Just Announced! |
 |
| *Limited time financing offers based on new 2010 Honda models available through Honda Financial Services on approved credit. 0.9% financing available on all new 2010 Civic, Accord and CR-V models for up to 60 months on approved credit. Retailer may sell for less. Retailer order / trade may be necessary. Offer valid from January 27th, 2010 through March 1st, 2010 at participating Honda retailers. Offer valid only for Ontario residents at Ontario Honda Dealers. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. See your Honda retailer for full details. |
Friday, January 29, 2010
News so BIG, We Had to Tell You About it!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Hot Off The Press!
This just came in! Hot off the press, well fax machine... Honda has put together a very special program to help consumers make an easier decision in purchasing their next vehicle. These interest rates are the lowest that they have ever been. No one knows how long they will last, so hurry in and don't miss out on the savings!
Our own Honda HFP Ridgeline with BF Goodrich Badging
This HFP Honda Ridgeline was a custom piece that we did for a customer. Complete with a lift-kit, BF Goodrich badging and HFP performance parts. With a truck like this, you can park anywhere you want.
Honda's New Solar Charging Station for the FCX Clarity
01/27/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -Honda today began operation of a next generation solar hydrogen station prototype at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., intended for ultimate use as a home refueling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles.
Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user's garage, Honda's next generation Solar Hydrogen Station reduces the size of the system, while producing enough hydrogen (0.5kg) via an 8-hour overnight fill for daily commuting (10,000 miles per year) for a fuel cell electric vehicle.
The previous solar hydrogen station system required both an electrolyzer and a separate compressor unit to create high pressure hydrogen. The compressor was the largest and most expensive component and reduced system efficiency. By creating a new high differential pressure electrolyzer, Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely - a world's first for a home use system. This innovation also reduces the size of other key components to make the new station the world's most compact system, while improving system efficiency by more than 25% (value calculated based on simulations) compared to the solar hydrogen station system it replaces.
Compatible with a "Smart Grid" energy system, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station would enable users to refill their vehicle overnight without the requirement of hydrogen storage, which would lower CO2 emissions by using less expensive off-peak electrical power. During daytime peak power times, the Solar Hydrogen Station can export renewable electricity to the grid, providing a cost benefit to the customer, while remaining energy neutral.
Designed for simple, user-friendly operation, the intuitive system layout enables the user to easily lift and remove the fuel hose, with no hose coiling when the hose is returned to the dispenser unit.
Engineered for an 8-hour, slow fill for overnight refilling of a fuel cell electric vehicle, the home-use Solar Hydrogen Station would replenish the hydrogen for a typical daily driving, meeting the commuting requirements of many drivers. As with the previous generation system, the hydrogen purity from the new station meets the highest SAE (J2719) and ISO (14687) specifications.
Installed at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, the new Solar Hydrogen Station will employ the same 48-panel, 6.0kW solar array that powered the previous system. The array utilizes thin film solar cells composed of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) produced by Honda Soltec Co., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda that was established for the mass production and sales of solar cells capable of efficient renewable electricity generation. Honda's unique solar cells reduce the amount of CO2 generated during production as compared to conventional solar cells.
Designed to support the needs of the future owners of fuel cell electric vehicles, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station was also designed to complement a public network of fast fill hydrogen stations. The Honda FCX Clarity electric vehicle is fast fill capable and offers an EPA-estimated driving range of 240 miles. With fast fill public stations providing 5-minute fueling time for longer trips, and the opportunity of convenient nighttime slow filling at home using a solar station with a Smart Grid connection, the Honda FCX Clarity can cover a wide range of driving demands from the daily commute to weekend trips.
A key strategy in creating a solar hydrogen station for home-use was to create a new lifestyle with convenient, clean, energy-efficient and sustainable home refueling, by addressing the need for refueling infrastructure that can advance the wider use of fuel cell electric vehicles by consumers.
The combination of a fuel cell electric vehicle and the solar hydrogen station could help lead to the establishment of a hydrogen society based on renewable energy, resulting in a major reduction of CO2 emissions and greater energy sustainability.
Honda began operation of its first Solar Hydrogen Station at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas in 2001:
July 2001: 3-unit system with hydrogen storage begins operation.
October 2003: new 2-unit system with an original Honda electrolyzer and a new solar array utilizing prototype Honda CIGS solar cells offers improved system efficiency.
August 2008: solar array fitted with mass production CIGS cells from Honda Soltec Co., reducing the size of the array by 20% and further improving photo voltaic (PV) energy efficiency.
January 2010: new single-unit station begins operation, improving to world's best system efficiency - increasing the efficiency by more than 25% (value calculated based on simulations) compared to the previous solar hydrogen station system, for a world's highest system efficiency.
About Honda R&D Americas, Inc.Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA) is responsible for creating advanced technologies and products in the U.S. that provide new value to Honda and Acura customers. HRA began R&D operations in the U.S. in 1975 with market research activities in California, and has steadily grown its capabilities over the past 35 years to include all aspects of new vehicle design and development, as well as taking a leading role in the advancement of leading-edge safety and environmental technologies.
