What Could have been, the Next Gen Honda Prelude HC2

I have displayed the front pic before but I hadn't seen the side and rear views before, so I thought I'd pass it on. Great looking car, even today.

Source;
http://jmvdesign.deviantart.com/art/Honda-Prelude-HC2-Renders-89341046?q=gallery%3Ajmvdesign%2F4106748&qo=22

The Next Generation Honda Civic: Keep Guessing?

Definately the Euro Civic, however I think we can expect a similar front end to our North American version....
Few images of a possibly next generation Honda Civic have surfaced which leave the readers guessing whether it is the next generation Honda Civic 2012 model. Currently the model is in its eight generation and Honda seems to be gearing towards the launch of the ninth generation model in next two years.

Honda Civic is expected to be competing with models like Hyundai Elantra and Suzuki Kizashi of which the latter is ready to foray into the Indian market by December this year. The new model does not feature any major changes but the interiors are rumoured to be inspired from the current Honda CRZ and mainly bespeak of futuristic designs. One of the strongest speculations is that Honda is working on a new improved engine which will power the next generation Honda Civic making it a more fuel efficient and more eco-friendly model by reducing its CO2 emissions.

The model is expected to be introduced in the international market by mid of 2011 and will go on sale commercially by end 2011 or early 2012.

Source;
http://www.civic9forum.com/forum/thread15.html

Temple of Vtec and Priddy: Spied on the Street! 2012 Civic Si COUPE!

Here is a link to the Next Gen Honda Civic SI Coupe spyshots and below that is a rendering of the car that is starting to look a little more plausable....

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=921694

Car and Driver: 2011 Honda Odyssey First Drive

Wow, does the 11 Odyssey ever look good in the Red....
Not exactly all-new, but still all good and still exactly what a minivan should be

When redesigning a vehicle that doesn’t need much improvement, engineers have extra time on their hands. Case in point: The Odyssey’s interior team spent some of theirs measuring 800 purses, ensuring that 80 percent of women’s (and some men’s) carryalls would fit in a new removable bin between the front seats.

Before they could tackle the cabin, though, a little exterior shape-shifting was required, just for the sake of freshness. The wheelbase is unchanged, but the van is almost an inch longer overall, more than two inches wider, and lower by about half an inch. Roof rails are no longer included from the factory, which helps reduce visual height even further. (Roof rails and crossbars are now available exclusively from the dealer; we were told that only a small percentage of previous-gen Odyssey buyers opted for the bars.) The sleek, updated design is dominated by a “lightning bolt” character line intended to make the Odyssey recognizable from afar while also lowering the glass to improve the view for third-row passengers. That assumes they can be persuaded to avert their gaze from the newly available, 16.2-inch widescreen video display. Road-trip time-passing mainstays I Spy and Geography are all but officially obsolete.

Bigger, Longer, Lighter
Although the van is larger overall, Honda managed to reduce weight through the use of more high-strength steel and by trimming poundage wherever possible. Mass is down by a claimed 50 to 100 pounds, depending on trim. Despite having less mass to stop, the brake discs are larger by almost an inch all around. The pedal is firmer, too, and offers more feedback compared with that of the already good 2010 Odyssey.

Considerable chassis-stiffness improvements, as well track increases, led to retuned front and rear independent suspensions that now use bypass-valve-equipped dampers to better soak up harsh impacts. The ride is as comfortable and poised as before, with body roll remaining minimal for a minivan. A new variable-displacement power-steering pump reduces effort slightly, but a bit of steering feel has been lost along with it; the average minivan buyer likely won’t mind, and the Odyssey remains the driver’s choice in the segment. (You may recall that the outgoing model won our most recent minivan comparo.)

Honda’s cylinder-deactivating, 3.5-liter V-6 is now standard across the lineup, with output up four hp and five lb-ft of torque, thanks to a two-stage intake and reduced internal and accessory losses. Apparently not content with offering a single powertrain for all Odysseys, Honda has introduced an additional forward gear ratio—for a total of six—for the Touring and new top-spec Touring Elite. The six-speed’s wider spread helps wring a bit more out of the engine and, along with some Touring-specific aerodynamic massagery, grants the models a 1-mpg advantage in EPA ratings over the five-speed-equipped LX and EX models. All 2011 Odysseys gain a pretty notable 2 to 4 mpg in EPA city and highway figures.

