Mystery Acura finally revealed

By: Mark Vaughn on 11/29/2012

Design studios build all kinds of things all the time and the vast majority of them never see the light of day. In many cases that's a good thing. But occasionally there's a really cool-looking styling exercise that gets into the public eye one way or another. Such was the case with the Acura Sport.

Built five years ago by Honda's Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, the sporty NSX-looking coupe was never intended to be seen outside the opaque walls of that high-security building.

“It was totally an internal advanced design concept,” said Dave Marek, director of advanced design for Honda R&D Americas.

It was built about five years ago when Honda was trying to decide what to do with the NSX. Should it be built? Should it be conservative, green and powered by a hybrid or sporty and powered by a V10? This was before the Detroit NSX concept and well before The Avengers car. The car you see here was a consideration of what the NSX could be. Sort of.

“It was a little different concept (from the NSX) but it had the same spirit of what that car was,” said Marek.

It didn't so much show up as the new NSX as it showed up in a lot of little ways on a lot of production Acuras.

“It was more, 'This studio should do form language and what could the Acura form language be?' " Marek said.

Form language is what makes an Acura an Acura and a Ferrari a Ferrari. You can see elements of the Acura Sport not-a-concept all over the current lineup.

“It trickled down into all the products.”

Look at the sides of Acuras and you'll see a hook in the fender just like the one on the Sport.

“It's not directly literal but the ILX has a lot of it in it.”

As do the wheel arches of Acuras going over the front fenders. And the way that body line goes into that hook.

But while elements of the Acura Sport styling exercise saw production, the car itself sat in seclusion.

Then Honda R&D's Pasadena Advanced Design Studio moved from Pasadena to just south of downtown Los Angeles, a block away from Staples Center and LA Live. Honda held a grand opening for invited guests only in conjunction with the Los Angeles Auto Show. So to decorate the first floor of the new studio Marek figured it couldn't hurt to show off the Acura Sport.

And so, five years later, here it is.

Source;
 http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121129/LOSANGELES/121129863

2014 Acura RLX debuts in Los Angeles [videos]

Acura's previous flagship never really caught on with buyers, so the company is taking a new approach by unveiling the 2014 RLX in Los Angeles.

Described as the "most powerful, spacious and technologically advanced Acura sedan ever," the RLX has conservative styling with a prominent grille, distinctive "Jewel-Eye" LED headlights and 18-inch aluminum wheels.

The model also features acoustic glass, rain-sensing windshield wipers and side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

While the exterior isn't terribly exciting, the cabin has a sporty and luxurious feel as it comes nicely equipped with leather seats, metallic accents and two large LCD displays: an 8-inch Navigation screen and a 7-inch "On-Demand Multi-Use Display" which mercifully eliminates the insane number of buttons that Acura used on the RL. Other highlights include a power tilt / telescoping steering column, a sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control and 10-speaker ELS audio system with HD radio, XM radio, Pandora, USB connectivity and an auxiliary input jack.

At launch, the model will be available exclusively with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that is rated at 310 bhp (231 kW) and 272 lb-ft (368 Nm) of torque.

Thanks to Variable Cylinder Management - which deactivates three-cylinders when they aren't needed - and a six-speed automatic transmission, the model is expected to have a best-in-class fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city / 31 mpg highway / 24 mpg combined (US).

 To ensure the car is nimbler than its size suggests, the RLX has been equipped with a Precision All-Wheel Steer system that independently and continuously controls the left and right rear-wheel steering angles for unparalleled handling, agility and maneuverability.

The Acura RLX will go on sale in the spring of 2013 and pricing will be announced closer to launch date.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112112851141/2014-acura-rlx-debuts-in-los-angeles-videos

Varoius 2013 Honda Civic Videos and Pictures

Source with artical;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2013-honda-civic-sedan-and-coupe-all.html

Restyled 2013 Honda Civic Arrives at U.S. Dealerships with Premium Style, Host of Popular Standard Features

11/29/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The top-selling and award-winning Honda Civic returns for 2013, with a host of design upgrades and a bevy of new standard features, while still maintaining the efficiency and value that has made the Civic an automotive icon for the past 40 years. The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan receives all-new front and rear exterior styling, along with extensive interior styling upgrades on all models. Retuned steering and suspension sharpen the Civic's handling, while extensive body and chassis upgrades improve the ride comfort and interior quietness.