Today, Honda operates 15 major R&D facilities in the U.S. with more than 1,300 designers, engineers and support personnel engaged in the development of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products for North America and global markets.
HRA's major centers include the Los Angeles Center (Torrance, CA), responsible for market research, concept development and styling design; the Ohio Center (Raymond, OH) responsible for complete product development, testing and support of North American supplier development; and a dynamic test facility in Ohio; and the North Carolina Center (Swepsonville, NC) responsible for power equipment R&D.
Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5366
Spy Shots of the New Honda Odyssey - Debut at the Chicago Auto Show
01/26/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. - American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will debut a concept version of the next-generation Honda Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show on February 10, the company announced today.The next-generation Odyssey will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency. The Odyssey, currently in its third generation, was the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2008 and 2009. It is produced from domestic and globally sourced parts by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC in Lincoln, Alabama.
Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5365
2011 Honda CR-Z Official Website
For those of you interested in any new news on the 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid, here's the link to Honda's dedicated CR-Z site;http://cr-z.honda.com/
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Gesture Control Coming to a Honda Near You!
Honda Gathers Advance 4 is a technology that will combine voice command (voice recognition) and gesture control (command based on the movement) to operate the car navigation system and entertainment media in the car (multimedia system). At least with these two things above, you do not need to turn your eyes from the road.
As seen in the figure, motion sensors placed in the center of the steering wheel so that when you want to access a menu, simply move the hand on the steering wheel and it can be done without seeing.
The Honda Gathers system is a proprietary Honda audio, multimedia and navigation system already on the market in Japan. The idea of using both voice and gesture recognition to control an entertainment and navigation system makes more sense than any touch-based system, so we’re quite keen to see whetre things lead with this.Source;
http://www.itechdiary.com/honda-gathers-advance-4-technology-that-combines-voice-command-and-gesture-control-in-the-car.html
Keyless Ignition Systems being Questioned
A lot of people come in and ask "Why doesn't Honda have keyless ignition systems in it's vehicles?" Well it turns out, Honda's just playing it safe. Here is an article of what the users of these systems have to say.
The sleek Infiniti G37 Cindy Marsh bought last August was the car of her dreams, equipped with the latest keyless electronics technology that allows her to start the engine with the touch of a button.
But right away, the system gave her trouble. To get the engine started, she would sometimes have to tap the power button repeatedly. Sometimes it wouldn't start unless she opened and closed the car doors, Marsh recalled.
She eventually adapted to the system's quirks but said that even now she isn't sure how to shut off the engine in an emergency."
I don't know if I ever read it in the owners manual or not," said Marsh, who lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Old-school car keys appear headed for extinction, as automakers rush to install wireless systems that allow drivers to unlock their doors and start their engines with an electronic fob that they never have to take out of their purse or pocket.
Introduced less than a decade ago on luxury models, the push-button systems are rapidly spreading to all segments of the market, including bargain-priced Kias. The number of models with them as standard or optional equipment has quadrupled in the last five years.
Many drivers don't fully understand how the systems work, however, leaving them vulnerable to potentially serious safety problems.
In complaints to federal regulators, motorists have reported that they were unable to shut down engines during highway emergencies, including sudden acceleration events. In other cases, parked vehicles accidentally rolled away and engines were left running for hours without their owners realizing it.
And although traditional keys all work the same way and are universally understood by consumers, automakers have adopted different procedures for using the keyless ignition systems. As a result, owners may not know how to operate their own cars in an emergency, let alone a rented or borrowed car.
"Where you have a second to make an emergency maneuver, you shouldn't have to search around for the right procedure to use on a switch," said Henry Jasny, general counsel at Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., that pushes for laws to make roads safer.
Standards weighed
The risk is considered serious enough that federal regulators and an auto industry trade group are looking at adopting standard procedures.
All of the systems rely on a similar architecture that uses a fob: a small transmitter that communicates with the vehicle's computer. The fob can automatically open door locks when the owner approaches the vehicle, and then the engine can be started with just the push of a power button on the dashboard.
But to shut down the engine while the vehicle is moving, drivers must hold down the power button for one to three full seconds, depending on the make. In some cases, two or three successive taps on the button will work. Mercedes-Benz allows drivers to kill the engine with a single push of the power button, but only if the transmission is in neutral. At least one manufacturer prevents emergency engine shutdowns if the vehicle is moving at less than 5 mph.
Industry officials say that the devices have become wildly popular with buyers and that glitches will be eliminated through the normal course of technological improvements, making new regulations unnecessary.
"We really haven't seen too much confusion with these systems," said Dave Proefke, a vehicle security engineer at General Motors Co.
"As they become more widely adopted, I think we'll find that they converge in how they operate," he said.
Besides offering convenience for motorists, Proefke said, the technology gives auto designers greater styling freedom because there's no longer the need for a key cylinder in the steering column. It also benefits older people who have difficulty removing keys from their pockets or turning a key in a lock.
