Honda NSX Type R to get significantly more power?

A photoshopped NSX, sans roof.

by Chirs Aaron of www.paultan.org

It looks like Honda may be cooking up a hotter version of its new NSX sports car, folks. According to The Detroit Bureau, insiders at Acura revealed that engineers are currently looking at several new ways of improving the NSX’s power output by a “notch or two.” Best of all, it is said that this added performance could be for an NSX Type R.

There aren’t too many details yet, but the US publication reports that several ways of boosting the NSX’s power are being looked in to at the moment. For one, engineers are said to be closely focused on the NSX’s 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6 engine. As standard, the mill produces 500 hp and 550 Nm of torque, but its makers claim that this is still far from the engine’s limits.

Insiders at Acura say that the current engine’s 143 hp per litre output may be “impressive, but far from nearing the limits of its design.” The report continues to say that increasing output by just 10 or 20 hp per litre would yield a considerable performance improvement. The efficiency of the turbochargers is another area that is being examined.

Upgrades to the sports car’s electrical system is also likely, with engineers believing that the current motors could actually deliver significantly more power if only they could get more energy from the battery pack at a quicker rate. One method of achieving this would be to include a larger battery pack altogether, or to rework the chemistry of the battery itself.

There’s also reason to believe that the NSX Type R would get a bunch of carbon-fibre exterior components for aerodynamic gains. Further weight shaving is also possible, on top of the several opportunities to do so on the current NSX, courtesy of the optional carbon-fibre exterior replacement bits.

Currently, the hybrid all-wheel drive Acura NSX sports car is powered by a Sport Hybrid Power Unit powertrain. The rear axle is driven by a 500 hp/550 Nm 3.5 litre DOHC twin-turbo V6 petrol engine and a 47 hp/148 Nm Direct Drive Motor. Two more motors exclusively power the front axle. The front-mounted Twin Motor Unit (TMU) delivers 36 hp at each wheel and 146 Nm. Collectively, the NSX has a total system output of 573 hp and 645 Nm.

No timeline has been set for what could be the NSX Type R, but rest-assured we will be keeping a close eye on how this develops. In the meantime, feel free to check out the online configurator for the Acura NSX, detailing it to your preferred specifications. Enjoy!

Source;
http://paultan.org/2016/02/29/honda-nsx-type-r-to-get-significantly-more-power/

Honda’s New Civic Hatchback Concept Images Leaked Online

by Kennedy Paul of www.drivespark.com

On the heels of the Geneva Motor Show 2016, Carscoops have managed to get the images of the Honda's new Civic Hatchback which is doing the rounds online. The hatchback is expected to be showcased at the motor show.

The low-resolution images reveal body kit that gives more aggressive looking bumpers, side skirts, lime green accents and chunky alloy wheels. The design has clues from the Honda Civic Saloon and coupe models with the evident cues of the front and rear ends. The idea behind the 2017 Civic Hatchback gives the feeling of a dynamic stance of the car even with the differentiated rooflines and smaller footprint of the hatch. For the European customers, Honda has confirmed the specification, the hatchback will be offered in two VTEC turbocharged engines with the capacity of 1.0 litre and 1.5 litre. The North American customer will, however, receive a more powerful engine which will come with 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre, both turbocharged VTECs.

The hatchback will compete with the likes of Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Focus ST. The Civic hatch could possibly punch out 230bhp of the de-tuned Type R's 2.0 litre engine. The car will be manufactured at Honda's Swindon factory of Britain. The images look more of a production car than a concept which is awaited to be showcased at the Geneva Motor Show. Honda will be up for a launch and take on some of the fastest hatchbacks in town. India will be looking forward to the Civic, however, it could be in the form of a sedan and not a hatchback. Honda has discontinued the Civic back in 2012 and there has been no word on its rejuvenation. The Hatchback variant of the Civic would fuel speculation that the company could launch it sometime in the near future.

Source;
http://www.drivespark.com/four-wheelers/2016/honda-s-new-civic-hatchback-concept-images-leaked-online-013914.html

“This Oscar is going home in a Honda Civic”: Louis C.K. steals the show with a real tribute to an unloved category

Nothing to really do with cars, just a comment that someone thought I should pass on....

Louis C.K. at the Oscars, Feb. 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Credit: AP/Chris Pizzello)

by Sonia Saraiya 

Louis C.K. presented the award for best documentary short film at tonight’s 88th Academy Awards, and in a show characterized by stilted bits that no one can infuse with life or warmth, C.K. managed to bring a moment of authentic appreciation to a easily overlooked category—those short documentaries that, as he observed, are almost always passion products.

“This is the one academy award that has the opportunity to change a life,” he said. “I’m happy for all of you,” he continued to the crowd of luminaries in the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, “but you came here winners and you’re leaving millionaires.”

“These people—this is documentary short film,” he said. “It’s not even documentary feature.” Recognizable names like Al Gore and Michael Moore have won those, he pointed out. But with Documentary Short Film, “You cannot make a dime on this. These people will never be rich for as long as they live. So this Oscar means something. All they do is tell stories that are important.”

C.K.’s career has largely been on television, but for several years he’s made waves with his fans through bypassing traditional industry routes in order to fund and distribute his work. He’s doing this right now with a new drama, “Horace And Pete,” starring himself, Steve Buscemi and Alan Alda, which costs $5 for each episode of a genre-bending homage to Eugene O’Neill’s plays. To me, as someone familiar with his work, his words on documentary filmmakers seemed to come from a sense of similarly felt passion for his own art.

C.K. concluded, “This Oscar is going to be the nicest thing they ever own in their life. It is going to give them anxiety to keep it in their crappy apartment.” C.K. has many golden statuettes now, but he won his first back in 1999, with the rest of the writers on “The Chris Rock Show.” Maybe he felt exactly the same way about his.

