New car review : 2008 Honda Accord

Automotive News

Honda has pulled the covers off its redesigned 2008 Accord sedan and coupe, with few surprises under the sheets.

In addition to the new sheet metal, the eighth-generation Accord gets a larger, more powerful SOHC 3.5-liter iVTEC V6 that makes 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. It can be mated with a five-speed automatic transmission or, on the Accord coupe only, a six-speed manual gearbox.

On the Accord sedan, the V6 features a new variable cylinder management system that permits the engine to run on three, four or six cylinders. EPA city/highway mileage is an impressive 19/29 mpg. EPA mileage on the coupe is 16/25 mpg.

Honda also offers a choice of two iVTEC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines, rated at 177 hp and 190 hp, respectively. The more powerful engine features a high-flow exhaust system and a reprogrammed engine control module. Both DOHC engines return EPA mileage ratings of 21/31 mpg. Transmissions include five-speed manual and automatic boxes.

There is no Accord Hybrid for model-year 2008.

The automaker says the new Accord sedan has more interior space than a Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry, and has moved up a size into the EPA Large category.

The 2008 Accord goes on sale officially on September 12. Prices will be announced closer to that date.

Car Review : Honda FCX Is First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

Automotive News

Honda has announced that its Honda FCX hydrogen fuel cell car is the first to meet government requirements and get a whopping $12,000 tax credit. The credit is part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that was passed to help encourage development of green vehicles and other energy-saving technology.

The Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit will be available to buyers of the vehicle, although it is not yet available for sale to the public. American Honda fuel cell Marketing Manager Stephen Ellis commented that the tax credit is "further validation that the FCX is a real vehicle" and called it "another step toward market viability."

The four-seat vehicle, which emits only water vapor, has been out on public roads since 2002, with 15 in use in California cities and by the state government of New York, including two leased to individuals. It was displayed to the public at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show last November.

Review and compare Honda Odyssey EX-L w/ DVD and Navigation System

Review and compare Honda Odyssey EX-L w/ DVD and Navigation System

Odyssey is a 4-door, up to mini 8-passenger van, be available in 7 trim, ranges from LX to Touring w/ Navigation System.
For recognition, LX equiped with a 35-liter which standard, V6, 244-horsepower machine that reaching 18-mpg in the town and 25-mpg in roadway. Touring w/ Navigation System equiped with a 35-liter which standard, V6, 244-horsepower machine that reaching 19-mpg in the town and 26-mpg in roadway. An automatic transmission that 5-speed by means of … speed adder is directive in the two trim.

2007 Odyssey is a carryover out of 2006.

New Car Preview Honda S 2000 CR

New Car Preview Honda S 2000 CR

The American Honda Motor Co. launched the race-inspired model of the S2000 roadster at the recent New York International Show. The racer model will be available at the dealers by September 2007.

The entire body of the roadster is reworked to fit the new model in a racer’s shoe. The aerodynamic body package is the most important feature of this aggressive performer on the roads. The body weight has been reduced considerably and the chassis balance is improved giving an easy feel to it in stressful driving condition

The chassis is featured with Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires. Apart from the bigger rear tyre and better springs and dampers, the new model is provided with larger stabilizer bars and a new wheel design, ensuring a quicker steering ratio.

The body is now featured with a removable hard aluminum top to replace the original soft top present in the S2000 base model. When removed, the weight of the car gets reduced by 90 pounds.

Then comes the engine efficiency. Capable of delivering 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and a 162 lb-ft of torque at 6,8000 rpm, this engine is not far behind its counterparts on the racing roads. The performance guarantee is strengthened by the additional care taken in modifying the front and rear double wishbone suspension and adding an electric power steering and a torque-sensing limited slip differential.

The interior has been reworked considering the growing demands from the car enthusiasts across the world. The new cloth seating, the spherical aluminum shifter and the carbon fiber-style trim panels are innovative interior features of S2000 CR. The car also comes with optional air conditioning and AM/FM stereo and CD player.

New Car Review : Honda Civic Mugen

A factory-prepared 2008 Honda Civic Mugen Si Sedan will debut in mid-October, American Honda Motor announced today. The Civic Mugen Si Sedan is equipped with a high-performance suspension, forged aluminum wheels, aerodynamic body styling and a sport-tuned exhaust system. "Honda enthusiasts have long been asking for factory-installed Mugen performance products similar to what the company offers in Japan," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "We're enthusiasts, too, and the ultra-premium Civic Mugen Si Sedan offers exclusive style and elevated handling performance with legendary Honda refinement."