And "it has that cool factor," said Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing at www.edmunds.com, an Internet automobile research site.
Auto safety experts say the industry needs to do a better job explaining the functions of advanced technology to motorists and needs to adopt common operating procedures.
Automakers are offering the systems on 155 models this year, compared with 41 in the 2006 model year, according to Edmunds.com. Ford Motor is planning to make keyless ignition an option in its entry-level 2011 Fiesta, due out later this year.
Freeway panic
But some owners say that confusing software rules have put them in peril.
Wally Brithinee was in his 2007 Toyota Avalon last August when it began to speed out of control on Interstate 5 near San Diego. Thinking quickly, Brithinee, president of an electric motor repair business in Colton, pressed the sedan's power button, but nothing happened.
"This car isn't stopping," he told a passenger as he felt panic swelling in his chest. "I really didn't know what to do at that point."
Five terrifying miles later, Brithinee managed to halt the runaway Avalon by braking hard and shifting to a lower gear. He walked away unharmed. All that could have been avoided, he later learned, had he depressed the button for a full three seconds, the emergency shut-off procedure used in Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.
A keyless ignition system may also have played a role in the Aug. 29 crash that took the life of California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and three members of his family when a Lexus ES 350 lent to Saylor by a car dealer accelerated out of control to speeds of more than 120 mph before hitting an embankment in suburban San Diego County.
Some safety experts believe that a warning label should be included on the dashboard, telling motorists how to shut off the engine. But industry analysts say manufacturers typically resist installing such labels.
What's more, automakers maintain that shutting off the engine may not be the best option in an emergency, because doing so will cause the driver to lose power steering and possibly braking ability.
Toyota has blamed the San Diego accident on a floor mat that trapped the accelerator pedal. But a September memorandum by investigators for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also identified the Lexus' push-button ignition as one of the "significant factors" in the crash and noted that "there was no ignition key" that could shut down the engine or warning label on the power button to explain how to shut off the engine.
In the aftermath of the Saylor tragedy, Toyota issued a recall covering 4.3 million of its vehicles and said it would modify gas pedals, change floor padding and install new software.
Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the company is also discussing internally whether to change the function of its power button.
And Thursday, Toyota launched another recall targeting 2.3 million vehicles, including many of the models subject to the floor-mat recall, saying their gas pedals could stick.
Paul Green, a human factors expert at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, said he sees the issue with keyless technology as part of a growing problem of high-tech features being introduced faster than the industry is able to agree on common operating procedures.
"The amount of research we are doing is not adequate," Green said.
Motorists are confused even when they pay top dollar for advanced features. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found in a recent survey that a majority of owners of Infinitis equipped with automatic lane departure warning systems did not know that a button on the steering wheel turned the system on and off.
"They had no idea that they had a button on the steering wheel that could activate the system," said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute.
The highway safety administration said in a statement that it has begun to look into possible standards for the keyless systems. And the Society of Automotive Engineers formed a committee in July to examine keyless technology and "study a possible standard on how long the ignition button should be depressed to shut off the engine."
But new federal safety rules or industry standards typically can take years to adopt. The scrutiny is coming eight years after the first system was introduced by Mercedes-Benz.
Abetting thefts
Beyond safety problems, the push-button technology has some idiosyncrasies that have left motorists stranded but also provided loopholes for car thieves.
In early General Motors vehicles with push-button start systems, owners would sometimes shut down the engines with the transmission still in gear.
That would not electronically lock the ignition system, and thieves soon found they could simply get in the vehicle, push the start button and drive away, said Forrest Folck, a forensic mechanic in San Diego who investigated the issue for an insurance company."
Cars were being stolen all over the United States," he said.
Larry Stewart, a former Times sportswriter, discovered an opposite problem with the technology in his 2007 Toyota Camry.
After he parked at a Granada Hills restaurant last summer, the car would not start. The tow truck driver who came to Stewart's rescue wasn't surprised, telling Stewart he had been there several times recently for the same reason.
The driver blamed the problem on stray radio signals, possibly from a powerful police or fire station transmitter nearby. He towed the car 100 yards, and it started immediately.
"It's really unnerving that such a thing could happen," said Stewart, who lives in Arcadia.
Even GM engineers found themselves in the same situation when they parked test vehicles at a Detroit-area shopping mall and found that the keyless ignition system was disabled, according to Proefke, the GM expert.
"It was a dead zone," he said.Proefke said the problem was traced to interference from a nearby nightclub's lighting system, which was broadcasting unlicensed high-power radio signals.
Source;
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-carkeys24-2010jan24,0,6794000,full.story
The sleek Infiniti G37 Cindy Marsh bought last August was the car of her dreams, equipped with the latest keyless electronics technology that allows her to start the engine with the touch of a button.But right away, the system gave her trouble. To get the engine started, she would sometimes have to tap the power button repeatedly. Sometimes it wouldn't start unless she opened and closed the car doors, Marsh recalled.
She eventually adapted to the system's quirks but said that even now she isn't sure how to shut off the engine in an emergency."
