Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Wards: Honda Powertrain Overhaul Targets Weight, Emissions
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| Honda launches production of 2.0L VTEC turbo for U.S. market in March. |
TOKYO – Honda is moving full speed ahead with the implementation of a powertrain plan announced at the 2013 Tokyo auto show.
With five new engines already on the market and two to come in 2016, plus three CVTs, the automaker is setting its sights on 2020 and beyond.
Honda produces nearly 30 million engines a year, including 4.5 million for automobiles.
In an interview with WardsAuto, Keiji Ohtsu, chief technology strategy officer-automobile R&D center at Honda R&D, details the automaker’s strategy.
WardsAuto: At the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda rolled out a new series of downsized, turbocharged engines with plans to introduce them by 2016. What is the status of the rollout?
Ohtsu: We have three new gasoline engines – 1.0L, 1.5L and 2.0L – which are being adapted to regional needs in North America, Europe and China, all markets where emissions regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. China offers the added incentive of a tax break for smaller-displacement engines, further encouraging downsizing.
In addition, we are focusing on weight reduction, changing V-6 to inline-4 engines and inline 4s to 3-cyls.
WardsAuto: Honda introduced the 1.5L unit in 2015. So far, on which models?
Ohtsu: On the Step Wagon in April and Jade RS in May, both in Japan. We adopted the 2.0L turbo on the Civic Type R in October, also in Japan, and will begin mass production of the engine next March in the U.S. for our Civic lineup. We are also readying the 1.5L unit for the China market. The 1.0L engine is still under development.
WardsAuto: What plans do you have for your 2.4L naturally aspirated engine?
Ohtsu: Where possible, we hope to replace it with the downsized 1.5L unit.
WardsAuto: Will you discontinue it?
Ohtsu: No. We currently produce five naturally aspirated gasoline engines, including the 2.4L unit, two downsized turbocharged engines and two diesels. A 1.0L gasoline turbo is still under development.
Depending on the market and region, but particularly in Asia and other emerging markets, we will continue offering our naturally aspirated lineup which tend to be less costly.
50% Take Rate for Hybrids, Downsized Turbos by 2020
WardsAuto: What share will downsized turbocharged engines claim by 2020?
Ohtsu: Maybe 30%. In addition, we expect the ratio of hybrids to grow, although for the time being Honda won’t use turbocharged engines in our hybrids.
WardsAuto: And your hybrid sales target?
Ohtsu: Twenty percent by 2020. It will vary by region. In Japan, for instance, it could be as high as 80%. In the U.S. we’re aiming for 20%.
WardsAuto: So, combined – hybrids and downsized turbo engines – will account for 50% of sales?
Ohtsu: Yes.
WardsAuto: And in the case of hybrids, you've made a complete shift to lithium-ion batteries?
Ohtsu: For all models, yes. (The Accord is available in both conventional dual-motor and plug-in types.)
WardsAuto: It is probably premature to discuss Honda’s next stage of development since your 1.0L turbo engine is still not on the market. But in general terms, what comes next?
Ohtsu: We’re just approaching the midway point in our plan. We eventually want to achieve heat efficiency of 50% through lean turbocharging. We will focus on HLSI, or homogeneous lean-charge spark-ignition technology.
WardsAuto: And you expect to complete technical development in 2020?
Ohtsu: Yes.
WardsAuto: Then when will you introduce the engine to the marketplace?
Ohtsu: We don’t have a specific model in mind yet.
WardsAuto: Do you consider HLSI technology evolutionary or revolutionary?
Ohtsu: It is not revolutionary. Of the two leading combustion technology candidates – the other being HCCI, or homogeneous-charge-compression ignition – we have opted for spark ignition because we feel that HCCI is limited in terms of rpm, torque and operational band or range. HLSI is better suited to Honda’s engine concept. We’ve researched both, of course.
WardsAuto: What sort of fuel-economy benefits do you envision – 30%?
Ohtsu: If we achieve 50% heat efficiency, it would put our conventional engines on an equal footing with our hybrids. Using the JC08 test mode, the Fit, for instance, would improve to 87 mpg (2.7 L/100 km) from 61 mpg (3.9 L/100 km) at present. This is an estimate, of course.
WardsAuto: And in the U.S.?
Ohtsu: We’re probably looking at a 25% improvement. But it depends on the transmission and also vehicle weight.
Ohtsu: Maybe 30%. In addition, we expect the ratio of hybrids to grow, although for the time being Honda won’t use turbocharged engines in our hybrids.
WardsAuto: And your hybrid sales target?
Ohtsu: Twenty percent by 2020. It will vary by region. In Japan, for instance, it could be as high as 80%. In the U.S. we’re aiming for 20%.
WardsAuto: So, combined – hybrids and downsized turbo engines – will account for 50% of sales?
Ohtsu: Yes.
WardsAuto: And in the case of hybrids, you've made a complete shift to lithium-ion batteries?
Ohtsu: For all models, yes. (The Accord is available in both conventional dual-motor and plug-in types.)
WardsAuto: It is probably premature to discuss Honda’s next stage of development since your 1.0L turbo engine is still not on the market. But in general terms, what comes next?
Ohtsu: We’re just approaching the midway point in our plan. We eventually want to achieve heat efficiency of 50% through lean turbocharging. We will focus on HLSI, or homogeneous lean-charge spark-ignition technology.
WardsAuto: And you expect to complete technical development in 2020?
Ohtsu: Yes.
WardsAuto: Then when will you introduce the engine to the marketplace?
Ohtsu: We don’t have a specific model in mind yet.
WardsAuto: Do you consider HLSI technology evolutionary or revolutionary?
Ohtsu: It is not revolutionary. Of the two leading combustion technology candidates – the other being HCCI, or homogeneous-charge-compression ignition – we have opted for spark ignition because we feel that HCCI is limited in terms of rpm, torque and operational band or range. HLSI is better suited to Honda’s engine concept. We’ve researched both, of course.
