It was a sad day when Honda decided to discontinue the Honda Fit for North America, it truly showcased Honda's engineering with how the Magic Seats worked and how Honda could continue to make a 'small car outside, big car inside'. No plans to bring the car back to North America.
For this year's Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda
didn't just bring upgraded versions of its latest models, but also some
examples of its past creations, too. One of the headlining vehicles was
a classy white-over-red S2000. But a much more extreme model was the 1997 Honda Civic Type R EK9 on display.
It's official name is the Honda Civic
Cyber Night Japan Cruiser 2020. Basically, it's what Honda imagines the
old hatchback would look like if it had been designed in a cyberpunk
universe. The basic shape has been given some updating with more creased
and angular grille openings and side mirrors. They're contrasted by the
circular holes in the grille mesh. The front splitter and side skirts
give it a more aggressive stance. But the most striking changes are the
lights. Most of the headlight and taillight area is blocked off in the
same color as the body, leaving a thin, LED-lit line. It's a modern look
that still evokes the shape of the original car. At the back, the
lights are augmented by a wide black bar that spans the hatch. In the
middle is an illuminated 1997 Civic logo.
Honda makes no mention of mechanical changes. The original Type R had
a fairly stout powertrain to begin with, making 182 horsepower and with
a redline of 8,400 rpm. It also picked up larger brakes, stiffer
suspension, limited-slip differential, stickier tires and lost weight to
make it faster.
A lifted and rugged Honda Civic? A retro racer S660? Honda sure is
planning to showcase a lot of quirky customized vehicles at the upcoming
2019 Tokyo Auto Salon.
To be specific, Honda Access has announced that they will be
exhibiting five new unique vehicles during the customized auto show in
January. All of them being modified version of vehicles currently
offered by Honda in Japan.
For the time being, Honda has only released teaser photos of these
vehicles with not much details on each model. That said, do expect full
details on each unit to be released once the vehicles makes their global
debut during the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Out of the five, one of the vehicles which stood out the most is the
Civic Versatilist. Based on the press release, it is essentially a Civic
Hatchback that has been lifted and given a more rugged look.
Translating the text, it says that the modification and kit adds SUV
likeness to the Civic but still retaining a more stylish sedan look.
Meanwhile, the Modulo Neo Classical Racer builds on the already
retro-looking Honda S660 Neo Classic introduced earlier this year. It is
said to combine the Neo Classic's sporty aspect along with Modulo's
fine tuning. Modulo's modification adds wider fenders, a new set of
wheels and a more aggressive looking front end akin to racers of the
past.
Continuing their line up of cute looking vehicles, Honda Access will
also be debuting the Well Concept (based on a StepWGN) and the Trip Van
(based on an N-Van +Style Fun Turbo). The former is said to represent a
family car of the future, which will also act like a family member.
Meanwhile, the Trip Van is said to take inspiration from surfing and
other hobbies.
Rounding up Honda Access display is the Fit Elegant Color Collection.
Known locally as the Jazz, it is fitted with a Modulo kit but features
unique paint combinations which ladies will find cute and attractive.
All five models are set to debut at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon which opens on January 11 at the Makuhari Messe in Japan.
Passport provides a unique blend of on- and off-road prowess with exceptional occupant and cargo hauling capability
280-horsepower V6 and available sophisticated all-wheel drive system give Passport robust towing and off-road capabilities
Standard Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive tech on all trims
Multiple accessory options to personalize Passport ownership
The all-new 2019 Honda Passport 5-passenger V6-powered SUV made its
world debut today. Going on sale early next year, Passport provides a
unique combination of on-road driving refinement and off-road adventure
capability along with best-in-class interior space.
The all-new Honda Passport will slot between the compact CR-V and
three-row Pilot in Honda's award-winning SUV lineup. The model's
reinforced unibody frame, powerful direct-injected i-VTEC® V6
engine, fully independent suspension and nimble steering make it an
ideal choice for driving long distances or around town. In addition, the
robust off-road capability offered by the available Honda i-VTM4™
torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and its four-mode Intelligent Traction
Management system means Passport can tackle the kind of tough terrain
normally reserved for less refined body-on-frame or off-road focused
SUVs.
"The all-new 2019 Honda Passport provides the on-road comfort and
nimble handling buyers will appreciate on their daily commute with the
robust off-road and all-weather capability that make for a great weekend
adventure vehicle," said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager, Honda Division. "We
saw an opportunity to deliver something that Honda is uniquely capable
of making and the new Passport is in a great position to capture buyers
looking for a more personal, powerful and capable Honda SUV."
