Honda eyeing first Russian car plant - Nikkei

TOKYO Sat Sep 17, 2011 11:20pm EDT

(Reuters) - Honda Motor (7267.T) plans to set up its first assembly plant in Russia, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday, as Japan's No.3 automaker looks to lift its competitiveness in the fast-growing auto market.

The company is looking to invest several billion yen (tens of millions of dollars) to produce 30,000 to 50,000 cars annually, the Nikkei said, adding Honda has submitted the plans to the Russian government and had started talks with officials.

Honda is consulting officials on the location of the assembly plant, which will use components imported from its global facilities, and the Russian Far East is seen as one candidate, the Nikkei said.

A Honda spokesman declined to comment on the report.

General Motors (GM.N), Renault (RENA.PA), and a host of other top players have already announced plans to ramp up production in Russia in exchange for lower import tariffs for parts.
Honda, which sold about 18,000 cars in Russia last year, has been selling its cars with tariffs of about 50 percent, making them more expensive than automobiles produced by rivals locally.
Russia's vehicles market is expected to double sales to about 4 million units a year by mid-decade.

(Reporting by James Topham)

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/us-usa-campaign-palin-idUSTRE78E77B20110915

Daimler Faces New German Probe in Accident

By CHRISTOPH RAUWALD

Daimler AG and Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche were Friday facing a new probe into the death of a company engineer on a test track last year, but Daimler said it expects the company and CEO to be cleared.

A Daimler spokeswoman said the investigation by a German public prosecutors office was "a pure formality." In Germany, a prosecutor is obliged to look at any allegations of serious wrongdoing. A German media report said the new probe was at the request of the dead engineer's family.

"We firmly expect Mr. Zetsche to be cleared from these allegations," the Daimler spokeswoman said. The public prosecutor's office wasn't immediately available for comment.

In July, a separate probe by another prosecutors' office into the same accident ended with a German district court and public prosecutors finding the company and Mr. Zetsche not guilty of any wrongdoing. Instead it found that a driver of one of the vehicles in the accident was solely responsible, a Daimler spokeswoman said.

The Daimler engineer had been sitting in a second vehicle involved in the crash. Mr. Zetsche himself was not involved in the accident but was being probed because he is the CEO of the company.

Source;

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576574672468850748.html

2012 Honda Civic Hatchback on the Road

Vtec.net: Automotive News Supplier Chart reveals 2012 CR-V Engine Specs?

Interesting, a 2.5L engine, will this help in the towing dept? Torque isn't up that much (177). Can't wait, I really like what they are doing to this CRV....
Automotive News often publishes graphics highlighting the various suppliers for new models, and they've published one of these for the upcoming 2012 CR-V.

This graphic happens to contain a little bit of info concerning the specifications of the 2012 CR-V, of particular interest is a new engine designation "New-K25". Horsepower for this 2.5L iteration of the venerable K-series engine family is listed at 201hp@6000rpm, with 177lb-ft of torque. This tends to confirms rumors that had been floating around for awhile concerning a 2.5L fitment in the 2012 CR-V.

There is also a "K24" listed, spec'd at 175hp and 170lb-ft. The info on this chart also suggests that the 2012 CR-V will launch with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Also, while we're talking about the 2012 CR-V, it's been reported in our forums that the new model will offer a RES (Rear Entertainment System) option. Presumably, this will be a DVD-based system like all current Honda and Acura RES setups. The 2012 CR-V is expected to reach dealerships in the November/December 2011 timeframe.

Engines
2.4L 16v dohc I4
Program: K24
Horsepower: 175@5,500
Torque: 170 lbs. ft.

2.5L 16v dohc L4
Program: New-K25
Horsepower: 201@6,000
Torque: 177 lbs. ft.
Transmission Platform/Program: M-5AT-1
Design: A5
Plant: Russells Point, Ohio
Manufacturer: Honda
Source: IHS Automotive

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1002394

Autoblog: ILVTOFU: Tennessee woman denied to display her love of tofu

I had a good laugh over just the headline and pic....

By Jeremy Korzeniewski
Tofu – some love it, some hate it. For those who don't know, tofu originated in China and is a staple in many Asian dishes. It's made by pressing coagulating soy milk into block-shaped forms, and it's high in protein and low in calories and fat. Hence, it's standard fare for many vegetarians.

Sounds pretty good, huh? A PETA employee named Whitney Calk from Tennessee is apparently a big fan of the bean curd, and she says she wanted to proclaim her love of tofu on her license plate. Unfortunately, the State of Tennessee decided that I-LV-TOFU looked eerily similar to I-LV-TO-FU...

