W. Virginia McDonald's to Have 2 Charging Stations for Plug-in Cars

Come July 14th, a new “green” McDonald’s will be opening in Cary, NC. It will be the first U.S. location for the fast food chain to offer electric car recharging.

The restaurant–located at 1299 Kildaire Farm Road in Cary–will be using a ChargePoint station to provide the service. ChargePoint is a private fee-based network of charging stations. They provide grid access and related services for owners of plug-in cars.

Also, the building is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED). It is part of a LEED for Retail pilot program.

Details from this McDonald’s will be used to create two new LEED for Retail rating systems.

“Our customers will have a dedicated place to park and recharge their vehicles,” said Ric Richards, the independent owner of the McDonald’s.

The restaurant will also feature an interactive component for educating customers about the building. It will use an Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard (EEED) that can display live data about a building’s energy efficiencies and green initiatives streamed from the building’s automation system.

“QA Graphics is excited to help McDonald’s inform the public on all the green features they have integrated into this new building,” said Dan McCarty, president and founder of Quality Automation Graphics. The system was designed by Quality Automation Graphics.

It will show a 360 degree digital tour of the inside of the building, where users can select different features to learn more about the innovative designs like water efficient equipment, recycling areas and more. It will also provide users with local transportation information, including pedestrian paths and bicycle paths.

Other sustainable highlights include:
Use of solartubes designed to use 97 percent natural light
LED lighting fixtures
Renewable materials like sunflower seed board and bamboo
Drought tolerant landscape plants

Of course, McDonald’s has been criticized for decades about their environmental practices. Most notably, the destruction of the rainforest to make way for cattle ranching.

I don’t wanna be a half-empty and just chalked this all up to Shamrock Shake-flavored greenwashing. Not that I would argue it isn’t. But a lot of people visit McD’s. I just think there are definitely some educational opportunities here.

Source:
http://gas2.org/2009/07/06/mcdonalds-debuts-plug-in-car-charging-station/

Acura Will Keep Flagship Sedan Conservative, May Add High-End Sporty Vehicle to Lineup

The launch of the refreshed Acura RL flagship gave us a chance to drill the company’s executives and PR reps with questions about the car’s successor as well as Acura’s latest plans to bring back something sports-car-like to the lineup. The information firewall was up in full force, so we were left to read between the lines. Following numerous conversations with Acura’s ebullient product chief, Vicki Poponi, and others, this is what we can surmise about the top of Honda’s top line.

The next Acura flagship likely will be called RL, not Legend or anything else terribly evocative, and it most certainly will not have a V-8 (we were told to stop asking). A former chemical engineer, Poponi is a numbers person, and she cites surveys that Acura believes disprove any notion that cylinder count is of real importance to luxury customers. “The market is moving to us,” the Acura folks said, citing increasing demand for higher fuel economy as well as the economic downturn prompting luxury customers to rein in their extravagant ways. We also kept hearing statements such as “Honda is a very conservative company,” and “the RL customer is a conservative customer.”

These hints suggest that the next RL will build upon the improvements made for 2011 in the areas of quietness, safety, and material quality, although the car will probably not feature terribly radical styling, nor will it grow all that much. So it won’t be a Lexus LS fighter but more like an Infiniti M fighter. Given that, we would also be very surprised if the next-gen car doesn’t add 25 to 50 horses so it can at least match the M37’s base output of 330 hp. When will we see the next-gen RL? With the current model’s age—and abysmal sales of about 3000 per year—it can’t come soon enough. Nods and nudges from Acura folks suggest that it will arrive very soon, perhaps within the next 12 to 18 months. We think the RL had better be at least a bit flashy if Acura hopes to get newfound attention from consumers in the brutally competitive $45K–$70K luxury-car segment. In this case, erring on the side of conservative may be an error indeed.

Details were far sketchier regarding additional members of the Acura lineup. We were told that Acura will soon introduce something unconventional sometime around the launch of the new flagship sedan. Will it be sporty? Probably. Will it be called NSX? Who knows. Will it be the front-engine supercar we saw lapping the Nürburgring a couple of years ago? No. Although that car was all but finished, according to Acura insiders, it was cancelled—not even shelved—due to Honda’s concerns that it might be crass to offer a $150K–$175K sports car in the face of worldwide economic hardship. However, much of the technology developed for that car will appear in the new car. Whatever it’s called.

Source;

http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-will-keep-flagship-sedan-conservative-may-add-high-end-sporty-vehicle-to-lineup/

New Honda Jet Makes First Flight

Honda Motor Co. says the first FAA-conforming version of the small business jet it has been working on for years made its first flight. The plane, called the HondaJet, flew from the company’s Honda Aircraft Co. operation at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C.

While an earlier version called a proof-of-concept aircraft has logged more than 500 hours of flight testing, flying the version built to Federal Aviation Administration rules is what really counts toward bringing the plane to market.