Designed and developed exclusively by Honda's North America R&D
teams in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio, the Passport and its
V6 engine will be manufactured at the company's Lincoln, Alabama plant.
Additional key product highlights include:
Standard 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter, direct-injected V6 engine with i-VTEC® valvetrain mated to latest-generation 9-speed automatic transmission
Available Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4™)
torque-vectoring all-wheel drive enhances on- and off-road performance
Intelligent Traction Management system with available Snow, Sand and
Mud modes help optimize performance for varying surface conditions
Standard Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technology
Standard 20-inch alloy wheels and tires on all trims
Best-in-class underfloor cargo storage
Wide range of Honda accessories for active lifestyles, including Adventure and Urban accessory packages
The all-new 2019 Honda Passport's rugged exterior design and stance
is highlighted by standard 20-inch wheels, a matte-black grille,
floating roof design, aggressive wheel arches, increased ride height and
a tailgate design that emphasizes width.
Inside, Passport offers best-in-class passenger space (115.9 cu.-ft.)
and total interior volume (157.1 cu.-ft.) for carrying family, friends
and weekend adventure gear. Passport features a large (best-in-class 2.5
cu.-ft.) segmented underfloor cargo compartment for carrying dirty gear
or keeping valuables out of sight.
Passport will be offered in four trims: the well-appointed Sport,
upgraded EX-L, high-tech Touring, and the fully equipped Elite. All
models except the line-topping Elite can be configured with 2- or
all-wheel drive – all Elite trims come standard with all-wheel drive.
All trims will feature 20-inch alloy wheels and tires, the Honda
Sensing® suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technology, LED
headlights, fog lights, taillights and DRLs, Smart Start and Smart Entry
and three-zone automatic climate control. EX-L and higher trims utilize
Honda's latest Display Audio interface with an 8-inch touchscreen, a
physical volume knob and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration.
Additional exterior upgrades, depending on trim, include a power
tailgate with available hands-free operation, a one-touch tilt/slide
moonroof and heated auto-dimming and power folding side mirrors. Furthermore, the blind spot information system, rear cross traffic
monitor, and front and rear parking sensors are available driver
assistive technologies. Available premium features include second-row
sunshades, wireless phone charging, embedded Honda Satellite-Linked
Navigation System, 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi, premium audio, and
HondaLink® cloud-based services, including remote unlocking, concierge
services, stolen vehicle tracking and more.
Powertrain
All 2019 Honda Passport trims are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine
that makes 280 peak horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net),
placing Passport in the top of its class for standard horsepower in a
segment where some competitors offer less powerful 4-cylinder engines as
standard equipment. The Honda i-VTEC® V6 is mated to the
latest-generation of Honda's 9-speed automatic transmission (9AT) that
is among the most advanced in the class, offering smooth and responsive
power delivery.
At the heart of the robust all-weather and off-road driving
capabilities is Honda's available i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system. Unlike
most competing systems, i-VTM4™ uses active torque vectoring to send up
to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 100 percent of that
torque to either the left or right rear wheels. This capability gives
Passport excellent handling in all conditions, such as rain-slicked or
snowy roads or sandy trails, while also contributing to more responsive
performance by overdriving the outside rear wheel in turns. In addition,
the Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) is standard on both the
front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive Passport. In all-wheel drive
applications, the four-mode ITM systems works in conjunction with
i-VTM4™, allowing drivers to customize powertrain performance for
different weather and terrain, including sand, snow and mud. In
front-wheel drive models, the system has two modes for normal and snow
conditions.
Tested in the world's harshest environments, including the sands of
Dubai, muddy country roads of Russia, and snowbound trails in Minnesota,
the combination of i-VTM4™ and Intelligent Traction Management make
Passport more capable off road than many unibody SUVs, giving drivers
the confidence to tackle not just wet or rainy conditions, but a variety
of harsh off-road terrains.
Passport is well equipped for towing, with 3,500-pound capacity on
front-wheel drive models and 5,000 pounds on all-wheel drive models when
both are equipped with the optional towing package. Passport is the
gateway to adventure being able to tow camping trailers, boats, or "toy"
haulers, over more rugged terrain. The standard multi-view rear-view
camera makes connecting to a trailer easier than ever with its
"overhead" option giving the driver a bird's eye view of the hitch and
trailer.
