Archive for the ‘honda’ Category
Promising to reach us by 2012, the new hybrid from Honda – the Fit EV has been showcased at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.
With a top speed of 90mph and a range of 70 miles, this all electric version has a lithium-ion battery for storage and an electric motor adapted from the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell car. Under test conditions, The Fit EV proved itself capable of a 100 mile range but this figure was reduced to allow for urban driving styles. The driving range can be extended by opting for a different driving mode: econ, normal and sport with a 17% difference between each. In sport mode, the Fit EV has an acceleration performance similar to that of a small car with a 2 litre engine – not bad when you consider the pollution your saving!
Honda have announced a summary of their automobile production for the first half of their fiscal year as well as their domestic sales and export results in Japan, and the results are encouraging for the beleaguered manufacturer.
Japanese production has increased for the first time in four years and has set an all-time record in Asia and China for September and production is up throughout the world since December 2009. There are a range of other encouraging statistics for the manufacturer which can be viewed at the press release here, but it’s certainly good news for Honda and perhaps the car industry as a whole.
It has been several years since the design of the Honda Civic underwent any changes, but the Japanese carmakers have begun testing the next generation of Civic models in time for a 2013 release. The Civic has remained unchanged since 2005, but will get a futuristic revamp very soon, while there will also be a strong focus on reducing consumption and emissions to create a more efficient vehicle.
Bosses at the Japanese car giant are plotting a replacement for your used Honda S2000 with the manufacturers set to re-enter the sports car market a year after the original S2000 Roadster was phased out.
The design is believed to be a hybrid model, consisting of elements of both the S2000 and the original Honda Beat, a mini-car that was around at the start of the nineties. There have been hints for some time from the company that an alternative to their only current sporty model, the CR-Z are in the pipeline, although it seems unlikely that this particular model will surface any time before 2014. Even the next generation of Toyota sports cars, including a new small coupe are set to beat this new concept to launch, as they are due in early 2013.
British owners of Honda Civic Type R models now have the chance to choose from a new selection of parts for their car with the news that the Japanese carmakers will be bringing their partnership with tuning firm Mugen to the United Kingdom.
Mugen performance parts and accessories will now be available through a select band of eight Honda dealerships throughout the country. Following a limited run of Civic Type R Mugens, the Japanese motorsport firm is slowly beginning to take off on these shores. The range of new parts that will now be on offer include forged aluminium wheels, brake upgrades, quick-shift gearbox kits and sports suspension, while a range of body styling kits will also be available.
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.
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.
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-:
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.
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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.
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.
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Honda is looking to use India as its springboard to launch a new series of small cars before bringing then to the European market. The new breed of Honda cars are set to be launched to compete directly with their Japanese counterparts, Suzuki, who currently occupy over 50% of the current car sales within the country with their highly successful Suzuki Swift and Suzuki Alto.
This is a bold strategy for the Japanese manufacturer to take at such a delicate time in the economy, but it is clearly something that they feel will benefit them in the long run. India has a love affair with the car and Honda is very keen to capitalise on a slice of this market.
Reliability is a key factor to consider when purchasing a car and with the results of the Fleet News magazine 2009 top50 results just released it is the perfect opportunity for customers and consumers around the UK to take stock of the situation and make a informed decision about their next purchase and used Honda’s recorded staggering results.
The Japanese and German car manufacturers have come out of the latest survey very well, with the Honda Civic coming out with the top honour of being the most reliable car on the market today. There was even more reason for the Japanese car giant to celebrate with two more of their cars featuring heavily inside the top 5 cars with the Honda Jazz in third place and the Honda Accord scooping fourth place.
With The Insight becoming the first hybrid vehicle to top the Japanese sales list in April, Honda has recorded rising domestic sales once again in August.
Honda car sales significantly outperformed industry figures, increasing by 13 per cent during the first three weeks in August compared to the same period in 2008.
The Honda Insight has continued to perform strongly gaining significant market share in the Hybrid sector.
Honda increased their global production by 90,000 units in June as sales and pre orders rose considerably as the Japanese Government offered incentives and tax breaks on the purchase of eco-friendly vehicles.
Honda have catered for those who wanted a new Civic Type R but couldn’t afford one with the release of the Sport-Si Civic.
The Sport-Si Civic is soon to hit the UK market, starting with a 1.4 litre i-VTEC Si and then the 1.8 i-VTEC Si and 2.2 i-CTDi Si will follow a few months later.
With colour-coded body mouldings, Type R front grille, alloys, dark chrome features, half leather interior and USB connectivity, starting from just 15,800, pounds Honda are sure to be inundated with pre-orders.
Honda dealers are taking orders for the Sport-Si Civic now – click here for more info.
Japan seems to have surpassed us in just about everything. Cars, money, technology, you name it. The Japanese seem to be able to take their hand to almost anything and everything! But, the tables seem to have turned for this one subject at least.
Japan has a large market for sturdy, reliable cars, and Honda has provided their working class citizens with just that since September 1948 from their corporate headquarters in Minato, in Tokyo, Japan.
The Honda Civic Type R is made at the Swindon Honda factory but Honda is importing the hatchback, so that it can be sold in Japan.
Honda