I don't know if I ever read it in the owners manual or not," said Marsh, who lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Old-school car keys appear headed for extinction, as automakers rush to install wireless systems that allow drivers to unlock their doors and start their engines with an electronic fob that they never have to take out of their purse or pocket.
Introduced less than a decade ago on luxury models, the push-button systems are rapidly spreading to all segments of the market, including bargain-priced Kias. The number of models with them as standard or optional equipment has quadrupled in the last five years.
Many drivers don't fully understand how the systems work, however, leaving them vulnerable to potentially serious safety problems.
In complaints to federal regulators, motorists have reported that they were unable to shut down engines during highway emergencies, including sudden acceleration events. In other cases, parked vehicles accidentally rolled away and engines were left running for hours without their owners realizing it.
And although traditional keys all work the same way and are universally understood by consumers, automakers have adopted different procedures for using the keyless ignition systems. As a result, owners may not know how to operate their own cars in an emergency, let alone a rented or borrowed car.
"Where you have a second to make an emergency maneuver, you shouldn't have to search around for the right procedure to use on a switch," said Henry Jasny, general counsel at Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., that pushes for laws to make roads safer.
Standards weighed
The risk is considered serious enough that federal regulators and an auto industry trade group are looking at adopting standard procedures.
All of the systems rely on a similar architecture that uses a fob: a small transmitter that communicates with the vehicle's computer. The fob can automatically open door locks when the owner approaches the vehicle, and then the engine can be started with just the push of a power button on the dashboard.
But to shut down the engine while the vehicle is moving, drivers must hold down the power button for one to three full seconds, depending on the make. In some cases, two or three successive taps on the button will work. Mercedes-Benz allows drivers to kill the engine with a single push of the power button, but only if the transmission is in neutral. At least one manufacturer prevents emergency engine shutdowns if the vehicle is moving at less than 5 mph.
Industry officials say that the devices have become wildly popular with buyers and that glitches will be eliminated through the normal course of technological improvements, making new regulations unnecessary.
"We really haven't seen too much confusion with these systems," said Dave Proefke, a vehicle security engineer at General Motors Co.
"As they become more widely adopted, I think we'll find that they converge in how they operate," he said.
Besides offering convenience for motorists, Proefke said, the technology gives auto designers greater styling freedom because there's no longer the need for a key cylinder in the steering column. It also benefits older people who have difficulty removing keys from their pockets or turning a key in a lock.
And "it has that cool factor," said Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing at www.edmunds.com, an Internet automobile research site.
Auto safety experts say the industry needs to do a better job explaining the functions of advanced technology to motorists and needs to adopt common operating procedures.
Automakers are offering the systems on 155 models this year, compared with 41 in the 2006 model year, according to Edmunds.com. Ford Motor is planning to make keyless ignition an option in its entry-level 2011 Fiesta, due out later this year.
Freeway panic
But some owners say that confusing software rules have put them in peril.
Wally Brithinee was in his 2007 Toyota Avalon last August when it began to speed out of control on Interstate 5 near San Diego. Thinking quickly, Brithinee, president of an electric motor repair business in Colton, pressed the sedan's power button, but nothing happened.
"This car isn't stopping," he told a passenger as he felt panic swelling in his chest. "I really didn't know what to do at that point."
Five terrifying miles later, Brithinee managed to halt the runaway Avalon by braking hard and shifting to a lower gear. He walked away unharmed. All that could have been avoided, he later learned, had he depressed the button for a full three seconds, the emergency shut-off procedure used in Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.
A keyless ignition system may also have played a role in the Aug. 29 crash that took the life of California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and three members of his family when a Lexus ES 350 lent to Saylor by a car dealer accelerated out of control to speeds of more than 120 mph before hitting an embankment in suburban San Diego County.
Some safety experts believe that a warning label should be included on the dashboard, telling motorists how to shut off the engine. But industry analysts say manufacturers typically resist installing such labels.
What's more, automakers maintain that shutting off the engine may not be the best option in an emergency, because doing so will cause the driver to lose power steering and possibly braking ability.
Toyota has blamed the San Diego accident on a floor mat that trapped the accelerator pedal. But a September memorandum by investigators for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also identified the Lexus' push-button ignition as one of the "significant factors" in the crash and noted that "there was no ignition key" that could shut down the engine or warning label on the power button to explain how to shut off the engine.
In the aftermath of the Saylor tragedy, Toyota issued a recall covering 4.3 million of its vehicles and said it would modify gas pedals, change floor padding and install new software.
Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the company is also discussing internally whether to change the function of its power button.
And Thursday, Toyota launched another recall targeting 2.3 million vehicles, including many of the models subject to the floor-mat recall, saying their gas pedals could stick.
Paul Green, a human factors expert at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, said he sees the issue with keyless technology as part of a growing problem of high-tech features being introduced faster than the industry is able to agree on common operating procedures.
"The amount of research we are doing is not adequate," Green said.
Motorists are confused even when they pay top dollar for advanced features. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found in a recent survey that a majority of owners of Infinitis equipped with automatic lane departure warning systems did not know that a button on the steering wheel turned the system on and off.
"They had no idea that they had a button on the steering wheel that could activate the system," said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute.
The highway safety administration said in a statement that it has begun to look into possible standards for the keyless systems. And the Society of Automotive Engineers formed a committee in July to examine keyless technology and "study a possible standard on how long the ignition button should be depressed to shut off the engine."
But new federal safety rules or industry standards typically can take years to adopt. The scrutiny is coming eight years after the first system was introduced by Mercedes-Benz.
Abetting thefts
Beyond safety problems, the push-button technology has some idiosyncrasies that have left motorists stranded but also provided loopholes for car thieves.
In early General Motors vehicles with push-button start systems, owners would sometimes shut down the engines with the transmission still in gear.
That would not electronically lock the ignition system, and thieves soon found they could simply get in the vehicle, push the start button and drive away, said Forrest Folck, a forensic mechanic in San Diego who investigated the issue for an insurance company."
Cars were being stolen all over the United States," he said.
Larry Stewart, a former Times sportswriter, discovered an opposite problem with the technology in his 2007 Toyota Camry.
After he parked at a Granada Hills restaurant last summer, the car would not start. The tow truck driver who came to Stewart's rescue wasn't surprised, telling Stewart he had been there several times recently for the same reason.
The driver blamed the problem on stray radio signals, possibly from a powerful police or fire station transmitter nearby. He towed the car 100 yards, and it started immediately.
"It's really unnerving that such a thing could happen," said Stewart, who lives in Arcadia.
Even GM engineers found themselves in the same situation when they parked test vehicles at a Detroit-area shopping mall and found that the keyless ignition system was disabled, according to Proefke, the GM expert.
"It was a dead zone," he said.Proefke said the problem was traced to interference from a nearby nightclub's lighting system, which was broadcasting unlicensed high-power radio signals.
Source;
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-carkeys24-2010jan24,0,6794000,full.story
REPORT: Honda Working on a More Efficent Hybrid
Honda is planning on taking on the Toyota Prius. Again. Even though sales figures for 2009 proved that people liked Toyota's hybrid more than Honda's, the company is not going to just roll over. There's a new ad campaign for the Insight planned, but Honda is looking a bit further down the line for revenge. CEO Takanobu Ito reportedly told his research and development team to come up with a hybrid that has a better miles per gallon rating than the world's most popular hybrid. Whether this is a next-gen Insight or a totally different hybrid has not yet been decided, but it's going to need a major boost to knock the leader off its perch.
Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/24/report-honda-will-develop-a-hybrid-that-bests-prius-mpg-rating/
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Honda donates $300,000 and Power Equipment to Haiti
Honda is donating $300,000 to relief efforts in Haiti, as well as generators, water pumps and other Honda equipment, the automaker said Tuesday.
The donations will be sent to the Red Cross. American Honda Motor Co. said it will remain in contact with the aid group to determine the need of additional equipment.
Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake last week in which thousands are feared dead.
Source;
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/01/19/honda_donates_300k_equipment_to_haiti_relief/
Honda HSV-010 GT will compete in the 2010 Super GT
January 18, 2010 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. introduced the HSV-010 GT, which will compete in the GT500 class of the 2010 Super GT Series (managed and run by GTA Co., Ltd.).
* The letters “HSV” stand for Honda Sports Velocity.
 | Honda HSV-010 GT: Specifications and performance characteristics |
| Dimensions, weight | Length × Width × Height (m) | 4.675 × 2.000 × (not disclosed) |
| Wheelbase (m) | 2.700 | |
| Vehicle weight (kg) | 1,100 or more | |
| Engine | Engine name | HR10EG |
| Configuration | Liquid-cooled, naturally aspirated, longitudinal V8 | |
| V angle (°) | 90 | |
| Valve train | Gear-driven DOHC: 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder | |
| Displacement (cm3) | 3,397 | |
| Bore × stroke (mm) | 93.0 × 62.5 | |
| Compression ratio | (Not disclosed) | |
| Maximum output (kW[PS]) | 370 (500) or more | |
| Maximum torque(N·m[kg·m]) | 392 (40.0) or more | |
| Throttle control system | Mechanical | |
| Fuel supply system | Programmed fuel injection system (Honda PGM-FI) | |
| Fuel | Lead-free premium gasoline | |
| Lubrication | Dry sump | |
| Powertrain, running system | Transmission mechanism | Constant mesh |
| Transmission shifting method | Steering paddle shifter | |
| Steering system mechanism | Rack and pinion system with electric power steering (EPS) | |
| Tires(Front·Rear) | 330/40R18 ·330/45R17 | |
| Brake type and mechanism | Hydraulic ventilated disc system | |
| Suspension system | Double wishbone | |
| Stabilizer | Torsion bar |
Source;
http://world.honda.com/news/2010/c100118HSV-010-GT/
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
OFFICAL: CR-Z at the Detroit North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)
After a few weeks worth of leaked images and brochure fluff, Honda has finally pulled the covers off its next new production hybrid hatchback. The Japanese automaker claims the CR-Z will bring back the kind of driving joy that hasn't been felt since the CRX last left dealer lots in 1991, saying that owners will embrace this new mild hybrid with both their hearts and minds. We certainly hope they're right.