Exterior Design and Platform
Honda's most rugged light truck yet, Passport's expressive design
leaves no doubt of its adventure-seeking mission and is highlighted by
its higher ride height, standard 20-inch wheels, 245/50R all-weather
tires and sporty styling cues, including a matte black grille and
bumper, blackout headlights and black wheels. LED headlight accents,
gloss black trim, a "floating" C-pillar, and chrome exhaust finishers
hint at Passport's around-town sophistication. Trim-exclusive wheel
designs are available across the lineup, and Touring and Elite trims
offer upsized 265/45R20 tires as standard equipment.
Beyond good looks, Passport's design offers superior functionality as
well. Ground clearance is up 0.5 inches on front-wheel drive models and
1.1 inches on all-wheel drive models compared to Passport's three-row
sibling, Pilot, while its shorter overall length and shortened rear
overhang offer improved approach, departure and breakover angles,
suitable for more rugged terrain.
Passport's wider wheels and tires complement its athletic and sporty
stance and support both responsive around-town handling and increased
grip off-road. A ruggedly styled front end stands out on the road with
its scratch-resistant matte finish grill suited to the off-road
adventures Passport is designed for.
Passport is based on Honda's Global Light Truck platform and shares
much of its underlying structure with the three-row Pilot SUV and
Ridgeline pickup, including its highly rigid unibody construction. This
platform has a fully boxed floor that is sophisticated yet strong with a
four-wheel independent suspension, with MacPherson struts in front and a
multilink independent rear. The latest generation of Honda's
proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure,
provides outstanding frontal collision protection and collision
compatibility with larger and smaller vehicles.
Interior Design and Packaging
Passport's modern and sophisticated interior design offers ample
space for five people and provides class-leading passenger volume of
115.9 cu.-ft. and best-in-class total interior volume of 157.1 cu.-ft.
From Sport to Elite trims, Passport features high-quality interior
appointments including attractive and durable cloth on Sport or
perforated leather on EX-L, Touring and Elite trims, a blackout
headliner, and generous use of soft-touch surfaces on the dash and
doors.
Passport's interior also offers class-leading utility. Behind the
second row of seats is a cargo area generously sized for weekend camping
trips or excursions to the home improvement store, with 41.2 cu. ft. of
space, expandable to 77.9 cu. ft. with the second row folded flat,
which is more than enough to accommodate mountain bikes or a week's
worth of camping gear. From the cargo area, the second-row seatbacks
fold with the push of a button, and Passport's main cargo floor is
reversible between carpeted and easy-to-clean hard plastic surfaces.
Passport features class-leading underfloor storage, with 2.5 cu. ft. of
easily accessible compartmented storage, which can be accessorized with
removable washable bins, including a custom bin for storing the
available accessory trailer hitch receiver.
There's also plenty of space for small stuff. Passport offers
generous storage space for front seat passengers, including a huge
center console bin between the front seats with a rolling cover that
serves as a tray when closed. Additional storage is found in the doors
and ahead of the push-button gear selector.
Technology
Packed with available modern amenities such as an audio and
connectivity system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration
and a digital driver's meter, Passport delivers all the modern
technology that today's SUV buyers demand.
Passport Sport trim comes standard with a 215-watt audio system with a
5-inch display monitor and 6 speakers, plus a subwoofer. Passport EX-L,
Touring and Elite trims feature Honda's 8-inch Display Audio
touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone
integration and manual power/volume knob. The Display Audio system uses
gestures common to smartphones and tablets, such as swipe, tap and
pinch, to control the vehicle's audio system, display settings and other
advanced features. Intuitive and easy to use, with a simplified menu
structure, it also offers customizable shortcuts for commonly used
features and customizable app locations. Passport Touring and Elite
trims come with a 590-watt 10-speaker premium audio system.
Passport's instrument cluster uses a 7-inch Thin Film Transistor
(TFT) screen with a wide range of information content. In addition to
displaying typical vehicle functions such as vehicle speed and RPM, the
full-color digital meter includes a Multi-Information Display (MID) with
customizable features, such as audio system information, a detailed
trip computer, phone information, and turn-by-turn route guidance on
Passport models equipped with navigation. Drivers navigate the new TFT
using steering wheel controls designed for intuitive operation, such as Bluetooth® phone buttons that are more easily distinguished by touch.
