Honda News
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WWJD: What Would Julia Drive? It's a question that's crossed our mind, since we're getting some household pressure to see this summer's ultimate chunky-chick flick. No, we haven't seen Julie & Julia yet--no offense, Amy Adams but we're into whole movies, not two half-movies. And we're a little insulted by your line, "I could write a blog." Not everyone is a writer, just like not everyone is a French chef or Oscar nominee. And frankly, Dan Aykroyd did a better Julia Child by our call. Still, motor oil and a nice Bechamel are somewhat alike: both are better rich and thick, than weak and...
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Honda adds 201 horsepower gasoline engine to Accord Euro 'Type S'In several other markets around the world, the Acura TSX is sold as the Honda Accord Euro alongside the bigger but less expensive Accord. Back at March’s Geneva Motor Show, Honda unveiled a more powerful and sportier looking version of its diesel-powered Accord Euro that was called the...
Kenneth Hall -
V6-powered TSX joins Acura’s 2010 lineupAcura teased us back at February’s Chicago Auto Show with a new V6-powered version of its TSX sports sedan, and now the car is finally ready to go sale as part of the automaker’s updated 2010 lineup. The midsize sedan picks up Acura’s familiar 3.5L V6 from its TL and RL siblings...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Report: Next-gen Honda NSX could get 'Super Hybrid Sports' badgeLast year Honda - or more specifically, Acura - confirmed the NSX replacement would be on its way by 2010 as a 2011 model. Since then the global car market has fallen through the floor, and Honda had canceled the NSX replacement, but the car could still make its target debut date. A report emerging...
Kenneth Hall -
Honda president says no need for RWD sedansFront-wheel drive cars, no matter how well-engineered, are always a compromise when it comes to being fast. They do enjoy some advantages in terms of packaging and efficiency, however, and Honda's new president Takanobu Ito is firmly behind the continued absence of RWD cars in the company's lineup...
Nelson Ireson -
Honda surprised many when it announced its withdrawal from the world of Formula One racing late last year. Following the amazing success of Honda’s former team, Brackley-based Brawn, there were suggestions that the Japanese automaker may eventually return to the competition. Any hope of that happening has now been quashed by the automaker’s newly appointed chief Takanobu Ito. Speaking with Reuters, Ito explained that F1’s new restrictions have made the sport less attractive and reduced the motivation to rejoin. "It was a real shame that we had to leave Formula One," Takanobu...
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Official: Honda CR-Z and Fit hybrids on sale in 2010Honda today announced plans to begin sales in Japan of the CR-Z hybrid sports car in February 2010 and a Fit hybrid before the end of 2010. By combining these two models with the currently available Insight and Civic Hybrid, Honda will further enhance its lineup of compact hybrid models and help it...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mini One D bests Honda Insight with 60mpgThe Mini Cooper isn't the first car you'd associate with the environmental movement, but with its frugal four-cylinder engines and the new Mini E battery-operated version, the Cooper's green credentials are considerable. Now Mini's buffing the inexpensive, high-miler Cooper it sells in Europe as...
Martin Padgett -
Germans, luxury marques lead diesel's U.S. comebackIt's easy to blame the economy or the consequent poor car market for the delay of diesels from Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, but that hasn't kept the Germans at BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen from turning up the wick on oil-burners. In fact, it's quite the...
Nelson Ireson -
GM pitching Volt as sporty, green alternative to Prius, InsightAt first glance, there's very little to differentiate the main contenders for your hybrid sedan dollar - the new Insight looks remarkably like the Prius. For that matter, so does the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. Aerodynamic necessity is a harsh master. But General Motors is planning to set the Volt...
Ralph Hanson -
Honda hybrid sports car based on CR-Z concept set for Tokyo Motor Show debutHonda’s recent financial troubles may have claimed the NSX-replacement and the automaker’s F1 efforts but it won’t stop plans to launch a new hybrid sports car next year based on the 2007 CR-Z concept car. The new model is currently being designed and engineered in Europe, its...
Kenneth Hall -
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...
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Brawn GP auctioning off Honda F1 cars at Silverstone Classic eventThe meteoric rise of Brawn GP under 2009's new technical regulations - juxtaposed against the equally precipitous fall of Ferrari and McLaren - has put them in the limelight both on and off track. But despite their massive success and key sponsors, Brawn is still a relatively small...
Nelson Ireson -
Honda releases driving simulator kit to teach safe, green drivingDriving simulators can vary from arcade-like video games to serious training aids for racing drivers, but so far few if any have put the emphasis on safe, green driving. Honda is hoping to change that with its latest release, however - a simulator dubbed 'Honda Safety Navi'. The system comes with...
Kenneth Hall -
Toyota launches new build-your-own Prius configuratorToyota may have just sold its millionth hybrid vehicle in the United States last month, but that hasn't stopped the industry giant from getting trounced in its home market of Japan when it comes to hybrid sales. Last month the company has released official pricing for the 2010 Prius, starting at...
Jeremy Weber -
Honda could leapfrog Chrysler in North American production, salesWith almost all of its plants shuttered through the bankruptcy period and faith in the company at an all-time low, Chrysler is soon to be passed in both North American production and sales by Honda. The Japanese #2 carmaker has already cut the gap to Chrysler's production figures to 17,011 vehicles...
Ralph Hanson -
Obama kills the hydrogen car by slashing research fundingThere may be debate over who killed the electric car, but we can now say with some certainty that the culprit behind killing the hydrogen car is none other than President Barack Obama. In his new budget, the President has eliminated funding to develop hydrogen fuel-cell cars, scrapping a $1.2...
Ralph Hanson -
It's no secret that hybrid and small car sales have been among the hardest hit in the ongoing market downturn. They've fallen at rates well beyond the total market's decline and continue to do so, dropping 45.5% in April against the same time a year ago. But total hybrid sales are up 1.4% against March 2009 according to Edmunds, and are at their highest level since October 2008. That could hint at a turnaround in the market, though there are other potential factors to consider, including new model arrivals and heavy incentives. The parade of bad news continues at Toyota, down 62.8% in hybrid...
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Ford comes out on top of Honda in latest initial quality surveyFor the past several years, Ford has been steadily raising its initial quality rankings, saving tons of money in warranty repairs along the way. This time around, the company has finally surpassed perennial top contender Honda in the 2009 Global Quality Research System (GQRS) rankings. Last year...
Ralph Hanson -
Honda looking to invest in Pioneer’s automotive unitIn-car technology is becoming almost as important to modern-day car shoppers as to what actually lies beneath the hood, and for that reason Honda is looking to invest a significant amount of money into electronics giant Pioneer. The information was first revealed by a Honda spokesman who explained...
Jeremy Weber -
Honda Rethinks No Plug-In Hybrid StanceHonda has always been at the forefront of the eco-technological wave, being one of the first to the market with a mass-produced hybrid vehicle with the original Insight hatch and then breaking new ground once again with the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity. Despite this penchant for innovation, the...
Ralph Hanson -
Honda profit dives 77% but remains in the blackHonda has made some very tough decisions over the past 12 months to reduce costs, including canceling development of its V10-powered NSX successor and pulling out altogether from the 2009 F1 season, but the moves deserve commendation as they have helped the carmaker remain profitable at a time when...
Jeremy Weber -
Honda CEO puts price floor on Insight, has no plans for large dieselsEarlier this year, Honda won a lot of attention with its 'cheapest hybrid in America' pricing on the new 2010 Insight. But now Takeo Fukui, the company's CEO, says he won't be engaging Toyota in a price war for the title. The 2010 Insight starts at just $19,800 before delivery fees and taxes, and...
Kenneth Hall