Road-Tripping to Ithaca
The interior, though, is where the magic happens in minivans. (Or is its necessity the result of magic already happening?) This one, unlike those of previous Odysseys, has been designed by Americans, for Americans. The dash layout is cleaner, simpler, and more symmetrical, while the gear selector has been moved down slightly. Thoughtful touches include the aforementioned removable center console—its deployable trash-bag ring provides a destination for empties from the 15 bottle and cup holders—and a cooling box at the base of the center stack.

The second row’s center seat is four inches wider and can be slid toward the front seats for more meaningful parent-child interaction. Folding the center section is less of a hassle, as it no longer requires the removal of the seat-bottom cushion—there also are three cup holders in the seatback-as-armrest that results. Meanwhile, the outboard chairs can be repositioned doorward to initiate “wide mode,” allowing for three-across American adults or a trio of kid seats. (The Odyssey is the first minivan to offer as many as five LATCH positions for car seats.) Assuming no kiddie chairs are in the way, passage to the rearmost bench has been widened by an inch. An easier-to-operate Magic Seat mechanism makes stowing either side of the 60/40 split third row a one-yank operation.

Seven Trims, No Waiting
Honda has adjusted the trim-level offerings for 2011 as well, killing the EX-L model with navigation and rear entertainment and adding the Touring Elite model at the top of the range. Base LX models ($28,580) do without the new front center console and instead pack a pair of floor-mounted cup holders; they also lack the second-row center seat and therefore seat only seven. Moving to the $31,730 EX brings the console and the eighth seat, and it also features power sliding doors and power lumbar for the driver’s seat. The EX-L adds leather, the cooling box, a USB audio interface, and Bluetooth, and costs $35,230. There’s still an EX-L with rear entertainment ($36,830) and one with navigation and a rearview camera ($37,230). But to know where you’re going while also being able to entertain the kids in back, it’s now necessary to move up to the $41,535 Touring model, which includes the six-speed transmission, parking sensors, a center armrest for the third row, and third-row sun shades. The top-spec Touring Elite—or what we like to think of as the Acura of minivans—adds a 12-speaker, 5.1-channel surround-sound system; the 16.2-inch widescreen rear monitor (which can display two inputs side by side); an HDMI input; HID headlights; and a blind-spot monitoring system, all for $44,030. As to availability, you’ll be able to buy the 2011 Odyssey of your dreams at the end of this month.

Even with all of the improvements, the stickers for carry-over trims stay close to 2010 levels, although the all-new Elite extends the price range upward. A full 100 percent of purse carriers should be happy with that.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_honda_odyssey-first_drive_review

Canadian Driver 1st Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey

Well, the reviews are starting to pour in for the new Odyssey....

Review and photos by Grant Yoxon

La Jolla, California – I have a confession to make: I like minivans.
By nature, I am a very practical person. And for a family of five, a minivan with its cavernous interior, seating for seven or eight, or five with a lot of stuff just made a lot of sense.

Apparently my opinion about minivans is not a popular view. Since the early part of the last decade, minivan sales have taken a steep decline. According to Global Insight, the economic forecasting firm, minivan sales in Canada dropped by some 100,000 units between 2003 and 2009.

Minivan owners and those who might be inclined to buy a minivan opted instead for seven passenger sport utility vehicles and the stylish and increasingly popular crossover utility vehicles. One could hypothesize that the growth of this latter category has been at the expense of minivans.

And at the expense of practicality too: it doesn’t matter how practical a vehicle is, it won’t succeed if buyers are embarrassed to be seen in it.

To find out what put people off, Honda rounded up a large group of people and held some focus groups. Not surprisingly, they learned that from 100 metres or so, people couldn’t tell the difference between a Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna or Dodge Grand Caravan. They all had the same one box design with a belt line that ran in a straight line from the top of the front fenders to the rear of the vehicle beneath the windows.

Honda also learned that attitudes toward a minivan purchase could be grouped into three distinct categories: Rejecters – people who put style over practicality and would never consider buying a minivan; Adopters – people like me who placed practical needs over style, and; Hesitators – people who might be persuaded to buy an Odyssey if it didn’t look so darn practical and anonymous.

Needless to say, the outcome of all this research is the 2011 Honda Odyssey, a complete redesign of the Honda minivan and one that Honda hopes will differentiate it from those other uninspiring competitors.