Touring and Elite trims of Passport provide 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi
TCU that can supporting up to seven devices and a free 90-day/3GB trial
period AT&T data plan. The TCU is key to Passport's support of
numerous HondaLink® cloud-based services. Using an app, owners can keep
track of maintenance and even book appointments, remember their
Passport's location and numerous other functions.
Safety and Driver Assistance Technology
The Honda Sensing® suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive
technologies is standard on all 2019 Passport trims. Honda Sensing®
helps provide greater awareness of driving conditions around the
vehicle, in some cases helps drivers maintain lane position and, under
certain conditions slowing or even stopping the vehicle if it detects a
potential front collision. Honda Sensing® includes Collision Mitigation
Braking System™ (CMBS™) featuring Forward Collison Warning (FCW), Road
Departure Mitigation (RDM) including Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane
Keeping Assistance System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The
new Passport was designed to provide a high level of active and passive
safety performance and targets an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score
safety rating and an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK rating. All tested 2019 model-year Honda vehicles achieve an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score safety rating.
All Passport trims come equipped with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
with overhead "bird's eye" view, ideal for trailer hookups. Additional
available driver-assistive technologies include dynamic guidelines for
the rearview camera, blind spot Information system (EX-L, Touring and
Elite) with Rear Cross-Traffic Detection, and front and rear parking
sensors (Touring and Elite).
Accessories
A wide variety of Honda Genuine Accessories are designed for
Passport, including roof boxes of various sizes, a roof basket, and
roof-mounted bike, kayak and ski or snowboard racks. Inside, Passport
owners can weatherproof their cargo area with hard plastic covers for
the floor, sides, and seatbacks. The underfloor storage can be divided
with separate, removable and washable bins.
For those seeking a more sophisticated urban look, a variety of
cosmetic exterior items are available, such as a colored graphics
package, undercarriage welcome lights, and lighted door sills. From the
outset, Passport will be available with two accessory packages. The
Adventure Package adds running boards, a trailer hitch, fender flares
and more for outdoor weekend getaways. The Urban Package adds front and
rear underbody spoilers, unique 20-inch wheels, cargo storage bins and
roof rails and crossbars for a sophisticated in-town look.
2019 Honda Passport: Major Specifications
Powertrain
Engine Type
V-6
Displacement
3471cc
Horsepower (SAE Net)
280 @6 000 rpm
Torque (SAE Net)
262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Fuel Injection
Direct
Transmission
9-speed automatic (9AT)
All-Wheel Drive System (AWD Models)
Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VM4™) with Intelligent Traction Management with Normal, Sand, Snow and Mud modes
Cargo Volume (Behind 1st Row) SAE J1100 plus floor space between
seating rows and seats in their forward-most and upright position.
100.7 cu.-ft.
Passenger Volume
115.9 (114.9 w/sunroof)
2019 Honda Passport: Major Features
SPORT (2WD / AWD)
20-Inch alloy wheels
245/50R20 Tire
Honda Sensing®
9-Speed Automatic Transmission
Auto Stop-Start
Headlight - LED Projector
LED Fog Lights
LED DRL
LED Taillights
Smart Start
Smart Entry
Remote Engine Start
8-Way Power Driver's Seat
Driver's Power Lumbar Support
Three-Zone Automatic Climate Control
215-watt Audio System with 6 Speakers, Plus a Subwoofer
2 USB ports
Cloth Seats
3-Way Backup Camera
Dual Exposed Exhaust finishers
Black Bumper Skid Garnish
Gloss Black Grille Surround
Matte Black Front & Rear Bumper Skid Garnish, Door Sash Garnish, Tailgate Garnish, Mirror Base
EX-L (2WD / AWD) adds or replaces Sport
Leather-Trimmed Seats
One-Touch Power Tilt and Slide Moonroof
Power Tailgate with Remote
Blind Spot Information
Cross-Traffic Alert
Heated Front Seats
4-Way Power Passenger Seat
Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
Driver's Seat and Door Mirror Memory
Display Audio
CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
2nd Row Sun Shade
XM Satellite Radio
HomeLink®
Auto Up/Down Power Windows
Heated outside Mirrors
3 USB ports
HD Radio
Illuminated Sunvisors
3-Way Backup Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
Touring (2WD / AWD) adds or replaces EX-L
Navigation
4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
Front and Rear Parking Sensors
LED Inline Hi/Lo-Beam
Heated Rear Seats
Roof Rails
Power-Folding Outside Mirrors
Ambient Lighting
Power Tailgate with Remote and Hands-free Access
590-Watt Premium Audio System with 10 Speakers
Outside Mirrors with Integrated Turn Signals
AC Inverter (115V - 150W)
High Gloss Instrument Panel Trim
Acoustic Glass
265/45R20 Tires
Elite (AWD) adds or replaces Touring
Ventilated Front Seats
Auto-Dimming Side Mirrors
Heated Steering Wheel
Rain Sensing Front Wipers
Wireless Phone Charger
Gloss Black Front & Rear Bumper Skid Garnish, Door Sash Garnish, Tailgate Garnish, Mirror Base
# # #
About Honda Honda offers a full line of reliable,
fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety
technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The
Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Insight, Accord and Clarity
series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot
sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.