The track-tuned suspension, tested at the Twin Ring Motegi racing circuit in Japan, lowers the vehicle by 0.6 inch with aggressive spring and damper tuning for enhanced handling performance and ride comfort. Compared to the conventional Civic Si Sedan, front and rear damping force were increased between 8 and 24 percent. Other modifications include lightweight 16.98-pound 18x7.5-inch forged aluminum wheels and high-grip BFGoodrich g-Force KDW 215/40ZR18 summer tires. An aero package adds a front spoiler with a sports grille, side spoilers, a rear bumper diffuser and a rear wing.

The sport exhaust system reduces backpressure from the catalytic converter back. The Civic Mugen Si Sedan will be available exclusively in Fiji Blue Pearl and include front and rear Mugen emblems.

The limited-production vehicle (maximum of 1,000 units for the 2008 model year) will have a retail price of less than $30,000 when it goes on sale and includes a full factory warranty.

Former Yugo Plant Now Home to GM's Opel Astra

General Motors has announced that it has signed an agreement with Serbia's state-owned Zastava Auto to start kit assembly of the Opel Astra Classic next year at a plant that once built the much-maligned Yugo. GM said Astra production will increase gradually, reaching 10,000 units a year by 2012. The automaker may add another model and export cars to other Balkan countries.

Zastava may be a dim memory in the minds of most U.S. car buyers. The company began exporting cheap cars to Europe and the U.S. in the 1970s under the Yugo brand. The Serbian government plans to take Zastava public later this year. This latest announcement is part of a larger GM global strategy to cultivate production and sales in emerging markets, at a time when North American sales are flat. GM said it increased its sales volume in Serbia by 93 percent in the first six months of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006. It sells Opel and Chevrolet vehicles in Serbia

Honda To Launch New Hybrid in 2009, Redo Fit This Fall

Honda lifted the veil on some of its future plans on Wednesday, confirming that it will "offer a new dedicated hybrid vehicle in 2009 at a price level lower than the Civic Hybrid."

The Japanese automaker also said its Fit, which has reached cumulative worldwide sales of 2 million units as of June 30, will "undergo a full model change this fall."

The launch of the Acura brand in the company's home market has apparently hit a roadblock. Honda said: "Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the current market environment, Honda will reassess its basic plan and delay the introduction of the Acura brand in Japan for two years or so from its original plan of fall 2008."

The future product nuggets and strategy plans were detailed in the "summary of 2007 midyear CEO speech" posted on the Honda worldwide Web site.

It chronicled an ambitious plan for global growth and a commitment to alternative-fuel choices. Honda noted it will introduce a next-generation diesel engine, which it says will meet the U.S. EPA's Tier2 BIN5 emission standard requiring NOx emission levels equivalent to those of a gas-powered vehicle to the U.S. in 2009, likely in the Honda Accord. It said it will introduce this next-gen clean diesel engine to Japan.

China apparently plays a huge role in Honda's upcoming global strategy. Guangzhou Honda Automobile, a Honda joint venture in China, will set up a research and development facility to develop a "product which will be marketed under an original brand of Guangzhou Honda, targeting the start of sales in 2010," the company said. Honda said the vehicle "will be differentiated from the Honda brand."

The investment in the R&D facility is pegged at the equivalent of $264.4 million and will include a "full-scale" facility with a test course. Honda said it will also build a new R&D center in Sakura, Japan, that will begin operations in 2009.

Honda also said that Yachiyo Industry, a Honda subsidiary in Japan, will build a new production facility "in the effort to further strengthen its mini-vehicle business." Detailed plans are still to be finalized, Honda said.

Honda Accord

Specification :

• 166-hp, 2.4-liter 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine
• Drive-by-Wire™ throttle system
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Available 5-speed automatic transmission
• Double wishbone front suspension
• Five-link double wishbone rear suspension
• Front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
• Side curtain airbags
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
• Chrome Exhaust Finisher
• Air conditioning with air-filtration system
• Cruise control
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Maintenance Minder™ system

Honda Civic

Specification
• 1.8-liter, SOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine
• Drive-by-Wire™ throttle system
• ULEV-2 (Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle)
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Available compact 5-speed automatic transmission
• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering
• 15" wheels with full covers
• P195/65 R15 89H all-season tires
• Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure
• Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags (SRS)
• Front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
• Side curtain airbags
• Driver's and front passenger's active head restraints
• Outboard Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
• Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System
• Integrated rear window antenna
• Power windows
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Driver's seat with manual height adjustment
• Two-tier instrument panel with tachometer
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• Rear window defroster with timer

New Car Review : Honda Odyssey

New Car Review : Honda Odyssey

Honda's popular Odyssey will receive an updated look for 2008, and spy photographers are offering a preview of the minivan's new face.

Changes appear to be minor. A new headlamp treatment and revised front fascia surround the Honda-family grille, and new taillamps highlight the 2008 model's revised rear.

In its June 2007 sales report, Honda noted that Odyssey sales are slightly down compared to this time last year. This midcycle refresh should breathe some new life into the Odyssey, just as Chrysler is introducing its redesigned 2008 Town & Country/Dodge Caravan lineup as well.

Mugen Honda Civic Type RR

The folks at Mugen love to make Hondas go faster — for a price.

Japan domestic-market customers will soon be able to take delivery of a very special edition of the Civic sedan, the Mugen Type RR, which will carry a retail sticker of $39,000. Only 300 units will be available, beginning in September.

The heart of the Type RR is Honda's terrific DOHC 2.0-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and produces 240 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque.

The Type RR rides on Bridgestone Potenza RE070 performance tires (225/40R18 all around) and weighs a mere 2,734 pounds. Among the mechanical upgrades are a sport suspension and brakes, alloy wheels, a dual exhaust system and revised air intake.

Ride height has been lowered, and Recaro bucket seats have been fitted in the cabin.

Honda Leads the Pack in 2007 J.D. Power APEAL Study

Honda snagged more awards than any other vehicle manufacturer in the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study, which measures "owner delight" with design, content, layout and performance.

Domestic manufacturers dominated just four out of 19 segment categories. The Ford Mustang was the highest-ranked midsize sporty car, the GMC Sierra LD was highest-ranked large pickup and the Ford Edge took home honors as the highest-ranked midsize multiactivity vehicle. The Cadillac Escalade EXT tied with the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class for highest-ranked large premium MAV.

Honda scored top honors for the CR-V, Fit, Ridgeline and Odyssey. BMW and Mercedes-Benz got three segment awards. Singled out for praise were the BMW 3 Series, 6 Series and X5, while Mercedes earned awards for the E-Class, GL-Class and S-Class. The Volkswagen GTI and Jetta were also prize winners, along with the Nissan Altima and Armada. The Hyundai Azera was named highest-ranked large car.

Porsche is the highest-ranking nameplate in APEAL for the third consecutive year. Scion was cited as the "most improved" nameplate for 2007. Jeep was at the bottom of the heap in the nameplate APEAL ranking.

Power explained that "higher vehicle appeal may allow for low dealer incentives" and explained: "On average, owners of vehicles with APEAL scores lower than 800, based on a 1,000-point scale, report receiving dealer incentives of approximately $2,000.... For purchasers of models with average APEAL scores higher than 800, the incentive amount can decline by up to 10 percent."

The study is based on interviews with more than 91,000 purchasers and lessees of 2007 cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model

Honda learned from Toyota's success with the Prius that hybrid customers want their decision to drive a hybrid to be visible, so the company is planning a dedicated hybrid model that will feature its own unique styling rather than simply being a hybrid-powered version of an existing model, according to Dan Bonawitz, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda Motor Co. Inc.

The new hybrid-specific model will be the previously announced car that will slot in below the Civic Hybrid in price, he said. Honda has said that the car will debut in 2009.

Before rolling out its Civic and Accord hybrids, which have never enjoyed the success of Toyota's distinctive Prius, the company surveyed consumers about their opinion on the need for a separate hybrid model, Bonawitz explained. "They broke 50-50," he said. "But in the marketplace, the Prius went one way and we went the other."

Stung by this change in consumers' motivations, Honda changed course. "Now buying a hybrid is very much about making a statement," Bonawitz said. "Obviously, this is leading us to bring a new hybrid to market that is uniquely styled." The new car, while lower in price than the Civic Hybrid, will still be a family car, and will not be a tiny commuter car like the Honda Insight, he added. Despite the car's low price, Honda will not lose money on it, he said. "It will not be a loss leader."

2008 Honda Accord Unofficially Breaks Cover

As the all-new 2008 Honda Accord nears its official launch, spy photographers stumble upon a group of 2008 Honda Accords in the middle of a brochure photo shoot.

As we've seen before, the Accord coupe gets a honeycomb grille, while the sedan's face is trimmed with horizontal bars. Based on the alloy wheels and dual exhaust pipes, both the coupe and sedan pictured are V6 models.

Honda has publicly talked about increased horsepower, improved fuel economy, cylinder deactivation and lower emissions for the V6-powered Accord. Although official specifications have not yet been released, a 3.5-liter V6 with approximately 270 horsepower is expected, as well as the base 180-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.