Paris Auto Show: Honda CR-Z facelift – more details and interior pix

More details about the facelifted Honda CR-Z, which made its surprise world debut a week ago in Indonesia. The car is being showcased in Paris, the venue where it was originally supposed to have premiered.

We reported that exterior changes were made up of a newly-designed front grille and front bumper, reworked fog lamps, new HID headlamps, rear LED combination lamps, door mirrors, rear diffuser and a new design 17-inch alloy wheel – no additions to that.

We also mentioned that the hybrid’s output had been upped, and the latest numbers have just a slight variation from that reported earlier, with the 1.5 litre i-VTEC mill offering 121 PS (earlier, 120 PS in Indonesia) at 6,600 rpm and 146 Nm at 4,800 rpm for the six-speed manual, while it’s 118 PS for the CVT, with the 100-volt IMA motor providing 20 PS and 78 Nm.

As for combined output from the IMA hybrid system, that’s pretty much spot on too, 137 PS (earlier reported as 136 PS in Indonesia) at 6,600 rpm and 190 Nm between 1,000 rpm to 2,000 rpm, a jump of 13 PS and 16 Nm over the pre-facelift. For the CVT, it’s 135 PS at 6,600 rpm and 172 Nm from 1,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm.

Aside from an interior pix and studio shots of the car in its Premium Northern Lights Violet shade, additional info reveals that the car now features a lithium-ion battery, and the change from the previous nickel-metal hybrid (Ni-MH) unit has helped increase the the motor’s power output from 14 PS (10 kW) to 20 PS (15 kW). Performance figures include a 0-100 km/h time of 9.0 seconds (9.7 sec on current car) and a top speed of 200 km/h.

Elsewhere, the engine has been updated with changes to the variable valve timing system and ECU. An anti-vibration knock sensor has been introduced and the material of the crankshaft has been upgraded.

Finally, an explanation of how the Plus Sport (S+) boost system works, even though it’s not all complete. If the battery is more than 50% charged, the driver can activate the system using the S+ button on the steering wheel. When the accelerator is pressed, an electric boost delivers increased acceleration for up to 10 seconds.

A flashing gauge on the dashboard indicates when the system is active, and S+ can be used in Econ, Normal or Sport modes. No word as to how much it all is in specific numbers in terms of output and performance improvement, so that’s a pretty half-baked explanation thus far.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2012/09/28/honda-cr-z-facelift-more-details-and-interior-pix/

Honda Civic Euro wagon body concept due in 2013

A Honda Civic wagon will be added to the Civic range in the near future, with a concept version of the new model to be shown in 2013. Honda’s European President Manabu Nishimae announced this at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, where Honda exhibited new diesel versions of the Civic and CR-V.

We last saw a wagon body Civic in the late 80s, and it was called the Honda Civic Shuttle. The wagon-loving European market only has one Honda model to buy now – the Accord Euro wagon. As customers downsize their choice of vehicles, it makes sense that Honda starts offering the wagon body for its C-segment contender in addition to the D-segment Accord Euro. Toyota also clearly had the same idea, launching for the first time a wagon version of the Auris at Paris 2012.

Nishimae also announced that the CR-V and Civic Euro hatchback would be available with their new 1.6 litre i-DTEC engine. We test drove it last year installed in an Accord Euro.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2012/09/28/honda-civic-euro-wagon-body-concept-due-in-2013/

Facelifted Honda CR-Z makes debut at Indonesia motor show

A revised version of the Honda CR-Z has been displayed at the Indonesia motor show, ahead of a European reveal at next week’s Paris show.

The facelifted model uses a revised version of the current car’s 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine and electric drivetrain. Rumours suggest power will increase from the 124bhp and 128lb ft currently offered to around 134bhp and 140lb ft. Honda has already stated the engine changes will not affect its CO2 emissions of 117g/km.

Honda is expected to offer the choice of a six-speed manual or CVT gearbox, but it is likely the latter will be offered to British buyers.

The facelift includes a revised front grille and bumper, LED front and rear lights, updated door mirrors and new 17-inch alloy wheels.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/paris-motor-show-2012/facelifted-honda-cr-z-makes-debut-indonesia-motor-show

Toyota drops plan for widespread sales of electric car

Hmmm, where have I heard this before????

By Yoko Kubota

TOKYO | Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:39pm IST
 

(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp has scrapped plans for widespread sales of a new all-electric minicar, saying it had misread the market and the ability of still-emerging battery technology to meet consumer demands.

Toyota, which had already taken a more conservative view of the market for battery-powered cars than rivals General Motors Co and Nissan Motor Co, said it would only sell about 100 battery-powered eQ vehicles in the United States and Japan in an extremely limited release.

The automaker had announced plans to sell several thousand of the vehicles per year when it unveiled the eQ as an pure-electric variant of its iQ minicar in 2010.

"Two years later, there are many difficulties," Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota's vice chairman and the engineer who oversees vehicle development, told reporters on Monday.

By dropping plans for a second electric vehicle in its line-up, Toyota cast more doubt on an alternative to the combustion engine that has been both lauded for its oil-saving potential and criticized for its heavy reliance on government subsidies in key markets like the United States.

"The current capabilities of electric vehicles do not meet society's needs, whether it may be the distance the cars can run, or the costs, or how it takes a long time to charge," said, Uchiyamada, who spearheaded Toyota's development of the Prius hybrid in the 1990s.

Toyota said it was putting its emphasis on that technology, an area in which it is the established leader. Toyota said on Monday it expected to have 21 hybrid gas-electric models like the Prius in its line-up by 2015. Of that total, 14 of the new hybrids will be all-new, the automaker said.

Toyota has previously said that it expects to have a hybrid variant available for every vehicle it sells. In a gas-electric hybrid like the Prius, a battery captures energy from the brakes to provide a supplement to the combustion engine, boosting overall mileage, particularly in stop-and-go city traffic.

Pure electric vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf, carry only lithium-ion batteries. Consumer demand for the vehicles has been capped by their limited range and the relatively high cost of the powerful batteries they require.