Across the board, every 2013 Civic model is equipped with a suite of class-leading standard features. Standard equipment on every Honda Civic includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, USB/iPod® connection, Pandora® Interface, an SMS text feature, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and sliding center-console armrest. Even with hundreds of dollars of standard features added, the 2013 Civic arrives with only a modest $160 increase in MSRP across the lineup, with pricing for the exceptionally well-equipped 2013 Civic LX Sedan beginning at $18,165¹.

New safety technologies built into the 2013 Civic include the application of the next-gen Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure, which includes additional front end structures designed to help increase occupant protection by dispersing crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes, and should help the Civic obtain a top rating in the new small-offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Also new are SmartVent™ side airbags, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor and the availability of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems, which make their compact-class debut in the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid.

Featuring the widest array of powertrain choices available in the segment, the Civic lineup is designed to meet the diverse needs of today's compact-vehicle buyer. The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe will be available in LX, EX, EX-L and Si models, with the Civic Hybrid, Civic Natural Gas and Civic HF also available in sedan form. The entry model Civic DX has been discontinued for 2013.

Summary of Changes for 2013

• Completely revised front and rear exterior styling (Sedan)
• Enhanced standard feature content on all model grades
• Recalibrated suspension and steering
• Extensive new NVH reduction features
• Revised interior styling including soft-touch materials
• Next-gen Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure
• Standard rearview camera
• Standard Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
• Standard Bluetooth® Audio
• Standard Pandora® Interface
• Standard USB/iPod® interface
• Standard SMS text message functionality
• Available Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems
• Two new exterior colors: White Orchid Pearl and Kona Coffee Metallic
• New interior color: Black

Powertrains
The 2013 Civic lineup includes sedan and coupe models with a conventional gasoline engine and "Si" performance models. Civic also offers a high fuel efficiency "HF," hybrid and exclusive natural gas alternative-fuel sedans.

Heavily revised for the ninth-gen Civic introduction for model year 2012, the Civic's all-aluminum, 140-horsepower, i-VTEC® 1.8-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine is unchanged for 2013, continuing to provide exceptional responsiveness, refinement, and fuel efficiency. Providing 128 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, the Honda mill is paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. In the Civic Sedan and Coupe, this powertrain has earned an EPA fuel-economy rating of 28/39/32 mpg² city/hwy/combined when equipped with the automatic transmission. In the Civic HF Sedan, those figures climb to 29/41/33 mpg².

Now available in 37 states, the 2013 Honda Civic Natural Gas continues as the only mass produced natural gas sedan available in the U.S. In the Civic Natural Gas, the 1.8-liter engine produces 110 horsepower, and earns an EPA fuel economy rating of 27/38/31 mpg2 (city/hwy/combined). The 2013 Civic Hybrid features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) system, which when coupled with its Lithium-Ion battery pack, produces 110 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Civic Hybrid earns a city/hwy/combined EPA rating of 44/44/44 mpg². The Civic Sedan and Coupe, Civic Natural Gas and Civic Hybrid models all feature Honda's ECO Assist™ technology, which with the push of the green, dash-mounted "ECON" button, can help drivers operate the vehicle more efficiently.

Along with strong fuel efficiency, the Civic lineup also offers strong performance. The 2013 Civic Si Sedan and Si Coupe models are equipped with an all-aluminum, 201-horsepower, i-VTEC® 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve engine paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. Even though it provides 170 lb-ft of torque and offers exhilarating performance, the Civic Si has a remarkable 31 mpg² EPA highway fuel economy rating.
Body
For 2013, the Honda Civic has received a host of changes that far exceed the typical mid-model refresh. The front and rear styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan has been completely altered for a more youthful and premium feel, including sheet metal changes that include an all-new hood and trunk lid. Up front, a new open-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a sportier, black honeycomb mesh grille is anchored by new integrated fog lights on EX-L and above trims. The grille is flanked by new clear-lens corner lights to provide a more premium look. The 2013 Civic's more sculpted front end flows into a new taller, more deeply faceted hood.