Before joking that this award, like several earlier in the night, was going to go to “Max Max: Fury Road,” C.K. announced the winner—”A Girl In The River: The Price Of Forgiveness,” about a Muslim honor-killing, by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. She has one previous Oscar, for “Saving Face.”

Source;
Oscar Comment

Honda CEO says 'fundamental transformation' is needed

Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo: “Management, including myself, must lead in changing our mindset.”

by Hans Greimel of www.autonews.com

TOKYO -- When Takahiro Hachigo was abruptly named Honda Motor Co. CEO last year amid spiraling quality problems, he pledged to revive the troubled automaker through a back-to-basics focus on better cars and streamlined production.

Nearly a year later, with Honda still battling quality issues, the veteran engineer is revamping that comeback plan.

The fix, says Hachigo, 56, will come from rekindling the company's pioneering r&d spirit, once the envy of the industry with its knack for churning out innovative vehicles.

"We recognize the need for a fundamental transformation," he said last week while outlining the strategy. In designing cars for multiple regional markets, Honda was growing at "a pace and scale beyond our means," he conceded.

The recalibration targets the initial stages of r&d, creating new posts committed to design and performance. It is a return to Honda's roots, a DNA Hachigo knows well from his days as a lead engineer on the popular Odyssey minivan and CR-V crossover.

Reinvigorating Honda's originality won't be easy.

The redesigned Civic shows why. When the car was launched late last year, it was hailed as a taste of Honda's glory days. In January, it won the North American Car of the Year title.

But the afterglow dimmed last week, when Honda recalled some 42,000 of the new cars to fix a piston problem that can cause the engine to seize and possibly catch fire.

Honda's image has been further tarnished by soaring recalls due to faulty airbag inflators made by affiliated supplier Takata Corp., which have been linked to nine fatalities in Honda vehicles. Honda has recalled 30 million inflators worldwide.

Meanwhile, Honda must tackle other structural problems, including bloated overcapacity in Japan. Because it had shifted so much production overseas in recent years, Honda failed to cash in on exports when the yen finally began to weaken.

Hachigo now aims to rebalance global production by ramping up output in Japan for exports to North America and Europe.

"The key issue will be how far the company can square the circle between controlling product quality and ramping up models simultaneously worldwide," J.P. Morgan auto analyst Akira Kishimoto wrote in a report after Hachigo's news conference.

Quality over quantity
Hachigo's answer: Prioritize quality over quantity.

"Rather than set up a sales target, we first put importance on creating Honda-unique products," Hachigo said. "After that, we will explore how to increase sales."

The reboot offers a reality check on Honda's unfinished realignment of the carmaker's global operations around six regional hubs, each wielding its own r&d and production power.

Hachigo spent years setting up the structure under his predecessor, Takanobu Ito, before taking Honda's reins last June. But Hachigo said the rapid expansion put too much strain on r&d resources in Japan and needed clearer lines of control.

"We have come to see some issues in the front lines of our development and production facilities," Hachigo said. "This could seriously harm the engine behind Honda's creativity."

To steer the next phase, Hachigo replaced nearly a third of the board and promoted younger executives for new blood. He appointed new people to key roles in charge of r&d, North America and automotive operations. The changes clear the top ranks of some prominent, older-generation executives under Ito.

"It still looks like a work in progress," Chris Richter, an auto analyst with CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, said of Hachigo's reforms. "Maybe a fresh set of eyes on the problem will help."

Hachigo said electrification will play a big role in Honda's new aura. By 2030, he wants two-thirds of Honda's global sales to come from green cars such as hybrids, plug-ins, fuel cell vehicles and pure electric vehicles. That's up from just 5 percent today.

Production shuffle
Honda also is cranking up production of crossovers to meet demand.

Canada, which currently ships the CR-V to Europe, will cease those exports and channel its production to North America. Honda will add production of the Acura MDX to its plant in East Liberty, Ohio, in 2017, supplementing MDXs from Honda's Alabama factory.

Bigger production shifts are afoot. Hachigo said he wants to tap extra capacity in Europe and Japan by having plants there export more vehicles to other markets.

In the next three to four years, Hachigo aims to boost annual output in Japan to around 950,000 vehicles, from around 730,000 last year. Up to 20 percent of the total will be exported, compared with around 9 percent in 2015.

Japan may begin shipping Civics and CR-V crossovers to North America, after beginning exports of the Fit to North America last year. Japan will also export the CR-V and HR-V compact crossover to Europe. Europe will become the export hub for the new-generation Civic hatchback debuting at this week's Geneva auto show.

Lifting output from Japan is key, Hachigo said. It strengthens a production base that is not only the cradle of Honda's corporate culture but the template for overseas operations.

"We need to realize renovation of Honda's manufacturing," Hachigo said. "Management, including myself, must lead in changing our mindset, and every associate needs to change their perception and the way they work."

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160229/OEM02/302299970/honda-ceo-says-fundamental-transformation-is-needed

Honda teams with Visa for in-car payment system

A demo of the in-car payment service being developed by Honda and Visa was shown off at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

BARCELONA, Spain -- U.S. credit card giant Visa and Japanese automaker Honda Motor are developing a system to let drivers pay for transactions using their Internet-connected cars, the two companies announced at the Mobile World Congress here.

     The idea is to turn the car into a platform that drivers can use in an easy, secure way to pay directly for items like gas, parking and tolls from a dashboard display. Field trials will begin in the U.S. this year with the goal of having a system ready in two to five years.