WardsAuto: What sort of fuel-economy benefits do you envision – 30%?
Ohtsu: If we achieve 50% heat efficiency, it would put our conventional engines on an equal footing with our hybrids. Using the JC08 test mode, the Fit, for instance, would improve to 87 mpg (2.7 L/100 km) from 61 mpg (3.9 L/100 km) at present. This is an estimate, of course.
WardsAuto: And in the U.S.?
Ohtsu: We’re probably looking at a 25% improvement. But it depends on the transmission and also vehicle weight.
Exclusive to Acura
WardsAuto: Is Honda planning any other turbocharged engines?
Ohtsu: We will add a 3.5L turbo for the (Acura) NSX hybrid next year. The engine will be produced at our Anna, OH, powertrain plant.
WardsAuto: Will there be any further additions to your 4-cyl. lineup, currently 1.5L and 2.0L?
Ohtsu: There will be nothing for Honda, but we’re considering a new exclusive engine for our Acura lineup. However, we have no specific plan as yet.
WardsAuto: Is there any chance of Honda reducing the number of cylinders in your 1.5L engine (which currently has four)?
Ohtsu:The torque range in our engine lineup is 96 lb.-ft. (130 Nm) to 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm). If we improve heat efficiency to 50%, we would achieve a wider torque range than at present. Thus to answer your question, no. We will not reduce the number of cylinders.
WardsAuto: Moving on to diesel engines, what is the current situation?
Ohtsu: Our 1.6L turbodiesel, which we produce at Honda of the U.K. Mfg., is our main engine. A new 1.5L unit (manufactured at Honda Cars India) is less expensive and will be sold in India and other parts of Asia.
WardsAuto: Do you have plans to export your i-DTEC turbodiesel to the U.S. market? And can you meet U.S. emissions regulations?
Ohtsu: I believe we can meet the regulations. But from a cost standpoint, diesels are really expensive. So we have no plans to introduce the engine in the U.S.
WardsAuto: How much more expensive – 50%?
Ohtsu: More. Also keep in mind that the price differential between diesel fuel and gasoline is very small in the U.S. There’s no fuel-savings incentive.
WardsAuto: Added to which the Volkswagen scandal has hurt the image of diesels.
Ohtsu: Of course.
WardsAuto: Switching to Honda’s 0.66L mini or kei engine, which was redesigned in 2011, will Honda eventually merge it with the 1.0L powerplant?
Ohtsu: No. Our kei engine is unique in terms of how it’s used and packaged. Even if the engines were to have the same displacement, the engine and transmission layout would be different. And especially because of the Japanese market (where minis account for nearly 40% of sales), I don’t think that the category will disappear.
WardsAuto: On the subject of transmissions, Honda announced that it would introduce a new 10-speed automatic. ZF currently supplies a 9-speed automatic to Acura for the TLX from its plant in Laurens, SC. Will this new 10-speed be a Honda unique product?
Ohtsu: Yes. We will manufacture it in-house for the U.S. market for cars powered by V-6 engines.
WardsAuto: Does Honda have plans to increase gears beyond 10?
Ohtsu: No. We feel that a 10-speed is enough. As I said, our maximum torque range is 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm). A 10-speed is best suited for that torque level.
WardsAuto: And your other transmissions?
Ohtsu: We currently offer an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, also for the Acura TLX.
WardsAuto: When will you introduce the 10-speed?
Ohtsu: Soon. (For smaller cars, Honda already has introduced three new CVTs.)
WardsAuto: Looking at future powertrains, the Japanese government believes fuel-cell cars will take off around 2025. Some years back, a Honda research executive reported that your 2020 price target for a fuel cell car would be ¥4 million, $35,000 at the current exchange rate, which is equivalent to an upper-end Accord. That was a bit optimistic, but not terribly so. What is your view today in light of Honda’s planned launch next March of the new Clarity?
Ohtsu: We will add a 3.5L turbo for the (Acura) NSX hybrid next year. The engine will be produced at our Anna, OH, powertrain plant.
WardsAuto: Will there be any further additions to your 4-cyl. lineup, currently 1.5L and 2.0L?
Ohtsu: There will be nothing for Honda, but we’re considering a new exclusive engine for our Acura lineup. However, we have no specific plan as yet.
WardsAuto: Is there any chance of Honda reducing the number of cylinders in your 1.5L engine (which currently has four)?
Ohtsu:The torque range in our engine lineup is 96 lb.-ft. (130 Nm) to 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm). If we improve heat efficiency to 50%, we would achieve a wider torque range than at present. Thus to answer your question, no. We will not reduce the number of cylinders.
WardsAuto: Moving on to diesel engines, what is the current situation?
Ohtsu: Our 1.6L turbodiesel, which we produce at Honda of the U.K. Mfg., is our main engine. A new 1.5L unit (manufactured at Honda Cars India) is less expensive and will be sold in India and other parts of Asia.
WardsAuto: Do you have plans to export your i-DTEC turbodiesel to the U.S. market? And can you meet U.S. emissions regulations?
Ohtsu: I believe we can meet the regulations. But from a cost standpoint, diesels are really expensive. So we have no plans to introduce the engine in the U.S.
WardsAuto: How much more expensive – 50%?
Ohtsu: More. Also keep in mind that the price differential between diesel fuel and gasoline is very small in the U.S. There’s no fuel-savings incentive.
WardsAuto: Added to which the Volkswagen scandal has hurt the image of diesels.
Ohtsu: Of course.
WardsAuto: Switching to Honda’s 0.66L mini or kei engine, which was redesigned in 2011, will Honda eventually merge it with the 1.0L powerplant?
Ohtsu: No. Our kei engine is unique in terms of how it’s used and packaged. Even if the engines were to have the same displacement, the engine and transmission layout would be different. And especially because of the Japanese market (where minis account for nearly 40% of sales), I don’t think that the category will disappear.