While we're really digging the looks of the CR-Z and the way it hearkens back to the classic CRX and even the original Insight hybrid, we've gotta admit that we're a tad bit disappointed with the specifications. With 122 horsepower on tap and just 128 lb-ft of torque from the 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder with Integrated Motor Assist, shouldn't we expect more than 36 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway from the CR-Z?
Let's just hope that the car's driving dynamics live up to the lofty standards to which Honda is eluding – at least there's an optional six-speed manual transmission to go along with the expected CVT automatic. We'll know soon enough know how it goes down the road, as the 2011 CR-Z is slated to hit the ground running in the summer. In the meantime, check out our live images below and click past the break for the press release.
Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/11/detroit-2010-honda-cr-z-promises-to-bring-driving-joy-to-the-hy/
Monday, January 11, 2010
More Leaked CR-Z Brochure Pictures
From what we know, Honda will toss the covers off the production version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Detroit Show on Monday afternoon. And even though we've shown you brochure images of both the standard and MUGEN variants, as well as still video shots of the CR-X's spiritual successor, Carscoop reader S.Z. pointed us to a Japanese blog that just posted more than 30 scanned pictures of what is said to be the domestic market sales leaflet. Hit the source at the bottom of this article to check out the complete set of photos.
Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-honda-cr-z-sales-brochure-full.html
Honda Builds Record 84% of 2009 U.S. Auto Sales in North America
Highest Total Since Honda Began Producing Autos in America in 1982
An all-time high of 83.8 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the United States in 2009 were produced* at the company's plants in North America, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. American Honda has maintained a local production rate of approximately 75 percent or higher since 1996.
Honda operates seven automobile plants in North America - four in the U.S., two in Canada and one in Mexico, producing fifteen different models, including the Civic sedan, coupe and GX (natural gas vehicle), Accord sedan, coupe and Crosstour, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, CR-V and Element, as well as the Acura TL, ZDX, RDX and MDX models.
Honda's North American plants produced a total of more than one million vehicles in 2009, including those for export and currently in dealer inventory. Of the more than 1.15 million Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. in 2009, the 83.8 percent local production rate is the highest percentage in the company's 27-year history of making automobiles in the region and by far the highest percentage for any international automaker in 2009.
"As part of our long-standing commitment to build Honda and Acura products close to our customers, we have steadily deepened our automobile manufacturing roots in the U.S. and the North America region," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Using our flexible manufacturing capacity, we plan to continue to maintain our local production levels at approximately 80 percent of our annual sales."
Honda began production of the fuel efficient Honda Civic sedan at its seventh North American auto plant, in Greensburg, Indiana, in October 2008. In 2009, the company added production of two new crossover vehicles - the Honda Accord Crosstour, manufactured in East Liberty, Ohio, and the Acura ZDX, manufactured in Alliston, Ontario - along with the addition of fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine production at a new engine plant in Ontario, Canada.
Honda has exported nearly 960,000 automobiles from its plants in North America to more than 100 countries around the world since 1987, including approximately 27,000 vehicles in 2009, as well as exporting more than 300,000 component parts last year to be used in the assembly of Honda products in other nations.
In addition to automobile production, Honda operates three automobile engine plants in North America - two in the U.S. and one in Canada - along with two U.S. plants for the production of automatic transmissions and gear sets; a power equipment and small engine plant, in North Carolina; and a plant producing Honda all-terrain vehicles, in South Carolina.
Two additional new plants, for the production of the HondaJet advanced light jet and the GE Honda turbofan engine, are under construction in the communities of Greensboro and Burlington, North Carolina, respectively.
About Honda
Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Honda began U.S. production of motorcycles in 1979 and automobiles in 1982. The company has invested more than $12.1 billion in its North American operations with employment of more than 25,000 associates and annual purchases of more than $17.5 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America.
Source;
http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=5354
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Honda Civic Is Canada's Top-Selling Car for a 12th Consecutive Year
TORONTO, Jan. 6 /CNW/ - With sales of 62,654 units in 2009, Honda Civic retained its honour as Canada's top-selling passenger car for a 12th consecutive year. Since 1973, more than 1.5 million Honda Civics have been sold in Canada, making the Civic a leader in the Canadian automotive landscape.
"We thank the tens of thousands of Canadians who bought Honda Civic models in 2009 to make it Canada's top-selling car for the 12th year in a row." said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. "We thank these new car buyers for their vote of confidence in the Civic with its strong resale value, excellent fuel efficiency, class-leading standard safety features and fun-to-drive character."
