2012 Honda Civic Si Takes On New Role As IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Car

TORRANCE, Calif. (July 6, 2011) – The all-new, ninth-generation 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe will take on new duties as a Safety Car for the IZOD IndyCar Series, beginning on the weekend of the Honda Indy Toronto, July 8-10.

Already a hit with race fans through the Civic Racing Style Sweepstakes, the 201-horsepower Honda Civic Si Coupe was recently transformed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), Honda’s racing subsidiary north of Los Angeles, into an official IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Car.

Modifications to the already high-performance stock Civic Si include Sparco seats and four-point racing harnesses; an HPD high-performance brake system, with four-piston calipers, competition rotors, racing pads, and stainless brake lines; a Honda Genuine Accessory aerodynamic body kit, consisting of front, side and rear under spoilers; and Firestone Firehawk 225/40 R18 tires mounted on Enkei alloy wheels.

An exclusive graphics theme completes the conversion from a showroom Civic Si Coupe to an IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Car. The Safety Car will be driven during IZOD IndyCar Series events by three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford.

“The high-performance new Honda Civic Si is the perfect match for the IndyCar Safety Car fleet,” said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president, auto sales. “With its larger and more powerful 2.4-liter engine and enhancements provided by HPD, it is ready to lead the IZOD IndyCar Series field at the Honda Indy Toronto and beyond.”

Unveiled in April at the New York International Auto Show, the 2012 Honda Civic features more streamlined and expressive “mono-form” exterior styling, wrapped around a spacious cabin with more style and convenience. Available new technology features include an intelligent, Multi- Information Display (i-MID), USB audio interface, Bluetooth® HandsFree Link® and a satellite-linked Navigation System with voice recognition and FM traffic.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., was founded in 1959 as the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda currently produces automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, lawn mowers and engines at its nine major U.S. manufacturing operations, using domestic and globally sourced parts.Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD is the single engine supplier to the IndyCar Series and competes in prototype sports-car racing under the HPD banner in the American Le Mans and European Le Mans Series. In addition to its grassroots motorsports support programs, HPD offers race engine products from karting to pinnacle.
From Honda / HPD

Source;
http://insidetracknews.blogspot.com/2011/07/2012-honda-civic-si-takes-on-new-role.html

2012 Honda CRV Trim Levels (US) revealed on Arizona Dealers Facebook Page

Interesting, a RES model for CRV, for those who don't know, RES = Rear Entertainment System (DVD), so, this could be Honda's first factory installed DVD going into a 5 seater or there's some kind of truth to the rumour of a 3rd row, stay tuned!
Special recognition for this find goes out to TOV member: "Gusteez"


Below are the 2012 CR-V color combinations, also posted on the dealer's facebook page:

CR-V 5DR 2WD LX
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
TAFFETA WHITE/GRAY

CR-V 5DR 2WD EX
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR 2WD EX-L
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR 2WD EX-L RES
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR 2WDEX-L NAV
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR AWD LX
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
TAFFETA WHITE/GRAY

CR-V 5DR AWD EX
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR AWD EX-L
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR AWD EX-L RES
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

CR-V 5DR AWD EX-L NAV
CRYSTAL BLACK PEARL/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BLACK
URBAN TITANIUM METALLIC/BEIGE
TWILIGHT BLUE METALLIC/GRAY
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BLACK
OPAL SAGE METALLIC/BEIGE
POLISHED METAL METALLIC/GRAY
BASQUE RED PEARL II/GRAY
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/BLACK
ALABASTER SILVER METALLIC/GRAY
WHITE DIAMOND PEARL/BEIGE

Original Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=989754

Facebook Source;
http://www.facebook.com/EarnhardtHonda

Honda CR-Z MUGEN RR Concept revealed in Goodwood

Honda has surprised crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past weekend with a another CR-Z Concept. Following the MUGEN CR-Z Concept design study model, this second model designated "RR" represents a more race focused version.

The MUGEN CR-Z Concept RR features an exclusive body kit including a front aero bumper, front aero fenders, side spoilers, rear aero bumper, rear wing and specially developed 18-inch wheels.