FAR FROM TARGET
The decision to drop plans for more extensive rollout of its eQ city car leaves Toyota with just a single pure EV in its line-up. The automaker will launch an all-electric RAV4 model in the United States that was jointly developed with Tesla Motors.

Toyota expects to sell 2,600 of the electric-powered sports utility vehicle over the next three years. By comparison, Toyota sold almost 37,000 Camry sedans in August alone in the United States, the automaker's largest market.

Toyota is also far from its plug-in hybrid sales target. The automaker planned to sell between 35,000 and 40,000 Prius plug-in hybrids in 2012 in Japan. So far it has sold only 8,400, or about 20 percent of its target.

The plug-in Prius is designed with a battery that can be charged for just over 20 km (12.4 miles) of battery-powered driving. After that, the vehicle behaves like a more traditional hybrid and relies on its gas engine for extended range.

"We believe that there is social demand for the plug-in hybrid, but our efforts to let the customers know what it is have not been enough," Uchiyamada said.

A broad industry consensus sees plug-in cars accounting for only a single-digit percentage of total global sales over the next decade. Nissan remains more bullish, forecasting that by 2020 one-tenth of all cars sold will be electric.

Globally, Nissan has sold about 38,000 Leaf electric cars since the vehicle's launch at the end of 2010.

U.S. President Barack Obama has set a goal of getting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, a target many analysts say will be impossible to achieve.

(Writing by Kevin Krolicki; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)

Source;
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/us-toyota-electric-idINBRE88N0CT20120924

MotorTrend: Mini Acura NSX Back on the Table

Shrunken Supercar Rumored to Get AWD, Mid-Engine Layout

While the stillborn, V-10-powered NSX was being developed, Honda was also working on a related and obscure project referred to internally as the Small NSX. At the time it was just one of several advanced R&D ideas sitting in the design room. Then the financial crisis hit, causing Honda to kill the NSX and shelve all other sports car projects. But Honda has since rebounded, and as we know, the NSX has been reborn as an all-wheel drive hybrid. Now we're hearing the Small NSX may be back on the drawing board as well.

 

While the words "Small NSX" may conjure up visions of a successor to the S2000, our inside source tells us this is not the case, and that it will look much like a shrunken version of the big-boy NSX, something along the lines of the car you see in this artist's impression. Our source also tells us that like the NSX, it will be equipped with a version of Honda's SH-AWD system.

Power will likely be provided by a turbocharged direct-injection engine. Honda currently has a number of engines that could fit the bill, including the 3.5-liter V-6, 2.4-liter I-4, and 2.0-liter I-4 already offered in several of its American-market products. Given Honda's America-focused development, overseas engines such as its 660cc and 1.0-liter mills are unlikely to be considered. Of the possible three, the 2.4-liter is the most likely candidate. There's also the possibility that it will be fitted with some kind of hybrid drivetrain.

 

Our source also tells us the Small NSX will make use of a number of parts from the NSX to help recoup development costs. Given that both cars will be developed at Honda of America's R&D center in Ohio (we're told that in July Honda HQ assigned several of its top test drivers and engineers to the facility for a five-year stint), it's a logical move. The NSX remains on track to return for the 2015 model year. If it's indeed green-lit, the Small NSX could follow a year or two afterward, before the drivers and engineers head home in 2017. Don't expect it to be a bargain sports car, however. Given the amount of DNA it's likely to share with the NSX, the Small NSX would likely cost between $50,000 and $60,000.

 

Source;

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2012/1209_mini_acura_nsx_back_on_the_table/

Details Surface: Chrysler Readying SRT Barracuda to Succeed Challenger

Not much about the 2013 Viper deviates from the formula that made the car famous—it has a monstrous V-10, rear-wheel drive, and a manual transmission, and it still looks ready for a 10-on-1 bar fight. Branding it not a Dodge but an SRT, however, has raised eyebrows. Giving that new brand heft is a ­second model: the 2015 SRT Barracuda, the Dodge Challenger’s replacement.

Unlike the Viper, it will be a dramatic departure. Chrysler’s LX platform (Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Charger) benefited from front and rear ­suspension setups derived from the Mercedes-Benz S- and E-class, respectively, but it’s huge for a pony car. Since the Challenger’s inception, the LX has evolved into the LY and gained weight in the process. Now that it’s part of Fiat, Dodge would like to export Challengers, but their mass and zaftig proportions limit overseas sales potential. With fuel economy a growing ­priority—not to mention four-cylinder versions of both the Mustang and Camaro on the horizon—Chrysler needed to slim down its offering. Fortunately, Fiat has been on the prowl for a rear-drive platform for use by Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and possibly Maserati. These factors motivated Chrysler to develop a new platform, and the Barracuda will be its first fruit.

Similar in size to the current Mustang, the Barracuda is expected to lose more than six inches from the Challenger’s wheelbase and close to eight in overall length. Rear track and overall width are forecast to shrink by a bit more than two inches. Weight will drop by between 250 and 300 pounds. The front suspension may move from control arms to a strut setup; the rear suspension will remain multilink, with new geometry.

Mindful of tightening CAFE requirements, power­train offerings will expand to include at least one ­variant of the new 2.4-liter Tigershark inline-four, possibly force-fed. While the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 is expected to get direct injection at about the time the ’Cuda arrives, CAFE more than market demand will determine whether a V-6 is offered. Expect the Hemi V-8 to carry on, with direct injection increasing power and efficiency. We hear it’s unlikely that both the 5.7- and 6.4-liter versions will be offered but hope Chrysler reverses its thinking there. Two Hemis would go a long way toward cementing the SRT brand’s authenticity.

Source;

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2015-srt-barracuda-future-cars

This is the New 2014 Subaru Forester Compact SUV!

It may have escaped from our scoop photographers' radar, but we finally caught up with the next iteration of Subaru's Forester compact SUV, which in its three previous generations, has built a name for itself as a robust and no-nonsense model that rides well both on and off the road. 
 
These pictures are sourced from the new Forester's Japanese market brochure, but most of what you see here sans the engine range can be applied to the global model.
 