     Honda Developer Studio, the automaker's Silicon Valley base that develops applications and services for cars with wireless Internet connectivity, has led the writing of apps that can utilize Visa Token Service, the payment protocol developed by Visa for mobile digital gadgets.

     By installing these apps in automotive information terminals, drivers can use their cars to conduct transactions. One such app could alert the driver when the car is low on gas, direct the driver to a nearby station, interface with the station, give the driver options for how much gas to get, and then pay for the gas once the tank has been filled.

Source;
http://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Honda-teams-with-Visa-for-in-car-payment-system

2017 Honda Civic X Hatchback Spied Testing in Europe

Honda is getting ready to showcase the concept that will preview the Civic X, but its engineers are already testing the prototype of the production model.

by Sebastian Toma of www.autoevolution.com

Thanks to our spy photographers, we can provide you with the first photo gallery of the new Civic X. So, before you see the concept car prepared by Honda for its 2016 Geneva Motor Show presence, here are the first ever pictures of the next generation of the Civic.

Except for the Type-R prototype spotted at the Nurburgring, this photo gallery shows the first images of the next Civic in the wild. Since the prototype spotted at the world famous Nordschleife showed a sport version of the Civic, we are impressed with the look of this milder prototype.

We must admit we did not expect Honda to place the exhausts on the center of the vehicle, an uncommon design feature that's usually used on much sportier cars.

Furthermore, the exhaust has twin outlets, which leads us to think that the prototype in the image gallery is a more beefed-up version of the Civic, not the Type-R model.

The next generation of the Honda Civic is expected to feature a range of VTEC Turbo engines with direct injection and the smart variable valve timing system of the Japanese brand.

The new power plants will have a 1.5-liter capacity, and the engine range will also include 1.0-liter units at the lower end of the scale. Both units are expected to be available with a six-speed manual gearbox and an automatic option.

Honda is supposed to launch the next generation of the Civic in early 2017 as a global model. The car will be made in the United Kingdom, at the Swindon plant, and it will be exported to various markets worldwide, USA included. European customers will also be able to buy an Estate/Wagon version, but the second body style in the Civic X range will only come in 2018, according to reports.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2017-honda-civic-x-hatchback-spied-testing-in-europe-105028.html#

Redesigned and Reengineered 2017 Acura MDX to Debut at 2016 New York International Auto Show

America’s best-selling three-row luxury SUV to receive substantial design changes, new features and new powertrain technology

Feb 24, 2016 - TORRANCE, Calif.

Acura will unveil the redesigned and reengineered 2017 MDX luxury SUV at the 2016 New York International Auto Show on March 23. The 2017 MDX will boast substantial design enhancements, added luxury comfort and convenience features, and advanced new powertrain technology, in concert with the Acura brand's focus on Precision Crafted Performance.

"We are sharpening our focus on the Precision Crafted Performance DNA of the Acura brand and the 2017 MDX will integrate new styling elements and powertrain technology that takes us another step in that direction," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
The Acura MDX is the best-selling three-row luxury SUV of all time and Acura's best-selling SUV, with sales topping 50,000 units in each of the past three years. The 2017 MDX was designed by the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, Calif. and will continue be produced at the company's Lincoln, Ala. auto plant.  In early 2017, an additional production source for MDX will be added at the East Liberty, Ohio auto plant. Both plants will use domestic and globally sourced parts.

For More Information
Consumer information is available at www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Acura. Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles.

Source;
http://www.acuranews.com/acura-automobiles/releases/redesigned-and-reengineered-2017-acura-mdx-to-debut-at-2016-new-york-international-auto-show

2016 Honda Civic Trumps Toyota Corolla In Small Frontal Overlap Crash

When it comes to small frontal overlap crashes, the 2016 Honda Civic fares better than the 2016 Toyota Corolla by a country mile. 

Sure, there are literally a dozen or more choices in the small sedan segment but only two reign supreme in sales, the Civic and Corolla. Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Better Car uploaded a video comparing the small frontal crash tests between the 2016 Honda Civic and the 2016 Toyota Corolla.

The differences between the two couldn’t be farther apart. Whereas the Civic maintained the integrity of its driver and passenger cell with little intrusion into the cockpit, the Toyota Corolla’s driver’s space was seriously compromised by intruding structure. Take a look at the video for yourself below.


In the most recent IIHS crash testing between the two vehicles, both cars matched up against each other when it came to the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint and seat tests.

The only major difference between the Civic and Corolla came from the small overlap frontal test where the Corolla received a marginal score with a poor rating on Structure and safety cage while the Civic received a good score overall.  Here are the two side by side.

Even if you go back a generation for the Civic, the 9th Generation Honda Civic outperforms the Toyota Corolla when it comes to crashworthiness. Around the time they were engineering the 9th generation Civic around 2005, Honda was incorporating its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE for short) Automobile body structure design in most of its lineup. The 2006 Honda Civic was the first year this concept was applied and continues on today with ACE ii for the 2016 Honda Civic.
According to Honda,

``ACE is a Honda-exclusive body design that utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute frontal crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This helps reduce the force transferred to the cabin and more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles involved.``

This video from Hagerstown Honda does a great job of explaining what that means in detail.


In real life, no one wants to encounter what a small frontal overlap impact would feel like, but they occur far more often than you would think.  According to a study by the Medical College of Wisconsin, 40 percent of single vehicle accidents (crashing into a tree or pole) have the characteristics of a small overlap collision. And in many parts of the United States where two lane highways with opposing traffic and no median barrier between the two lanes is the norm, you’ll find this type of collision occurring as well.

So if you’re in the market for a small sedan and are choosing between a Civic and Corolla (or know someone that is) it would behoove you to go with the Civic if safety is important for you. Even more so if you live in a rural area or drive in areas with lots of foliage (trees etc.) to the right and left of your car.

