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Honda

Back in March of this year, Honda Malaysia announced that it was pulling the plug from its popular BRV model, to the dismay of some. But at the same time, it also announced that it was going to be introducing an array of new models in 2023, including a small SUV.

The company did not mention which model, but it was obvious that it was going to be the WRV, since it was already introduced for the Indonesian as well as the Thai markets. It was only a matter of time before it was introduced in Malaysia.

Besides, to date, Perodua’s Ativa is the sole contender in the small SUV segment. No other car maker, national or non, has a model for that segment. So why let Perodua have all the fun?

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Being able to develop electric vehicles (EVs) is a vital expertise for carmakers as the industry speeds towards electrification of its products. However, just as vehicles with internal combustion engines are useless without liquid fuel, EVs will not run without electricity. The electricity can come from various sources – even the sun – but what’s more important is being able to store the energy.

That’s where batteries come in and currently, there is much focus on the development of batteries for EVs, with the technology advancing very quickly. As we have seen with the shortage of microprocessors disrupting vehicle production globally, a shortage of batteries would also mean EVs cannot leave the factory, even if the vehicle is completed.

For this reason, the major carmakers have looked for ways to secure supply of batteries for coming years as demand for EVs increases rapidly. The biggest companies have established their own subsidiaries to develop and manufacture batteries, setting up factories around the world to ensure that different regions are covered.

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Honda’s Type R series of gained legendary status almost immediately each model was introduced. Today, Type R variants of the Integra, Civic, NSX, and even Accord – are much sought-after by enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.

Unusually though, the S2000 was never given a Type R variant in all the 10 years that it was produced. Why Honda never developed a Type R (there were Type V and Type S variants in Japan) has never been clearly explained and some think it may simply have been a case of not having enough potential sales numbers.

Anyway, thanks to Evasive Motorsports, a 21-year old performance tuner in California, there is finally a S2000 Type R. 20 years after the last S2000 was produced, Evasive Motorsports has created its own interpretation of what the S2000 Type R ‘should have been’ with its S2000R resto-mod.

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South Korea’s POSCO, the sixth-largest steelmaking company in the world and Japan’s Honda Motor signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday. This partnership is to expand cooperation in the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Prior to this, Posco was understood to have agreed in principle to a contract last year with a duration of at least five years with Ford. This contract is only for the supply of cathode materials and other key EV battery minerals, including lithium and nickel.

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Along with seatbelts, the airbag has also saved countless lives around the world. The Supplementary Restraint Systems (SRS) – so-called because they should be used with seatbelts – have been around since the 1970s and are installed in virtually all modern cars.

Airbag systems initially began as just a bag inflating to provide a cushioning effect and prevent the head of the driver or front passenger from hitting the steering wheel or windscreen, reducing the risk of serious head injuries. But researchers have constantly tried to make airbags more effective in various ways and to provide cushioning and protection in a greater number of conditions.

Honda R&D has been hard at work for decades to make airbags better and developed a ground-breaking front passenger airbag design some years back. The airbag technology is designed to better manage lateral collision forces that can cause an occupant’s head to rotate severely at high velocity and slide off a conventional airbag, increasing the chance of serious injury.

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Honda Malaysia will launch 3 all-new models as well as one updated model during 2023 with the aim of achieving a total sales volume of 80,000 units. With the Malaysian Automotive Association forecasting a Total Industry Volume of 650,000 units for this year, this would give Honda a 12.3% market share.

The target is similar to that of 2022 but last year, it exceeded the number by 290 units to take a share of 11.1%. The achievement kept Honda in the No.1 position in the non-national passenger car segment (which excludes pick-up trucks and commercial vehicles) for the ninth consecutive year since 2014. During the year, the brand also recorded its highest ever sales in Malaysia with more than 10,500 units delivered nationwide.

Speaking to the media at an event recently, Honda Malaysia President & Chief Operating Officer Sarly Adle Sarkum said that as part of the company’s strategic business direction, it will launch a new model in an entirely new segment during the third quarter of 2023.

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SUVs can be seen in every segment of the car market nowadays and now, Honda has even developed a SUV racing car with a hybrid powertrain. While SUVs have been used in competition before, this particular one is a special one-off project vehicle which is a sneak preview of the Honda’s technology to come.

Developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), the racing arm of Honda’s North American subsidiary, the CR-V Hybrid Racer will make its debut at the 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. In 2024, hybrid power units will officially debut in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, bringing electrification to the event.

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As the teams begin their phased unveiling of the new cars for the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship, the FIA has also confirmed that 6 manufacturers have registered as Power Unit Suppliers for the 2026 – 2030 seasons of the championship.

The manufacturers that will supply the F1 power units are Alpine Racing, Audi, Ferrari, Honda Racing Corporation, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and Red Bull Ford. It’s interesting that Honda has signed up to be an engine manufacturer after 2025 when Red Bull Racing, which will use its engines until then, will switch to a new power unit jointly developed with Ford (and so will Scuderia AlphaTauri).

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While we await the official data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) for the sales and production of new motor vehicles in 2022, some of the companies are already announcing their numbers. Among them is Honda Malaysia which reports that it delivered more than 80,200 units during the year, more than the target of 80,000 units that it had set. This was a 51% increase over the previous year’s sales volume.

The achievement keeps Honda in the No.1 position in the non-national passenger car segment (which excludes pick-up trucks and commercial vehicles) for the ninth consecutive year since 2014. During the year, the brand also recorded its highest ever sales in Malaysia with more than 10,500 units delivered nationwide.

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When Chin Kok Fung placed his order for a new Honda Civic e:HEV RS with authorized Honda dealer MH Prestige Auto Sdn. Bhd. In Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, he probably did not think he would have the honour of a very special hand-over. However, being the first person in Malaysia to receive the new model, Mr. Chin was given a token of appreciation from Honda Malaysia when he collected his car.

He received received Honda Accessories and Official Honda Merchandise worth RM4,000 from Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Hironobu Yoshimura, at a simple ceremony held at the dealership’s premises.

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