The new Forester, which will go on sale in Japan in mid-November before it reaches both North American (as a 2014 model) and European shores as a 2013 model) next year, is likely based on a revised version of the latest Impreza's platform.
 
Compared to the current Forester, Subaru's best-seller has grown all around and now measures 4,595mm or 180.9 inches long (+35mm), 1,795mm or 70.7 inches tall (+15mm) and 1,695mm or 66.7 inches wide (+20mm). The wheelbase is also longer at 2,640mm or 103.9 inches (+25mm) to improve space for passengers. 
 
Subaru gives two numbers for the new Forester's luggage space, 505-liters and 488-liters, but we weren't able to translate the Japanese spec sheet to see to what they are referring to. For the record, the current model's cargo volume with the rear seats in place is 450-liters.
 
The exterior styling of the 2014 Forester keeps the high-riding, station wagon shape of its predecessors adding some new details like a bulging curve on the lower part of the doors, a small quarter window at the base of the A-pillar, door mounted mirrors and new lights at both ends. 
 
Inside, the interior is almost identical to that of the new Impreza and XV models. 
 
In its home market, the new Forester will be available at launch with two boxer engines, a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter unit delivering 146Hp (148ps) that can be linked to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT, and a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged powerplant rated at 276Hp (280PS) offered only with a CVT. A flagship STi model may be in the cards for the near future. 
 
At this time, we do not know any details about the North American and European engine lineup.
 
However, in the U.S., the new Forester should be offered with the company's new 2.5-liter double-overhead-cam (DOHC) FB series boxer engine that produces 173 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft. of torque, while on the other side of the Atlantic and aside from the 146Hp 2.0-liter petrol, a diesel unit is surely to be available. 

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/this-is-new-2014-subaru-forester.html 

Marvel's The Avengers and Acura RDX Bonus Deleted Scene

Honda diesel cars to be out by March 2014

Japanese automobile giant Honda announced on September 21st that it will be launching very first diesel-driven car in the country by March 2014. The Honda diesel engine for this will be produced locally at a plant which will be established in Rajasthan

“In India, an all-new diesel engine will be adopted sequentially to new models starting in FY14 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2014),” Honda Motor Co Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito said.

“In addition to the high fuel efficiency, the cost competitiveness of the all-new diesel engine will be enhanced through local sourcing and local production to make new diesel models more affordable for customers,” Ito said.

Although, the CEO did not disclosed any details such as the new Honda diesel engine capacities which are in the company’s plans that will be developed by its subsidiary Honda Cars India. A source revealed that the diesel engine will first be featured in a Brio platform based new entry level Sedan which is under development in present.

“In Asia, in order to compete in and win in highly competitive low-price markets and fulfill the diverse needs of customers, in addition to the all-new Fit Series, Honda will add sedan-type and utility-type models utilising the platform of the Brio,” Ito said.

Its further revealed the company’s plans to empower its position in the far eastern auto markets. Ito added, “The Company will further try to increase sales and growth in Asia by strengthening its “mutually complementary structure in the region, especially among Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.”

Honda Cars India has been facing tough time as its competitors as it doesn’t has a diesel model in its portfolio. The competitors are benefiting from their Diesel model cars from huge price gap between petrol and diesel are continuing to exist and are likely to worsen with time as petrol prices are fluctuating frequently. Honda’s absence in the diesel car section is making it lag behind its competitors. Other auto makers having diesel models are gaining more shares in the market.

Honda Cars India sales during 2011-12 dropped to 8.47 percent to 54,427 units against the earlier figure of  59,463 units sold 2011’s fiscal.

source;
http://www.gaadi.com/blog/honda-diesel-cars-to-be-out-by-march-2014

Honda pledges to double global sales in five years

Honda is aiming to double down. It plans to produce twice as many vehicles as it does today.
That will take it to more than 6 million vehicles over the next five years as the Japanese automaker gears up for ambitious growth after bouncing back from last year's disasters.

"We have now reached the stage of going on the offensive," Honda President Takanobu Ito told reporters Friday, as he announced his worldwide target for the fiscal year ending March 2017. The automaker sold 3.1 million vehicles for the fiscal year through March 2012.

He said emerging markets would drive growth, including India and China, as Honda plans to strengthen its lineup of cheaper models tailored for such regions.

The remodeled Fit subcompact, which will be rolled out globally starting next year, and sold as the Jazz in some regions, will also help boost growth, Ito said at Honda's Tokyo headquarters. The Fit range of cars will also include a small SUV, he said.

Ito said model development will get quicker as Honda's engineers in all regions take part in the effort from the start, while adapting designs and other features to customer needs in each market.

Japanese automakers have been bouncing back from the global production disruptions caused by the disaster in northeastern Japan and Thai floods last year that froze supplies.
Also included in Honda's medium-term strategy:

• A fuel-cell vehicle in 2015 in Japan, U.S. and Europe.
• Maintaining production of 1 million vehicles in Japan, which has suffered stagnant demand.
• Strengthening the mini-car lineup in Japan, introducing six such new models by the end of 2015.
• Offering more hybrids, including a new plug-in early next year in the U.S.

Ito did not give prices for the new green cars. Cost is one obstacle for such technology becoming more widespread.

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/09/23/honda-double-sales/70000937/1#.UF8xzlGsfWw

2013 Honda Accord Commercials

Honda’s Global Product Plans: Civic Type R, Beat Roadster, FCX Successors Confirmed

Written by: Evan McCausland of www.motortrend.com
 
We would have expected Honda to formally announce future product plans at next week’s Paris Motor Show, but instead, CEO Takanobu Ito outlined a number of new launches while detailing Honda’s global corporate goals. From an automotive perspective, Honda hopes to sell 6 million cars annually by the close of the 2017 fiscal year, effectively doubling its volume. Here’s a little taste of the products it plans on using to achieve that astounding figure.

-Acura RLX: we already knew a fair amount about the forthcoming replacement for the aging RL, but Ito confirmed the completed, production-ready 2014 Acura RLX will make its public debut at the Los Angeles auto show in November, and on sale here in early 2013. It’ll be sold as the Honda Legend in Japan starting in 2014.