To bring a more modern look to this fourth generation Odyssey, Honda has lowered the roof, widened the body and track and distinguished its profile with a “lightning-bolt” belt line that is both stylish and functional (it adds outside visibility for third row passengers). To reduce the boxy look that comes from a one box design, Honda’s designers stretched out the front A-pillars and added more rake to the rear C-pillars giving the vehicle a roof line that tapers to the rear.

These changes also have a practical application – enhancing aerodynamics which helps to reduce wind noise and fuel consumption. Larger wheels and tires surrounded by noticeable fender flares reduce the body-to-wheel proportion which in turn reduces the perception of vertical height. No longer does a minivan need to look like it is perched precariously on its wheels.

Despite the lower roof, the interior of the Odyssey is as cavernous and roomy as ever with three rows of seats that depending on trim level can seat up to eight passengers. Six adults can sit comfortably in the three rows, as we found out when carrying six well-fed journalists from restaurant to hotel. Leg room in the second and third rows is adult sized and access to the third row does not require any unusual contortions or the flexibility of a six-year-old as is common with three row SUVs.

Pulling one handle near the base of the second row seat flips the seat back forward and moves the seat ahead about eight inches. Combined with a wider opening for the rear sliding door, accessing the third row seat is just a matter of stepping in. Third row room has also been enhanced by moving the spare tire from the side wall to a space under the floor between the front seats.

Of course, the third row seats flip and fold flat into the floor – a feature pioneered by Honda – greatly enhancing cargo carrying capacity. The big difference is that stowing the rear seats (a 60/40 split seat, one large, one small) is no longer a two step process. There is just one pull strap which lowers the seat back and locks it into place while unlatching the seat from the floor, allowing you to pull the seat into the floor with one hand. Honda decided against offering a power rear seat option because the new manual process is just as easy, and quicker, than power operated seats.

The Odyssey that we were treated to in southern California was the top line Touring Trim, a level that includes many features found in luxury vehicles. Its multi-view rear back up camera, for example, is the same as that included in our top-of-the-line Acura ZDX long term tester.

The Touring model is outfitted with a variety of other luxury features including a rear entertainment system that features a 412 mm (16.2 in.) ultra-wide display. The screen can show two different sources at the same time, such as a movie and video game. It also receives a navigation system with voice recognition, 650-watt AM/FM/CD hard disk drive-based 15GB (HDD) premium audio system with 12 speakers including subwoofer and 5.1 surround sound theatre mode.

Starting at $29,990 (a $1,700 reduction from the current DX model), the base Odyssey LX includes such features as cruise control, remote entry system, manual air conditioning, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with manual lumbar, front centre floor tray, sunglasses holder, floor mats (front and second row), one-motion 60/40 split 3rd-row seat, power side mirrors, two-speed/variable intermittent windshield wipers, intermittent rear wiper/washer, rear window defroster, power windows with auto-up/down driver’s and front-passenger’s windows, tilt and telescopic steering column, 10 beverage holders and maintenance minder system.

LX models are equipped with an information display, 229-Watt AM/FM/CD audio system with five speakers including subwoofer and MP3/auxillary input jack. EX ($33,990), EX-RES ($35,490) (RES means Rear Entertainment System) and EX-L (leather) ($40,990) models receive an eight-inch colour display with rear view back-up camera, Bluetooth, AM/FM/CD/CD-Library two-GB memory audio system with seven speakers including subwoofer and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The EX-RES adds a rear entertainment system with nine-inch display and two head phone jacks two wireless headphones, one RCA video input, and one 115V power outlet. EX-L models (and Touring) also receive XM satellite radio and steering wheel mounted phone controls.

Standard equipment on the EX trim line and higher is a second row middle seat that doubles as an armrest with beverage holders and a centre tray for electronic devices. The middle seat also moves forward bringing car seats closer to front seat passengers. Second row seats can also be moved laterally to provide up to 38 mm (1.5 in.) of additional space between the seats. In total, there are child seat latch positions for up five car seats (four for LX models).

Other new and innovative features that have been developed for the Odyssey include a cool box mounted at the base of the centre stack (EX-L and higher) that uses the air conditioning system to keep beverages cool, a removable front floor console (EX and above, replacing the fold down tray found on previous models), and a flip-up trash bag ring (EX and higher) attached to the centre console.

