Honda Archives

Honda will unveil EV at Frankfurt Motorshow

Honda will be using the upcoming 2017 Frankfurt Motorshow as a platform to showcase its electrification plans for its European car range. Part of that plan is the introduction of the Urban EV Concept, which will provide the general public with a glimpse into the direction Honda will take for future EVs.

Unlike Nissan, Honda and Toyota don’t have their own versions of EV contenders, choosing instead to rely solely on hybrid propulsion system for its electrification product portfolio. This is why its Frankfurt announcement will play a major role in gauging the automaker’s seriousness to take on EV competitors like Tesla and more recently, Volvo and VW.

Apart from the new vehicle, Honda will also be unveiling a hybrid version of the CR-V in prototype form. The move is meant as a precursor to the launch of the all-new CR-V SUV which should take place soon. The public will get to witness first hand, the best that Honda has to offer.

Flanking this new vehicle are the facelifted Jazz supermini as well as the new diesel-powered variant of the current (10th) generation Civic hatchback. Honda Motor CEO, Takahiro Hachigo will unveil the Honda Urban EV Concept at the Honda Press Conference on Tuesday 12 September.

The diesel powered vehicle will probably utilizes the new and improved engine from the previous generation car. A detailed article regarding that particular powerplant has been covered in a previous article, click here to read it.

This is great news for Honda fans, because like a number of other mainstream automakers, it too will be going ‘all in’ on the EV revolution.

New Honda CR-V wins Best New Car for Teens award

Honda has picked up another accolade in the US and this time, its for winning U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 Best New Car for Teens award in the SUV and Crossover category. The all new CR-V is a marked improvement over its predecessor sporting rugged good looks an better offroading abilities.

The vehicle comes with some of the latest suite of safety tech known as Honda Sensing, which is leaps and bounds better than what was used in previous generation vehicles that bore the nameplate.

The list of aids include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow.

These features used to be reserved for high-end German luxury cars, but now are available with a plethora of more affordable models. And they are a Godsend because when activated, a vehicle that is equipped with this, could save you from embarrassing and costly fender benders throughout your ownership experience.

No stranger to snapping up awards, Honda has been on a bit of winning streak as of late, winning several awards from various different competitions. And in case you were wondering, this new CR-V has already been made available here in Malaysia. Click here to learn more.

Honda’s new diesel engine should be to the liking of EU regulatory bodies

Amid the controversy surrounding the diesel engine, Honda has revised its 1.6-litre i-DTEC oil burner to produce a new one that will perform well within the regulatory specifications. This engine will join the Civic range in Europe beginning from March 2018.

It also happens to be one of the first engines to be tested under the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) fuel consumption and emissions cycle, which should replaced the NEDC cycle as the standard fuel consumption test platform.

Unlike the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test, which uses a theoretical driving profile to determine a vehicle’s fuel consumption, the WLTP utilizes actual driving data. As such, it should be able to provide more realistic figures that are closer to that of real world driving conditions.

Besides this, it will also be one of the first inline to be tested with the Real Driving Emission (RDE) procedure, to validate NOx and particulate emission levels. There’s a new NOx Storage Converter (NSC) system with larger catalysts and a higher content of noble metals (silver, platinum and neodymium) that store nitrogen oxide gas until the regeneration cycle.

There’s also a soot sensor that is said to accurately detect when the regeneration cycle is required, which should help to extend exhaust components’ durability. Honda is hoping that with the new tech, it’s brand new powerplant will be as reliable and efficient as possible.

Despite inheriting quite a bit from its predecessor, Honda claims that the new engine is the product of heavy revision of the original powerplant. As such, it features a number of improvements that allow it to outperform the engine that it is based on.

They include reduction in cylinder friction, due to the fact that the pistons made from highly durable chromium-molybdebnum steel alloy, as well as ‘super plateau honing’ of the bores to enable smoother piston movement.

Honda has fitted additional cast ribs to the engine’s cylinder block to increase structural rigidity. This in turn will aid the improvement of the management of noise, vibration and harshness.

As it stands, the 1.6 i-DTEC engine produces close to 120bhp and 300Nm of torque, which allows the Civic to sprint from 0-100km/h in about 10.4 seconds. There will be an option to have this engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, which should help strengthen the model’s appeal.

Honda will be manufacturing the engine in its Swindon, UK plant and will make it available with the four-door and five-door versions of the 10th generation Civic.

Honda’s highly advanced jet is in high demand

Honda doesn’t just produce vehicles for road use, it is involved with designing and manufacturing light aircraft as well. And its latest project, the HondaJet, is said to be the ‘fastest, highest-flying, quietest, most fuel-efficient, and most comfortable business jet in its class’.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has announced that the HondaJet ranks as the most delivered jet in its category for the first half of 2017. Apparently, its a sought after aircraft in western markets with 24 of them already delivered to customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and certain countries in Europe.

“Our customers are extremely pleased with the performance, comfort and superior fit and finish of the HondaJet. The HondaJet is a very high tech, sporty aircraft and it is like a flying, high precision sports car,” said Honda Aircraft President and CEO Michimasa Fujino.

He added, “We want to create new value in business aviation and I hope to see many more HondaJets flying all over the world.”

According to Honda, this new jet is the most advanced light aircraft thanks to a slew of technical innovations including the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration.

Compared to the conventional one, OTWEM offers improved performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag. It also aids in the reduction in cabin sound, minimizes ground-detected noise, and allows for for maximization of space.

As such the HondaJet offers the roomiest cabin in its class, the largest baggage capacity, and a fully serviceable private lavatory. The aircraft can even be ordered with a sophisticated glass flight deck and a customized Garmin® G3000 navigation system.

Due to the surge in demand, Honda is steadily ramping up production to meet customer needs. Currently, the HondaJet is being manufactured at a rate of about four per month at its world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Honda Civic and NSX shortlisted for Build Magazine awards

Honda’s Civic and NSX have been shortlisted for this year’s 42nd Golden Steering Wheel awards. It’s ana awards ceremony that is organised by Germany’s Build magazine that recognizes the best new cars of the year.

The vehicles that progress beyond the shortlisted stage are chosen based on public votes but the finalists are judged by a panel of European experts to determine the winner of each category and overall winner. This year, there are a total of 40 contenders for the general public to choose from and vote for their favourite.

This 2017 awards will see the Civic and NSX being shortlisted for the Small Car and Sports Car category respectively. Already an award winner globally, the 2017 Civic has bagged the Canadian Car of the Year Awards, and won Kelley Blue Book’s coveted Best Buy of the Year award.

It’s performance oriented brethren, the Type-R, has also laid claim to What Car? magazine’s Most Anticipated Car Launch of the year and Auto Express’s Best Hot Hatch of the Year awards.

Not to be outdone by its family oriented sibling, the NSX has picked up multiple awards too, including the 2017 International Engine of the Year New Engine of the Year, Road & Track’s Performance Car of the Year, and Business Insider’s Overall Car of the Year.

David Hodgetts, managing director of Honda UK, said, “The two contenders have already made a big impact in their relative sectors by winning multiple awards, a win for Honda would be a fantastic achievement at the Golden Steering Awards.”

Honda has outdone itself this past few years with the introduction of some of the most advanced Japanese cars we have ever seen. The NSX, may not be the fastest car in the world, but it is loaded with technology that will shame more expensive European sports cars.

Honda to offer racecar for road use

Ever wanted to own a racing car that could also double as your daily driver? Well, wonder no more because Acura, Honda’s performance arm in the US will be offering the race spec NSX GT3 for sale globally. The race-winning car is certified for professional competition and has been through extensive on-track development.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress and success of the NSX GT3 in our inaugural season,” said Art St. Cyr, President of HPD. “Winning at Detroit and Watkins Glen, two very different circuits, in this highly competitive class illustrates the breadth of capabilities of the NSX GT3. We look forward to seeing the car in Victory Circle at tracks around the world in 2018 and beyond.”

The carbon-fibre paneled car will be offered to customers with the full aero kit including front splitter, rear diffuser and GT wing. In fact, its chassis consists of a mutli-material body structure and TIG-welded chrome-moly roll cage. This NSX GT3 will be built along side the regular production car in Honda’s NSX exclusive manufacturing facility in Ohio, USA.

It’s engine will come from the same place that supplies the standard NSX with its powerplants. Technically the one in the NSX GT3 shares the same specs as the 3.5-litre turbo V6 in the standard car. They have the same block, heads, valve train, crankshaft, pistons and dry-sump lubrication system.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox and unlike the regular car, this race-ready car is only rear wheel drive. Final assembly takes place in Italy where everything is put together and tested to ensure that it adhere’s to Honda’s stringent standards of quality and safety.

On top of that, the Japanese automaker will also be offering customer support for those who purchase the car, which includes parts, servicing, training and engineering services. The car carries a price tag of €465,000 or (RM2,338,682) and will be available to order from Acura’s specialized dealer network that include HPD for North America, JAS Motorsports (Europe, Middle-East, Asia) and Mugen for sales in Japan.

Though the relatively steep asking price won’t be to everybody’s liking, the NXS GT3 is an exceptionally capable racer that is worth the money. It has already won a number of races in its inaugural season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition. And those wanting something a little more visceral than that offered by the standard NSX, won’t be disappointed with this race-ready car.

Honda releases heartwarming video of its efforts to improve mobility of young patients

Honda has released a new video that chronicles the struggles of Brynn Fraser, an 8-year-old boy who suffers from serious birth defects. This touching short story portrays Honda’s goals in the health sector, especially when it comes to mobility.

Technology that it has developed will be able to improve the quality of living of young people like Brynn as well as empower them to overcome their disabilities. The automaker’s Asimo robot also stars in the clip and can be seen performing varies activities much to the amazement of the young patients who suffer similar disabilities as young Brynn.

We recently covered a story where Honda announced that it had invested heavily in Nationwide Children’s hospital in Ohio for the construction of a new facility that will focus on Gait Analysis and Mobility Enhancement.

And this latest video is to serve as a tool to raise awareness and bring in more funds for the project. Honda has been posted it on several of its social media sites including Youtube and Twitter, and is asking fans to head on over to throw their support behind this programme.

“We hope everyone who sees this video will be inspired by the passion and determination of the doctors and staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” said Jeffrey Smith, vice president of Corporate Communications for Honda North America.

He later added, “When we saw these young patients’ positive reaction to Honda’s ASIMO, we wanted to create an opportunity for others to join us in supporting this new effort to help children with mobility issues.”

For very “Like” or “Share” of this video, Honda will donate $1 to this facility that helps young patients overcome their disabilities that is a result of birth defects, disease or injury. The new center will also conduct spine motion analysis, sports performance programs and injury prevention programs.

In addition to that, it will also be conducting extensive R&D in prosthetic and wheelchair development, which will aid the improvement of these young kids’ mobility problems. Check out the video and let us know what you think of Honda’s new initiative and whether other automakers should be doing the same.

Honda Odyssey converted into Minnie Van

Honda USA teamed up with Disney-ABC to produce the Minnie Van, which is essentially a 2018 Odyssey that has been reworked to resemble the looks and colours worn by the iconic Disney character.

The car features the signature polka dots worn by Minnie. And the idea of creating such a vehicle was inspired by the magic of Disney, its beloved characters and the power of imagination.

“The all-new Odyssey was developed for modern families offering high-tech features, flexible seating and new styling, all aimed at keeping everyone in the family happy,” said Susie Rossick, Assistant Vice President of Honda Marketing.

He went on to say, “In creating the MINNIE VAN that will be on display at the D23 Expo, we’re proud to partner with Disney-ABC and be inspired by the style of the most fashionable gal around – Minnie Mouse.”

The MPV will be put on display at this year’s Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, which is said to be the company’s ultimate fan event. The vehicle isn’t meant to serve as just a tourist attraction, rather its to educate the public on the improvements made to the Odessey and the benefits that it is able to offer to families across the country.

It’s now quieter, more spacious, safer and offers a whole host of connectivity as well as entertainment features. There’s even a slew of tech that include Magic Slid second row seating, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies, and Honda Sensing® technology.