Honda’s project is part of a renewed and growing intersection between automobiles and aviation that is occurring around personal- and business-transport. Honda touts the same qualities for the plane, such as “dynamic performance” and efficiency, as it does for its cars. The company has said it is essentially applying lessons learned in auto manufacturing to the aircraft business.
Cirrus Aircraft, a longtime maker of small single-engine propeller-driven planes is developing a small jet designed for personal use that it has described as a minivan with wings. Terrafugia, a small aircraft start-up in Woburn, Mass., plans to start selling a flying car called the Transition late next year.

Honda says it will build five FAA-conforming jets for testing before ramping up production in 2012. The company says it has more than 100 orders for the light business jets, which have a top speed around 483 mph and a ceiling of 43,000 feet. Honda plans to deliver the first one in the third quarter of 2012.

Source;
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2010/12/22/new-honda-jet-makes-first-flight/

2012 Mazda MX-5/Miata Illustrations

Wow, now that is aggressive looking! Hopefully they put something under the hood to match these illustrations!
Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2010/12/2012-mazda-mx-5-miata.html

KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

Dec 22, 2010 Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com Names 2010 Most-Researched New Vehicles, Brands With Greatest Share of Market Interest This YearSales Success Story Hyundai Sonata Makes Giant Leap to No. 5 on 2010's Top 20 Most-Researched New Cars ListIRVINE, Calif., Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today announces the most-researched new vehicles of 2010 on the company's top-rated website, www.kbb.com.

In addition, Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com reveals the top five brands with the greatest share of market interest for 2010.This year marks the fifth consecutive year that Kelley Blue Book saw increased visitation to its website, with nearly 24 million more visits to kbb.com in 2010 versus 2009.

Because kbb.com is one of the most-trafficked automotive research sites, visitation to specific vehicles has become a leading indicator of sales patterns for manufacturers.

Kbb.com's Top 20 Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2010

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CRV
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Nissan Altima
7. Honda Pilot
8. Ford Mustang
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Toyota Rav4
11. Toyota Sienna
12. Honda Odyssey
13. Chevrolet Equinox
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Escape
17. Toyota Prius
18. BMW 3 Series
19. Chevrolet Camaro
20. Volkswagen Jetta

The Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry (in varying orders each year) have been the top three most-researched new vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004. However, a few vehicles made jumps into the top 20 most-researched new vehicles for 2010 that were not on the list in 2009, and many models have changed their standings among the top 20 when compared to last year.

The most noteworthy success story this year is the Hyundai Sonata, which made a giant leap up 24 positions, from number 29 last year to number five this year. Hyundai's popular all-new Sonata helped to re-shuffle the deck among the top 20 most-researched new cars of 2010, knocking a few vehicles further down on the list compared to where they were last year.

A number of popular new or redesigned models also increased their standing for 2010 versus 2009, including the Ford Mustang, up eight positions to number eight, the Toyota Sienna, up seven positions to number 11, and the Chevrolet Equinox, up seven positions to number 13. In addition, the BMW 3 Series was new to the list for 2010, making its debut at number 18.

Likewise, many vehicles that are staples on the annual kbb.com top 20 most-researched new vehicles list experienced a decline in standing for 2010 when compared to 2009. The Toyota Corolla fell nine positions to number 14 this year, and the Toyota Prius dropped nine positions to number 17. In addition, the Chevrolet Camaro was down seven positions to number 19 for 2010."

The site traffic on Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com clearly demonstrates which models are resonating with today's new-car shoppers, especially when we examine the most-researched new vehicles of 2010," said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "Hyundai's homerun Sonata was not only the darling of the industry this year, but also made a strong impression in the minds of new-car shoppers by leaping ahead to the fifth most-researched new car of 2010. In addition, two popular Toyota models, the Corolla and Prius, experienced drops on the list this year, likely due to a combination of lower fuel prices and reduced overall interest in compact and hybrid vehicles, and also possibly due to Toyota's public perception crisis during the recall saga of 2010."

Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com 2010 Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest Among New-Car Shoppers

Toyota with 13.4 percent
Honda with 11.4 percent
Ford with 10.2 percent
Chevrolet with 8.3 percent
Nissan with 6.2 percent

Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan (respectively) are the top five brands with the highest share of market interest -- defined as the percent of new-car shopper activity for a particular brand -- on Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com for 2010. While these five brands remain in the same positions as last year, Toyota has experienced a decline in share of market interest for 2010 while Ford's share of market interest continues to grow. Toyota managed to hold down its top spot for 2010, even though its share of market interest declined 2.4 percentage points from last year. While Ford remains in the number three spot, its share of market interest increased 1.5 percentage points for 2010 when compared to 2009. The remaining three (Honda, Chevrolet and Nissan) brands' share of market interest numbers remained relatively flat year-over-year.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/26/kbb-reveals-20-most-researched-cars-of-2010/#continued

Car and Driver: 2011 Acura RL SH-AWD - First Drive Review

2011 Acura RL SH-AWD - First Drive Review

One more gear and one more year for Acura’s aging flagship.
BY STEVE SILER December 2010

What Is It?
A mildly refreshed version of Acura’s generally capable but unremarkable and slow-selling flagship sedan. On sale in much the same form since the 2005 model year, the 2011 Acura RL gets a tweaked front fascia with chrome spears in the outboard air intakes and a slightly toned-down version of the much-maligned, guillotine-esque beak that was fitted a couple of years ago. It’s still unattractive, natch. Also new are the decklid trim; power-folding side mirrors; and 15-spoke, 18-inch wheels. Inside, the infotainment interface has been revised (although the quality of its graphics remains largely the same), and genuine maple trim and a new Sea Coast interior color are now available. (Yes, Sea Coast could refer to just about any color, from sandy beige to watery blue to oil-slicked black. Here, it’s a light tan.) The most significant alteration is the upgrade from the previous five-speed auto to a six-speed box. It’s the only transmission available.

