CARS | Honda CR-Z Mugen RR Concept 2011 | GALLERY

Mugen Japan built a Honda CR-Z Concept Mugen RR design to demonstrate the capabilities Mugen in terms of performance, style, performance and agility. Honda CR-Z Mugen RR was produced by M-TEC show in Japan only and there is currently no plan for future production.

The Honda CR-Z Mugen RR was created with many custom prototypes, many of which are created by carbon fiber, including the hood, passenger doors and tailgate. Other features unique to the car includes a length of carbon fiber underbody, a plant dual exhaust, vented front fenders and race developed suspension. Orange 4-piston monobloc brake calipers and forged wheels 18 inch alloy complement the lively city of Valencia Orange Pearl exterior paint jobs.

Inside the car seats are bearing the mark Mugen color leather / Alcantara. The addition of an information display race has developed the ability to record data frame and engine as well as housing a satellite navigation and audio system. This kit will follow the high-tech car more than two laps to "learn" a circuit, then the act of recording data and vehicle tracking by GPS.

The concept was presented for its world debut in early July 2011 in the area of ​​movement at the Motor Show Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​and complete high-performance Mugen Honda CR-Z, which was designed and built by Mugen Euro based in the UK.

Honda CR-Z MUGEN RR ability in style

Promoting the concept of Mugen Honda CR-Z design MUGEN RR in Moving Motor Show 2011 last.

With the Honda CR-Z MUGEN RR, Mugen wants to show his ability in style, functionality, performance and agility.

Honda CR-Z MUGEN RR was created by M-Tec as an exhibition car only and there are no plans to enter into the production line.

Some of the Honda CR-Z MUGEN RR made of carbon fiber including the bonnet, both side doors and stern doors.

Other unique features that carried the CR-Z Mugen RR in the form of carbon-fiber at the bottom of the car, a pair of exhaust pipes in the middle, ventilated front bumper, and suspension of racing.

Part cabin wrapped in Alcantara leather. One screen in the dashboard serves data recording chassis and engine - developed by a race car. The screen serves as a satellite navigation and audio systems, too. This advanced equipment will monitor the car after more than two laps to learn the circuit and record data using a lap and a GPS vehicle tracking.

2012 Honda ridgeline

The 2012 Honda ridgeline is the same style of 2011 Honda ridgeline. Readers are invited to comment on this ridge line of Honda and their expectations and experiences of older models 2012 Honda ridgeline. Nissan Path Finder also competes withe the Honda Ridgeline.

The Ridgeline Sport, which looks reminiscent of the Ridgeline Sport project truck shown at SEMA in 2005, adds the following to the base Ridgeline RT's standard features: exclusive black 18-inch alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels), exclusive black honeycomb grille, standard fog lights, black headlight and brake light housings, and black side mirrors and door handles.

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline should be a virtual repeat of the 2011 Honda Ridgeline. Should you wait for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline or buy a 2011 Honda Ridgeline? Buy a 2011 Honda Ridgeline. Styling: Aside from a possible new color choice or two, the 2012 Honda Ridgeline styling will mirror that of the 2011 Ridgeline. Ridgeline comes only in four-door crew-cab form and nearly matches some full-size crew-cab pickups for usable passenger space. Traditional pickups are based on rear-wheel-drive designs augmented with available four-wheel drive (4wd). Ridgeline has roots in front-wheel drive engineering but is fortified with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD).

Features: The 2012 Ridgeline will continue bound by Honda’s practice of eschewing individual options for a set of features exclusive to each model. For the 2012 Ridgeline, Honda might expand the roster with a swan-song special edition that combines popular features from several models. Leather upholstery, power moonroof, heated front seats, and the navigation system are available, depending on model. All 2012 Ridgelines will also come with air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; power windows and locks; a power sliding rear window; cruise control; keyless entry; and a 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage. Prices for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline won’t be released until shortly before the pickup goes on sale, but don’t expect major deviations from 2011 Ridgeline prices. (Prices in this review include the manufacturer’s destination fee; Honda’s fee for the 2011 Ridgeline was $780.)

Given a model range narrowed to one upscale configuration, Honda justifiably considers Ridgeline a “premium” truck -- and prices it accordingly. Estimated price for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline RT is around $29,800. Expect the 2012 Honda Ridgeline RTS to be priced around $32,500. That the 2012 RTL model is expected to remain Ridgeline’s most popular trim level is clear evidence that Ridgeline buyers tend not to be the young bucks, off-road enthusiasts, budget buyers, and tradespeople that form compact-pickup core audience. Estimated price for the 2012 Ridgeline RTL is $35,500. Unless Honda commemorates the close of the first-generation Ridgeline with a new top-line model, the RTL with navigation will repeat as the most expensive 2012 Ridgeline.

2012 Honda Pilot can be expected in showrooms before autumn 2011

the first Honda Pilot was introduced in 2002, as a large SUV with third row seats. There are four different styles of the Honda Pilot available, the base model, EX, EX-L and the deluxe touring model. The two-wheel drive Honda Pilot MPG is 17 in the city and 23 miles per gallon with highway usage. The touring model comes with a power tailgate, and the other models offer a glass hatch.

The safety features have been updated with dual front airbags, airbags in the front, which include a passenger side occupant position detection system (OPDS), curtain airbags in the third row and several security features and sensors for the seatbelts. The Honda Pilot also includes many active safety parts as well such as Electronic Brake Distribution, Antilock Braking System and Vehicle Stability Assist.

The 2012 Honda Pilot is in line for some styling tweaks but won’t change in size or basic design. Should you wait for the 2012 Honda Pilot or buy a 2011 Pilot? Wait for the 2012 Honda Pilot if you wish to confirm that Honda indeed will give this crossover some mid-cycle updates.

Actually, Pilot traces its underskin architecture to the Honda Odyssey minivan. Comparatively lightweight unibody design benefits fuel economy and handling and is what makes Pilot a crossover. Speaking of rims, Honda’s taken the conservative route and equipped all Pilot models with modestly sized 17-inch wheels and tires. Pilot’s top competitors use six-speed automatics, which promise smoother performance and better fuel economy. In Honda’s defense, Pilot’s powertrain response and refinement is already among best in class. Expect all 2012 Pilot models to continue with a choice of front-wheel drive or Honda’s Variable Torque Management (VTM-4). Don’t equate Pilot’s upright-SUV profile with knuckle-dragging driving manners. The 2012 Pilot should retain tow ratings in the upper range for V-6 crossover SUVs, with AWD models capable of trailering 4,500 pounds and front-drive Pilots able to pull up to 3,500 pounds.
The 2012 Honda Pilot is expected to come in the same trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Unlike its competitors who offer 18-, 19-, 20-inch wheels, the Honda Pilot onloy comes with 170inch wheels. laid flat.The 2012 Honda Pilot will come with front and rear air conditioning, keyless entry, tilt and telescope steering wheel, and cruise control.

The new Honda Pilot all-wheel drive models will be able to tow up to 4500 pounds and front-drive Pilots can manage 3,5000 pounds.The 2012 Honda Pilot can be expected in showrooms before autumn 2011.

2012 Honda Civic, a car pride

from the past to the present, the Honda Civic is my favorite car, let alone for honda civic 2012 model, for me to have more value because it is fully in the redesigned, so I plan to buy a 2012 Honda Civic

The 2012 Honda Civic will be available in seven models: a sedan, a coupe, Si sedan, Si coupe, Honda Civic hybrid, high fuel-efficiency and a natural gas model. Car and Driver prefers the Civic Si’s 2.0-liter 197 horsepower engine over the base model’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder that makes 140 horsepower. Performance aside, the industry is pleased with the Civic’s improved fuel economy ratings. The HF model gets 41 mpg on the highway, and the base models get 39 mpg on the highway. If you’re disappointed with the base Honda Civic but want to stick with Honda, try the Honda Fit. The Honda Insight is the Civic Hybrid’s only competitor, and it has lower fuel economy ratings of 40/43 mpg city/highway. The Golf gets up to 24/31 mpg city/highway, and the Mazda3 averages 25/33 mpg city/highway.

To set the stage, the 2011 Honda Civic remains an excellent car, even as it's being replaced by the 2012. The completely redesigned 2012 Honda Civic improves incrementally upon its predecessor in many ways, ensuring it will remain a top-selling compact, but the car doesn't leapfrog its formidable competitors.

As before, the Civic comes in coupe and sedan styles, in DX, LX and EX trim levels, as well as a performance-oriented Si version, in both body styles. There are also hybrid and high-efficiency HF variants, both sedans. A natural-gas-powered Civic GX sedan will return later in the model year under the name Civic Natural Gas, with plans to expand its availability nationwide for the first time.

The Honda Civic continues Honda's approach of combining a variety of textures and styles. The Civic has six airbags including the front pair, front-seat-mounted side-impact bags and side curtain airbags. Civic in the Market

The 2012 Honda Civic has been fully redesigned. Highlights include mild styling updates, improved fuel economy and more power for the Honda Civic Si model.
Fuel economy remains pretty much the same as before for most Honda Civic models, but there's a new Civic HF variant that's rated for 41 mpg highway. Fuel efficiency and power are improved for the Honda Civic hybrid model, as well. In terms of features, stability control is now standard throughout the model lineup.

The 2012 Honda Civic is a compact car offered in both coupe and sedan body styles. Entry-level DX models come equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, auto-off headlights, intermittent windshield wipers, a rear window defroster, power windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a one-piece fold-down rear seatback. The EX-L model adds leather upholstery, heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Honda Civic Hybrid sedan is available in two trim levels. The base model's list of standard features is similar to the mainstream EX sedan, with the addition of 15-inch alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires, outside mirrors with built-in turn signals, LED taillights, a rear spoiler and a 160-watt, six-speaker stereo. Inside upgrades include most of the items from the EX model's standard features list plus front sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an aluminum shift knob, red backlit gauges, a special Power Monitor display, Bluetooth and a seven-speaker sound system.

The front-wheel-drive 2012 Honda Civic is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and an available five-speed automatic (HF and EX models get the automatic as standard equipment). The 2012 Honda Civic comes with standard safety features that include stability control, antilock brakes (four-wheel discs with the EX and Si), front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Civic EX-L came to a stop from 60 mph in a longish 131 feet, with prevalent brake fade.
Interior changes are very minor for the 2012 Honda Civic. The 2012 Honda Civic Si is still a fun car to drive.

2012 Honda CR-V Concept

Honda has released a picture of the concept version of its next-generation CR-V, and it looks, well, pretty much like we expected based on recent spy photos. The vehicle seen here is, as is typical with Honda’s concepts, a loosely disguised version of the production car.
That’s not to say that when the fourth-generation CR-V arrives at dealerships some time in late 2011, it will be festooned with some of the concept’s more colorful design elements. Items like the smoked-out headlights, prominent front skid plate, gargantuan wheels, and polished black lower trim likely will remain the domain of the show car. Otherwise, though, what you see here is what we’ll get.
Despite a relatively significant change in the CR-V’s design—it’s major by Honda’s conservative standards, at least—the new car will be mechanically similar to the one it replaces. Front-wheel drive definitely will again be standard, with optional all-wheel drive returning to the menu, too. It’s doubtful that Honda will make any major changes in the engine department from last year’s car, meaning that buyers will probably get a 2.4-liter inline four good for about 180 hp. Unlike the 2011 CR-V, which had a five-speed automatic transmission, the new model is likely to receive a six-speed unit. If Honda does go this route, you can expect a modest boost in fuel economy over the current CR-V’s 21 mpg city/28 highway for front-drive models and 21/27 for those with AWD.
While the CR-V has never fully roused the enthusiast’s soul, it has always been one of the more involving small crossovers to pilot. (Pun intended as an excuse to post a link to the face-lifted 2012 Pilot, which Honda also announced.) At the same time, the CR-V has been one of the more practical and easy-to-use small utes, too, a factor we’re sure is of higher importance to most of the people with one in their driveway. (There are a lot of those people: 227,760 CR-Vs were sold in the past 12 months alone.) We don’t expect those traits to change with this next-gen model, although we’ll have to wait until Honda decides to show us the production model to find out for sure.