Mugen makes no mention of performance specs, but we already know the MUGEN CR-Z design concept features a supercharged 1.5-liter engine and an IMA hybrid system good for 200 PS (147 kW / 197 hp) and 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) comes in at roughly 6.6 seconds.

Hopefully, when Honda releases full details we'll see a decent power output increase too.
Note: Goodwood photo shows MUGEN CR-Z Concept design study model.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/111070534696/honda-cr-z-mugen-rr-concept-revealed-in-goodwood

2012 Honda Civic Si Features Video Reviews Highlights of All-New Model

Different.... I like it.

2012 Honda CRV Rearend Spyshot

Spied somewhere in China where apparently the current CRV is very popular.

Source (via www.burlappcars.com);
http://auto.163.com/

Burlapp Fine; 2012 Euro Honda Civic?

Not too sure what to think about this one, the front doesn't go with the body in my opinion....
Source;
http://www.burlappcars.com/2011/06/2012-euro-honda-civic.html

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Twelve modified 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupes are featured prominently in the Honda booth at the 2010 SEMA Show, LAS VEGAS, which opens today. The 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept is the sporty evolution of the Honda CR-Z, prepared by the Japanese Mugen Motorsports, officially associated with Honda. Honda has teamed up with Mugen again for a new hotrod special - but this one's a hybrid. The new 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept is a slightly more ecologically sound proposition than the banzai 2009 Civic Type R Mugen, and brings the race car treatment to Honda's hybrid coupe.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

As the first available sport hybrid, the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept demonstrates new opportunities for vehicle personalization among the import tuner community. Several significant vehicles are being unveiled at the show, including a 2011 CR-Z equipped with MUGEN* accessories, the Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) CR-Z Hybrid R Concept, the HPD CR-Z Racer and several vehicles equipped with Honda Genuine Accessories.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Also unveiled today were two concept vehicles from HPD: the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept and the HPD CR-Z Racer. Though neither vehicle is intended for sale, HPD, Honda’s North American racing company, was determined to demonstrate the potential of the CR-Z for both street and racing performance. Both vehicles share many performance enhancements, with the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept highlighting Honda-designed street styling and the HPD CR-Z Racer opting for serious racing capability. To demonstrate that capability, HPD will campaign two HPD CR-Z Racers at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race in December. HPD enhancements to both cars include: a turbocharger and upgraded IMA™ hybrid system, resulting in an estimated combined 200 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. of torque; performance clutch; limited-slip differential; ‘circuit-tuned’ suspension; upgraded brakes and aerodynamic components.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Two vehicles were on display to demonstrate currently available Honda Genuine Accessories. For the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept, Honda displayed a vehicle equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels; side, front lip and tailgate spoilers; a rear diffuser; an illuminated door-sill trim and an interior armrest. Additionally, a 2010 Accord Coupe equipped with dealer-installed Honda Factory Performance™ (HFP™) components melded a distinctive, custom appearance with an enhanced level of handling performance. All Honda Genuine Accessories offer the same 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty as the rest of the vehicle, when installed at the time of new vehicle purchase, and are engineered to be fully compatible with each Honda vehicle.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Mugen Euro has developed a highly-tuned version of the Honda CR-Z that aims to deliver up to 200PS and 215Nm of torque by boosting the hybrid's petrol-electric powertrain. The goal of the project was to prove hybrid cars can be exciting to drive, by producing "Civic Type R-like" performance from the hybrid coupe while remaining sympathetic to the original Honda direction for the CR-Z. Torque Mugen Honda crz provide 50 percent greater power and use electric as the fuel. Obviously this is a good concept for a Honda hybrid sport cars. 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept uses a 5-speed adjustable front and mounted on the back, which would increase the width base and weight of the settlement.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Colin Whittamore from Mugen Euro explains the philosophy behind the creation of the CR-Z Mugen: “We wanted a car that has genuine performance available at the touch of a button, but can perform just like a standard CR-Z and offer good fuel economy when the driver wishes. For that reason, we’ve kept the three driving modes, so the driver can select “eco” or “normal” to switch to economy and low emissions for daily driving, but press the Mugen button for the full-blown weekend-warrior settings”.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