Developed in Honda’s R&D facilities in Ohio and Califronia, the Odyssey is the best selling MPV in the US for the past 7 years. And this latest vehicle should help bolster the interest in the brand and the namplate even further.

New Honda Accord marries grown up looks with sporty performance characteristics

Honda USA has just revealed what the upcoming 10th generation Accord will look like. Sporting a completely new look, the car is lower, wider and has a shorter length. It is said to have a lighter and more rigid body structure featuring an advanced new chassis design as well as two all-new turbo engines.

The signature chrome grille stretches across the entire front end and is flanked by the sophisticated 9-lamp LED headlights system. The front bumper has a two piece design with the blackened centre portion being integrated with the grille assembly. The contours provide the car with a muscular presence while the roof features a sleek and fluidic silhouette that tapers off toward the rear end.

The shorter overhangs, 10mm lower centre of gravity as well as the long and low hood give the entire design a more sporty look especially when viewing the car from the side. This should be to the liking of those who want a D-segment car but with the looks that allow it to fit in just about anywhere.

Like The Honda Civic, the Accord features angular rear taillights but features a broader and more grown up asthetic. Unlike the previous generation one, the new Accord has a hatchback design for the rear, which should help increase cargo carrying capacity.

Honda constructed the new Accord using the Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure that has a crash stroke front frame and tailor-tempered rear frame members that will improve crash energy absorption. The extensive use of adhesives for the car’s bodywork is to increase rigidity, noise and weight reduction.

Speaking of the new car, Jeff Conrad, senior vice president of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc, said, “We are redefining the Honda Accord for a new generation of buyers by bringing something unexpected that challenges the idea of what a mainstream sedan can. Even as we advance core values like great driving dynamics, safety performance and efficiency, the distinctive design of this all-new 2018 Honda Accord will help it appeal to both head and heart in equal measure.”

There are two engines to choose from, the first, a 1.5-litre turbo that can be mated to either a CVT or 6-speed manual, produces 192bhp and 260Nm of torque. The 2.0-litre turbo engine, produces 252bhp and is similar to what powers the Civic Type R. This particular engine replaces the 3.5-litre normally aspirated V6 in the previous generation Accord.

This 2.0-litre powerplant is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, which Honda boasts takes greater advantage of available torque while maximizing quietness and efficiency during highway cruising. The hybrid variant gets two electric motors that aids a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle engine deliver fuel sipping driving behaviour. These motors utilize magnets that have no heavy rare-earth metals in them, which is a first in the industry.

Inside the cabin, occupants are treated to a panoramic front view thanks to the spacious construction of the A-pillars. The upholstery is tastefully done, complete with well crafted arm rests. Buttons and switches are arranged in a rather neat manner, which is what we have come to expect from automakers like Honda. It has even gone on to say that the meticulous attention to detail on their part has aided the switchgear throughout the cabin, to have the required tactile and visual quality feel.

The instrument cluster is made up of a slim 7-inch TFT display that is complemented by a new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers physical volume and tuning knobs. These are welcomed additions considering how cumbersome it can be to turn down the audio volume on a conventional fully touchscreen system.

As far as safety tech is concerned, the new Accord comes with Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard. It comprises of the Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and new Traffic Sign Recognition.

Additional available driver-assistive technologies include Blind Spot Information, front and rear parking sensors, Cross Traffic Monitor and Driver Awareness Monitor. All variants feature a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines.

Then, there’s the standard stuff that comes with most Honda cars these days, which are Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), advanced front airbags, driver and front-passenger side airbags and new driver and front-passenger knee airbags.

Over here in Malaysia, we wait with baited breathe for the launch of this new Accord. It may take a while before we hear any news about its local launch, but we are still hoping that Honda hastens the process.

Honda Malaysia launches new CR-V

Honda Malaysia has launched their latest addition to their ever-growing fleet of premium vehicles in the Malaysian market but instead of just any model with a few updates, they’ve raised the bar to greater heights with the 2017 Honda CR-V. The fifth generation CR-V has been completely reengineered from the ground up to give the best driving experience coupled with the most state-of-the-art vehicle technology.