WardsAuto: On the subject of transmissions, Honda announced that it would introduce a new 10-speed automatic. ZF currently supplies a 9-speed automatic to Acura for the TLX from its plant in Laurens, SC. Will this new 10-speed be a Honda unique product?
Ohtsu: Yes. We will manufacture it in-house for the U.S. market for cars powered by V-6 engines.
WardsAuto: Does Honda have plans to increase gears beyond 10?
Ohtsu: No. We feel that a 10-speed is enough. As I said, our maximum torque range is 273 lb.-ft. (370 Nm). A 10-speed is best suited for that torque level.
WardsAuto: And your other transmissions?
Ohtsu: We currently offer an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, also for the Acura TLX.
WardsAuto: When will you introduce the 10-speed?
Ohtsu: Soon. (For smaller cars, Honda already has introduced three new CVTs.)
WardsAuto: Looking at future powertrains, the Japanese government believes fuel-cell cars will take off around 2025. Some years back, a Honda research executive reported that your 2020 price target for a fuel cell car would be ¥4 million, $35,000 at the current exchange rate, which is equivalent to an upper-end Accord. That was a bit optimistic, but not terribly so. What is your view today in light of Honda’s planned launch next March of the new Clarity?
High on Hydrogen
Ohtsu: We
think that fuel-cell vehicles will come into the mainstream in 2030,
along with battery-powered electric cars. We also feel that going
forward hydrogen will be the best fuel alternative.
WardsAuto: What does “mainstream” mean – 5% of sales?
Ohtsu: We still don’t have a clear idea, but the common understanding is 10%.
WardsAuto: As head of automotive technology strategy, how do you see the Asian market evolving in the coming five to 10 years with respect to powertrains, particularly hybrids?
Ohtsu: In Southeast Asia, we will supply our current lineup of naturally aspirated engines. We expect fuel-economy regulations to become more stringent. Therefore, we want to establish our latest technologies first in industrialized markets – namely, North America and Europe – and steadily reduce cost so that we can transfer the technologies to Southeast Asia.
WardsAuto: And China?
Ohtsu: China will adopt some of the world’s most stringent regulations in terms of fuel economy. In 2025, we don’t expect to be able to sell conventional internal-combustion engines, meaning we will be selling mostly hybrids including plug-in types.
WardsAuto: And India?
Ohtsu: Like in Southeast Asia, we will supply naturally aspirated engines plus 1.5L diesels. In the past, there has been preferential treatment toward diesel cars. That is no longer the case. We anticipate a steady switch to gasoline.
Looking at the bigger picture, our intention is to reduce our carbon footprint. Whether through downsizing and raising thermal efficiency or hybridization and introducing fuel cells, the powertrain will be central to whatever we do.
WardsAuto: What does “mainstream” mean – 5% of sales?
Ohtsu: We still don’t have a clear idea, but the common understanding is 10%.
WardsAuto: As head of automotive technology strategy, how do you see the Asian market evolving in the coming five to 10 years with respect to powertrains, particularly hybrids?
Ohtsu: In Southeast Asia, we will supply our current lineup of naturally aspirated engines. We expect fuel-economy regulations to become more stringent. Therefore, we want to establish our latest technologies first in industrialized markets – namely, North America and Europe – and steadily reduce cost so that we can transfer the technologies to Southeast Asia.
WardsAuto: And China?
Ohtsu: China will adopt some of the world’s most stringent regulations in terms of fuel economy. In 2025, we don’t expect to be able to sell conventional internal-combustion engines, meaning we will be selling mostly hybrids including plug-in types.
WardsAuto: And India?
Ohtsu: Like in Southeast Asia, we will supply naturally aspirated engines plus 1.5L diesels. In the past, there has been preferential treatment toward diesel cars. That is no longer the case. We anticipate a steady switch to gasoline.
Looking at the bigger picture, our intention is to reduce our carbon footprint. Whether through downsizing and raising thermal efficiency or hybridization and introducing fuel cells, the powertrain will be central to whatever we do.
Source;
wardsauto.com/engines/honda-powertrain-overhaul-targets-weight-emissions?page=1
Honda Aircraft Company Begins HondaJet Deliveries
“We are very excited to commence deliveries of the HondaJet, fulfilling Honda’s commitment to advancing human mobility through innovation,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Honda Aircraft has now extended this commitment skyward with the delivery of our first aircraft, and I hope we soon will begin to see many HondaJets at airports around the world.”
Honda Aircraft Company is manufacturing the HondaJet at its world headquarters in Greensboro. The aircraft is offered for sale in North America, South America and Europe through the HondaJet dealer network.
To support HondaJet customers, Honda Aircraft has established a robust worldwide dealer network in 11 territories. HondaJet dealers are ready to support aircraft entry into service, together with a 90,000 square-foot customer service facility in Greensboro to support the dealer network with heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities.
Pilot training is already being conducted for HondaJet customers with a full-motion, Level D flight simulator installed at the Honda Aircraft Training Center in Greensboro.
The HondaJet is the world’s most advanced light jet, with revolutionary technology and design innovations—including the Over-The-Wing Engine Mount design—that help it achieve the highest speed, superior fuel efficiency, and a more spacious cabin over conventional aircraft in its class.
For more information about the HondaJet, visit www.HondaJet.com.
About HondaJet
The HondaJet is the fastest, highest-flying, quietest, and most fuel-efficient jet in its class. The HondaJet incorporates many technological innovations in aviation design, including the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration that dramatically improves performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag. The OTWEM design also reduces cabin sound, minimizes ground-detected noise, and allows for the roomiest cabin in its class, the largest baggage capacity, and a fully serviceable private aft lavatory. The HondaJet is equipped with the most sophisticated glass flight deck available in any light business jet, a Honda-customized Garmin® G3000. The HondaJet is Honda's first commercial aircraft and lives up to the company’s reputation for superior performance, efficiency, quality and value.