 

Source : Caranddriver.com

2011 Honda Civic Hybrid Overviews

The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid is the newest on the band of Civics, and this 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid analysis will ample you in on this budget-friendly automobile.

The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid has a CD/CDR/CDRW/mp3 audio system, and along with the USB audio interface, you can easily enjoy your favorite tunes while you drive. This Civic hybrid has an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, complete with voice recognition, which can help you with directions if ever you need any. The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid, despite being a Civic, has a certain look that is distinguishes it from its predecessors. Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system consists of an ultra-efficient 1.3-liter, 8-valve i-VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine alongside a lightweight high-output electric motor, which definitely adds extra power to the 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid when needed. All 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid models have essential safety features such as side curtain airbags and dual-stage, multiple-threshold front air bags. The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid is no ordinary car, that is for certain. Getting a 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid is not just a purchase of a new car, it is an investment that you will make.

The current Honda Civic Hybrid debuted for the 2006 model year and uses gasoline-electric hybrid technology to reach fuel economy ratings of 40/43 mpg city/highway. The Honda Civic Hybrid sedan looks as futuristic as the gas-powered models.
The Honda Civic Hybrid has an interesting-looking instrument cluster that's similar to the regular Civic's

Honda's electronic stability system is standard on the Honda Civic Hybrid.
In the Civic, IMA consists of a 93-horsepower, 1.3-liter four-cylinder, assisted by a 20-hp electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission, plus a battery pack located near the rear of the car. Visibly, it would take a true gearhead or hybrid car fan to identify the Civic Hybrid from a standard Honda Civic Sedan, at a distance. Standard-feature content in the 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid is impressive. Power locks and windows, along with automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, a 160-watt audio system with an aux jack, and steering-wheel audio controls are all included, and options include a rather antiquated navigation system, satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free, and leather upholstery.

Honda S2000, 2000-2009 - Used Vehicle Review

You might have called it Honda’s mid-life crisis, but unlike the 50 year-olds who go out and buy a sports car, Honda celebrated its 50th by building one.
A sporty Honda isn’t tough to wrap your head around, but for a company whose most overtly sporty car to that point was a Civic with 160 horsepower, the S2000 was Honda’s and-now-for something-completely-different moment, with a screaming 9,000-rpm four-cylinder good for 240 horses.
At the time, the S2000′s engine boasted the highest specific power per volume of any naturally-aspirated (that is, not turbo- or supercharged) production motor. That is to say, it produced more power per litre of displacement than any other naturally-aspirated engine in a car available in a showroom. The motor was mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission (the only one available) and a Torsen limited slip differential.
In 2004, Honda made some cosmetic and mechanical tweaks to the S2000. Most significantly, these included bumping the engine’s displacement to 2.2 litres by way of a longer piston stroke; horsepower remained the same, but torque increased to 162 lb-ft at 6,200 from the previous peak of 153 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm. The longer stroke resulted in a lower redline of 8,000 rpm.
In addition to the larger motor, the transmission got shorter ratios for gears one through four and taller ratios for fifth and sixth.
In 2006, Honda added a drive-by-wire throttle and Vehicle Stability Assist.
For 2008, the S2000 gained a tire pressure monitoring system, updated dash and gauges and a few new colours.
For a full list of differences between 2000-2003 and 2004-2009 cars, check this thread.
In typical Honda fashion, fuel consumption is decidedly palatable for a sports car, with EnerGuide ratings of 11.8 L/100 km (city) and 8.4 L/100 km (highway). Autos.ca contributors Paul Williams and Frank Rizzuti, both S2000 owners, report that those figures are quite realistic in real-world driving. Premium fuel is a requirement, though. Reliability has been solid, generally, but Consumer Reports (CR) data indicates a few things to watch for. One is what CR dubs the potential for “major” engine problems in 2003 through 2005 models. The publication doesn’t provide specifics, but possibilities include a stuttering engine caused by a bad manifold air pressure (MAP) sensor or an ignition system misfire, which can be caused by any number of things. Source : autos.ca

Automakers Forecasted to Lead the United States Market in 2011

 

General Motors wants to be the plug-in leader with the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid with 40 miles of electric range and 500 miles per gasoline fill-up range. Chevrolet will deliver over 10,000 in 2011. GM has a complete Voltec Propulsion System roadmap that envisions added offerings of pure battery-electric, E85, and diesel. The second plug-in offering from GM is likely to be a Chevrolet Crossover SUV. Look for a range versus cost battle with Toyota, as the Volt achieves more electric range by adding to vehicle cost with a 16kWh battery.
Nissan will be the first automaker to put over 10,000 pure battery-electric cars on U.S. highways. 20,000 have made deposits for Nissan Leaf and several cities are in major partnerships. The LEAF can be purchased starting at $32,780 or $349 per month. The Nissan LEAF is battery-electric with a 100-mile range per charge. LEAF Test drive. This 5-door, 5-seat, hatchback has the right size and range for many who drive under 100 miles daily, or for households with more than one car.

Ford will be selling at least two electric cars by the end of 2011 and five models by the end of 2012. The best seller will be the Ford Focus Electric, a battery-electric that we expect to aggressively compete with the Nissan Leaf. Ford will be taking orders for a 2012 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, an exciting Crossover SUV that seats 5. In the future, the Ford Focus available any way the customer wants it: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, or fuel-efficient sedan. Ford is already selling the Transit Connect Electric compact van.
 
Tesla is the first to sell 1,000 electric cars for the U.S. highways. Tesla owners are the first to put 10 million electric miles on the road. Like its Roadster, the company is going zero to sixty in less than four seconds. Tesla is also developing a roomy Model S hatchback that starts at $57,400, about half the price of the Roadster. The Roadster is battery-electric with a 240-mile range; the Model S will have remarkable electric range options of 130 to 300 miles per charge. Tesla is working with shareholder Toyota to bring back the Toyota RAV4 EV, an electric SUV. Tesla is working with shareholder Daimler to put Smart EDs on U.S. streets this year. In the future, the Tesla Model X will be a Crossover SUV for those that want more premium styling and interiors than alternatives from Chevrolet, Ford, and others.
 
Fisker Karma is a luxury sports plug-in hybrid with prices starting around $90,000. With 20kWh of lithium batteries, you could go 50 miles before the 2L turbo engine is engaged. The Karma invites you to accelerate, using two electric motors that deliver 403 horsepower, so your mileage may vary. In theory it’s a 4-seater; good luck fitting someone in the back seat. The Karma is about sex appeal, performance, and luxury. A more affordable family sedan is planned for 2012.

Toyota, world-leading seller of hybrids, will offer both plug-in hybrids and pure battery electric cars. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) looks like another Prius until you spot the J1772 plug for smart charging. Six hundred PHV are in fleet trails from cities to car sharing services. Next year, you can order the Prius PHV. Toyota will initially control costs by only using a 5kWh battery for a 14-mile electric range. In 2012, Toyota is likely to also offer the RAV4 EV SUV and a pure battery-electric FT-EV small city car.
Honda is preparing the Honda Fit EV and a plug-in hybrid for sale in the U.S. in 2012. The Fit EV is in demonstration program in fleets such as Google and Stanford University. We speculate that the new EV will use Blue Energy lithium-ion batteries and will price below $29,900.

Mitsubishi is currently the electric car market leader in Japan with the iMiEV.
In 2012, the U.S. version of the Mitsubishi I will price at less than $29,900. This fun-to-drive 5 door, 4 seat hatchback, will have a wheel base 5 inches wider for the U.S. market, but the micro-compact will still be able to get those precious city parking spaces that no other car can take except the Smart. The more powerful U.S. version will have an electric range of 50 to 80 miles with a 16kWh lithium battery.
 

 Daimler is bringing the Smart Fortwo ED to the United States. 250 Smart Fortwo ED will be put into U.S. test this year using Tesla battery packs, but smart is currently targeting the 2013 model year for the first commercial electric car. It will start taking consumer and fleet orders in 2012. Daimler also owns 5 percent of Tesla. Mercedes hybrids. BMW will accelerate electric plans in a couple of years. Mercedes is putting into fleet tests two 5-seat hatchback electric cars – the A-Class E-CELL battery-electric car with 120-mile range and the B-Class F-CELL, which adds a hydrogen fuel cell to double the range.
 
Think has been selling its smaller battery-electric City car in Europe for years. With new capital from EnerDel, Valmet, and Kleiner Perkins, Think hopes to have its financial struggles in the rear view mirror and be on U.S. roads within a year.

 

 

 

U.S. Electric Car Forecast

Accenture forecasts 1.5 million electric vehicles in the United States by 2015. Over 10 million electric vehicles are possible by 2020, especially if oil prices continue to rise as battery prices fall. Single electric utilities have scenarios for charging over one million electric vehicles in their own service area by 2020. With renewable energy investment required of utilities in 30 states, these utilities are most interested in night time charging of electric vehicles with wind, geothermal, and hydropower. Utilities are also implementing smart grids and incentives for off-peak charging.
By 2011 year-end, competition will be intense for electric car leadership. The above Top 10 describe our best guess about the market share leaders for delivered plug-in vehicles on the United States roads in 2011. Battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles with range extended by engines or fuel cells were all considered.
Over 100 competitors will be fighting for U.S. share by the end of 2012. Some may be struggle to get significant share due to the time and cost of safety and other regulatory approvals, delays in funding, unpleasant surprises from a battery, drive system, or component supplier. It’s a tough business. Even Tesla had to add 700 pounds and two years to get the first Roadsters in customers’ hands.

Asia Prepares for the U.S. Market

For three years, we have read about China’s plans to bring electric cars to the U.S. Although China’s U.S. ambitions have slipped badly, its automakers cannot be ignored. China has over 100 million light electric vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters in daily use. It’s new 5-year plan calls for 100 million electric charging stations in China by 2020. BYD, with gold-plated investors such as Warren Buffett, has only put a few hundred electric vehicles on the road in China and continues to delay introduction to the United States. CODA’s $45,000 sedan continues to seek DOE loans and more investors and has delayed sales until Fall 2011, or later. Volvo, now owned by China’s Geely has the new C30 Drive E Electric. I was impressed with my test drive, but the Volvo electric car will be selling only in Europe in the short-term. SAIC, Chery, and hundreds of players are also preparing EVs for Chin
India might bring us a Maharinda Reva or Nano EV that under prices everyone, but not this year which is the basis for this Top 10 Report.

European Innovation

By 2020, Europe with higher fuel prices and fewer oil subsidies, is forecasted to have more electric cars by 2020 than the U.S. Better Place may deliver 100,000 of the Renault Fluence with its switchable battery to Israel, Denmark, and other countries. Volkswagen may teach everyone how to extend range by making vehicles light. The concept Up Light weighs just over 1,500 pounds, but it’s only a concept. I loved test-driving the Volkswagen Golf Blue E-Motion, but don’t plan on buying it in the U.S. before 2014. You will likely be able to buy the Audi E-Tron sooner. BMW’s first U.S. electric car commercial offering, the Megacity Vehicle, may be a hit in 2013. For fun in the city in 2013, the Fiat 500 EV may be what you want. In other words, there is a lot of European innovation that did not make this Top 10 List, which focuses on the U.S. market for the next 12 months.
Please bookmark this Top 10 List and check back as we update. Exciting new electric cars are being driven on the U.S. streets and freeways. Nissan is an early mover with battery-electric cars and General Motors with plug-in hybrids. Competition will start to heat-up with offerings from Ford, Toyota, Honda, and dozens of Asian, European and American innovators. The winner will be the customer.
Source : cleanfleetreport.com

2012 Honda Accord generally comes in the four door sedan model

2012 Honda Accord has swept back its design with the rear hatchback. The 2012 Honda Accord sports the outward design, which can be traced to the 2008 model, however this just re-emphasis the feedback and love from the people all over the old design. The "2012 Honda Accord" generally comes in the four door sedan model & the two door coupe design; "2012 sedan" features the 2.4 liter four cylinder engines and coupe gives six cylinder engine ability. Whereas, a lot of companies have given the 2011 Honda Accord feedback in a lot of mediums & these has highly influenced the people’s selection to buy the Honda Accord and company to continue giving its best, this 2012 Accord carries on to capture the contemporary attention.

On March, at the "Geneva Motor Show", Honda the renowned Japanese automaker is about to reveal refined versions of its "Honda Accord Saloon and Tourer models". In the high-end grades, the lights are now bi-xenon and feature Active Cornering Lights, improving on the night time visibility. Furthermore, a sportier appearance has been achieved through a upgraded grille, more aggressive cooling duct and fog lights, restyled tail lights and 17-inch lightweight alloys.
The 2012 Honda Accord will be virtually unchanged from the 2011 Honda Accord and likely close the door on a basic design that dates to model-year 2008. Carrying over minor model-year 2011 updates, the 2012 Accord returns as a four-door sedan and two-door coupe. The best 2012 Accord value remains a four-cylinder sedan in "midrange EX trim at around $25,000".

Should you buy a 2012 Honda Accord or wait for the 2013 Honda Accord? The "2012 Honda Accord sedan and 2012 Honda Accord Coupe carry over the subtle styling changes given the 2011 Accord. Honda doesn’t offer options per se. The 2012 Accord Coupe should repeat an LX-S, EX, and EX-L model "ladder.

Mechanical: The 2012 Honda Accord won’t have mechanical features that weren’t available on the 2011 Accord. It should return at 177 horsepower in LX, XL-P, and SE sedans and at 190 horsepower in EX and EX-L sedans. The 190-horsepower version should repeat as the base engine in the "2012 Accord Coupe". A five-speed automatic will repeat as the sole transmission for 2012 Accord V-6 sedans. The 2012 Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe will again be positioned as a performance model. An overwhelming majority of Accord buyers choose automatic transmission, and while Honda’s five-speed automatic works well enough, Accord’s top rivals have more-efficient six-speed automatics. Like the majority of midsize cars, the 2012 Accord will again have front-wheel drive. Features: The 2012 Honda Accord will continue to offer most every comfort, convenience, and tech feature available on its rivals. For example, only EX-L Accords have been available with a navigation system. "Honda" most recently shuffled some equipment by creating the 2011 Accord SE.

2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe - Road Test

Now Playing: Upsized and downrevved for the enthusiast of tomorrow.

Highs, Lows, and Verdict

Highs: Sports-car handling, fluid shifter, perfect clutch, finally some torque at step-off.
Lows: Harsh cockpit surfaces, kids-only back seat, will need more power to hold off turbocharged competitors.

The Verdict: Don’t say no until you’ve undertaken a three-day, 800-mile road trip.

For the past six years, we’ve felt a little like Estragon and Vladimir in Waiting for Godot. So many hours have been lost debating whether the previous-gen Honda Civic Si produced enough power to hold its head above water in the pocket-rocket pond. Eventually, this existential controversy morphed into a kind of recreation, with Si devotees screeching fiery epithets from the bleachers. Well, finally, Generation Nine is upon us. “We’re saved!” shouted Beckett’s protagonists whenever they suspected Godot might momentarily appear.
Here’s a sad fact: Godot never showed. And whether the Si is “saved” likewise remains unclear. Let us review recent history.
Our first encounter with the previous Si came late in calendar year 2005, when we pitted it against a Volkswagen GTI. The Honda lost. In 2009, we inserted an Si into a seven-car comparo, where it finished fifth, gasping and sweating. We weren’t surprised. The Si’s engine—2.0 liters, 197 horsepower, 139 pound-feet of torque—relegated it to least-powerful status in the whole segment. It certainly didn’t possess the grits to fend off, say, a 263-hp Mazdaspeed 3 Grand Touring or a 265-hp Subaru Impreza WRX. What’s more, accessing the Si’s horses has always required the spinning of the crank and cams to a fine fare-thee-well. The VTEC didn’t swap cam profiles until 6000 rpm, and it was thereafter vital to rely on every single rev right up to the colossal eight-grand cutoff.
Of course, Si purists—and trust us, they are legion—smugly insisted that the little howler-monkey engine comprised much of the car’s charm. Yet in the same breath, they’d also confess the coppery taste of  humiliation whenever a WRX achieved 60 mph 2.0 seconds in front of them, fast becoming a gnat on the horizon.
Now comes Honda’s solution for the ninth-gen Si, a solution both simple and a little surprising, given the rumors of a turbo. Out goes the 2.0-liter engine, in comes the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter unit that sees simultaneous duty in the Acura TSX. The result is an unnoticeable 4-hp gain, but torque is up 22 percent—peaking at 4400 rpm instead of 6100 rpm—and that’s a difference you can feel. While they were at it, the engineers paired the engine to the TSX’s delightful six-speed transaxle. But is that enough?
Well, sort of. At the track, the Si nailed 60 mph in 6.3 seconds versus the previous 6.7, and it proved a half-second quicker in our 5-to-60-mph rolling start. Turn off  the traction control, and you can now shred rubber for 15 feet, followed by a Rottweiler bark as you bang into second. An improvement, for sure, but it’s still shy of the accelerative thrust of five turbocharged competitors, including the Speed 3, the WRX, and even the GTI, which has a similarly meager 200 horses but can nonetheless summon 60 mph in 6.1 seconds.
On the other hand, the larger engine ushers in welcome perks. The mechanical thrash of the previous powerplant, for instance, is now largely MIA, and gear noise is likewise reduced, with all three of our sound-level tests confirming the fact. (Still, road-borne noise and tread roar remain issues that Honda must address.) Equally important, the number of shifts required for ’round-town cruising seems subjectively halved. In traffic, the Si is perfectly content relying on first, third, and fifth. And by eschewing a turbo, the Si’s mileage—now up to an observed 26 mpg—is best described as a charming achievement.