In addition, Mugen’s engineers also widened the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept’s front and rear tracks and fitted stiffer 5-step adjustable dampers and a limited slip differential to maximize traction. The Honda CR-Z Mugen stops courtesy of larger brake discs and 4-pot calipers. 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept comes with sporty interior, there are Recaro sports seats, a different gear knob and a carbon rear view mirror cover, but your attention will be instantly drawn by the addition of three gauges that display water and oil temperature and pressure.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Among factors that features the sportiveness stands out the lowered bumper, a large roof spoiler and the carbon-fiber bonnet which, according to Honda, is an important technical detail. The weight of the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept then was reduced by more than 50 kg, through the use of lightweight materials as, again, the carbon-fiber, and first tests seem very positive.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

The 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept is purely a concept car at this stage, designed to demonstrate the potential and versatility of the Honda IMA system, with no confirmed plans for further production. Mugen and Honda (UK) will consider media and customer feedback before deciding on any next steps.

Honda Insight Hybrid racer banned - it's too fast

Modified, previous-generation Honda Insight has blown away a field of conventional rally cars.
Technically, the car you see here is a hybrid capable of some pretty impressive consumption, yet it's been banned from rallying for being too fast.

Yes, the world's greenest rally car has been kicked out of its championship because it's too quick.

The petrol-electric (previous shape) Honda Insight hybrid, which competes in the Formula 1000 rally championship in the UK, has been asked to withdraw following concerns from rival competitors that it has an unfair advantage, after dominating the 2011 series with two wins and a second place from the first three rounds.

The car, which uses a tuned petrol-electric hybrid system to give it more power and better fuel efficiency, has been developed by the Oaktec team from Lancaster over a six-year period using the low emission Honda car as a base.

The developments of the green technology have been so successful that the eco car, which can return an amazing 2.4 litres per 100km when driven slowly, has blown away a field of conventional rally cars to gain a 19 point championship lead after just three rallies.

The championship organisers phoned the Oaktec team to request that they stand down from the series and compete the car in a higher class to appease rival competitors. The team has agreed to the demand and will now look to race in other classes.

Oaktec boss Paul Andrews commented: “It was a bit of a shock when I got the call as after six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organisers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers.”

Source;
http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/motorsport/hybrid-racer-banned-it-s-too-fast-1.1090243

Honda: Operating profit forecast not conservative

TOKYO: Honda Motor Co's annual operating profit forecast is not conservative given yen strength and rising raw materials prices, the automaker's chief financial officer said on Tuesday.

"I don't think assuming 80 yen to the dollar is conservative at all," Fumihiko Ike told a small group of reporters. "The same goes for raw material prices," he said.

Japan's No.3 automaker this month forecast a worse-than-expected 65 per cent fall in annual operating profit to 200 billion yen ($2.49 billion) for the year to March 2012 and projected a 6 per cent drop in global car sales to 3.3 million vehicles.

Many analysts consider its guidance overly conservative.

Source;
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/honda-operating-profit-forecast-not-conservative/articleshow/9021763.cms

Car and Driver Mag: 2012 Honda Pilot Spy Photos - Future Cars

The cyborg grille is gone, but the rest of the Pilot remains mostly unchanged.
BY JUSTIN BERKOWITZ, PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA PRIDDY & CO. AND THE MANUFACTURER June 2011

The Honda Pilot isn’t as weird as a Citroën, nor is it as thrilling as a BMW M3. In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—Honda’s eight-passenger crossover SUV sells in substantial numbers, impressive work for a car that debuted in its second generation for 2008. (It joined our long-term test fleet soon after.) To keep shoppers interested, though, Honda’s making some tweaks for 2012, and our spy shooters have caught one of the face-lifted Pilots running around.

The most notable difference is the change in the grille. The current car’s cyborg-like front fascia was a bit of a styling risk from such a conservative company, and while it probably didn’t hurt sales, it didn’t win loads of fans either. It’s immediately apparent from these images that the flat grille will disappear, to be replaced with a three-slat insert. Tape on the rear bumper suggests some resurfacing there as well. Otherwise, the Pilot’s exterior remains mostly the same as it has been; it’s an inoffensive design and still looks fresh enough to satisfy families in the showroom.

Mechanically, the alterations to the Pilot will most likely be evolutionary. Honda has been upgrading most of its models’ five-speed automatic transmissions with six-ratio units; you can expect the Pilot to join the six-speed in-crowd. Between the new gearbox and—perhaps—some finessing of the engine’s greasy bits, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Pilot gain an extra mile per gallon or two. For the folks who put cartoonish drawings of themselves and their pets on the rear window, this will be pleasant news.

We expect Honda to unveil the face-lifted Pilot sometime this fall, either at November’s Los Angeles auto show or at a less-full-of-fanfare venue. It’ll be a busy fall for the company’s crossover division, as we’re also expecting an all-new CR-V. We’ll bring you full info on both cars when it arrives.

Source;

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/spied/11q2/2012_honda_pilot_spy_photos-future_cars

Report: The two 'most American' cars are Japanese

The two most American cars aren't, well, American, according to a new ranking by our friends at Cars.com. For the third straight year, Toyota Camry, a product of Japan's largest automaker, is the "most American car," as determined by Cars.com formula. Honda Accord, the flagship of Japan's second largest automaker, is second.

The highest car on Cars.com annual ranking from a Detroit Big 3 maker is General Motors' Chevrolet Malibu.

Cars.com's annual American-Made Index ranks the most-American vehicles based on percentage of their parts that are made domestically, where they are assembled and how many are sold to U.S. buyers.

Both Camry and Accord are made with 80% of their parts coming from the USA. And most are assembled in the U.S. Camrys are made in Georgetown, Ky., and Lafayette, Ind.

The Ford Explorer comes to the list, reborn as a crossover, with a higher percentage of domestic parts, 85%, than a Camry or Accord and is made in a Chicago factory. But it doesn't sell in as great a numbers as they, meaning also that it probably results in fewer American factory jobs.

"In today's global economy, there's not an easy way to determine just how American a car is," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief. "Most cars built in the U.S., for example, are assembled using at least some parts that come from somewhere else. Additionally, many U.S. automakers assemble vehicles in Canada and Mexico, while foreign automakers have opened plants on U.S. soil. Our index is another resource that car buyers can use to help guide their purchase decision."

Besides Camry, Toyota also has the Tundra (No. 9) and the Sienna (No. 6) on the list. GM also has three vehicles on the list -- the first time since 2009. In addition to Malibu, they are Chevy Traverse (No. 8) and the GMC Acadia (No. 10). Honda held two spots in the top 10, while Ford and Chrysler each held one.

"Despite the disaster in Japan, and General Motors usurping Toyota as the world's largest automaker, we're not surprised to see the Camry in the No. 1 position again," said Olsen. "The Camry remains an incredibly popular vehicle, and higher total sales require a higher number of U.S. factory workers and a larger number of U.S. suppliers – all of which contribute to Toyota's ranking."

Here's the list of the top 2011 model-year vehicles on Cars.com's list, and their percentage of domestic parts:

Toyota Camry: 80%.
Honda Accord: 80%.
Chevrolet Malibu: 75%.
Ford Explorer: 85%.
Honda Odyssey: 75%.
Toyota Sienna: 75%.
Jeep Wrangler: 78% for 2-door, 79% for 4-door.
Chevrolet Traverse: 75%.
Toyota Tundra: 80%.
GMC Acadia: 75%.

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/06/ranking-the-two-most-american-cars-are-from-japanese-makers/1

2012 Honda CRV website up and running

Shrawan Raja of the sites below was kind enough to send a 'heads up' to the new 2012 Honda CRV teaser site up and running here http://automobiles.honda.com/2012-cr-v/

http://indianautosblog.com
http://indianmotosblog.com
http://steeringnews.com
This is straight from Shrawan's site;

Here’s what the website says -

With a new design—both inside and out, new features and new possibilities, the 2012 CR-V will set a new standard for the class. As a top-selling crossover for over five years, expectations for the 2012 CR-V are high and we’re confident they will not only be met, but exceeded. Much more will be revealed over the next several months so be sure to sign up on this page to receive updates.