Power will be provided by a 310-hp, direct-injection 3.5-liter V-6. Buyers will have the choice between a front-wheel-drive RLX model boasting all-wheel steering, or a all-wheel-drive model that incorporates Honda’s new, three-motor SH-AWD driveline. In fact, the RLX will be the first Acura to use the system, though it will ultimately be a hallmark of the revived NSX supercar.

Honda also says that all other Acuras will be “renewed within the next three years.” Seeing as the RDX, ILX, and RLX are all-new, that essentially leaves the TL, TSX, MDX, and ZDX open for an overhaul. We doubt the TSX will be renewed for another generation: not only does it brush against the new ILX, but Honda doesn’t plan on crafting a new Accord for the European market – which essentially leaves that product line dead in the water.

-Civic Type R: Honda’s European press agency confirmed one a poorly-kept secret: an all-new Civic Type R is under development, and will be designed and sold primarily for European customers. We still don’t know if the new Type R will ditch its traditional supercharger in favor of a turbocharger, but Honda does note it aims for the Type R to become the fastest front-wheel-drive vehicle to lap the Nurburgring. Honda is expected to show a Type R at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March, but the production car won’t be on sale until 2015.

-Fit/ Fit Crossover: As previously reported, an all-new Fit subcompact is just around the corner. This is Honda’s true global car, but the next-generation model will be even more international. In an attempt to keep costs low, manufacturing will be performed in or close to markets across the globe. For instance, all U.S.-market Fit models will be built in a new plant in Celaya, Mexico.

Honda plans to initially launch the Fit in Japan in 2013, but a U.S.-market model – along with a new crossover variant – will be introduced within the following two years. The Celaya plant should start cranking out U.S.-spec Fit models in the spring of 2014.

-Microcar Onslaught: Honda has big plans for super-small cars. Ito notes it will launch six new “mini-vehicles” for the Japanese market by 2015. One, the N-ONE, is patterned after the N Concept 4, and is in turn inspired by the Honda N360 of the late 1960s. The retro-shaped hatchback should square off against the Mini hatchback and Fiat 500, though it’s unlikely to make its way to North America any time soon.

If that’s not small enough, Honda also wants to further develop the idea of a micro-commuter car, much like the concept it showed at the 2011 Tokyo motor show. That design, which boasted seating for three and an all-electric powertrain, could compete squarely with the miniscule Nissan Pivo EV. No timeframe was given for production, but Honda aims to test such products in Japan sometime in 2013.

Additionally, Honda promised new variants developed from the Brio, a low-cost B-segment car first launched in late 2010. Designed to appeal in price-sensitive emerging markets, the Brio first debuted as a five-door hatchback, but Honda says both a conventional four-door sedan and a “utility” model – likely a small crossover – are also on the way.

-New Beat: Both the 2008 OSM and 2011 EV-STER concepts hinted Honda was interested in revisiting the idea of a compact, two-place roadster. Now it’s official: Ito noted the brand will launch a new open-top sports car – “with strong vehicle dynamics” – as part of its six-car microcar offensive.

As MT reported in late 2011, the new car – likely to revive the Beat moniker – could utilize either a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter I-4 with VTEC. A hybrid driveline is unlikely, though the car could utilize a dual-clutch transmission. Honda says the car should go on sale in Japan in 2014, but its global market roll-out – if any – remains a mystery.

-Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Think Honda’s recent focus on electric and hybrid-electric vehicles means it’s forgotten or abandoned the idea of a fuel cell vehicle? Think again. Ito confirmed today an all-new fuel cell vehicle will debut in 2015, and allegedly is more advanced and less expensive than the present FCX Clarity. 

Honda says it will offer the new fuel cell vehicle in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. The 2015 target date means it could square off against a production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from Toyota, which is also scheduled to debut in 2015.

-Hybrids: Honda will ultimately use three different hybrid driveline systems, allowing the company to match “characteristics depending on the model in order to fulfill the needs of more customers.”

We’ve seen Honda roll out two new hybrid systems in recent months. The fanciful Hybrid SH-AWD is essentially the company’s piece de resistance, and will be used on both the Acura RLX luxury sedan and the NSX super car. A new two-motor hybrid system, which can function as both a series and parallel hybrid, was recently introduced on the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid.

Honda’s traditional single-motor Integrated Motor Assist system – presently found on the Civic Hybrid, Insight, and CR-Z – will apparently still be used in the future, but it will be revised to allow for electric-only operation.

Source;

http://wot.motortrend.com/hondas-global-product-plans-civic-type-r-beat-roadster-fcx-successors-confirmed-264711.html

Acura to Debut Flagship 2014 RLX Sedan at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

2013 Acura RLX Concept

09/20/2012

The production model of the all-new 2014 Acura RLX will debut on November 28, 2012, the first press day of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, it was announced today. The new Acura flagship sedan will employ an array of new technologies unique to Acura, including the Precision All Wheel Steer™ system, the next-generation AcuraLink® Communication System, and the all-new Jewel Eye™ LED headlamps to deliver an entirely new level of performance, sophistication and comfort.
The front-wheel-drive version of the 2014 RLX will utilize Acura’s new Precision All Wheel Steer™ system. This system automatically makes slight adjustments to the relative rear wheel (toe) angles by utilizing electrically controlled actuators to deliver an extraordinary level of cornering control and steering precision. The front-wheel-drive RLX will come equipped with an all-new 3.5-liter direct-injected VTEC® V-6 engine producing 310 horsepower (SAE net).

The RLX will feature the first application of the next-generation AcuraLink®, which incorporates built-in two-way cellular communication to deliver a variety of new convenience features, including airbag deployment notification, stolen vehicle tracking, remote locking and unlocking, security alarm notification and concierge service. Acura’s exclusive Jewel Eye™ LED headlamps use a dual-stacked array of multiple high-intensity LED lamps, with ultra-reflective optical lenses and high-gloss trim, to provide powerful down-the-road illumination, while simultaneously giving the RLX a distinctive and bright-eyed look in both daytime and nighttime conditions.

