Honda NSX prototype to tackle the Goodwood hill climb

Goes into production next year

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is three months away but that hasn't stopped Honda from announcing plans to tackle the hill climb with an NSX prototype.

Described as the "perfect event to demonstrate its flagship supercar for the first time in Europe," the prototype will be joined by a 1989 NSX - once driven by Ayrton Senna - and a 2005 NSX.

As we have previously reported, the Acura / Honda NSX will go into production next year at the newly constructed Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. It will feature a twin-turbo V6 engine and a Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that has three electric motors.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/114031972030/honda-nsx-prototype-to-tackle-the-goodwood-hill-climb

2014 Honda Civic Tourer BTCC shown in the metal

First estate car after 1994 season

Honda Yuasa Racing has published several photos with their Civic Tourer set to compete in this year's British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

The BTCC-spec 2014 Honda Civic Tourer is undergoing some last-minute testing ahead of its official debut set for March 29-30 at Brands Hatch in the inaugural race of the season. Honda Yuasa Racing's contender marks the return of an estate car after the 1994 season and it will be the only vehicle of this type in this year's lineup.

Powered by a 300+ HP (221 kW) four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, the Civic Tourer BTCC will be driven by Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal. Joining the Tourer variant will be the Civic hatchback part of the Eurotech Racing team.

Source: Honda Yuasa Racing (Facebook)
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/114032072063/2014-honda-civic-tourer-btcc-shown-in-the-metal

2015 Acura TLX to Officially Debut in New York

by Joseph Capparella of www.automobilemag.com

At this year’s Detroit auto show, Acura showed off a prototype of the 2015 Acura TLX, a midsize sport-luxury sedan that will combine the previous TL and TSX models into one nameplate. Now, the automaker confirmed the production Acura TLX will make its official debut at the 2014 New York auto show in April before going on sale later this year.

The standard car should look nearly identical to the prototype TLX (pictured), with its typical Acura “shield” grille design, jeweled LED headlights, and slightly slab-sided profile. The overall look closely mimics the larger Acura RLX sedan, and Acura is emphasizing that the TLX completes the brand’s new three-sedan lineup comprised of the compact ILX, midsize TLX, and large RLX.

The 2015 Acura TLX will also be a showcase for new powertrain technology from Acura. Standard for the TLX is a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine that pairs with a new Acura-developed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The larger 3.5-liter V-6 engine will mate with a nine-speed automatic transmission and is also available with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system. Front-wheel-drive models are also equipped with the same Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) technology found on the Acura RLX.

As expected, the 2015 Acura TLX will be available with a full suite of active safety technologies, including forward collision warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and a blind spot monitor. Although the prototype TLX in Detroit did not have an interior, we expect to see the same dual-screen infotainment setup as found on many other Acura and Honda models.

Stay tuned for more news about the 2015 Acura TLX including power numbers, fuel economy, and pricing as it nears its debut in New York.


Source;
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/new_york/2014/1403-2015-acura-tlx-to-debut-in-new-york/

ABC NEWS: Toyota to Pay $1.2B for Hiding Deadly ‘Unintended Acceleration’

By BRIAN ROSS, JOSEPH RHEE, ANGELA M. HILL, MEGAN CHUCHMACH and AARON KATERSKY

Car manufacturer Toyota has agreed to pay a staggering $1.2 billion to avoid prosecution for covering up severe safety problems with “unintended acceleration,” according to court documents, and continuing to make cars with parts the FBI said Toyota “knew were deadly.” 

A deferred prosecution agreement, filed today, forced Toyota to “admit” that it “misled U.S. consumers by concealing and making deceptive statements about two safety related issues affecting its vehicles, each of which caused a type of unintended acceleration.” 

Toyota “put sales over safety and profit over principle,” according to FBI Assistant Director George Venizelos. 

“The disregard Toyota had for the safety of the public is outrageous,” Venizelos said. “Not only did Toyota fail to recall cars with problem parts, they continued to manufacture new cars with the same parts they already knew were deadly. When media reports arose of Toyota hiding defects, they emphatically denied what they knew was true, assuring consumers that their cars were safe and reliable… More than speeding cars or a major fine, the ultimate tragedy has been the unwitting consumers who died behind the wheel of Toyota vehicles.” 

