More Pictures of the Dongfeng Honda XR-V for China

The Honda XR-V debuted today on the 2014 Chengdu Auto Show in China. The Honda XR-V is a Chinese-market variant of the Japanese Honda Vezel and North American Honda HR-V. The Honda XR-V comes with a different front and back, including a sleeker grille and more rectangular styled taillights.

The Honda XR-V is manufactured in China by the Dongfeng-Honda joint venture. It is based on the same platform as the Honda Fit. The Japanese style Honda Vezel will also  be available on the Chinese auto market, it will be manufactured by Guangzhou-Honda, Honda’s other Chinese joint venture. China thus, will have the same car twice. This kinda madness is perfectly normal down here where most Western manufactures have two joint ventures with two different Chinese companies, and each wants what the other one has.

The XR-V will be available with two four-cylinder patrol engines: a 131hp 1.5 and a 165hp 1.8, both mated to a 5-speed manual or a CVT. Size: 4295/1770/1605, wheelbase is 2610.

The XR-V will be launched on the Chinese auto market just before the end of this year. Price will start around 100.000 yuan and end around 140.000 yuan. The Guangzhou-Honda Vezel will cost about the same, and launch around the same time.

The rear is much hipper than on the Vezel. Skid pad, big black bumper, separate fog lights, and a light strip under the window.

Source;
http://www.carnewschina.com/2014/08/30/honda-xr-v-suv-debuts-on-the-chengdu-auto-show-in-china/

Honda Accord is the Fashion Force in China

A very impressive Honda Accord sedan, seen in the great city of Chongqing by reader Colin, thank you for the picture! The good Honda is dressed up as a vehicle belonging to the ‘Fashion Force’ which is apparently considered something very cool. The Fashion Force Honda Accord comes with Fashion Force badges and speedy five-spoke black alloys; all set & ready for a crack down on fashion related crime…

The Honda Accord was made by the Guangzhou-Honda joint venture, the new Honda Accord was launched on the China car market in September. A few other special Accords we met in country: matte black, purple fifth-generation, third generation Honda Accord Coupe, and the China-only 1 Million Anniversary Edition.

Source;
http://www.carnewschina.com/2013/11/26/honda-accord-is-the-fashion-force-in-china/

Honda targets Acura output in China by 2016

Deal with Guangzhou likely to build compact SUV

(Reuters) -- Japan's Honda Motor Co. is planning to produce Acura cars in China with a local partner starting in 2016 to tap growing demand for luxury vehicles in the world's biggest auto market.

Honda said Thursday it has agreed with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. to jointly produce Acura cars in China. It did not provide other details including the anticipated size of production capacity or which models it plans to manufacture where.

A Beijing-based Honda spokeswoman said one Acura model that is likely to be produced in China is a new compact SUV that is not offered in the brand's product lineup today. The new model is likely to be based on a "concept" model -- the Acura SUV-X -- that it showed off at the Shanghai auto show in April, she said.
Honda's chief executive, Takanobu Ito, said at the Shanghai auto show that the Tokyo-based automaker planned to produce Acura cars in China within the next three years.

Guangzhou, China's sixth-largest carmaker ranked by sales, assembles Honda vehicles in China through a joint venture with the Japanese automaker.

Honda's move comes as a slew of global premium auto brands pile into China. One key factor for global automakers to ensure that an upscale brand succeeds in China is local production. Because of high tariffs charged on cars brought into China from overseas, it is difficult to generate volume unless a carmaker produces upscale cars locally in the country.

Audi AG, Mercedes-Benz and BMW all produce models in China with local partners.

General Motors has recently begun producing Cadillac cars in China. Among Japanese automakers, Nissan Motor Co. is building a factory in the eastern city of Dalian to produce some models for its upscale Infiniti brand.

Luxury vehicle demand in China is likely to reach 2.7 million cars a year by 2020, a level that would allow China to displace the United States as the world's biggest premium car market.


Source;
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130718/GLOBAL03/130719863/honda-targets-acura-output-in-china-by-2016#axzz2ZOkvVecg

Honda’s ‘China Dream’

 By Cong Mu

A model introduces the Jade concept car revealed by Guangqi Honda at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. Photo: CFP

In a bid to win back lost territories in the Chinese market, Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co announced plans on June 14 to introduce 12 new models to China by 2015.

With better technologies and more localized production, the new models belong to Honda's mid-term strategies for China. Announced last year, they included the launch of three hybrid passenger vehicle models, before the company revealed its Crider and Jade models at the Shanghai Auto Show in April.

"Starting from this year, Honda will accelerate the introduction of the most advanced technologies in environmental protection, safety, and comfort to China, while continuing with further localization of research and development (R&D), production and sourcing in the country," said Seiji Kuraishi, president of Honda Motor (China) Investment.

Honda's Chinese joint ventures, Wuhan-based Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co and Guangzhou-based Guangqi Honda Automobile Co, will roll out six new models respectively by the end of 2015, the company said.

