Honda HR-V Could be delayed up until August 2015

And the long anticipated wait, gets longer.
The 2016 Honda HR-V, has been delayed until July or August 2015.  No reason for the delay as of yet.  Stay tuned.

Honda John Mendel: I don’t give a damn about Nissan`

Honda's Mendel, discussing Nissan: “I'm tired of going to their press conferences and hearing 'Honda' 15 times."

NEW YORK -- Nissan has outsold Honda in each of the last three months, but Honda’s John Mendel isn’t bothered by it.

“I don’t give a damn about Nissan,” the executive vice president of American Honda told reporters at a roundtable discussion after Honda unveiled a Civic coupe concept at the auto show here.

Honda brand’s U.S. sales rose 2.4 percent to 294,299 vehicles during the first quarter. Nissan brand sales rose 3.1 percent to 333,786 vehicles during that period. Honda topped Nissan in the U.S. last year by 103,464 vehicles.

It’s actually Nissan that is playing up the competition with Honda, not the other way around, Mendel said.

“I’m tired of going to their press conferences and hearing ‘Honda’ 15 times,” he said.

For the rest of the article, follow the link;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20150402/BLOG06/150409926/why-hondas-mendel-doesnt-care-about-nissan

Honda returns to visual trickery for CR-V campaign

by James Swift of www.campaignlive.co.uk

Honda uses the Droste effect to create a dizzying, never-ending loop in the latest TV campaign for its CR-V model car.

Mcgarrybowen created the spot, which is called "the endless road" and breaks on TV in the UK today (7 April).

The ad opens with the Honda car driving along a winding mountain road. The camera zooms in and the same scene is repeated over and over as the voiceover explains, "the road to better never ends".

The soundtrack is Twisted Nerve by Bernard Hermann, the whistling song that was famously used in Kill Bill.

This is the third campaign that Mcgarrybowen has created for Honda's CR-V. Its previous piece of work also relied on visual trickery. It was called "illusions" and won a bronze and a gold Lion at Cannes in 2014.

Jemma Jones, Honda’s senior marketing communications manager, said: "Following last year's successful ‘illusions’ campaign, we were confident in Mcgarrybowen's ability to launch the latest version of our flagship model, the CR-V, with groundbreaking creative that lives up to our rich advertising legacy.

"The 'endless road' delivers against that promise, a pioneering campaign set to turn heads this spring"

The new campaign was created by Charlotte Watmough and Holly Fallows, and directed by Chris Palmer through Gorgeous. Starcom was the media agency.

Source;

http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1341645/

2016 Nissan Maxima is the latest evolution of the 4-door sports car

NEW YORK -- It's something of a curious concept, that of a four-door sedan with sporting pretensions, but Nissan has been making it work for the better part of 40 years now with the Maxima. It's doing it again with this, the 2016 model.

As with most new generations of cars, the new Maxima is bigger than the old. 2.2 inches longer, to be exact, but it does sit a full 1.3 inches lower, dropping the center of gravity. There's less gravity to worry about, too, thanks to a weight loss of 82 pounds. That, plus a boost in power (up to 300 from the 3.5-liter V-6), means this should certainly be the quickest Maxima yet. At 30 MPG, it's pretty frugal, too.

It's also pretty good looking. The Maxima has been the subject of many dramatic redesigns over the years, radically changing face from one generation to the next, and the 2016 model is yet another major reboot. But, a good one, with flowing lines across both fenders, a dramatic front fascia and a swept-back profile that exhibits far more sporting character than the outgoing model.

It's new on the inside, too, with more luxe materials than before and a new layout that places all important controls close to hand for the driver, including an 8-inch touchscreen. There's a Bose active noise-cancellation system to keep things quiet in there, but Nissan says that when you hit the Sport button it'll actually turn around and give you more noise. Hurray for technology.

A wealth of new driver aids have been applied, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure, pedestrian avoidance and even a system that will tell you if you're getting a little too sleepy. The car won't brew a cup of coffee for you, but it will tell you when you might want to go pick one up.

The 2016 Maxima will start at $33,235 and it will hit dealerships this summer. Want one? They're taking pre-orders now.

Source;
http://www.cnet.com/products/2016-nissan-maxima/

Honda releases teaser image of Compact SUV Concept, likely to unveil at Shanghai Auto Show

TOKYO: Honda has teased a new crossover concept, due to be unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Few details have been outlaid at this stage, but Honda does tell us that the concept was penned by its Chinese design team.

Honda also says the concept is one that we have not seen before, which previews a new SUV developed exclusively for the Chinese market.

Front styling appears to mirror Honda’s corporate face, seen in the City, Odyssey and Civic, while the side profile could have a few similarities with the new Honda HR-V.

Powertrain specifications are unknown at this stage, but the HR-V’s 105kW/172Nm 1.8 litre four-cylinder petrol engine and CVT automatic could potentially point fans in the right direction.

Otherwise, visitors to the Honda stand in Shanghai can expect to see the new City, CR-V and the US-spec Accord Hybrid models, along with an Odyssey special-needs vehicle and a McLaren F1 racer.

The 2015 Shanghai Auto Show is set to run from April 20-29. Stay tuned to TMR for more.

Source;
http://customstoday.com.pk/honda-releases-teaser-image-of-compact-suv-concept-likely-to-unveil-at-shanghai-auto-show-3/

2016 Honda Civic Hatchback Sighted in India

by Mark Kesler of www.modernreaders.com

The Honda Civic may be making a comeback in India, and according to a new report, it does seem that the compact will be getting a diesel version for the country’s car buyers.