"With the exception of the Civic Hybrid, all other Civic models that are sold in Canada are made right here in Canada. We are proud of our investment in Canada as a vehicle manufacturer. More than half of all the vehicles we sold in Canada in 2009 were built in Canada, including the Honda Civic and Acura MDX, CSX and the all-new ZDX."
Of the more than 5.3 million Honda and Acura vehicles that the Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario, has produced over the past 23 years, more than 3 million of those have been Honda Civic models.
Now in its 40th year of operation in Canada, Honda Canada builds the Honda Civic and Acura MDX, the all-new Acura ZDX and the Canadian-exclusive Acura CSX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario, and produces 4-cylinder engines at an adjacent engine plant.
Source;
Civic Sedan DX-G Review "it is seriously tough to go wrong"
This car is a clear testament to Honda's know-how. Introduced in late 2005 as a 2006 model-year car, the latest generation of the Civic just about changed the face of the compact car segment with its near-futuristic styling and innovative cabin. That was five model years ago, but the Civic still reigns supreme in its category.
How? Well, it's about doing one thing and doing it well. The Civic has a long history, relatively speaking, here in North America as a choice form of economical transportation that is fun to drive. This simple, yet important, recipe has been maintained throughout the Civic's 35-plus year existence.
Growing with the times
As the generations seemingly flew by, the eighth iteration of the Civic is the biggest ever. More capacious, powerful and comfortable, this car is no longer a small second family car, although it certainly can handle these duties as well.
In car-years, five is a big number, especially for the Japanese. Usually, a thoroughly revamped car would be circulating on the web or, minimally, a refreshed body would have been presented to the masses “last” year.
This is not really the case for this Civic. The fact that it continues to be fashionable demonstrates that Honda was so spot-on with their styling exercise that it has required next to nothing to stay current. The car's wedge shaped front end and high tail remain modern and even sought after by those that appreciate the “raked” look.
Roomy, well thought-out and versatile, the Civic's passenger quarters are still amongst the most welcoming in the segment, as much as some cars that have only recently been unveiled. Perhaps my only complaint here is the location of the emergency brake handle which digs into my knee. Otherwise, the firm seats and flat rear floor are very accommodating. One thing I do like is the location of the speedometer at the top of the dashboard; I'm left wondering why other manufacturers have yet to copy this.
Peppy for sure
In the compact segment, sub-2.0L engines are usually reserved for the base cars. In the Civic's case, it's the only one you can get (non-Si). Dropping 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque, this car's powertrain can do what most competitors’ 2.0L engines can do all the while consuming less fuel. Our tested DX-G car was equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission which was a rarity when the car was originally launched.
At only 1,239 kg, the Civic need not struggle with lazy arduous weight transfers when tackling on and off-ramps. Instead, the agile suspension and precise power steering make this car a joy to drive. Responsive as ever, the Civic is a pleasure on the highway as well as in town; it's always nice to get back behind the wheel of a lithe car.
The autobox works well, never missing a shift however, for this automobile, nothing rivals the pure enjoyment of working the five cogs yourself. Perhaps the best outcome of driving a Civic is the low fuel consumption numbers you can expect regardless of your driving habits. An average of only 7L per 100 km is a common occurrence.
Honestly
In all honesty, I'm not a big fan of the Civic unless it's a white four-door Si. I personally have had a bad family experience with a 2006 Civic and truthfully, the car is getting old. Be that as it may, I'm obviously the confused or deranged one as the car is still popular, almost too popular. I know the car is good, but I'm convinced that its name carries it most of the way. Think of a reputation. The Civic's is nearly impeccable, it has great resale value and ownership costs are low...
I'm confronted with the fact that this is not my favourite car, because it's such an “open-and-shut” choice to make. I'm all for the underdogs, maybe, but for your money, it is seriously tough to go wrong when you drive away from a Honda dealer at the wheel of your new Civic.
Source;
http://www.auto123.com/en/honda/civic-sedan/2010/review?carid=1102300202&artid=114631
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tommy Kaira Makes the Honda Insight Hybrid a Little Bit More Interesting to Look At
The new Honda Insight hybrid is one of those vehicles that makes us wonder if the team responsible for its styling fell asleep during the design stage. Tommy Kaira has tried to address this "problem" by developing a new sport package for the Japanese hybrid.
The tuner's offerings includes an aero kit that is also available in carbon-fiber trim and comprises of a front spoiler, a new grille, side skirts and a rear apron with an integrated diffuser that can optionally house four tail-pipes for an all-show, no-go appearance.
The package can be rounded off with new 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels, a sport suspension that lowers the car by 30 to 35mm and various other accessories and parts such as sport seats, sill plates etc.
Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01/tommy-kaira-makes-honda-insight-hybrid.html
Honda Canada Commemorates the Opening of 'Honda Boulevard'
MARKHAM, ON,
"The opening of Honda Boulevard is an exciting step in preparation for the relocation in May to our new home here in Markham," said Manabu Nishimae, president and CEO of Honda
"Despite the tough economic times, Honda is committed to investing in our future in
According to Markham
The developer responsible for the construction of the road was the Rice Commercial Group, a commercial and industrial developer based in York Region.