The Acura RLX will offer an extensive array of passive and active safety features. These include a Collision Mitigation Braking System™ and the first application of Acura’s Lane Keep Assist System.  In addition, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning will be offered as standard equipment on the RLX. Passive safety features will include front, side and side-curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a driver’s knee airbag. The RLX also incorporates the second generation of Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, with reinforced front frame members for further enhanced frontal crash energy management. The RLX is expected to achieve a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from NHTSA and the new TOP SAFETY PICK PLUS status from IIHS. 

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/acura-to-debut-flagship-2014-rlx-sedan-at-the-2012-los-angeles-auto-show

Summary of CEO Speech on September 21, 2012

• In 2010, I set Honda’s “Direction for the next 10 years” which is "to provide good products to our customers with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions." Since then, we have been devoting our full efforts in leveraging Honda’s unique technologies, ideas and ingenuity to create attractive products that please our customers who purchased such products. In addition, as a manufacturer of personal mobility products, we have been proactively executing various initiatives which contribute to a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.
• In 2011, we were forced to deal with the unprecedented appreciation of the yen and the
  temporary suspension of production around the world and the shortage of electricity due to
  the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the flooding in Thailand. However,
  thanks to the cooperation of our suppliers, business partners, and the efforts of Honda
  associates, we achieved a speedy recovery and as of today we are ready to make a
  counterattack.
• Since its foundation, Honda has been delivering various products with a passion to use
  technology to make people’s lives more convenient and enjoyable. Our products have
  been pleasing customers all around the world by making their work easier, increasing their
  mobility and adding more fun and convenience to their lives. In the previous fiscal year
  (ended March 31, 2012), Honda shared the joys with more than 23.9 million customers
  around the world including: 15 million motorcycle customers, 5.8 million power products
  customers and 3.1 million automobile customers.
• In FY2017 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2017) — the last fiscal year of our next 3-year
  mid-term plan – we will strive to further expand the joys by meeting more than 39 million new
  customers around the world combining motorcycle, power products and automobile customers.

[Automobile business]