Rumors regarding a left-hand drive India-spec Civic had been swirling since late last year, but a report from India’s Business Standard Motoring included some spy photos of the new Civic hatchback at Honda’s second plant in the country, located

in Tapukara, Rajasthan.  The report noted that India has yet to confirm that the 2016 Civic will be arriving in the country, and that the car didn’t make an appearance at the 2014 India Auto Expo.  And while the spy shots do look legit, Business Standard Motoring added that the new Civic is “not coming anytime soon, even if the company confirms it for the Indian market” – the report suggests it would be available at dealerships sometime in 2016.

The 2016 Honda Civic has been a hot topic since last week, when a gaudy lime-green concept Civic made its debut at the New York International Auto Show and separate reports also teased the arrival of a hot hatch version for the North American market.  The India-spec Civic, however, may have its own distinctive specs for the country’s buyers, including a 1.6-liter diesel engine capable of 120 PS (118 horsepower) and 300 nm (221 lb/ft.) of torque.

Source;
http://www.modernreaders.com/2016-honda-civic-hatchback-sighted-in-india/22994/mark-kesler

2016 Honda Civic Concept - 2015 New York Auto Show (VIDEO)

Honda Debuts Sportiest Civic Design in Brand History with 10th-Generation Civic Concept at New York International Auto Show

Apr 1, 2015 - NEW YORK

• 10^th-generation, 2016 model year Civic focuses on sporty, fun-to-drive dynamics
• Civic lineup to include Sedan, Coupe, and 5-door Hatchback body types, as well as Si and Type-R versions
• First Honda model to apply new VTEC® Turbo engines in North America
• Civic, America's most popular small car is designed, developed and produced in North America

Today Honda unveiled its ultra-sporty Civic Concept at the New York International Auto Show as the brand prepares to launch its completely reimagined 10^th-Generation Civic models beginning this fall. With a sharper focus on spirited performance and class-leading versatility, the new Civic lineup will include Civic Sedan, Coupe and Si models along with the return of the Civic hatchback, followed by the launch of a new Civic Type-R as the performance flagship of the Civic lineup. The new Civic also will be the first U.S. model to apply new VTEC® Turbo engines from the company's Earth Dreams Technology™ powertrain series.

"The new Civic will be, flat out, the most dynamic, the most technologically advanced and the most refined and stylish Civic we've ever made," said John Mendel, executive vice president, Automobile Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.  "In every way, this will be an epic Civic."

The Civic Concept provides a tantalizing glimpse forward to the thrilling design direction for the all-new 10^th-generation Civic lineup launching in the U.S. this fall. Featuring a longer wheelbase and lower, wider stance, the new Civic emphasizes its aggressive personality and the engaging experience it will provide behind the wheel. Proportionally it boasts a longer hood, a shorter front overhang, a more set-back greenhouse and a shorter rear deck, lending the Civic a more athletic and "in motion" appearance.

The low and wide proportions are underscored by its more aggressive wheel-to-body relationship and pronounced fender arches. Its sporty and expressive face is highlighted by bright new LED headlights flanking the "Flying H" Honda grille which is supported by deeply sculpted lower air intakes.

"Charismatic, connected and athletic, our goal was to create a design that is emotional and sporty yet with a sense of timelessness and simplicity," said Guy Melville-Brown, Exterior Design Leader of the Civic concept, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. "In this we set out to create a vehicle that goes beyond the superficial and embraces the very philosophy of what a true Civic should be; it’s a real game changer."

The 10^th-generation Civic is based on a compact platform that targets benchmark levels of efficiency, dynamic performance, safety and manufacturing productivity. Leveraging this new platform in conjunction with new Earth Dreams Technology™ powertrains – including a new 1.5-liter VTEC® Turbo engine with direct injection, a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission, and a new, more sporty and efficient continuously variable transmission (CVT) – the Civic will target class-leading fuel economy ratings and fun-to-drive performance with near-luxury levels of cabin quietness and ride refinement.

The new Civic will also target class-leading levels of safety performance and will offer the Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, including Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control and Honda LaneWatch™, along with Honda's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

The new Civic marks the first time that global development of both the sedan and coupe models is being led by a North American R&D team, with design led by a team from Honda's Los Angeles design studio and development centered in the company's Raymond, Ohio vehicle development center. The North American version of the Civic Sedan will be produced in Greensburg, Indiana, and in Alliston, Ontario. The Civic Coupe and Si models will also be manufactured in Alliston. The VTEC Turbo engine will be produced in Anna, Ohio with engines also produced in Alliston. The CVT will be produced in Russells Point, Ohio. Together, these four Honda plants have invested in new equipment, processes and training to prepare for new Civic production, which will use domestic and globally sourced parts. Production of the five-door hatchback will take place at the company's Swindon, UK plant.

Honda is in the midst of a series of major product launches that began with the freshened CR-V – 2015 Motor Trend Sport Utility of the Year – and continues with the spring launch of the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V crossover and the summer launch of the redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot SUV. This will be followed by the new Civic release beginning this fall.

About Civic
The current generation Civic has been the best-selling small car in America with individual retail car buyers every year since its launch as a 2012 model in calendar year 2011, with sales in excess of 300,000 units in each of the past three years. The first-generation Civic debuted in America in 1972, and Civic has played a leading role in advancing fuel efficiency, small-car safety performance, design, technology and fun-to-drive performance over nine generations of development. American car buyers have purchased more than 10 million Civics over the course of 43 years and Civic has been manufactured in North America since 1986, with cumulative production in North America approaching 9 million units.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive automobiles for American car buyers through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Accord, Crosstour, Civic, Fit, and CR-Z along with the Pilot, and CR-V sport-utility vehicles and the Odyssey minivan.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-debuts-sportiest-civic-design-in-brand-history-with-10th-generation-civic-concept-at-new-york-international-auto-show