Honda
has been producing automobiles in America for more than 36 years and
currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America.
In 2017, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the
U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced
parts. For More Information Additional media information including high-resolution photography and video of the Honda Insight is available at hondanews.com/honda-automobiles/channels/passport. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/passport. To join the Insight community on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/hondapassport.
Using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Requires purchase of data plan after trail period of three months or 3GB of data.
Imagining a future in which the roadster still exists.
Unfortunately, the idea for a successor of the Honda S2000 is now basically dead.
Through the voice of its senior manager for product planning in North
America, the Japanese manufacturer has already confirmed it won’t be
developing a new roadster to replace the legendary S2000. Thank you,
crossovers!
But, hey – that doesn’t mean we can’t imagine a perfect world, where
SUVs and crossovers just don’t exist and sports coupes and roadsters are
the only vehicles on the road, right? In this virtual world, the S2000
has a bright future and is receiving a brand new generation with modern
design and technologies.
Our exclusive rendering at the top is previewing a hypothetical new
S2000 and we are very excited by its looks. It’s a mix between the
traditional shape of the roadster and modern design cues seen in recent Honda
products. We especially admire the C-shaped light signature at the
front and the razor air intakes integrated into the rear wings.
In the United States, the original S2000 had a 2.2-liter
naturally-aspirated engine with an 8,000-rev redline, mated to a
six-speed manual gearbox and sending power to the rear wheels. With a
perfect 50/50 weight distribution, a lightweight construction, and
manually operated roof, it was one of the simplest and most fun-to-drive
vehicles on the market, and today’s technologies could make it even
better.
Just imagine a 2.0-liter turbocharged motor under the hood of the car
from the rendering with close to 300 horsepower (224 kilowatts) and a
traditional six-speed manual. Sure, a more advanced suspension or a
hybrid powertrain with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox could make such a
car a real beast on the track, but that’s not really the purpose of an
S2000, right?.
Anyway, dreams are for free, but in the real world a pure
resurrection of the S2000 seems completely impossible at the moment.
Instead, Honda will focus on its future electrified vehicles, but that’s
not necessarily bad news given how cool the Urban EV actually is.
First introduced in North America under the HR-V banner in 2016, has been available since 2013 (Japan), this vehicle is now due for it's mid-model refresh.
-Aside from the slight changes to the grill and LED Headlights (no more EX-L Navi?!? Touring now?), expect Apple Carplay and Android Auto to finally make their way to this model.
-Don't expect any powertrain changes, the 1.8L should be a mainstay at least until they decide on a full redesign.
The Honda S2000 is closing in on its 20th birthday and the 10th anniversary of its death. While Honda does make some small roadsters for the Japanese market, there's no Mazda MX-5 Miata competition
stateside. However, if these patent drawings are any hint, it looks
like Honda is scheming up another open-air sports car.
If you
look at the gallery above, you'll see that the styling is more dramatic
than that of the familiar Honda S2000 -- and might be a sign that this
Honda could, in fact, be slotted underneath the Acura NSX in Acura’s lineup. That’d make sense, judging by the likely mid-engine layout of this patent drawing. Last year, Honda patents for a similarly styled fixed-top coupe dubbed “ZSX” popped up, which could be another sign that this roadster will get Acura badges if it hits production.
Even if this does get the Acura badge, it wouldn't eliminate hope of a
new Honda S2000. The Acura platform could trickle down into a less-luxe
package and that could revive the rev-happy roadster. With budget sports
cars like the Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 and Mazda MX-5 Miata
roadsters drawing enthusiasts onto lots, we hope it makes sense for
Honda to bring a budget-friendly sports roadster back to market.
Honda’s all-new, spacious, five-passenger, low-emissions vehicle earned an EPA range rating of 47 all-electric miles
Honda announced the 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
earned the highest all-electric range rating among all midsize plug-in
hybrids with its EPA range rating of 47 miles on a full charge1.