• In the area of automobile business, in order for Honda to quickly address the needs of
  customers around the world, Honda will implement global operation reform, which will
  enable Honda to realize the best vehicle specifications with competitive costs. Three key
  initiatives which will be taken as a part of this global operation reform are: 1) concurrent
  development by all six regions, 2) adoption of locally optimized design drawings and 3)
  improvement of production efficiency.
• This global operation reform has been implemented for the development of the all-new Fit
  (Jazz) series which will be introduced starting in 2013. Within two years after the initial
  market introduction of the all-new Fit in 2013, Honda will globally roll-out Fit (Jazz), City
  and a new small SUV model, each with different individual characteristics.
• As in the case of advanced nations, Honda will respond quickly to various market needs in
  rapidly-growing emerging markets while adapting each model to the industrial
  infrastructures of each country and region. Toward this end, Honda will pursue
  “concurrent development by all six regions”, where each region participates in product
  development concurrently and at the same level from the early stage of the development.
  Introducing the same model in all regions within a short period of time enables Honda to
  secure a certain level of production volume on a global basis from an early stage of the
  product introduction, and the cost of parts sourcing can be significantly reduced by
  producing a large volume of parts all at once in the most competitive region.
• Meanwhile, in order to create products that directly respond to the voice of local
  customers while utilizing the local sourcing and production infrastructure to the maximum
  extent, Honda will adopt locally optimized design drawings. Honda is fully committed to
  maximize the joy of customers in each region.
• Honda will further improve production efficiency by dedicating new plants to the
  production of small-sized vehicles, such as Yorii Plant （SAITAMA prefecture）, which
  will become operational in July 2013, and a new plant in Mexico, which will become
  operational in spring 2014.
• Honda will fulfill the unique customer needs of each region while expanding economies
  of scale in global sourcing and production.
• In Japan, Honda will strive to sustain its growth through advancement of the production
  system and capability and also through enhancement of the small vehicle lineup including
  mini-vehicles.
• In the area of production, starting in April of this year, development, procurement and
  quality control teams came together at Suzuka Factory to establish a speedy and highly
  efficient development and production system. While producing mostly mini-vehicles,
  Suzuka Factory is making progress in establishing a self-sufficient production system.
• The Yorii and Sayama Plants of Saitama Factory, will each have unique features and
  strengthen their own area of specialty.
• Yorii Plant, which will lead the global production operations of Honda, will be the world’s
  top-class energy-saving factory which employs a number of innovative technologies.
  Through the introduction of new production technologies, Yorii Plant will establish a
  highly-efficient production structure, which will be dedicated to the centralized production
  of small-sized vehicles such as the all-new Fit Series.
• At Sayama Plant, a portion of two existing production lines will be consolidated to further
  advance the plant’s multi-model production capability, so that the plant will establish a
  highly-efficient production system which is capable of producing more than 10 different
  models on the same line.
• In the area of sales, the N BOX, whose overwhelmingly smart packaging has been well
  received by customers, achieved the remarkable accomplishment of being the industry’s
  top-selling car in the mini-vehicle category for five consecutive months in Japan.
• Honda will further strengthen the product lineup through the introduction of six new
  mini-vehicle models in Japan by the end of 2015, starting with the “N-ONE” model in
  Novermber 2012, the third model in the N series. In the small car category, the all-new Fit
  Series, which was mentioned earlier, will be introduced to the market. With overwhelming
  product strength, Honda will dramatically increase its presence in mature markets.
• In North America, in addition to the already popular Civic, CR-V and Odyssey, all-new
  Accord went on sale this month. Honda believes that the all-new Accord with a
  completely new engine and transmission which dramatically improved driving
  performance, occupant comfort and quality feeling will be well accepted by a broad range
  of customers. In addition to strengthening sales of these core models, Honda will begin
  producing an all-new Fit and a derivative model at the new plant in Mexico that will
  become operational in spring 2014. Honda will further solidify its North American
  business through enhancement of the product lineup and competiveness.
• In China, while strengthening local development capability, Honda will introduce products
  that put more focus on Chinese customers. For the Honda brand, the introduction of more
  than 10 new and full-model-change models is scheduled during the 3-year period from
  2013 to 2015. In addition, Honda will continue introducing locally-developed original
  models to strengthen the product lineup in China. Moreover, amid introduction of the
  strictest fuel economy regulations in the world, Honda will further strengthen its
  competitiveness by proactively introducing environmental technologies such as hybrid
  technologies, where Honda has a competitive-edge.
• In Asia, in order to compete in and win in highly-competitive low-price markets and fulfill
  the diverse needs of customers, in addition to the all-new Fit Series, Honda will add
  sedan-type and utility-type models utilizing the platform of the BRIO, Honda’s strategic
  model for Asia. Honda will strive to increase the sales and further growth in Asia by
  strengthening its mutually complementary structure in the region especially among
  Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.
• In India, an all-new diesel engine will be adopted sequentially to new models starting in
  FY2014 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2014). In addition to the high fuel efficiency, the
  cost competitiveness of the all-new diesel engine will be enhanced through local sourcing
  and local production to make new diesel models more affordable for customers.
• With these initiatives, Honda will increase its automobile sales in mature markets namely
  Japan, the U.S. and Europe from approximately 2.06 million units in FY2012 (fiscal year
  ended March 31, 2012) to more than 3 million units in FY2017 (fiscal year ending March
  31, 2017). With proactive business expansion in emerging markets, in FY2017 (fiscal year
  ending March 31, 2017), Honda will strive to achieve automobile sales of more than 3
  million units in emerging markets, doubling the sales of FY2012 (fiscal year ended March
  31, 2012). By solidifying sales in advanced counties and growing dramatically in
  emerging nations, Honda will strive to achieve worldwide automobile sale of more than 6
  million units in FY2017.
• Honda will further advance its “Earth Dreams Technology,” a next generation series of
  powertrain technologies which greatly enhance both driving performance and fuel
  efficiency at a high level through the improvement of internal combustion components
  including the engine, along with the transmission, and also through advancement of
  electromotive technologies applied to motors and other components.
• For gasoline-powered vehicles, which remain the most widely used in the world, Honda
  will continue developing internal combustion engines which will increase fuel economy to
  the ultimate level. Honda will adopt the newly-developed engine series first to the all-new
  2013 Accord, and will continue to adopt it sequentially to other models.
• As for hybrid vehicles, Honda will adopt three different systems with unique individual
  characteristics depending on the model in order to fulfill the needs of more customers.
• As for the lightweight and compact one-motor hybrid system, EV driving range will be
  expanded through the improvement of motor output and battery performance as well as
  the combination with a newly-developed transmission. Moreover, Honda will strive to
  achieve No. 1 fuel economy among all hybrid vehicles by improving the efficiency of
  regenerative energy recovery.
• In the area of mid-size vehicles, following the market introduction of the all-new
  Accord-based plug-in hybrid model in the U.S. in early 2013, a hybrid model equipped
  with a two-motor hybrid system will be added to the lineup. After the U.S. introduction,
  these models will be introduced in Japan and other regions. The plug-in hybrid model
  which will go on sale in Japan will be equipped with a compact inverter capable of
  external power supply, which was developed by applying Honda’s generator technologies.
• Concerning the pursuit of driving performance, a highly-efficient and high-output
  three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive),
  which realizes both a high level of sporty handling and fuel economy, will be applied to the
  NSX, Acura RLX Sport Hybrid model and the successor model of Legend which will be
  introduced in Japan in 2014. Honda will measure up to the expectations of customers
  eagerly waiting these models by highlighting the presence of these hybrid vehicles with
  unrivaled driving performance and fuel economy.
• As for battery EVs, this summer in Japan and the U.S., Honda began lease sales of Fit EV,
  which realizes the world’s best electric energy consumption performance. In line with
  changes in the energy situation, Honda will continue its efforts to develop EV models with
  which Honda will strive to realize further market penetration of EVs.
• As for micromini-vehicles, which Honda considers to be one of the directions battery EVs
  can take, Honda will further advance the concept of a “micro commuter,” which was
  introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. While incorporating ideas and technologies
  unique to Honda, the only automaker which has both motorcycle and automobile
  technologies, Honda is making progress in the development of new personal mobility
  products. Honda is planning to begin demonstration testing of such products in Japan in
  2013.
• As for fuel cell electric vehicles, which Honda considers to be the ultimate
  environmentally-responsible vehicle, and therefore has been leading the industry in R&D
  and sales, Honda will launch an all-new fuel cell electric model sequentially in Japan, the
  U.S. and Europe starting in 2015. This new fuel cell vehicle will showcase further
  technological advancement and significant cost reduction that Honda has accomplished.
• Honda will proactively introduce dream-inspiring and edgy products as well as exciting
  and fun products.
• In addition to the NSX, the next-generation super sports model, Honda will launch a new
  open-top sports car with strong vehicles dynamics which will go on sale in Japan 2014, as
  one of the six new mini-vehicle models.
• In Europe, in addition to the introduction of the NSX, Honda will develop an all-new
  Civic Type-R to fulfill customer expectations. With the application of technologies which
  will be cultivated through participation in WTCC (FIA World Touring Car Championship)
  starting this year, the all-new Civic Type-R is being developed with the goal of becoming
  the fastest front-wheel-drive vehicle on the Nurburgring race course. Honda aims to
  introduce this model to the market in 2015.
• In addition to a sports hybrid type of Acura’s luxury flagship sedan, the all-new Acura
  RLX lineup will include a model equipped with Precision All Wheel Steer, a world’s first
  technology which realizes excellent handling performance. The world premiere of the
  all-new RLX, which features uniquely Acura exterior and interior designs as well as the
  most advanced safety and environmental technologies, will be exhibited at the Los
  Angeles Auto Show in November of this year. All Acura models are scheduled to be
  renewed within the next three years. Acura will continue to strengthen its brand in North
  America and China, and expand into other areas of the world.