In back, a new rear bumper design and new rear trunk lid are capped by a clean, horizontal chrome trim piece. The all-new design of the jewel-like taillights now carries into the trunk face, providing a more finished and upscale look. The rear bumper features integrated reflector treatments and a new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent. While the expressive exterior styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe remains unchanged, restyled wheels on all models help sharpen the look of the 2013 Civic.

Constructed of 55-pecent high-strength steel, the 2013 Civic's body minimizes weight and maximizes strength for greater rigidity. The 2013 Civic's body has seen a host of changes to the front floor, side sill, A-pillar, upper wheel housing and front bumper extension. This addition of high-strength steel is expected to pay refinement dividends and provide a stiffer structure for the numerous chassis updates for the 2013 Civic. In addition, the Civic's new structure is designed to help it excel in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap crash test.

Chassis
Under the skin, the 2013 Civic has had significant alterations aimed at enhancing handling refinement and noise isolation. A reworked Electronic Power Steering (EPS) setup reduces friction and provides a quicker ratio, while stiffer wheels, stiffer front springs and a thicker front stabilizer bar with new Teflon-lined mounting bushings are designed for more fluid suspension action and a flatter, more responsive cornering attitude.

The rear suspension also receives a thicker stabilizer bar, increased spring rate, new Teflon-lined stabilizer-bar bushings, and reworked suspension bushings to increase both bump- and roll-motion stiffness. With its retuned MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, handling linearity, responsiveness and overall vehicle composure have been increased, while at the same time improving ride quality and the characteristic Honda fun-to-drive feel. For 2013, front brake-rotor diameter on automatic-equipped Civic LX, EX and EX-L Sedans and Coupes jumps 20 mm from 262 to 282 mm for improved stopping performance.

A large range of new noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures work together to reduce road, engine and wind noise in the 2013 Civic's interior. This includes a stiffer front subframe, new thicker windshield and front door glass, and additional soundproofing material in the dash, floor, doors, and rear tray to help reduce unwanted road noise, and provide a more serene ride and quieter cabin.

Interior
Inside, extensive refinements in design and construction gives the entire 2013 Honda Civic lineup a more premium feel, with an all-new tricot headliner, new soft-touch materials on the instrument panel and upper door treatment, and revised textures and panel junctions throughout the instrument panel and center console. Subtle silver accents in the interior lend a higher-quality look, along with door panel and seat fabric upgrades. Providing a more upscale environment, black carpeting and a trunk lid finisher are now standard on all Civic models. For the first time, Civic is available in both cloth and leather with an all-black interior.

The 2013 Honda Civic provides a host of new class-leading standard features, including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, Pandora® Interface, USB/iPod® interface, SMS text message function, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and a sliding finished center armrest. Available on Civic EX, EX-L, Hybrid and Natural Gas models, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition³ now includes a multi-view rearview camera and provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7-million points of interest within the continental United States. With its 16-GB flash memory system, it offers fast route calculation and includes FM traffic, a subscription-free service that alerts drivers to traffic conditions.

Safety
Named a "2012 Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Civic returns for 2013 with a re-engineered Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure. The changes that went into the ACE II body structure were designed to help increase the protection provided to vehicle occupants in a frontal collision, including the addition of front end structures to help disperse crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes. These changes should also help the Civic obtain top marks in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap frontal crash test.

Also new for 2013, the Civic features Honda's new SmartVent™ front seat side airbag construction that recently debuted in the 2013 Honda Accord. The new SmartVent™ airbag design helps mitigate the risk of excessive side airbag deployment force, while eliminating the need for the prior Civic's Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). The elimination of OPDS allows improved heating of the seatback on Civic EX-L models. Additionally, the 2013 Civic is equipped with a side curtain airbag with rollover sensors, nearly two years ahead of regulatory requirements.

A first in the compact segment, the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid will provide standard Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. FCW is designed to detect a possible collision with another vehicle or object ahead and provide visible and audible alerts to the driver. LDW provides visible and audible alerts if the driver begins to drift out of a detected lane without using the turn indicator.

The 2013 Civic's additional safety technologies include standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)⁴ with traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.