Safety, of course, is a high priority for minivan owners and the 2011 Honda Odyssey contains a wide range of standard passive and active safety features. Safety begins with the vehicle structure which has been enhanced with a greater amount of high strength steel (59 per cent vs. 35 per cent in the previous generation Odyssey). Active safety features include vehicle stability control with traction control, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (with larger rotors than the previous Odyssey) with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, and tire pressure monitoring system. Passive features include three-point seat belts at all seating positions, dual-stage multi-threshold front airbags, front-seat side airbags, three row side-curtain air bags with rollover sensor, active front seat head restraints and adjustable head restraints in all positions. Honda expects the 2011 Odyssey to achieve top safety ratings.

Optional features that enhance safety include single-view (EX, EX-L) or multi-view rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors (EX-L and Touring) and blind spot information system (Touring).

The most significant difference between the Touring ($46,990) and other trim levels is its six-speed automatic transmission. All other trims have a five-speed auto. The principal advantage of the six-speed over the five-speed is a launch from a standstill that feels more powerful and quieter cruising at speed at a lower rpm. Better fuel economy also results. The Honda Odyssey Touring is rated at 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 7.1 on the highway, while all other Odysseys are rated at 11.7 and 7.2 L/100km city/highway. Still this represents an improvement of 1.4/0.7 over the previous 2010 Odyssey LX and EX models.

While producing better fuel economy, the Odyssey’s 3.5-litre V6 engine also produces marginally more horsepower and torque – 248 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque, up four hp and five lb-ft over last year. More significant for most Odyssey buyers is the extension of variable cylinder management – VCM shuts down up to three cylinders when power demand is low – to all EX trim levels. VCM helps save fuel.

The 3.5-litre engine coupled with the six-speed transmission pulled strong from a stop and had generous power at launch, while merging into traffic on the freeway and for passing on the highway. We powered up hills and cruised along the freeway at freeway speeds without fuss and without a lot of noise penetrating the cabin.

At one time, the cavernous interior of some minivans tended to amplify road and wind noise, but the 2011 Honda Odyssey is a well-insulated and quiet place to be. Now with rear seat entertainment systems to keep rear sear passengers occupied, even parents with children can speak to each other at conversational levels.

Both large and small changes – the stretched A and C pillars, panels that sweep the airflow around the front tires and underneath the engine, inner front fender wells that are sculpted rearward to improve engine room air flow, a tailgate spoiler that smoothes air over the rear of the vehicle to reduce turbulence, and a more aerodynamic mirror shape and lower rocker panels on the Odyssey Touring – all contribute to a lower coefficient of drag and a quieter interior.
From the driver’s seat, the blue accented gauges and displays are easy to locate and read, and secondary controls for the audio system, navigation system and climate-control system are all within easy reach and feature large, easy-to-operate buttons and knobs.

The front seats are large and comfortable. With 10-way power adjustment (eight-way for LX) it was easy to find a comfortable driving position. Our Touring testers also had four-way power adjustment for the passenger seat.

The Odyssey EX-L and Touring feature a leather-wrapped steering wheel intended to create a sporty feeling, with steering wheel mounted audio, cruise control, telephone and navigation voice control buttons.

Whether intended or not, some spirited driving through a twisty canyon road revealed a sporting side to the Odyssey that few would believe possible in a minivan. It may never be a sports car, but the 2011 Odyssey’s lighter, stiffer body and firm suspension help the car handle twists and turns without unusual sway and minimal body roll. The new Odyssey felt much smaller than it is with handling equal to or better than the short wheelbase minivans once built by Chrysler and Mazda.

The disappearance of the short wheelbase minivans, such as the Mazda MPV and the Dodge Caravan, were the first signs of a declining market for minivans. They were quickly followed by the departure of the Ford Freestar and one by one, GM’s entries in this segment as well. In 2009, Nissan stopped building its minivan, the Quest.

With minivan sales predicted to level off in the 70,000 units per year range by 2012, one has to ask why Honda would bother investing in a completely new minivan for such a small market. Canada is only a small part of the minivan market in North America: while U.S. minivan sales have fallen from a high of 1.3 million units in 2000 to a predicted half a million vehicles this year, a 500,000 plus market is more than enough for four players to go after. Nissan is obviously rethinking its decision to terminate the Quest and plans to introduce a new Quest at the Los Angeles auto show in November.

In the U.S., the Honda Odyssey is the number one selling minivan (it’s the Grand Caravan in Canada) and its 2011 Odyssey is designed to keep it in the top spot in the North American minivan market.