About Honda Aircraft Company
Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters is located in North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation. The challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda’s longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward.
Source;
https://www.hondajet.com/news/article?categoryType=922b6d12-370f-483f-b352-d963d84dc4ad&articleType=pressrelease#0
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Acura Precision Concept teased, previews future styling direction
Set to debut on January 12th, the Precision Concept was created by the Acura Design Studio in California and will "help set the direction for future Acura design, in particular, the next-generation of performance luxury sedans."
The company was light on details but the teaser image shows a stylish sedan with a long hood, slender headlights, and a rakish windscreen. The drawing also reveals sharp character lines, a dynamic roof, and a unique greenhouse. Additional details are hard to make out but the concept appears to have flared fenders and angular taillights.
In a statement, Acura Global Creative Director Dave Marek said "The Acura Precision Concept will signal the stronger and sharper focus of Acura styling on our core DNA we call 'precision crated performance.' It is our intention to more strongly express performance through design and the Acura Precision Concept will serve as the inspiration for the styling and proportion of the next-generation of Acura vehicles, especially for our sedans."
Little else is known about the concept but it sounds like the next-generation ILX, TLX, and RLX will have will a sportier and more upscale design.
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/1151218102163/acura-precision-concept-teased-previews-future-styling-direction
2017 Acura NSX priced from $156,000, tops out at $205,700
On top of that, you will have to spend an additional $1,800 for handling & destination charges and Acura says it will start taking orders from February 25. From the same day, the online configurator will be up and running, but you won’t be able to buy the very first car as that one will be auctioned. The VIN 001 will be sold next month by Barrett-Jackson and all the money will be directed towards the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and the Camp Southern Ground.
If you want to go all out, Acura says the 2017 NSX can cost as much as $205,700 if you add all the factory features and the available optional goodies. The build-to-order hybrid supercar will be offered with a choice of eight exterior paints and four interior color schemes that will come in three different seating surfaces. At an extra cost, the car can be customized with one of the three wheel designs with a painted or a polished finish. There’s also a carbon ceramic brake kit available, along with a carbon fiber roof, and a carbon fiber interior sport package.
As a reminder, the 2017 Acura NSX is powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine developing 573 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It works together with a nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox, a 47-hp rear assist motor and dual 36-hp electric motors to enable a combined output of 573 hp and 476 lb-ft. The vehicle weighs 3,803 lbs (1,725 kg) and needs around 3 seconds to run the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint prior to hitting a top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h).
Designed, developed, and built in United States, the 2017 Acura NSX will be made in Marysville, Ohio at the company’s Performance Manufacturing Center.
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/1151218102164/2017-acura-nsx-priced-from-156-000-tops-out-at-205-700
Burlapp Find: 2017 Honda Odyssey Spyshots
Check his site out, great for finding more than just Hondas!
Source;
http://www.burlappcar.com/2015/12/2017-honda-odyssey.html
All-New 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup to Make Television Debut During Super Bowl 50
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TORRANCE, Calif
- 60-second TV spot gives America an inside preview of the next-gen Ridgeline
- Extensive multi-platform campaign to support launch of new TV spot
"The big game is the largest and most coveted stage to show the world that Honda is back in a big way with an all-new Ridgeline truck," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Automobile Division. "Super Bowl 50 is the right time and the right venue to communicate Honda's continued leadership in light trucks. The multiplatform approach will enable Ridgeline to come out of the gate strong in 2016."
The all-new 2017 Ridgeline television spot marks the Honda brand's first official Super Bowl commercial since 2014's "Hugfest" promoting Honda safety, which generated significant social engagement during and after the big game.
The all-new Ridgeline is slated to launch in the first half of 2016 at Honda dealerships nationwide, and will join Honda's expanded lineup of innovative light truck models, including the HR-V crossover, the CR-V and Pilot SUVs and the Odyssey minivan. Honda is on track to earn a new all-time record for light truck sales in 2015, with sales up 11.8 percent to nearly 600,000 units through the end of November.
The Ridgeline is being developed by Honda's North American design and engineering teams in Ohio and California, and will be produced at its Lincoln, Alabama, auto and engine plant, alongside the Pilot and Odyssey.
Honda introduced the award-winning first-generation Ridgeline in 2005 and earned high praise for its unique features and capabilities, including the industry's first In-Bed Trunk and Dual Action Tailgate, as well as its superior on-road manners and spacious, flexible interior. The original Ridgeline was named 2006 Motor Trend Truck of the year and 2006 North American Truck of the Year and topped J.D. Power and Associates' Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study in the midsize pickup segment for three consecutive years.
Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/all-new-2017-honda-ridgeline-pickup-to-make-television-debut-during-super-bowl-50
Honda Accelerates Sweeping Light Truck Makeover with New Ridgeline Pickup Set for Global Debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show
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TORRANCE, Calif
"We developed this new Honda Ridgeline to offer something new and fundamentally better suited to the way many buyers use their truck," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "Ridgeline will deliver everything you'd expect in a Honda from incredible packaging and fuel-efficiency to top safety technologies and innovative, segment-first features. We're honored to once again debut the Ridgeline in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show."
Honda began the complete remake of its light-truck lineup in the fall of 2014 with the freshened 2015 Honda CR-V, America's best selling SUV. Earlier this year, Honda launched the all-new HR-V crossover, gateway to the Honda truck lineup, and the third generation of its popular Pilot three-row SUV. In 2016, Honda will continue the strengthening of its light-truck family of vehicles with the new Ridgeline and a fully redesigned Odyssey minivan.
Calendar year 2015 sales of Honda light trucks are up 11.8 percent to 599,507 vehicles through the end of November and are on track to set a new all-time sales record for the brand, beating the previous best of 602,123 units in 2006.
Like the first generation Ridgeline, which also debuted at NAIAS in 2005, the all-new Ridgeline was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in its Torrance, California design studio and Raymond, Ohio, research and development center. The Ridgeline and its engine will be producedi by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Inc., in Lincoln, Alabama.