Launching at dealerships nationwide later this year, the Clarity
Plug-in Hybrid also received an EPA fuel economy rating of 110 combined
MPGe1, among the top of its class, and a gasoline only 44/40/42 MPG rating (city/highway/combined)1.
"We think the combination of a class-leading 47 miles of all-electric
driving range rating and a large, luxurious 5-pasenger package will
give us an advantage in the plug-in hybrid game," said Ray Mikiciuk,
assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co.
"The Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid represents the dawn of a new era,
setting the path to a new generation of Honda products that will bring
electrified technology into the mainstream."
For longer trips, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid can utilize its
hyper-efficient 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine to generate
electricity and, under certain conditions, to act as a direct power
source, resulting in an overall EPA driving range rating of 340 miles1.
The vehicle's electromotive power comes from a 181-horsepower
electric motor producing 232 lb.-ft. of torque and drawing power from
both the gasoline engine and a 17-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery pack with a
recharge time of just 2.5 hours at 240 volts. The Clarity Plug-in
Hybrid features three selectable modes – Normal, Econ and Sport –
allowing drivers to customize their experience, maximizing efficiency or
driving performance. A fourth mode – HV mode – is provided to maintain
the battery's state of charge and can be selected in conjunction with
Normal, Econ and Sport driving modes.
Expected to be the volume sales leader in the Clarity series lineup,
the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid will be offered in two premium-contented
trims, standard and Touring.
Honda Clarity Series The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid is part of Honda’s Clarity series, which includes the Clarity Fuel Cell, launched in December 2016, and the Clarity Electric,
launched in August 2017. Clarity is a vehicle series offering customers
an array of electrified powertrain choices in one sophisticated,
spacious and comprehensively equipped five-passenger sedan, outfitted
with premium, environmentally responsible materials.
Offering Honda's "fun-to-drive" DNA, each Clarity variant provides a
smooth, quiet and highly refined driving experience, aided by the
seamless character of electric drive torque and acceleration. The
Clarity series also features advanced technologies, including Display
Audio with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ integration, and the full
suite of Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technologies.
The Clarity series is at the leading edge of the Honda
Electrification Initiative, which includes the previously announced
intention to have two-thirds of Honda's global automobile sales come
from electrified vehicles by 2030. This initiative includes a new
dedicated hybrid car launching next year, an all-new Accord Hybrid, the
Clarity series, and the expanded application of Honda's two-motor hybrid
and plug-in hybrid powertrains to multiple car and light truck models
in the future.
1. Based on 2018 model-year EPA ratings. Use for comparison
purposes only. Your MPG/MPGe and range will vary depending on driving
conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, lithium-ion battery
pack age/condition and other factors.
Remember when you couldn't buy a Honda Civic Type R
in the U.S.? It wasn't that long ago, but those days are finally over,
because Honda is bringing us the hot hatch we need, and there's already
one on U.S. roads.
Officially,
Honda has only shown the next Civic Type R in prototype form, but this
white one looks production ready. It's reportedly a pre-production
model, and the YouTuber that captured it says it was driving around in Southern California, near Honda's U.S. headquarters.
Honda has been mum on specs for the Civic Type R, but we've heard that it will produce 340 horsepower, and will send all that power to the front wheels via a six-speed manual. Like the upcoming Civic Si, the Type R should make its debut sometime next year.
Given our recent drive of the base Civic Hatchback, we have high hopes for the Type R, but honestly, we're just happy it's coming to the U.S.
Honda Motor Co. President and CEO
Takahiro Hachigo is seen through screens of laptop computers as he
speaks during a round-table meeting at the company headquarters in
Tokyo, Japan November 21, 2016.
REUTERS/Issei Kato
By Maki Shiraki| TOKYO
Honda Motor Co. (7267.T)
will stick with its North American production plans as it waits to see
if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will follow through on a campaign
pledge to dump the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) when he
takes office, the automaker's CEO said on Monday. "It
is still unclear what Trump's policies will be. We can't suddenly make
production changes and that is a problem not just for us but for all
automakers in the U.S.," Takahiro Hachigo said at a briefing in Tokyo on
Monday.
Doing
away with the NAFTA, which Trump has described as a jobs killer while
attacking the outsourcing of American auto jobs to Mexico, could result
in tariffs on cars built in Mexico that Honda and other makers sell in
the United States.