Warranty and Awards
The 2013 Honda Civic is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty and on hybrid models a 15-year/150,000-mile emissions warranty when the vehicle is registered and normally operated in California and certain states that have adopted California Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations.

Since its complete redesign as a 2012 model, the Honda Civic has received host of awards and recognition. It was named one of About.com's Best New Cars of 2012. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com named the 2012 Civic one of the "10 Best Green Cars of 2012" and one of the "Best Family Cars of 2012." In addition, KBB named the Civic Natural Gas a "2012 Best Redesigned Vehicle." The Civic Natural Gas was also named "2012 Green Car of the Year®" by Green Car Journal. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com has already awarded the 2013 Civic with a Best Resale Value award in its segment.

2013 Honda Civic On-Sale Dates
Model	On-Sale Date	Starting MSRP
Civic Sedan	November 29, 2012	$18,165
Civic Coupe	December 5, 2012	$17,965
Civic Natural Gas	December 10, 2012	$26,465
Civic Si Coupe	December 12, 2012	$22,515
Civic Hybrid	January 23, 2013	$24,360
Civic Si Sedan	January 23, 2013	$22,715
Civic HF	February 6, 2013	$19,765

The 2013 Honda Civic fully exposed

 

 

 

 

This of course is a Minor Model Update in response to Consumer Reports specifically.  You can see the soft touch dash and stitching, the 'faux' chrome around the vents, the 2013 Accord front and rear style ques, and from what I understand the EX-L is now changes to a TOURING model and will include a Backup Camera.

Picture Source (and a great site worth checking out I might add!);
http://carstyleblog.com/this-is-the-new-2013-honda-civic/#more-607

Carscoop!: 2013 Toyota RAV4: Another Round of Photos Hit the Web!

The all-new 2013 Toyota RAV4 SUV is a secret no more, at least as far as its exterior and interior looks are concerned, after a second set of photos made their way across the internet. 
 
We'll remind you that earlier today, we shared a first batch of pictures of Toyota's next compact crossover, which will rival the likes of the latest Honda CR-V, Ford Escape (Kuga in Europe) and Subaru Forester (just to mention a few of its competitors) on a global level.
 
The new RAV4 adopts the more modern and to some extent, sharper aesthetics from Toyota's latest models, such as the U.S. Camry and especially the European / JDM Auris series, with the interior design also following suite. 
 
There's nothing official yet from Toyota on the 2013 RAV4's specifications, and unless the Japanese carmaker decides to release the information early, we will have to wait until its world premiere at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, November 28, to find out more. 

Source (via www.woodyscarsite.com);
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2013-toyota-rav4-another-round-of.html 

Buick Grand National, GNX and T-Type Are Returning to Buick

Just the Facts:

• Buick is planning to reintroduce the Grand National, T-Type and GNX nameplates.
• The new models will ride on GM's rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform introduced in the Cadillac ATS sedan.
• The Grand National and T-Type models will likely use turbocharged V6s, while the GNX will most likely get GM's new LT1 V8.

SANTA MONICA, California — Buick is bringing back the Grand National, the GNX and the T-Type, three legendary performance nameplates from the brand's high times of the 1980s. All three cars will be sedans and they'll use GM's new rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform first introduced in the Cadillac ATS sedan.

That's the plan anyway, according to a reliable source who spoke to Edmunds.

As in the 1980s, the T-Type and Grand National will share powertrains and suspension calibrations, but the T-Type will be offered in a full color palette, while the GN will come in black only. Details on the exact drivetrain that will be used are still hard to come by at this point.

Buick's current turbocharged 2.0-liter has the right vibe but lacks the muscle, and the normally aspirated V6 has the guts but just doesn't feel right for these nameplates. A more likely scenario is the use of GM's long-rumored, and recently spotted, twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6. It's expected to produce between 350 and 400 horsepower, which would be more than enough power in a bad black Buick with a Grand National badge.

So what's left for the legendary GNX nameplate? How about GM's new LT1 V8? We've already confirmed that a V8 will fit in the confines of the Alpha platform, so it's not an issue of "if" it can be done, but one of "how" it will be done.

