Honda Jazz Si launched at Geneva show
At Honda’s stand this year in Geneva we’ve seen the limited edition Jazz Si which will be sold only in Europe. This Japanese supermini comes with a new aero package that brings prominent side skirts, new front and rear bumpers and 16-inch alloys wrapped around in low-profile sport tires. Inside it has a leather-trimmed 3-spoke steering wheel, new sport seats, new gearshift lever – all of them having silver stitching.
Aside from look better than the standard version, the Jazz Si comes with an uprated chassis, having new dampers, a bigger front anti-roll bar which should improve body control and straight-line stability, along with an updated electric power steering system that offers a better response and feel.
Under the hood is the company’s 1.4-liter i-VTEC engine that produces 99 hp (100 PS) which is linked to a 5-speed manual transmission that enables the Jazz Si to hit a top speed of 113 mph (182 km/h).
This special edition of the Honda Jazz is scheduled to go on sale towards the end of this August.
Source: Honda via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: geneva show, Honda, honda civic si, honda-civic, motor shows, special editions
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Honda loses law suit due to low Civic Hybrid gas mileage
A former attorney and owner of a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid by the name of Heather Peters has won the law suit that she filed against the Japanese automaker due to misleading gas mileage. The decision was taken a few days ago at the Torrance Small Claims Court in California when Douglas Carnaham, the Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner ruled that the car maker has misled Heather into believing that her car could reach a gas mileage of 50 mpg.
The woman said that she wasn’t able to get more than 42 mpg with the Civic Hybrid and what’s even worse is that after Honda did a software update for improving the battery life, the gas mileage dropped under the 30 mpg mark.
After she noticed this, she decided that instead of handling this problem through a class-action law suit which would have resulted into high paychecks for the legal terms involved, she should take the case to the small claims court. By going down this road, under the Californian law for small claims court, lawyers are banned so Honda didn’t have the opportunity to bring its big-shot lawyers. It was a smart move for Heather because she had a lot more chances of winning in comparison to standing against wealthy corporations.
There were three hours of testimony over two days which lead to the longest case in the history of Torrance Small Claims Court, with the Japanese company attempting to prove that the car had no issues in providing the gas mileage promised. Carnaham did not take into account the eight-inch pile of letters that came from satisfied Civic Hybrid owners which Honda brought. The other defense that Honda brought was that the car had only a 42 mpg mileage (at best) due to how Heather drove and maintained the vehicle.
Honda lost and now has to pay the woman $9,857 in damages. However, it’s not that simple because under the Californian law, the Japanese company has the right to ask that the trial be heard again in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. If this will happen, Honda will be able to bring its A game thanks to its best lawyers.
Heather Peters said that she is now determined to help other owners of the Honda Civic Hybrid who are unhappy about the gas mileage. She said that she’s heard from more than 500 unsatisfied owners of the car and she now wants to reactivate her license again for helping these customers take legal actions against Honda.
Source: Green Car Reports
Post tags: Tags: Honda, honda civic hybrid, honda-civic, law suit
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Honda has sold 800,000 hybrids so far
The Japanese automaker Honda has announced the other day that since they introduced the Insight back in 1999, they’ve managed to sell more than 800,000 hybrids so far. This milestone was achieved in December last year and it was achieved 12 years and 2 months after the Insight hit Japan in November 1999. This performance is not as impressive as Toyota’s one million Priuses sold back in April 2011 in the U.S.
Anyway, the first generation of the Honda Insight managed to return 82.3 mpg (35km/liter or 2.9 liters / 100 km) on the Japanese driving cycle, which for those days made it the fuel efficient gasoline-powered vehicle.
Over the years, Honda introduced new models to its hybrid lineup, like the Civic Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid. Both these models come with the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. Honda has also introduced the CR-Z sports hatch and a new Insight hatchback. At the moment, the automaker offers seven hybrids. The company’s plans are to introduce the very first Acura hybrid in the United States, a model that is based on the ILX compact sedan.
Source: Honda
Post tags: Tags: Green, Honda, Hybrid
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Honda starts delivering the 2012 Fit EV
Honda has started delivering the new 2013 Fit EV model and the delivery of the very first unit has been marked by a special ceremony at the Torrance City Hall. Pretty soon the car will be introduced to the markets in California and Oregon.
As you remember, the 2013 Honda Fit EV has been unveiled last year in November at the Los Angeles Motor Show. It features a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery that feeds 123 hp (125 PS / 92 kW) coaxial electric motor. The car is capable of travelling for up to 123 miles (198 km) on a single charge. Once the battery is depleted, it will take about three hours to fill it up.