The 2011 Honda Odyssey goes on sale October 22, 2010.
2011 Honda Odyssey Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (plus approx $,1,500 for freight and pre delivery inspection)
LX: $29,990

EX: $33,990

EX RES: $35,490

EX-L: $40,990

Touring: $46,990

Source (with more pics);

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/09/09/first-drive-2011-honda-odyssey.htm?page=all

Autoblog's First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey!

This is a really good read and takes a in depth look at the 2011 Honda Odyssey....

Honda doesn't redefine the minivan, they strive to perfect it
by Michael Harley

Honda did something silly during the launch of its all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan. The automaker built a large autocross-type "track" in the parking lot of San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium and invited journalists to take its latest eight-passenger family hauler for hot laps. It was an interesting "fish out of water" introduction to Honda's fourth-generation people mover.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the United States, Honda considers the 2011 model an "American Odyssey." The domestic development team, owners of 46 Odysseys between them, labored to deliver a minivan with distinctive style, greater interior versatility and improved fuel economy. Did Honda build itself a worthy successor and how did it fare on the autocross?

Continue reading...

Just follow the 'continue reading' above to read the full post with even more pics!

Japans Honda Inspire (US Accord) Facelift for 2011 Models

I like the chin spoiler on the front, very aggressive....
The Accord is still a global name, but it has stopped being a true global car since the sixth-generation model. Since then, Honda created an Accord for each major type of market: Japan, Europe and North America. Japan and Europe started sharing a more compact version of the Accord since the seventh generation, while the US Accord joined the size race. And since bigger is better in our part of the world, ASEAN got the North American body.

In Japan, the Accord as we know it is called the Inspire, and it has just received a mid life facelift. Our Accord was launched back in April 2008, so it will be three years old next year. Could be time for a facelift, so let’s look at the refreshed Inspire to see what we can expect.

It’s a mild rework similar to the facelifted US Accord, and the changes are most obvious up front. The latest Inspire gets a new grille with a rounder bottom half compared to the current car, and the look is consistent with Honda’s recent products like the RB3 Odyssey. The bumper is also new, and there’s more sculpture work on it. The new grille combines with the strong chin to create a narrower and more prominent “U” shape. At the back, the bumper is reprofiled and there are chrome strips flanking the number plate.

The cabin looks pretty much the same, but this 3.5 V6 Inspire has a full colour sat nav system that uses the main central display, so the climate and audio info are shown on a separate strip just above the air con vents. I’ve always thought that the vast screen is rather “wasted” in our Accord, as it shows very basic information. The centre console is still a button fest on the Inspire, but the layout is slightly different. All these should not make it here as it’s unlikely that our Accord will include built in sat nav as standard.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2010/09/08/honda-inspire-facelifted-in-japan-our-accord-to-follow-suit/

Summary of 2010 Mid-Year Honda CEO Speech

Providing good products to our customers with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions

One year has passed since I acceded to the president of the company in June of last year, and we have entered into the stage where we need to draw up and execute a new growth strategy.

In the past several years, consumer preference has quickly shifted toward smaller sized vehicles in every automobile market around the world due to increasing environmental awareness on a global basis, as well as the structural changes that happened to the global economy. Honda must quickly respond to such changes in the times to achieve further growth and expansion in the future.

Our highest management priority is to establish a corporate structure that ensures a profit while we develop and commercialize advanced environmental technologies, strengthen our business in emerging markets and take prompt action to respond to the market shift toward small-sized vehicles.

Especially, as we are in the midst of a difficult business environment, nothing is more important than going back to Honda's basic principle, that is, to see things from the customer's view point, and continue offering products that please our customers.

Based on this understanding, Honda's "Direction for the next 10 years" was set. What I think is most important and the message I conveyed strongly to all Honda associates was "to provide good products to our customers with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions."

By "good products" we mean to embody customers' wants and needs in attractive products using Honda's unique technologies, knowledge and ingenuity. Such good products must be delivered with speed without making our customers wait, and at affordable prices which make our customers happy with their purchase. This is the direction Honda will take.

"With low CO2 emissions" represents our conviction based on the strong sense of crisis that, as a manufacturer of personal mobility, Honda will have no future unless we achieve a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.

