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Honda Malaysia adds City Hatchback variant with Honda SENSING

As with the City Sedan, Honda Malaysia has now added another variant of the City Hatchback with the Honda SENSING driver-assistance package for those who want more advanced safety systems. The new City Hatchback V-SENSING variant is similar to the City Hatchback 1.5V and is priced from RM91,708.51 (excluding insurance and sales tax), which is around RM3,852 more than the 1.5V without Honda SENSING.

While Honda has provided various types of active safety systems over the years such as ABS, Vehicle Stability Assist and Traction Control, these have been independent in their functions. With Honda SENSING, which was first introduced in 2015 in Japan and 2017 in Malaysia (with the 5^th generation CR-V), the active systems function in a collaborative manner and expand the capabilities of recognizing as well as reacting to potential accident situations.

Such unified systems use either a radar or a camera, or both, to scan the road ahead for other vehicles and road-users as well as road markings. More expensive models usually have the radar as well but for the City Hatchback (and Sedan), Honda uses only a camera, probably to reduce the cost. However, compared to the earlier Honda SENSING system, the camera (mounted in the space above the rearview mirror) in the latest one has a wider view and improved imaging capabilities in all lighting conditions. The imagery captured by the camera is constantly analysed and also picks up lane markings on the road as well as the edge of the road.

Compared to the original Honda SENSING system first introduced in Malaysia, today’s system has increased features and consists of:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Auto High Beam (AHB)

*With ACC, the desired cruising speed can be set as well as the length of the gap with the vehicle ahead. The system will adjust the speed to maintain the gap.*

ACC is a more advanced type of cruise control where the car can run in semi-autonomous mode. The driver still needs to pay attention and steer but once the cruising speed is set, there is no need for the driver to use the brakes to slow down if there is a vehicle ahead. The system will do it automatically to maintain a safe distance, returning to the set speed when there is no vehicle ahead. This will not only make driving easier in heavy traffic but also help to reduce fatigue on long journeys, improving safety.

CMBS and FCW are related systems, both functioning to prevent a collision with a vehicle ahead or hitting other road-users. FCW will warn the driver by sound and by warning lights if there is a risk of a collision. If the driver does not act to prevent this from happening – ie slowing down or braking – CMBS then activates and the brakes will be applied automatically. While the automatic emergency braking may or may not prevent a collision (depending on road conditions and speed), the earlier deceleration could reduce the damage of the impact if it occurs.

*With CMBS, the brakes will automatically be applied if the Honda SENSING system determines that a collision will occur and the driver has not taken action to prevent it.*

Incidentally, when CMBS occurs, the rear brake lights automatically flash and the hazard warning lights will also come on. This is to alert drivers in vehicles behind of the sudden braking so they won’t also collide… not all cars may have systems like Honda SENSING.

LDW, LKAS and RDM also related and their main function is to keep the car within its lane. These systems were developed as studies have found that many accidents have occurred due to the car wandering out of its lane without the driver being aware (usually due to lack of attention or drowsiness). The systems will not activate if a turn signal is in use, signifying that the car’s movement out of its lane is deliberately done.

The process starts with LDW which relies on the camera imagery to recognise lane markings. This may not be 100% perfect since the markings may not be present or worn out, or the road may be wet with rain. If the car is not positioned within its lane, there will be alerts to make the driver aware. Should the car keep drifting out of the lane, LKAS will start and the steering wheel will receive a slight turning action to guide the car back into the lane. Like ACC, this feature can also reduce driving fatigue on long journeys.

RDM operates like LKAS except it is for a more extreme situation such as when the car is about to leave the road unintended. The system will apply steering torque to bring the car back into the lane but if that is not likely to work, braking action may also occur to prevent further departure from the road.

AHB is a straightforward system which just switches the headlights between high and low beams automatically. When driving at night, the illumination should be maximised as much as possible and this is usually with high beams. However, they can dazzle oncoming drivers so they need to be switched low beams. AHB takes away the need for the driver to do this and the lighting will be kept at maximum as much as possible. Having high beam in use also enhances the effectiveness of the camera at night.

Also of note in the safety department is Honda Lanewatch, an innovative feature which provides the driver with a view of the blind spot on the left side of the car by using a small camera mounted on the door mirror. The real-time image is displayed on the 8-inch panel in the middle of the dashboard so the driver doesn’t have to turn the head all the way to the left to see the mirror. The camera is only on when the left signal is activated.