Watch the press conference live at Honda's YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/Honda or media website, hondanews.com/channels/ridgeline.
Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-accelerates-sweeping-light-truck-makeover-with-new-ridgeline-pickup-set-for-global-debut-at-the-2016-north-american-international-auto-show
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Autoguide.com: 7-Way Comparison Finds Honda HR-V to Be the Best 2016 Subcompact Crossover (autoevolution)
Ah yes, the weird and wonderful world of subcompact cars. Everybody used to hate the hatchbacks, but manufacturers figured out they can raise the suspension and trick people into thinking they were cool little Jeeps.
Auto Guide has managed to bring together seven of the top contenders for a 2016 king of the hill shootout. Getting seven of one thing together is hard enough, so we decided to share it with you.
The video puts wisdom before youth, so the old guys go first. We never saw the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport as a subcompact because it seemed so big back in the day. However, vehicles have been getting bigger and bigger each year.
Of course, every model here makes some sort of compromise. In the case of the Mitsubishi, you lose out on features like navigation and build quality while receiving a big trunk and cabin.
The Juke? Well, we all know what sort of compromises that car makes. The rear seats are Fiesta-sized, and the luggage compartment is a joke. But the much newer Mazda CX-3 also suffers from these problems. Nissan's baby is the most powerful car of the comparison, but it's a shame the 1.6L turbo is connected to a CVT gearbox.
The CX-3 is our personal favorite from the lineup. It's a typical new-age Mazda with stiff suspension, but it's light and feels natural to drive. But making the crossover compromise doesn't make that much sense, as you only get the look, not the added practicality. 6-speed automatic instead of a CVT? Yes please!
The Renegade is described as the polar opposite of the CX-3 and the Nissan Juke. The entire Fiat-Chrysler alliance relies on a 9-speed automatic nowadays. But it hasn't helped fuel economy because of the weight of the car. In the real world test, the 2.4L drank its way to 23.8mpg which is in the same league as some trucks.
We get the Fiat 500X after testing it. It makes you feel happy to be a Fiat owner, but it keeps some of the flaws of its platform partner, the Renegade. That only leaves us with the true winner of the test, which is the Honda HR-V. It might be slow and boring on the inside, but people just want practicality and good value That's not to say we don't sympathize with the folks that make lifestyle choices like the Mazda and Fiat.
Editor's note: We don't feel like talking about the Chevrolet Trax. Sorry, we just can't do it!
Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/7-way-comparison-finds-honda-hr-v-to-be-the-best-2016-subcompact-crossover-video-103016.html#
VIDEO: Footage of Honda NSX in action, on the road
Here’s six minutes of Honda NSX goodness with no distractions, not even a whisper as this B-roll is without audio. But although we can’t hear the new NSX in action, it’s still worth watching as the supercar is filmed on the move from a great variety of angles. Nice roads and backdrop too, from the desert to the city.
The production new NSX was unveiled early this year at the Detroit show wearing Acura badges, and a Honda-badged car wowed the crowd at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, 10 years after the last original NSX rolled out of the factory.
Today’s car is powered by a Sport Hybrid Power Unit, led by a mid-mounted 3.5 litre DOHC twin-turbo V6 driving the rear wheels. Output figures are 500 hp at 7,500 rpm and 550 Nm of torque from 2,000-6,000 rpm. There’s also a rear Direct Drive Motor that offers 47 hp and 148 Nm, and a front-mounted Twin Motor Unit with 72 hp (36 hp at each wheel) and 146 Nm. Combined, the system offers 573 hp and 645 Nm.
Our in-house sports and supercar specialist Anthony Lim has had a go at the NSX, and you can read his test notes here. A chip off the old block? “An everyday sports car? By all suggestions, this is looking very much the case, like its predecessor,” he says.
Source;
http://paultan.org/2015/12/17/video-footage-of-honda-nsx-in-action-on-the-road/
Monday, December 14, 2015
2016 Honda Fit Twist (Honda Jazz Twist) spotted testing for the first time – Brazil
The Honda Fit Twist is a spruced-up, crossover version of the previous generation Honda Fit (or Honda Jazz in India) that has been exclusive to the Brazilian market, so far. Although the spyshots do not reveal much of the exterior design, IndianAutosBlog’s rendering below gives an idea of what can be expected from the all-roader.
Power for the outgoing Honda Fit Twist in Brazil is sourced from a 1.5-liter Flex-fuel engine delivering 116 hp and 153 Nm of torque, paired to either a manual gearbox or CVT. The latest Fit Twist is likely to use the same engine, albeit slightly revised for better refinement and fuel efficiency.
Despite being an appealing segment in the Indian market, Honda India has not yet confirmed plans of launching the Honda Fit Twist (or Honda Jazz Twist as it’s likely to be called here). If they do consider, the Jazz Twist will rival established models like the Hyundai i20 Active, VW Cross Polo and Fiat Avventura. In South America the car will compete with the Renault Sandero Stepway and the Hyundai HB20X.
Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2015/12/2016-honda-fit-twist-jazz-cross-spotted-206329
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| Here is a rendering of what the vehicle may look like. |
Friday, December 11, 2015
X-Tomi Renders the 2017 Honda Civic Coupe Type-R
Source (via Carscoops!)
http://xtomi.blogspot.ro/2015/12/honda-civic-type-r-coupe.html
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Honda pits a MotoGP Motorcycle against the Civic Type R [video]
Honda has released a new 360-degree video which pits the RC213V
MotoGP Motorcycle against the Civic Type R and a Castrol Honda Touring
car.
Filmed at the Circuito Tazio Nuvolari in Italy, the clip features a total of six vehicles and enables viewers to pan around to get an even greater sense of the action. The video stars Tiago Monteiro who drives the Touring Car and Gabriele Tarquini who is behind the wheel of his Civic Type R. There are also three other Civic Type Rs and they are driven by British Touring Car drivers Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal as well as BTCC development driver Jack Clarke.