Yes, the Si is smokin’ hot. Sixty mph now arrives in 6.3 seconds, 0.4 second quicker than the previous Si. At the drag strip, however, the car will continue to eat the exhaust of its turbocharged competitors.

Yes, yes, 900 top-end revs have been lost. But the car now pulls with at least vague enthusiasm just after step-off. In fact, our only serious beef with the new engine is its considerable overrun when the throttle is suddenly dropped. Among other things, that makes for very little initial engine braking, and the revs sometimes take a couple of seconds to return to idle. Most drivers won’t complain, but it’s a behavior that lends the drivetrain a titch of laziness that has historically been anathema to Honda-think.
As with the previous-gen Si, this is among the most-neutral-handling front-drivers on the planet. Around our 15-mile public-road loop in southern Ohio, we could provoke only the most minor of nibbling understeer—and that was at speeds approaching Fear Factor Nine—with the rear tires faithfully following whatever paths had been established by the fronts. No rotation, no drifts, no drama. Body motions were exquisitely controlled, with the ride revealing the stiff springs and dampers only over high-frequency imperfections, primarily expansion joints and broken pavement.
At around-town speeds, the Si’s steering tends to feel artificial, as if it were the outcome of some sort of electrical/mechanical calculus that never precisely balanced. At least it’s light. As speed rises, fortunately, it firms up nicely and also becomes livelier. There’s no bump steer, no nervousness, and interstate tracking is peerless. The brakes are fade-free, and the pedal is firm and informative.
Moreover, the light, fluid shifter—as good as any that Honda has ever produced—allows the driver to summon alternate rev ranges with the flick of two fingers, abetted by a new lightweight clutch with simply seamless takeup. Faced with slow hairpins, the limited-slip differential carefully apportions power so that the inside front wheel never scrabbles. The thinly cushioned seats hold you firmly in place, and the dead pedal is perfectly sited. With lateral grip rising from 0.87 g to 0.90 g, the Si just dances and sings in the hills. This 2864-pound coupe is perfectly balanced, agile, poised, ever willing, a car that is easy to drive. Real fast comes real quickly.
The only obvious failure here is the unimproved interior. There are crass plastic trim bits on the steering wheel and around the HVAC controls. The Civic’s trademark minivan-sized windshield leans over a mini­van-sized dash, a vast plain of cut-lines, textures, and colors. The bunk-bed layout for the IP is okay, but the garish LCD gauges are right out of a RadioShack in Akron. The mouse-fur headliner suffers from the mange, and there’s a lumpy, wrinkled collar of felt that surrounds the steering column, shouting to one and all, “Yessir, that’s right, I actually am the cheapest bit of flotsam in the universe!” Note to Honda: Check out the Ford Focus’s interior.
The new Si—manual six-speed only—comes in both sedan and coupe forms. The coupe starts at $22,955, the sedan opens at $23,155, and both top out at $24,655. The only options are navigation, XM radio, and (exclusive to the coupe) summer tires—17-inch Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2s, as fitted on our test car. (Fun driving tip: Demand that your spouse call you “Pilot Exalto.”) If you’ve got a calculator handy, you’ll perhaps already know that a starter Si coupe is more than $1500 cheaper than either a GTI or a Speed 3.
This latest Si is more sophisticated than its forebear, although it has been somewhat cruelly left to play David to the turbocharged Goliaths. As of now, it offers a better ride, produces less noise, and is faster in both a straight line and through the most diabolical off-camber, double-apex turns that Ohio’s deranged civil engineers could conjure. It is surely less raw than its predecessor, a trait that many Si purists—including our own revered Tony Quiroga and Dan Pund—lament. Until they commit to a three-day, 800-mile road trip, two-thirds of which skates over frost-heaved interstates. No longer is the Si a one-trick pony. At speed it’s a serial killer, yet during commutes and city errands it’s a near-soothing mental-health counselor with practicality and a price that make it easy to justify.
Source : Carsanddriver.com

Honda CR-Z Mugen 197bhp

Now though, tuning company Mugen has bolted a supercharger onto the CR-Z’s 1.5-litre petrol-electric powertrain taking power and torque up to 197bhp and 245Nm respectively.
A joint project by Honda and Euro Mugen, the car will be on show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed between July 1 and July 3.
Debuting at next month’s 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be the Honda CR-Z Mugen hybrid hot hatch.

Uprated suspension includes stiffer springs and five-position adjustable dampers - based on MUGEN’s commercially available products - with braking courtesy of four-pot callipers grabbing 320mm grooved and vented discs up front.