Honda has two
auto plants in Mexico, one in Celaya and the other in Guadalajara that
together build around 260,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes a year. U.S.
vehicle manufacturers and many of their suppliers have based billions of
dollars of investment on relatively open trade with Mexico, China and
other countries.
In April, Ford Motor (F.N) announced plans to invest $1.6 billion to expand production of small cars in Mexico.
Nissan
today unveiled the last of four new vehicles debuting at the Los
Angeles Auto Show, the 2017 Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Limited
Edition. The dramatic reveal featured a special interactive presentation
of the Intelligent Safety Shield technologies available in the
redesigned 2017 Rogue against a high-action video. The video was
followed by a drive-out of a pair of the Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star
Wars Limited Edition vehicles accompanied by battle-ready stormtroopers.
Turbocharged coupe and sedan models arrive next year.
There certainly hasn't been a shortage of hot Civic news lately, what with the impending launch of the five-door Type R. But don't forget, Honda will
also offer an Si version of its 10th-generation Civic, previewed here
in prototype form, and making its debut today in Los Angeles.
Don't expect the production Civic Si to look too different than the
hot little coupe you see here. We fully expect this car to go on sale
pretty much as-is, with its meaner front fascia (that looks like it came
right off the Sport Hatchback), 19-inch wheels, aero kit, centre
exhaust, and mandatory rear wing. Same goes for the interior – it all
looks ready to go, and those Si-specific sport front seats look super
comfy and supportive. Here's hoping those make it to production (they
should), but we'll happily do without the HFP accessory floor mats (so
red!).
If the coupe body style isn't your thing, Honda will offer the Si in
sedan form, too. No hatchback, though – that's Type R territory.
We're still waiting for official performance figures. Honda is only
confirming the new Si uses the 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four, has a
six-speed manual transmission, and will be the "fastest, most powerful
Si yet." Our best guess is power output will be somewhere around 225
horsepower, keeping it competitive with the Volkswagen GTI.
We're expecting good things – Honda says the Si will have new active
damper and steering systems, a limited-slip differential, and optional
high-performance tires.
“This will be, hands down, the fastest, best-handling Si we've ever
offered to our customers,” says Jeff Conrad, Honda’s senior vice
president and general manager.
We'll have more details closer to the car's on-sale date sometime
next year. Scroll down for the official press blast, and check out the
Si from all angles in the source link below.
Big sedans aren't as popular as they used to be, but the Nissan Maxima adds some spark to the segment
It took eight generations and some 35 years to get to the point where Nissan can make the claim its flagship Maxima
four-door is “a sports car in sedan clothing” without some sort of
response bordering on incredulity. The slow transition from the now
painfully square, mild-mannered Datsun 810 to the robust and curvaceous
2016 Maxima has been agonizing at times, an impatient wondering as to
when the company was going to build a midsize car that had as much
performance as function – some European sport sedan-style zip.
Now that I’ve finally gotten around to
driving one — a 2017 model in top-of-the-line Platinum trim — any
thoughts of admonishing Nissan for its tardiness are banished. This
version is not just sporty; it’s deceptive, with performance and
handling to go with a smooth ride, plus luxury touches and premium
content exceeding reasonable expectations of the Platinum’s $44,200
price tag.
But it’s the awakened performance that first
grabs one’s attention. And it’s not as though Nissan went radical with
the car. Under the hood is the familiar 3.5-litre VQ-series V6, only
thoroughly reworked (60 per cent new parts compared with the previous
engine) and now pushing out 300 horsepower and 261 lb.-ft. of torque. In
truth, the engine feels stronger; the car shows distinct verve off the
line when the gas pedal is given a prod.
Though I’d much prefer an automatic with a
specified number of gears, there’s little complaint regarding the
Maxima’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission, which seems well
matched to the V6’s torque and comes with both Normal and Sport modes.
Its wide gear ratio range allows for strong acceleration from a standing
start, while Nissan says credit goes to the D-Step shifting logic for
both the rapid shifts at full throttle and for holding the engine’s
speed when hooning around corners, which allows for smooth acceleration
when exiting said corners.
In Sport, zero to 100 km/h is reportedly
less than six seconds — strong for a front-drive family car, if not
mind-blowing. The drive mode selector not only adjusts throttle response
and transmission tuning, but also steering feel and “active sound
enhancement” tuning. But, while the exhaust note has some musicality to
it, the engine itself is a bit coarse when under the hammer.
