Acura clearly wants to get this thing right. The original aluminum-intensive 1991 NSX
was a stunner, a sunrise of engineering inspiration that chased away
the darkness in the realm of sports cars and laid bare the multitude of
sins being committed there. For the first time, a large automaker that
took quality seriously had applied itself to a segment rampant with all
manner of pop-riveted, glued-up, hammered-down, and wiggy-wired
silliness. In the presence of the $60,000 NSX, the self-important
air-puffed mediocrities of the eroti-car industry scurried for cover.
It didn’t last. Everybody else got better, with newer and faster cars, while the NSX mainly just got more expensive, chained as it was to the rapidly inflating yen. The final targa-topped NSX
went off the line in 2005, and hardly anybody noticed. Since then,
Acura has launched, scrubbed, relaunched, rescrubbed, and re-relaunched
projects intended to replace it. In the first two tries, the car got as
far as a fully styled and drivable prototype, which in NASA parlance is
30 feet above the moon, before Acura aborted.
A wall-to-wall brake-lamp strip is a styling nod to the original NSX.
The trunk will accept one set of golf clubs, because maybe you're into
that sort of thing.
There was that coupe with the V-10
in its big schnoz screaming around the Nürburgring in 2008. Corporate
canned it later that year, figuring out something that Toyota never did
during development of the Lexus LFA:
An interstellar unicorn that is seriously into six figures will do
little for a brand that sells most of its vehicles for less than
$50,000. The next attempt was a Porsche 911
fighter. It was a mid-transverse hybrid that plucked the parts bin for a
version of Honda’s ubiquitous 3.5-liter V-6. Concept cars were shown,
Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld made a Super Bowl ad for one of them, and a
fully clothed prototype circled Mid-Ohio in August 2013 in front of
thousands of IndyCar fans.
But even as NSX version 3.0 made its first glory laps, Acura had already
decided to scrap major elements of the design. According to NSX project
leader Ted Klaus—notably not a Japanese citizen, for this project is
U.S.-based—it was in mid-2012 that “the performance targets were
changed.” Meaning upped considerably, to confront an era in which Nissan GT-Rs have more than 500 horsepower and a Dodge Charger
can make more than 700. According to Klaus, the transverse, single-cam
3.5 was maxed out trying to make just so-so power, which didn’t give the
NSX any room to grow. So it was back to the CAD stations for changes.
Out went the shared 3.5 and in went an all-new, longitudinally mounted,
dry-sump, twin-turbo, four-cam, 75-degree 3.5-liter V-6 with exactly
nothing major in common with any other Honda production engine. Not even
bore centers are shared. A new, nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox
integrated with an electric motor drives the rear wheels and
collaborates with two electric motors that power the front wheels. Total
output is a secret, but plan on more than 550 horsepower. The NSX is
back to stalking Ferraris again.
The upside of the engine swap is more power; the downsides are huge
increases in cost and complexity, plus a decentralizing of the
powertrain mass.
The car’s styling has also morphed, the changes including another
radiator opening up front and much larger corner and side ducts, plus a
couple of hood vents, all to service 10 separate cooling circuits with
airflow. Undoubtedly, curb weight is up as well, probably to around 3700
pounds, though the final figure is still guarded.
The low-slung V-6 is just barely visible under the rear glass and weird mesh thingy.
For those of you that don`t know, the Honda FIT-Jazz has an extended wagon version called the Honda Shuttle that has been sold in different markets around the world (Japan, Malaysia, among others). Looks like Honda might be working on a successor....
The new Fit Twist is expected to be more comprehensively restyled than its predecessor.
With the previous generation Honda Jazz (Honda Fit), the Japanese car maker offered the Fit Twist
– a crossover-styled variant aimed at the Hyundai HB20X and the VW
CrossFox. Reports strongly suggest that Honda will offer a ‘cross’
bodystyle on the new Fit as well, with a Brazilian launch reported to
take place by mid-2016.
Unlike the previous Fit Twist which merely added roof rails, skid
plates and mild body cladding, Noticias Automotivas reports that the
forthcoming model will get redesigned bumpers, an all-new grille and
feature additions.
Power for the Fit in Brazil comes from a 1.5-liter Flex-fuel engine
which puts out 116 hp and 153 Nm of torque, paired to manual and CVT
gearboxes. The Fit Twist will use the same engine.
