Car giants Honda look set to revamp their popular minivan the Odyssey with a new, more ‘athletic’ design in 2011. Used Honda models certainly won’t look quite the same in comparison, with the new Odyssey being sculpted and shaped to round off some of the more squared edges that have become a feature of past models.
Honda claim that better fuel efficiency and increased internal space will also become features that will set the new Odyssey apart from used Honda models currently available on the pre-owned market. Many of the changes have been brought about through increased interaction with customers during the development phase. Owners were keen to take away the boxy look and give it better handling and a sportier feel, points that Honda have been quick to act on.
MINI gave enthusiasts a glimpse of the future last week, with a media preview of their forthcoming extended range of models. In addition to the variety of new and used MINI motors already owning the roads, MINI look set to add the Coupe and Roadster to their arsenal sooner rather than later.
It has been a long wait for MINI fans after the two concepts were first revealed at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. But finally it would appear that both concepts are edging closer to the production phase, despite no official production date having yet been announced.
For the tenth year in a row, used Lexus cars have been voted best in customer satisfaction in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates vehicle ownership satisfaction study.
The award is another coup for Lexus, who possess a superb reputation for customer satisfaction. They finished top in three out of the four categories – quality and reliability, appeal and service satisfaction.
Lexus’s mark was up 12 points on their total from the previous year, with an overall total of 846 out of 1,000. The survey is based on results provided by over 17,000 car owners, and acts as an excellent indicator of the continued performance of used Lexus cars.
The stylish new BMW Gran Coupe looks set to tempt owners of the 5 series to upgrade their used BMW for a shiny new motor.
This new sedan looks set to be released wearing a 6 series badge and BMW may display a production model as early as the Paris Auto Show in the autumn. The show acts as a demonstration of the newest models likely to hit markets over the coming years. If the Gran Coupe proves to be as stylish as initial reports seem to suggest, then the forecourts of used BMW dealerships look set to swell with older models.
Following losses a year ago, there has been good news for Honda as they announced profits for the first quarter of 2010. Steady increases in sales of new and used Honda models saw the company make a net profit of £507m between January and March of this year.
The encouraging news means that Honda sales were up 28% over the period – a sizeable increase. The company’s recovery is largely attributed to a recovery in the major US and Japanese markets, although expansion in developing markets such as China also played a major part.
When shopping for a new car, it is easy to overlook a brand that has symbolised British chic for decades. While they may now be manufactured by German firm BMW, used MINI models are still a wise choice when looking to buy a second hand car.
The first generation MINI One and MINI Cooper both maintain a timeless charm, despite some models now being as much as nine years old. BMW injected both models with a transversely-mounted four-cylinder engine, which along with the lightweight nature of the cars makes for an enjoyable driving experience. Furthermore, the MINI is perfect for inner city travelling due to its relatively small size and ease of handling.
Lexus have announced a series of changes to their popular GS450h model, with enhanced safety features distinguishing it from the used Lexus models currently on the market.
Cosmetically, the car is more or less the same as what has gone before, with a revised grille and tail lights the only real noticeable differences, alongside a new alloy wheel design. No changes have been announced to the 3.5 litre petrol engine, although the luxury model’s in-car entertainment has received a minor overhaul.
If your used BMW is getting through far too much fuel for your liking, then the answer to your prayers may have arrived with the German car giant’s greenest ever 3-Series. Having achieved over 1,000 miles on a single tank of diesel, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon looks set to make a significant impact on the cost of refuelling for BMW owners.
The feat achieved by the Sunday Times’ Tom Ford, on a test run from the Channel Tunnel to Munich, ending in Lille, was also notable for the fact that the driver didn’t use overly efficient driving techniques such as coasting, and drove at reasonable speeds throughout.
BMW are no strangers to integration with smartphones – they were the first car manufacturers to incorporate the BlackBerry Address Book into their onboard applications, after all. Now, however, they’re going the dedicated application route.
The BMW Roadside Assistance application will soon be available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android users and with the range of features on offer, it’s easy to see why this app could prove useful. The app is aimed at cutting down the time it takes the user to get information to BMW in the event of a breakdown so that they can provide assistance sooner and also providing the same user experience which users expect from BMW.
Honda has announced recently its new competitive pricing and remarkable specification for the new Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe. This is Honda’s first ever sporty hybrid coupe which customers have been able to order from March 5th 2010 and has caused excitement due to its hybrid technology and great design.
There are three driving modes which allows for the driver to adapt the setting of the car to their needs so whether they need to drive economically or switch to then drive in heavy traffic they can do so with ease.
The prices of the Honda CR-Z are as follows-:
One of the great benefits of purchasing a used Lexus is that you can find a really good deal and often the car you end up purchasing could be rather new. Successful used car buyers are usually as happy with their used Lexus as they are with a new one.
We recommend that the best way to purchase a used car is through a dealership-this way you can have complete peace of mind that the Lexus you are interested in will be in good working order and have added extras that you wouldn’t find purchasing privately.
A new, limited edition Honda Civic Type R is to be rolled out in April. Though it seems that the body design will be fairly traditional for the range, the Mugen 200 will feature sleek, narrower lights, Mugen parts and a Championship White paint job with black gloss door mirrors.
Honda Civic Mugen 200″ title=”Honda-Civic-Type-R-Mugen-production-Front-Angle-588×527″ width=”150″ height=”150″ class=”alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-665″ />The Mugen 200 will also feature 19 inch ‘Lightning’ alloys, Mugen badges and a unique Mugen number plate, as well as Honda’s latest 201PS i-VTEC engine, which means it’ll have quite a lot of kick for a small car.
As its name implies, the Honda Civic Mugen 200 will be limited to just 200 cars and will be available in April. Orders will be taken for the car from Honda dealerships in March, which is when the price will be announced too.
As MINI bombards the market with new launches we’re being encouraged to think for ourselves. It’s not enough to buy a new model. We can now choose from a choice of MINI parts to make our cars as unique as were are.
Thanks to the new MINI website you can navigate around a fun interactive application that allows you to tailor the look of your new car both inside and out. On the roof you can have a choice of lettering, stripes, a chequered flag and the good old Union Jack.
A new Lexus is on the way and its got the Golf firmly in its sight. Preparing for a grand launch at the Geneva motorshow the new LF-Ch premium compact hatchback is set to be on sale towards the end of 2010.
Details, at the moment, are sketchy, but early indications suggest it’s likely to be much along the same lines as the concept hybrid which went on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.
Heads are turning at the prospect of a new Honda in the SUV market. The revised CR-V is here, and courtesy of a quick nip and tuck, is looking fighting fit.
Owners of small SUVs had reason to feel smug this winter. As Britain shivered beneath a blanket of snow, suddenly they had a good reason for using a 4×4 for the school run. True the school in question was normally closed, but they could certainly get there.
Honda