The other benefit to this re-engineering
effort is a claimed 15 per cent increase in highway fuel economy to 7.8
L/100 km over the previous-generation Maxima; city fuel economy is rated
at 11.1 L/100 km. I put 700 kilometres on the car during my week with
it, the bulk of it highway cruising, and averaged 9.9 L/100 km.
While the sedan wouldn’t be my first choice
for racetrack lap sessions, Nissan’s engineers clearly spent some time
working under the car to imbue it with a decent measure of on-road
handling. Up front is the usual strut/coil spring design, but ZF Sachs
monotube dampers are added to the rear end’s independent multi-link
double wishbone setup. Thick stabilizer bars are found at both ends.
Shapely and far more distinct than many of
its rival sedans, the Maxima’s styling, in truth, doesn’t completely
blow me away, looking over-designed with its aggressive character lines,
deeply scalloped doors and “floating roof.” Yet, I do like the boldness
of Nissan’s signature “V-motion” grille and boomerang-style lights.
Still, Nissan’s 3.5L V6-powered Altima,
which shares the same platform and pretty much all the mechanicals as
the Maxima (although with 30 less horsepower), is a more cohesive
design.
The Altima is also roomier, at least for
back-seat passengers. While there’s tons of room up front for the tall
and leggy in the Maxima, if those in the back are equally so, they’re
going to find their knees jammed in the front seat back and their heads
brushing the headliner.
For the rest of the article and more pictures, follow this source link below;
Collision shops now have access to affected VIN database
Honda has added yet
another weapon in its battle to find owners of vehicles with a
potentially faulty Takata airbag module: independent repair shops.
The
automaker has teamed up with CCC, one of the largest software providers
to collision repair shops in the industry, to create a program that
flags a Honda or an Acura vehicle with an open recall notice when it's brought in for collision repair.
The
collaboration "will augment and extend our existing recall notification
process, providing us with an additional touch point to help reach
consumers with recalled yet unrepaired vehicles," said Leigh Guarnieri,
the national collision marketing manager for Honda. "Safety is
everyone's responsibility."
22,000 shops
CCC's program, dubbed True
Recall, was rolled out in October to all 22,000 repair shops across the
country that use its data network. When an estimate is being written,
CCC's system will run the vehicle's VIN against a database provided by
Honda.
If the vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall that hasn't
been fixed, a notification will pop up on the screen and a copy of the
recall will be printed for the consumer. The notification advises the
body shop to tell the owner of the vehicle, check with the owner on what
Honda or Acura dealership they'd like to use and then the body shop is
encouraged to reach out to that dealership to facilitate the repair on
the customer's behalf.
The notification of customers via
independent repair shops outside Honda's purview speaks to the urgency
the automaker faces in identifying as many vehicles as possible that
could have the potentially lethal Takata airbag modules inside.
In
October, Honda and U.S. regulators confirmed the 11th U.S. death linked
to faulty Takata airbag inflators. Another five deaths have been
identified globally.
Pay per VIN
The Takata inflator crisis -- the
largest safety recall in U.S. history -- has affected 15 automakers and
led to the recall through 2019 of nearly 70 million inflators in U.S.
vehicles. Honda and Acura vehicles make up 10.7 million of that total.
Honda
has gone so far as to scour salvage yards and auto recyclers across the
country to find its vehicles with affected airbag modules and has
purchased thousands to keep them from returning to the road.
Honda
approached CCC with the idea for the program, citing its 60 percent
market share of the industry's data services, with Mitchell and Audatex
splitting the rest. If the collaboration between Honda and CCC proves
successful, the automaker might reach out to the other companies to
explore a similar program.
The automaker pays CCC for each VIN it identifies as having an open
recall, and it recently has averaged more than 1,000 VIN matches a day, a
Honda spokesman said. Many of these are older-model Hondas that have
passed through multiple owners, often the hardest consumer cohort to
reach with a vehicle recall.
Eight of those matches have come from
Vatche Derderian's three Fix Auto shops in the Los Angeles area. Fix
Auto was already using CCC's data system, so Derderian's shops didn't
need to do anything to enable the notifications.
"I definitely
applaud Honda for putting it out there to do this because then it gets
us more involved with the OEM and what's going on with their vehicles,"
Derderian told Automotive News.
Plus, customers affected have been
taken aback by the level of service such a notification implies,
despite not coming from a Honda dealer.
"It feels really good to do something for the consumer beyond just repairing their vehicle," Derderian said.