Besides having the same standard equipment as the Sedan, the City Hatchback also comes with the ULTRA seats at the rear. This is a simple but clever idea which originated in the first generation of the Jazz some 20 years ago. Where hatchbacks usually have rear backrests that fold flat to expand the cargo volume and floor length of the boot, the ULTRA seat folds up to also create extra cabin height for carrying tall items like plants.

Besides this TALL mode, there are three other modes – UTILITY, LONG or REFRESH. For the LONG and REFRESH modes, the front passenger’s seat can also be folded flat so there is an open space from the back door all the way to the dashboard to carry a really long item or just to stretch out. The UTILITY mode is essentially like what you get in other hatchbacks with the rear backrests folded down to enlarge the boot space which can accommodate bicycles.

Performance-wise, there is the same well proven 1.5-litre DOHC i–VTEC engine. This produces 121 ps/145 Nm which is the highest in its class and the power gets to the front wheels through a CVT.

For more information on the City Hatchback V-SENSING and other Honda models, visit www.honda.com.my or any authorised Honda showroom.

Honda Malaysia’s local vehicle assembly crosses 1 million mark

All-new Honda Civic Type R sets new lap record at Suzuka before launch (w/VIDEOS)

Even before its official launch (around the middle of this year), the next generation of Honda’s Civic Type R has started to collect records. As it goes through final development evaluation, test-drivers have been pushing it to the limits and in the course of one run recently, a new lap record for a front-wheel drive car was set at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.

It lapped the 5.8-km track in 2 minutes 23.120 seconds, which was 0.873 of a second faster than the time achieved by its predecessor, a 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition which was a development car.

The Suzuka Circuit, opened in 1962, is famous for its high-speed chicanes and challenging corners. It has hosted the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix for all but two years since 1987. Racing drivers regard it as one of the world’s greatest circuits and it has been a popular course for testing high performance Honda models.

Before the previous front-wheel drive lap record at Suzuka, Honda’s tenth generation Civic Type R GT broke the front-wheel drive lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 2017 with a lap time of 7 minutes 43.8 seconds. A production specification Civic Type R GT went on to break front-wheel drive production car records at 5 legendary European racetracks.

Honda Malaysia gifts a Civic Type R to King for use as escort car

Honda and GM to co-develop affordable electric vehicles for sale from 2027

While most carmakers have formed alliances and even merged to face the new challenges of the 21^st century, Honda has often chosen to proceed alone with its own resources. It has collaborated with other carmakers from time to time in specific areas, and often, it has been other manufacturers wanting to have access to Honda’s technology or products.

However, with the electrification of the industry which has a degree of urgency (with targets set for the end of this decade), even independent-minded Honda has seen it more practical to have closer working relationships with other carmakers. Other Japanese companies have already formed their own collaborative groups – Nissan and Mitsubishi in the alliance with Renault, and Toyota having joint programs with Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and of course, Daihatsu and Hino which are within its own group.

With an eye on the US market, Honda has chosen to expand its relationship with General Motors to co-develop a series of affordable electric vehicles. This follows on from the 2020 announcement to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles for Honda, based on GM’s flexible global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries. The EVs will be manufactured at GM plants in North America with sales expected to begin in the 2024 model year in North America.

For this new joint venture, the EVs will be based on a new global architecture using GM’s next-generation Ultium battery technology. GM’s Ultium batteries are unique in the industry because the large-format, pouch-style cells can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack. This allows engineers to optimize battery energy storage and layout for each vehicle design. The cells use a proprietary low cobalt chemistry and ongoing technological and manufacturing breakthroughs will drive costs even lower.

Ultium energy options range from 50 to 200 kWh, which could enable a GM-estimated range up to 640 kms or more on a full. Motors designed in-house will support front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and even performance all-wheel drive applications.

A joint statement says that there will be ‘global production of millions of EVs starting in 2027’ and these will include compact crossover vehicles which today account for the largest segment in the world, with annual volumes of more than 13 million vehicles.

*Honda will use GM’s factories in America to build the new EVs, which will also be built in other markets as well.*

Both companies will contribute their technology and design expertise as well as sourcing strategies. By standardizing equipment, it is expected that world-class quality, higher throughput and greater affordability can be achieved. A flexible, modular approach to EV development is expected to enable significant economies of scale for lower production costs.