ABC News first reported the potential dangers of unintended acceleration in an investigation broadcast in November 2009. The report said hundreds of Toyota customers were in “rebellion” after a series of accidents were apparently caused by the unintended acceleration. Two months before, Highway Patrolman Mark Saylor and three members of his family had been killed after the accelerator in his Lexus had become stuck on an incompatible floor mat. Saylor was able to call 911 while his car was speeding over 100 miles per hour and explain his harrowing ordeal right up until the crash that ended his life. 

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: Runaway Toyotas

At the time of the first ABC News report, Toyota attempted to assure its drivers that the incidents of sudden acceleration without warning were solely caused by floor mats becoming stuck on the gas pedals or driver error. But already other customers were complaining of similar problems with sudden acceleration, but some had nothing to do with the floor mats and they maintained they weren’t to blame either. 

ABC News published dozens of reports in the following months as Toyota said it investigated and announced massive recalls to address the accelerators being stuck under floor mats – repeatedly assuring drivers that the problem had been taken care of. But today Toyota admitted that the recalls did not cover all the cars they knew were in danger and said that they also concealed another cause of sudden acceleration they had found during their investigations – “sticky” pedals, which refers to the accelerator getting stuck partially depressed. 

In December 2009, the court records showed the company responded to “media accusations that it was continuing to hide defects in its vehicles” by publishing a statement on Toyota’s website saying the company “has absolutely not minimized public awareness of any defect or issue with respect to its vehicles [and] [a]ny suggestion to the contrary is wrong and borders on irresponsibility.” 

Toyota only announced the issue with the “sticky” pedals, along with another massive recall, just minutes before an ABC News report on “World News” in January 2010 told the story of one driver whose Toyota Avalon took off suddenly on the highway. 

The driver, Kevin Haggerty, credited ABC News with saving his life because he had seen a previous report that described what to do in the event of sudden acceleration. By shifting back into neutral, and back into drive when necessary, Haggerty was able to prod his broken vehicle to the dealership, where he said employees there saw that his problem with unintended acceleration firsthand had nothing to do with his floor mat. 

However, Haggerty maintained that his sudden acceleration problem was not caused by a sticky pedal either. Regardless, today court documents showed Toyota knew about the sticky pedal problem in other Toyota models months before the recall and decided not to disclose it to regulators or the public. 

For other drivers, it was already too late. In addition to deaths like the Saylors linked to unintended acceleration, a Minnesota man was serving an eight-year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter when evidence emerged suggesting he could have been a victim of Toyota’s acceleration problem. After serving two years in prison, Koua Fong Lee was released and charges against him were dropped in 2010. 

Earlier that year, an unidentified Toyota employee appeared to realize the dangerous game the company was playing. 

“Idiots! Someone will go to jail if lies are repeatedly told. I cannot support this,” the unidentified employee said after a meeting between Toyota and regulators in January 2010, according to court documents. 

Instead of jail, the company is now on the hook for the massive $1.2 billion fine, which U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said was the largest penalty of its kind for an auto manufacturer. The money is due by March 25. 

“Toyota confronted this public safety emergency as if it was a public relations problem,” Holder said. 

A senior Justice official added that Toyota made "blatant misrepresentations" in what he called a classic case of corporate culture that favored the seemingly easy way out instead of paying the cost and doing the right thing.

"The cover up is always going to be worse than the original sin," the official said. 

In a statement posted on its website, Toyota said that at the time of the recalls the company “took full responsibility for any concerns our actions may have caused customers, and we rededicated ourselves to earning their trust.” 

“In the more than four years since these recalls, we have gone back to basics at Toyota to put our customers first,” said Christopher Reynolds, chief legal officer of Toyota Motor North America. “We have made fundamental changes across our global operations to become a more responsive company – listening better to our customers’ needs and proactively taking action to serve them.” 

“Entering this agreement, while difficult, is a major step toward putting this unfortunate chapter behind us. We remain extremely grateful to our customers who have continued to stand by Toyota. Moving forward, they can be confident that we continue to take our responsibilities to them seriously,” Reynolds said. 

INFORMATION: Toyota Recall Vehicle Look-Up

ABC News' Lee Ferran contributed to this report.