How Does It Drive?
Just fine, as before. It’s easy to forget what a nice car the RL is to drive—as consumers seemingly do on a regular basis—until you slide back into it. The naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 (generating 300 hp at 6300 rpm and 271 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm) pulls with zest and remains silky smooth all the way to its 6800-rpm redline, the latter a consistent trait of Honda’s engines. Acura claims the six-speed automatic’s extra ratio allows the RL to hit 60 about 0.5 second quicker than before, while gaining 1 mpg in the city and 2 on the highway. For reference, the 2011 is rated at 17/24 mpg, and we tested a 2009 RL to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.

And as always, Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive makes sure little of the power at hand goes to waste, with absolutely tenacious grip and an impressive ability to mitigate understeer. Indeed, as the nose starts to push, the outside rear wheel gets the lion’s share of the torque, realigning the RL’s pointy snout with the driver’s intended line. If we had to find one nit to pick, it would be the brakes. They need to be a little stronger to match those of the RL’s more-performance-inclined competitors.

Acura claims the 2011 is quieter inside, thanks to resonator devices that are said to chop 1.3 decibels off the tire-noise scale. With the new resonators, the RL isn’t yet as quiet as, say, a Lexus LS, although the Acura’s noise levels can hardly be characterized as loud.

How Does It Stack Up?
The RL is good to drive, but as fine as it is in that area, the fact remains that the car is down on power and/or torque compared with many competitors in the $50,000 arena. This includes the Infiniti M37X, the Lexus GS350, and the BMW 535i—all of which offer V-8 alternatives for those wanting even more power. Just as egregious is the RL’s distinct lack of, well, distinction. Sure, it has the grille that no one likes, but other than that, it has little identity. Shoppers in this segment are often looking for some cachet, and this car doesn’t have it. Further, more room in the rear seat and trunk would help Acura cajole fifty large out of more than 200 to 300 people per month. In other words, the RL needs more than this refresh—it needs a replacement. Fortunately, one is around the corner, likely in a year. See our blog post on the next RL for details.

Source;

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q4/2011_acura_rl_sh-awd-first_drive_review

Honda scoops European Excellence Award

Honda Motor Europe's crowd-sourced, social media activated film project, Live Every Litre, has been recognised by the European Excellence Awards hosted in Prague last week (9 December, 2010).

Short-listed in a total of three separate categories - Best Campaign, Social Media and Automotive and Transport - Live Every Litre was rewarded in the Automotive and Transport category.

Laura Price, Social Media Manager for Honda Motor Europe, said: "Live Every Litre gave those who consume media online the chance to do something unique and different. This was such an exciting project for Honda because the crowd sourced nature of the campaign allowed the online community, rather than us, to mould the final outcome thereby tearing up the rule book on traditional car launches."

Marc-Oliver Voigt, Communications Director and Chairman of the Jury for the European Excellence Awards, commented: "As one of only 58 winners from a field of over 1,450 projects, Live Every Litre has been recognised as one of the best projects in European public relations over the past year."

Live Every Litre is a social media activated, European road trip documentary project which encouraged people to submit their dream journey to http://www.liveeverylitre.com, where the public could rate their stories. The best journeys were chosen and the participants invited to join the pan-European odyssey, having their experiences recorded as they drove a new Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe on their trip of a lifetime. Over 1000 applications were received from 28 countries. Filming took place over 38 days, starting in the Netherlands, heading down through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and finishing at the infamous Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

All of the short films that introduce the cast and their individual stories can be viewed on http://www.liveeverylitre.com. Or join the conversation on www.facebook.com/liveeverylitre.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1641-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Honda Uses Toshiba Lithium-Ion Batteries in Test Version of Electric Car

In China first....
Honda Motor Company is using lithium-ion batteries made by Toshiba Corp. in a test version of its electric car, expanding upon a supply agreement for electric scooters.

Honda’s joint venture with Kyoto-based GS Yuasa Corp. will supply lithium-ion batteries for its hybrid cars, including a plug-in vehicle, while Toshiba’s packs may be more suitable for all-electric cars, which require more power, Tomohiko Kawanabe, head of Honda’s research and development division, told reporters today in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo.

Japan’s second-largest carmaker unveiled the test versions of its electric car and plug-in hybrid today, joining Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. in efforts to meet tighter government emissions rules. Honda has supply agreements with four battery makers, including Panasonic Corp. and its subsidiary Sanyo Electric Co., which make nickel-metal hydride packs for Honda’s current hybrid cars.