“Honda is committed to reaching our goal of carbon neutrality on a global basis by 2050, which requires driving down the cost of electric vehicles to make EV ownership possible for the greatest number of customers,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s President & CEO. “Honda and GM will build on our successful technology collaboration to help achieve a dramatic expansion in the sales of electric vehicles.”

“The progress we have made with GM since we announced the EV battery development collaboration in 2018, followed by co-development of electric vehicles including the Honda Prologue, has demonstrated the win-win relationship that can create new value for our customers,” added Shinji Aoyama, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Honda. “This new series of affordable EVs will build on this relationship by leveraging our strength in the development and production of high quality, compact class vehicles.”

Earlier projects involving the two carmakers have focused on electric and autonomous vehicle technologies. In 2013, the two companies began working together on the co-development of a next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies. In 2018, Honda joined GM’s EV battery module development efforts.

They also have an ongoing relationship with Cruise and are working together on the development of the Cruise Origin, one of the first purpose-built fully autonomous vehicles designed for driverless ride-hail and delivery. The Cruise project, which involves Microsoft, is part of Honda’s new mobility business in Japan.

GM and Honda will also discuss future EV battery technology collaboration opportunities, to further drive down the cost of electrification, improve performance and drive sustainability for future vehicles. GM is already working to accelerate new technologies like lithium-metal, silicon and solid-state batteries, along with production methods that can quickly be used to improve and update battery cell manufacturing processes. Honda is making progress on its all-solid-state battery technology which the company sees as the core element of future EVs.

“GM and Honda will share our best technology, design and manufacturing strategies to deliver affordable and desirable EVs on a global scale, including our key markets in North America, South America and China,” said Mary Barra, GM Chair & CEO. “This is a key step to deliver on our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in our global products and operations by 2040 and eliminate tailpipe emissions from light duty vehicles in the USA by 2035. By working together, we’ll put people all over the world into EVs faster than either company could achieve on its own.”

Honda will stop selling models with combustion engines from 2040, range to be fully electric

Honda Malaysia’s local vehicle assembly crosses 1 million mark

The Honda Malaysia assembly plant today crossed a significant milestone in its history – the production of its 1 millionth unit since commencing local assembly in 2003. The 1 millionth unit was the latest 11^thegeneration of the Honda Civic Sedan.

Speaking at a special ceremony held at the plant, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo, said: “It has been 20 years since Honda Malaysia’s establishment in the country. We have evolved and recorded significant achievements since then. In March 2021, we achieved the 1 millionth sale unit milestone with all Malaysians. Just one year later, I am now celebrating another significant milestone with all of you the 1 millionth production unit. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all Honda associates and suppliers for their effort and hard work to ensure smooth production process and supply chain operations, even with many challenges faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global chip shortage and recent flood incidents. With their dedication, Challenging Spirit and working ‘Together As One’, we are able to achieve this remarkable 1 million production unit milestone.”

”Additionally, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dealers, members of the media and Honda customers for your unwavering support towards Honda Malaysia. We would also like to thank the Malaysian government for the strong support since the establishment of Honda Malaysia. On top of that, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Melaka State Government for their continued support for our plans for this Pegoh Plant. The tremendous support from all stakeholders has helped Honda Malaysia progress and enabled us to achieve the No.1 position in Non-National Passenger Vehicle segment for 8 consecutive years since 2014,” she said.

Although Honda vehicles have been assembled in Malaysia since the early 1970s, they were done so under contract assembly with Oriental Assemblers in Johor. With the establishment of Honda Malaysia (initially known as DRB-Oriental-Honda), the Japanese carmaker also made the decision to invest in having its own assembly plant as well. It chose a greenfield site in Pegoh, Melaka, adjacent to the North-South Expressway.

*The first model assembled when the plant began operations in 2003 was the second generation Honda CR-V.*

Investment in the plant, which took a brisk 13 months to go from construction to pilot production in 2003, started with RM180 million, with RM194 million earmarked for expansion over the following 5 years. The investment included RM20 million for a facility on the 80-acre site to assemble Constant Velocity (CV) joints for export to Honda plants in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand under the ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Scheme (AICO). Later, the volumes made it the largest exporter of CV joints in the region and its products would go as far as the UK and Turkey.