[Closing]

• Honda’s telematics service, HondaLink, is designed to connect vehicles, people and
  society to realize a safe and enjoyable mobility society with low CO2 emissions. Honda
  will evolve HondaLink to more than 60 countries around the world before the end of
  FY2014 (fiscal year ending March 31, 2014). Moreover, Honda will continue its proactive
  commitment in various areas such as the expansion of robotics technologies including
  ASIMO technologies, contributing to child development and promoting traffic safety.
  Honda would like to continue growing while highlighting what makes Honda unique in
  order to further expand the joys for our customers and society.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/-26

Interesting Acura NSX 'shop' Job from 2007 by armandodesign

 Thanks for the find Jay!

This here is my answer to the Acura design problem for the new NSX. This model would contain a mid mounted naturally aspirated 10 banger with rear biased all wheel drive! made to compete with murcielago, 599, GTR and upcoming LFA. I may post more drawings for the improvment of this concept so please comment and tell me what you think! Thanks *done on photoshop CS

Source;
http://armandodesign.deviantart.com/art/Honda-NSX-Concept-75906371

Car and Driver takes the 2013 Honda Accord for a First Drive

There were low points in the past few years when we doubted Honda, but Big H might be on its way back. The new, ninth-generation Accord is a convincing reminder of the company’s core values and—considering all Honda has been through, including an earthquake that smashed its Tochigi R&D center and floods in Thailand that crimped production—a triumphant return to form.

This latest Accord is 3.5 inches shorter bumper to bumper and 0.9 inch tighter at the wheelbase than its fleshy predecessor. Yet once again, Honda conducts a master class in packaging. Against its porcine predecessor, the 2013 car’s cabin dimensions vary hardly at all. The Accord still feels like one of the biggest cars in the segment, with two roomy and extra-comfortable front buckets and a back bench you and two friends can stretch out on. Moreover, the capacious trunk is even larger, maximum volume having increased by over one cubic foot.

The overhauled DOHC 2.4-liter four falls under the somewhat nonsensical Earth Dreams marketing slogan; more important, however, is that it represents Honda’s first whack at gasoline direct injection for the North American market. Your only automatic alternative to the six-speed manual with this engine is a Honda-built continuously variable transmission (CVT) called the G-Design Shift (Honda’s committee for cutesy names has been working overtime).

The 2.4-liter is quieter at idle than some other direct-injection engines with their clattering high-pressure injectors, particularly Hyundai’s. And the Honda likes to rev, sounding healthy and full throated at its 6400-rpm power peak. But it’s the CVT’s tuning that makes the Accord feel fleet. The typical rubber-band delay has been minimized, and the throttle responds curtly when you ask for acceleration (although sometimes with some audible transmission whine at high revs). In mountain snakers as well as on city streets, the CVT works so efficiently that it all but disappears, and you never notice the lack of a manual control. Of course, we’d prefer the optional six-speed stick, with its tightly spaced gates and short throws—but, finally, a belt-and-pulley transmission we can live with!

Somewhere between 15 and 20 percent of Accord buyers opt for a V-6, and for them, the 3.5-liter goes up slightly in horsepower to 278. But the news with this engine is its lighter weight due to items such as plastic cam covers and work on the Variable Cylinder Management system that increases the time the engine runs on three cylinders. In motion, the cylinder cutout is completely transparent, and the V-6 does what it’s supposed to: provide more sophisticated and effortless propulsion.

Once again, only in the Accord coupe can you pair the V-6 with a six-speed manual—a six-speed conventional auto is the only box in six-cylinder sedans. Out of corners, the car is a “one-tire fire” as the open differential sets the less-taxed wheel spinning madly. But it’s a very hot setup in eight-tenths driving, especially given that it’s front-wheel drive.

That’s because the Accord drives as if it were constructed of old-fashioned Honda “lightweightium.” It’s not the lightest car in its segment, but it feels it. The steering, the brakes, and the suspension work in harmonious balance to make the Accord seem agile and springy. Yes, instead of control arms, it now has struts in the nose, but so does a Porsche Cayman. The Accord hustles through turns with fog-free steering and little complaint from the tires and never seems to be working very hard. You wanted a mid-size family sedan that feels as if it were made of recycled CRXs? Here’s your car.

Lessons from the distressed Civic have been learned, and the Accord feels nicely appointed, with softer materials and better sound insulation. The dash is done to Honda’s familiar template of large, maxi-print gauges and many, many small buttons. You can pile on navigation and the associated extra panel of controls, which will be familiar to current-gen owners, or save your money and make do with a deep drawer hidden behind a somewhat clumsy-looking plastic door.

Our favorite option is a clever blind-spot camera that Honda calls LaneWatch. Mounted at the bottom of the passenger mirror, the camera switches on whenever you activate the turn signal or push the manual control button at the end of the turn-signal stalk. Another techie option is LED headlamps, Honda’s first and available on the top trim level. A regular hybrid model returns to the lineup, but not until next summer, some months after its plug-in variant arrives at dealerships. We’ve already driven a prototype of the latter.

With a flat roof and highly conservative rake to its glass, the Accord remains unapologetically a mid-size family car. You can complain about the design’s lack of sizzle but not its practicality. The door openings are wide, the step-over sills are narrow, and the beltline is kept unfashionably low to create huge glass portals. If people don’t see you because your vehicle is plain, at least you will see them.
There are more Accord models than ever. To chase younger buyers, there’s a 2.4-liter Sport trim with larger, 18-inch rims; a dual-tip exhaust; a rear spoiler; fog lights; and paddle shifters on cars equipped with the CVT. At the top end is the new Touring, a V-6–only model that is sort of a Honda Avalon with leather, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, a thumpy stereo, and so on.

Regardless of trim level, the new Accord proves that Honda wants to be Honda again.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-honda-accord-sedan-first-drive-review

Carscoop; Honda to Debut New 1.6-liter Diesel-Powered Civic Hatchback in Paris

After making the announcement on the development of a new 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine at the Geneva Salon, Honda is now ready to show its smaller displacement oil burner on the latest Civic hatchback. 
 
The 1.6-liter i-DTEC is the first engine in Europe to feature Honda's Earth Dreams Technology series (in North America, the automaker introduced the series with the new Accord's 2.4-liter petrol unit).
 
It is rated at 118HP (120PS) at 4,000 rpm and 300Nm (221.3 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm with Honda stating that the Civic will return a combined consumption of just 3.6lt/100km (65.3 mpg US or 78.5 mpg UK) with CO2 emission of only 94 g/km (for cars with 16-inch wheels). 

Together with the 1.6-liter i-DTEC Civic, Honda also plans to show the 2013 CR-Z Hybrid Coupe facelift, the EV-Ster Concept electric roadster, the European market CR-V and a special display with the an original first generation Civic at its Paris Motor Show stand. 

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/honda-to-debut-new-16-liter-diesel.html

Spied: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Caught Testing Yet Again

ILLUSTRATION BY RADOVAN VARICAK

Our spy photographers have once again caught the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette testing. Known as the C7 in reference to the car’s seventh generation, the 2014 Corvette is almost certain to debut publicly in early 2013, likely at the Detroit auto show.

This photo appears to show a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette with a removable targa-style roof panel; as with the current car, coupe and convertible models are also expected to be offered. The basic design follows the wide, long-hood appearance of the current, C6-generation car. The front fenders rise up above the otherwise sloping hood, and the rear fenders are unsurprisingly tall and wide to accommodate massive tires. As we’ve previously reported, rumors of a modern-day “split window” design are incorrect. This prototype has a simple, wide, and steeply sloped rear window. Up front, we see the wide egg-crate grille a bit more clearly. Out back, four center-mounted tailpipes are a mainstay of performance cars. Though the camouflage has circular cutouts, close inspection reveals four discrete rectangular taillights — a design seen on the Chevrolet Camaro and subsequently translated for use on the Malibu sedan.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen prototypes of the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette. In January, we spotted a heavily camouflaged C7 Corvette prototype cold-weather testing on snow and ice in northern Canada. In April, a video surfaced online of the car testing in Michigan.

We know that a new Corvette is coming not just because of these photos, but also because of announcements from Chevrolet. First, the company revealed various special-edition and anniversary models for the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette, which is typically a sure-fire sign that a car is on its way out. Moreover, General Motors publicly announced an investment and hiring spree that will temporarily close the Bowling Green, Kentucky, factory in order to retool for the new Chevrolet Corvette.

Ignore the rumors about a mid-mounted V-6. All indications are that the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will launch with a new direct-injected small-block V-8. We can expect it to displace 5.5 liters and produce around 440 hp. The engine will probably still use pushrods and a two-valve head. Transmission choices are expected to comprise a seven-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic; the extra gears would help both acceleration and fuel economy.

The 2014 Corvette will probably have a slightly longer wheelbase in order to improve handling and ride comfort, but overall the car will be a bit smaller. Some rumors suggest the car will adopt a pricey aluminum space frame, but it remains to be seen whether such a costly weight-saving measure would make sense on the Corvette. Either way, expect GM to pull out all the dieting stops to reduce the 2014 Corvette’s curb weight.

The best news of all is that Chevrolet will pay heavy attention to revamping the interior. We’re told to expect Porsche 911 levels of quality and finish, which is refreshing given that many current Corvette interior parts are shared with pedestrian models like the old Chevrolet Cobalt and Malibu.
Look for more official news on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette next year.

Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/spied-2014-chevrolet-c7-corvette-caught-testing-yet-again-169655.html

Revised Honda CR-Z shown ahead of Paris show

Hybrid coupé gets power hike for petrol engine and electric motor, plus interior and exterior styling tweaks

by Matt Burt of www.autocar.co.uk

A revised version of the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupé has been unveiled ahead of its debut at the Paris motor show later this month.

The facelifted CR-Z gets mild exterior and interior styling tweaks, but the more significant changes have occurred under the bonnet. Honda has hiked the power of the car’s 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine and electric motor, which combine for a power output of 122bhp in the current car.

The new power figures will be revealed at Paris, but Honda says the changes won’t have an impact on exhaust emissions, which currently stand at 117g/km.

Another Paris unveiling from Honda will be a Civic fitted with the 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine. The first engine in Europe to feature Honda’s frugal new Earth Dreams Technology, the 118bhp oilburner returns a claimed 78.5mpg and 94g/km.

Other exhibits on Honda’s Paris show stand will include the new CR-V, which we’ve tested here, the EV-STER lightweight roadster concept first seen at the Tokyo show, and a celebration of 40 years of the Civic.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/paris-motor-show-2012/revised-honda-cr-z-shown-ahead-paris-show

Official Honda Concept S Video May Mean it Hits Production

Posted on 09.12.2012 02:00 by Justin Cupler

When the Honda Concept S hit the stage at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, two models came to mind, the Odyssey and the Jazz. It is slightly larger than your average hatchback, but significantly smaller than the American Honda Odyssey, so the final production name is up in the air. Keep in mind that the Odyssey in some Asian markets has a much lower-slung roof and a shallower windshield rake than the American version, so therein lays the possibility that it could become the new Odyssey.

Of course, production of the Concept S was never a guarantee, as with nearly every concept car. However, when an automaker produces a video on a specific concept car, you can pretty much rest assured that it will hit production in some form or fashion. That is exactly what Honda has done with the above video.

Seeing the video and people actually sitting in the seats, the Concept S really seems to have more of an MPV type of setup. All of that headroom and the spacious rear seats nearly eliminate it as a replacement for the Jazz, which is closely related to the Fit in the States. Then again, maybe Honda is trying to gain an edge by making the Jazz slightly larger than your typical 5-door hatchback.

Either way, we can say that the Concept S’s style is unmistakably awesome and its potential for release just increased 10-fold by Honda releasing this video.

Hopefully we’ll have an announcement on a production model soon. Those in the U.S., you’ll have to sit this one out, as the Concept S looks like it will be an Asian-market model only.

Source;

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/official-honda-concept-s-video-may-mean-it-hits-production-ar134780.html