Look closely at the two possible spellings and it's easy to see why the authorities decided to lay down the law. In fact, Tennessee points out that it's not the only state to ban that plate – it's also verboten in Colorado, Florida and Virginia.

For its part, PETA has issued a press release asking Tennessee to reconsider. Cynics might argue that the whole shebang was merely an attempt to generate press for the animal rights organization, which may certainly be the case. And if so, it seems to be working: you can check out PETA's press release after the break.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/16/ilvtofu-tennessee-woman-denied-to-display-her-love-of-tofu/

Honda replaces Mr. Opportunity with 'Seinfeld' actor

Mr. Opportunity should stop knocking. Honda’s found a new (and human) spokesman.

The animated character was known for his appearances in the automaker’s commercials for clearance events –- and for irritating legions of consumers with his blandness.

The “I Hate Mr. Opportunity!” Facebook page is filled with distaste for his “carefully ironed khaki trousers” and his similarity to “your high school geometry teacher.” The group’s description says: “Every time his commercials air, his personality grates on us, like the proverbial pebble in our collective shoe.”

Last year, one of Mr. Opportunity’s ads was voted the third worst in the country by visitors to the Consumerist blog, behind spots from Staples and Quiznos.

But lately, those viewers have noticed Mr. Opportunity’s absence from television screens and radio waves. Former "Seinfeld" actor Patrick Warburton is in his place on-air, calling himself an "all-out-multimedia-Honda-knowledge-dropping-tour-de-force.”

Warburton even takes a shot at Mr. Opportunity: “This year, they sent a man in to do a cartoon man’s job.”

The character’s demise stems from the ripple effect of the Japanese earthquake earlier this year on the supply chain and summer promotional campaigns, according to Honda’s ad agency RPA, via the Consumerist. Still, both RPA and Honda say Mr. Opportunity may not be gone for good.

Source

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/honda-replaces-mr-opportunity-with-seinfeld-actor.html

Honda FCX Clarity heads Glasgow hydrogen conference

Fresh from its appearance at Ecovelocity last week, the FCX Clarity is now making a star appearance in Scotland, appearing at the World Hydrogen Technologies Conference in Glasgow.

One of only a handful of series production hydrogen fuel cars in the world, the Honda-made car became the very first such car to enter production back in 2008. Currently available on a limited lease programme in the US and Japan, the car will now appear in Glasgow between September 14 and 18th, as the conference explores the future of a hydrogen economy.

Welcoming more than 150 leading hydrogen experts from around the world, the conference’s major theme this year is ‘Renewables to Hydrogen’ exploring the opportunities to create a clean, sustainable hydrogen economy from the many forms of available renewable energy. This is particularly relevant to Scotland and to the UK, given the substantial wind, wave and tidal resources available.

The conference was opened by Fergus Ewing, Scotland’s Minister of Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, (pictured) who fully endorsed the drive to renewable energy and cleaner fuels.

The Honda FCX Clarity works like an electric car with hydrogen creating the electric on-board through a ‘fuel cell stack’. The stack creates electricity from a reaction between hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen. This reaction produces only one emission; pure water which comes out of the tailpipe in the form of vapour. If hydrogen can be produced for commercial use from clean sources such as wind power then cars such as the Honda FCX Clarity can truly become zero harmful emissions.

Hydrogen cars depend on a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure however, currently absent in the UK. In response to this, Honda, in cooperation with BOC and Forward Swindon- are launching the UK’s first public hydrogen refuelling station, just off the M4, at Honda’s Swindon car plant, on September 20.

Source;
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/09/15/honda-fcx-clarity-heads-glasgow-hydrogen-conference/

Report: Honda confirms ‘new NSX’ in the works

With so many renditions to choose from....
Honda is reviving the NSX with an all new version of the sportscar icon, revealed by president and CEO Takanodu Ito.

Part of what Ito is setting out to enhance is the power-to-weight ratio, as he comments “I spent part of my early career at Honda developing the NSX, and specifically the aluminum body…I really enjoyed that experience, and learned much, so it is my wish that Honda engineers have the experience of developing a sportscar like the NSX in the future. Within Honda, our engineers are already looking at developing such a car.”

Previous plans for a 2010 release of the NSX were up cancelled due to economic decline back in 2008. Since then, Honda has decided to enhance the sport aspect of the brand, but in a manner more conducive to the economic climate.

Ito says “Our recent efforts have been focused on fuel efficiency, and that perhaps gives the impression Honda is behind with pushing the brand image of sportiness, but let me assure you that is not the case…We will address that impression with our new generation of cars.”
- By: Alexandra Koken

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/09/13/honda-confirms-new-nsx-supercar/