Source;
https://artofgears.com/2016/02/25/2016-honda-civic-trumps-toyota-corolla-in-small-frontal-overlap-crash/

This Honda concept replaces the car's head unit with a smartphone

by Chris Welch of www.theverge.com

Car infotainment systems are slowly improving nowadays, but the vast majority remain unintuitive and quickly grow out of date. So what if, instead of being stuck with whatever your carmaker thinks is right, everything could just run on your smartphone instead? That's partly the idea behind CarPlay and Android Auto, sure, but both of them run on your existing head unit. Drivemode is doing things a bit differently; the company's Android app can turn your mobile device into the central screen in your vehicle. It's not mirroring anything onto a larger display; you just plug your phone into the empty head unit slot, and then it'll start displaying your speedometer, navigation, music apps, incoming calls / texts, and so on.

Since your phone is smaller than most infotainment displays, the Drivemode app puts simplicity first with oversized buttons and easy-to-read text. But reaching for something that's not the steering wheel is less than ideal, so the company has partnered up with Honda and Panasonic to make a concept car with full steering wheel controls. Things like music controls and voice search work just as they would on a regular infotainment system, and Drivemode will even display the feed from the vehicle's backup camera. All of the companies involved note this is still years from being a shipping product, but it's easy to see the appeal — especially in lower end vehicles that might not even offer the popular Apple and Google solutions. For now, Drivemode is available on Android only, though an iOS version could be coming down the line.

Source;
http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/23/11100652/drivemode-honda-android-phone-head-unit

Honda aims for green cars to make up two-thirds of line-up by 2030

Honda FCV

By Naomi Tajitsu

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co Ltd 7267.T on Wednesday said it aimed for new-energy vehicles to account for two-thirds of its line-up by 2030 from around 5 percent now, as increasingly stringent global emissions regulations prompt automakers to make greener cars.

Japan's third-biggest automaker by sales said in its latest strategy update that its petrol-battery hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) would collectively outnumber its petrol-only offerings in less than 15 years' time.

Plug-in hybrids - which can also be recharged via household wall sockets - will be "at the core of electrification in the future" for Honda, said Chief Executive Takahiro Hachigo.

Honda will release a plug-in hybrid in North America by 2018 that shares the same production platform as its Clarity FCV announced in October, Hachigo said. It will then make plug-in versions of its major models and raise model numbers, he said.

The announcement makes Honda the latest automaker to set dramatic long-term emissions-related targets. In October, Toyota Motor Corp 7203.T said it aimed to cut new vehicles' average carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent from 2010 levels by 2050.

Behind the push are governments globally rapidly raising emissions standards. But limited infrastructure such as charging stations make some green cars a hard sell, while low oil prices have sparked demand for sport utility vehicles and other petrol-guzzlers.

R&D FOCUS
Honda's new-energy target featured in the automaker's strategy update, the first under Hachigo. The CEO, who assumed the job almost a year ago, has restructured personnel and operations to revitalize research and development (R&D).

On Tuesday, Honda said managing officer Yoshiyuki Matsumoto would direct R&D, moving on from leading automotive operations.

"Our appointment of a new head of the R&D center is intended to position R&D at the center of all product development, and make it responsible for the design and performance of each and every vehicle," Hachigo said on Wednesday.

The strategy update also included a shift to standardized vehicle platforms to increase production flexibility - in line with an industry trend - and a focus on global models such as the Fit compact, Civic and Accord sedans.

"The key to improving sales is our global models ... which are so central to the company's brand. If we develop these models to raise their appeal, it will translate into higher sales," Hachigo said.

Separately, Honda repeated at the strategy update that it did not plan to offer further financial support to long-time supplier Takata Corp 7312.T, whose airbag inflators are at the center of a deepening global recall.

(Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

Source;
http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0VX0TT

Honda CEO to shift gears, distance sales teams from car design process - sources

Nearly a year into his job, Honda Motor Co CEO Takahiro Hachigo plans a back-to-the-future shift at the Japanese automaker, driving clearer demarcation lines between those who develop cars and those who sell them, two senior company insiders told Reuters.

TOKYO: Nearly a year into his job, Honda Motor Co CEO Takahiro Hachigo plans a back-to-the-future shift at the Japanese automaker, driving clearer demarcation lines between those who develop cars and those who sell them, two senior company insiders told Reuters.

The thrust of the changes, to be unveiled by Hachigo in Tokyo on Wednesday, will be to reduce the influence ofsales and marketing teams on car design, reversing moves by previous chief Takanobu Ito, the people said.

"Over the years, our product development process became overly complex and slow, involving a huge number of engineers and sales and marketing people," said one of the two Honda executives. As a result, "we began producing watered down, uninspiring, what you might call designed-by-committee, cars."

Hachigo, 55, has taken soundings internally and set up a small task force of mainly younger fifty something executives, said the insiders, who did not want to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media.

As a result, he plans a re-balance of power between engineers and marketing on car design, they said, noting sales people focus more on a car's affordability than its performance.

"Sales people involved in product planning are more focused on customers' immediate needs. We need to stay focused on that, but it's not much help in figuring out what kind of car we should be putting out 5-10 years down the road," the second executive said.

"Tech people should design cars more freely, but take responsibility if the car isn't successful."
Hachigo, who has an engineering background, is likely to limit sales executives' participation at key product planning meetings, including the annual "long-term strategic conference" that usually is held in the spring, they said.

Honda's chief spokesman Kaoru Tanaka declined to comment.