The video was shot an exclusive event put on by Honda and Castrol and Tarquini remarked “The Type R is fantastic; it’s great on the track, and everybody is incredibility impressed by both the handling and braking performance."
Unveiled earlier this year, the Honda Civic Type R is a high-performance hatchback that is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 305 bhp (310 PS / 228 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. The engine is connected to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 270 km/h (167 mph).
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/1151208101787/honda-pits-a-motogp-motorcycle-against-the-civic-type-r-video
Filmed at the Circuito Tazio Nuvolari in Italy, the clip features a total of six vehicles and enables viewers to pan around to get an even greater sense of the action. The video stars Tiago Monteiro who drives the Touring Car and Gabriele Tarquini who is behind the wheel of his Civic Type R. There are also three other Civic Type Rs and they are driven by British Touring Car drivers Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal as well as BTCC development driver Jack Clarke.
The video was shot an exclusive event put on by Honda and Castrol and Tarquini remarked “The Type R is fantastic; it’s great on the track, and everybody is incredibility impressed by both the handling and braking performance."
Unveiled earlier this year, the Honda Civic Type R is a high-performance hatchback that is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 305 bhp (310 PS / 228 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. The engine is connected to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 270 km/h (167 mph).
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/1151208101787/honda-pits-a-motogp-motorcycle-against-the-civic-type-r-video
Honda S2000 sports car to return as Mazda MX-5 rival
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| Prospective Rendering |
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| Not the Official Car |
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| Iconic S2000 badge to return on a new rear-drive roadster, which will be powered by turbocharged 1.5 and 2.0-litre engines; Type R version possible |
Honda is taking aim at the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat’s forthcoming 124 Spider by developing a successor to its popular S2000 roadster, company insiders have revealed.
Introduced in 1999, the original version of the Japanese manufacturer’s two-seat roadster garnered a reputation for its strong powertrain and lively handling, but the second edition of the car was axed in 2009.
Now a third generation is said to be under development as Honda tries to reconnect with the S2000’s dedicated fan base. Representatives from Honda’s advanced engineering department are said to have attended a recent S2000 owners’ club event in the British Isles - a sign that the firm wants to listen to enthusiasts in order to help it to position the next version of the car accurately.
The new S2000 will stay true to the original’s principles of a front-mounted engine, sited behind the axle line, and rear-wheel drive. It will be pitched as a faster alternative to the MX-5, although its performance should be more of a match for that car’s stablemate, the forthcoming Fiat 124 Spider, which uses a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine instead of the Mazda’s naturally aspirated 1.5 and 2.0-litre units.
Honda has a number of powerplants under consideration for its roadster. More basic editions of the car could be powered by a retuned version of the firm’s forthcoming 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The four-cylinder unit has VTEC variable valve timing and produces around 150bhp in the Japanese-market vehicles it powers. This is likely to be ramped up to around 180bhp for the most modest S2000, giving the car around 25bhp more than the most powerful MX-5 and beating the US-market 124’s 158bhp.
This would leave scope for a hotter variant that could use a detuned version of the Civic Type R’s 306bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. It would also feature more extreme suspension and chassis settings, including a rear limited-slip differential, and could give Honda a useful extension to its Type R sub-brand, as well as a rival for the more potent, Abarth-badged 124. All versions of the car would feature a short-throw six-speed manual gearbox.
The biggest obstacle in the way of the S2000 replacement is the absence of a suitable platform. Honda is committing to a new global architecture for front-wheel-drive cars, including the next generation of Civic, which is due on sale in the UK in 2017, but its opportunities to spread the costs of a rear-wheel drive chassis are more limited.
It is therefore likely to pitch the car as a more expensive rival to the MX-5 in a bid to maintain workable margins, with pricing starting north of £20,000. It could slot the model into the line-up of its premium Acura brand in the United States, where it would be a rival to BMW’s next Z4 and the Audi TT Roadster.
Honda has been working on a number of sports car projects as it looks to rebuild its reputation as a manufacturer of enthusiasts’ models as well as more mainstream products and capitalise on its struggling F1 programme with McLaren.
It is understood that a mid-engined, turbocharged ‘baby NSX’ is also under consideration, but company officials have prioritised a return to the open-top two-seater market.
Honda’s global boss, Takahiro Hachigo, recently revealed that despite the NSX’s trick hybrid set-up, future sports cars from the company would not all need to have electric motors in their powertrains. “Whether or not we develop a hybrid depends on the type of car,” he said. “It is not the case that we have a fixed notion that a sports car always has to be a hybrid.”
Honda has decided that the diminutive S660 roadster that’s sold in Japan would not have a broad enough appeal to justify homologation in other markets. Hachigo said: “If there is strong demand from a region then we will always consider possibilities, but the S660 is a car that was developed for the Japanese market and we’d have to do a lot of work on it to make it comply with European regulations. I also wonder: would a car like this, sold in Asia, succeed in Europe?”
He did admit that Honda was considering sports cars beyond the NSX, however. “We are receiving requests from our regions who are saying they would like more sports cars, so we are considering ways to do that,” he added.
Engineers have also been working on a four-motor, all-electric sports car, as demonstrated by the SH-AWD CR-Z that finished 11th in this year’s Pikes Peak hillclimb in Colorado, but the commercialisation of that project faces a number of challenges, not least the cost of the lithium ion battery technology required to deliver the targeted range of 300 miles per full charge.Hachigo admitted that Honda had damaged its image by “abandoning” products such as the S2000 that had a strong reputation and hardcore fan base. The firm did have plans for a successor to the second generation of the car, but these were scrapped in the midst of the global automotive and financial crises in 2009.
