Next Gen Honda Accord Sketch

Here's a nice rendering of the potential face of the next Honda Accord, based on what I've seen on the Coupe, I would doubt that the face would be this dramatically different from the current Accord....
Thanks for the tip Jeff....

2014 Honda FIT CUV????

Hmmm, is Honda thinking of a FIT based CUV, say something like a Nissan Cube?!? Not sure what market this would 'Fit' into.... (I'm terrible, I know....)
Source;
http://autokavla.blogspot.ca/2011/12/2014-honda-fit-cuv-preview-futuro.html

Next Generation Honda FIT/Jazz Rendering from Autointrends.com

Latest ,most realistic and most beautiful rendering of 2014 Honda Jazz/Fit
Autointrends.com reported the speculation and rendering in January 2012.That time we posted computer generation image from the Mag-X which have sportyness and sharp line.Above of all Autointrends considers it too futurelistic for the car that schedule to arrive next year.

Now,We got Latest rendering from same magazine.But this time the image is more realistic (actually it the most realistic that autointrends have ever seen).It look very sporty, well proportion and improve from current car’s design.The headligh will be larger,the bumper will have more muscle.The line at side of the car will be more complex and have 2nd line at below of the door.The opera’s window and rear pillar will look like similar styling to current car.

The size of the car will be similar to current car.The 1.3 liter engine will improve very much in fuel economy from 24.5 km./liter to 30 km./liter or even 32 km./liter in gasoline/electric version.The economy which save more because the use of CVT,Better aerodynamic and reduce weight of the car.

Source;
http://autointrends.com/2012/04/05/latest-most-realistic-and-most-beautiful-rendering-of-2014-honda-jazzfit/

Acura and Marvel Entertainment Announce Exclusive Co-Promotion Campaign for Marvel’s The Avengers

04/05/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.
Acura and Marvel Entertainment, LLC, announced today the details of their promotional campaign for this summer's most anticipated film, Marvel's The Avengers. Following the luxury automaker's integration with THOR last summer, Acura is building on its established role as the official vehicle of S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D., the international peacekeeping agency of the Marvel Universe, has a leading role in this film portrayal of the iconic comic book series. Throughout Marvel's The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents drive various Acura vehicles, including the MDX, ZDX and TL models; the completely redesigned 2013 RDX will make a cameo appearance. In addition, an Acura convertible sports car was created specifically for the film.

"Acura is developing an impressive second chapter as the official vehicle of the cutting-edge S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, enabling us to reinforce Acura's brand philosophy of innovation and advancement, and leverage excitement for the new ILX, RDX and NSX supercar concept product news announced earlier this year," said Susie Rossick, Acura Brand Manager.

Acura kicked off its campaign with Marvel at the New York Auto Show on April 4, 2012, where a militarized S.H.I.E.L.D.-Edition MDX was on display with a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Product Specialist. S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent street teams are scheduled at PAX East, Boston and C2E2, Chicago.

As the exclusive automotive sponsor of the world premiere of Marvel's The Avengers on April 11 at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, a surprise special stunt is planned to make an impactful, red-carpet entrance. A fleet of Acura vehicles will also be used as talent transportation during the premiere.

The hub of Acura's national advertising campaign for Marvel's The Avengers, http://www.SHIELDops.com, allows fans to immerse themselves in the world of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Marvel's The Avengers. Users can rise within the ranks of S.H.I.E.L.D. by testing Avengers-inspired technology mounted to S.H.I.E.L.D.-Edition Acura vehicles. The tests take place within different combat simulation environments that correspond with the four main characters: Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America and Thor. As users attain a specific S.H.I.E.L.D. rank, they earn the chance to win movie passes and S.H.I.E.L.D. gear, including a branded tactical flashlight, a replica Acura convertible sports car (created for and featured in Marvel's The Avengers) and a virtual keyboard. The grand prize is an all-expense-paid Tony Stark-inspired trip to New York City.
Social media will be leveraged throughout the campaign to recruit fans to test their skills at http://www.SHIELDops.com. The Acura.com Avengers section will also feature Marvel's The Avengers content, including trailers and movie stills.

The advertising campaign, developed by Acura's agency of record, rp&, a division of RPA, is composed of a multiplatform media buy, retail tie-ins and national ABC screenings of Marvel's The Avengers with after-parties in select markets. The entirely new 2013 Acura RDX will be featured throughout the campaign, including a 30-second TV spot which incorporates the new vehicle with scenes from Marvel's The Avengers. The spot, "Re-re-routed," http://www.acura.com/Avengers.aspx, begins April 16 on spot TV, cable and sports.
Unique S.H.I.E.L.D.-themed videos will run on comic and entertainment websites such as Marvel and Rotten Tomatoes and will drive traffic to http://www.SHIELDops.com.

In addition, more than 130 Acura dealers will be hosting pre-release screenings of Marvel's The Avengers in early May in their respective markets.

About Marvel's The Avengers
Marvel Studios presents "Marvel's The Avengers"—the team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.

Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, directed by Joss Whedon, from a story by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon with screenplay by Joss Whedon, "Marvel's The Avengers" is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series "The Avengers," first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when "Marvel's The Avengers" assemble in summer 2012.