The new CR-V is a crucial model for Honda in India as the 20-30 lakh rupee crossover/SUV space is prone to a lot of tussling. The Chevrolet Captiva, BMW X1, Toyota Fortuner and the Renault Koleos are very desirable cars and feature-packed and stylish enough to take away limelight away from the Honda. The lack of a diesel engine is hurting its sales in India. In America however this won’t matter as the market share of diesel cars is not considerable.
It is said that the new CR-V (codename 2WS) will arrive with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 180 – 220 horsepower. A hybrid variant is reportedly another development exclusive to the Japanese and American markets

The incoming model according to reports online will be marginally shorter (4,535mm x 1,820mm x 1,685mm as opposed to the current model’s 4,575mm x 1,820mm x 1,680mm (L*W*H respectively) ) and slightly more fuel economical.

Source:
http://indianautosblog.com/2011/06/2012-honda-cr-v-microsite-live#ixzz1QTwURi00

2012 - 2013 Euro Honda Civic's

Here are a couple of pic's of what may be in store for UK Honda, a Hatchback (like the 2002-2005 Civic SiR that we saw here) and the sedan version of the Civic?!?

Thanks for pointing this out Ron!

Source (via Ron);
http://visions-autos.sport24.com

Honda is the brand with fewest warranty claims, study says

UK warranty specialist MB&G states that the companies that filed the fewest number of claims for the past year are those from Japan and Korea. Honda has received the top spot in this study. MB&G noted that as drivers have decided to keep the cars until they’re in their fourth years or even up to six years, there are some drivers who will be surprised with the type of maintenance costs that they’d have to incur.

Kevin Pearce, a director of MB&G, said that modern day cars are “reliable” but that errors are more common in the fourth or fifth years and if “the mileage reaches 70-100,000 miles.” He explained further that the cars feature plenty of electronic equipment that controls the engine management automatic gearbox and a small software error can often create issues.

Of course, there’s wear and tear that have to be considered. MB&G says that the average age and mileage of cars being is increasing, but generally, the corporate/SME market doesn’t like to go beyond the warranties. Pearce said that each year, tens of thousands of warranties are being processed. The average age of those cars are also increasing quite significantly. Pearce added that for now, there are more drivers who would drive around, thinking about purchasing a warranty for “extra peace of mind.”

Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-is-the-brand-with-fewest-warranty-claims-study-says/

Honda Greensburg plant gets survey's highest award

Honda Greensburg was named one of the world's best car assembly plants

.J.D. Power and Associates, a research firm that hands out an annual prize likened to the Academy Awards of vehicle manufacturing, on Thursday singled out the southeast Indiana factory.

Honda Greensburg received the researcher's highest rating, the Platinum Plant Quality award.The Greensburg plant, which assembles the Civic car, scored 24 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with an industry average of 107 problems per 100 vehicles.

"It's a real feather in the cap for a plant that is that new," said Ed Miller, American Honda Motor Co. senior manager for corporate affairs.

Honda opened the plant in 2008 after selecting 900 workers from about 30,000 job applications. Honda is now recruiting a second shift of about 1,000 workers to start late this year.

Honda plants differ from Toyota's and General Motors' by relying slightly less on automation and more on hands-on effort on the assembly line.

To obtain the results, J.D. Power surveyed 73,000 cars and trucks of all makes in the hands of buyers. The survey covers initial problems detected within 90 days of purchase of model year 2011vehicles.

Greensburg was tied for the Platinum award by Toyota's Lexus RX assembly line at Cambridge, Ontario, and Toyota Kyushu 2 in Japan, which produces the Lexus ES, IS and RX. Each plant scored 24 defects per 100 vehicles."

These results are an important demonstration of our focus on the customer and the tireless efforts put forth by Honda associates throughout our organization -- in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales -- toreflect the voice of our customers and to exceed their high expectations of Honda and Acura," Tetsuo Iwamura, chief executive of American Honda Motor Co., said in a statement.

Source;
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110624/BUSINESS/106240345/Honda-Greensburg-plant-gets-survey-s-highest-award

Lexus, Honda top J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, Ford plummets

Despite being caught in the undertow of Toyota's recall and safety issues last year, Lexis tops J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study (IQS) as the best brand in the survey being released today. Even better, Lexus' flagship LS sedan had the fewest problems of any vehicle in the first 90 days of ownership.

Meanwhile Ford, which was fifth last year and the only mass-market brand in the top five, fell to 23rd this year. It had 116 problems per 100 vehicles,up from 93 last year and worse than the industry average of 107 owner-reported problems. Its Lincoln brand dropped from No. 8 to 17 this year, with 111 problems.

Power attributed Ford results partly to two specific issues about which owners have complained: complicated communications and other controls and a dual-clutch automatic that some owners found balky and unpredictable. (Drive On friend Greg Gardner of the Detroit Free Press explained the complaints and predicted the IQS rating fall in a detailed story here.)

Power also said new technologies were an increasing problem for all makers. While the overall industry average improved to 107 from 109 problems last year, the IQS scores for models all-new or with major redesigns was 10% worse: an average of 122 problems, up from 111 last year. Carryover or lightly freshened models, by contrast, improved to 103 from 108.

"Exciting models with the latest features are crucial for winning over today's demanding consumers," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. "However, automakers must not lose their focus on the importance of these models also achieving exceptional quality levels. Expected reliability continues to be the single-most-important reason why new-vehicle buyers choose one model over another."

Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda rounded out the top five nameplates in the IQS survey, which is one of the most closely watched measures of quality in the car industry.

With Ford's fall, you have to go to ninth place before the first U.S. brand shows up -- Cadillac.

Only it and GMC were above the industry average of 107.

Land Rover showed the biggest improvement.

The worst brands for quality? That would be Dodge, followed by Mitsubishi and Suzuki. Still the gap between best and last isn't all that great. Lexus had 73 and Dodge had 137 per 100 vehicles -- and the study doesn't take into account whether the problem was as simple as a rattle in a glove compartment or as bad as a cracked engine block.

Overall, cars had fewer problems, but the number of issues increased slightly in new models.
"Automakers must not lose their focus on the importance of these models also achieving exceptional quality levels. Expected reliability continues to be the single-most-important reason why new-vehicle buyers choose one model over another," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power.

Only seven all-new or redesigned models rank among the top three of their respective award segments, compared with 17 models in 2010, and only one launch model receives a segment award this year vs. five launch models in 2010. Just one-fourth of redesigned models perform better than the outgoing previous-generation model did in 2010, and eight all-new models perform above their respective award segment average.

Honda picked up seven segment awards for the Accord, Accord Crosstour, Civic (in a tie), Element, Fit, Insight (in a tie) and Ridgeline.

Lexus receives four segment awards for the ES, GS, GX and LS models. For a second consecutive year, the Lexus LS has the fewest quality problems in the industry with just 54.

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/06/lexus-toyota-gm-ford-jd-power-initial-quality-survey/1

Honda Mugen CR-Z driven

-Hybrid hot hatch tested
-1.5-litre supercharged petrol engine and electric motor
-Not on sale yet - production version could cost £30k

What is it?

Honda's tuning partner Mugen has been charged with demonstrating what can be achieved with hybrid technology by turning the eco-focused CR-Z sports coupe into a proper road rocket.

What's it like to drive?

Although power output from the electric motor is unchanged, by strapping a supercharger to the 1.5-litre petrol engine, power has been boosted from the standard car's 122bhp to 197bhp.

Select sport mode and the Mugen will hit 60mph in just 6.5seconds, but it's more the integration of the supercharged engine with the electric motor that impresses.

Power delivery is most unusual for Honda: there's a distinct absence of the rather flat take-up followed by the distinct kick that its V-TEC engines are famed for.

Instead, there's so much torque - 50% more than in the standard car - from just above 1000rpm that the power is delivered almost instantly and climbs towards the 6500 rpm redline with a strong linear thrust.

Equally beguiling is the duality of the Mugen CR-Z. Put it in eco mode and it will return the low emissions output and an identical cruising fuel consumption of the standard car.

How does it handle?

Superbly, but with one enormous caveat: the only car Honda provided for us to assess was a £150,000 development mule, fitted with track-oriented suspension, super-sized brakes, weight-saving carbonfibre bonnet and doors, and a free-flowing big-bore exhaust.

Even more extreme were the ultra-sticky slick tyres, which proved brilliant on the tight bends of the Rockingham speedway's touring car circuit, but hardly practical on a slimy, rain-soaked high street.

Should I buy one?

Actually, you can't.

Mugen is waiting to see if press coverage is positive and if there is a strong enough customer demand before it commits to production.

If it goes ahead, you can expect the sticker price of the road-going Mugen to be closer to £30k, and for that you will get the bloated bumpers, front and rear side skirts, aerodynamic undertrays and large roof-mounted spoiler.

Inside it'll feature two sports seat - the rear seats will be binned to save weight - a bank of extra gauges displaying water and oil temperature, a separate gauge indicating oil pressure and a heavily weighted gearknob to aid fast shifts through the six-speed manual gearbox.

However, although power and performance will be similar to those of the car we drove, the carbonfibre components certainly won't see the light of day and chassis modifications will be far less track oriented.

Source;

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/honda-mugen-cr-z-driven/257797

Honda Announces Global CO(2) Emissions Reduction Targets, Including 30 Per Cent Reduction for Products

New Global Environmental Slogan Established

TOKYO, June 21, 2011 /CNW/ - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today issued its 2011 Environmental Annual Report. Striving to realize the Honda environmental vision of the joy and freedom of mobility and a sustainable society where people can enjoy life, Honda has established 2020 CO2 emissions reduction targets to address the most important business management issues of climate change and energy issues. At the same time, Honda introduced a global environmental slogan that draws directly from Honda's environmental heritage - "Blue Skies for Our Children."

Honda has been pursuing its own environmental targets and is committed to proactive environmental conservation activities. In 2006, Honda set a goal to reduce global CO2 emissions from use of its motorcycles, automobiles and power products by 10 per cent by the end of 2010, compared to year 2000 levels. In 2010, this goal was attained by all products.

Honda has now set a target to reduce CO2 emissions from its global products by 30 per cent by the end of 2020, compared to year 2000 levels. Furthermore, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions during production and supply chain, Honda will strengthen its efforts to realize reductions in CO2 emissions through its entire corporate activities. Honda will also strengthen its efforts in advancing technologies in the area of total energy management to reduce CO2 emissions through mobility and people's everyday lives.

In addition, Honda has established a global environmental slogan as an expression of the company's proactive commitment to make progress in its environmental efforts on a global basis. With this slogan, Honda will strive to become the leader in the area of environmental and energy technologies.

The new global environmental slogan and symbol will be used with Honda's internal and external environmental activities and communications around the world.

■HONDA ENVIRONMENTAL VISION: Realizing 'The Joy and Freedom of Mobility' and 'A Sustainable Society where People Can Enjoy Life.'

■GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SLOGAN: Blue Skies for Our Children
Honda engineers who took on the challenge to meet the stringent new emissions standards of the 1970s U.S. Clean Air Act used the phrase "blue skies for our children" as a passionate rallying cry to devote themselves to this effort. Honda wants to pass on the "joy and freedom of mobility to the next generation" (for our children), therefore, we want to realize a sustainable society where people can enjoy life (blue skies). This slogan continues to represent Honda's passion toward its environmental commitment which has not wavered and will remain resolute in the future.

■GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYMBOL: http://files.newswire.ca/775/HondaEnvironmental.doc
The circular graphic represents the earth and sun with blue skies (clean air), clean water, and lush green land expressing the bounty of nature that is necessary for us to realize a sustainable society where people can enjoy life. The white line through the middle represents a road where freedom of mobility is realized, while the heart represents Honda's thinking and passion toward our environmental commitment.