Source;

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/toyota-pay-12b-hiding-deadly-unintended-acceleration/story?id=22972214&singlePage=true

Kelley Blue Book Comparo: 2014 Honda Civic coupe vs. 2014 Kia Forte Koup: Quick Comparison

by Matt Degen

Not long ago, a comparison between a Honda coupe and a Kia would have been no contest, with Honda the easy victor. Then again, the Honda also wouldn't have actually been competing with Kia, since the Korean automaker is a relative newcomer.

That all changed with the Kia Forte Koup, which debuted for 2010. And like the Forte compact sedan on which it's based, the Koup been giving rivals a run for their money ever since.

Both refreshed this year
For 2014, both the Kia Forte Koup and Honda Civic Coupe have upped their game. The Kia returns with more power, an optional new turbocharged engine, and a spate of interior features that would put some luxury cars to shame. The 2-door Honda Civic comes armed with a new CVT automatic transmission, enhanced technology, and interior and exterior styling tweaks to keep it looking fresh.

Both coupes boast a sportier, more youthful take on their sedan counterparts while still offering good fuel economy, sub-$20,000 starting prices, and the ability (at least in theory) to carry up to 5 passengers. Yet for all their similarities, the 2014 Honda Civic Coupe and 2014 Kia Forte Koup are distinctly different from each other, especially when dressed to the max.

Which is the right model for you?
With top-line versions of a 2014 Kia Forte Koup SX and a 2014 Honda Civic Coupe EX-L Navi in our test garage, the time was ripe for a quick comparison. Here's what we found.

The numbers game
* In terms of power output, the 2014 Kia Forte Koup comes out ahead. With 173 horsepower, even the Kia's base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine has 30 more ponies than that of the Civic's 1.8-liter 4-cylinder. In sportier SX trim, the Koup puts out an even more impressive 201 horsepower. To get that kind of rush from a Civic, you'd have to step up to an Si.

* On fuel efficiency, though, the 2014 Honda Civic coupe is the victor.  The 2014 Civic with the standard 1.8-liter and CVT auto transmission earns EPA ratings of 30 city/39 highway mpg. The best the 2014 Forte Koup can muster is 25/34 mpg with its 2.0-liter. The smaller but more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter used in the Koup SX, meanwhile, drops to 22/30 mpg.

* Price-wise, the 2014 Civic coupe and 2014 Kia Forte Koup start within a few hundred dollars of each other, with the Civic bowing under $19,000 and the Koup a few hundred above that. And don't forget: By using the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, you can see what others in your area are paying for specific models of each. For the loaded models we tested, the Honda had a price tag just under $25,000, while the Kia came in about a thousand above that. In terms of resale value, the Honda Civic has an edge over the Kia Forte.

Features for the money
Even a base version of either of these cars won't leave you feeling like a pauper. With standard features such as rear-view camera, Bluetooth wireless communication, USB audio input and cruise control, both models come nicely equipped out the gate.

The Honda Civic coupe is notable for its exclusive LaneWatch blind-spot system, standard on EX trims and above. Using a camera mounted underneath the right mirror housing, the system displays a live image on the center screen of what is happing to the right rear of the vehicle. It can be set to display automatically when you engage the turn signal, or can be activated with the touch of a button. We also like the expanded-view left-hand mirror, which gives a wider view to the other side of the vehicle. For 2014, Honda has also revamped its navigation/infotainment system, replacing the dated unit that was surrounded by small buttons with a sleek all-touch model. The new 7-inch display responds quickly to touch, but I wish there were a couple of "hard" buttons or knobs to control common functions such as volume. Thankfully, steering wheel-mounted controls rectify some of this frustration.

For the Kia Forte Koup, in its best-dressed form it easily overtakes the Civic -- and just about every other compact car. In terms of available feature content, Kia continues to pack an impressive array for the price. Among the standouts in our test vehicle:

* Heated and cooled driver's seat/heated front passenger seat
* Dual-zone climate control
* Auto-dimming mirror with HomeLink garage door opener
* Heated steering wheel
* Self-leveling, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights.
* Power-folding outside mirrors.
* And we can't forget Kia's exceptional warranty, which covers 10 years/100,000 miles for powertrain

Different road manners
Back-to-back drives in each of these coupes also tell a different story. Not surprisingly, the 2014 Kia Forte Koup SX is the faster of the two, thanks to its nearly 60 horsepower advantage. Getting onto the freeway one morning, I was surprised when the Kia chirped its tires. Turbo lag is pretty much a non-issue, and the Kia's 6-speed automatic transmission is snappy.