In order to provide good products with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions, concrete measures will be taken with a focus on the following three core areas:
1) Advancement of environmental technologies
2) Strengthening of the manufacturing system and capability
3) Strengthening of business operations in emerging nations
Advancement of environmental technologies

Automobiles

・Honda has been reducing CO2 emissions through technological advancement of a wide range of products including motorcycles, automobiles and power products. Honda has also been committed to the reduction of its environmental footprint through its energy creation products such as solar panels and cogeneration systems.

・Honda will accelerate the effort to reduce its environmental footprint by advancing its environmental technologies and making even more effort to achieve widespread market introduction of such technologies.

Widespread market introduction of IMA Hybrid System

・Honda introduced new models equipped with Honda's original lightweight and compact IMA hybrid system, namely Insight and CR-Z. The percentage of hybrid vehicle sales among all Honda vehicle sales in Japan increased to 16% in 2009. Honda will accelerate widespread market introduction of IMA by enhancing the lineup of models equipped with the IMA system.

・Honda will introduce multiple models, mainly small-sized vehicles, equipped with the IMA system in Japan within approximately one year from now. The first one will be the Fit Hybrid which will be introduced to the Japanese market this fall.

・Honda will also pursue the advancement of battery technologies that are critical to the advancement of hybrid vehicles. The next-generation Civic Hybrid will be equipped with a high-output and compact lithium-ion battery, which will be supplied by Blue Energy, a joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda that will begin production of the battery at its plant in the latter half of this year.

・Honda has been devoting its company resources to the development of advanced environmental technologies. The results of such a strategy will start to be seen as products sometime around 2012.

Plug-in hybrid

・A new plug-in hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles is currently under development. Vehicles equipped with this new system are scheduled to go on sale in 2012 in Japan and the U.S.

・Honda will fulfill customer demand more precisely by developing and adopting multiple hybrid systems that are appropriate for vehicles of different sizes and uses.

Gasoline engine

・In the mid-term, internal combustion engines will remain as the main source of power for automobiles, and therefore Honda will continue advancing technologies to improve the performance and fuel economy of internal combustion engines. Honda will begin renewing its engine and transmission lineup starting in 2012 to further improve its fuel economy.

Diesel engine

・Diesel engines are also effective in reducing CO2 emissions. In addition to the currently available 2.2l engine, Honda is making progress in the development of a smaller diesel engine. A model equipped with this new smaller diesel engine will be introduced in Europe in 2012.

Fuel-cell electric vehicle
・In the long-term, fuel-cell electric vehicles will provide the ultimate mobility. And Honda will continue working on the technological advancement of the FCX Clarity as well as our hydrogen refueling systems.

Battery electric vehicle
・Though there still are some issues that need to be addressed such as range per charge and recharging time, battery EVs have the potential to create a new market as mobility that emits no CO2 during operation. Leveraging the technologies established through the development of fuel-cell electric vehicles, Honda will make progress in the development of a battery EV with a goal to put it in real world use as soon as possible. Honda's battery EV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan and the U.S. in 2012.

Honda will introduce these products by around 2012 and further advance them and accelerate their more widespread introduction to the market in the next 10 years.

Motorcycles

・Considering the current limitation of battery performance, a battery EV will fulfill customer needs in the form of electric motorcycles.

・In December of this year, Honda will begin lease sales of EV-neo to businesses and individual business owners in Japan. Honda will continue to advance the technologies and reduce costs to make it available to individual customers as promptly as possible.

・As a unique trend in the world's largest motorcycle market of China, the market for electric bicycles is rapidly growing there in addition to the market for the motorcycles equipped with gasoline engines Honda is planning to introduce a new product into this market in 2011.

・Honda will introduce electric motorcycles to both advanced and emerging nations, further improve product performance and cost competitiveness and strive to become a market leader in this field, as well.

Power products

・Honda will further advance its "energy creation products" such as solar panels and cogeneration systems to pursue their potential as the future household infrastructure.

Demonstration testing of the next-generation personal mobility

・At the Tokyo Motor Show last year, Honda proposed a concept for the future low-carbon mobility society that utilizes electromotive technologies. Honda will embody this concept and begin demonstration testing with the concept of "Honda Electric Mobility Synergy" in Japan and the U.S. within this year.

・In Japan, within this year, and conducted jointly with Kumamoto and Saitama prefecture where Honda already has some operations, Honda will begin the comprehensive demonstration testing of next-generation personal mobility that combines an energy supply infrastructure such as a solar-powered EV-refueling station with advanced environmentally-responsible vehicles such as the electric scooter EV-neo, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles as well as other electromotive products such as the electric cart, Monpal. In addition, through the cooperation of the local community, Honda will study how future personal mobility should be designed to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of local residents.