Started with CR-V
The plant was initially built with a single line for an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles. The first model to roll out was the second generation of the CR-V. All output from the plant was only for the Malaysian market and as the popularity of Hondas grew, demand rose so the production capacity was increased to 100,000 units a year with a second line being set up. By then, the number of models assembled locally totalled seven. In October 2013, local assembly of the Jazz Hybrid began, making Honda Malaysia the first company to assemble vehicles with hybrid electric technology locally.

The Honda Jazz Hybrid was the first locally assembled model with hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology. Today, Honda Malaysia offers HEV technology with the City Sedan, City Hatchback and HR-V models, all assembled locally as well.

The flexible production capability allows different models to be assembled at the same time. There is also a range of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies that are on par with the Honda plants in Japan. One of them is Laser Brazing technology which creates a smooth and clean roofline for a sleeker exterior appearance. Inner Frame Welding technology is also used to enhance the body rigidity, while the use of Spray Polyurethane Foam reduces noise and vibrations.

Malaysia considered ‘first country’ market
The steady progress made by the plant as well as growing sales volumes have raised the status of the Malaysian market where product planning is concerned. Since the fourth generation of the City, Malaysia has been considered a ‘first country’ instead of ‘second country’. The ‘second country’ status meant that whatever features were available were already decided earlier by ‘first countries’ such as India, Thailand and Indonesia. As such, Honda Malaysia had to adapt from what was already decided for other markets and that affected the cost of the parts made locally.

Being upgraded to ‘first country’ meant that Honda Malaysia could participate in the product planning for the new model and submit specific requests for features or equipment which were required for the Malaysian version. This enabled a greater degree of localization of parts which also led to lowering of production costs.

*Manufacturing technologies at the assembly plant in Melaka have been constantly upgraded to enable the vehicles produced to be of the highest quality.*

Besides its own factory, Honda Malaysia also encouraged some of its suppliers to set up facilities nearby so that delivery of parts would be faster and more efficient. This would support the Japanese approach of ‘Just-in-Time’ where storage of parts would be kept low, reducing the need for warehousing space.

Honda Malaysia aims to sell 80,000 units in 2022 and introduce Certified Used Car business

Honda Civic Hatchback e:HEV Hybrid for Europe – will it come to Malaysia too?

When the latest 11^th generation Civic Hatchback made its global debut from North America last year, it was mentioned that there would be hybrid (which Honda calls e:HEV) as well as combustion engine powertrains. However, the e:HEV powertrain was primarily intended for the European market to meet Honda’s objective for all European mainstream models to have electrified powertrains by 2022.

The Civic Hatchback e:HEV will be available in Europe from the fourth quarter of this year. It will join the Jazz, CR-V and HR-V in the electrified line-up, while the Honda e is a battery electric model (BEV).

While the Jazz, CR-V and HR-V use 1.5-litre petrol engines with their hybrid powertrains, the new Civic Hatchback has a larger 2-litre direct-injection, Atkinson-cycle engine. The total system output is 135 kW (170 ps) and 315 Nm of torque. Honda engineers have introduced several new elements within its architecture to help achieve a thermal efficiency of 41%, one of the highest figures within the automotive industry for a production roadcar engine. This allows the engine to provide better performance as losses through friction are less.

The two compact electric motors, powered by a 72-cell lithium-ion battery, work together to provide the primary propulsion for the car. The engine is controlled by a new, compact Power Control unit which now sits under the bonnet with the rest of the powertrain. Located under the rear seats is the latest version of Honda’s Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) and whilst smaller and lighter, it benefits from an increased energy density. This system delivers a feeling of instant torque and powerful acceleration whilst still offering outstanding efficiency.

While on the move, the advanced powertrain shifts seamlessly between electric, hybrid and engine-only modes. When each mode is used depends on various factors, but the driver does not make the determination. The computer will consider the battery level, load conditions and speed, and choose the optimum mode to run in. It is possible to run a few kilometres on just electric mode, usually when starting a journey.

And while on the move, the battery is constantly recharged (even during braking or coasting) so there should be no ‘range anxiety’ or the need to search for a charging station. In fact, with the presence of the petrol engine, the operation is just like a normal car with a combustion engine and fuel can be added when necessary. However, with the electric motor doing part of the work, the consumption will be quite low (20 kms/litre claimed).

While the driver cannot control the powertrain modes, he or she can select specific programming for economical, sporty, or normal driving characteristics. The Civic Hatchback also has one more mode not seen in all e:HEV models and that is an Individual mode. This allows separate control of the engine, transmission and meter display and will be appreciated by drivers who want to fine-tune their car’s performance. Central to the e:HEV system is the fixed gear transmission which has been designed to minimize mechanical friction and is controlled by the IPU.

As for styling, the overall appearance follows that of the latest Civic generation with a more dramatic roofline that gives a sleek coupe-like profile. Depending on the variant, the front end may have a different grille (like the RS versions in Malaysia). At the rear where the big differences are, with larger side windows and a new small corner window in the C-pillar to enhance rearward visibility,

The roofline flows downwards to a lightweight composite tailgate (a first for the Civic). Developed using new manufacturing technology, the weight has been reduced by 20% compared with the previous Civic, making it easier to open and close.

The overall height of the car has been reduced by 50 mm by moving the hinge mechanism outwards. The design of the rear lights is different from the sedan’s and the third brake light lens spans nearly the entire width of its hatch, visually emphasizing the Hatchback’s wider rear track.

Compared to the 10th-generation Civic Hatchback, the windscreen pillars have been moved back by around 50 mm while the wheelbase is 35 mm longer and the rear track is 13 mm wider. However, the rear overhang is less which reduces the overall length by 124 mm but Honda says rear legroom is better in this new variant.

With the large opening at the back, additional attention was given to body rigidity. The Civic Hatchback’s structure has 19% better torsional rigidity versus the previous generation. The stiffer structure, with an aluminium front subframe, benefits ride, handling and refinement, with reductions in noise, vibration and harshness augmented with the extensive use of structural adhesives, spray-in foam in the pillars, and additional sound deadening in the firewall and under the floor.

The suspension is shared with the Sedan but Honda mentions chassis updates such as new low-drag front brake calipers, and low-friction front and rear wheel bearings to reduce rolling resistance.

While the latest City Sedan and Hatchback RS have e:HEV powertrains, the new Civic Sedan does not. Whether we get the new Civic Hatchback e:HEV depends very much on whether it is offered in Thailand. Sales of the Civic Hatchback have not been good so there may not be interest offer the new generation.

However, since it uses the same platform as the sedan, Honda might be willing to develop a sedan with e:HEV technology for ASEAN where there should be sufficient volume to justify it. According to Maduko Chujo, Managing Director & CEO of Honda Malaysia, the company is looking at the possibility of offering a hybrid powertrain with the Civic later on. One of the challenges for the company is to get the cost down so the pricing can be more attractive to a larger segment of buyers.

11th generation Honda Civic Sedan arrives in Malaysia, with 1.5-litre turbo engine for entire range

A new Acura Integra returns after 21 years

The Integra was the model that helped launch the Acura brand in America in 1986 and became a much respected model among enthusiasts. It was retired in 2001 (in America) and was thought to be destined to stay in history books and memories. But last year, Acura showed off an Integra Prototype and said that the model would be back, and it would be built in America for the first time.

And here it is, looking very much like the prototype but without the bright yellow colour and graphics. It returns with a fresh new sporty design, coupe-like and having 4 doors plus a tailgate. The Integra uses Acura’s contrast design language, first seen on the latest RDX and features a frameless version of Acura’s Diamond Pentagon grille, framed by four JewelEye LED headlight elements and ‘Chicane’ LED daytime running lights.

2022 Acura Integra Prototype — *Integra Prototype shown last year.*

The rear end has dual exhaust finishers below and wide, single piece LED taillights above which are reminiscent of previous models. Embossed Integra logos in the front and rear fascia recall the 3rd generation car.

Customers can also select appearance packages and with the A-Spec sport-appearance package, there are gloss-black window surrounds and front and rear fascia trim, as well as a sporty lip spoiler. The package includes 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with larger 235/40R18 performance tyres.

Familiar 1.5-litre turbo engine
Under the aluminium bonnet is a VTEC-enhanced DOHC 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 200 bhp/260 Nm. A new coil type exhaust system adds an emotional exhaust sound. The engine comes with a CVT but customers can also opt for a 6-speed manual transmission (with LSD included), which should please enthusiasts.

A standard Integrated Dynamics System provides3 driving modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) that the driver can choose. Each mode has its own throttle response, automatic transmission mapping, steering feel and even gauge colouration.

Adaptive Damper System
Much is shared with the latest Civic but the engineers have also tuned the chassis of the new Integra to provide class-leading driving dynamics and engaging performance. The fully independent suspension can be upgraded with an optional Adaptive Damper System for drivers to have more precise control of the ride and handling. An Individual mode allows independent selection of steering, engine response, and suspension firmness for a more personalise driving experience at the touch of a button.

Inside, the Integra’s cabin has a low dashboard cowl, thin pillars and door-mounted mirrors which give a better field of view. Sporty cars don’t always have good rear legroom but the Integra is said to give rear passengers generous legroom and plenty of space for recreational gear.

Standard are new body-stabilizing front seats wrapped in synthetic leather. They come with 8-way power adjustment for the driver which can be upgraded to 12 ways at extra cost. When equipped with the A-Spec package, the standard items are replaced by stainless steel pedals, red gauge needles, and contrast stitching on the steering wheel, seats, shifter and shift boot.

Acura Precision Cockpit
The 10.2-inch Acura Precision Cockpit digital gauge cluster with multiple display modes is complemented by a 7-inch or 9-inch digital touchscreen. Those who add the Technology Package can also get Qi-compatible wireless charging and a 5.3-inch Head-Up Display. All USB charging ports are the newer Type C ones. For music on the move, there’s an 8-speaker system with the option of a 16-speaker ELS STUDIO 3D premium audio system.

Being a sportscar with high performance, safety is naturally even more important. The Integra has many active safety systems including the integrated AcuraWatch suite of driver assistive and safety technologies that use a single camera system. It also has a segment-first new generation of driver and passenger front airbags, specifically designed to cradle the head and reduce the risk of brain injuries, especially in offset collisions. The aluminium bonnet is made with an embossed inner structure that will distribute the force of an impact with a pedestrian’s head in the event of a collision to reduce the likelihood of injury.

Acura brings back a new generation of the car that launched the brand in 1986

New colour choices for 2022 Honda City and Accord

Changing colour choices for new cars may seem like a simple thing for the marketing company – just tell the plant what new colour to paint and it will be done. However, the process of adding or changing to a new colour is actually not as easy, from what we understand from people in the industry. There must be evidence that the new colour is going to be popular and justify the plant or manufacturer doing durability tests, and in some cases, marketing people have told us that when they do try to ask for a colour change, the manufacturer will ask if it will result in more sales than with the current colour. If not, why waste time and money to develop and test a new colour?

But inevitably, colours have to be changed to refresh the range and Honda Malaysia does that periodically. Their latest new colour options are for the best-selling City and flagship Accord models. Both models can now be ordered with a new Meteoroid Gray Metallic finish that replaces the Modern Steel Metallic colour. The City also gets a fresh and vibrant Ignite Red Metallic colour option, replacing the Passion Red Pearl colour.

“The Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic colours are introduced in the All-New City Hatchback for the first time. Both colours have been well accepted by the market and we expanded the new colour options to the All-New Civic. To further excite the market, we are now offering these new colour options in the City and Accord as well. The new colours further emphasise the styling of the City and elevate the sleek profile of the Accord. We will continue to enhance our products to deliver the Joy of Buying to the customers,” said Madoka Chujo, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO.

She said that sales of the latest 5th Generation City have exceeded 32,500 units since its launch. “It was Honda Malaysia’s best-selling model in January and February this year, with 38% contribution to the company’s overall sales during that period,” she added.

The current Accord is the 10^th generation of the executive model and was introduced to the Malaysian market in 2020. It was the first time a Japanese mass market manufacturer introduced a turbocharged engine in a D-segment car. The model received favourable response from Malaysians with more than 2,200 units sold to date.

For more information on the City, Accord or other Honda models in Malaysia, visit any authorised Honda dealership. The locations of dealerships can be found at www.honda.com.my.

Honda Malaysia aims to sell 80,000 units in 2022 and introduce Certified Used Car business

Honda and Sony to form new company to develop and sell EVs from 2025

Since being established 73 years ago, Honda Motor has been able to remain independent instead of becoming part of a bigger group. On its own, it has been able to successfully manage its business and endure even the most challenging periods without having to surrender its independence. However, the 21^st century sees the auto industry changing and with the move towards electric vehicles (EVs), the cost of developing entirely new technologies is very high. In April, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to declare its intention will stop selling combustion-engines vehicles by 2040.