Source: Honda
Post tags: Tags: Green, Honda, honda fit ev, honda-fit
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The Japanese automaker Honda has introduced a new version of the Crosstour model by launching a two-wheel drive, four-cylinder model which has a base price of $28,465 (including taxes and fees). This means that this less powerful model is $2,685 more affordable than the V6-powered version.
Under its hood there’s a 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine that churns 192 hp and is linked to a 5-speed automatic gearbox as standard, managing to deliver 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, which is 3 mpg and 2 mpg respectively better than the V6 version.
Honda has also mentioned that the Crosstour will be getting more goodies as standard package, including here a rearview mirror back-up camera display, auto dimming rearview mirror, USB audio interface, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and auto on/off headlights.
Source: Honda via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: Honda, honda crosstour
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Acura NSX
The Japanese automaker Acura has introduced this year at the Detroit Motor Show yet another concept of the NSX. Honda/Acura have come up with a bunch of concepts over the last few years for a replacement of the legendary NSX that was manufactured between 1990 and 2005.None of these concepts got the green light for production but Acura said that the latest one will see the light of the day within the next three years.
Acura NSX
Acura says that the new generation of the NSX will be developed by an engineering team led by Honda R&D Americas, and it will be manufactured in Ohio but we don’t know the name of the facility where this will happen. Just like the original model, this NSX concept has a mid-mounted V6 naturally aspirated engine that benefits from Acura’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD hybrid system that has not one, but three electric motors. For those of you that don’t know, SH-AWD stands for Super Handling All Wheel Drive.
Acura NSX
This new VTEC V6 engine benefits from direct injection and is mated to a dual clutch gearbox that has a built-in electric motor. Aside from this, there is a two-motor electric-drive unit that is capable of providing torque to the wheels in the front during cornering in order to improve the NSX’s handling. As you would expect, this NSX concept features a lot of lightweight materials to keep the weight of the car as down as possible.
Acura NSX
Source: Acura
Post tags: Tags: Acura, acura nsx, Concepts, detroit motor show, Honda, honda nsx, naias
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Honda Accord Coupe (concept)
Before you get your hopes up too high, this beautiful Honda Accord Coupe is only a concept that previews the company’s future technology and styling to the current model which is commercialized in the United States but it won’t make it in Europe.
Even though we are dealing with a coupe, we should mention that this concept is actually longer than the sedan model which this year is programmed to get an update as well. The car is going to be available with two brand new power units in the form of a 4-cylinder 2.4-liter with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT, along with a more powerful V6 3.5-liter mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Honda Accord Coupe (concept)
The Japanese automaker confirmed in Detroit that they plan on selling a plug-in hybrid version of this model when it will come out. This will feature a 15-mile electric range and will have an Atkinson cycle-running 2.0-liter engine. It will need 1 hour and 30 minutes to fill up the battery via a 240 volt socket.
Some of the safety equipment that the production version of the Honda Accord Coupe will have includes a reversing camera, a blind spot warning system and a lane departure system.
Source: Honda via Autocar.co.uk
Post tags: Tags: Concepts, detroit motor show, Honda, honda accord coupe, honda-accord, motor shows
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2012 Honda Crosstour
With the introduction of the 2012 Crosstour, the Japanese automaker Honda will be offering a new four cylinder engine in the U.S. It is a 2.4-liter unit that produces 192 hp (195 PS / 143 kW) and has a peak torque of 162 lb.-ft (219 Nm). This power unit is mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox that enables the car to return 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
2012 Honda Crosstour
The 2012 Honda Crosstour is available in two trim levels, and both of them come with a moonroof, automatic headlights, 17-inch alloys and a privacy glass. Inside the cabin we find power windows and locks, air conditioning, a 7-speaker audio system and USB / Bluetooth connectivity. The more expensive EX-L brings leather upholstery, heated front seats and dual zone automatic climate control.
2012 Honda Crosstour
We don’t know the official starting price of the car but it should be less than $30,000.
Source: Honda via WCF
Post tags: Tags: Honda, honda crosstour
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Honda EV-STER
Remember the Honda EV-STER? We’ve seen it about two weeks ago when the Japanese automaker unveiled it at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, along with a new lineup of Earth Dreams eco-friendly engines, drive trains, as well as advanced drive technologies.
Honda EV-STER
At that time, the car was considered only a concept but we have fresh news coming from German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport which claims that the company’s CEO, Takanobu Ito said in a recent interview that the car might get the green light for production.
Honda EV-STER
If this turns out to be true, the German car magazine has also mentioned that the EV-STER will be available with a choice of powertrains, including regular gasoline engines but also an all-electric variant.
Honda EV-STER
As a reminder, the concept seen in Tokyo was a rather small two-seat convertible that measured less than 12 ft. in length. If we will see it on the roads, this could very well be a reiteration of the company’s popular CRX sports coupe model from the 80s. However, this probably won’t be a sports car since the concept needs 5 seconds to hit 37 mph, but maybe fitted with a gasoline engine it will be able to earn the sports car name.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Green Car Reports
Post tags: Tags: Concepts, Green, Honda, honda EV-STER
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2012 Honda CR-V
The Japanese automaker Honda has published the pricing list for the 2012 U.S.-spec CR-V. The cheapest model money can buy costs $22,295 for the entry-level LX 2WD version, while the top-spec EX-L AWD will set you back at least $29,795. These prices do not include the destination & handling charges which stand at $810, lifting the price to $23,105 (LX 2WD) and $30,605 (EX-L AWD).
2012 Honda CR-V
According to the carmaker, even though they have added standard equipment worth of $400 – $1,000 over the previous model, the prices have been increased by an average of only $181. An interesting offer is for the version which comes with a sat-nav system because it is $300 more affordable than the comparable 2011MY CR-V.
2012 Honda CR-V
Regardless of the chosen trim level, the 2012 Honda CR-V sold in the United States is powered exclusively by a 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine that develops 185 hp and a peak torque of 163 lb.-ft. This power unit is mated as standard to a five-speed automatic gearbox, enabling the SUV to have an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg in the combined cycle for the versions which have a FWD system. The all-wheel-drive model can return 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg in the combined cycle.
Source: Honda via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: 2012 honda cr-v, Honda, honda cr-v
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The Japanese automaker Honda has confirmed a few days ago that a new generation of the Civic Type-R is under development and it will be launched sometime in 2013. This information was confirmed by a number of senior sources who told Autocar that the popular hot hatch is set to make a comeback in a couple of years.
Most likely, Honda will keep the recipe that made the car famous, which means that we should expect to see a high-revving naturally-aspirated engine that will probably develop more than 200 hp. The new generation of the Type-R is set to have “special bumpers, wheels, spoilers and seats” which will help “set it apart from the standard car”. We know for sure that Mugen won’t be involved at all in the development of the car, even though the tuner worked on the recent CR-Z model.
Source: Honda via Autocar
Post tags: Tags: Honda, honda-civic, honda-civic-type-r
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Honda EV-STER
For this year’s edition of the Tokyo Motor Show, the local automaker Honda decided to bring the EV-STER sports car concept which is rumored to be the spiritual successor of the Beat model that was discontinued back in 1996.
Honda EV-STER
It is an attractive EV rear-wheel drive two-seater convertible that features a lot of lightweight materials in order to keep weight down as much as possible and increase performance at the same time. Combining the use of lightweight components with diminutive dimensions – as the car measures only 3,570mm long – the car is able to do the 0-62 mph sprint in only 5 seconds and it can be driven for distances of up to 99 miles (160 km) on a single charge.
Honda EV-STER
The power of the Honda EV-STER is provided by a 10 kWh lithium-ion battery that has a maximum output of 79 hp (58 kW). Charging the battery from a regular 240V source will take approximately three hours.
Honda EV-STER
Source: Honda via AutoBlog
Post tags: Tags: Concepts, Green, Honda, honda EV-STER, tokyo motor show
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2012 Honda CR-Z iCF Mugen
If you have been waiting for one of the hottest hybrids of them all, you do not have to wait much longer because Honda UK has just unveiled the 2012 CR-Z iCF Mugen. What’s so hot about it? Well, for starters it has a 1.5-liter engine that fires 173 hp (175 PS / 129 kW). They managed to squeeze that much power from that engine by installing a centrifugal forced air conduction system and also remapping the ECU.
With this kind of horsepower under its hood, the CR-Z iCF Mugen is capable of doing the 0-62 mph sprint in a respectable 6.1 seconds, en route to a maximum speed of more than 130 mph (209 km/h).
2012 Honda CR-Z iCF Mugen
You should know that the European division of Mugen is still working on the car and Honda’s UK branch said that they will definitely roll out a production model. There are eight Honda UK Mugen dealers who have been informed by the company’s headquarters that by spring next year they will have the car ready for potential buyers to take them it for a spin. The starting price for the 2012 Honda CR-Z iCF Mugen will be of somewhere around 24,000 pounds ($37,245 / 27,944 Euros).
Source: Honda UK via WCF
Post tags: Tags: Honda, honda cr-z, honda cr-z icf mugen, mugen
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2012 Honda CR-V
The production version of the fourth generation of the Honda CR-V was introduced this week during the Los Angeles Auto Show, before the car goes on sale in the United States as a 2012 model year on December 15th, while the rest of the world will get it next year.
2012 Honda CR-V
We’ve already seen the concept version of the car and the production version looks pretty much the same, except for the less aggressive alloys, clear graphics on the headlamps and taillights, as well as a matte plastic cladding instead of the concept’s glossy finish.
2012 Honda CR-V
The new generation of the Honda CR-V looks considerably sleeker than the model it replaces and comes with a significantly more aggressive stance thanks to the Volvo-esque rear and the new roofline. It measures 178.5 inches long, 71.6 inches wide, 65.1 inches tall and has a 103.1-inch long wheelbase, which means that it has the same wheelbase and width as the outgoing model, while overall length has decreased by 0.8 inches and the height by 0.1 inches.
2012 Honda CR-V
Inside the cabin, the 2012 Honda CR-V features a more fresh design and comes with multi-layered instrument panel gauges that look very nice. Some of the new technologies implemented in this model include a SMS text reading and response function via the Multi-Information Display that is available on the models fitted with the navigation system, along with Pandora internet radio interface.
2012 Honda CR-V
The new CR-V continues to be a 5-seater vehicle and comes as standard with the 60/40 split rear seat system also known as the “Easy Fold-Down”. The Japanese automaker mentioned that the LX model offers 39.3 inches of headroom, while the LX model has 0.3 cu ft. more passenger volume, for a total of 104.1 cu ft.
2012 Honda CR-V
Under the hood of the car rests a revised 4-cylinder 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine that produces 185 hp and a maximum torque of 163 lb.-ft, which is 5 hp and 2 lb.-ft more than the model it replaces. This engine is linked to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. A novelty for this model would have to be the introduction of the Real Time All-Wheel-Drive with Intelligent Control System.
2012 Honda CR-V
The front-wheel drive version of the 2012 Honda CR-V manages to return 23 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg in the combined cycle, which is +2 / +3 / +2 mpg better than the outgoing version. As for the AWD model, this one can do 22 mpg city / 30 mpg highway / 25 mpg combined, which is +1 / +3 / +2 mpg better than the 2011 Honda CR-V (AWD).
2012 Honda CR-V
Source: Honda via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: Honda, honda cr-v, la-auto-show
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2013 Honda Fit EV
Honda revealed this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show the EV version of the Fit which will be available only on lease starting with 2012. The MSRP of the car is $36,625 while the estimated lease is priced at $399 / month. At first, the car will be available in California and Oregon starting with the summer of next year, followed by six East Coast markets in the beginning of 2013.
2013 Honda Fit EV
The Japanese car maker has stated that they expect to produce somewhere around 1,100 units of the Fit EV during the next three years, but they are willing to increase this number if there’s enough demand.
2013 Honda Fit EV
The pure electric subcompact is motivated by a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 92 kW (124 hp) coaxial electric motor derived from the one used in the FCX Clarity. The Fit EV features a three-mode electric system that was adapted from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid which allows the driver of the vehicle to choose between Econ, Normal and Sport modes in order to improve performance or efficiency. In Econ mode, Honda said that the car’s range is 17% higher when compared to the Normal mode, while the Sport mode improves acceleration.
2013 Honda Fit EV
Using a 240-volt charger, the battery pack of the car can be charged in approximately three hours, which should be enough for a driving range of about 123 miles (198 km) in the city and 76 miles (122 km) in the combined cycle. The Honda Fit EV features a new regenerative braking system and an AC system, along with a telematics system that allows the driver to stay connected via a personal computer, smartphone or interactive remote, through which he can view the state of charge, start charging or activate the AC system and heater.
2013 Honda Fit EV
The 2013 Honda Fit EV will be available in one exclusive color, dubbed Reflection Blue Pearl, and it will come with a bunch of EV decals and badges, as well as redesigned front + rear bumpers, bespoke alloys and a unique chrome front fascia. Inside the cabin the seating surfaces will be wrapped around in bio-fabric while the instrument panel will feature a built-in central screen.
Source: Honda via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: Green, Honda, honda fit ev, honda-fit, la-auto-show
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