The Indian market, much like the Brazilian one, embraces hatchback-turned crossovers with the likes of the recently-launched Hyundai i20 Active,
Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and the VW Cross Polo. These cars,
apart from having lower R&D costs, add to the sales volumes of their
hatchback siblings with industry analysts estimating that they
contribute 10-20 percent towards additional sales
In all likelihood, Honda would consider the Jazz Twist for the Indian
market, which is expected to get the new generation Jazz in the first half of this year.
The Indian arm of the Japanese manufacturer aims to contribute towards 5
percent of Honda’s global sales within the next 2 years (Honda Cars
India roughly accounts for 3 percent of Honda’s global sales currently).
Rivals: Hyundai i20 Active, VW Cross Polo, Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross Launch date: Mid-2016 in Brazil
TOKYO -- The Honda S660 mini sports roadster that went on sale in
Japan this month may never be sold in the U.S., but could presage
Honda's sports cars of the future.
The S660 is the product of a
unique development gambit meant to infuse the company's global r&d
center with youthful creativity and inculcate the next generation of
engineers in the sporty heritage Honda prides itself on.
Indeed,
the car's mastermind, 26-year-old Ryo Mukomoto, beat out hundreds of
rivals in a concept competition to be awarded leadership of the project
and became the company's youngest-ever chief engineer.
The S660 gives Honda a spiritual successor to the iconic Beat minicar
that, while never sold in the U.S., got lots of attention around the
world. The Beat pioneered the low and wide stance, open cockpit and side
air intakes that are key design features of the S660. It was produced
from 1991 to 1996 and sold only in Japan.
But Mukomoto said he
opted for a midship rear-wheel-drive layout -- unlike the Beat -- to
ensure a low front nose with "supercar proportions."
Like the Beat, the S660 is designed to meet the stringent size and engine-displacement rules of Japan's unique minicar segment.
From laundry detergent to designer handbags, a
strong brand is a powerful thing. And it's truer in the car market than
almost any other.
So every year the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence team tracks
consumers' brand perceptions with its Brand Watch study. And every year
we leverage the results of that study in presenting the Kelley Blue Book
Brand Image Awards, highlighting the standout brands in a variety of
categories including Most Trusted Brand, Best Performance Brand and
more. More accurate than a moment-in-time survey, this year the ongoing
Brand Watch study tapped the sentiments of more than 12,000 in-market
new-vehicle shoppers doing their research at KBB.com.
Best Brands
The Brand Image Awards comprise 13 winners across
seven categories, recognizing automakers' outstanding achievements in
creating and maintaining brands that engender enthusiasm among
new-vehicle buyers. The trophies are presented to the winning automakers
on the floor of the New York Auto Show.
And with that, let's meet the Brand Image Award winners of 2015, starting strong with the two Best Overall Brand awards.
This is the third year in a row that Honda
has claimed the title of Best Overall Brand, thanks in large part to
many of the same reasons it also took home this year's Best Value Brand
trophy. It's familiar territory for Honda, which has built a reputation
for quality and reliability by providing buyers with well-built,
hassle-free transportation for decades. Honda owners are more loyal than
most and recommend the cars more often, and that's exactly why and how a
great brand is built.
From the storied Porsche 911 to the new-for-2015 Macan SUV, the Porsche
lineup benefits from one of the purest brands in the world. The
automaker's dedication to driving remains, but today's expanded Porsche
portfolio offers several 4-door options and some of the richest
interiors on the road. Expanding a brand's appeal while maintaining its
integrity is not an easy thing to do, but Porsche has done it
masterfully.
The HPD supercharger kit adds almost 70 horsepower to the CR-Z's bottom line.
Honda's CR-Z hybrid gets an aftermarket performance overhaul by the
automaker's HPD division. We take a look at the upgrades on the track at
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
The Honda CR-Z is certainly sporty, but it's certainly no sports car. And I definitely didn't expect to see a 2014 example parked alongside the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG and Alfa Romeo 4C
at a recent media track day at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. I was even
more surprised when it turned out that the little Honda turned out to be
one of the most fun cars on the track that day.
It turns
out that this particular CR-Z has been modified with a host of bolt-on
performance parts from Honda Performance Development (HPD), the
automaker's aftermarket parts and racing division. We sat down with HPD
find out how any CR-Z owner can literally supercharge their Honda,
transforming it from a loveable little hybrid into a bonafide hot
hatchback.