Honda’s electric car can go more than 160 kilometers (100 miles) on a single charge, farther than Nissan’s Leaf electric car, Tokyo-based Honda said today. The plug-in hybrid can run 25 kilometers on battery power before the gasoline engine kicks in, about the same as Toyota’s plug-in. The figures are based on Japanese highway testing methods.

Honda rose 1.6 percent to 3,285 yen as of 2:29 p.m. in Tokyo trading, extending its gain this year to 5.6 percent.

Nissan’s Leaf

The carmaker hasn’t decided whether it will use Toshiba’s batteries for mass production, Kawanabe said. Toshiba already makes lithium-ion batteries for Honda’s EV-neo electric scooter, which it started leasing to corporate customers this month.

The company is also seeking to sell batteries made by Blue Energy Co., the venture with GS Yuasa, to other carmakers to help lower costs, he said.

Nissan, Japan’s third-largest automaker, starts selling its lithium-ion battery-powered Leaf hatchback this month in Japan and the U.S. and will begin selling it in Europe next year. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn has estimated that electric cars may account for 10 percent of global auto sales by 2020.

Toyota plans to sell a short-distance pure electric car and a plug-in hybrid by 2012.

Honda trials solar-powered EV charging station in Japan

One of the main problems that electric vehicles (EVs) face is that lack of support infrastructure. You wouldn’t want to drive interstate only to find that there isn’t a charging station for your EV in the area. Honda’s vision for a solar-powered home-based hydrogen production station is an effort to ease the transition from fossil to alternative fuels. The company has since revealed plans to trial a solar-powered public EV charging station. The program will be tested over in Japan and the ultimate goal of it is to achieve what Honda calls Total Energy Management, which is a system that supplies households and communities with energy for personal use, while supporting a comfortable low-carbon lifestyle.

Source;
http://ubergizmo.com/2010/12/honda-trials-solar-powered-ev-charging-station-in-japan/

Honda UK: 2011 Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC

Expect Honda’s all-new 2011 Civic 1.8 i-VTEC to have received interior and exterior revisions in order to raise its appeal to the current generation. Honda said that this model, which will be offered in European dealerships next year, will be available in several versions to be powered by 1.8 liter i-VTEC engines. Its interior layout and power output (140 hp) is unchanged but it will now offer more equipment as standard. The engine has a combined fuel consumption of 6.7 liters per 100 km (35.1 mpg) with CO2 emissions of 155 g/km. Buyers will also be given the same options: a 6-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Its sprint time of 8.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) also remains the same. The five-door version of the 1.8 C-segment hatchback primarily features a new design of alloy wheels for the GT versions as well as a honeycomb front grille, which is now extended to the whole range. The interior features added Alcantara and leather on the seats as standard. The front spoiler and side skirts on the three-door Type S have the same color as the body.

In the older versions, these had only been offered as standard on the Absolute versions. Its other features include the following: SB / i-Pod, blue interior lighting floor, rear parking sensors, panoramic glass roof, dual zone climate control, cruise control, fog lights, light sensors and rain, alarm, electrically folding mirrors and xenon headlights with headlight washers. In five-door form (only available in GT spec), the revised Civic 1.8 i-VTEC is priced at €19,990 while a three-door hatch will cost €21,390.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2011-honda-civic-18-i-vtec-official-details-specs-and-price/

Video: 2011 Mazda2 - Good, but not quite (Honda) Fit

You know that the Honda FIT is a good car when it's used as a benchmark when comparing other good cars....

The subcompact Mazda2 isn't a bad car, but "not bad" isn't enough to take the world by storm. In today's competitive car market, there are plenty of really good cars to pick from.

Good fuel mileage is a big reason buyers go for small cars. The Mazda2 returned an average of 30 mpg overall with an automatic transmission and 33 with the manual in our testing. While that's not too shabby, it isn't outstanding these days. The larger and more comfortable Toyota Corolla compact returned 32 mpg overall in our tests with an automatic, and the midsize Hyundai Sonata GLS clocked in at 27 mpg overall.

Both of those cars are newer designs than the wee Mazda, and that's one of the 2's problems: Engine, transmission, and other technologies are advancing so fast that an older design just can't deliver the fuel economy of newer models. And the Mazda2 is an older design, having been on sale in Japan, Europe, and other markets for several years before being introduced to U.S. buyers earlier this year.

That leads to the other problem. There's good reason why carmakers bring certain models to certain markets and don't bring others. Roads, driving habits, and lifestyles vary tremendously around the world. The Mazda2 does not drive like it was designed for U.S. roads. That's because it wasn't.

The 2 is a kick to drive around town, zipping in and out of tight spaces and easy to park. On back roads, it's also entertaining to toss around. But the 2 isn't a fun cruiser. It's noisy on those highways we Americans rely on to get around so much, with a choppy ride, and it can feel a bit darty, requiring a lot of steering correction to stay on course.

Honda brought the subcompact Fit to our shores a few years ago, and it, too, was a design not intended for the U.S market. But with much more interior room and a clever folding rear seat that turns it into a mini cargo truck, the Fit has been a hit with American buyers. It's one of our top-Rated subcompacts.

The Mazda2 entered the increasingly crowded subcompact category as a contender and outscored some others in our testing. But it isn't as Fit as some others.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/12/video-2011-mazda2-good-but-not-quite-fit.html

CarTOONS

2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon details

The 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon arrives in showrooms soon wearing a base price tag of $30,960, not including destination charges.

The Sport Wagon shares most of its basics with the TSX sedan, which showed up to this year's 2010 Los Angeles auto show with some new spiffs of its own. But while the TSX sedan has an entry price of $29,610, the TSX Sport Wagon is $1,350 higher--which roughly accounts for the wagon's standard five-speed automatic transmission and the included shift paddles, which are an option on the four-door.

The four-cylinder-only TSX Sport Wagon tops out at 201 horsepower from its 2.4-liter engine. The powerplant gives it an EPA-rated 22/30 mpg fuel economy rating.

With its new backpack grafted on the rear end, the TSX Sport Wagon offers up enough space for golf clubs, thanks for removable side panels in the cargo area, says Acura. There's also a set of under-floor cargo bins for additional stowage. In all, the wagon has 31 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats.

Standard features on the wagon include a USB port and iPod/iPhone integration; satellite radio; Bluetooth; leather seats, with heating on the front buckets; a sunroof; and roof rails. Opt up to the $34,610 TSX Sport Wagon with the Technology Package, and more features are bundled in, including navigation with voice controls and real-time traffic; a rearview camera; a15GB music hard drive and 415 watts of speaker power; and a power remote-operated tailgate.

Acura says the TSX Sport Wagon is a natural competitor for the likes of the Audi A4 Avant, the BMW 328i Sport Wagon, and the Volvo V50 T5. We'll be back this week to confirm or deny, when we bring you our first drive.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1052240_2011-acura-tsx-sport-wagon-priced-from-30960

The Original, Hand built, Honda Civic Type R Mugen Concept Finds an Owner

The original Honda Civic Type R Mugen Concept car, a hand-built, dream-about performance creation has now found an owner.

The concept, which was created as a test bed for the 20 units built by Honda’s race engine-tuning partner Mugen was given away as a prize for a British nationwide draw that celebrates the automaker’s presence in the British Touring Car Championship. The vehicle comes with a high-reving 2.0 liter naturally aspirated powerplant that delivers 240 hp and is worth over 60,000 pounds.

The out of this world hot hatch was handed over to the Jim Morgan from Manchester at the Silverstone circuit, where the winner met Honda’s BTCC drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden. Subsequently, Morgan was offered a tour of the Mugen workshops in Northampton, also meeting the team of specialist that brought the compact monster to life.

“I still can’t quite believe I’ve won this unbelievable concept car," said Jim. "To meet Matt and Gordon, rocket around Silverstone in a Type R, and talk to the guys who built my car was incredible! Seeing how this the Type R MUGEN was built really gives you a feel for how special it is: the guys at MUGEN have put everything they’ve got into this car,”

"It really is a great car to drive; perfectly well behaved around town but with a fantastic response to a heavy right foot! I feel extremely lucky," the winner added.

Honda offers a limited edition Civic Type R Mugen finished in Championship White paint, which is based on the concept car that now belongs to Morgan.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-civic-type-r-mugen-concept-finds-an-owner-26737.html

2012 Honda Civic Rendered Speculation

Here's a nice photoshop of what to expect in the Next Gen Honda Civic based on spyshots....
Source;
http://autoten.com/2010/11/15/next-generation-honda-civic-2hc-photoshop/

2012 Honda Civic hybrid switching to lithium

But can it really top the Prius in the city?

At one time Honda and hybrid cars fit well into the same sentence. Not these days. Whether its Civic hybrid owners fuming over IMA issues, automotive critics slamming Insight hybrid execution, or the purpose of a two-seat hybrid sports car that barely feels sporty at all, Honda hybrids aren’t really hot.

But Honda hopes to change that with the lithium-powered 2012 Civic hybrid.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to believe that Honda has found a cure to its hybrid woes.

Sure, the new Civic Hybrid upgrades its 1.3 liter engine to 1.5 liters while mating it to a new lithium-ion battery pack that is said to improve EV range from nothing to at least a little. Still, lithium is found in other hybrid powertrains – both full and mild – and simply coupling a lithium-ion battery pack with Honda’s IMA does not seem enough to challenge Prius fuel economy, particularly city fuel economy.

Of course, maybe Honda isn’t just switching to lithium, but also increasing the capacity of its battery pack. More important, maybe Honda has figured out how to somehow morph the IMA powertrain into a full hybrid powertrain.

At this time the details are still sketchy, and hopefully we learn a bit more at tomorrow’s LA Auto Show. Nevertheless, we’ve heard of Honda’s Prius-conquering plans in the past, and they’ve always fallen short. Ultimately, if this is just lithium instead of NiMH, Toyota has little to fear from the new Civic hybrid.

Source;
http://www.favstocks.com/2012-honda-civic-hybrid-switching-to-lithium/1628130/

2010 Acura TSX V6 vs. 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo, 2010 Volkswagen CC 2.0T R-Line - Comparison Tests

This is a really good article, follow the link at the bottom of the page for the full version....

1st place: 2010 VW CC 2.0T R-Line

Highs, Lows, and Verdict
Highs: Precise steering, perfect seats, cosmopolitan styling inside and out.
Lows: Restricted sightlines, only four seats, occasional shivers in the platform.
The Verdict: A “four-door coupe” with the grace and agility of a ballerina.

2nd Place: 2010 Acura TSX V6

Highs, Lows, and Verdict
Highs: Right-now power, aggressive “sport” transmission mode, Honda quality.
Lows: Feels bigger and heavier than it is, happier on interstates than in the hills.
The Verdict: Fast in a straight line but lacking the reflexes we expected.

3rd Place: 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo
Highs, Lows, and Verdict
Highs: Light steering, great styling, blend of interesting cabin surfaces.
Lows: Too heavy, a gritty powertrain, relentlessly reminds that it’s a four-banger.
The Verdict: All the right stuff is there; it just needs some finessing.

Source (full article with tons of pics);
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparisons/10q4/2010_acura_tsx_v6_vs._2011_buick_regal_cxl_turbo_2010_volkswagen_cc_2.0t_r-line-comparison_tests

Honda NSX Gets New Lease on Life

Finally! Some Honda/Acura sportscar news! Now if we can just get Honda to start thinking about a Next Generation Honda Prelude (non hybrid of course) ....
The NSX lives, at least in a different form. According to one source, Honda never gave up its plans for an NSX successor. Even though the V-10-powered post-NSX concept came along at the wrong time -- during the economic meltdown -- and had to be cancelled, Honda engineers didn't completely shelve the project.

They simply applied a more market-friendly (and eco-friendly) sports-car approach to the company's flagship two-door, giving it the latest hybrid gizmology. Completely different than Toyota's THS-II hybrid system, the technology slated to power Honda's new sports coupe "can be driven with either a clutch and an engine only, the engine and motor only, or the motor only," says our source. It will also offer a manual transmission option.

It apparently will employ a modified Accord platform, and power will come from either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V-6, with the latter considered the sure favorite. Why do we think so? Once again our spies in Japan have uncovered a patent application that specifies a "V6 powertrain developing upwards of 400 horsepower." (yes!) That makes sense, especially when you consider what one company staffer told us about Honda's desire to return to making sports cars.

"Honda does not see the CR-Z as a sports car. It's a sporty coupe and a great first try in the hybrid-sports direction. To be called a sports car, a car needs to have the potential of an NSX or an S2000. That's what we need to aim for."

And as expected, the coupe will employ a version of the automaker's proven SH-AWD system, but Honda will apply NSX concept technology by fitting the rear-drive-based SH-AWD setup that enabled the test mule to lap the Nürburgring in 7 minutes, 37 seconds two years ago.

Using the front-wheel-drive Accord platform as a base for this car will cut R&D costs dramatically. Engineers will swap the front and rear around to create a rear midship AWD package. If the coupe gets the green light for production, expect to see it in showrooms as early as 2014. Still unclear is if the car will continue to be badged as an Acura here in the U.S.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2010/1011_honda_nsx_gets_new_lease_on_life/index.html

2012, 2013 Honda Ridgeline and 2012 Honda Civic Update

2012 Honda Ridgeline
-Expect another Minor Model Change for this year but indeed there will be one.

2013 Honda Ridgeline
-This will be the Full Model Change over. I was told via reliable source that this vehicle is not disappearing, most of this depends on what is going on in the US, and that is favourable.

2012 Honda Civic
-The spyshots floating around (http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2010/10/2012-honda-civic-exposed.html) are apparently of the previous Civic that President Ito kiboshed, not the revised one.

Source;
Reliable Honda

Honda Malaysia rolls out Concept M models

PETALING JAYA - Honda Malaysia has launched a series of special edition vehicles collectively known as the Concept M models.

Named after the first letters of Honda's official accessories partners 'M'odulo and 'M'ugen, this special fleet of cars are factory fitted with their respective accessories and are available exclusively in shades of white.

Concept M vehicles feature the Civic 2.0L and Jazz 1.5L with Mugen kits; and the Accord 2.4L with Modulo kit.

The Concept M Civic 2.0L captures the essence of a stylish and sporty sedan with outstanding performance. It is fitted with Mugen front, rear and side spoilers, rear wings and Enkei wheel rims in a special pewter grey colour, to add to its sporty stylishness.

The interior gets enhanced with grey leather stitched seats as well as tinted windows (Ecotint).
This special edition is limited to 210 units nationwide. It retails at RM137,980 (S$57,690).

The limited edition Honda Accord 2.4L features the Modulo front grille, door visor, trunk spoiler and illuminated side steps.

The interior also has grey leather stitched seats and tinted windows (Ecotint). The car is limited to 120 units nationwide, it is priced at RM176, 800. This package is inclusive of a Garmin Nuvi navigation unit.

Both the Concept M Civic 2.0L and the limited edition Accord are available in Tafetta white.

The Jazz 1.5L special edition meanwhile, gets the Mugen treatment coming factory-fitted with Mugen's front aero bumper; side, rear under and wing spoilers; and tinted windows (Ecotint). Limited to only 20 units, the 2nd Generation Jazz comes in Brilliant White Pearl and retails at RM116, 800.

