Ultimele articole din presa straina referitoare la Honda

zagado26 · 30-12-09, 09:27

Honda : le mini roadster Beat pourrait rena�tre!

Apr�s le CRZ, r�incarnation hybride du mythique coup� CRX, Honda pourrait ressusciter un autre des sympathiques mod�les qui ont jalonn� son histoire, le mini roadster Beat.

Selon le magazine nippon Best Car, ce nouveau Beat pourrait �tre r�incarn� dans un stricte deux places aussi lilluputien que le cartoonesque Daihatsu Copen qui a rencontr� un certain succ�s d'estime dans nos contr�es.

�l�ment int�ressant, son moteur qui ne devrait pas d�passer les 660 cm3 propres � la cat�gorie japonaise des keijidoshas, serait plac� � l'arri�re. Ce descendant de la Honda Beat produite de 1991 � 1996 ne devrait pas donc �tre avare de sensations !

http://www.turbo.fr/actualite-automo...r-beat-retour/

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Honda planning successor to the Beat two-seat roadster kei car!

Posted: Dec 28, 2009
Filed under: Honda, Hybrids, Green News, Spy Shots/Renderings

The Honda Beat was a rear mid-engined two-seat roadster kei car that the Japanese automaker produced from May 1991 to February 1996. The design of the compact roadster originated from Pininfarina, who then sold the plan to Honda. Honda produced a total number of 33,600 units of the Beat.

According to Best Car, Honda is now planning a successor to the Beat. The model will be a front engine car using the platform and 660cc engine from Honda Life.

- By: Kap Shah
Source: Best Car (via CarScoop)

http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/12/28...dster-kei-car/

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BestCar rumor: Honda preparing new-gen FF Beat !
Date: December 29, 2009 09:14
Submitted by: Jeff
Source: BestCar via "Carscoop"
Credibility Rating: Not Specified

Carscoop has posted this scan from a recent issue of Japan's speculative automag BestCar. BestCar says it could be the next-generation Beat, although the new one will dispatch with the original Beat's "baby NSX" MR formula and stick with a more pedestrian FF setup.
I see "2010" captioned on the rendering, so maybe that means we could be seeing these in Japanese showrooms within the next 12-months.

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=871246

tokyodream · 30-12-09, 18:01

The Never Ending Debate: 2010 Honda Accord Vs. 2010 Toyota Camry!

Should We Call the Whole Thing Off?

It seems like it is the same every year. The Honda Accord inches closer and closer to unseating the Toyota Camry atop the best-selling car lists and most years it fails. Why can't the clever minds at Honda figure out a way to sell more copies of its vastly superior and far more interesting Accord? Perhaps you need some convincing as to why an Accord is better than a Camry? You know, besides from the fact that it isn't utterly and totally soul-less.

The Accord Has a Nicer Interior: The level of build quality found in the interior of even the most basic Accord is very much the same as you find in a much more expensive Acura. Honda seems to be of the mindset that every control in every car it makes should move with the same precision and quality. Can anyone really say that the controls in a Camry move with the buttery smoothness of a Lexus? Of course you can't because they don't. The Camry feels built to a price whereas the Accord feels built to last.

The Exterior Styling: Whereas no one would say that the 2010 Accord is a drop dead beauty queen, when compared to the nebulous Camry it appears sensibly and pleasingly proportioned. The Camry looks like a bar of bath soap, at least to my eyes. The Camry's new for 2010 advertising line is "Sensible turns Sensational." Why? Because the headlights look a little different? Message to Toyota: Contrary to what you may have learned on "The Real Housewives of Orange County" it takes more than an eye lift to be sexy.

The Accord Offers Better 4 Cylinder Engines: To be truthful, it seems kind of silly to invest in one of the gas heavy six cylinder engines in either Accord or Camry (no matter how smooth or fun to drive they are) considering both companies built their reputations on 4 cylinder engines. Honda Accord LX models come with a 171 horsepower 4 cylinder while EX models get an upgraded and sewing machine smooth 190 horsepower version.

The Toyota Camry's 2.5 liter 4 cylinder puts out 169 horsepower and while this engine has a fine reliability record it also feels somewhat strained during freeway passing maneuvers. And doesn't that seem like a low horsepower figure especially taking into account the fact that a top line XLE Camry starts at over $25,000 whereas the Accord EX is only a smidge over $23,000?

One more note to Toyota: Why not give the Camry the new, more powerful 4 cylinder from the Venza? That and some actual styling work could turn this sedan from frumpy 1970's Chevy Caprice for the new millennium into a vehicle people actually might want to buy. To be truthful, the 2010 Camry does have a bit of a leg up on the Accord in that it offers a six speed automatic transmissions instead of the Accord's five speed unit. That, and the lower horsepower figure probably helps explain why the Camry gets 33 miles per gallon highway as opposed to the 31 highway rating for the Honda.

The Accord is a Better Value: Although the Camry does have a lower base price if you compare models like for like and feature for feature the Accord gives you a bit more for your dollar. Also important is the fact that the Accord enjoys a higher retained value come resale time than the Camry. Perhaps it was because of all those rental Camry LE sedans from Alamo that flooded the used car market? Sorry, low blow.

Camry: (Starting at $19,395)

Accord: (Starting at $21,055)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...010_honda.html

Seth · 30-12-09, 18:32

Mi-i se pare extraordinar cum au scris ei articolul asta fara sa puna macar o poza cu masinile la care face referire.
Oare nu m-am uitat eu bine???

tokyodream · 30-12-09, 21:15

nici pe site-ul lor nu e afisat vreo poza !

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Best and Worst Ideas of 2009 Reported by Edmunds� AutoObserver.com!

As 2009 comes to a close, the automotive industry can reflect on a tough year that generated some ideas that were truly inspired, and some ideas better left behind when the calendar page turns.

�Companies sometimes do the most interesting things when they�re desperate,� noted Bill Visnic in his report for AutoObserver.com : .

�Desperation in 2009 � as
defined by coming up some 6 million sales short of the industry�s glory days of just three years ago � generated products and strategies that ran the gamut from ridiculous to sublime.�

Here are a few of the best ideas from the auto industry in 2009.

Hyundai Assurance: A clever response to the nation�s epidemic employment anxiety.

Cutting Capacity: Overcapacity was a decades-old problem, and the recession forced everybody to deal with it.

Hatchback Sedans: Auto companies are taking intelligent chances with this practical, useful and more fuel-efficient alternative to SUVs.

Talking Up The Volt: The Volt is impressive, progressive and potentially game-changing. Yeah, GM�s gone a little overboard, but the company is right to hype the Volt.

Paperless Owners Manuals: Beginning with �10 Chryslers, searchable DVDs will replace 900-plus tons of the ignored paper Chrysler plops in glove compartments every year.

The Ford Fusion: Case study in how to take some pretty old bones and keep them going on the cheap � and win accolades and top-ten best-seller status in the process.

Here are a few of the worst ideas from the auto industry in 2009.

The Dealer Dump: Were GM and Chrysler overdealered? Yes. Was this heavyhanded gambit the fix? Nope.

Giving Up On Diesels: �Diesels cost too much,� companies from Ford to Honda to Nissan bleated, but don�t ask us how anybody plans to get their fleets to the federally-mandated 35 miles per gallon by 2016 when the Honda CR-V struggles to get 25.

Foot-Dragging On Floormats: Toyota displayed a magnificent amount of corporate irregularity in dealing with the situation, creating another vivid gash in the company�s formerly impregnable reputation.

GMC Lives: Why is the division that epitomizes the rampant, marketing-driven rebadging that led GM to the brink still hanging around?

The 230-MPG Volt Claim: Overpromising on the Volt�s fuel-efficiency capabilities seemed a strategy destined for ridicule and smacked of the bad old days of GM marketing-by-hocus-pocus mentality.

Whining About Executive Pay Limits: A million bucks, give or take, should be enough to lure a CEO with a brain even if decades� worth of ya-won-the-lottery exec pay packages couldn�t get it done for GM up to now.

Internet and TV On Board: More on-board distractions? Sounds like great news for airbag suppliers and insurance companies, though.

The Insight: Honda is building a case for those who say the company is losing its famed engineering edge.

Porsche Is Assimilated: Look, we like Volkswagens. But the company that uses its legion of econobox brands to knock out the majority of Europe�s mainstream cars � good as they are � shouldn�t have its fingers in Porsche�s sauerkraut.

�How do �Cash for Clunkers� and the bailouts and bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors rank among the year�s best and worst decisions? In the mixed bag category, for obvious reasons,� explained Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Michelle Krebs who contributed to the AutoObserver.com : report.

http://www.pr-inside.com/best-and-wo...f-r1647755.htm

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Ten green cars to remember from the last 100 years!

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/31...ast-100-years/

Today is the very last day of the year. And guess what? This is the very last post you'll see on AutoblogGreen in 2009. Fret not, green car aficionados, there will be fresh new material to keep us all interested in 2010, but let's take a minute to look back. Not just on the last decade, but on the entire last century.

We can all recite the usual suspects when talk turns to the green automotive scene. Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Tesla Roadster, Volkswagen Jetta TDI. But cars like these wouldn't exist if it weren't for some of their predecessors as seen on today's list. Whether powered by gasoline, diesel, electrons or some combination of those three, American history is full of cool green cars.

In reality, there are entirely too many historic eco-friendly cars for us to list here, so we decided instead to compile a group of vehicles that we think are interesting for one reason or another. So don't necessarily think of this as a top 10, think of it more as something to think about moving forward. We also tried to come up with a few machines that you wouldn't expect to see, just to keep it interesting. With all of that out of the way, click past the break to see the entire list of 10 green cars to remember.

[Source Image: Bengt Nyman | CC 2.0]
Ten Green Cars to Remember from the Last 100 Years:

Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid:

Gallery: LA 2007: Lohner-Porsche

What's green about it?

Well, this one's pretty easy. Not only is this vehicle one of the first automobiles in the world, it's also the first ever hybrid, or, if you prefer, an extended-range electric vehicle. It also features the world's first hub motors, which originally powered the front wheels only and then later all four.

Why is it significant?

As we already said, this car represents the first ever hybrid. Each motor puts out 2.5 continuous horsepower and up to seven for short bursts. That's enough for "cruising" at 10 mph with a top speed of 31 mph. An 80V, 40Ah battery could potentially give a range of up to 30 miles. The car was first introduced in 1900, and Lohner built and sold over 300 of the pioneering EVs. Ferdinand Porsche later created the first all-wheel-drive car when he added the hub motors to the rear wheels.

Stanley Steamer:

What's green about it?

The Stanley Motor Carriage Company produced cars between 1902 and 1924. Steam engines use external combustion and are therefore able to operate on many different types of fuel. Stanley, for instance, used both gasoline and kerosene in its cars. The company's wares weren't particularly fuel efficient, but they were said to produce fewer harmful emissions than comparable internal combustion vehicles.

Why is it significant?

Interestingly, these cars were very potent performers in their day, holding land speed records well after they ceased production in 1934. Who knows what modern-day steam vehicles could accomplish if they had gotten the same kind of continual technology updates that today's internal combustion vehicles received over the years. Oh wait, we do know.

Detroit Electric:

What's green about it?

It's electric, meaning it requires no fossil fuels in operation. The Detroit Electric hit the market in 1907 with lead acid batteries that were said to be capable of propelling the electric car for up to 80 miles with a top speed of 20 miles per hour. Thomas Edison's nickel-iron batteries were a $600 option.

Why is it significant?

You're surely aware by now that electric cars are nothing new, as evidenced by this car. As such, every modern electric vehicle owes at least something to early pioneers who believed there was a better solution to our transportation needs than fossil fuels.

1977 Honda Civic CVCC:

Gallery: Honda Civic CVCC

What's green about it?

First of all, what the heck is CVCC? Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion. It's complicated, of course, but Honda basically added a small auxiliary inlet valve to the normal intake and exhaust valves that filled a precombustion chamber near the sparkplug with a rich air/fuel mixture. A much leaner mixture was directed to the cylinder as normal. The result was greatly reduced emissions. The Civic CVCC was also the most fuel efficient car in its class.

Why is it significant?

Leave it to Honda to come up with a way to meet the U.S. government's new emissions requirements for 1975 without the use of a catalytic converter. While other automakers were busy explaining to any who would listen exactly why the new rules were unfair at best and impossible to meet at worst, Honda just went out and made it happen two full years before the company was even required to do so. A slew of rival automakers, including Toyota, Ford, Chrysler and Isuzu, came to see the technology in action and ended up licensing it for their own use.

Jonny Lieberman, Autoblog.com

"In fact, there's enough energy in a can of Coke to power Los Angeles for an entire year" So said my old man as we drove around in his brand new 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Diesel. Being very young, I mistook the lesson in nuclear fusion he was giving with the oil burner we were cruising in. Imagine my shock then when just two days after bringing it home, my Dad returned the 260 Cutlass, bad headbolts and all. Still, those were without question the greenest miles any father and son ever spent in an Oldsmobile."

Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar:

Gallery: Sebring-Vanguard CitiCar

What's green about it?

Perhaps you can tell by the picture above that the CitiCar isn't your typical conveyance from 1970s America. In fact, the tiny little wedge-shaped electric vehicle was first offered in 1974 at the height of the oil crisis. It was about the size of a golf cart and could reach speeds up to 39 miles per hour with a range of up to 40 miles per charge from its lead acid battery pack.

Why is it significant?

A total of about 4,300 of the little suckers were built between 1974 and 1982, making it the most widely sold electric car ever offered until the GEM appeared in the 1998. Sure, it's not the kind of thing we'd all like to drive around in, but as a means of getting from one place to another cheaply and without gasoline, it apparently did the trick.

Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel:

What's green about it?

By 1977, the third year that the Rabbit was available in the United States, Volkswagen decided to add a 48-horsepower 1.5-liter diesel powerplant that, when mated with a manual transmission, earned fuel economy ratings of 50 highway and 40 city.

Why is it significant?

This one should be obvious. Today, Volkswagen offers a highly refined TDI engine in the Jetta that has won accolades from the motoring press and been a major sales hit with consumers. That car wouldn't exist if it weren't for the well-earned reputation set by the 1977 Rabbit Diesel. For what it's worth, VW has sold 815,000 diesel vehicles since the 1977 Rabbit.

Honda CR-X HF:

Gallery: Honda CRX

What's green about it?

The Honda Civic CR-X came equipped with either a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter four cylinder engine that managed an impressive 41 mpg city and 50 mpg highway (using the current revised EPA standards). In HF (High Fuel economy) guise with a manual transmission, the CR-X weighed just 1,713 lb and sported excellent aerodynamic properties.

Why is it significant?

Do fuel efficient cars need to be boring to drive and unattractive to look at? Nope. For proof, look no further than the Honda Civic CR-X HF. Due to its light weight, usable engine and tossable nature, the CR-X was a hoot to drive while returning fuel economy on par with the best of today's highly lauded hybrids.

Geo Metro XFi:

What's green about it?

Minimalism. This car had just three cylinders producing only 49 horsepower. Not very impressive, right? But what stood out was the 43 city, 51 highway (per the revised 2007 EPA mileage standards) fuel mileage. Not too shabby, right?

Why is it significant?

General Motors actually went to great lengths to make sure the Metro XFi was a fuel miser. For instance, the engine was equipped with a shorter duration cam, a leaner fuel map, two-ring pistons and a higher final drive gear ratio all in the name of economy. It must have worked, too. Back in the summer of 2008, when gas prices hit record highs, the Metro became an unlikely used car hero, sometimes changing hands at higher transaction prices than when new.

GM EV1:

What's green about it?

This car needs no introduction, right? The two-seat, two-door EV with super slippery bean-shaped styling has come to represent a major milestone in the history of the electric car.

Why is it significant?

Again, the life and subsequent death of the EV1 is a well-covered topic. In fact, instead of running through the whole sordid ordeal, feel free to click here for plenty of information on the topic right on our own pages. Here's the short version: The GM EV1 was an unmitigated success in the minds of the consumers who drove them and a disaster of epic proportions for the automaker that built them. Nearly all of them have been crushed and are sadly no longer on the road.

Honda FCX Clarity!

Gallery: Honda FCX Clarity

What's green about it?

We've seen hybrids, we've seen electric vehicles and we've seen cars powered by diesel engines. What's left? Hydrogen, naturally. While the merits of hydrogen-powered vehicles is intensely debated, one thing that's not debatable is the complete lack of tailpipe emissions.

Why is it significant?

Nearly every major automaker in the world is working on hydrogen fuel cells, but only one has actually put a production hydrogen-powered vehicle into the hands of paying consumers: Honda. Plus, the FCX Clarity is a clean-sheet design that isn't based on any other vehicle's platform. Finally, it works just like you expect a real car to work, and that's a triumph of engineering too great be dismissed.

tokyodream · 02-01-10, 08:51

Car makers on road to recovery!

Dec 28 2009 Maurice Glover

Car makers on road to recovery

BRITAIN'S biggest showroom slump in living memory triggered unprecedented pain across every automotive sector - but two beleaguered car manufacturers now have their sights set on gain.
Honda made the headlines when it responded to the economic crisis by locking the gates of its major European production centre for four months.
Then Nissan doled out further gloom by laying off many of the workers who had helped it become the nation's most successful car exporter.
But an air of optimism is once again pervading the production lines where a total of 2,500 jobs had to be axed.
Back in action after its controversial shutdown, Honda's twin plant EU manufacturing hub at Swindon is sporting major makeovers to improve on already impressive levels of quality and process efficiency standards. And a recent round of hiring has added jobs at the Nissan factory more than 300 miles away in Sunderland.
In the heady days of 2007, Honda's manufacturing complex turned out a total of 240,000 vehicles, its peak output in 20 years of operation, but by late last year managers recognised that the dramatic collapse in global car sales meant a payroll of 4,800 associates and personnel reflected serious overstaffing.
So as Nissan moved toward right-sizing its workforce, Honda introduced an early release programme and 1,300 associates accepted attractive severance terms to allow the remaining 2,500 production workers swap their jobs for training sessions on full pay for two months before accepting a 35 per cent reduction for the remaining shutdown period.
Now they back on the lines again building Civic, CR-V and the new Jazz supermini models.
How long it will take to overtake 2007 output and reach Swindon's 250,000 annual volume capacity remains anyone's guess, but a big investment in machinery will allow higher productivity.
Explains Honda of the UK Manufacturing director Dave Hodgetts: 'Shutting down gave us a unique opportunity to carry out work that would have been out of the question during normal production.
'We've put a new electro-coat system on our number one paint line and introduced a new double press to increase capacity and flexibility on our second press line so we can produce a lot more parts in-house.
'We can see gain after pain. There will be hiccups in the next few months - we're not near the end of the recession yet - but instead of operating with three and a half shifts, we've trimmed back to single shift production in both our plants and are in our best-ever position in terms of efficiency.
'Stocks are down to where they need to be and we can go forward in the knowledge that what we are making is broadly in line with market demand.'
Despite its staff reductions, Honda still has several hundred more associates than it needs, but they are being retained.
'We appreciate their skills and their loyalty and as Honda doesn't agree with compulsory redundancy, associates and managers are taking pay cuts of three and five per cent respectively to pay for them to stay,' says Hodgetts.
Nissan has worked its way through the pain and is now poised for the gain, believes Danny Griffiths, Nissan Europe vice president for human resources and general affairs.
'The signs are that better times are coming and we are preparing for the day we drive out of recession. What we have to remember is that when the scrapping incentives are over, manufacturers will have to find new base points," said Mr Griffiths.
'Our solution is to offer the right product in the right market segment. It was difficult for us to right-size, but this was by far the best thing to do because we are now fairly lean and mean and can produce cars at the right cost and quality.'
Griffiths is excited about the prospects for the Qazana, the soft-roader model based on the Note platform.
'Feedback from our brand and marketing people is encouraging, but we are still unable to predict any further new jobs.
'Times are still difficult, to say the least - instead of having sales planning meetings to fix our volumes every four months, our reviews now involve looking no further than one week ahead. This means we have lots of headaches and we have to be very agile in our production and supply chains,' he says.
Yet for all the problems of short-cycle planning, the positive element of Sunderland's new production regime is that cars are built only to order, a system that eliminates stockpiling and the forced supply that can lead to discounting on the forecourts.
'Embracing build to order involves serious complications in the factory because the time between order and delivery has to be reduced so customers don't have to wait too long.
'Work is going on with our sales and manufacturing divisions to move the constraints and in many cases, this will involve further investment - but this is where we want to be,' says Griffiths.
Sunderland's workforce is likely to remain around the 4,000 mark for the immediate future, but Griffiths is confident it will increase again at the end of what he describes as 'our temporary difficulty'.
'My biggest concern during the down-sizing was that workers who remained might feel we didn't care about them.
'This couldn't be further from the truth - we value having a skilled and motivated workforce and I'm pleased that the release programme was handled in a way that was transparent and socially acceptable, with everyone recognising that we simply couldn't maintain the cost of the old operation.'

http://www.irvineherald.co.uk/lifest...5485-25485021/

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Honda, Toyota Top 2009's Most-Searched Cars!

Kelley Blue Book Names Models Most Researched On Its Site

Kelley Blue Book's top 10 most-researched new vehicles of 2009 step forward. Not so fast Big Three automakers.

The top half of a list of the 20 vehicles targeted the most in searches on www.kbb.com last year was dominated by Japanese cars, with Honda taking the top two spots and four out of the top 10. Toyota claimed five of the spots with Nissan earning another.

Honda and Toyota also had one more entry each in the rest of the top 20, with Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, also claiming a spot.

Detroit's Big Three automakers totalled only five spots on the list, with three Ford vehicles and two Chevrolet vehicles making the list. The third Big Three member, Chrysler, did not have a car on the lsit.

The entire list is as follows:

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Toyota Corolla
6. Toyota RAV4
7. Toyota Highlander
8. Toyota Prius
9. Nissan Altima
10. Honda Pilot
11. Ford Escape
12. Chevrolet Camaro
13. Honda Odyssey
14. Ford Fusion
15. Mazda3
16. Ford Mustang
17. Volkswagen Jetta
18. Toyota Sienna
19. Lexus RX 350
20. Chevrolet Equinox

The Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (in varying orders each year) have been the top three most-researched new-vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004.
However, many vehicles made noteworthy jumps into the top 20 most-researched new-vehicles for 2009 that were not on the list in 2008. Chevrolet's all-new redesigned Equinox and Camaro models both grace this year's list for the first time. Also new to 2009's top 20 are the recently revamped Lexus RX 350 and the popular, fast-selling Ford Fusion.
The stabilization in gas prices for 2009 led to a trend away from smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles over the past year, and thus some popular small cars that were among the most-researched in 2008 have fallen off the list for 2009. Subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, along with the compact MINI Cooper, were among the most-researched new cars last year, but did not make the list this time around.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/auto...32/detail.html

tokyodream · 05-01-10, 09:20

Ce parere aveti ???

Delhi 2010: Honda New Small Concept makes debut!

These are the official images of the Honda New Small Concept, which was just unwrapped at the Auto Expo 2010. The production version of this five-seater concept will be launched in India and Thailand by 2011, executive vice president Koichi Kondo said at the Delhi show.
Honda promises a vehicle that is �beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price by leveraging Honda�s global parts sourcing network�. The company calls the concept�s design �Efficient Energetic Exterior�.
As reported earlier, the New Small Concept will jointly developed by R&D teams in India and Thailand; both countries will also manufacture the A-segment car. It is rumoured to come with a 1.2-litre engine.

UPDATE: Full gallery after the jump!

Permalink

http://paultan.org/2010/01/05/delhi-...t-makes-debut/

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Honda to sell small car at below Rs 5 lakh!

NEW DELHI: Japan's Honda Motor Co will price its new small car for India, to be launched in 2011, at less than Rs 500,000 ($10,823), executive vice-president Koichi Kondo said on Tuesday.

Honda Motor said it would begin selling its new compact car in India in 2011 as it seeks a foothold in the fast-growing segment.

The 5-seater family car will be based on the "Honda New Small Concept", unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo on Tuesday, and is being developed especially for India and other emerging markets, the company said.

Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co are also planning their own entry-level cars in India, with production scheduled to begin this year.

"Honda will strive to introduce a small car with a competitive price in the entry level of the hatchback segment," said Koichi Kondo, Honda's executive vice president.

Kondo added that the company will further increase local procurement in India to price the car attractively for Indian customers.

The low-cost, compact car segment is seen as crucial to expanding in emerging car markets, with global automakers such as Volkswagen AG and General Motors also seeking entry.

Honda markets itself as a premium brand in India, where it is minor player with sales of just 58,285 cars in January-November of last year, giving it a market share of 2.9 per cent.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/5412477.cms

tokyodream · 06-01-10, 10:36

Ford, Toyota Show Gain in Stabilizing U.S. Market as GM Slides !

Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. took U.S. market share in December from General Motors Co. as the government-controlled automaker couldn�t take advantage of improving consumer demand.
GM reported a 5.7 percent drop in light-vehicle deliveries, worse than analysts anticipated, while Chrysler Group LLC�s 3.7 percent decline exceeded estimates. Ford sales soared 33 percent, and Toyota jumped 32 percent.
�People are waking up and realizing the world didn�t end and are starting to return to showrooms,� said Aaron Bragman, a forecaster at IHS Global Insight in Troy, Michigan. �It�s way too early to say the trend is pointing north, but if it continues this quarter, it�s a positive sign.�

A 15 percent increase in December industrywide sales capped automakers� first quarterly improvement since the last three months of 2006, after October and November totals were little changed. The recession and bankruptcies at the predecessors of Detroit-based GM and Chrysler ravaged 2009 sales.

Honda Motor Co. said U.S. deliveries increased 24 percent, and Nissan Motor Co. rose 18 percent. The results reshuffled the industry rankings in the U.S., with Honda climbing past Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Chrysler and into fourth place for the first time in full-year sales.

Industrywide light-vehicle sales improved to 1.03 million, according to industry researcher Autodata Corp. That equated with a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 11.3 million vehicles, Autodata said. The year-earlier rate was 10.3 million.

GM�s Decline :

GM said its December decline was driven chiefly by a 33 percent drop in deliveries to fleet customers and a 55 percent decrease among the Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn and Saab brands that are being shut or sold. Sales rose 2.2 percent for the Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick models that GM is keeping.
The biggest U.S. automaker emerged in July from a 40-day, $50 billion, government-backed bankruptcy that gave taxpayers an ownership stake of about 61 percent. GM began repaying some of the $6.7 billion in outstanding government loans last month.
For the year, GM�s U.S. market share fell to 19.9 percent from 22.3 percent as Ford rose to 16.1 percent from 15 percent and Toyota climbed to 17 percent from 16.7 percent, according to Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based Autodata.

�Acceptable Buy� :

�Ford is suddenly becoming an acceptable buy for people who it wasn�t before,� said John Wolkonowicz, an IHS Global Insight analyst in Lexington, Massachusetts. �Ford is a cool purchase now, which it didn�t used to be. And that is huge.�
Ford, the only U.S.-based automaker to decline a federal bailout, cited an 83 percent gain for the Fusion and a doubling of Taurus sales.
The shares of the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker rose 68 cents, or 6.6 percent, to $10.96 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. That was the highest closing price since July 2005.
Industry sales for last year fell 21 percent to 10.4 million units, the fewest since 1982, Autodata said. U.S. sales were 13.2 million in 2008, according to Autodata, after averaging 16.8 million this decade through 2007.
Sales estimates for the U.S.-based automakers represented the average of six analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, and the projections for Japan�s Toyota, Honda and Nissan were issued by Edmunds.com.
The estimates are based on daily selling rates. December had 28 selling days, 2 more than in 2008. Sales comparisons would be about 8 percentage points higher without the adjustment. For example, GM�s adjusted sales decline was 12.4 percent, bigger than the 10.6 percent drop projected by the analysts. Ford�s tally includes the Volvo brand, which the automaker plans to sell.
Asia-based brands topped domestic automakers with 47.4 percent of U.S. market share, compared with 44.2 percent for GM, Ford and Chrysler.

2010 Outlook :

Industry sales in 2010 may rise 19 percent to 12.4 million because of the need for new vehicles and improving availability of consumer credit, said Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
�For 2010, I�m leaving my seat belt on because I think volatility is still an element of the new norm,� Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing sales and service, said on a conference call.
Al Castignetti, Nissan�s vice president of U.S. sales, wouldn�t give a forecast for industry sales growth this year beyond saying that his �personal view is we�re not going to see 10 percent or 15 percent increase.�
�I�m fairly optimistic,� Castignetti said. �The market will get better, credit will get better.�

Chrysler Incentives :

Chrysler announced new incentives of no-interest, five-year financing or $3,000 in cash rebates on virtually of its 2010 model-year vehicles. Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has said repeatedly he wants to move away from incentives because they undermine the value of the brands.
Surging unemployment and tight credit depressed 2009 sales, especially in the first half, when the annual rate didn�t exceed 10 million.
Sales rose in August, spurred by government incentives to turn in older models. Fourth-quarter industry results were little changed heading into December, after a drop of 104 units in October and a gain of 139 in November, according to Autodata.

Automaker Totals :

GM said light-vehicle sales in December fell to 207,538 units, while Ford�s deliveries increased to 184,655. Nissan�s sales totaled 73,404, and Honda�s U.S. deliveries were 107,143. Chrysler�s tally was 86,523. Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota said sales were 187,860.
Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea�s largest automaker, said sales rose 41 percent in December to 33,797.
The full-year results showed the toll on the industry from the deepest U.S. economic slump since the Great Depression.
Light-vehicle sales at GM fell 30 percent to 2,071,749, the fewest since 1952, according to data compiled by the trade publication Automotive News. Ford�s 2009 sales fell 15 percent to 1.68 million, while Chrysler tumbled 36 percent, to 931,402. That marked the automaker�s first annual total of fewer than 1 million units since 1963, according to Automotive News.
Toyota said annual sales fell 20 percent 1,770,149. Nissan sales decreased 19 percent for the year, to 770,103 cars and trucks. Honda also declined 19 percent to 1,150,784. Seoul-based Hyundai said U.S. sales rose 8.3 percent to 435,064.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...qKCGLrBg&pos=2

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Top-selling vehicles in the US in December!

Automakers released December U.S. sales figures Tuesday. These were the top-selling vehicles, as well as the total number sold and the percentage change in sales from December 2008:

Vehicle December 2009 sales Percent change:

1. Ford F-series 48,209 15.9 percent
2. Toyota Camry/Solara 34,946 38.3 percent
3. Toyota Corolla/Matrix 34,220 54.6 percent
4. Chevrolet Silverado 33,301 -0.1 percent
5. Honda Accord 26,159 17.1 percent
6. Honda Civic 22,319 29 percent
7. Chevrolet Malibu 19,374 11.6 percent
8. Ford Escape 19,156 74.7 percent
9. Ford Fusion 18,852 83.5 percent
10. Honda CR-V 18,686 34.1 percent

Source: Autodata Corp.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/busines...ry/978170.html

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2009 Auto Sales: Acura annual US sales fall!

http://www.thesunnews.com/606/story/1245707.html

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Acura said Tuesday that its 2009 sales fell by 26.8 percent, while sales for December slipped 0.9 percent.

BY THE NUMBERS: Sales fell to 105,723 from 144,504 in 2008. In December sales edged down to 10,575 vehicles from 10,680 vehicles in December 2008.

TOP SELLER: The TL performance luxury sedan, with 3,167 sold in December.

In this Feb. 11, 2009 file photo, the 2010 Acura TSX V6 is shown at the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago. Acura said Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, that its 2009 sales fell by 26.8 percent, while sales for December slipped 0.9 percent.

HOT MODELS: Acura said it sold 2,899 units of the MDX luxury SUV in December. Sales of the RDX crossover SUV rose 4.4 percent to 1,283.

tokyodream · 06-01-10, 18:55

Poze noi:

Honda Showcases New Low Cost City Car in India, Production Model to Follow in 2011 !

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01...-city-car.html

Baieti, masina nu are 5 usi ?
ca pe net i-am vazut pe multi comentand ca este model cu 3 usi.....

andrei_r · 07-01-10, 09:50

Are 5, cel putin in pozele de mai sus se vede deschiderea portierelor din spate ca la Civic 5D.

tokyodream · 07-01-10, 21:43

Used-car prices are stabilizing !

For the first time in a long time, used-car values aren't being buffeted by skyrocketing gas prices, economic fallout or the side effects of a government stimulus plan, such as "cash for clunkers." Auction prices (for dealers) and retail prices (for consumers) are stabilizing, and cars are actually being sold for what they're worth. "There are no smokin' deals out there right now," says James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, "but the prices are fair." This should be true for the next few months, as the new-car market -- the breeding ground for used-car trade-ins -- recovers.

Good deals:

Worried owners of vehicles from struggling brands who would rather dump their vehicles than deal with the unknown are putting good cars on dealer lots. Fiat's takeover of Chrysler operations has hurt the resale values of Chrysler and Dodge cars, says Bell. (Jeep is insulated a bit by a stronger brand and loyal customers.) Saturn and Pontiac, fresh off the GM chopping block, are bruised as well. We found plenty of 2008 Saturn Auras priced below the Edmunds.com dealer retail value, which is based on average transaction prices. For example, on AutoTrader.com, we found an Aura XR with 24,650 miles for $14,777 ($3,212 under Edmunds's price).

Fair deals:

With the cost of gas less of a concern these days, prices on fuel-efficient compact cars have retreated. And with more hybrid models than ever on the market -- including some popular 2010 models, such as the next-generation Toyota Prius and the new Honda Insight and Lexus HS250h -- a lot of owners are trading in to trade up. So you have more choices among used hybrids, which are selling for less than they were a year ago. Plus, lower prices on the 2010 models are helping to push used prices down; the new Prius starts $1,000 lower than last year's model, and Honda's Insight stickers for another $1,200 below that.
Used hybrids don't come cheap. But you're more likely to find a reasonable deal than you would have a year ago, when used models commanded new-car prices. The selection was sparse for a 2007 Honda Civic hybrid, but we found a certified one with 48,500 miles for $16,250 ($1,150 under Edmunds's price). Jesse Toprak, of TrueCar, an automotive-data company, warns that hybrids usually stay on the lot less than two weeks, compared with 60 days for the typical used car.
Prices for large SUVs and pickup trucks have rebounded since plummeting in the face of spiking gasoline costs in 2008, but they should edge lower again as more vehicles come back onto the market. A search for a 2007 Ford Explorer yielded plenty of results priced near the Edmunds dealer retail value. For example, a certified XLT with 26,700 miles on the odometer listed for $16,893 ($576 under Edmunds's price).

No deal:

Prices on family sedans have been stable, but they don't fluctuate much anyway. "There are always plenty of them and plenty of people who want them," says Mark Scott, of AutoTrader.com. Also in high demand: late-model, low-mileage certified pre-owned vehicles, which have passed the manufacturer's rigorous inspection and come with an extended warranty. With fewer vehicles coming off-lease, expect supply to be tight and prices to rise.
The availability and price of used cars depend on the season. For example, four-wheel-drive vehicles are popular in the snow states starting in December, so you're better off shopping when the spring thaw hits. Or you may be able to find a better deal by searching long distance. Convertibles are few and far between in the northern states, but you're likely to find plenty of ragtops in the Sunbelt year-round. If the price of a plane ticket to pick up your new ride or the cost to transport it ($800 to $1,200) won't erase your savings, you may score big.

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=11779460

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Honda sales dive in �09 despite December uptick!

A final-month spurt in sales couldn�t salvage a difficult 2009 for Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
The maker of Honda Accords and Acura TLs sold 107,143 cars and light trucks in December, a gain of 24.5 percent from a year earlier, according to American Honda Motor Company Inc., its U.S. sales arm. But sales for all of 2009 tumbled nearly 20 percent to 1.15 million vehicles.
Honda�s struggles paralleled the difficulties at the other major Japanese automakers that dominate the U.S. market. Toyota�s sales sank 20 percent for the year, while Nissan�s sales were down 19 percent in 2009. Like Honda, both saw sales rise in December.
Torrance, Calif.-based American Honda reported Tuesday that the sale of its popular Accord coupes and sedans rose 26.4 percent last month to 28,238 cars, second in percentage gain to sales of its Civics, which increased 29 percent in December to 22,319 autos.
Columbus Business First reports monthly sales unadjusted for differences in the number of selling days between the months being compared. Honda�s total sales in December, taking into account two more selling days than a year earlier, rose 15.6 percent.
Accords and the Acura TL and RDX are assembled at the company�s Marysville plant. The Honda Civic is made in Greensburg, Ind., their production moved to the plant in 2008 from Honda of America Manufacturing�s East Liberty plant, where its Element and CR-V sport utility vehicles are produced.
Despite December�s improvement, Honda�s sales slumped in a recession-stressed 2009. Sales of Accords dropped 22 percent to 290,056 cars, including 2,564 of the company�s new Crosstour crossover vehicle. Sales of the Element plunged nearly 44 percent for the year to 14,884, but sales of the CR-V dipped a comparatively modest 3 percent to 197,279 vehicles, the company reported.
Meanwhile, the company�s Acura luxury badge continued to struggle amid the consumer pullback. It sold 28 percent fewer TLs in 2009, at 33,620 cars, while sales of the RDX sport-ute sank 36 percent to 10,153 for the year.
Acura�s total sales for the month slid 1 percent to 10,575 cars and SUVs, but sales for the year dropped 27 percent to 105,723 vehicles.
Despite the troubles for the full year, last month�s upturn encouraged company executives.
�The good news is that the market appears to be stabilizing and we have more reasons for optimism in 2010,� John Mendel, executive vice president, said in a release.

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/colu...4/daily17.html

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Honda Builds Record 84% of 2009 U.S. Auto Sales in North America!
Date: January 08, 2010 09:48
Submitted by: Jeff
Source: Honda Press Release
Credibility Rating: Not Specified

Highest Total Since Honda Began Producing Autos in America in 1982 !

01/08/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

An all-time high of 83.8 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the United States in 2009 were produced* at the company's plants in North America, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. American Honda has maintained a local production rate of approximately 75 percent or higher since 1996.

Honda operates seven automobile plants in North America - four in the U.S., two in Canada and one in Mexico, producing fifteen different models, including the Civic sedan, coupe and GX (natural gas vehicle), Accord sedan, coupe and Crosstour, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, CR-V and Element, as well as the Acura TL, ZDX, RDX and MDX models.

Honda's North American plants produced a total of more than one million vehicles in 2009, including those for export and currently in dealer inventory. Of the more than 1.15 million Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. in 2009, the 83.8 percent local production rate is the highest percentage in the company's 27-year history of making automobiles in the region and by far the highest percentage for any international automaker in 2009.

"As part of our long-standing commitment to build Honda and Acura products close to our customers, we have steadily deepened our automobile manufacturing roots in the U.S. and the North America region," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Using our flexible manufacturing capacity, we plan to continue to maintain our local production levels at approximately 80 percent of our annual sales."

Honda began production of the fuel efficient Honda Civic sedan at its seventh North American auto plant, in Greensburg, Indiana, in October 2008. In 2009, the company added production of two new crossover vehicles - the Honda Accord Crosstour, manufactured in East Liberty, Ohio, and the Acura ZDX, manufactured in Alliston, Ontario - along with the addition of fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine production at a new engine plant in Ontario, Canada.

Honda has exported nearly 960,000 automobiles from its plants in North America to more than 100 countries around the world since 1987, including approximately 27,000 vehicles in 2009, as well as exporting more than 300,000 component parts last year to be used in the assembly of Honda products in other nations.
In addition to automobile production, Honda operates three automobile engine plants in North America - two in the U.S. and one in Canada - along with two U.S. plants for the production of automatic transmissions and gear sets; a power equipment and small engine plant, in North Carolina; and a plant producing Honda all-terrain vehicles, in South Carolina.

Two additional new plants, for the production of the HondaJet advanced light jet and the GE Honda turbofan engine, are under construction in the communities of Greensboro and Burlington, North Carolina, respectively.

About Honda
Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Honda began U.S. production of motorcycles in 1979 and automobiles in 1982. The company has invested more than $12.1 billion in its North American operations with employment of more than 25,000 associates and annual purchases of more than $17.5 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America.

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=872846

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Honda is top of the crop of 4x4 !

The Swindon-built Honda CR-V has been named as the most reliable used 4x4 in a poll of more than 50 models.
The worst was the Audi A6 Allroad which costs more than three times the Honda.
Honda�s CR-V was revealed as the off-roader least likely to let you down, followed by the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota�s RAV4 in the survey organised by Warranty Direct.
Mitsubishi and Kia make it a clean sweep for Far Eastern manufacturers in the top five.
The Audi A6 Allroad which fared worst saw more than half of drivers reporting a fault in a 12 month period. A third of those problems reported were suspension-related and repairs cost average more than twice of the Honda.
Duncan McClure Fisher, managing director of Warranty Direct, said: �The 4x4 and SUV segment is an expensive section of the car market, so it�s important to know the costs of ownership because when things go wrong, it�s often expensive to fix.
�Vehicles such as the Honda CR-V and Suzuki Grand Vitara top this table because they have low average repair costs, and are also dependable thanks to typical Japanese reliability.
�Less than 10 per cent of CR-Vs and 15 per cent of Grand Vitaras fail each year and the average repair cost for both is under �250.
�Larger or premium German vehicles are more expensive, with average repair costs for each costing over �500. Sadly these vehicles haven�t shown us the perceived 'German reliability�.�
Paul Ormond, the general manager of Honda�s PR and Corporate affairs, said: �To be number 1 is an achievement in itself, especially in an independent survey.
�Reliability is a must and this shows the build quality we have at Swindon.
�This is down to the associates who work at South Marston, who take great pride in making the best.
�The current weather like this has shown the CR-V off to its best.�
Warranty Direct�s study used its unique Reliability Index (www.reliabilityindex.co.uk), which takes into account how often vehicles break down, average repair cost and time spent in the garage to calculate its overall reliability.
The lower the Reliability Index number, the more reliable the car.
The highest-placed European car is the newer incarnation of perennial 4x4 favourite, Land Rover�s Freelander, which has previously fared badly in Warranty Direct�s studies because of its unreliability. However three of its models are in the bottom 10.
Warranty Direct�s Duncan McClure Fisher said: �It�s promising to see improvement from Land Rover�s flagship model.
�The biggest surprise was the poor performance of the Volvo XC90.
�It�s not what you�d expect from a manufacturer with Volvo�s reputation, but I�m signing cheques every day on XC90 repairs.�
With an average repair cost of �595.58, the Mitsubishi Shogun is the most expensive to fix but has a low incidence rate, with just under eight per cent per year suffering a glitch.

David Hodgetts, director of plamning and administration and Mike Godfrey chief engineer, at the launch of the Honda CR-V in 2006 .

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/new...f_4x4/?ref=rss

tokyodream · 11-01-10, 18:28

Custom Car Seat Covers for Your Acura!

Seats are one of the most important areas that need to be pampered. If you own a great car such as Acura, it�s necessary that you maintain your upholstery with quality seat covers. Acura car seat covers offer hassle-free way of seat care. You can personalize the interiors of your Acura with custom tailored seat covers.

Maintenance of your Acura seats could be a daunting task. There are many car owners who find it hard to safeguard their upholstery. Are you passionate to protect your Acura upholstery and add zing to your interiors? Well, Acura seat covers that are precisely tailored for your vehicle provide desired protection and appeal.

Visit the marketplace and you will be overwhelmed to find varieties of seat covers to choose from. Such an opportunity offers excellent opportunity to select the best auto accessory. However, for a typical car owner it�s not select the best suitable seat covers.

Then, how to pick the best possible seat covers?

There are certain aspects that you need to consider before you decide on a particular seat cover for your Acura. These include:

Snug fitting - the seats of your Acura have to deal with varieties of manmade and environmental hazards and abuses. When it comes to safeguard your original upholstery, it�s necessary that the seat covers you get must fit right and cover all the contours of your car seats. Only the seat covers that are custom tailored keeping the specifics of your car make and model in mind can provide such a snug fitting. The custom tailored Acura seat covers fit right and embrace your original upholstery just like a second skin.

Strength and effectiveness - your Acura seats are exposed to hazards and abuses such as friction, dust, UV rays, spills of liquids and beverages, pets and kids. All these factors make your seats damaged and destroyed. Therefore, the material used in Acura seat covers is tested and display greater strength, stretch, breathability, and better color fastness among other features.

Custom-fit Acura car seat covers are available for most of the Acura models and variants that include CL, Integra, Legend, MDX, NSX, RDX, RL, RSX, SLX, TL, TSX, and Vigor many more. Available in the huge array of vibrant colors, with Acura seat covers offer greater protection, rich appeal and desired comfort inside your Acura.

By Smith Swan
Published: 1/8/2010

<A href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/custom-car-seat-covers-for-your-acura.html" target=_blank>http://www.buzzle.com/articles/custo...our-acura.html

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2010 NAIAS Honda Remarks!

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=873326

Date: January 11, 2010 13:20
Submitted by: RyanDL
Source: Honda Press Release
Credibility Rating: Not Specified

Takanobu Ito

It's nice to be back in Detroit. I'm excited to be at the show this year as the entire industry continues to fight back against the difficult business conditions. Last year was the 50th anniversary of our business in America. And I want to begin by thanking our customers and the communities where we develop and build our products. This milestone would not have been possible without their support.

Ten years ago, I was working in Ohio at Honda R&D Americas on development of the first generation Acura MDX. This project led us to this Detroit show, because in 2001, our team was honored with the North American Truck of the Year award here at this show. I was also a member of the team that created the aluminum body of the original Acura NSX.

Last year, due to the business conditions and to focus on reducing CO2 emissions, we re-focused some of our product development resources. Now, I'm pleased to say that we will be adding hybrids to the Acura brand. And based on my history in developing several Acura products, I have strong confidence in our ability to advance the Acura brand.

As I look at the market today, at Honda, we have the advantage of being a very global company with strong operations worldwide, including the growing markets of China and Asia. Further, Honda has the advantage of three major business areas � including automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products. Together, our global makeup and great product diversity provide us strength and flexibility in difficult times, helping us manage the ups and downs of any one market or product segment, while keeping Honda in the black financially.

Our three business lines also make us the leading engine producer in the world. This has provided Honda with tremendous expertise in the area of power plant technology but also a deep sense of responsibility to advance technology in order to reduce CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming.

For engineers, this is perhaps the most challenging time in the history of the auto industry. At Honda, our focus is on being at the very forefront in the area of environment and energy technologies. And we have taken up the challenge to reduce CO2 emissions through the advancement of various electromotive technologies.

We understand electric vehicle technology as well as anyone. Honda developed the EV Plus electric vehicle in the 1990s and leased it to individual customers in California. Now, we are conducting research on a short-distance battery electric vehicle as a "city commuter car." Battery technology continues to be a barrier to mass market use. But we're studying the U.S. market with a view to introducing this commuter car in the future.

We continue to believe that a fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate solution to reduce CO2 emissions. A fuel cell car IS a full electric vehicle. But rather than use electricity from the grid, a fuel cell vehicle generates electricity on board and refills more quickly. The development cost must come down and there must be a major expansion of the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. But make no mistake. As a vehicle, the Honda FCX Clarity is ready now. Further, Honda is unique in making long-term investments to develop the refueling infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles.

This month, we will begin operation of a next-generation solar hydrogen station at our Los Angeles R&D center. This compact system was designed for daily home refueling of a fuel cell electric vehicle. Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely to greatly reduce the size of the system to fit in the user's garage. The potential of a solar hydrogen station is one reason a fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate eco-car � the best path to reduce CO2.

But in the near term, the most important approach to cut CO2 emissions is expanding the use of hybrid electric vehicles. To increase the opportunity for more customers to choose a hybrid we must be able to meet different needs with family, luxury and sporty hybrid vehicles. We will apply hybrid systems which are compact, lightweight and affordable to a wider range of products in the near future.

It won't be easy to create fun and affordable products that achieve a dramatic reduction in CO2. But we embrace this challenge. Honda is a company that loves creating new things for people. We are working in a comprehensive way dedicated to research and development of next-generation technologies in every field, to create products that bring joy to our customers and lead the way in reducing CO2 emissions.

My first assignment in the U.S. came in the early 1980s. I was a young engineer, developing the chassis for the first generation Honda CRX. You might remember it as the "pocket rocket". I remember CRX as a vehicle that demonstrated that a car can be both sporty and fuel efficient.

Times have changed, but the idea of developing vehicles that are both fun to drive and fuel efficient is alive and well.

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce, for the first time, the production version of a new sport hybrid car that further demonstrates the potential of the Honda hybrid system and our commitment to offer both fun and fuel efficiency in one dynamic package. Thank you.

[CR-Z Reveal]

John Mendel

Well� I hope you love your first look at the production version of the all-new Honda CR-Z, as much as we do. This is the global debut of a global car, and we're very excited to be able to bring it to our customers in the here in the U.S. For those of you who weren't around for the CRX that Mr. Ito helped develop, the CRX was ORIGINALLY introduced in the U.S. as a high fuel efficiency vehicle. However, with time, its style and fun nature arguably played a huge role in the birth of the tuner market. CRX became a darling of the enthusiast community � truly, a car that put a smile on everyone's face.

2009 was a very challenging year for the entire industry. But, December was a good ending to the year for Honda. I don't know about you, but we're glad 2009 is behind us. What better way to kick off the year than with the debut of this stylish and fun new CR-Z, which will join the Civic Hybrid and Insight as the third Honda hybrid vehicle in our lineup. And it will definitely put a smile on your face. I'd like to introduce and thank the chief engineer of the all new CR-Z, Mr. Tomobe; Mr. Tomobe, please stand...

CR-Z is an altogether new vision � a renaissance, if you will � for a car of the future; one whose unique positioning satisfies a new type of customer desire. The CR-Z was developed for a more discerning customer who is seeking a unique combination of forward-looking style, fun-to-drive spirit, advanced safety and fuel efficiency. Truly, a combination of qualities that puts CR-Z in a class by itself.

CR-Z is a look into the future of sporty and personal driving. It's a vehicle for customers in search of something that engages both their heads and their hearts, that indulges their spirit of adventure and their sense of responsibility to the environment. The CR-Z demonstrates in a most stylish way that you don't have to abandon your passions to satisfy your conscience.

Helping CR-Z deliver on these seemingly polarizing values is a 1.5-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine; an integrated IMA hybrid motor mated to a slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission; or an available CVT that produces 122 horsepower and up to 128 pound feet of torque. We estimate the CR-Z to deliver fuel economy of up to 36 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.

CR-Z's 3-mode driving system features a spectrum of driving options from a Sport mode that makes the car feel more tight and peppy; to an Econ mode that helps to boost fuel economy through the Eco Assist driver feedback function, introduced last year on the new Insight.

Now, I know you've heard from others with plans to offer up a product in this new segment. But this is a real car coming to you in just a few months.

Of course, it's a Honda. So, you know CR-Z will also feature a strong suite of standard safety equipment: six airbags, anti-lock brakes, vehicle stability assist and our unique Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure for enhanced collision compatibility.

With standard 16" alloy wheels, a 6-speaker stereo with USB audio connectivity and an automatic climate control system, CR-Z is chock full of standard amenities. Available options include a navigation system, premium audio package, fog lights, Bluetooth, and HID headlights.

The CR-Z will go on sale this summer �and we're confident it will deliver a driving experience unlike any other hybrid on the road today. The CR-Z will not only create a new hybrid segment, it will change people's impressions of how fun a hybrid can be.

Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date. As you heard from Ito-san, CR-Z will also add to Honda's long-standing legacy of fuel economy leadership. For the past 33 years, American Honda has been a leader in fuel economy. Our efforts to advance this commitment will only grow in the coming years, with CR-Z and additional hybrid models.

Further, CR-Z isn't joining a static lineup. Both the Honda and Acura brands start the year with the introduction of new crossover vehicles. The flexible Honda Accord Crosstour and the provocative Acura ZDX are helping us get a rolling start to this year. These products offer our customers exciting new choices in the evolving crossover segment.

The launch of CR-Z, Crosstour and Acura ZDX also signal our commitment to the continued growth and evolution of our product lineups � even in tough times in the effort to meet the changing needs of our customers.

In fact, please take note that this is far from the final act of our 2010 auto show season. We've got a little more excitement for you in the months ahead for both the Honda and Acura brands. So stay tuned.

After surviving the difficult challenges of the past year, we're confident that 2010 is going to be a truly exciting year for Honda.

So, thank you again for your time and attention here this afternoon. And now, I'd like to invite Mr. Ito to join me on stage for a quick photo for my personal album. Thank you.

tokyodream · 12-01-10, 09:35

Honda: More U.S. auto sales start stateside !

Fewer Honda vehicles rolled off U.S. dealer lots last year, but the automaker is touting a record share of sales that started on assembly lines in North America.
Torrance, Calif.-based American Honda Motor Company Inc., the Japanese automaker�s U.S. sales arm, said nearly 84 percent of its 1.15 million cars and light trucks sold in the nation last year were produced at the company�s seven North American auto plants, two of which are in Central Ohio. The company, which houses its North American manufacturing headquarters at its Marysville operation, employs about 7,400 workers in the region.
The 84 percent North American production rate was up from 77 percent in 2008 and the highest in its 27-year history, Honda said. The rate has stood at about 75 percent or higher in the past 13 years.
American Honda CEO Tetsuo Iwamura said in a release that the company is boosting its presence in North America at large �as part of our long-standing commitment to build Honda and Acura products close to our customers.�
�Using our flexible manufacturing capacity, we plan to continue to maintain our local production levels at approximately 80 percent of our annual sales,� he said.
An increased share of U.S. vehicles assembled stateside came as sales took a 20 percent drop from 2008 amid the recession.
Honda�s two Ohio assembly plants � in Marysville and East Liberty � turned out 463,596 vehicles last year, down 33.5 percent from 2008. The company makes Honda Accord coupes and sedans, Crosstour crossovers, Element light trucks and CR-V sport utility vehicles, and Acura TL sedans and RDX sport-utes in Ohio.
Honda vehicle assembly operations are also in Alabama, Indiana, Mexico and Ontario, Canada.

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/colu...11/daily7.html

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Honda Vows to Defend �Green Halo� as Rivals Make Mileage Gains
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By Alan Ohnsman

Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., the automaker that has claimed the best U.S. mileage rating for decades, is accelerating engine improvements as competitors such as Hyundai Motor Co. pose a fuel-efficiency challenge.
Hyundai, South Korea�s largest carmaker, in December said it topped Honda in 2009 model year mileage, citing Environmental Protection Agency data. Figures on the U.S. agency�s Web site put Hyundai models at 30.1 mpg in 2009 versus 29.7 mpg for Honda, Japan�s second-largest carmaker.
�It serves as real bellwether to motivate us even further,� said John Mendel, Honda�s U.S. executive vice president, in an interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. �The gauntlet has been thrown down. We�re going to endeavor to maintain our reputation as the most fuel- efficient automaker for 33 years.�
Carmakers are promoting fuel efficiency and vehicles with advanced power trains to attract buyers after 2008�s record high retail gasoline prices and to meet stricter federal fuel-economy rules. The Obama administration is pushing all automakers to increase average fuel economy to 35 mpg to reduce oil consumption and carbon exhaust linked to climate change.
Honda also must respond to an expanding hybrid model line at Toyota Motor Corp. and more efficient engines from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., said Eric Noble, president of Car Lab, an industry consulting firm.
�Too Late�
�It may be too late for them to reclaim the �green halo,�� said Noble, who is based in Orange, California. �It�s been three generations of Prius and dozens of announcements from competitors.�
Honda President Takanobu Ito said he�s pushing company engineers to focus on engine improvements.
�Of course we want the most efficient engines,� Ito told reporters in Detroit yesterday. �Competitors are catching up and I feel pressure from this. I don�t want to lose out.�
Ito and Mendel declined to discuss specific improvements planned for U.S. Honda and Acura models. �We�ll have some interesting things to say fairly soon,� Mendel said, without elaborating.
Sonata, Accord
John Krafcik, Hyundai�s U.S. chief executive officer, said in interviews in Detroit yesterday and at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month that the company�s new Sonata sedan that goes on sale next month will exceed Honda�s top-selling Accord and other mid-size sedans by using a new direct-injection gasoline engine.
To keep fuel-economy high for all Sonatas, Seoul-based Hyundai also decided not to build a V-6 engine version. Instead for customers seeking more power it will offer turbo-charged, 4- cylinder engine and hybrid versions this year, Krafcik said.
Toyota may also add direct-injection and turbo-charged engines to aid fuel efficiency, Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada told reporters in Detroit yesterday, without elaborating.
Ito announced in Detroit this week that the company would add the hybrid CR-Z sport coupe in the U.S. by about mid-year and plans gasoline-electric versions of premium Acura models. Honda is also developing a small, battery-electric commuter car, Ito said, without saying when the model will be sold.
Fuel Cells
While the Tokyo-based company, the world�s largest engine maker, has led the industry in developing advanced hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, it only leased five of the emission-free FCX Clarity cars in the U.S. in each of the past two years.
Honda has also struggled to match Toyota�s success with hybrids, led by Prius, the world�s best-selling gasoline- electric model. Honda�s Insight that was added in the U.S. in 2009 fell short of the company�s initial goal 100,000 units in the U.S. and Canada, with 20,572 U.S. deliveries.
Honda�s U.S. operations are based in Torrance, California.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=a1hTM2mIn538

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Honda CEO Takanobu Ito announces that Acura will add a hybrid !

During the unveiling of the CR-Z at the Detroit Auto Show, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito announced that Acura will be adding a hybrid drivetrain to its models. Ito gave no further insights as to timing or which vehicles would get the systems, but it's safe to speculate that the TSX and TL sedans would be the first recipients of the new system. However, when we spoke to Ito last fall in Japan, he did say that Honda was developing a hybrid system suitable for larger vehicles. It's not clear how much it will differ from the architecture of the current IMA mild hybrid system used in the Civic, Insight and CR-Z, but we do expect the system to come equipped with lithium ion batteries from Honda's new partners at GS Yuasa. Make the jump for a copy of Ito's comments.

[Source: Honda]

PRESS RELEASE:

2010 North American International Auto Show Remarks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. President & CEO, Takanobu Ito; and American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Executive Vice President, John Mendel

Takanobu Ito

It's nice to be back in Detroit. I'm excited to be at the show this year as the entire industry continues to fight back against the difficult business conditions. Last year was the 50th anniversary of our business in America. And I want to begin by thanking our customers and the communities where we develop and build our products. This milestone would not have been possible without their support.

Ten years ago, I was working in Ohio at Honda R&D Americas on development of the first generation Acura MDX. This project led us to this Detroit show, because in 2001, our team was honored with the North American Truck of the Year award here at this show. I was also a member of the team that created the aluminum body of the original Acura NSX.

Last year, due to the business conditions and to focus on reducing CO2 emissions, we re-focused some of our product development resources. Now, I'm pleased to say that we will be adding hybrids to the Acura brand. And based on my history in developing several Acura products, I have strong confidence in our ability to advance the Acura brand.

As I look at the market today, at Honda, we have the advantage of being a very global company with strong operations worldwide, including the growing markets of China and Asia. Further, Honda has the advantage of three major business areas � including automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products. Together, our global makeup and great product diversity provide us strength and flexibility in difficult times, helping us manage the ups and downs of any one market or product segment, while keeping Honda in the black financially.

Our three business lines also make us the leading engine producer in the world. This has provided Honda with tremendous expertise in the area of power plant technology but also a deep sense of responsibility to advance technology in order to reduce CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming.

For engineers, this is perhaps the most challenging time in the history of the auto industry. At Honda, our focus is on being at the very forefront in the area of environment and energy technologies. And we have taken up the challenge to reduce CO2 emissions through the advancement of various electromotive technologies.

We understand electric vehicle technology as well as anyone. Honda developed the EV Plus electric vehicle in the 1990s and leased it to individual customers in California. Now, we are conducting research on a short-distance battery electric vehicle as a "city commuter car." Battery technology continues to be a barrier to mass market use. But we're studying the U.S. market with a view to introducing this commuter car in the future.

We continue to believe that a fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate solution to reduce CO2 emissions. A fuel cell car IS a full electric vehicle. But rather than use electricity from the grid, a fuel cell vehicle generates electricity on board and refills more quickly. The development cost must come down and there must be a major expansion of the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. But make no mistake. As a vehicle, the Honda FCX Clarity is ready now. Further, Honda is unique in making long-term investments to develop the refueling infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles.

This month, we will begin operation of a next-generation solar hydrogen station at our Los Angeles R&D center. This compact system was designed for daily home refueling of a fuel cell electric vehicle. Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely to greatly reduce the size of the system to fit in the user's garage. The potential of a solar hydrogen station is one reason a fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate eco-car � the best path to reduce CO2.

But in the near term, the most important approach to cut CO2 emissions is expanding the use of hybrid electric vehicles. To increase the opportunity for more customers to choose a hybrid we must be able to meet different needs with family, luxury and sporty hybrid vehicles. We will apply hybrid systems which are compact, lightweight and affordable to a wider range of products in the near future.

It won't be easy to create fun and affordable products that achieve a dramatic reduction in CO2. But we embrace this challenge. Honda is a company that loves creating new things for people. We are working in a comprehensive way dedicated to research and development of next-generation technologies in every field, to create products that bring joy to our customers and lead the way in reducing CO2 emissions.

My first assignment in the U.S. came in the early 1980s. I was a young engineer, developing the chassis for the first generation Honda CRX. You might remember it as the "pocket rocket". I remember CRX as a vehicle that demonstrated that a car can be both sporty and fuel efficient.

Times have changed, but the idea of developing vehicles that are both fun to drive and fuel efficient is alive and well.
Today, it is my pleasure to introduce, for the first time, the production version of a new sport hybrid car that further demonstrates the potential of the Honda hybrid system and our commitment to offer both fun and fuel efficiency in one dynamic package. Thank you.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/13/h...%28Autoblog%29

tokyodream · 15-01-10, 08:48

Honda to Premiere �Living with Robots� Documentary Film at Sundance Film Festival Together with Live Demonstrations of ASIMO Humanoid Robot !

Sundance Film Festival also to be Production Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe�s First Stop after World Debut

Sundance Film Festival 2010

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-

-�Living With Robots,� an all-new short documentary film from Honda, will debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 22, followed by a live 10-minute demonstration of the world�s most advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility).

The sixth film release in Honda�s popular Dream the Impossible Documentary Series, "Living With Robots" was directed by award-winning filmmaker, Joe Berlinger (Brother�s Keeper, Crude, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster). The film ponders life with robots such as ASIMO, along with perspectives from science-fiction screenwriters, academics, philosophers, engineers and other thinkers. Designed to someday assist people in their homes, ASIMO is the culmination of more than two decades of research and development by Honda engineers. Attendees have the unique opportunity to experience �Living With Robots� and ASIMO in person for three days only, Fri., Jan. 22, through Sun., Jan. 24, with six shows daily at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Demonstrations will be held at The Village at the Yard, 1251 Kearns Blvd., Park City, Utah.

And hot off its world debut Jan. 11 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Sundance Film Festival attendees also will get a sneak-peek at the all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe, months before it goes on sale in late-summer 2010. The CR-Z is designed to balance style and fun with efficiency and fuel economy. In addition, attendees can view the zero-emissions hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle � the first and only production fuel cell electric vehicle in the hands of individual customers today.

A supporter of Sundance Institute and Presenting Sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival, Honda is the Official vehicle of the 2010 Festival, bringing nearly 50 low-emissions vehicles, including the all-new Accord Crosstour, to transport filmmakers, talent and other special guests to Festival events. In addition, Honda is providing two super quiet and efficient EU6500iSA generators and two easy-to-use HS928WA snowblowers for use by Festival staff during the event.

About Honda :

Honda marked 50 years of operations in America in 2009. As a company devoted to the advancement of human mobility, Honda�s innovative research and development efforts during the past decade have yielded such diverse outcomes as humanoid robotics, walking assist devices, HondaJet, fuel cell electric vehicle technology, thin film solar cells, increased rice crop yields and functional nano-materials � in addition to the design and development of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products. Based on its belief in the value of technology to address the needs of society, it is Honda�s mission to develop products that anticipate and satisfy the evolving needs of its customers while meeting society�s demand for cleaner, safer, more efficient and sustainable means of transportation and human mobility.

Honda News & Views: http://www.honda.com/news

Honda Multimedia Newsroom (For Media Only): http://ww.hondanews.com

Honda on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/honda

Honda on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/alicia at honda

Honda on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/hondanews

Honda Web Site: http://www.honda.com

Sundance Film Festival :

The Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S. and international independent film, held each January in and around Park City, Utah. Presenting approximately 120 dramatic and documentary feature-length films in seven distinct categories and between 60 and 80 short films each year, the Sundance Film Festival has introduced American audiences to some of the most ground-breaking films of the past two decades, including sex lies and videotape, Maria Full of Grace, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Trouble the Water, Central Station, and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. www.sundance.org/festival
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/...140768&lang=en.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/s...13&newsLang=en

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15-17 ian, salon de tuning auto la TOKYO:

Honda to Debut Insight Sports Modulo and other Models at Tokyo Auto Salon :

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01...ts-modulo.html

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/01/tokyo-auto-salon-2010-hondas-insight-goes-modulo.html

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/01/tokyo-auto-salon-2010-js-racing.html

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/01/tokyo-auto-salon-2010-honda-shows-off-civic-type-r-euro-and-sports-modulo.html

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un VERSUS intre 4 modele 4x4, castigator noul CR-V 2010 face-lift:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/index.html

tokyodream · 17-01-10, 13:44

Something for the girls: Honda FREED Styling Study at Tokyo Auto Expo 2010!

This is another Honda concept destined for the Tokyo Auto Salon 2010 � and it�s a Honda Freed. This should be interesting for us Malaysians as it�s no secret that the Freed will be landing on our shores soon.

There�s no Modulo name tagged onto this one, instead it is labelled a �design study�. It�s quite a feminine design, going beyond the pinkish paintjob. Check out the little butterfly and floral �tattoos� around the body.

Look after the jump for hi-res pix of the modded Freed.

http://paultan.org/2010/01/15/someth...uto-expo-2010/

sorinu · 19-01-10, 18:36

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...nd-perception/

Ultimele articole din presa straina referitoare la Honda

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