"Marvel's The Avengers" is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film is being produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The film releases May 4, 2012, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

About AcuraAcura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 272 dealers within the United States. The Acura lineup features six distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX Sport Wagon and sedan, the RDX luxury crossover SUV, the MDX luxury sport utility vehicle and the ZDX four-door sports coupe.

About rp&
rp& is a full-service marketing communications division of RPA, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. Established in 2008, rp& has been responsible for the development of all Acura National, Regional, Online, Direct Mail and Event Marketing communications. For more information, visit http://rp-and.com/.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/acura-automobiles-headlines/releases/acura-and-marvel-entertainment-announce-exclusive-co-promotion-campaign-for-marvel-s-the-avengers

Honda Unveils 2013 Crosstour Concept at New York Auto Show

Not a dramatic change stylisitically speaking, but I didn't expect one for this Minor Model Change.... however different story for feature upgrades!
04/04/2012 - NEW YORK
Honda unveiled the 2013 Crosstour Concept today at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), providing the first official glimpse of a more capable-looking exterior styling direction for the luxurious mid-size CUV. Set to go on sale this fall, the Crosstour's defined lines will resonate more clearly with the active consumers that form the largest portion of the premium crossover segment. The 2013 Crosstour V-6 will feature improved fuel economy thanks to its new 6-speed automatic transmission, while both four-cylinder and V-6 versions will benefit from a host of safety and visibility upgrades.

"Fueled by a combination of versatility, luxury, and efficiency, owners have demonstrated remarkable devotion to the Honda Crosstour," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. "The 2013 Crosstour Concept shows how Honda will strengthen the styling and add even more content to one of the most efficient offerings in the class."

Concept Design
The Crosstour Concept features a more capable, SUV-like styling direction for Honda's mid-size crossover. A more aggressive and athletic front end, new contrasting moldings on the lower door garnish, and cleaner front and rear fascias anchored by the rugged look of finished sill plates provide more visual strength to the Crosstour Concept. Adding to the SUV-like stance, a new rear-fender finish helps give the Concept a more solidly planted appearance.

Up front, the new integrated foglamp treatment is complemented by a slotted finish beneath the headlights, which helps integrate the new, bolder grille. The revised tailgate sports a more horizontal design to add visual width to the sculpted lines at the rear of the Crosstour.

The Crosstour Concept is coated in a fresh hue, similar to one of two new shades that will appear on the 2013 Crosstour. Anchoring the Crosstour Concept are unique 5-spoke 19-inch wheels, while the 2013 Honda Crosstour will feature new 18-inch alloy wheels.

Though not on display in the Crosstour Concept, the luxurious interior of the Honda Crosstour will see even further refinement for 2013, including heavily revised trim materials, the addition of an 8-inch, in-dash information display, keyless ignition, and steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters on V-6 models.

Advanced and Efficient Powertrains
The Crosstour will offer two powertrains for the 2013 model year: a re-engineered and more powerful 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine, or a 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine. The 2013 Crosstour V-6 models will feature a 6-speed automatic transmission and utilize Honda Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology to achieve class-leading V-6 fuel economy1 along with an overall improvement in fuel economy compared to the outgoing model. Also available on Crosstour EX-L V-6 models is Honda's Real Time 4WDTM system, which sends power to all four wheels when front-wheel slippage is detected.

The four-cylinder Crosstour models are powered by a 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine producing 192 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 RPM. To maximize efficiency, a 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control is standard equipment.

Safety and Technology Innovations
The 2013 Crosstour will introduce numerous new safety features, and is targeted to earn top scores in the federal government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The next Crosstour will be available with Honda's Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) technology. Both systems use a camera mounted behind the windshield to alert drivers if the car is moving unexpectedly out of its lane or to warn drivers of a potential collision in front of them.

The 2013 Crosstour will provide a host of visibility enhancements, and will be one of the first models to receive the Honda-exclusive LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, which uses a camera system mounted on the passenger mirror for an enhanced view of the passenger-side roadway. Standard equipment to further enhance visibility on the 2013 Crosstour will also include re-shaped rear headrests, a rearview camera and an ExpandedView Driver's Mirror.

Standard Crosstour convenience features include an automatic dimming rearview mirror, auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® and USB audio interface. Other available features on the 2013 Crosstour will include a hard-drive based navigation system, Pandora internet radio interface, XM satellite radio and an SMS text-to-speech function.

Sales, Accolades and Manufacturing History
First launched in 2009, and now available with both V-6 and four-cylinder engines, the Crosstour remains one of the most versatile choices in the midsize crossover segment, and earned the distinction of J.D. Power and Associates' "Highest Ranked Midsize Crossover/SUV in Initial Quality" in their 2011 Initial Quality Study SM (IQS). The Crosstour is produced2 at Honda's East Liberty Auto Plant in East Liberty, Ohio.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-unveils-2013-crosstour-concept-at-new-york-auto-show

Acura RLX Concept Makes World Debut in New York

Acura flagship features first application of Acura Sport Hybrid SH-AWD®, more than 370-horsepower and 30 mpg combined fuel economy rating, with top-class seating comfort and next-generation Acura connectivity
Acura today held the world debut of the Acura RLX Concept at the New York International Auto Show, providing luxury buyers with a first look at the design and engineering direction for its all-new Acura RLX flagship sedan, slated for launch at the beginning of 2013.

The RLX Concept employs an extraordinary array of new Acura technologies, including the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, in combination with sophisticated styling and smart packaging to deliver an entirely new level of performance, sophistication and comfort.

Utilizing highly efficient packaging, the RLX Concept delivers the interior space of a large luxury sedan with the footprint and agility of a midsize luxury sedan. The RLX Concept's all-new 3.5L direct-injected VTEC® V-6 engine and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, with three electric motors, combine to generate more than 370-horsepower, and are paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and lightweight body to deliver V-8 acceleration with four-cylinder fuel economy—with an estimated EPA (city/highway/combined) rating of 30/30/30 mpg.

"We have created a true luxury sedan based on our Acura DNA," said American Honda president & CEO, Tetsuo Iwamura. "This means achieving advanced performance through engineering efficiency to create a unique synergy between the vehicle and its driver. Inside and out, on the open road or city streets, the sophisticated and elegant Acura RLX will offer a level of connectivity, comfort and advanced performance demanded by today's luxury buyers."
Acura also announced that the production RLX will be offered in a 310-horsepower, front-wheel-drive version, which will also deliver superior handling performance through the application of another new Acura technology— Precision All Wheel Steer™.

Styling-Design
The RLX Concept styling builds on Acura's 'Keen Edge' design motif with its taut and aerodynamic shape, carefully tailored proportions, and sophisticated and distinctive detailing. Its athletic stance is accented by 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and 255/35 R20 high-performance tires. Dimensionally, the RLX Concept is approximately the same length as the current RL, but with a two-inch longer wheelbase and two-inch shorter front overhang. Both the track and vehicle width increase by approximately two inches.

Acura's exclusive new Jewel Eye™ LED headlamps debut on the RLX Concept. The Acura signature Jewel Eye™ headlamps use a dual-stacked array with a total of ten separate high-intensity LED lamps, with ultra-reflective optical lenses and high-gloss trim, to provide powerful down-the-road illumination while simultaneously giving the RLX a highly distinctive and bright-eyed look in both daytime and nighttime conditions.

Body and Chassis
Through engineering efficiency, including substantial use of high-strength steel and aluminum, the RLX Concept achieves an ultra-rigid and light body design, with the front wheel drive version to weigh in at well under 4,000 pounds. An all-new double wishbone front suspension, multi-link rear suspension, Amplitude Reactive Dampers and electronic power steering with a variable gear ratio team to provide the foundation for the RLX's precise and intuitive handling control — termed by Acura as "Inomama" or "at the will of the driver."

Front-wheel-drive versions of RLX will utilize Acura's all-new Precision All Wheel Steer™ system. This system provides for independent control of the steering (toe) angle of the right and left rear wheels by utilizing electrically controlled actuators. Precision All Wheel Steer™ works in tandem with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) and Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering to deliver an extraordinary level of cornering control and steering precision.

All-wheel-drive RLX models add even more handling performance with Acura's highly advanced Sport-Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive), recently introduced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show on the NSX Concept. The performance hybrid system utilizes a front-mounted electric motor, located within the dual clutch transmission, and a unique dual electric motor drive unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system to instantly generate negative or positive torque to the rear wheels during cornering. This provides a new level of agility and confidence to create an "on-the-rails-cornering" experience.

Safety
The Acura RLX will offer an extensive array of passive and active safety features. These include a Collision Mitigation Braking System™ and the first application of Acura's Lane Keep Assist System. In addition, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning will be offered as standard equipment on the RLX.

Passive safety features will include front, side and side-curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a driver's knee airbag. The RLX also incorporates the second generation of Acura's Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, with reinforced front frame members for further enhanced frontal crash energy management. The RLX is expected to achieve a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from NHTSA and TOP SAFETY PICK status from IIHS.

Advanced Telematics
In keeping with the 'human-centered synergy' focus of Acura, the RLX will feature state-of-the-art communications, navigation and infotainment technologies with intuitive and easy-to-operate controls. Dual LCD screens (8-inch display and 7-inch touch screen) will provide easy and direct one-touch access to key functions — including audio, heating and cooling, navigation and voice-to-text SMS text message function.

The RLX will also feature the first application of the next-generation AcuraLink® Communication System, which incorporates built-in two-way cellular communication to deliver an array of new convenience features, including airbag deployment notification, stolen vehicle tracking, remote locking and unlocking, security alarm notification and concierge service.

An all-new, 14-speaker ultra premium audio system will be offered in addition to Acura's award winning ELS Surround® sound system. Both audio systems provide MP3 connectivity via USB along with integration of HD radio™, Pandora® internet radio interface and Aha Radio® interface via Bluetooth® smart phone pairing. Using Aha, RLX drivers can choose from thousands of web-based audio stations, including music, live news, podcasts, audio books, personalized points of interest, and audio newsfeeds from Facebook and Twitter. In addition, a new Acura-exclusive smart phone application integrates smart phone functions (such as email, text messaging and contacts) into the RLX's on-demand touch screen functions. Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® calling and pre-loaded text message replies provide for easy two-way communication.

The RLX also will be available with Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™. This innovative system offers the driver a wide range of search options including Bing™ search functionality and the option for an AcuraLink® concierge to send a destination to the vehicle's navigation system. In addition, the RLX navigation system will feature AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ for both highways and surface streets.

Acura Brand
With a focus on 'human-centered synergy,' Acura is embarking on its next 25 years as a pioneering and innovative performance-luxury nameplate and is undertaking an aggressive revitalization of its Acura product and technology portfolio.

The RLX Concept is Acura's fourth new model debut since January 2012, when Acura took the wraps off its redesigned RDX Protoype crossover SUV, all-new Acura ILX Concept sedan, and next-generation Acura NSX Concept supercar, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Following the introduction of the production versions of the more powerful and fuel-efficient 2013 RDX in March, and the all-new 2013 Acura ILX and ILX Hybrid sedans in May, the production RLX will launch in early 2013. The next-generation Acura NSX, being developed by Honda R&D Americas in the U.S., will be produced in Ohio using domestically and globally sourced parts and launched within the next three years.

Acura is projecting an annual sales volume of 180,000 vehicles for the brand in 2012, which would represent a nearly 50 percent increase over 2011 sales results.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/acura-rlx-concept-makes-world-debut-in-new-york

2013 Acura RLX Concept Video from NY Auto Show

'Transplant' auto factories in USA turn 30 this year

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

When Honda Motor in 1980 announced its then-radical decision to build cars in the U.S., the industry collectively said, "What?"

Volkswagen, alone among foreign car companies, was trying limited U.S. production, assembling Rabbit compacts at a Pennsylvania factory, and struggling to get it right.

While auto buyers now take for granted that many European- or Asian-brand vehicles are made in the heart of the U.S., 30 years ago, it was a stunning notion.

STORY: Auto exports from U.S. on the upswing

Japan's Honda was "the canary in the coal mine," says John Voorhorst, a consultant and retired executive of auto-parts supplier Denso. "There were a lot of skeptics" betting Honda's plant at Marysville, Ohio, wouldn't last.

In fact, that "transplant" factory, which built its first Accord in November 1982, burst a dam. Within a few years, Japan's major automakers all were here cranking out new vehicles.

At the New York International Auto Show, opening to the public Friday, Honda will display new versions of the Accord, and Nissan will unveil a redesigned Altima — both made in the U.S. and among its best-selling cars. Toyota will show a successor for Avalon, its U.S.-made big sedan based on the U.S.-made Camry.

"Once (Honda) had the trial by fire and came through, clearly, it emboldened others. It was the opening of the floodgates," Voorhorst says. Foreign companies "saw that you could come here and not have to have a Volkswagen-esque experience."

In the three decades since, Japanese carmakers have opened more assembly and parts factories here, joined by Europeans and South Koreans.

The industrial immigrants haven't been welcomed by all.

A decade ago, about 51% of vehicle and parts manufacturing jobs were clustered in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, traditional turf of the Detroit Three. Workers were mostly represented by the United Auto Workers.

Now, there are fewer than half as many total automaking jobs as a decade ago, and Michigan, Ohio and Indiana have just 44% of those left, according to data from the Center for Automotive Research. Many of the jobs now are in foreign-owned, non-union transplant facilities, mainly in the South.

About the time Honda opened its pioneering plant, General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler Group accounted for three-quarters of new vehicles sold in the U.S. That's about 47% now.
Foreign automakers with U.S. factories, in comparison, have about 48% of all new vehicle sales here, according to industry tracker Autodata.

While the foreign-brand sales include both imported and U.S.-built vehicles, the robust market share has encouraged the companies to build cars here.

Today, 10 foreign-based car companies operate 16 big assembly plants in the U.S. and others in Canada and Mexico, building for North America and for export. They also now make engines, transmissions and other key components in the U.S.

Despite that now-proven success, it would have been easy to bet against Honda 30 years ago:

•VW's converted Chrysler factory at Westmoreland County, Pa., was stumbling toward failure. It closed in 1988.

•U.S. buyers' love affair with import brands hadn't bloomed.

•Whether U.S. workers could build foreign-designed cars to the same quality standards and could work for foreign bosses still were question marks. "There was suspicion about the quality of the American workforce" and its ability to perform under Japanese management techniques, recalls David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Michigan.

Once the American-made Accords arrived at dealerships, for example, some shoppers looked at vehicle identification numbers, insisting on a VIN beginning with the "J" that meant the car was made in Japan.

"In those early days, some people wanted Japan-built Accords, but that lasted about two seconds," says Kurt Antonius, recently retired after 28 years running Honda's U.S. public relations office. He was at GM when Honda opened its plant.

He believes that bias against Ohio Accords was undercut when auto magazines "bought both and did comparisons. They were identical."

Cole says Honda's move into U.S. production also broke Japanese automakers' insular tendencies — which he says was more significant overall than building cars here.

"Historically, the Japanese tend to be very inward-thinking. Coming here was a huge, huge step. It was a cultural chasm of immense dimension," Cole says. Honda "broke that barrier."

Next up, Nissan

In June 1983, less than a year after Honda began making Accords at Marysville, Nissan Motor opened a factory in Smyrna, Tenn. That plant now can build more than half-a-million vehicles a year and makes Altima sedans, Frontier pickups and Pathfinder SUVs.

In 1986, Toyota Motor began production at Georgetown, Ky., where it builds Camry and Avalon sedans. It can make 500,000 vehicles a year.

Toyota, Nissan and Honda have built more U.S. plants since then. Japan's Subaru and Mitsubishi have joined them. German luxury brands BMW and Mercedes-Benz also now have U.S. factories. South Korea's Hyundai and Kia have U.S. plants.

And now, again, so does VW.

Despite corporate anguish and embarrassment about the Westmoreland failure, last year, it opened a plant at Chattanooga, Tenn., that makes its redesigned Passat.

"The decision in the Volkswagen Group to build a factory in the U.S. was difficult, due to what happened at Westmoreland," said Christian Klingler, member of the VW Group board in charge of worldwide sales.

He and VW Group global CEO Martin Winterkorn discussed Westmoreland and Chattanooga during a visit to Detroit earlier this year. Klingler said it took years to get over the fear that U.S. workers "wouldn't be able to hold quality." Winterkorn said VW's mistake was trying to build an Americanized car at Westmoreland when "the American customer wanted a German" car.

Though Honda is a big player in the U.S., it's a relative pipsqueak globally compared with Toyota and Nissan.

What's the motivation?

Why, then, did Honda have the guts to build a U.S. factory?

There was then, as now, a big currency exchange risk in dollar-denominated markets. That threatened all foreign automakers. "It became clear that the only way you could isolate from the problem was to build where you sell," Cole notes.

But Honda moved first, he says, because it was scrappier, evolving from a motorcycle and small-engine maker into a full-fledged car company over the objections of its home government. It also had a toe in the water, building motorcycles in Marysville since 1979.

Says Cole, who's spent a career digging into what motivates Japanese and other carmakers: "Honda sees itself as the dirty-fingernail motorcycle-mechanic kind of operation, more entrepreneurial than the others."

Source;

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2012-03-26/honda-transplant-car-plants/53955900/1

NY Preview: SRT releases final teaser of new Viper

Below is a rendering of the Next Gen Viper....

By Mark Kleis
Chrysler’s SRT division has released its fourth and final teaser of its 2013 Viper, giving us our first look at the car’s overall shape. The 2013 SRT Viper will debut in just a few days at the NY auto show.

This latest teaser isn’t in high-resolution, but gives us a basic idea of what to expect when SRT finally pulls the sheet on the new Viper this week. From what we can see in the photo, the Viper will come with a far more sculpted body than the last version of the car.

Set to become the first vehicle marketed under the SRT banner, the 2013 Viper has been a long time coming. Its Dodge Viper predecessor has been out of production since mid-2010, but a fifth-generation snake will bring the nameplate back sans “Dodge” for the first time in its history.
Our illustration is based on information culled from a number of sources, one of which is rather unusual, to say the least. While information gleaned from insiders, including those few members of the public who have been allowed to see the car, and photos of cleverly disguised test mules form the basis of much of the illustration’s details, a leaked image of a Hot Wheels 1/64-scale toy car helped put the finishing touches on our rendering.

That Hot Wheels model made its way online last week when it was posted on a Viper forum.

We expect the Viper’s proportions to remain mostly unchanged, but its rear end is more aggressive and angular than the one seen on the last generation. As predicted by spy shots and previous reports, the car features a high-sculpted hood fitted with two big air vents.

Those vents will be needed as the SRT Viper is expected to arrive with an 8.7-liter V10 engine that will send over 600 horsepower to the rear wheels. Early rumors suggested the car would share some of its architecture with the voluptuous, if slightly un-engaging Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, but SRT chief Ralph Gilles has been quick to dispel those rumors by stating that “The new Viper is not based on anything else.”

As previously reported, Chrysler is reopening its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit to build the Viper. The automaker has offered jobs to all 150 workers it once employed at the facility, which it uses exclusively to hand-build Vipers.

“The next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model,” said SRT Brand & Motorsports President/CEO Ralph Gilles in a statement released to the media. “We’re extremely excited that our ultimate American sports car will continue to live on and be produced exclusively here in the Motor City.”

Source;

http://www.leftlanenews.com/srt-viper.html

Japan's Version of the 2014 Honda Odyssey (Codename 2NM) rendering

For those of us in North America that are unfamiliar with the JDM Odyssey, it is a very different van than over here, it continues to use a 4cyl (like what we had from 1995-1997) and is much smaller than what we have here.... (This Mazda5 small)....
The current Odyssey is a midsize minivan produce by Honda since 1993.Now the car are devide in to 2 version.

An international version and North American version.The NA is a bigger size and bigger engine target for family transportation.

Now, The fourth generation RL5 Odyssey is produce in Lincoln, Alabama, since 2010 and replacement is not expect until the next fews year.

While the Japanese version which smaller, have low floor,low roof with more sporty styling is arrived since 2008. It now produce in Japan and China.

It’s not a good fortune that the car is not selling as much as Honda’s expectation in Japan as the sell volume is just about a half of the expect figure.

While the sale in China is recover its reputation as it have accepable sale at 30,404 unit and rank as 9th best selling people carrier in 2011.

The new Honda Odyssey is now under develope.

The new car expect to have 4800 mm long X 1800 mm wide X 1680 mm high which consider very similar to the current model.

The new Odyssey will powered by smaller 4 cylinder 2 liter petrol engine pair with electric motor (IMA system).

Fuel economy in JC08 mode is 20 km./liter.

The car information is very few right now but we have computer generate image from the Mag-x for your viewing pleasure.The confirmed sale start date at september 2013.

Source;
http://autointrends.com/2012/04/03/2014-honda-odyssey-codename-2nm-rendering/

April Fools Joke: Honda Anti-Theft Negotiator

World Debut of New Acura Flagship, Webcast Live from New York Auto Show

Acura RL-X?!?
04/02/2012 - NEW YORK

Acura will debut its new flagship sedan at the New York International Auto Show on April 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM (EST). The reveal will take place in the Acura booth located in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

For those unable to attend, the press conference will be webcast live on: http://acuranews.com/live/2012nyias-acura

Consumers may also watch the webcast on: http://acurawebcast.com

Press materials will be posted to www.acuranews.com immediately following the press conference.

Additional ways to connect with Acura:
Media Information: www.acuranews.com
Consumer Information: www.acura.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Acura
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Acura_Insider
YouTube: www.youtube.com/acura

Honda gives rare look at R&D center taking on big project under new leader

RAYMOND, Ohio — A mile from a rural highway and past several levels of security is the Honda complex that does some of the heavy lifting — and much of the heavy thinking — for the automaker’s operations throughout North America.

Unlike the Honda assembly plants in Marysville and East Liberty, Honda R&D Americas in Raymond does not give tours to the public. It keeps such a low profile that even its employee count was once a secret.

That began to change in January, when Honda’s top executive announced that the Ohio research center would be in charge of developing a new “supercar,” the Acura NSX. The sports car will be built at a yet-to-be announced location in Ohio.

In light of the center’s highly publicized role with the NSX and other models, company officials opened its doors to The Dispatch for a rare look inside.

The lobby is adorned with 314 plaques representing the patents that Honda obtained based on work at the center.

“It’s like a developmental Petri dish,” said Frank Paluch, senior vice president of automobile development. “We can try new things.”

Automakers tend to do their most-sophisticated research close to their home base, which for Honda is in Japan. Honda is unusual in sending a complicated project so far away.

“It’s a testament to the competence that (the Raymond office) has,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, a research firm in Tustin, Calif.

The heart of the complex is a design room as large as four football fields and filled with hundreds of cubicles for designers and engineers. It’s separated into departments that handle specific aspects of vehicle design.

Everyone is dressed in the Honda uniform: white pants and a long-sleeved white shirt with the person’s first name ironed onto the left breast. This includes the division’s president, whose desk is out in the open with everyone else’s.

Starting on Monday, the new president will be Erik Berkman. Before him, every top executive in the history of the research division came from Honda in Japan. Berkman joined the company in 1982 as an engineer in Marysville. His promotion might signal a growing role for the executives who have spent their careers in North America.

Berkman will oversee a Raymond office that has about 1,300 employees, most of them engineers; 200 more engineers are to be hired in the next few years.

The head count makes this the largest facility of its type in the Americas operated by a foreign-based company. The closest parallel is probably Toyota’s center in Ann Arbor, Mich., which has 1,100 employees.

Honda R&D also has 12 smaller offices in the Americas.

On the levels below the design floor in Raymond, workers make prototype versions of the vehicles and then test them. In this way, the complex is like a miniature assembly plant.
Several of the labs look like sets from a science-fiction movie.

This includes a chamber the size of a small gymnasium whose walls are covered with white foam squares. The walls block out all outside electromagnetic signals, such as those from cellphones, television and radio. In this space, researchers measure the level of electromagnetic activity coming from a vehicle, and they test how it responds when bombarded with intense levels of radio waves.

Elsewhere in the complex, employees maintain a room full of crash-test dummies (officially, they’re called “anthropomorphic test devices”) built to look like women, men and children of various sizes and shapes. Each dummy wears black dress shoes that look as if they came from a thrift store.

The main crash-test space is a long corridor with a slab at one end. Before a crash, workers put on safety glasses and stand behind a series of clear plastic barriers.

“Blink, and you’ll miss it,” one said.

In less than a second, an Odyssey minivan streaks across the room and smacks head-on into the slab. The front crumples, but the rest is almost completely undamaged. Employees wait for a moment and then gather around the wreck to take readings. The room smells like charred nylon, which comes from the material that deploys the airbags.

“Odds are that the occupant would get up and walk out of the car,” said Chuck Thomas, chief engineer for vehicle safety.

Across the hall is a smaller crash-test site that simulates different impact angles. Unlike the main test area, this one doesn’t use whole vehicles. It studies the parts, such as seats and dash components, which get placed in the frame of a vehicle.

The center started in 1991 with a suite of offices that is now the far corner of the complex. At that time, most of the work involved making derivatives of existing models, such as the Accord wagon, which had most of the same components as the Accord sedan.

That changed in 2001 when the office did almost all the development work for the Acura MDX, a completely new model. The center also led the way on the Pilot SUV, the Ridgeline pickup truck and the 2011 redesign of the Odyssey minivan. Of the 18 Honda or Acura models in the current lineup, six were developed at the Raymond office, representing 25 percent of sales.

The NSX is not designed to be a big seller, but it might be the most eagerly awaited vehicle to come out of the center, said Peterson of AutoPacific. The original NSX sold from 1990 to 2005. With a sticker price of about $90,000, the vehicle was a showpiece; sales never topped 2,000 in a year.

The new version will be a gas-electric hybrid, adding another level of complexity to a difficult assignment.

Honda’s CEO, Takanobu Ito, unveiled a preliminary version of the NSX in January, which was when he said the model will be developed and assembled in Ohio.

Paluch, senior vice president at the Honda research center, saw the comments as an affirmation and a challenge.

“Basically, the statement Mr. Ito made is that Honda has grown up its R&D worldwide enough to build a flagship vehicle,” he said.

Source;
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/04/01/engine-of-design.html

Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Powers Japanese House For Six Days

While many new plug-ins boast the convenience and simplicity of recharging the car battery from a household wall socket, how many vehicles can claim to provide the opposite?

Honda has installed an inverter in the trunk of one special FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, providing output power that could supply up to 8 kilowatts of electricity for more than seven hours from a full tank of hydrogen — a figure that is supposedly enough to power the average Japanese home for six days. This particular FCX has been delivered to the Saitama Prefecture government, which was also an early-adopter of a solar-powered hydrogen station.

Concerns over power shortages have heightened since last year’s natural disaster and the subsequent nuclear plant shutdown, causing a spike in interest for electric vehicles that may double as emergency power suppliers for homes. Last year, Nissan demonstrated its Leaf-to-Home, which claimed the power output could generate enough to sustain an average household for two days. Unlike fuel cells, an electric battery can only store electricity rather than generate it, resulting in a less flexible application when compared to fuel-cell technology.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/03/honda-fcx-clarity-fuel-cell-powers-japanese-house-for-six-days.html

New Honda Civic Touring Car Wins Brands Hatch

Touring car racing is the mainstay for the Honda Civic, as the hatchback gets its image there. With the arrival of the 2012 Civic, a new touring car has also been developed, and it looks like it’s going to be a top contender this year.

The Honda Yuasa Racing Team kicked off its 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship challenge with victory for its new Civic at the Brands Hatch season opener.

Race one was lost, as a BMW won due to a clash that delayed the Civic. But in race two, reigning champion driver Matt Neal manages to fight off rival Jason Plato.

Race three only saw a seventh place finish for the Civic, but Neal is still second overall now.

“When he hit me the second time I smiled – in a good way!” said Neal. “He was quicker than me at that stage. Once ahead he braked a little early at Druids and I gave him a nudge. Then, at Clearways where he had been strong all day, he ran wide and left the door open.”

“The car is good,” he said. “Honda had a one-two in race two [with Andrew Jordan’s Pirtek Civic following Neal home], which is great, but it’s personally frustrating. I don’t think it’s anything the team is doing or I am doing. Everything electrical was changed and we still had the problem.

When I’ve been running I’ve been fine. To start from the back and finish fourth isn’t a bad effort. The tyres last well and we had a good balance when the car was running well.”

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/new-honda-civic-touring-car-wins-brands-hatch-43831.html

BMW i8 Spyder Concept – topless i8 set for Beijing debut

Wow... Is this ever nice....
This is the BMW i8 Spyder Concept that will debut at the upcoming Beijing motor show. This topless i8 comes barely a year after BMW wheeled out the i3 and i8 concepts at Frankfurt. The i8 also famously starred in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, driven by Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt.

Described as an open top with genuine sports car performance, but with fuel consumption no higher than you would expect from a small car, the i8 Spyder has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length compared to the fixed-top i8.

Highlights include the upward-swivelling windowless doors and a range of purpose-oriented on-board equipment such as electric kickboards stowed under a transparent tailgate.

Based on BMW’s LifeDrive architecture, the i8 Spyder Concept is a plug-in hybrid powered by an eDrive drivetrain combining an electric motor and a petrol combustion engine.

The 131 hp electric motor on the front axle works in tandem with a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine sending 223 hp through the rear wheels.

Both units are in-house BMW developments and generate an aggregate system output of 354 hp and 550 Nm. That is enough to accelerate the car from 0-100 km/h in five seconds flat. This performance is married to super low fuel consumption of just three litres of unleaded per 100 km!

The lithium-ion battery can be fully charged from a domestic power socket in less than two hours. The pack is located in the “energy tunnel” between the front and rear axle modules to keep the car’s centre of gravity as low as possible – the i8 Spyder also features BMW’s famous 50:50 weight distribution. Fully charged, the car can travel 30 km on electric power alone.

We’ve covered the i3/i8 launch extensively – click here for the full story, gallery and various videos explaining Munich’s i sub-brand.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2012/04/02/bmw-i8-spyder-concept-topless-i8-set-for-beijing-debut/

The most realistic rendering of 2013-2014 Toyota RAV4

Tip of the hat goes to www.woodyscarsite.com for giving me the idea for searching this pic out....
The Mag-x of Japan is agian post latest rendering of the next generation Toyota RAV4.The rendering is based on Mag-x spyshots photos of the car while testing in Japan.Altrough the new car cover with heavy camouflage,Autotintrends can see some lines and light’s shape.The same source also post the computer generate image and Autotintrends can see that this rendering is most realistic we have seen until now.

The car will fallow styling of the current 3rd generation that not look too sporty and too conservative.The headlight’s shape is look similar of what wee seen in Land cruiser and Fortuner.The front grille have aluminum place horizontal like we have seen in some trim level of new Toyota Vitz/Yaris.The shoulder line is more sharper than current car.The roof line look slope and rear side’s window look very similar to current Nissan Qashqai.

The fourth generation RAV 4 wheelbase will have 2660 mm long (Compare to current generation of 2560 mm in short wheelbase version and 2660 mm of LWB). Overall size expect at 4500 mm long and 1815 mm wide and 1660 mm hight .The SuzukiFan’s website have reported that next Toyota Rav 4 will be longer but reduce to single model.

The new car (Codename 410A) will powered by block 3ZR-FE),4cylinder 2.0 liter and block 2AR-FE),4cylinder 2.5 liter petrol engine.While european version will carry on the 2.2 L 2AD-FTV turbodiesel I4 and the 2.2 L 2AD-FHV D-CAT turbodiesel I4.The car will goes one sale in Japan at november 2012 and rest of the world in 2013

Source;
http://autointrends.com/2012/02/02/the-most-realistic-rendering-of-2013-2014-toyota-rav4/

Car and Driver: A look at the 2013 Honda Accord

What It Is: The ninth generation of the longest-running 10Best winner. Unlike many of  its mid-size competitors, the Accord will continue to be offered as a coupe and a sedan. Slightly smaller and lighter than the current Accord, the new version also will have softer lines and more cohesive styling.

Why It Matters: This Accord will be as important to Honda as anything it’s done in the past decade. Will it be able to beat the growing range of exceptional mid-size competitors? Will it have the magic feel of previous Accords? Will Honda get its size right? Will it deliver Honda-style innovation and fuel economy? The new Accord needs to answer these questions in the affirmative.

Platform: The new Accord likely  will be based on an updated version of  the current car’s architecture.

Powertrain: While many mid-size competitors are dropping their six-cylinder options, the Accord will offer a revised and more powerful version of its familiar 3.5-liter V-6 with cylinder deactivation. But the bread-and-butter Accord will be the four-cylinder model. Direct injection helps the 2.4-liter four make at least 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, with improved fuel economy. A six-speed manual will be offered; the automatic will be a CVT. A plug-in-hybrid version will couple a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 161-hp electric motor.  A 6-kWh lithium-ion battery  will offer 10 to 15 miles of city driving range and will recharge in less than four hours using a standard 120-volt outlet. Three selectable modes will allow the hybrid driver to choose among fully electric, hybrid, and “direct drive,” which decouples the electric motor for more efficient cruising.

Competition: Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat.

What Might Go Wrong: The conservatively styled and engineered Civic has us wondering if the Accord will suffer the same fate. After seeing the new Accord coupe in concept form at the Detroit auto show in January, the threat of dullness remains.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The two- and four-door Accords arrive this fall. Pricing is expected to remain in the $20,000-to-$30,000 range for the vast majority of the lineup. A well-equipped hybrid and a loaded V-6 model will crest $30,000.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2013-honda-accord-future-cars

Honda Named Automotive “Brand of the Year” in Harris EquiTrend Poll

Honda has had a rough go as of late, with reduced sales in 2011 due to production shortages as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Prior to that, there were criticisms of the new 2012 Honda Civic.

None of that, however, has phased consumers it would appear, with Honda being named the full line Automotive Brand of the Year in the latest Harris EquiTrend Poll. Measuring brand leadership in a total of 127 different categories, Harris Interactive surveyed 38,529 U.S. consumers aged 15 and older.

Ranked second overall is Toyota, another Japanese automaker that’s had its share of bad press over the past few years. This would seem to indicate the long term reputation of each of those brands hasn’t been affected by these most recent events.

In third place is Ford Motor Company, which topped the list last year followed by Chevrolet, then Honda, Toyota and Nissan. For 2012, Chevrolet has dropped two spots to fourth, while Nissan remains in fifth place.

In terms of luxury automotive brands, Mercedes-Benz tops the list followed by BMW and then Lexus.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/03/honda-named-automotive-brand-of-the-year-in-harris-equitrend-poll.html

Acura Will Debut New RLX Flagship Sedan in NYC [New York Auto Show]

by Justin Berkowitz of Car and Driver

Acura’s next flagship sedan will likely be called RLX, and is expected to debut next month at the New York auto show. The company hasn’t made an official announcement yet, but two signs point to RLX as the replacement badge for RL. First, Acura VP Jeff Conrad may have told Wards that RLX is the new name; when asked, Acura representatives declined to confirm whether the Wards quote was accurate. Second, the company has applied to trademark the name RLX with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Neither is dispositive, but taken together, we’re pretty convinced.

The RLX is set to replace the aged and out-classed RL, but will follow a similar formula. Like the outgoing RL, the RLX will feature all-wheel drive and a V-6 engine. This time, however, Acura’s range-topper will use a clever hybrid system to drive the rear wheels with electric motors. The setup should prove to be lighter and continue to offer rear-axle torque vectoring.

With the RLX replacing the RL, the TL will be the last car in the Acura lineup with a two-letter name. We’ve been told that Acura will offer just three sedans in the future—the new ILX and RLX will be two of those, meaning that either the TL or the TSX is likely to bite the dust. Given its two-letter name, the TL might be the more likely candidate, but Acura is currently in the process of trademarking TLX. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Source;
http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-will-debut-new-rlx-flagship-sedan-in-nyc-new-york-auto-show/#more-79160