It is believed that the firm’s European boss, Toshiaki Mikoshiba, has been given specific targets to improve continuity and nurture customer retention, as well as reducing the gap between product launches in Japan and the US and the arrival of those cars in Europe. The new HR-V and Jazz — plus the newly launched US-market Civic — are seen as prime examples of cars taking too long to reach European customers.
“We need consistency to build the brand,” said Hachigo. “We want to enhance the cars that we’ve already introduced. We are also working so we can introduce models more quickly to Europe. It’s a very important market for us.”
Honda is the latest Japanese brand to publicly state its goal to produce more cars that are fun to drive, although if the firm does get a new, rear-wheel-drive S2000 to market on its own, it will be bucking the recent trend for joint developments. Mazda and Fiat collaborated on the MX-5 and 124, while Toyota joined forces with Subaru to get access to the boxer engines that give the GT86 the handling agility that was the focus for the project.
Toyota is also working with BMW on a sports car platform that’s expected to underpin different sizes of car. BMW will place it under the next Z4 and its Japanese partner will use it to underpin a larger coupé that could carry the Supra badge.
However, some Japanese manufacturers are developing standalone sports car projects. Mazda is working on a rotary-engined successor to the RX-7 and RX-8 and Nissan is considering an expansion of its Z sub-brand.
Honda's S2000 is also seen as an investment car - read more in our used car buying guide.
The cars the new S2000 must beat
Fiat/Abarth 124 Spider - Sister car to the MX-5, the 124 Spider has more power and torque thanks to Fiat’s 1.4 turbo Multiair engine. UK-spec 124s will have a 138bhp engine at launch, but sources are speaking about an Abarth version with at least 168bhp, a more focused chassis and the option of a fixed roof.
BMW Z4 - BMW had been considering a baby front-drive roadster, but that project is on hold, so the next Z4 will remain the firm’s smallest drop-top for now. It’ll be spun off a platform developed with Toyota, although the Japanese brand is expected to use the architecture to build a larger model.
Nissan Z-Car - While Nissan’s Gripz concept shows how it plans to extend the Z line-up to include crossovers, that car is seen as an extension to the sub-brand, not a replacement for the rear-drive sports car. Expect the next Z to use a turbo four-cylinder engine and cost less than the outgoing 370Z.
Mazda MX-5 - No-frills roadster has received widespread acclaim in its latest generation, which makes do with modest 1.5 and 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engines but sheds weight to ensure decent performance and fantastic handling agility. Its pricing could make the Honda look expensive, too.
Alpine A120 - Reborn French brand’s two-seater is due next year. It will use a 250bhp 1.8-litre turbo engine, but a 300bhp version is also planned. Hardcore dynamics will appeal to the enthusiasts Honda hopes to snare with the S2000, but the A120 will cost more, with prices starting at about £30,000.
Comment - would the S660 work in Europe?
Honda does have a drop-top sports car in its line-up, but only in Japan - and it should really stay there. The S660 is a kei car, designed to beat Japanese vehicle tax rules, and as such it is (a) tiny and (b) modestly powered by a 660cc engine.
We had a chance to try the car on the eve of this year’s Tokyo motor show, and while it has some fine characteristics, including a particularly sweet short-throw gearshift, it would also be outgunned pretty much anywhere outside of town.
Even if you did have the patience to get it up to motorway speeds, the extreme wind buffeting would probably persuade you to back off.
The cabin is minuscule, too, and anyone more than 6ft tall would struggle to find a comfortable seating position. Honda’s bosses say the costs of homologating the car for sales outside Japan couldn’t be justified by the potential sales, and for all the S660’s charm, we’re inclined to agree. If the firm wants a genuine rival for roadsters such as the MX-5 and 124 Spider -the car that it freely admits its regions are asking for - it’ll need to try harder.
Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/honda-s2000-sports-car-return-mazda-mx-5-rival
Friday, December 4, 2015
Automotive News; Honda may be prepping CR-V with 3-row seating for overseas markets
LOS ANGELES -- Honda Motor Co. has been spotted testing a CR-V mule that looked like it’s flirting with a third row of seats for the next-generation model. But don’t bet on that coming to the U.S.
The single photo shows a prototype model shot from the side, with the distinctive CR-V taillights running up the rear of the car. The front is entirely covered, with a pair of bolt-on headlights sticking up from the hood.
But the most interesting bit is the rear door. Or, more specifically, its length. Blacked-out with camouflage tape, the door is conspicuously longer than on the current production CR-V. Could the next-gen CR-V, due in 2017, be available with a third row of seats?
Sources say yes, but not in the U.S.
Abroad, the CR-V competes against other compact crossovers with three rows, which are steadily becoming popular replacements for MPVs, those weird little minivans. Plus, adding a third row to the CR-V puts more space between it and the new HR-V globally.
But in the U.S., where the CR-V is the top-selling crossover, Honda has the Pilot and Odyssey to offer buyers looking for maximum people-moving capabilities. So expect this prototype to keep its residency elsewhere.
Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20151203/OEM04/151209927/honda-may-be-prepping-cr-v-with-3-row-seating-for-overseas-markets
Honda, Takata settle airbag suits, lose round in class action case
By David Shepardson
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has rejected a bid by air bag manufacturer Takata Corp 7312.T and automaker Honda Motor Co7267.T to toss out a class-action lawsuit on behalf of millions of owners with potentially faulty airbag inflators, even as the firms are moving to quickly settle death claims.
The Japanese companies have agreed to undisclosed settlements for six of eight deaths linked to ruptured inflators as U.S. prosecutors ramp up a probe of the ruptures and whether regulators were misled. Four settlements have been reached in recent months.
Litigation arising from four of the six U.S. deaths has been settled, Honda spokesman Chris Martin said. Court records show a fifth U.S. death - in September 2014 in California - has also been settled.
Honda has been working to settle claims quickly, Martin said. "Honda has worked in good faith to quickly resolve the concerns of those families," he said.
