” nameplates are the Ford Escape and Focus in third and fourth place, then the Chevrolet Malibu and, further down the list, the Dodge Ram 1500 truck.
Domestic parts content information is posted along side the window sticker of all new cars; this, as part of the American Automobile Labeling Act of 1994. Identified is the percentage, by cost, of parts originating in the U.S. and Canada.

Source;
http://www.roadandtrack.com/auto-news/honda-builds-more-cars-here-than-there