Dongfeng Honda has scheduled the sale of Jade, a mid-range passenger car targeting the younger generation of consumers, to open to the Chinese market in September, and expects the vehicle to lead the JV market after its top-selling model in the country, Dongfeng Honda CR-V, said Chen Binbo, executive vice president of Dongfeng Honda.

Dongfeng Honda sold 69,399 units of CR-Vs in China during the first five months of the year, down 1 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from Honda Motor (China).

Overall, the Japanese automaker's JVs sold 255,540 units of passenger vehicles in China from January to May, dropping by 2.6 percent year-on-year.

"The Japanese carmakers' sales in China are mainly affected by the general political relations between China and Japan. If bilateral relations do not improve, sales won't grow any faster, no matter how many new models Honda plans to introduce to China," Zeng Zhiling, director of LMC Automotive Asia Pacific Forecasting in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The dispute over Diaoyu Islands in the South China Sea has sparked large-scale anti-Japanese protests across China since September of last year, hurting sales of Japanese products in China.

US competitors, such as Ford Motor Co, meanwhile, have taken advantage of the situation to boost sales in China, Zeng noted.

At the end of last year, Ford announced plans to introduce 15 new models to China by 2015, with the release of eight new models in 2013 alone, reported news portal sohu.com.

Earth Dreams platform

Despite lackluster sales in China, the Japanese car company refuses to give up on its dreams.

Honda has also announced a new powertrain technology platform for China, and, not coincidentally, it named it the Earth Dreams Technology platform.

The new platform emphasizes both the pleasure of driving and environmental protection, offering five new direct-injection engines with capacities ranging from 1.5 liters to 3.5 liters, Honda said.

It also includes two new continuous variable transmission (CVT) systems that suit small and mid-sized cars as well as two sets of hybrid electric powertrains for small and medium vehicles respectively, it said.

Based on existing models, the combination of its new 1.5-liter engine and rapid-response CVT for small cars can boost fuel efficiency by 10 percent and accelerate performance by 15 percent, said Honda.

The company said the new engines and CVTs will be first applied to the new Accord (its 9th generation in China), which is slated for release into the market by Guangqi Honda in September.

Honda also said that it plans to localize the R&D and production of its electric hybrid models in China in the next three years, and expects to locally source key components, such as batteries and electric motors.

"I don't believe it (that Honda will truly localize its R&D in China). It may move laboratories to China, but Honda will still have the Japanese controlling them … It's possible for Honda to localize production, but it is unlikely to see any transfer of technological knowledge to Chinese partners," said Zeng.

Honda Motor (China)'s public relations department said that the company was not yet ready to reveal the details of its localization plans for China, when contacted by the Global Times on Tuesday.

Later this month, Guangqi Honda will debut a new model, Crider, most of which has been designed and developed in China and with the Chinese customer in mind, said Honda Motor (China)'s Deputy General Manager Takahiro Hachigo, who was previously behind the development of the CR-V in China.

Meanwhile, Jade, developed in Japan and based on the low slung and spacious global model Concept S, was designed mainly for the Chinese mass market, according to Hachigo.

Luxury appeal

Apart from designing for the quickly-emerging Chinese middle-class, Honda has also been coveting the booming luxury vehicle sector in the world's largest car market, though, according to the US consulting firm McKinsey & Co, it is the Germans who control about 80 percent of the Chinese premium-auto market.

McKinsey said earlier this month that its recent study of both Chinese and German luxury car customers showed that "in China, advanced power trains are much more important for attracting high-end buyers than they are in Germany. Fuel efficiency also looms larger for affluent consumers hesitant to step up to premium cars."

"Price matters more in China, particularly for people interested in but less able to afford luxury cars, so there may well be a major market for lower-priced premium models," it noted.

Thus, Acura, the luxury car division of Honda, introduced two new premium models to the market at a Shenzhen car show on June 8.

The latest full-size sedan Acura RLX is a flagship model representing the design and technical trends of the future and has a price tag of 858,000 yuan ($139,938) per unit, said Chen Yue, vice director of Acura's China operation.

Meanwhile, Acura RDX-3.0L, directed at the aspiring affluent consumer, is a mid-range sports utility vehicle and is priced at 439,000 yuan per unit, said Chen.

Designed for China, and compared with its previous models, the RDX-3.0L has a smaller engine volume and a dropped price to increase its attractiveness, marking Acura's willingness to cater to Chinese consumers, it said.

Source;
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/790580.shtml#.UcRTrtimUUM

Honda Crider is the production spec Concept C sedan. Images leaked

The Honda Concept C has been making a lot of news since some time. The production spec Concept C, which will cater to the fast developing D+ segment of the Chinsese car market, will make its official debut at the Auto Shanghai 2013 that will begin in a few hours.

The upcoming D+ segment sedan will slot in between the Civic and the Accord in the car maker’s product portfolio and would be the chief rival to the upcoming Hyundai Mingtu aka Sonata Lite.