Honda, Takata and other automakers will continue to face a class-action suit filed on behalf of millions of owners that alleges Takata and the automakers violated anti-racketeering laws because of a ruling on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno in Miami.
Since 2008, at least 19.2 million U.S. vehicles have been recalled for inflators that can rupture. The suit claims millions of car owners overpaid for vehicles with faulty airbags and the recalls reduced the value of those vehicles.
"Honda looks forward to the opportunity to properly challenge plaintiffs' claims," Honda's Martin said. He said the automaker is confident that the racketeering claim will be dismissed.
Takata declined to comment on the ruling.
The airbag manufacturer has bolstered its legal team. Lanny Breuer, a partner at Covington & Burling LLP who served as U.S. assistant attorney general overseeing the criminal division from 2009-2013, said in a court filing in November that he was representing Takata in the civil lawsuit.
The previously unreported civil settlements cover five airbag deaths in the United States - including two reported inflator deaths this year in Texas and Louisiana - and a 2014 incident in Malaysia in which a pregnant woman was killed and her baby subsequently died. Judge Moreno approved that settlement on Nov. 20.
U.S. prosecutors have conducted interviews with Takata and Honda employees in both Japan and the United States, two people briefed on the matter told Reuters. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit declined to comment.
Martin declined to say if executives have been interviewed but said "Honda is actively cooperating with the DOJ investigation of Takata."
A federal grand jury has subpoenaed documents from Takata, but Honda said it has not received a grand jury subpoena.
Honda has confirmed seven airbag deaths since 2009. An inflator is also suspected in the 2013 death of a California man in a 2002 Acura TL.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Source;
http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKBN0TM31I20151203?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
2017 Honda Ridgeline: Could Soft Halfway Design Beat Tacoma, Colorado?
Spy photos have caught a camouflaged Ridgeline in action. Judging from its outline, it’s more truck-like in appearance than that the first-generation – perhaps to be taken more seriously in its contention against the likes of the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado.
Somehow the new Honda Ridgeline doesn’t look like a full-fledged truck despite its more conventional truck aesthetics. It doesn’t hold an aggressive posture, and the styling is quite soft. Honda is probably going for a truck that doesn’t flex, but has a bed for some heavy storage and some decent trucking capabilities. From the looks of it the Ridgeline is in the middle of the spectrum between an SUV and a truck.
Expect the 2017 Honda Ridgeline to pack a 3.5L V6 engine with an output of 280hp and 262lb-ft torque. It should be bolted to a six-speed auto gearbox. We’re not sure about its towing ability, though we don’t expect it to rival that of the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado that can go up to 6,800lb and 7,700lb respectively.
Would this be an effective comeback by the Ridgeline? We’ll see come January 2016 at the Detroit Auto Show.
Source;
http://www.dailysunknoxville.com/2017-honda-ridgeline-could-soft-halfway-design-beat-tacoma-colorado/20154616
Honda Tests Deeper Waters With the Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Clarity
We human beings are using fossil fuels at an astounding rate. While we’re going to continue to find more, we will eventually run out. This leads to many companies thinking about what the future will be and how they will play a part in it. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are one path forward, but until energy generation becomes efficient enough that we can manage it on a local scale, we’re going to be relying on the grid to power our vehicles (and vice versa). Another path that has been explored is a technology that allows electricity to be generated onboard the vehicle itself. To do this, companies are going to make use of fuel cells; Honda was the first company to produce a fuel cell vehicle on any appreciable scale, and it recently announced that it is bringing an updated version of it to market in 2016.
The second generation of the Honda FCX Clarity was one of first Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) to be mass-produced for consumers. It was produced between 2008 and 2014 with roughly 50 units available only for lease in U.S. It cost $600 per month to lease, which was the only option, and was limited to markets that had access to a hydrogen fueling station — namely California.
The hydrogen gas is introduced into a fuel cell to produce electricity, which then powered a 100 kilowatt (kW) electric motor, which is equivalent to 130 horsepower. This was a dedicated electric vehicle by design, meaning there is no way for the hydrogen to directly propel the car. The range was approximately 230 miles, and the vehicle had a combined fuel economy rating of 59 miles/kilogram of hydrogen (which is roughly equivalent to one gallon of gasoline).
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda unveiled the replacement for the FCX Clarity with the new Honda Clarity. The fuel cell has been significantly upgraded for this new model, and is 33% more compact and with 60% greater power density than the previous unit. Due to its smaller size, roughly the size of a V6 engine, the fuel cell was able to fit under the hood and did not need to take up space in the passenger cabin, as was the case on the FCX Clarity, making the cabin of the car more spacious. Refueling times will remain similar (3-5 minutes) and Honda is aiming for a range of more than 300 miles per tank of hydrogen. Regarding the style of the car:
The interior strives to achieve a refined and harmonious experience using rich materials and intuitive, streamlined controls. Additional features include the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistive technologies, support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED exterior lighting and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The Clarity Fuel Cell will be available in black, white, and signature red exterior paint schemes.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a zero emissions technology that Honda believes in, and has worked to advance for more than 20 years. Vehicles like the Clarity Fuel Cell are potential game changers because they offer an uncompromising, zero emissions customer experience, with utility, range and refueling times on par with today’s gasoline-powered cars.
Due to the fact that hydrogen exists in in a gaseous state at atmospheric conditions, there are different challenges to overcome for fueling. Not only does the hydrogen need to be purified (often liberated from methane or water), but it needs to be compressed to provide sufficient energy density in the tank to allow for a usable range. This makes the fueling stations much more expensive than gasoline or diesel stations.
Honda has joined an industry group H2USA which has a mission to expand hydrogen fueling across the United States, both through researching new technologies and installing new fueling sites. Additionally, Honda pledged $13.4 million in 2014 to expand the hydrogen fueling infrastructure throughout California. This is all leading toward Honda’s goal to reduce company-wide CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.
Source;
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/honda-tests-deeper-waters-with-the-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-clarity.html/?a=viewall
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