So even though Honda has preferred to be a ‘lone ranger’, it has been forming strategic alliances with some companies in the area of EVs because it is crucial to remain competitive in the new field, and sharing resources is more realistic. Honda has already agreed with General Motors to jointly develop two all-new EVs for Honda’s range, based on GM’s global EV platform. The EVs will be manufactured at GM plants in North America with sales expected to begin in 2024 for that market.

New joint-venture company
On another front, Honda will be working with Sony Group Corporation to develop EVs as well. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines their intent to form a joint venture company through which they plan to engage in the joint development and sales of high value-added battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and commercialize them in conjunction with providing mobility services. The new company is expected to be established before the end of this year.

*The Honda e, a fully electric EV model, is already on sale in Europe.*

This alliance aims to bring together Honda’s mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology and aftersales service management experience, while Sony has expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and entertainment technologies.

Sony has already developed EVs
Honda has already developed a few EV models for sale, with the Honda e having received a good response in Europe. Sony has also been developing its own EVs, with two prototypes displayed earlier this year at CES 2022 in Las Vegas. The prototypes appear to have reached quite an advanced stage and have been shown in real-world road-testing.

*Sony’s two EVs which were shown at CES 2022 earlier this year.*

While Sony announced in January that it would start a new unit called Sony Mobility which would handle commercialization of EVs, this move may well have been too challenging for the company which does not have experience in making cars. Honda, on the other hand, has been producing many fine cars with its decades of experience. As Sony would have vast experience in electronics, which are dominant in EVs, its expertise will be very useful.

So it remains to be seen whether Honda will adopt Sony’s concepts – called VISION-S – or come out with a new design. If they want to do a new design, they have less than 3 years to do so as the plan is to start sales of the first model from the new company in 2025.

A new brand name?
There is also a possibility that the new EVs will have separate branding rather than be sold as Honda or Sony products. This is because the agreement is for the new company ‘to plan, design, develop, and sell the EVs’. It is agreed that Honda will be responsible for manufacturing the first EV model at its own factory.

*Honda has had many decades of experience manufacturing cars. not only in Japan but also in other countries.*

“The New Company will aim to stand at the forefront of innovation, evolution, and expansion of mobility around the world, by taking a broad and ambitious approach to creating value that exceeds the expectations and imagination of customers. We will do so by leveraging Honda’s cutting-edge technology and know-how in relation to the environment and safety, while aligning the technological assets of both companies. Although Sony and Honda are companies that share many historical and cultural similarities, our areas of technological expertise are very different. Therefore, I believe this alliance which brings together the strengths of our two companies offers great possibilities for the future of mobility,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President, Representative Executive Officer & CEO of Honda Motor.

2022 Honda Odyssey now available in Malaysia, priced from RM275,311.

Like the other top non-national brands, Honda focusses largely on locally-assembled models as they can be priced competitively and sell in large volumes. Nevertheless, it also offers some models that are imported in CBU (completely built-up) form for customers who want something that the local range may not have.

One of these is the Odyssey which is now in its fifth generation. To date, Honda Malaysia has sold almost 2,000 units of the MPV which was introduced locally in 2003. The latest generation of the MPV is priced at RM275,311 without insurance and with half the applicable sales tax exempted (until June 30, 2022). The model continues to use a 2.4-litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine (172 ps/225 Nm) and CVT.

“The introduction of the New Odyssey caters to the needs of customers such as families and executives who seek a luxury 7-seater MPV with excellent ride comfort, elegant exterior and unrivalled utility features, all in one package. In addition, the refined exterior and enhanced premium interior will further elevate the joy of owning a luxury Honda 7-seater MPV,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo.

The Odyssey was originally developed for the US market to compete in the minivan segment and was a successful model. It was also available in Japan and to make it more suitable for urban conditions, its roofline was a bit lower than most MPVs so it could more easily slot into garages.

Cosmetic updates for 2022
The latest Odyssey inherits much of the DNA of its predecessors with an imposing front end to the monobox form. The new chromed grille and flanking headlight units are an interpretation of the ‘EXCITING H DESIGN!!!’ which has a ‘Solid Wing Face’ design language. At the rear, the taillight units have been revised along with a new bumper profile. Both the front and rear signal lights now have sequential signalling which gives a premium touch to the vehicle.