First, HPD addresses handling and grip upgrades. The
transformation starts where the rubber meets the road with the
replacement of the CR-Z's stock 195mm width eco all-seasons with of
Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires ($1,054 for the set) sized 215/40ZR18.
The new wider, sticker tires are wrapped around 18-inch HPD alloy wheels
($1,260 for the set) and peeking between the new spokes is an upgraded
HPD front brake kit ($2,100) that should help the hatchback stop shorter
and resist fade. From there, the chassis sits atop an HPD sport
suspension kit ($1,550) that lowers the ride height by 10mm.
An HPD rear
diffuser ($400) performs triple duty: improving aerodynamics, enhancing
the CR-Z's appearance, and framing the new HPD full cat-back exhaust
system's ($1,400) twin, center-exit tips. That new exhaust should flow
better, freeing a bit of extra power, but it mostly sounds pretty good
at full throttle with a deeper, raspier tone than stock.
Next,
HPD adds lots and lots of power! The jewel of this performance overhaul
is the addition of the HPD supercharger kit ($5,495) to the CR-Z's
engine bay. The kit replaces the stock intake with a centrifugal type
supercharger breathing through an air-to-air intercooler. The
supercharger leaves the IMA electric motor and lithium ion battery pack
untouched, so the CR-Z retains all of its the hybrid functionality. I've
heard no word on how the new additions affect the CR-Z's 31 city, 38
highway and 34 combined mpg estimates.
The forced induction system boosts total system power of the
1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder and electric motor to 197 horsepower and
torque to 176 pound-feet for 2013 to 2014 model year examples with a
manual transmission. That's nearly a 70 horsepower jump over the
hybrid's 130 stock horses. 2011 to 2012 models have lower total
estimates of 180 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. At time of my
testing, the 2015 model year is currently awaiting emissions
certification of the ECU software required for supercharger
compatibility.
Here is right from Honda what the HPD CR-Z includes;
Track Proven. Street Reliable. HPD Performance.
Honda Performance Development (HPD) adds
performance to every product we develop, from grassroots to pinnacle;
from the track and now to the street. The same innovation that
has driven two decades of unprecedented success in pinnacle motorsports
is at the core of HPD’s street performance brand. HPD’s products are
for those who truly desire proven performance without sacrificing the reliability that comes with the Honda name. Click here to learn more about HPD Street Performance.
Accessories:
HPD Emblem / Decal Kit
HPD Sport Suspension Kit
HPD Front Brake Kit
HPD Supercharger (6MT models only)1
HPD Limited-Slip Differential
HPD Clutch
HPD 18-Inch Alloy Wheel2
HPD Sport Exhaust / Diffuser Kit
Front Lip Spoiler
Decklid Spoiler
1The HPD Supercharger System boosts the 2013 and 2014
CR-Z’s total powertrain output up to 197 hp (vs. 130 hp in the stock
2013 and 2014 CR-Z).
The HPD Supercharger System is available exclusively for the CR-Z
manual transmission models ONLY and DOES NOT apply for CVT transmission
equipped models.
The HPD Supercharger requires unleaded gasoline of 91 octane or
higher, and an ECM/PCM software update. Use Honda Ultimate Synthetic
0w-20 engine oil.
Dealer requirements for Executive Order D-728 issued for the HPD
CR-Z Supercharger by the Air Resources Board; the HPD CR-Z Supercharger
System may not be installed on a new motor vehicle before the vehicle
has been sold to a customer, or concurrent with the sale of a new
vehicle to a consumer. This system may be installed (1) on a pre-owned
vehicle at any time, or (2) on a new vehicle only after the vehicle has
been sold to a consumer and as part of a separate transaction.
2Replacement tires required. Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (215/40R18 89Y) are recommended but not included.
Sleek and athletic exterior meets interior elegance for a commanding yet sophisticated presence
Top-of-the-line Elite trim introduces a premium look, feel and experience with highest level of standard features
Direct injected 3.5-liter i-VTEC® engine with more horsepower and torque than outgoing model
Smartest Pilot ever with new Intelligent Traction Management system, Honda Sensing™ technologies and i-VTM4 AWD system
The all-new, third generation 2016 Honda Pilot will go on sale this
summer ready to take the mid-size SUV segment by storm, with more of
what active families seek in a three-row SUV – sleek and athletic
styling, outstanding power, sophisticated technology and, new for 2016,
an all-new Elite model with a panoramic roof and a vast array of other
standard features.