See our full review of the 2014 Kia Forte here.

Yet the Honda Civic coupe doesn't feel hampered by its modest power output. The car uses its 143 horsepower well, and in Sport mode feels especially zippy. Most commendable about the Civic, though, is its new continuously variable transmission (CVT). This type of automatic doesn't have traditional gears, but this one is tuned so well that you'll think it did. It's among the best CVTs I've experienced.

See our full review of the 2014 Honda Civic here.

Handling or comfort?
Of course, most of driving entails more than just getting up to speed, and here the Civic and Forte coupes are also a breed apart. For better or worse, the Forte Koup suspension -- especially in the sportier SX trim -- feels far stiffer than that of the Civic coupe. This equates to more confidence when flinging the car around corners but less comfort overall, especially when the road turns rough.

The Civic, on the other hand, has a suspension that is more comfortable in everyday driving and markedly better at absorbing potholes and other road imperfections. It may not feel as flingable in corners, but is sure seems more livable on the highway and around town.

Both of these coupes are commendable in their own right, but each is unique unto itself. The bottom line? If you want a sporty coupe that is filled with features, boasts a great warranty and has frisky -- though rather stiff -- driving manners, the Kia Forte Koup checks all those boxes. If you instead put a priority on ride comfort, stellar fuel economy and a rock-solid history of resale value and reliability, the Honda Civic coupe is sure to impress.

Source;
http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2014-honda-civic-coupe-vs-2014-kia-forte-koup-quick-comparison/2000010479/

Big Year Ahead For Honda As It Looks To Debut New Models

2015 Honda FIT

2015 Honda HR-V/Vezel

by Trefis Team of www.forbes.com


It is a big year for Honda Motors. The automaker will introduce a number of key models in 2014 in a bid to boost its American operations. North America is indispensable to Honda’s profitability since more than 40% of the company’s sales come from this region. Therefore, it isn’t surprising to see Honda focus its energy on building a vehicle that the American public will like.

In 2012, Honda unveiled its mid-term plan in which the automaker outlined a plan to sell 6 million vehicles by 2017, up from ~4.0 million in 2012. The success of these vehicles will play a huge role in deciding whether the automaker will be able to achieve its target or not.

We have a $43 price estimate for Honda Motors, which is about 20% above the current market price.

High Volume Vehicles 
The first of these vehicles will be the revamped version of the Fit. The vehicle has met with overwhelming success in Japan, where it was launched last year. The automaker received a staggering 62,000 orders within four weeks of its launch, almost four times the company’s expectations. The Fit eventually overtook the Aqua to become the highest selling car in Japan.

In addition to the Fit, the automaker will also debut the all new Vezel, a compact SUV. Both the Fit and the Vezel are built on the same vehicle platform. Fuel prices have risen significantly in the past decade and therefore more Americans now prefer a compact SUV instead of a full fledged SUV, which tend to have low mileages. Honda’s CR-V SUV is popular among the public, but due to lack of any vehicle in the crossover segment, the company could be losing out on sales in this segment.

Honda first showcased these vehicles during January’s Detroit Auto Show. For its American operations, Honda will be producing these vehicles at its new Mexican factory, whose construction was finished recently. The plant will have a capacity of 200,000 units, and will offer the automaker enhanced flexibility to raise the supply from within the region, in case the demand for these vehicles remains firm.

Going forward, the Fit is hugely important to Honda’s strategy. Honda expects the model’s sales to pip those of Civic to become its largest selling vehicle. The sales could even surpass 1.5 million units by 2016 as per the company’s estimates. The Fit is also known as the Jazz in some countries.

Acura Autonomy
Recently, Honda announced that it will create a separate marketing division for the Acura brand. This move will provide a greater autonomy to the Acura division. Reviving the brand has been one of the priorities for the company. In 2013, the automaker announced it will pour in $1 billion to revive its Acura brand. In addition to new vehicle launches, the company will spend significantly on marketing, in an attempt to makeover the brand’s image, since the Acura brand is seen as a grade below its German counterparts.