The production model of the Concept C has been named as the Honda Crider and images of the new car have leaked a few hours before the official debut. Just in case you are wondering what the name could mean, allow yours truly to tell you that it has been derived from the words, “Criteria” and “Dream”.

The new Honda Crider will be built by Guangzhou-Honda joint venture and we won’t be too surprised if the JV soon starts exporting this car to certain markets.

Powering the Crider is a 1.8 litre petrol engine that will come with two transmission options- a 5-speed manual and an automatic gearbox. The car might also get a 2.0 litre engine but more details won’t be available before the official debut.

The new Honda Crider stays quite true to the Concept C and gets a heavily chromed front grill that would probably appeal to Chinese car buyers. The car also has a loud set of headlamps that seems to have got quite an overdose of LEDs. We like the car in profile view, in which the car does seem to have a slight resemblance with some of the other Honda sedans. The car has a swooping roofline which helps in imparting a hint of sportiness to the design. At the rear, the car comes with wrap around tail lights that might not appeal to all.

Overall, we feel that the car looks well proportioned and the design cues from the Concept C are clearly evident. Nothing is yet known about the interiors but stay tuned to this space for more details on the new Honda Crider D+ segment sedan.

Source;

http://motoroids.com/news/honda-crider-is-the-production-spec-concept-c-sedan-images-leaked/

Production version of Honda Concept C revealed through patent leak in China

Not for North America....

The Honda Concept C which was showcased at last year’s Beijing Auto Show previewed an all-new sedan which would slot in between the Honda Civic and the Honda Accord.

The Concept C-based sedan would cater to a new narrow segment that is emerging strongly in the Chinese market. It is to be noted that Hyundai is also developing a sedan for China which will be sandwiched between the Elantra and the Sonata, while the hot-selling VW Sagitar has shown what is possible in this segment.

The production version of the new Honda is basically a watered down version of the Concept C. The prominent chrome element in the front fascia invades the headlamp units. The Honda logo has been given the pride of place on the grill.

The profile is taken directly from the Concept C. The window line terminates in a razor sharp plastic cladding in the C-pillar, giving the sedan a sleek look. A pair of parallel character lines liven things up further.

Coming to the rear, the edgy taillight units get stretched towards the rear fender and there is a chrome strip that runs throughout the width of the car. A smart black recess in the rear bumper reduces the visual bulk.

Reports suggest that the sedan could get 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines with 5-speed manual or automatic transmission options. The car will be made in China by the Guangzhou-Honda joint venture.

There is strong possibility for the new sedan to make its global premiere at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show which commences on April 20th. Exports from China to other Asian markets is also a possibility in the future.

Source;

http://indianautosblog.com/2013/03/honda-concept-c-production-model-patent-leak-69827

Honda Accord SR-9 Study Unveiled in Shanghai, Looks Better than Acura TSX

One of the new models at the Shanghai Auto Show that managed to momentarily escape our attention is the Honda Accord SR-9 concept study that was designed in cooperation with the firm's Chinese joint venture, Guangzhou Honda. Compared to the European-spec Accord and the North American market Acura TSX (they are the same cars), the Accord SR-9 features a newly designed front bumper with concave surfaces and a restyled grille with honeycomb inserts.

The show car also featured a set of side skirts and beefier seven-spoke alloy wheels. Even though the styling mods are minimal, the tweaked fascia would be a welcome change for both the European-market Accord and the Acura TSX.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/04/honda-accord-sr-9-study-unveiled-in.html

Guangzhou-Honda Linian Prototype

The Linian is a cooperative project between the Guangzhou Automotive Group (GAG) and Honda, bringing together the visual aspects of a Honda S2000, new Nissan 370Zish headlights and just a touch of Saturn Astra in the rear. There are no details available regarding engine choices, drive layout or just about any information at all for that matter (probably because it will never be produced). The badge adorning that scowl of a front fascia is neither GAG, nor is it Honda, meaning this is most likely the logo of the newly established GAG-Honda design studio. Just imagine all of the tasty vittles just waiting to pour out of that dream factory.
[ABChina]

Source;
http://jalopnik.com/5096067/guangzhou+honda-linian-prototype

Honda Announces New Li Nian Marque for China

Honda and their Chinese partner Guangzhou Honda Automobile have this weekend announced an entirely new brand for the Chinese market. The Li Nian marque will launch in 2010 but Honda has debuted the brand's first concept car at the Beijing 2008 Auto China.

Li Nian roughly translates to English as 'idea' and is based on Guangzhou Honda's desire to create a new brand by Chinese and for China. Li Nian hopes to pursue lofty ideals with a challenging spirit, or an affordable car with dynamics and stylishness.

The Li Nian Concept was designed entirely by Guangzhou Honda Automobile Research & Development, and even though Honda HQ in Japan is supporting the effort, Guangzhou Honda will take all initiatives and eventually sell the new brand through their existing dealer network.

As a final note, Li Nian is the pronunciation of the Chinese brand name; therefore, it will not appear on any product and is included here for reference only.

Source: http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080421.002/honda-announces-new-li-nian-marque-for-china