Thanks to the collaboration of Honda UK and its in-house tuning shop Mugen Euro, the 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol engine has received a supercharger as well as to the Honda IMA system. “Performance figures already look promising for this supercharged Honda CR-Z, as early tests with a prototype car based on a standard CR-Z and a mid-tune engine giving 0-60mph times around that of the Civic Type R,” Honda said in a statement.

"We've retained the three driving modes from the standard car and economy ranges from 50+mpg in 'eco' mode to mid-30 mpg when tapping into the supercharged power in a special Mugen mode."

2012 Honda Gold Wing Adventure Ride

 

The Honda Gold Wing has always been a popular motorcycle here in the USA offices. We’ve ridden them all over the country, but these big touring bikes had fallen off the radar for a few years. That all changed when Honda revealed a new and improved 2012 Gold Wing. We had our first taste of the bike during a brief day ride in Southern California a few months back but the folks from American Honda were keen to remind us just how great their luxury touring motorcycle is by dragging us to the east coast for a long, grueling ride through the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Climb on the 2012 Honda Goldwing for a two-up motorcycle ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out our Goldwing Adventure video for a look at all the fun we had along the way.

Their plan was simple: Send us on an epic three-day motorcycle tour with a few unique twists and turns that transformed a routine press event into the ultimate Honda Gold Wing adventure. We would fly to Orlando, take a train to Virginia then ride the Blue Ridge Parkway to Tennessee… two-up. Rather than randomly assigning us a Castrol Honda umbrella girl, we were allowed to bring our significant other’s along for this journey so my long-time girlfriend Laura was lucky enough to get the opportunity to join me. Our Goldwing Adventure would incorporate all forms of transportation including planes, trains, boats and of course, motorcycles so it was sure to be a memorable mission.

We arrived in Orlando on a Sunday evening for the start of our Gold Wing adventure. Our night consisted of libations at the Waldorf Astoria and getting familiarized with the host of high-tech accessories the Wing is now equipped with during a tech briefing: A state of the art electronics package that includes a new Satellite-Linked Navigation System (Navi) which is fully compatible with the recently-unveiled Honda Trip Planner (available on the official Honda website) an MP3/Satellite Radio/iPod compatible stereo and the requisite electronically-adjustable preload suspension topped the list. It could have easily slipped past anyone who wasn’t paying attention, but the Honda Trip Planner is a big part of the Gold Wing navigation system and destined to play a role in the social media aspects of the Gold Wing Riders Association and other Honda clubs. The HTP allows riders to transfer maps and route data from the Wing’s GPS via a USB storage device, making it easy to share their rides with other Wingers.

Our adventure started in Orlando (Left) but we soon made our way to the Amtrak station for the start of an overnight journey to Virginia. There was food, fun and plenty of bench racing on the tracks (Center). We unloaded our fleet of 2012 Honda Goldwings off the train next morning and made our way east for an afternoon of fun in the liquid sunshine to Ronoake.

Armed with a deeper understanding of the Gold Wing we proceeded to imbibe and soak in the splendor of the Waldorf. The next morning we embarked on an overnight Amtrak Auto Train from Florida to Virginia. Since this was the first overnight train-ride for many of us it was a novel way for the Gold Wing Adventure participants to get to know each other better and add a very cool element to the trip. We all enjoyed the fine dining and had some serious fun in the bar-car until the wee-hours of the morning. We awoke in Virginia after a restless night’s sleep in our motorhome-like cabins and that’s where the riding adventure would begin.

Over a dozen 2012 Gold Wings were unloaded from the storage cars and an assortment of editors, wives and significant others geared up for a long day in the saddle. Thunder clouds loomed on the horizon as throngs of oldsters did their best to freak us all out as the struggled to locate the parking lot exit through a labyrinth of bikes, riders and support crew. It was comical if not a bit scary.

We were lucky to get out of the parking lot alive on our fully-accessorized Candy Red and Silver Gold Wing. The Navi system also has an overview of the weather in the bottom left hand corner of the monitor – a Doppler-like map that shows green where the rain is and red where the bad weather is. We were riding through a red cloud, fitting since we were on a Honda, but bad news since things were about to get a little moist. Without a doubt we were on the most-

The 2012 Honda Goldwing is a motorcycle which provides a combination of two-up comfort and performance that has made it the bike of choice for thousands of riders everywhere.

accessorized flagship bike in our fleet but none of that would matter in a few minutes. The chrome crash bars, kick-stand and fender trim wouldn’t protect us from the precipitation but I wish it would have. The distant thunder we heard earlier was followed by lightning and torrential rains of biblical proportions that descended upon us within an hour’s ride from the station.

Virginia may be for lovers but there wasn’t much love from Mother Nature for us on the first day. While the Gold Wing offers-up great wind protection it simply could not shield us from the wall of water falling from the sky. And we couldn’t exactly turn tail and run either since we were committed to making it to our destination before dark, so we soldiered on. We were soaked, sitting in pools of warm water and riding by braille since you couldn’t see more than a few feet in front you. It’s nothing new in this line of work but I took a small bit of pleasure knowing that everyone with a passenger was getting the full press-intro experience on this day.

The rain only lasted for an hour or two so it gave everyone a chance to test the waterproof claims of their riding gear. By the time we trickled into the parking lot of the historic Hotel Roanoke around dusk everyone in the group were still a little wet and weary. It wasn’t anything that a long hot shower couldn’t cure. Had we been hard-core Wingers we would have been setting up a tent at the KOA.

We rolled out of bed early the next day and saw that weather was still going to be a factor. This time our rain gear was on from the get-go as we made the long highway drone to Asheville. Though we were riding on some long stretches of super slab the highways between Virginia and North Carolina are so curvy that it wasn’t a total bore. The scenery is amazing and the wet season had all the foliage vibrant and green. It’s beautiful out on the east coast in spring. As far as our Gold Wing was concerned, the seat and pillion perch are more comfortable than any other motorcycle on the road and it is sweet to have tunes at your disposal when you’re riding. There’s a good reason you see thousands of two-up Gold Wing riders touring the America’s back roads: Because these bikes rock.

(Left) Jamie was assigned Charlie as he personal umbrella boy. Times, they are a changing. As you can see the rain didn't dampen our spirits. (Middle) Laura never complained or whined about the rain. Good thing she didn't know I could barely see through the deluge! We arrived at the historic Hotel Roanoke just in time. I don't mind riding in the rain but the lightning was scary.

Let’s talk about the sound system and other gadgets some more. We had the tunes blaring and Navi on mute as we logged the miles on our second day. The highway afforded the opportunity to get acquainted with the myriad of gizmos and amenities the 2012 Gold Wing offers. You can sift through satellite radio, pull-up tunes from your iPod or chat on the communication system. Heck, there’s a CB too so we had a fun time staying in contact with the rest of the riders for a while. Eventually, I can’t help but shut down the extra noise though. There’s a tranquility that comes from riding that I think I enjoy more than the Steve Miller Band.

Unlike some OEM motorcycle navigation systems, riders cannot adjust the Goldwing’s Navi system on the fly. It must be turned on and a destination chosen prior to getting underway. The folks at Honda are staunch believer in rider safety, so you have to pay attention to the road instead of fiddling with the GPS. With our 3D Navi map scrolling along and a few select tunes to keep us company we made up for lost opportunities to soak in the surroundings from day one. The Smoky Mountains by motorcycle is the only way to go.

The Biltmore Mansion is even more extravagant than it looks. It's big, ostentatious and has a lot of rooms. The same can be said of Honda's Goldwing. I couldn't resist that one.

We arrived at the posh confines of the Biltmore Estate in Ashville in a procession of glistening chrome, shiny paint and the din of tunes emanating from our bikes. The second day of the Gold Wing Adventure ride revealed that the motorcycles are not only comfortable for the rider but very accommodating to a passenger over the long haul. The passenger seat on our bike included the optional arm-rests which Laura found to be a nice addition. There are cubby holes along the side so she could stash snacks, extra gloves, sunglasses or her cell-phone for easy access. It would be catastrophic if you dropped something while underway but she never did. The separate seat-heater is a nice touch too but it all came back to general passenger comfort. My girl liked it and the rest of the pillions seemed to have nothing but good things to say as well. Honda wanted to get feedback on two-up comfort so they had to be pleased.

That evening we celebrated our rain-free run with champagne on the viewing deck atop the 175,000 square foot Biltmore Mansion, overlooking the surrounding 150,000-acre spread. The Vanderbilt family has a significant influence on this part of the state as our guided history tour revealed and they are still luring in tourists who want to see what ostentatious looks like, first hand. I couldn’t help but think how much of a pain it would be to have 43 bathrooms to maintain, though you would be all but assured of some private time. Too bad we weren’t allowed to use any of them after the champagne tasting. Well, at least we got to check out the facilities in the stables, which were more lavish than most houses I’ve been in. There’s one thing for sure that Honda and the Vanderbilt’s have in common: They both like to go big.

The final leg of our Gold Wing Adventure ride would take us along the Blue Ridge Parkway and onto the infamous section of road known as Deals Gap. This winding tarmac is also known as The Tail of the Dragon because there are no less than 318 turns along an 11-mile stretch. At the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort we tried to blend in among the hundreds of other motorcycle enthusiasts who were out for a ride on a sunny afternoon. That meant the road was fairly clear and devoid of cages so we would have our run of the place.

The 2012 Goldwing symbolizes all that we like about Honda motorcycles. The bike is smooth and has amazing fit & finish. The layout is well thought out and there are not many compromises when it comes to rider comfort. Long distance travelling is its forte.

After stuffing our face with one of the best burgers ever grilled, we tackled the Tail of Dragon aboard our war horse-esque Gold Wing. The perfectly smooth tarmac twists, winds and undulates through miles of mountain pass. It was a surprise how well behaved the Wing is in these conditions. Fully loaded with two riders the Honda carved up the corners in a way that truly belies its actual size. There are descents and climbs along the way which showed how well the brakes performed under tight, heavy load conditions while the climbs revealed the smooth low-end power delivery of the Opposed Six engine. We made good time and had a lot of fun flopping the big ballerina from side to side. Sure, we scraped some floorboards and wouldn’t be able to hang with a CBR600RR rider for very long if it wanted to ditch us, but we had a lot of fun nonetheless. This truly is an epic ride and one that every motorcycle rider should make a pilgrimage to at least once. It was our first time at Deals Gap and when it was all said and done, we were both glad we came.

The 2012 Honda Goldwing is more than the sum of it's parts: Advanced electronics, stereo, better suspension and a lot of all around comfort for both the rider & passenger. Nuff said.

Our Gold Wing Adventure wrapped up at the Crowne Plaza in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was an impressive journey that ended with one of the most epic rides on the east coast. That’s one more-check off the old bucket list and one more reason to be thankful for motorcycle friendly places like Deals Gap and the amazing byways of Virginia, Carolina and Tennessee.

Honda wanted us to experience the Gold Wing way on this trip. They arranged for incredible stay-overs, mapped out amazing rides and even used the Honda weather-changing satellite to deluge us and keep us humble in the early going. As a rider and passenger tandem we came away from the experience believing that the Gold Wing is alive and well and better than ever. This motorcycle was created for people who love to travel on two wheels and it shows in every aspect from the huge luggage capacity, to rider-friendly ergonomics all the way down to the industry-exclusive reverse function. When it comes to logging long miles in the seat of the original luxury touring bike, the Gold Wing continues to be the gold standard.

Source : motorcycle-usa.com