・In the U.S., starting by the end of this year, Honda will begin demonstration testing of automobile environmental technologies such as battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with participants including Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, California in separate testing under the Advanced Technology Demonstration Program.


Strengthening the manufacturing system and capability

Role of Japan

・Manufacturing technologies for advanced environmental technologies including electromotive technologies will be established and advanced in Japan where we have accumulated highly sophisticated manufacturing technologies and know how. In addition, further advancement of manufacturing technologies to accommodate the trend to make our products smaller will evolve from Japan to other parts of the world.

・Based on the recognition that the role played by Honda factories in Japan will become increasingly more important, Honda management has been discussing the roles our factories in Japan must play in the future.

・Honda factories in Japan will focus on the following three roles;
1) pursuit of manufacturing technologies for environmentally-responsible products and small-sized vehicles,
2) efficient production of the products to be sold in Japan and
3) strengthening the support functions for Honda plants outside of Japan.

・Based on this determination of the focus areas, the direction was determined for the two new plants in Japan where plans have been pending.

Yorii plant - which will become operation in 2013

・With a goal to begin production in 2013, Honda will resume preparation of the Yorii plant in Saitama. The Yorii plant will play a role not only to strengthen Honda's cost and quality competitiveness, but also to establish the necessary and highly sophisticated next-generation manufacturing technologies related to the production of environmentally-responsible products and low CO2 emissions production. Furthermore Yorii will be responsible for evolving such technologies to other Honda production operations around the world.

・The Yorii plant will create new value and innovative technologies which can be realized only at the Yorii plant and lead other Honda plants around the world as a state-of-the-art next-generation plant which pursues energy efficiency.

・Through various initiatives, including the introduction of a system which optimally controls the amount of energy used for production and the recycling of energy, the Yorii plant will strive to become an environmentally-responsible and advanced auto plant which reduces the amount of energy used to produce each vehicle by more than 30% compared to production at the existing Sayama plant.

・The Yorii plant will start with small-volume production of environmentally-responsible vehicles which requires highly sophisticated manufacturing technologies to mature its advanced technologies, then eventually increase production volume. Then Yorii will evolve such manufacturing technologies, that are keys to the next-generation of Honda, to other Honda operations around the world to achieve the global growth of Honda.

Starting production of mini-vehicles in Suzuka Factory and cancelling the construction of a new Yachiyo plant

・To accommodate the global shift toward smaller vehicles, Honda will begin production of mini-vehicles at its Suzuka Factory in 2012. Through mini-vehicle production at Suzuka Factory, Honda will establish manufacturing technologies that will contribute to the effort to reduce the bodyweight and cost of Honda's next-generation models.

・Such manufacturing technologies will be applied to small-sized vehicles, and then evolved from Suzuka to other Honda production operations around the world.

・Based on this decision, Yachiyo Industry decided to cancel the planned construction of a new Yachiyo plant. The mini-vehicle production at Yachiyo's existing plant will be continued.

Global production

・Based on its basic policy to build products close to the customer, Honda will further localize its production mostly in emerging markets.

・Honda will strengthen its cross-factory/cross-border supply system by increasing the flexibility of its manufacturing system. As a result, Honda will establish a solid manufacturing system which enables Honda to better respond to drastic changes in the market.

Strengthening business in emerging markets

・In emerging nations, where continuous growth is expected, Honda will leverage its strength of having access to a wider range of customers through its motorcycle, automobile and power products businesses and thoroughly be committed to deliver products that customers want with more speed and affordability.

Motorcycle business

Emerging nations

・In emerging nations, motorcycles are a part of people's daily lives, and giant markets with the overwhelming size of their populations have the potential to grow further and become key pillars of Honda's business.

・Today, key competitors in those markets are Chinese and Indian makers. In order for Honda to remain as a market leader, Honda must not only maintain the high attractiveness and quality of our products but also further improve cost competitiveness to match the low prices of these competitors.

・In addition to developing attractive products, Honda has been increasing its cost competitiveness by pursuing the thorough localization of production including local procurement of components and materials. As a result of more than 40 years of such continued effort, Honda's motorcycle production plant in Thailand has grown to be a production base of Honda's global models.