For more information about Honda's environmental commitment and activities, please visit the Honda website: http://world.honda.com/environment

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/20/c7862.html

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

Spoon is always one step ahead of the competition, whether that be in racing or introducing tuned versions of Honda’s sportiest cars. The new Spoon CR-Z closely follows Spoon president Tatsuru Ichishima’s philosophy on car tuning, improving the soul of the car rather than just its performance. Spoon makes the sporty Honda CR-Z a true sports car.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

Honda CR-Z is known responsiveness of his suspension and high-quality power units, engineers Spoon upgraded clutch and chassis components to give the box a better ratio. In general, engineers do focus on the work of transmission, which should be maximally adapted to road races. In addition, special attention is paid to improving the aerodynamics of the body, at the moment is working with the side mirrors.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

The Spoon car sits much closer to the ground, lowered by about an inch and a half. A black carbon-fiber hood and flashy wheels highlight its styling. Under the hood, Spoon took apart the 1.5-liter inline-4 and reassembled the i-VTEC powerplant with many of its own parts.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

The ECU was remapped, increasing redline from 6200 rpm to 8500, with more torque in the mid range. Of particular note is Spoon’s new exhaust, which makes this hybrid sound like an Italian exotic. Together, the gasoline engine and electric motor produce about 145 bhp and about 150 lb.-ft. of torque, significant gains over stock. Also, 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars claims it shed about 220 lb. from the car’s curb weight.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

Mash the throttle, and the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars leaves the line in the same way as the original, with verve, but the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars gets stronger as the engine revs rise. The 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars, with a 6-speed manual gearbox, dashed to 60 mph in a scant 6.9 seconds and to the quarter mile in 15.5. Naturally, the car’s fuel economy takes a hit; I predict the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars will still get around 25/29 mpg city/highway.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

So far, “hybrid” and “performance” haven’t really meshed for any automaker. But with Spoon’s touch, this CR-Z may give hybrid a whole other meaning. According to our engineering contact at the firm, bigger things are in store for the Honda hatchback.

The 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars handling is much sharper, thanks to stiffer springs and shocks and thicker anti-roll bars. With a strengthened chassis and a custom limited-slip differential, the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars feels much more neutral than the stock CR-Z. Spoon is currently working on a race version that Ichishima says will introduce a new era in endurance racing. He plans to have this car finished for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in December.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

This tuner version of the CR-Z will be available as a complete car later this year for about $8000 plus the cost of the car. First test 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars scheduled on 01 April.

2012 HONDA Civic

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Featuring the widest array of engine choices available in its class, the 2012 Honda Civic is designed to even better meet the diverse needs of the compact-vehicle buyer when it launches in the spring of 2011. The entire redesigned ninth-generation Civic lineup will become more fuel efficient with two models - the all-new Honda Civic HF and the Civic Hybrid - each delivering fuel economy estimates of more than 40 mpg on the highway.

Built on the tradition of Honda fuel efficiency, the economical Honda Civic HF model will be the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup when it launches this spring. Equipped with a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the Honda Civic HF is targeted to earn EPA-estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg on the highway. The 2012 Civic Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the current Civic Hybrid. Both the Honda Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models will be equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency and Honda ECO Assist™ technology, an innovation that can enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback to promote more efficient individual driving styles.

"The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts - fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. "For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."

In addition to the Honda Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models, the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic GX Natural Gas models are also estimated to achieve improved fuel economy compared to the current models. The Honda Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg when compared to the current model. The Civic Natural Gas vehicle is anticipated to earn a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the current model. The Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic Natural Gas models will all be equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.

Along with improved fuel economy, the new Honda Civic lineup also delivers more performance, particularly with the Civic Si. The Civic Si sedan and coupe models will be equipped with a larger, more powerful 2.4-liter engine as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission. The new engine is anticipated to deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. Even with the larger engine and a 22 percent increase in torque, Civic Si is targeted to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 mpg; an increase of 2 mpg when compared to the current model.

The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline models, a new "HF" high fuel economy version, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.