Rohime Shafie, President and Chief Operating Officer of Honda Malaysia, said the Concept M models were created to meet customers' preference and expectations of "new and exciting products."

"Through an internal survey conducted amongst Honda customers, we found a good number of them showed preference for car accessories that add exclusivity and sportiness to their vehicles, especially those manufactured by Mugen and Modulo.

"With this finding, and in view of the increasing trend of preference for white shaded vehicles in Malaysia market, we have created a white-coloured fleet of Concept M special edition models to fulfil customers' demand," he said.

Source;
http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20101125-249206.html

Car and Driver: 2010 Editors Choice Awards

Are you in the market for a new car or truck? Now you can see what we at Car and Driver would choose to drive if we were shopping for new wheels today. We conducted rigorous instrumented testing and editorial evaluation of hundreds of 2010 model-year vehicles, including all the Editors' Choice picks and their competitors.

These alphabetical lists aren’t static. We will adjust our rankings continuously to reflect the merits of new vehicles as they come on the market, providing a real-time look at what we consider to the top entries in any given market segment. To that end, you may notice that we’ve marked several vehicles as Ones to Watch. Those are vehicles we have yet to either fully test or directly compare against the competition, but that we feel show a lot of promise.

Winners are chosen based on three criteria: practicality, value, and driver satisfaction, and they highlight our editors’ favorite rides in 20 vehicle categories, ranging from small cars to family sedans to exotic sports cars—and more. Click on a vehicle name below to go directly to our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide, where you can get full specs, pricing, capsule reviews, and more on every vehicle chosen as a 2010 Car and Driver Editors' Choice.


SMALL CARS
Honda Civic
Honda Fit
Mazda 3
Nissan Versa
Volkswagen Golf

FUEL SIPPERS
Ford Fusion hybrid
Honda Fit
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Jetta TDI

ENTRY LUXURY
Acura TSX
Audi A4
BMW 3-series
Cadillac CTS
Infiniti G37

FAMILY SEDANS
Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Accord
Ford Fusion
Mazda 6
One to Watch: Hyundai Sonata (2011)

SPORTS SEDANS
BMW M3
Cadillac CTS-V
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
Porsche Panamera

SUPERCARS
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Ferrari 458 Italia
Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

LUXURY SEDANS
Audi A6
BMW 5-series
BMW 7-series
Mercedes-Benz S-class
Infiniti M (2011)

PERFORMANCE COMPACTS
BMW 1-series
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Mazdaspeed 3
Subaru Impreza WRX
Volkswagen GTI

CONVERTIBLES
Audi A5/S5
BMW 1-series
BMW 3-series/M3
Ford Mustang
Mercedes-Benz SL-class

AMERICAN MUSCLE
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Camaro
Dodge Challenger SRT8
Ford Mustang GT
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

SPORTS CARS
Audi TTS
Chevrolet Corvette
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Nissan 370Z
Porsche Boxster

PREMIUM COUPES
Audi R8
BMW M3
Maserati GranTurismo
Porsche Cayman
Porsche 911

TRACK STARS
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
Lotus Elise/Exige
Nissan GT-R

SUPERCARS
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano
Ferrari 458 Italia
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

SMALL SUVs
Chevrolet Equinox
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan

MID-SIZE SUVs
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Murano
One to Watch: Jeep Grand Cherokee (2011)

LARGE SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
Ford Expedition/EL
Ford Flex
Nissan Armada
Toyota Sequoia

LUXURY SUVs
Acura MDX
Audi Q5
BMW X5
Land Rover Range Rover
Mercedes-Benz GL-class

PICKUPS
Chevrolet Silverado
Dodge Ram
Ford F-150
Honda Ridgeline
Nissan Titan

VANS
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Odyssey
Mazda 5
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Toyota Sienna

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q4/2010_editors_choice-awards

Worst Parking Job....Ever....

Barn-find Bugatti Type 38 makes seven times its estimate at auction

Huh?!?
A 'barn-find' Bugatti amounting to little more than a loose collection of bits has sold at auction for more than seven times its estimate.

Completely dismantled, incomplete and lacking its engine and body, the 1926 Bugatti Type 38 was expected to fetch only around £9,000 when it went under the hammer at a Bonhams sale in Australia.

But seven telephone bidders fought against six absentee bids and five people in the Sydney auction rooms for what was described as a 'restoration project'.

After a tense showdown, a mystery bidder - identified only as 'living in the northern hemisphere' - triumphed, with a bid of £68,000.

When Robert Glover, Bonhams' Head of Motor Cars Australia, informed the lady owner of the winning bid, said an auction house spokesman, there was a 'stunned silence followed by a tearful thanks'.

As the picture reveals, the new owner has quite a job on his or her hands. All that remains are four sorry-looking wheels, battered fenders bearing traces of red paint, the radiator, a headlamp, steering wheel, rear bumper, axles, other assorted components, seat shells and what is left of the doors.