Building on the solid reputation established from the fall 2002
introduction of the first generation 2003 model, the 2016 Pilot brings a
whole new level of refinement and available content to the segment.
This includes a more powerful direct injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC®
Earth Dreams™ Technology engine producing 280 horsepower1 and 262 lb-ft of torque2,
and new 6-speed and 9-speed automatic transmissions. Providing
outstanding dynamic handling are a new Intelligent Variable Torque
Management™ (i-VTM4™) AWD System and all-new selectable Intelligent
Traction Management system featuring Normal, Mud, Sand, and Snow modes
on the AWD model and Normal and Snow on the 2WD model. Also
significantly upgraded are the Display Audio and navigation systems. The
available Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver assistive
technologies brings available features that include Collision Mitigation
Braking System™3 with Forward Collision Warning4, Road Departure Mitigation System5, Lane Keeping Assist System6 with Lane Departure Warning7 and Adaptive Cruise Control8.
Providing customers with a greatly increased range of trim levels,
the 2016 Pilot is available in a new top-of-the-line Elite trim together
with LX, EX, EX with Honda Sensing™, EX-L, EX-L with Honda Sensing™ and
Touring trims. Honda Sensing™ is standard on both Touring and Elite
trims. The Pilot Elite offers an extensive feature content list,
including a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats,
second-row heated captain's chairs, LED headlights with auto high-beam,
rain sensing windshield wipers and much more. And these are in addition
to a long list of standard features throughout the Pilot trim range.
Model Trim Summary
Pilot LX Prominent Features
Direct-injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)
6-Speed Automatic Transmission
Hill Start Assist
Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM4™) AWD System (available)
18-inch aluminum alloy wheels
Brake Assist
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera9 with guidelines
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)10 with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators
Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure
LED Brake Lights
Remote Entry
Push Button Start
5-Inch Color LCD Screen
200-Watt Audio System with 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer
Earth Dreams™ Technology Powertrain
The 2016 Pilot delivers more refined, powerful and fuel-efficient
performance than ever before courtesy of its new 3.5-liter,
direct-injected i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder
Management™ (VCM™) cylinder deactivation technology. The engine's peak
output of 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque is up 30 hp and 9
lb.-ft. over the previous model. The engine is matched to a choice of
two new advanced transmissions – a Pilot-first 6-speed automatic
transmission or, on upper trims, a Honda-first 9-speed automatic
transmission – both delivering more refined, responsive and
fuel-efficient performance.
Intelligent Variable Torque Management for all Four Wheels (i-VTM4) The
Pilot's available new Intelligent VTM4 (i-VTM4) is the most
sophisticated and technologically advanced all-wheel-drive system
offered in a mainstream, three-row SUV. This entirely more capable
system progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and
rear axles and, for the first time ever in a Honda vehicle, dynamically
distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels using
the new, lightweight rear drive unit. Benefits include superior
all-weather handling and neutral, accurate steering under power that is
unmatched by front-drive, rear-drive or conventional all-wheel-drive
systems.
Intelligent Traction Management
This new Pilot features a new button-operated Intelligent Traction
Management System that offers different operating modes, for the AWD:
Normal, Mud, Sand and Snow; and for the FWD: Normal and Snow. Reflecting
Pilot's role as a key U.S. export model, this system was developed,
tuned and tested at various locations in the U.S. and around the world –
including in Imperial Dunes “Glamis”, California; Moscow, Russia; and
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Intelligent Traction Management system
allows the driver to select the operating mode that best suits the
driving conditions by simply pushing a button on the vehicle's center
console. Based on the setting selected, the system adjusts the drive-by
wire map, transmission shift map, Vehicle Stability Assist™ and i-VTM4
torque distribution for AWD equipped models for optimal performance in
varying road or surface conditions.
Display Audio and Navigation Honda's latest
thinking for advanced, family-friendly technology is embodied in the new
Pilot. New features include the available 8-inch capacitive touchscreen
Display Audio telematics interface with Android operating system and
all-new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ developed in
cooperation with the experts at Garmin®24.
Exterior Colors All 2016 Pilot
trims are available in eight exterior colors including three metallic
and five pearl colors. All colors have a strong character, offering
expressive contrasts that complement the Pilot's body-panel curves and
angles, while also exhibiting a smart luxury appearance. The colors are:
