Lexus Rocks the F-Sports at SEMA 2009

Motor Authority - blog Category: Civic

  • First look at Mugen’s Euro-spec Honda Civic Type-R

    First look at Mugen’s Euro-spec Honda Civic Type-R June 19th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 19th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 5 Comments

    First look at Mugen’s Euro-spec Honda Civic Type-R Honda is currently prepping an even higher performance version of its European Civic Type-R that’s set for release in the UK in the third quarter, with other markets to follow shortly after. The latest version has been inspired by last year’s Civic Mugen RR concept vehicle and has been developed by in-house Honda tuner and performance accessories division Mugen.

    The new engine is based on the regular 2.0L Type-R unit but thanks to a number of subtle performance mods, output of the high-revving naturally aspirated engine rise to 237hp (177kW) and 160lb-ft (217Nm) of torque. Other modifications include uprated shocks and springs... Honda is currently prepping an even higher performance version of its European Civic Type-R that’s set for release in the UK in the third quarter, with other markets to follow shortly after. The latest version has been inspired by last year’s Civic Mugen RR concept vehicle and has been developed by in-house Honda tuner and performance accessories division Mugen. The new engine is based on the regular 2.0L Type-R unit but thanks to a number of subtle performance mods, output of the high-revving naturally aspirated engine rise to 237hp (177kW) and 160lb-ft (217Nm) of torque. Other modifications include uprated shocks and springs and Mugen’s new 'I-TCMS' tire monitoring system. Brembo has also been called in to supply huge 12.6in slotted discs up front and 11.1in units in the rear. The main aim of the game, however, is weight reduction and in the case of the latest Mugen Civic Type-R engineers have removed the rear seats and added lighter carbon-fiber accessories. New lightweight 18in alloys and a pair of Recaro bucket seats also make the cut. Production will be extremely limited, with only a few dozen cars planned. If you aren’t able to get your hands on one, the new Ford Focus RS and Renault Megane R26.R should offer similar performance and hot-hatch thrills.Honda Civic RR Mugen Experimental SpecHonda Civic Type-R Mugen editionMugen-enhanced Honda Civic Type R Euro spec Read More

  • Honda previews 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon concepts

    Honda previews 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon concepts January 6th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, January 6th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 2 Comments

    Honda previews 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon concepts While U.S. carmakers prepare for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Honda is readying a range of concepts to show off at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, which celebrates Japan's modified vehicles. The headline concepts are a pair of Sports Modulo cars based on the S2000 and Fit (Jazz).

    Modulo is Honda's Japanese-market factory customization, and the Sports Modulo S2000 Concept and Sports Modulo Fit Concept are intended to show what could be in the works for future customization packages. The aggressive and flamboyant exterior styling is matched inside both cars with upgraded materials and finishes. Little in the way of details is yet known about the... While U.S. carmakers prepare for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Honda is readying a range of concepts to show off at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, which celebrates Japan's modified vehicles. The headline concepts are a pair of Sports Modulo cars based on the S2000 and Fit (Jazz). Modulo is Honda's Japanese-market factory customization, and the Sports Modulo S2000 Concept and Sports Modulo Fit Concept are intended to show what could be in the works for future customization packages. The aggressive and flamboyant exterior styling is matched inside both cars with upgraded materials and finishes. Little in the way of details is yet known about the two cars, though Honda has released these images. Full information will come once the Tokyo Auto Salon gets underway on January 9. Several other concepts will be joining the Sports Modulo vehicles: a Racing Modulo Civic Type R competition car, a pair of Life and Crossroad Styling Study Models, and a range of cars and motorcycles featuring Honda's full range of upgrade equipment, audio and navigation systems and other accessories.Honda at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon Read More

  • 2008's best and worst sellers

    2008's best and worst sellers December 22nd, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, December 22nd, 2008 Nelson Ireson 5 Comments

    2008's best and worst sellers Though 2008 started out fairly strong, riding the wave of 2007, it soon became clear that things weren't going to hold up. Few anticipated how sharply the market would drop, however, and that combination of events has led to some interesting best-and-worst results.

    Leading the charge as the best-selling vehicle in America, despite the fuel crunch and down economy is the 27-year champ, the Ford F-150, reports Forbes. With 473,933 vehicles sold this year, it's over 40,000 vehicles ahead of the second-place Chevrolet Silverado. The total pickup-truck sales of nearly a million units - for just two models - prove that there's an ongoing need for... Though 2008 started out fairly strong, riding the wave of 2007, it soon became clear that things weren't going to hold up. Few anticipated how sharply the market would drop, however, and that combination of events has led to some interesting best-and-worst results. Leading the charge as the best-selling vehicle in America, despite the fuel crunch and down economy is the 27-year champ, the Ford F-150, reports Forbes. With 473,933 vehicles sold this year, it's over 40,000 vehicles ahead of the second-place Chevrolet Silverado. The total pickup-truck sales of nearly a million units - for just two models - prove that there's an ongoing need for the vehicles despite their somewhat anachronistic casting. Honda's Civic and Accord and the Toyota Camry rounded out the top five spots, however, proving that relatively fuel-efficient vehicles that focus on moving people are also equally necessary, selling a combined 946 million vehicles. The poor-sellers were largely composed of vehicles that haven't found a niche in terms of utility, affordability and style. Crossovers count significantly among the list, as the nascent segment founders in the face of its first real challenge. Working down the list, the fifth worst-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2008 was the Hummer H2, its blocky obloquy a self-fulfilling prophecy. Chrysler's Pacifica was the fourth-worst selling, preceded by the Mitsubishi Endeavor. Nissan's enormous and fuel-thirsty Armada SUV took second-worst-selling honors, and the least-purchased of all the mass-market vehicles of 2008 was the Hyundai Entourage minivan. What this portends for sales in 2009 is anybody's guess. If 2008 has taught the automotive industry anything, it's that even the best laid plans may often go awry. Read More

  • Honda showcases 16 vehicle lineup at SEMA

    Honda showcases 16 vehicle lineup at SEMA November 4th, 2008 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, November 4th, 2008 James Martinez 0 Comments

    Honda showcases 16 vehicle lineup at SEMA Honda will be showcasing more than 16 custom vehicles at this year’s SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, with a lineup consisting of project cars, concepts and accessorized production vehicles. Specially featured in the display is a 2009 Fit equipped with Mugen accessories, a Civic Coupe Concept fitted with Honda Factory Performance (HFP) accessories, and the 2009 Ridgeline Powersports Concept.

    Honda also used the SEMA event to announce that it will make a complete line of new Mugen accessories available for the 2009 Fit that will be available through authorized dealers in the first half of next year. Some of the pieces will include 16in... Honda will be showcasing more than 16 custom vehicles at this year’s SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, with a lineup consisting of project cars, concepts and accessorized production vehicles. Specially featured in the display is a 2009 Fit equipped with Mugen accessories, a Civic Coupe Concept fitted with Honda Factory Performance (HFP) accessories, and the 2009 Ridgeline Powersports Concept. Honda also used the SEMA event to announce that it will make a complete line of new Mugen accessories available for the 2009 Fit that will be available through authorized dealers in the first half of next year. Some of the pieces will include 16in alloy wheels, an aluminum oil filler cap, front sports grille, front under spoiler, side spoiler, rear under spoiler, sports silencer, rear emblem, quick shifter, shift knob, sports pedals, sports floor mats and a mirror cover. Honda also revealed a Civic Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Concept sedan that looks to improve vehicle performance while also conserving fuel. Honda Access America, Honda's accessory development company, took on that challenge. Through aerodynamic improvements to the next generation HFP body kit, super-light alloy wheels with aerodynamic covers, a lighter HFP exhaust system and an upgraded HFP suspension kit, this concept offers the possibility of improving both fuel economy and performance. In the truck display area, the 2009 Ridgeline Powersports Concept represents what Ridgeline owners could build using currently available Honda Genuine Accessories. The highlights include a custom grille, 18in alloy wheels, and an experimental painted black finish. The complete list of vehicles at the Honda booth are as follows: 2009 Civic HFP Concept 2009 Ridgeline Powersports Concept 2009 Fit Sport with Mugen accessories 2009 Accord Coupe HFP 2009 Civic Coupe HFP 2009 S2000 CR 2009 Element EX with accessories Carr "Ridgeline Racing" Baja truck Carr "Pilot Safari" Baja support vehicle Compass 360 Racing Civic Si Sedan Fenton Motorsports Civic Si Coupe Galpin Honda 2009 Accord two-door project Tjin Edition 2009 Fit project Ryan Shutt 2009 Pilot project DSO Eyewear 2009 Pilot project Danica Patrick IndyCar Racecar 2009 Honda Big Red (sold through Honda motorcycle dealers)2008 Honda SEMA lineup Read More

  • Honda looks past Odyssey and Pilot to focus on Civic and Accord

    Honda looks past Odyssey and Pilot to focus on Civic and Accord October 14th, 2008 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, October 14th, 2008 Ralph Hanson 0 Comments

    Honda looks past Odyssey and Pilot to focus on Civic and Accord While U.S. automakers are rushing to develop new small cars to take advantage of the rapidly growing market, established players in the segment like Honda are having trouble keeping up with demand. Sales of the Honda Civic in the U.S. have increased 14.8% in the past four months alone, and demand for the four-cylinder Accord is up by almost the same amount.

    To meet this extra demand Honda needs to increase supply, and to do so it will add more shifts and overtime to its East Liberty plant in Ohio and Alliston plant in Ontario. These two plants are primarily responsible for the Civic sedan, which gets 25mpg in the city and 36mpg on the... While U.S. automakers are rushing to develop new small cars to take advantage of the rapidly growing market, established players in the segment like Honda are having trouble keeping up with demand. Sales of the Honda Civic in the U.S. have increased 14.8% in the past four months alone, and demand for the four-cylinder Accord is up by almost the same amount. To meet this extra demand Honda needs to increase supply, and to do so it will add more shifts and overtime to its East Liberty plant in Ohio and Alliston plant in Ontario. These two plants are primarily responsible for the Civic sedan, which gets 25mpg in the city and 36mpg on the highway when equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and sells for $15,645. The four-cylinder Accord is produced at the Marysville plant, also in Ohio, and to boost capacity for this particular version Honda will move production of the V6 model to a plant in Lincoln, Alabama. While demand for Honda’s four-cylinder sedans is up, the opposite is true for its Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV. So far this year Honda has cut production of these two vehicles by 10,000 units per year, and there are plans to reduce them by an additional 22,000 units. “We are trying to use our plant flexibility to minimize the effects of the market going down and satisfy our customers’ desire for more cars and fewer trucks,” Honda spokesman Ed Miller told the Detroit Free Press. So far this year, Honda has sold 313,032 Accords through the end of September - up 2.4% from the same period last year. Sales of the Honda Pilot, meanwhile, have decreased 16.8% through September to 79,430, while Odyssey sales declined 14% to 112,041.2009 Honda Civic Read More

  • Honda updates European Civic range for 2009

    Honda updates European Civic range for 2009 October 3rd, 2008 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, October 3rd, 2008 Kenneth Hall 3 Comments

    Honda updates European Civic range for 2009 The European versions of the three and five-door Honda Civic are being updated with refreshed styling and a more generous standard equipment list as part of the vehicle’s mid-cycle update. The 1.4L engine currently in the lineup will also be replaced with a new unit featuring Honda’s latest generation i-VTEC technology, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and increases power and torque.

    The new engine also has improved noise, vibration and harshness levels, and is now available in both the three and five-door Type S models.

    Manual versions of the latest Civic will gain a shift light indicator, which combined with... The European versions of the three and five-door Honda Civic are being updated with refreshed styling and a more generous standard equipment list as part of the vehicle’s mid-cycle update. The 1.4L engine currently in the lineup will also be replaced with a new unit featuring Honda’s latest generation i-VTEC technology, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and increases power and torque. The new engine also has improved noise, vibration and harshness levels, and is now available in both the three and five-door Type S models. Manual versions of the latest Civic will gain a shift light indicator, which combined with the existing ‘Eco Driving’ light helps improve fuel economy. Diesel versions receive slightly revised gearing designed to help reduce CO2 emissions. Changes to the Civic’s styling include a new grille, revised bumpers, and a new rear light cluster. Inside, the cars are available with an optional iPod connector and rear parking sensors. There will also be a new i-Shift automated manual transmission option available on the Type S 1.4L and 1.8L models. The transmission changes gear more rapidly and with improved shift quality and logic. The 1.8L version features a second sportier mode for more enthusiastic driving. The 1.8L model is also available with a new five-speed automatic. Crowning the range is the Civic Type R (pictured), which for 2009 receives a limited slip differential. Initial testing at Japan’s Tsukaba circuit has shown a 1.44 second improvement in lap times compared with the previous model. The updated Type R models are distinguished by their ‘Championship White’ paint finish, 18in alloy wheels, and black chrome used on badges, door handles, fuel lid and front grille. Read More

More Headlines


  1. 1
  2. 2