・Following the introduction of PCX, an all-new sports type model will be introduced first to the Thai market this fall, then to other markets around the world. Honda will increase the number of global models produced in Asia.

・To achieve further localization, production capacity will be expanded. In addition to the capacity expansions in India and Vietnam, Honda will expand its annual motorcycle production capacity in Indonesia to 4 million units by building a new plant with a capacity of 500,000 units, which will become operational in the latter half of 2011. Moreover, Honda will continue introducing new models to the market to accommodate the growth of the Indonesian market.

・After the completion of these capacity expansions, Honda's annual motorcycle production capacity in Asia (excluding Japan) will increase from the current approximately 16 million units to 18 million units by the end of 2011, enabling Honda to more quickly meet customer demand.

・By leveraging the economies of scale achieved by the annual production of 18 million units, Honda will make more progress in localizing all processes from development to procurement and production in order to further improve its competitiveness.

Advanced nations

・In advanced nations, the business environment is tough as the overall motorcycle market continues to shrink. However, Honda will leverage its competitiveness in Asia and create attractive products with more affordability. In doing so, Honda will strive to expand customer segments and revitalize the market.

・First, Honda will introduce a new mid-class model, which is expected to be a new benchmark for the FUN model category which is focused on recreational needs, to market around the world from next year.

・Unlike conventional FUN models which focus on high power output, the new model will utilize advanced technologies and ideas unique to Honda and highlight the joy of riding and ease of handling with some unique characteristics such as a dynamic ride with low-speed torque. By offering it at an affordable price, Honda will strive to make it a product that pleases more customers.

・With the introduction of FUN models, which offer new values and that more people feel familiar with and enjoy riding, Honda will create a new motorcycle market in advanced nations.

Nigeria

・In continuously growing African markets as well, Honda will leverage its competitiveness in Asia to expand sales.

・In Nigeria, the largest motorcycle market in Africa with the size of approximately 800,000 units annually, we can expect further expansion of a new market for motorcycles as an everyday means of transportation for individual consumers. Honda will launch a new 125cc model in mid-2011. China-made parts and components will be used to increase the cost competitiveness of the product, but at the same time the model will be appealing as it adequately fulfills customer requests.

・Honda will expand motorcycle sales for individual consumers in other African nations in addition to Nigeria.

Automobile business

・For automobile business as well, Honda will leverage the strength it has obtained through its localized motorcycle business in Asia.

・In order to be competitive in emerging nations where the market for small-sized vehicles is rapidly growing, Honda will further accelerate its effort to localize automobile production based on the concept to produce locally using locally produced dies, materials and components.

・In India, Honda is planning to introduce a new entry model vehicle in 2011 at a price less than 500,000 rupee.

・In Thailand, a new eco-car with an excellent level of fuel economy, based on the same vehicle to be introduced in India, will be introduced to the market in 2011. This vehicle is scheduled to be exported to other ASEAN nations as well.

Power products business

・In emerging nations, power products are even more closely involved in people's daily lives than motorcycles, and therefore explosive growth of the market can be expected.

・Especially in Africa where demand for generators is growing rapidly, Honda will aim to increase generator sales by offering attractive products at affordable prices while maximizing the use of its production base in China and India. In India, in addition to conventional generators, Honda will begin production of an inverter-equipped generator, which can be used for precision equipment such as medical equipment and requires a high level of technological capability to produce. This will be the first time inverter-equipped generators will be produced in India.

・In China, where mechanization of agriculture is taking place, Honda will become the first Japanese maker to begin local production of a small tiller. By leveraging its accumulated technological capabilities and knowhow, Honda will proactively cultivate new markets.

Conclusion

・The next 10 years will be very critical for Honda to survive in the midst of major changes in the times that include an increase in environmental awareness and changes in the global economic structure.

・Honda is totally committed to provide good products with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions while viewing things from the viewpoint of our customers.

・To address the increase in environmental awareness, Honda will further advance its original and advanced environmental technologies and accelerate the more widespread market introduction of such technologies by offering them in attractive products.

・To address changes in the structure of the global economy, Honda will re-strengthen its capability as a manufacturer that is unique to Honda. This includes two primary areas; 1) strengthening business in emerging nations and 2) strengthening the competitiveness of Honda's small-sized vehicles.

・While executing these initiatives speedily, Honda will strengthen its corporate structure to achieve further growth and make another leap forward.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1539-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode