Honda Pilot Receives "Family Car of the Year" Award From Cars.com

01/17/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2012 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced that the 2012 Honda Pilot has received the Cars.com"Family Car of the Year," award. The Pilot SUV received a wide range of upgrades for 2012, including a sleeker front-end design, enhanced interior features and improved fuel economy. The 2012 Pilot had already earned the top spot in the"USA Today, MotorWeek and Cars.com $37k and Under SUV Shootout,"with the editor-in-chief touting the Pilot as"the perfect SUV for buyers who want to comfortably haul the entire family and all of their gear."

"We're delighted to see the eight-passenger Pilot's versatility and family-friendly attributes recognized with this prestigious award,"said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning, American Honda Motor Co. "The newly refined and more fuel-efficient Pilot provides real value and surprising sophistication for anyone shopping in the segment."

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Cars.com Family Car of the Year award, which was presented last year to the Honda Odyssey. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is an online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. For more information on the Best of the Year Awards, visit http://www.cars.com/awards/.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-pilot-receives-family-car-of-the-year-award-from-cars-com

Next Generation Mazda Miata/MX-5

Mazda is hard at work on a new MX-5 that’s set to capture the spirit of the original eighties model, thanks to a huge reduction in weight and a pure and simple driving experience.

Key to the next-generation MX-5 is the firm’s SKYACTIV technologies that focus on reducing weight and improving efficiency. While the current car weighs around 1,050kg, Mazda engineers are reportedly on track for a kerbweight of under 900kg.

Mazda has said that it hopes the body alone will account for a 10 per cent weight loss, despite the fact it is about 30 per cent stiffer than the current car, thanks to the use of more high-strength steel.

The chassis itself will also be 10 per cent lighter than the current car's, with redesigned suspension and steering hoping to offer a lightness and agility at low speeds but a more secure feeling at high speeds.

With a new lighter car will come a range of smaller capacity engines. Currently the MX-5 is powered by 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engines producing up to 170bhp. The new car is expected to use a turbocharged 1.3-litre SKYACTIV engine, although a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre unit will also be offered.

The MX-5’s new look is inspired by the Takeri concept that debuted at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The new design language incorporates a larger shield grille and defined creases in the bodywork.

Expect the next-generation Mazda MX-5 to be unveiled towards the end of 2013, with sales starting the following year.

Source;
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/277357/new_mazda_mx5.html

Carscoop!: Subaru BRZ Black Edition by Prova from the Tokyo Auto Salon [Video]

I have got to say this is one gorgeous car....

Prova, one of the more notable Subaru tuners in the Land of the Rising Sun, teamed up with the Japanese automaker to display a bespoke edition of the new BRZ sports coupe at this past weekend's 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon.

The BRZ Black Edition is supposed to be a more mature tuning take on the rear-wheel drive model that goes on sale worldwide this spring.

The package combines a blacked out body with orange pinstriping and a styling kit that includes a front lip spoiler, side skirts, a different rear diffuser and a (not so mature…) massive rear wing, along with new 19-inch alloy wheels from Enkei shod in beefier rubber.

A high-performance braking system and a sports exhaust system with central mounted tail pipes plus body hugging Recaro bucket seats and a new audio system inside round out the changes on the Black Edition showcar.

Neither Prova nor Subaru said if they have any plans to produce the BRZ Black Edition.

Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/01/subaru-brz-black-edition-by-prova-from.html

Takeros Honda Fit Turbo Gets Wide and Wild: 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon

By Colum Wood of Autoguide

Known for modifying wagons like the Honda Odyssey and Nisaan Stegea, Japanese tuner Takero’s recently expanded its product offering to include the Honda Fit – with impressive results. First came aerodynamic components, followed by suspension parts, now Takero’s has revealed a wide body kit for the Fit at the Tokyo Auto Salon, plus a turbocharger setup.

Head-on the Takero’s Fit still looks impressive, but the widebody sub-compact looks a little absurd from any other angle. The obvious advantage, however, is the ability to fit wider tires for more grip, with some massive 225/35/18 rubber on this machine. And that extra tire is no doubt necessary to help put down the extra power generated by the new turbocharger setup. Unfortunately, Takero’s hasn’t released any specs on the kit, but we’d expect something close to the 180 hp mark.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/01/takeros-honda-fit-turbo-gets-wide-and-wild-2012-tokyo-auto-salon.html

Honda may spend $650 mln to restore flood-hit Thai plant - Nikkei

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co <7267.T> will completely overhaul its flood-hit factory in Thailand in a project that could cost more than 50 billion yen, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

Thailand's worst floods in half a century late last year hit Honda the hardest among Japanese automakers, with its 240,000-cars-a-year plant in the Ayutthaya Province in central Thailand submerged under water.

Honda, Japan's No. 3 car producer, has already started replacing equipment with the aim of resuming output in April, the Nikkei said.

Refurbishing the flood-hit factory will almost be the equivalent of building a plant from scratch, the Nikkei quoted an unnamed Honda executive as saying.

Honda may receive payment from insurers, which are still assessing damage at the factory, as early as in the current financial year to March, lessening Honda's financial burden to a certain extent, the Nikkei said.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne, Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

Source;
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/honda-may-spend-36650-mln-to-restore-flood-hit-thai-plant-nikkei_651354.html

Honda Shows 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon the Flash Box, the Freed Wa, the Freed Spike Transporter and the Beat Auto Salon Special.

by By Paul Lienert, Inside Line

Just the Facts:
-At the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda is showing a variety of customized and "accessorized" vehicles for the Japanese market.
-Honda's TAS display includes the Flash Box, the Freed Wa, the Freed Spike -Transporter and the Beat Auto Salon Special.
-The auto salon is Japan's answer to SEMA.

TOKYO — Honda is having a rollicking good time at this year's 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, with the outrageously outfitted Flash Box and the delightfully named Freed Wa and Freed Spike Transporter.

The Tokyo auto salon, which is basically Japan's answer to the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas, runs this weekend, featuring a wild mix of production, concept, tuner, racing, prototype, customized and "accessorized" vehicles.

Honda said its display was designed to "present an exciting variety of approaches to customization while conveying the joy of mobility and the appeal of motor sports."

The Honda stand features the Flash Box, which is based on the new N Box Custom minicar that was released in December in Japan. The Flash Box gets custom paint and employs LEDs and reflective decals to adorn the exterior and interior of the boxy hatchback.

The Freed Wa — wa refers to traditional Japanese culture — is based on the Freed Hybrid compact minivan and showcases a lacquered exterior with a four-seasons interior motif.
Honda Racing has created another Freed spin-off, the Freed Spike Transporter, which was designed to haul off-road motorcycles.

Finally, an Auto Salon special edition of Honda's now-defunct Beat micro-roadster wears a special lower skirt and a custom paint job.

Inside Line says: The Japanese love their custom cars — the wilder, the better.

Source;

http://www.insideline.com/honda/honda-creates-best-japanese-car-name-freed-spike-transporter.html

All-new 2012 Honda CR-V, Canada's top-selling import SUV, makes its debut at the Montreal International Auto Show

Honda extends its stylish, performance-oriented lineup with New Civic Si Coupe HFP and Remix 2.0 Civic and Accord
MONTREAL, Jan. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - At today's Montreal International Auto Show, Honda Canada unveiled the sporty, performance-oriented heart of its 2012 lineup by showcasing the newest edition to the Honda Factory Performance line-up, the Civic Si Coupe HFP. This vehicle was joined by the Remix Accord 2.0 and Remix Civic 2.0, two new after-market, tuned project vehicles that exemplify Honda's race-inspired DNA. Honda also highlighted the all-new 2012 CR-V, Canada's top import SUV, which is just now going on sale across Canada.

"The Honda CR-V has always set the bar in the compact SUV class and the all-new 2012 CR-V does so again with a bold striking style, improved fuel economy and more technology than ever before, including an all-new Real Time All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system with Intelligent Control," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada.

"We are especially proud that the new 2012 CR-V will be built here in Canada, bringing the total of Canadian-built Honda vehicles in Canada to about 70 per cent of total sales."

For 2012, the fourth-generation Honda CR-V embraces a sophisticated styling direction in conjunction with improved interior comfort, improved fuel economy, a smoother and quieter ride, and more innovative features as part of a 'total package' approach. Long considered as a benchmark vehicle in its class with high levels of quality, refinement and value, the 2012 CR-V is designed to exceed customer expectations in Canada's compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment with and added content providing up to $2,500 in value.

In dealerships now starting at just $25,990, the all-new Honda CR-V has its lowest starting price in more than a decade. Additional information, including photos, can be found at www.hondanews.ca

The All-New Civic Si Coupe HFP
For 2012, Honda is extending Honda Factory Performance program to include the 2012 Civic Si Coupe HFP. Joining the Accord HFP, which made its debut in 2011, the all-new Civic HFP will feature improved handling performance and more aggressive styling characteristics. The 2012 Civic Si Coupe HFP will go on sale this spring.

"After receiving positive feedback on our Accord HFP from this past year, we wanted to deliver a similar performance and styling direction to Canada's top-selling car," said Chenkin. "Civic Si Coupe HFP is perfect for the car enthusiast who wants a great car with a special, limited-edition look and feel - right off the lot!"

2012 Civic Si Coupe HFP Highlights:
-2.4 litre, DOHC i-VTEC® engine, 4-cylinder 16-valve with 201 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque
-Close-ratio 6 speed manual transmission
-18" HFP aluminum-alloy wheels with Michelin Super Sport Performance Tires
-HFP Suspension Package
-HFP side underbody, front bumper underbody and rear bumper underbody spoilers
-HFP exterior badging and interior floor mats
-Helical limited-slip differential
-Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with bilingual Voice Recognition
-Leather-wrapped steering wheel
-Sport seats with high-contrast stitching and embroidery
-360-watt AM/FM/CD premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 7 speakers including subwoofer, USB, and XM Satellite Radio
-HandsFreeLink™-bilingual Bluetooth® wireless mobile phone interface

All-New Honda Remix 2.0 Civic and Remix 2.0 Accord
Honda has once again teamed up with Performance Auto & Sound Magazine (PASMAG) to push the limits of both performance and expressive design with Honda vehicles. This partnership was designed to connect Honda with its vast network of enthusiasts across the country, and demonstrate the tuning potential of Honda platforms. Beyond the unique exterior design scheme of the Remix 2.0 Accord and Civic, significant upgrades under the hood were added to back up their aggressive demeanour.

"These Remix cars are all about providing experts with an open canvas to do what Honda enthusiasts have always loved doing - taking a great Honda and personalizing it," said Chenkin.
Remix Civic Si Coupe OverviewThe philosophy behind the Civic Si Remix was to take an already sporty vehicle and showcase its aftermarket performance potential, including increasing the engine's output. To accomplish this, a full Race Turbo Kit (designed specifically for the Civic Si's 2.4L engine) and Borg Warner EFR 7163 Turbo have been installed, providing the Remix Civic Si Coupe an output boost to more than 400 horsepower.

To accentuate the car's new, more aggressive nature, the body has been treated with black trim to provide contrast with the stylish Frozen Grey paint and a carbon fibre hood has been added to reduce weight. The wheels were also upgraded to 19x8.5 Konig Avanti alloys.

Other modification highlights include:
-Full Honda Factory Performance (HFP) body kit
-HSD Coilovers
-Wilwood Engineering Superlite 6R Front Brakes
-Vibrant ™ Sports Exhaust
-Factory seats were replaced with red Sparco Chrono front seats, a Momo Race Evo shift knob and Momo Gotham Racing pedals for precise inputs
-Philips LED lighting installed throughout the cabin
-Addition of Kenwood's DNX6180 double-din Multimedia DVD Receiver with Navigation and Bluetooth.
-Impressive 6.1-inch touchscreen offers vivid image quality and an intuitive GUI.

Remix Accord V6 Coupe Overview
In 2011, Performance Auto & Sound Magazine (PASMAG) brought some of the Accord V6's performance potential to light through the Remix Accord - a vehicle that featured style and performance enhancements both inside and out. That vehicle created a lot of buzz and served as a reminder of Honda's performance core.

For 2012, Honda and PASMAG, along with its partners at International Automotive and Custom, are taking performance enhancement to an exciting new level with the Remix Accord 2.0.

With the 2012 Accord V6 already producing a very respectable 271 horsepower with its 3.5L V6, the challenge for PASMAG was to crank up the performance, and enhance the car's winning style at the same time. To do so, a CT Engineering Supercharger now pushes peak horsepower well north of 300. A Magnaflow stainless steel muffler and a custom stainless exhaust were also installed to allow the fumes to escape quickly and produce a throatier sound.

The focus then turned towards enhancing the Accord Coupe's muscular looks. The application of Matte Frozen Grey paint is accentuated with Black trim, creating a truly muscular and menacing appearance. Twenty-inch Vossen VVS-CV3 alloy wheels with a matte black machined finish were have been installed and then wrapped in Kumho rubber, with P245/30/20s up front and P275/30/20 in the rear.

Other modification highlights include:
-Full Honda Factory Performance (HFP) body kit
-Eurolite HID low-beams and Philips Crystal Vision Ultra-Bright high beams
-Rotora Front Brakes
-BC Racing Coilovers
-Leather seat covers in both the front and rear
-Race shift knobs and pedals
-Philips LED lighting installed throughout the cabin.
-JBL GTO1004 4-channel amp featuring variable electronic crossover and bass boost
-Bazooka BTA10100FHC 10-inch Amplified Basstube
-JBL P660C 6.5-inch 2-way component speaker systems and a set of JBL GTO628 6.5-inch speakers surround the occupants with sound.

Further information is available upon request or by visiting www.hondanews.ca

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/904857/all-new-2012-honda-cr-v-canada-s-top-selling-import-suv-makes-its-debut-at-the-montreal-international-auto-show

TOV's Director of Design Neal McDaniel Photoshops a 2013 Honda Accord Speculation

Based on the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept, this looks like a very real rendition.... great job!
Inspired by the recently revealed 2013 Accord Coupe Concept, TOV's Director of Design Neal McDaniel worked some of his photoshop magic to create his version of the 2013 Accord Sedan Type-S. Here's what he had to say about it:

(This) was a challenge to sort out - and I still think it's a little unusual with the essentially an italicized roof of the sedan grafted onto the coupe. My rationalization was that the coupe roofline changed little so I'll keep the sedan's as well... It's mostly working for me as a what-if - to see if a sedan inspired by the new surface treatments of the coupe concept can be somewhat aesthetically pleasing and believable. In beautiful desert bronze...

Source;

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1030821