With a V-Series version of the Cadillac ATS almost certainly in the pipeline, a Buick version with a slightly less powerful V8 could be the ticket for the GNX. A six-speed manual transmission and six-speed automatic could be available in all three sedans.

Buick will also make changes to the sedan's interior and exterior to bring it into the Buick family. The size of the sedan should remain unchanged, however, (the Cadillac ATS is exactly the same size as a BMW 3 Series) and all of its subsystems such as steering, brakes and suspension will be shared with the ATS.

For those born after the Reagan administration, the Buick Regal T-Type, Grand National and GNX were essentially the quickest cars you could buy in 1986 and '87. They were powered by turbocharged versions of Buick's 3.8-liter V6 and they instantly became legends on the street and on every drag strip in America. Today these Buicks are highly valued collector cars, with prices topping out at $100,000 for one of the 547 GNXs that GM built in 1987.

One of those GNXs used to belong to Mark Reuss, the current president of General Motors North America. In fact, his dad, Lloyd Reuss, approved the original GNX when he was executive vice president of General Motors North America in the '80s. Needless to say, there's plenty of enthusiasm at the very top of General Motors for a return of these storied nameplates.

That enthusiasm can't work miracles, however, so we'll have to wait at least another year before this crop of performance Buicks even gets a mention in public. Figure the 2014 Detroit Auto Show is a good bet.

Edmunds says: Just when we think GM has settled back into stupid mode Reuss and the gang get smart. We can't wait to drive these new Buicks. Make ours, and everyone else's, black.

Source;
 http://www.insideline.com/buick/grand-national-gnx-and-t-type-are-returning-to-buick.html

TOV Reader "Hondatalover" snaps 2014 Acura RLX Spyshots with Interior Pictures

Looks like the RLX has been in use for some time now in China, look at the drivers door. Tissues, and water/ dirt stains in the door handle and steering wheel. Only half the car is covered in Camo. It looks like a top trim FWD PAWS model, being LED headlights and smaller rims (17's??) The interior is loaded however and there is a All-Around top view camera and load more tech! 

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=1113030&page_number=1#1113030

2013 Honda Civic Spyshots

 

 

Ever since the introduction of the current model Civic, Honda has faced consistent backlash from reviewers in the media for its highly evolutionary redesign of the popular compact sedan. Despite high sales of the current Civic, Honda has gone back to the drawing board and revised the car with sportier styling and a higher quality interior for the 2013 model year. The folks at 9thgencivic.com have managed to photograph a production ready 2013 Civic in the real world, including a few shots of the interior.

The improvements are minor but significant. Outside the car has a revised front bumper and grill that is reminiscent of the new Accord. The headlights are now more in line with the Civic Si coupe. The rear end receives a new darker style tail light design treatment and a new trunk. Inside the design is largely unchanged but with more refined and upscale detailing such as faux stitching on the dash and faux aluminum trim around the air vents.

Source;
http://carstyleblog.com/revised-2013-honda-civic-caught/#more-575

2013 Toyota RAV4 leaked ahead of L.A. debut

More aggressive and more modern

The first pictures of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have leaked to the web ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week.

Looking more refined than its predecessor, the redesigned model has a sporty front fascia with an angular grille, distinctive headlights and a plastic lower insert. There's also a sloping roofline, a tailgate-mounted spoiler and wraparound taillights.

The interior is also revamped with a new dashboard that incorporates an infotainment system, secondary controls and a wave-shaped protrusion. We can also see a three-spoke steering wheel, metallic trim and circular air vents.

Engine options remain unconfirmed but choices could include a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 178 bhp (133 kW) and a 3.5-liter V6 with 268 bhp (200 kW). Both will likely be connected to a new six-speed automatic transmission which can be paired to an optional all-wheel drive system.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112112651000/2013-toyota-rav4-leaked-ahead-of-la-debut

Acura Voice of Reason Holiday 2012 Commercials

Honda, BMW Deploying Unmanned Concepts at Los Angeles Design Challenge

Mercedes-Benz has received coverage aplenty for the Ener-G-Force SUV previewed ahead of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. This vehicle might anticipate the future of body design but relies on the steady hand of a highway patrol officer. The Los Angeles Design Challenge slated for November 28^th is not entirely tethered to the traditional role of the driver. This contest features entries from Honda and BMW that rely on sensors as well as wireless communications to pursue suspects in 2025. Honda and BMW are mobilizing drones along with unmanned cars to meet the eco-friendly requirements of the challenge.

Honda’s CHP Drone Squad was created as a solution to endless sprawl envisioned for Southern California by 2025. The continued expansion of freeways, spreading of communities and swelling population will create new problems for police departments. The CHP Drone Squad concept begins with the Auto-Drone, an all-electric delivery vehicle that can cover large areas with no emissions. Honda would also include at least one Moto-Drone motorcycle that could be deployed for high-speed chases. This mobile enforcement module can be operated entirely without human drivers. The Auto-Drone is capable of traveling off road and keeping up with speeding perpetrators. A design team including Jason Wilbur, Eddie Birtulescu and Raj Rihal seemed inspired as much by Knight Rider as an alt-fuel future.

The BMW E-Patrol Concept designed by Jose Casas and Won Awe focuses more on speed rather than range. BMW anticipates a future where police officers have to contend with worsening traffic and high speeds. These conditions contribute to increased accidents, speeding tickets and other incidents requiring immediate attention. A primary vehicle operated by a police officer holds three drones capable of responding to incidents within seconds of deployment. The officer can send out a flying drone that assesses accidents from above and tracks suspects until additional units arrive. A pair of single-wheel drones can pursue conventional vehicles at highway speeds and force speeders to the side of the road.

The 2012 Los Angeles Design Challenge forces automakers to create unconventional solutions for police departments of the future. This challenge requires participants to use original designs that can work in the real world while reducing environmental impacts. BMW and Honda certainly met the former requirement though details about drive systems were not yet available. A glimpse at sketches for the CHP Drone Squad and the E-Patrol Concept reveals solutions for a dystopian future akin to Robocop that are hopefully prevented well before 2025.

The Ener-G-Force, the CHP Drone Squad and E-Patrol Concept generate buzz but we must be mindful of realistic concerns for potential customers. Officials from the city level through state government could still be facing significant budgetary constraints by 2025. A realization of even a handful of green vehicles from the Los Angeles Design Challenge would require infrastructure investment that has not yet materialized. Automakers might not bring drones and unmanned police vehicles to market anytime soon but eco-friendly infrastructure must be created to ensure public safety as police departments head toward new technology.

Source;
http://www.greenerideal.com/vehicles/1121-honda-bmw-deploying-unmanned-concepts-at-los-angeles-design-challenge/

Honda developing flagship sedans in U.S. (and Canada): report

By MarketWatch 

TOKYO (Nikkei) -- Honda Motor Co. (7267.TO, HMC) is shifting development of its next-generation Civic and Accord models to the U.S. to speed up the release of vehicles suited to local tastes, the Nikkei reports in its Nov. 26 edition. 

U.S. subsidiary Honda R&D Americas Inc. is overseeing the next Civic model due to hit the market around 2016 at a facility in Ohio, the Nikkei said. U.S. engineers will design the body and interior and select parts. They are also entrusted with setting up mass-production facilities. 

The U.S. unit will soon start development of the next-generation Accord as well. 

Civics and Accords account for one-third of Honda's global sales, or around 500,000 to 600,000 units apiece annually. Around half of the vehicles are sold in North America, a market that generates 40% of the auto maker's consolidated operating profit. 

Subsidiary Honda R&D Co.'s facilities in Tochigi Prefecture have traditionally handled development, with roughly 9,000 specialists assigned to design new vehicles bound for global markets. 

With the domestic market trending toward smaller cars, however, Honda's best-selling vehicles in Japan are now the Fit subcompact and minicars, while annual Civic and Accord sales have diminished to several thousand units. 

It therefore makes less sense to develop those vehicles in Japan. Honda employs roughly 2,000 engineers in North America, including 200 or so dispatched from Japan. With these specialists having gained expertise in vehicles sold in the North American market, Honda believes the time is right to have them oversee development of the sedans. 

Honda spends roughly 500 billion yen a year on R&D. From now on, development of vehicles bound for overseas markets will be scaled back at the domestic research base, which will focus on next-generation technology such as a fuel-cell-powered vehicle due out as early as 2015. 

Source;

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-developing-flagship-sedans-in-us-report-2012-11-25

Honda shows off future auto tech

by Richard Russell of 'You Auto Know'

TOCHIGI, Japan — Honda fans rejoice, the company you have come to respect for its engineering prowess is back.

There has been a bit of a draught on that front in recent years but a flood of new products and technologies will soon take care of that.

During an intensive ‘Deep Dive’ at the company’s Research and Development Center here about two hours northwest of Tokyo, we were given a look at what is ahead and a chance to drive prototypes being used to evaluate these future technologies.

Honda has always been an engineering-led company so it was a relief to see a raft of new engines and transmissions ready for, or already into, production.

Engines

On the engine front, there are new 1.5-, 1.8- and 2.4-litre four-cylinder engines coming to market as you read this, the first in the new 2013 Accord.

Like every Honda engine from this point forward, from 660-cc to 3.5 litres, it has direct injection and variable valve timing.

We saw a new 1.6-litre aluminum diesel engine stuffed with weight saving and friction reducing technology.

Start pestering your local Honda dealer for this one. If enough of them ask, Honda will supply.

Transmission

The team has developed a trio of new CVT (Continuously Variable Transmissions) automatics for use in tiny, small land medium-sized cars.

Every effort has been made to inject some fun and feeling back into these units. But those feature prominently in a pair of new seven-speed dual clutch transmissions with built-in high-power electric motors, one for hybrids and another for regular applications.

The electric motors provide assist during acceleration and at high cruising speeds while serving as a generator when slowing.

The version developed for plug-in hybrids has two motors within the CVT. I managed 60 km/hr. in the normal hybrid and 100 km/hr in the plug-in on pure electric power.

They have also come up with a new coaxial gearbox integrated into the motor of the Fit EV (electric vehicle).

It provides three stages of power depending on the degree of accelerator travel, varying from 47 kW through 75kW to 92 kW.

Steering and suspension

There are two major developments in this area — a new SH-AWD system and all-wheel-steering.
A newly-developed drive unit has separate electric motors for each rear wheel.

In a corner, the motor at the outside wheel applies positive torque while the inside one exerts negative power.

By making the outside wheel go slightly faster and the inside slightly slower, the car follows the intended line more closely.

The energy generated while the inside wheel is in negative mode, is used to power the outside motor.
Add to this Precision All-Wheel Steering and you’ve got a pretty amazing package. An electric actuator in the tow control link at each rear wheel uses information from the engine, vehicle stability assist system and electric power steering and to extend or retract an arm and adjust the toe-in of each rear wheel by up to two degrees in either direction.

Unlike mechanical systems, this one can control each wheel separately allowing it to contribute to stability during cornering. It also applies toe-in during extreme braking to further aid in stability and reduce stopping distances

Safety

A City Brake Active System controls speed through various traffic lights to reduce consumption and fuel use.

In a demonstration the car equipped with the system proceeded steadily through a series of traffic lights without changing speed while the vehicle in adjacent lane, without it, sped away and came to stop at each light.

We also saw a system of vehicle-to-vehicle communication that predicts possible risk at intersections, greatly reducing rear-end, motorcycle. car and pedestrian collisions.

Dubbed Intelligent Communication Technologies, it will require buy-in from different manufacturers and participation by various levels of governments down to municipal level to install systems
Autonomous Emergency Brake, similar to others I have sampled in Europe, it uses a combination of camera and radar to recognize an object’s size, position, speed and direction and predict the risk of a collision, applying the brakes automatically to bring the vehicle to a full stop.

A new intelligent cruise control system monitors up to six vehicles in adjacent traffic. If it knows the speed of the vehicle pulling in front of you is the same as or greater than yours, it knows there is no need to alter the speed of your vehicle.

Vehicles

We drove an European Accord equipped with the drivetrain bound for the 2014 Acura RLS (formerly RL) coming in the spring. A 3.5-litre V7 producing more than 310 horsepower drives the front wheels.

Each rear wheel is driven by its own 20-plus horsepower electric motor. The new seven-speed dual clutch automatic has a third electric motor within, this one putting out more than 30 horsepower.

The new SH-AWD system thus is able to drive all four wheels simultaneously — but separately. The motor at the outside rear wheel applies positive torque in corners to help push the car into he intended line.

The motor on the inside wheel applies negative torque to slow that one slightly tugging the car into the turn. The kinetic energy developed by the inside wheel is converted to power for the other motor.
The trick rear-steer system mentioned above is also incorporated.

The driving impression were: V8-like power delivered in a smooth and progressive fashion, near neutral handling with gobs of stick and amazing braking.

This same drivetrain, re-arranged to accommodate a mid-ship engine placement, will be further enhanced and used in the upcoming NSX sports car.

At the other end of the scale we drove an N-One, Honda’s entry in the K-Class so popular in Japan. Restricted to 660 cc, these little devils are everywhere you look. Honda got around the displacement restriction by turbocharging the engine.

They were unwilling to talk horsepower but on the big track I got the box-shaped test mule up to 172 km/hr before running out of room.

The CIVIC Type-R — We didn’t get to drive one, but expect a turbocharged engine developed during the company’s recent foray in the World Touring Car Championships.

Source;
http://thechronicleherald.ca/wheelsnews/185336-honda-shows-off-future-auto-tech

Honda Brio Amaze first studio shots leak out

The Honda Brio Amaze has leaked to the web, ahead of its debut on November 23rd.

Essentially a sedan version of the Brio hatchback, the Amaze has familiar styling but adopts a revised grille, new rear doors and a far more attractive rear end. The overall design is fairly conservative but that's to be expected in a class that values function over form.

The interior will likely carryover from the standard model, but reports have indicated the sedan will have a unique rear seat and revised upholstery.

Engine options remain unconfirmed, but speculation suggests the Amaze will be offered with a 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel and a 1.2-liter i-VTEC petrol that develops 90 HP (66 kW).

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112112050795/honda-brio-amaze-leaks-out-early

Honda's HEARBO robot has excellent hearing

by Jason Falconer of www.gizmag.com

A team led by Kazuhiro Nakadai at Honda Research Institute-Japan (HRI-JP) is improving how robots process and understand sound. The robot, aptly called HEARBO (HEARing roBOt), can parse four sounds (including voices) at once, and can tell where the sounds are coming from. The system, called HARK, could allow future robot servants to better understand verbal commands from several meters away.

The HARK system (HRI-JP Audition for Robots with Kyoto University) processes audible noise with eight microphones inside the robot's head. First the software singles out the sounds generated by its 17 motors, which are cancelled in real-time in a process known as "ego-noise suppression." It then processes the remaining audio, while applying a sound source localization algorithm to pinpoint the origin of a sound to within one degree of accuracy.

"By using HARK, we can record and visualize, in real time, who spoke and from where in a room," explains Nakadai on the HRI-JP website. "We may be able to pick up voices of a specific person in a crowded area, or take minutes of a meeting with information on who spoke what by evolving this technology."

In one experiment, the robot took food orders from four people speaking simultaneously – and knew who had ordered what. In another experiment, the robot played a game of rock-paper-scissors with three people. Each person said either rock, paper, or scissors at the same time, and the robot was able to determine who won. Others have taught the robot what different musical instruments sound like, which could allow the robot to separate a song into various parts.

HARK allows the robot to parse up to four speakers simultaneously, as shown in this example of "verbal rock-paper-scissors"

HARK represents just one domain of artificial intelligence known as robot audition, which any practical robot helper will require in daily life. Honda has reportedly invested more than US$60 million dollars into its humanoid robot, ASIMO, with plans to one day commercialize. Earlier work by the same team was applied to the latest version of ASIMO, which can understand different words spoken by three people simultaneously.

In the first video demonstration below, HEARBO is bombarded with a beeping alarm clock, music, and a person speaking to it. Not only can it distinguish between the types of sound it is hearing, but it turns its head in the direction of the sound it is seeking. In the second demonstration, the robot listens to verbal commands while music plays. It estimates the song's tempo and dances to the rhythm, and performs ego-noise suppression to cancel out its own servo noise.

Source:
http://www.gizmag.com/honda-hearbo-robot-excellent-hearing/25087/