A Type 38 in concours condition, however, would be worth around £200,000.
Bonhams says that a 'handful' of Type 38s found their way to Australia via the London Bugatti agent. The car in question was first owned by a Dr Feather of Roma, Queensland but passed through various hands until it was sold to the vendor in the 1960s, by which time it had already fallen into disrepair.

At the same auction, a 1925 Bentley 3- litre sold for £203,000, while a right -hand-drive 1949 Jaguar XK120 Alloy roadster changed hands for £154,000.

Source (via Jalopnik);
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/8140984/Barn-find-Bugatti-Type-38-makes-seven-times-its-estimate-at-auction.html

Honda Accord and Fit Receive Car and Driver Magazine's "10Best Cars" Awards

Car and Driver magazine has named the 2011 Honda Accord and the 2011 Honda Fit as two winners of its prestigious and highly competitive, annual "10Best Cars" award. Now in its eighth generation, the Accord has achieved "10Best" status 25 times in the 29 years that Car and Driver editors have been conducting the competition, more than any other vehicle in the award's history. The Honda Fit has been honored with 10Best status in each of the five years that it has been on sale in the United States.

"The Car and Driver '10Best' awards are among the most coveted awards in the industry," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "These awards recognize the company's ongoing emphasis on performance, quality and safety, and Honda is honored to have its vehicles regarded so highly over the years."

Honda Car and Driver "10Best" Award History

Accord
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994,1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983

Civic
1996, 1991,1990, 1989, 1988

CRX
1988, 1985

Fit
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

Prelude
1998, 1997, 1996, 1995,1994,1993, 1992, 1986, 1985, 1984

S2000
2004, 2002, 2001, 2000

Source;

http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-accord-and-fit-receive-car-and-driver-magazine-s-10best-cars-awards

TOV: 2012 Honda Civic Side Profile and a Speculative Shop

Source;
http://www.blogauto.com.br/tag/civic/

2012 Honda CRV Sketches

It seems that with all of the attention going to what Honda is doing with the next generation Civic, that the 2012 CRV full redesign is quietly flying under the radar, not much out there for info....but there are a couple of speculative sketches....

Source;
http://www.coroflot.com/public/image_file.asp?individual_id=164545&portfolio_id=4383669

Here's the older sketch that's been floating around for awhile....

Rest in Peace Leslie Nelson

Ah, Mr. Nelson. The world is going to miss you. Fellow Canadian and one of my favourite actors, you'll never know how many times you've made me uncontrollably laugh! I never met Leslie but all indications were that he was a quality person, rest in peace.
Leslie Nielsen, who dazzled with deadpan in The Naked Gun and Airplane!, passed away on Sunday at a hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he was being treated for pneumonia, according to the New York Times. He was 84.

The master of parody boasted a talent for delivering the most ridiculous lines in the straightest way possible, cloaking outright absurdity in obliviousness. Ironically enough, the foundation of that gravitas was built early in his career as a dramatic actor: After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force and studying at New York City’s famed Actors Studio, the Saskatchewan-born Nielsen popped up on early ’50s TV. He received his first big film break playing sturdy Commander J.J. Adams in the 1956 sci-fi flick Forbidden Planet. Over the next few decades, he established himself as a reliable, handsome, rich-voiced character actor who graced myriad TV dramas (Peyton Place, Dr. Kildare) and movies (The Poseidon Adventure).

His career took a comical hard left turn when he was cast as Dr. Rumack in the 1980 big-screen parody film Airplane! (Let us honor his famous line, which stands as one of the best retorts in comedic cinema history: “Surely you can’t be serious!” “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”) Two years later he was tapped by the Airplane! brain trust to play Lt. Frank Drebin in the cop-show spoof sitcom Police Squad! Although the series lasted only six episodes, Nielsen earned an Emmy nomination for his work, and in 1988, re-inhabited the bumbling Drebin again for the big-screen adaptation The Naked Gun. (It may be hard to find more laughs-per-minute in a comedy film than in the film’s baseball-game scene, which culminates with Drebin foiling an assassination attempt on the Queen of England). The success of The Naked Gun paved the way for two sequels in 1991 and 1994, and Nielsen continued down the parody path in not-as-memorable films like Spy Hard, Wrongfully Accused, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. (He did earn notice in Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4.)

Nielsen worked into his 80s, appearing in even more spoof flicks like Superhero Movie and 2009′s Stan Helsing. Surely, we can’t be more serious when we say: Leslie Nielsen, you will be missed.

Source;
http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/11/28/leslie-nielsen-dies/

Honda CR-Z Roadster Die-cast Begs the Question; Should it Become a Reality?

Interesting....

From what we know, Honda has no official plans to build a roadster version of its CR-Z hybrid coupe. But that hasn't stopped others from trying - even if in this case, we're talking about a scaled down die-cast model. Too bad we couldn't find any additional pictures of the toy-sized model, and especially of the rear end. If you happen to have any information and/or pictures, you know the drill... Follow the break and share your thoughts on whether or not Honda should create a two-seater drop top version of its CR-Z.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/11/honda-cr-z-roadster-die-cast-begs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Carscoop+%28CARSCOOP%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Below is an older photoshop of what someone was thinking that the car might look like....