TECH AUTONOMY
Hachigo will give more autonomy to Honda R&D Co, the technology unit, and rein in some of the independence at the group's regional blocs in Japan, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and China.

Increased localization has led to regional differences in engine size and features such as hybrid systems and all-wheel drive trains in global models including the Accord, Civic, Fit and CR-V in order to be cost-competitive, the executives said.

Hachigo is also likely to return to Japan the planning and development work on vehicle platforms and core technologies that had begun to flow to the regions in past years, they added.

In a management reshuffle announced on Tuesday, Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Hachigo's rival for the top job last year, moved from automotive operations chief to head of Honda's Research and Development center, a key technology post.

Hachigo is expected to restructure Honda's global Automotive Operations headquarters, which looks after product planning among other functions. Senior engineers previously relocated to the Tokyo head office to promote cooperation with sales divisions are now likely to move back to Honda's tech center near Utsunomiya, north of the capital, the executives said.

The strategy overhaul will also see Honda revert to a concept of 'sogo hokan', or mutual interdependence among production facilities around the world, they said.

They noted that Honda failed to make the most of last year's strong U.S. market growth and a weaker yen because it had not set aside enough capacity in Japan to produce cars to sell in the United States, which accounts for around a third of global sales.

The immediate target, the executives said, is to boost sales globally with more innovative and distinctive cars, and eliminate excess capacity of around 750,000 cars a year.

Honda, which is battling the fall-out from a massive global recall over faulty Takata Corp air bags, sold around4.75 million vehicles last year and had the capacity to produce5.5 million.

(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

- Reuters

Source;
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/exclusive-honda-ceo-to-s/2542964.html

2016 Honda Civic Coupe Walkaround Video

New Honda hatchback concept for China leaked in patent drawings

Not too sure how close this is going to be to the Hatchback we get here in North America....

The front-end features a Honda CR-Z inspired face with sleek LED headlamps, large hexagonal grille.

The rear-end starts to draw design cues from the latest Civic, with boomerang LED taillight that runs across the rear profile and a new bumper.

Looks different from the Civic sedan.
Leaked patent images have revealed the exterior design of a Honda hatchback concept that will be exclusive to the Chinese market.

The exterior design appears to be significantly different to the 2016 Honda Civic sedan sold in the U.S., featuring a Honda CR-Z inspired face with sleek LED headlamps, large hexagonal grille in the bumper, sporty intakes and a contoured hood. The rear-end starts to draw design cues from the latest Civic, with boomerang LED taillights that run across the rear profile and a new bumper. The design seems to adopt a fastback approach.

The production-spec model will likely comprise of the 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engines. Reports suggest that the smaller 1.0-liter unit will be capable of producing 127 PS and 200 Nm, and paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the output figures of the 1.5-liter engine could be identical to the U.S.-spec Civic: 174 hp and 220 Nm.

Honda is currently prepping the Honda Civic hatchback for European markets, which will go on sale in early-2017. The production version is expected at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2016/02/honda-hatchback-concept-for-china-leaked-219817

Autoblog: We drive Honda's turbo/manual Civic prototype (briefly)

by Brandon Turkis of www.autoblog.com

You could almost hear it. There was a furor. And it all had to do with a transmission. On September 16, Honda showed the all-new, tenth-generation Civic. Fitted with a turbocharged engine for the first time, enthusiasts were excited. Until they realized the new 1.5-liter Earth Dreams four-cylinder turbo would only be offered with a continuously variable transmission, something that elicits a passionate, all-consuming, and utterly unquenchable hatred among (most) enthusiasts.

Honda was listening. On the recent Civic Coupe launch, the company confirmed to us that a manual transmission will soon be offered on turbocharged Civics, regardless of body style. And then we drove a prototype.

Now, let's be very clear, the car we drove was an early test vehicle. It was camouflaged, cobbled together – it was born with a turbo and an automatic before Honda's engineers got their hands on it – and to cap it all off, we got approximately five minutes of seat time. We couldn't even shoot the darn thing, which is why you're looking at one really bad iPhone picture up top. But five minutes is better than nothing at all, right?

For the rest of the article--follow this link;
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/22/honda-civic-turbo-manual-feature/

Forbes: 2016 Honda Civic Coupe: Another Winner In Honda's Parade Of New Product

by Karl Brauer of www.forbes.com

Honda is in the midst of an aggressive product launch, with five all-new models and two substantially revised vehicles hitting showrooms in less than 2 years. Many of these vehicles are also top sellers in their respective categories, suggesting the automaker’s efforts are working to grow Honda’s visibility and reach in today’s highly-competitive new-car market. And while Honda’s overall sales were up modestly (2.6 percent) in 2015, at Kelley Blue Book we tracked the brand’s transaction price growth at 2.7 percent. That’s higher than Chevrolet , Kia, Subaru or Toyota (and essentially tied with Mazda’s 2.8 percent price growth), suggesting the appeal of these new products is creating strong demand.

Don’t expect the product parade to slow down. Beyond the upcoming Ridgeline truck and Odyssey minivan makeovers there’s the small matter of Honda’s small car, the Civic. This model has generated big sales numbers for decades, and the latest version, all-new for 2016, will come in more forms than any Civic before it. We’ve already discussed the sedan version, which hit showrooms last fall and is now leading the compact car segment in sales. The 2016 Civic sedan is a massive leap forward, essentially redefining the small car with regard to quality, refinement and advanced technology. In fact it was good enough to win 2016 North American Car of Year. Now comes the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe, featuring all the same goodness in a sportier package.

Honda’s representatives told us the Civic Coupe is the style and design lead for the Civic line. Compared to the sedan the coupe appeals to a younger, more active and more educated demographic. It’s also more likely to feed into larger Honda models by generating higher brand loyalty. The expressive exterior design language is clear at first glance, with the Civic Coupe having a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase, 1.2-inch shorter front overhang and 5.4-inch shorter rear overhang versus the new sedan. The roof is also 0.8 inches lower, and with the standard 16-inch alloy wheels on a base LX trim (17-inch wheels are standard on EX and Touring trims) the Civic Coupe imparts a low and wide stance.

Like the sedan the Civic Coupe features two engine and transmission choices. The base 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder produces 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque while delivering 30 city mpg, 41 highway mpg and 34 combined mpg (US numbers). Those are class-leading fuel efficiency numbers, though horsepower and torque is lower than some competitors. Does this mean Civic Coupes with the base 2.0-liter feels underpowered? Not in the least. First, the normally-aspirated engine provides excellent low-end torque, and the power delivery through Honda’s continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is as good as any CVT on the market. Even better is the available (and highly engaging) 6-speed manual with this engine. Trust us, if you “settle” for a 2.0-liter version of the Civic Coupe you aren’t really settling.

But for Coupe buyers seeking maximum performance (at least until the Si and Type R versions arrive…) there’s Honda’s all-new 1.5-liter turbo engine offered in the EX and Touring trims. This four-cylinder offers slightly higher fuel efficiency than the 2.0-liter engine (31/41/35 mpg) while providing 174 peak horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Given all of these numbers are class leading one could argue Honda’s 1.5-liter turbo is the current state-of-the-art in small-car engines. Sadly, the turbo engine can’t be paired with the 6-speed manual, yet, though Honda says this option will appear soon.

Of course these engine specs are identical to the four-door version Civic. but the Coupe does feature a revised chassis with high-strength steel, 23 percent higher torsional rigidity and 75 percent higher body sealing versus the previous-gen coupe. The use of high-strength steel also resulted in a lighter chassis (76 pounds) with stronger suspension mounting points (28 percent stiffer in front, 35 percent stiffer in back). Honda expects the new Civic Coupe to achieve top safety scores from both NHTSA and IIHS.

The Coupe chassis’ increased strength is combined with more aggressive steering and suspension settings compared to the sedan. The variable ratio power steering has been adjusted to provide a more direct feel, and the McPherson strut front suspension and multilink rear suspension utilize stiffer dampers. All this is true even for the base Coupe LX compared to the sedan LX, and as shoppers move up trim levels to LX-P, EXT and Touring trims the springs and damper rates continue to rise. These changes manifested in reduced body roll, quicker steering and an overall bump in confidence when we drove the higher trim Civic Coupes along twisty roads.

One expects an improved exterior design and higher performance when switching from the sedan to the coupe version of a given model, but this switch usually means a substantial drop in practicality, too. We’re not about to claim the 2016 Civic Coupe is just as practical as its sedan brethren, but we were happily surprised by the level of interior space, particularly rear-seat space, Honda packed into its newest model. Rear headroom and cargo volume have both been improved compared to the previous-generation coupe, and while rear-seat access is never fun in a two-door vehicle my 6-foot frame found sufficient legroom, shoulder space and headroom once I was back there.

Other practical interior features, like the “Tech Center” console with an adjustable armrest and large, iPad-friendly storage bin make the Civic Coupe feel remarkably functional. The cabin’s interior looks and feels more upscale than the sedan, and premium features like remote engine start, an electronic parking brake, a 450-watt audio system, 3D navigation with real-time traffic, a power sunroof and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are available, depending on trim. Like the sedan, the Civic Coupe also offers the Honda Sensing suite of safety tech, including radar cruise control, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning and forward collision brake mitigation.

After several hours and a couple hundred miles with the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe we were as impressed with this version as we’d been last fall by the sedan. We do still wish Honda would provide dedicated knobs for volume and tuning control. Accessing these feature through the touch screen is just too cumbersome. And we’re anxiously awaiting the availability of the 6-speed manual paired with the 1.5-liter turbo engine. But these are minor sticking points on an otherwise world-class car. Honda has introduced yet another winner in a long line of winning product over the past year. The new 2016 Civic Coupe sets a high bar in the compact category. We’ll see how long it takes the competition to catch up.

Source;
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kbrauer/2016/02/22/2016-honda-civic-coupe-another-winner-in-hondas-parade-of-new-product/3/#d3f3865135c0

KBB: 2016 Honda HR-V Long-Term Intro: Meet Herv

by Mat Degen of www.kbb.com

The Honda HR-V wasn't the first subcompact crossover SUV to hit the market, but it has already become the one to beat. That's significant, because this segment of little SUVs has suddenly become a big deal. A few years ago, you could count the players on one hand and have fingers left over. Now, in addition to early arrivers like the Nissan Juke and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the segment is bursting with contenders like Jeep Renegade, Chevy Trax, Mazda CX-3 and Fiat 500X. And more are on the way.

Value, easy manners, big utility
After arriving last year, the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V became a hit with both consumers and critics. What's behind the HR-V's recipe for rapid success? We'll name three reasons off the top of our head. For starters, with a price that starts under $20,000 and tops out around $27,000 for a loaded, all-wheel-drive model, it's a good value in the short term and a great one in the long-run, as evidenced by its recent win in Kelley Blue Book's 5-Year Cost To Own Awards.

Second, It's a cinch to drive with just-enough power, easy-to-park dimensions, and confidence-inspiring safety features like a standard backup camera and Honda's optional LaneWatch side-view monitor.

Third, and perhaps most important, this Honda crossover does a lot with a little. Like the smaller Honda Fit hatchback and larger Honda CR-V SUV that sandwich it, the HR-V has interior room that belies its small footprint. There's even the nifty "Magic Seat" we first saw on the Fit -- split-folding rear seats that folds and flip-up to accommodate a variety of gear.

Getting to know Herv
We've already grown to respect the HR-V for both its versatility and driving manners. In our full review of the 2016 Honda HR-V, we noted that, "Like the Fit, the HR-V is reasonably fun to fling around corners, while for ordinary commuting it boasts the higher seating position and the calm manners we've come to cherish in the CR-V."

Now, over the next half year, we'll have the opportunity to share what it's like living with our HR-V, which we've named Herv. (Because, well, why not?) Ours is an all-wheel-drive EX-L model with navigation and dressed in "Deep Ocean Pearl" paint color. Out the door, this top-line, fully loaded HR-V has a price tag of $26,720.

Like all HR-Vs, Herv uses a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 141 horsepower. As mentioned, ours is optioned with all-wheel drive (AWD) vs. the standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup. Like most buyers, we opted for an automatic transmission vs. the 6-speed manual. As is the case with most other new Hondas, this one uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a type of automatic that has become popular because of its efficiency. Speaking of, an AWD HR-V is rated at 27 mpg city/32 mpg highway. Front-drive models improve those numbers to 28/35.

Now you, too, know a little about Herv. In the coming months we'll keep you updated on how this little Honda handles the rigors of daily life -- all so you can decide whether one may have a place in yours.

Source (with tons of pictures);
http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2016-honda-hr-v-long-term-intro-meet-herv/2100000323/

Autonews.com: Honda debuts upgraded 2-motor hybrid system (Not for North America)

Honda dubs the system the Sport Hybrid i-MMD powertrain.

by Hans Greimel of www.autonews.com

TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. has tweaked its two-motor hybrid system for large vehicles to deliver better power and fuel economy.

The improvements debuted this month in a new gasoline-electric drivetrain for the Japan-market Odyssey minivan.

By cutting the size and weight of key components such as the battery and power control unit, Honda engineers upgraded the two-motor hybrid system currently used in the Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-in Hybrid that were introduced in 2013.

Honda dubs the system the Sport Hybrid i-MMD powertrain.

The new iteration may be deployed in other vehicles, including future versions of the Accord Hybrid, but nothing has been decided, hybrid engineer Jiro Kuroki said at a test drive event.

The vehicle went on sale Feb. 5 in Japan. But don’t expect a hybrid Odyssey to land stateside anytime soon.

For starters, the Japan-market Odyssey is similar to its U.S. counterpart in name only. It’s a smaller car on a completely different platform that is sold in 22, mostly Asian and Middle Eastern, countries. Honda has no plans to add a hybrid to the U.S. version because it doesn’t see U.S. demand, Kuroki said.

The new hybrid system’s power control unit, including the electric motors, is 23 percent smaller and 27 percent lighter than the one in the Accord Hybrid, Honda said.

The intelligent power unit, which includes the lithium ion battery, is 11 percent smaller and 6 percent lighter.

For the first time in Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, the company is getting batteries from Panasonic Corp.

The Accord Hybrid sources its batteries from Blue Energy Co., a battery joint venture between Honda and Japan’s GS Yuasa Corp.

Honda also uses Panasonic batteries in its Fit Hybrid.

Honda expects the Odyssey Hybrid to account for half of Odyssey sales in Japan, with volume reaching 12,000 vehicles a year.

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160218/OEM05/160219865/honda-debuts-upgraded-2-motor-hybrid-system

Civic-X.com: 2016 Honda Civic Coupes at US Press Launch

The Car Connection: 2016 Honda Civic VS 2016 Toyota Corolla

by John Voelcker of www.thecarconnection.com

The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are two of the best-selling compact sedans in the U.S., and each has been with us for more than 40 years now. The 2016 Civic is an all-new and much more stylish model this year, while the 2016 Corolla is in its third model year of the current generation.
Each will provide economical, reliable basic transportation, with higher fuel economy and more features and amenities than their predecessors. But one earns considerably better ratings from our reviewers.

The Toyota Corolla has long been known for design that's the purest vanilla. For 2012, Toyota gave it a fresh look that's more daring and edgy than previous versions. It has a more distinctive front end, side accent lines, and a kickup in the window line. Still, it remains instantly identifiable as a compact Toyota sedan. LED headlamps and running lamps on the outside add a nice finishing touch, while a sporty Corolla S adds blacked-out trim and other sporty details.

The 2016 Civic sedan is simply the best-looking Honda in a decade or more, with an edgy fastback profile that hides a increase in size by widening and lowering the sedan's proportions. The front end may be its weakest angle, with a thick and formal band of chrome; elsewhere the Civic's flared wheels, fast roofline, and bracket-shaped taillamps wouldn't look out of place in an Acura showroom.

The back reminds some of the departed Accord Crosstour, but the package comes together in a striking look that's a welcome departure from its blander predecessor.

Under the hood of most Corolla models you'll find a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that responds well in most cases. For those seeking maximum fuel efficiency, the Corolla LE Eco trim holds the upper hand, with a specially tuned version of that engine and gas mileage of 35 mpg combined.

On the road, most models in the Corolla lineup remain a bit springy and pillowy, with steering that's too light for anything but demure driving. They're competent, predictable, and unexciting. If you enjoy driving, the Corolla S should be your only choice. Its suspension is tuned more like that of a sport sedan—with a Sport button that firms up the steering, and a ride that's absorbent and nicely damped.

The Civic has two performance identities. Base models have linear, unexciting acceleration and handling. Turbo Civics get a big power boost and exceptional ride smoothness. The standard engine is a 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter four, with either a six-speed manual transmission (on LX models only) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) carried over from the last-generation Civic. The linear, unobtrusive power delivery will be familiar to earlier Civic owners; the loose and light-shifting manual turns in 31-mpg combined EPA ratings--but the far more common CVT is rated at 35 mpg combined. You'll get the same fuel economy plus far more lively performance from the 1.5-liter turbocharged four; with 174 horsepower, it's capable of Civic Si-like straight-line performance.

The Civic's big performance appeal is its much-improved ride and handling. With more refined electric steering and hydraulic mounts for the suspension, it's precise and composed in all versions. Base models depend on the small 16-inch tires to soak up bumps, but ride quality is still good. The turbo versions get better tires and additional hydraulic suspension bushings that deliver a wonderfully compliant, composed ride quality and excellent tracking.

Corolla Vs. Civic: utility and safety
Toyota put a lot of effort into the Corolla interior, which no longer screams "rental car" as previous models did. The materials and trim are impressive for such a low-cost car. and it now ranks as a mid-size car in terms of real, usable seating space, with back-seat legroom in particular expanded to make it large enough for adults.

The Civic's cabin too now offers six-footer room in back, and lots of clever storage solutions. The front seats are low, but they're height-adjustable, and the dash is quite low, which gives the Civic excellent frontal visibility. In the back seat, the Civic outperforms almost all its rivals, with enough head and leg room for six-footers to sit behind six-footers, and an inch of knee room to left over. And the cabin is filled with thoughtful touches, from a flexible console storage system to a big, 15-cubic-foot trunk.

Both cars are at least adequate for safety, but the Corolla falls behind the Civic in IIHS ratings.

Toyota earns a five-star overall safety score from the NHTSA, but only a "marginal" score on the new small-overlap frontal crash test added a few years ago by the IIHS.

The Civic, on the other hand, hasn't yet been rated by the NHTSA, but it's already earned a place on the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ honor roll, with the top score of "good" on every single test. Honda now offers its latest safety technology on most versions, not just pricey models. Every Civic comes with a rearview camera--and can be configured with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warnings and automatic braking. Sadly, the latest design's high tail blocks rear three-quarter views, making the rearview camera a necessity.

A few years can make a world of difference in the fast-moving car world, and we rate the 2016 Honda Civic at 8.6 points versus a score of 7.4 for the 2016 Toyota Corolla. The Civic outdoes the Corolla for styling, performance, and safety. With a roomier interior, a return to its sportier side, and better fuel economy, it's the better of the two compact sedans in our view.

Either of these compact sedans should provide years of reliable transportation--but the Civic will be more fun, and better-looking to boot.

Source;
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1102348_honda-civic-vs-toyota-corolla-compare-cars

Honda Sweeps KBB.com's 'Best Family Cars of 2016'

Feb 15, 2016 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• Civic, Accord, HR-V, CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey named Best Family Cars
• Honda is the only automaker to claim accolades in each category

Honda swept the Kelley Blue Book 2016 'Best Family Car' accolades with Honda models chosen in each of the evaluated vehicle categories. The 2016 Honda Civic, Accord, HR-V, CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey have been recognized by KBB.com's expert staff of editors for their ability to meet the needs of families, with a keen focus on various factors including safety and performance.

"This recognition by the experts at Kelley Blue Book of six of our core models is affirmation that Honda has the best possible choices for families of any size," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of sales, Honda Division at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The KBB.com editorial team reviewed more than two dozen family vehicles before arriving at their top 16 choices for families. This also marks the first year that the Kelley Blue Book staff has published specific information about how both front- and rear-facing child safety car seats fit into each of the winning vehicles. Honda vehicles were recognized in Sedan, Two-Row Crossover/SUV, Minivan and Three-Row Crossover/SUV categories, making Honda the most recognized brand in KBB.com's assessment for 2016.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-sweeps-kbb-com-s-best-family-cars-of

Volkswagen has pushed back against the latest round of Takata airbag inflator recalls.

by Justin King of www.leftlanenews.com

VW recently agreed to recall vehicles outfitted with two inflator designs, known as PSDI-5 and SDI, however the company has argued that its components were built in a different factory that has not been associated with problematic parts.

"All known field ruptures to date have occurred in competitor's vehicles with inflators produced in Takata's LaGrange (USA) or Monclova (Mexico) production plants after more than 10 years in service," the automaker wrote in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF). "None have involved inflators produced in Takata's Freiberg (Germany) plant, nor have there been to our knowledge any ruptures in Lot Acceptance or Conformity of Production testing conducted on inflators built in the Freiberg plant."

No root cause has been definitively established for the inflator explosions, though exposure to moisture in the air is believed to play a critical role. VW suggests the US and Mexico factories "lacked proper air conditioning and humidity controls" until recently (the US plant is now closed, and the Mexico facility added A/C in 2011).

"These manufacturing process deficiencies, combined with age and high absolute humidity, appear to have led to ruptures in the field," the letter adds.

The German plant is said to have benefited from air conditioning, superior quality-control, a higher level of automation and "more consistent personnel" during the same time period.

Volkswagen promises to spearhead its own investigation comparing German-built inflators against similar parts built in Mexico in 2011 and beyond. It is unclear if the German-built airbag inflators have already been included in Takata's post-recall lab tests. The company will presumably take inflators from vehicles in the field, such as junkyard inventory, to assess inflators that have been been put to use in the real world.

"We respectfully request that, should such results be shown, the agency work with Volkswagen and other manufacturers to revisit the scope of the recalls," VW wrote.

The NHTSA has not yet publicly responded to the concerns raised in the letter.

Source;

http://www.leftlanenews.com/vw-pushes-back-over-latest-takata-recall-expansion-91002.html