The campus will house three separate buildings, including a four-story LEED(TM) (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building for the head office, advancing Honda's continued commitment to the environment; a technical centre that accommodates research and development, engineering and training; and a one-story parts distribution centre.
Now in its 40th year of operation in
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Honda to Exhibit the Honda New Small Concept at Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi
For the Honda New Small Concept, a wide platform with a stable center of gravity was adopted to create a highly efficient compact size with seating for five people. With the "Efficient Energetic Exterior" design, the dynamic design of the Honda New Small Concept with front forward fenders highlight the presence of the vehicle.Honda is planning to introduce a new model based on the Honda New Small Concept in 2011, in India and also in Thailand.
Honda will strive to provide a new small-sized vehicle that is beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price by leveraging Honda's global parts sourcing network.
Source;
http://world.honda.com/news/2010/c100105New-Small-Concept-Auto-Expo-2010/
January 5, 2010 - Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. unveiled the Honda New Small Concept, a concept model for a new small-sized vehicle, at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi. HSCI also announced plans to begin sales of a new model in 2011 based on this concept model.
Additional Leaked CR-Z Catalog Pages Reveal More!
HNSXR has once again pointed us to some more images that have found their way to the web in Japan, revealing a few more details regarding the upcoming CR-Z hybrid coupe. In one of the scans it appears that the curb weight for the 6MT version starts at 1130kg (2491lbs) and the CVT version starts at 1160kg (2557 lb) with the CVT. According to HNSXR, a "fully optioned" CVT-equipped CR-Z weighs about 1180kg (2601 lb). We can also see the wheel and tire size (195/55R-16).
The weight figures are better than the 1200+ kg figures that were originally rumored, so that's definitely some good news.
UPDATE: According to another one of our Japanese readers, one of these pages confirms something that we were already pretty sure about, and that's the suspension configuration. Up front, it's MacPherson struts and (as I reported based upon the 2009 Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show), the rear is torsion beam.
Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=872003
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Honda's Secret Private Museum
AMERICAN HONDA does not have a corporate museum in the United States — not officially, anyway.
But there is a carefully considered collection of Hondas tucked away in a warehouse a few blocks from the company’s headquarters here.
The trove came to light several years ago when officials from the Rose Parade — Honda is a longtime sponsor of the New Year’s Day tradition in Pasadena — were invited to view a few of the more interesting models in the warehouse. A Honda executive from Japan wound up joining the tour of the collection.
Its cover was blown.
The collection was started by a former executive of American Honda, Tom Elliott, who had put aside a sampling of models important to the company’s United States history, said John Mendel.
“The problem was, we kept turning up more and more significant models that we couldn’t let go of,” said Mr. Mendel, who succeeded Mr. Elliott as American Honda’s executive vice president for sales. “We just kept parking them in this warehouse. We kept expanding the warehouse. Pretty soon, we just ran out of room.”
The collection has grown to several dozen vehicles, including Honda racecars from the IndyCar series, a selection of motorcycles and, more recently, early examples of a Honda-made generator and an outboard motor. At least that’s what Honda will admit to, although many more vehicles could be seen in storage farther back in the building when an informal lunch for journalists was held there.
While the collection is not open to the public — there is not even a sign on the building — the space is used for company meetings and events. The dream of someday being able to showcase these vehicles is at least a year or two away from becoming reality. One of the questions that American Honda officials will face at that point is which vehicles to display.
Certainly they’ll reserve a place of honor for the Honda 50, or Super Cub, a spindly motorcycle powered by a 50 cc engine. That was the first vehicle Honda marketed in the United States, soon after it incorporated in 1959 and established American headquarters on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. (A replica of that storefront has been created in the collection’s warehouse space.)
The Super Cub is still being produced; Honda says that 60 million Cubs have been produced, making it the best-selling vehicle of all time.
The Cub was followed by bikes like the dual-purpose 250 Scrambler, famous for tackling the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. And of course there would be a spot for the original 4-cylinder CB750, which helped establish Japan’s credibility as a maker of modern superbikes.
“A lot of people don’t remember that Honda was first a motorcycle company,” Mr. Mendel said.
“Cars didn’t come along until sometime later.”
The collection includes an N600, the first Honda car sold in the United States, arriving in Hawaii in 1969 and on the mainland a year later. Americans didn’t warm to the tiny dimensions and wimpy 599 cc engine of the N600, but the car has still earned a place in the company’s holdings.
“The N600 started it all,” Mr. Mendel said. “It was full of innovative ideas that were applied to later models.”
It wasn’t until 1973 that Honda car sales took off, when the first Civic was introduced. Since then there have been many best-sellers, as Honda has grown to become one of the world’s premier automobile manufacturers.
“It will be easy to know which of the early models to include,” Mr. Mendel said. “But there will be a lot of discussion about which of the later models should be in there.
“Everybody has a favorite,” he added. “Unfortunately, there won’t be room for all of them.”
Source;
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