For this latest version, which is essentially a midcycle facelift, the interior has received premium upgrades as well as an updated dashboard design. The dashboard has a 7-inch TFT meter for the driver and an 8-inch display panel for infotainment. As would be expected of models being introduced nowadays, there is smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so favourite apps can be access from the display panel.

Captain Cradle Seats with Ottoman
The Odyssey has always offered good cabin space with versatile layouts that makes it suitable for families as well as executives who may need to work while on the move. It comes with standard combination leather upholstery and Captain’s Cradle Seats with Ottoman on the second row. These wide and comfortable seats are like those on aircraft which allow the passenger to stretch out.

Loading luggage or other items in the boot does not require the use of hands to open the rear door. In fact, there isn’t even a need to press a button as placing a food under the rear bumper will automatically open the door. It’s great when both hands are carrying things and also if it’s raining and one hand has to hold the umbrella up.

Honda SENSING is, of course, standard and the integrated active safety systems are Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Auto High Beam. Additionally, there is also a Multi-View Camera System with Smart Parking Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Cross Traffic Monitor. All these systems can not only help the driver avoid an accident but also reduce the workload to reduce fatigue on long drives.

*The Honda SENSING system, which uses a camera to scan road markings, can not only keep the vehicle within its lane but also guide it back if it unintentionally starts to move into another lane*

More information on the New Odyssey can be obtained from authorized Honda dealers. To locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.

Honda Malaysia introduces new Genuine Engine Oils, upgraded to API SN standard

More peace of mind buying pre-owned Honda vehicles from Honda Certified Used Car dealers

Buying a used vehicle is sometimes risky as the mechanical condition may not be fully known since someone else used it before. If unlucky, the vehicle may have problems and the new owner may have to spend extra money to fix the problems. In the worst case, the vehicle could be a nightmare to own as it may keep having problems.

Now, for those who want to buy pre-owned Honda vehicles, Honda Malaysia can give more peace of mind as it is introducing Honda Certified Used Car (HCUC). This is an additional and trustworthy business channel that will offer verified, pre-owned Honda vehicles.

6 HCUC outlets
HCUC is starting off at 6 dealerships located in different regions. The dealerships are MJN Motors Sdn. Bhd. (Selangor), Tiong Nam Motor (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Selangor), Kah Motor Co. Sdn. Bhd. (Penang), Kah Motor Co. Sdn. Bhd. (Johor), Yong Ming Motor Sdn. Bhd. (Johor) and Chuan Thye Motor Sdn. Bhd. (Pahang). As demand grows, Honda Malaysia will gradually expand the number of HCUC outlets around the country.

“Honda Malaysia is committed to offering products and services of the highest quality and ensuring that all our cars, be it new or pre-owned, provide a feeling of joy to the car owners. As such, we have rolled out HCUC as an additional option for customers to own their preferred Honda cars and enjoy being a Honda owner,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo.

Not more than 5 years old
Through HCUC, customers can choose different models of Honda pre-owned cars. All the Honda pre-owned cars will be no more than 5 years old, with no more than 100,000 kms of usage. Honda Malaysia ensures that the cars sold by HCUC have undergone a thorough and stringent 288-point inspection conducted by Honda Certified Inspectors.

This inspection covers the condition of the engine and transmission, functionality and undercarriage as well as the exterior and interior conditions. This will enable customers to drive the vehicles with peace of mind knowing that they are certified to be in good condition, equipped with genuine parts and free from major accidents and flood damage.

For the convenience of customers, the registration and transfer process will be done by the HCUC dealers.

*Owners of vehicles purchased from HCUC can also enjoy the full range of aftersales services from authorised Honda dealers throughout the country.*

Extended warranty provided
Additionally, vehicles purchased from HCUC will have an additional one-year extended warranty on top of the existing warranty that is still valid (terms and conditions apply). Needless to say, once they are owners of the vehicles, they can enjoy the same high standards of aftersales support from all authorised Honda dealerships.

In addition, customers will have access to the Honda network of authorised dealerships nationwide such as sending their certified pre-owned cars to any Honda dealerships for after-sales services.

For more information on the location of HCUC dealerships, visit www.honda.com.my or call Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020.

Honda Malaysia aims to sell 80,000 units in 2022 and introduce Certified Used Car business

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