The luxury brand did garner some momentum during the year as sales rose 5.9% to 165,436 vehicles in the U.S. However, some of the newly launched vehicles such as the ILX and the RDX have witnessed sales declines lately. Acura will also introduce the 2015 version of the TLX later this year.

Healthy sales of Acura cars can result in significant additions to the bottom since luxury cars have a higher average selling price and heftier margins. While the average selling price of a Honda vehicle is close to $25-26,000 in the U.S., the corresponding figure for an Acura vehicle is in excess of $40,000.

Source;
http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/03/18/big-year-ahead-for-honda-as-it-looks-to-debut-new-models/

CarThrottle.com: This Is The S2000 CR: Honda’s Super-Rare Track Special S2K

This track-focused, US-only S2k is the brainchild of the NSX’s creator

While perusing Reddit we came across this mint, stock 2008 Honda S2000 Club Racer. Having done only 4235 miles, it’s about as close to a factory fresh example as you’re going to find.

The CR was never sold outside America, so us Brits had to hit Google to find out exactly what we were looking at. Simply put, it’s a track-oriented version of the S2000, created by Shigeru Uehara, a former Chief Engineer at Honda. Credentials? He’s the man behind the original S2000, NSX and Integra Type-R – so basically a living legend.

The CR was his retirement project. Created over his final year at Honda, he festooned the S2k with aerodynamic upgrades that reduced the car’s coefficient of lift by an incredible 70-80 per cent – no doubt largely due to that massive rear wing. He also reworked the springs and shocks, making the suspension much stiffer, and quickened the steering ratio for sharper inputs at high speed.

It’s also a lot lighter than the standard car, thanks to the fact it has no spare tyre, while air conditioning and a stereo were simply options. Weight was also reduced by the removal of the power-folding roof, replaced with additional chassis bracing and a removable hardtop.

It has the same 2.2-litre VTEC engine as the standard car, giving 234bhp. But the power-to-weight ratio is improved, and the car sticks to the road thanks to all that downforce, so track times will tumble.

It’s the lack of engine upgrades that make this fall short of a ‘Type-R’ version, but for serious S2000 fanboys, there can’t be many more sought after examples, especially given that only 699 CRs were built. Got a spare $33k?

Source;
http://www.carthrottle.com/this-is-the-s2000-cr-hondas-super-rare-track-special-s2k/

Automobile Mag; Next Generation 2015 Nissan Murano Spyshots

We’ve come across new spy shots of the 2015 Nissan Murano, which was out testing under slightly more revealing camouflage than the last time we spotted it. These latest pictures show more detail about the new midsize crossover’s front grille, headlights, side skirts, taillights, and rear bumper.

Even more so than before, it’s becoming very clear that the new 2015 Nissan Murano will adopt sharper and more angular styling that comes directly from the wild Nissan Resonance concept shown at the 2013 Detroit auto show.

At an Automotive Press Association lunch last month, Nissan vice president of sales and marketing Fred Diaz said, “You are going to be very shocked by how close the new Murano is to the Resonance concept.”

Nissan Resonance Concept

When we first saw the Resonance at the Detroit auto show in 2013, we were amazed at how much more exciting it looked than the current Murano, but were doubtful that design would make it to dealerships. Both Diaz and these spy photos prove the opposite.

The most striking similarity between the show car and the prototypes spied here is the V-shaped front grille, which looks directly ported over from the Resonance concept. Everything from the shape of the slats to the ribbing on the central opening matches up with the concept car, which is a notable accomplishment. The headlights keep the same boomerang shape, but look a bit fatter and less sleek than on the show car. Around the rear we see taillights shaped like those on the concept, too, which should give a nod to the L-shaped designs we know from the recently refreshed Nissan Juke.

The Nissan Murano's proportions are definitely toned down from the larger, more exaggerated shapes on the Resonance, but the overall feel of motion and excitement looks like it will be maintained. It’s even possible that we could see some of the show car’s more out-there cues like the floating roof and disguised D-pillar make it to production. Even the bold side skirt and rocker sill shape from the Detroit concept are visible beneath camouflage tape, pointing to a very striking production car.

Stay tuned for more updates on the 2015 Nissan Murano, which will likely debut at the 2014 New York auto show.

 

Source;

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1403-2015-nissan-murano-spied-again/