Following the recent launch of the all-new Honda Jazz Sport Hybrid i-DCD and the Civic 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC, the new CR-V has the best of both worlds when it comes to power as well as futuristic vehicle capabilities.

According to Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Katsuto Hayashi, he said “To set a higher benchmark in the segment and exceed customers’ expectations, Honda Malaysia has shifted to focus more on Advanced Technology starting with the introduction of the 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged Civic and New Jazz Sport Hybrid i-DCD”

“We are very excited to show you the 5th Generation All-New CR-V that is equipped with three key Advanced Technologies, the ‘1.5L VTEC Turbocharged Engine’, ‘Honda SENSING’ and advanced features such as ‘Programmable Power Tailgate’”.

“We believe this focus transition will lead us to make ‘Tomorrow’s Dream, Today’s Reality’. We are also proud to note that Malaysia is the first country in ASEAN that is introducing Honda SENSING, the Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology in the All-New CR-V.”

With a rapid decline on of the CR-V segment here in Malaysia from 2013 until early 2017, the new CR-V is said to be Honda’s ultimate game-changer to take over the market share in the vehicle class. The ever growing demand of SUVs in the market that’s able to provide high levels of safety to the occupants, impressive fuel efficiency and pure driving enjoyment, the new CR-V offers all of these plus much, much more.

In terms of design, the exterior of the new CR-V showcases Honda’s fundamental ideas on modern functional dynamic facade combined with their signature specifications like the Daytime Running Lights and turn signals which you will notice in the car’s front advanced full LED headlights as well as the rear lights. This gives the latest generation CR-V a much bolder and tougher appearance without being too aggressive or tacky.

The interior has gone through a major makeover according to Honda’s “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum’ design principle. The sporty yet spacious interior allows for greater driving experience as well as a heighten sense of comfort for all occupants especially for those seated in the rear seats where the new CR-V now offers an extra 90mm of luxurious legroom.

A more dynamic and modern styling design concept has been embedded into essence of the CR-V where all the high-tech goods are available for everyone to enjoy. Features like the 7-inch Advanced Display Audio that is compatible to both Android and Apple compatible with seamless smart connectivity and entertainment.

For all-round creature comforts, the CR-V comes with Dual-Zone Air-Conditioning to ensure all occupants are comfortable according to each individual’s preferences. Seeing how there would usually be more than one occupant apart from the driver, rear USB ports have been installed to allow easy charging of any of your mobile devices. There are also the comfortable combi leather seats with an eight-way power seat for the driver and a four-way for the front passenger for maximum posture position with a lot of comfort thrown into the package.

Going to the back, the new Programmable Power Tailgate (available on the 1.5TC-P 2WD variant only) gives a boost of convenience to future CR-V owners where they can easily control and adjust the opening height with a simple push of a button. This is the first time Honda is offering such a feature in the vehicle line up and best of all, it comes with a ‘Stop and Hold Programmable Height’ function without giving any hassle to the users.

Do also take note on the boot space where when the second row seats are folded flat, you’ll get a whopping 1,084 litres of storage space. The new CR-V is able to provide such space as there’s now an extra 250mm of space compared to the previous generation.

Take a peek under that front bonnet and you’ll get a very pleasant surprise. In total, there are a four different variants available ranging from the lowest 2.0-litre 2WD up to the awesome 1.5-litre turbocharged Premium 2WD. The two variants sitting right in the middle are the 1.5-litre turbocharged 2WD and 1.5-litre turbocharged 4WD.

All the engines have been developed under Honda’s Earth Dream Technology and with the first ever CR-V to be paired with the latest 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC engine, it can produce a whopping 190hp at 6,500rpm and 243Nm of torque at 4,300rpm. Even the 2.0-litre is able to churn out 151hp and 189Nm of torque.

Earlier in the article, we also mentioned that the new CR-V comes with Honda’s SENSING™ which is Honda’s latest driving technology that’s probably be the ultimate driving aid system ever to be put in any production vehicle. The Honda SENSING™ comes with a few specifications such as Driving Cruising Aid (Adaptive Cruise Control and Low-Speed Follow), Frontal Collision Deterrence (Forward Collision Warning and Collision Mitigation Braking System) and Side Collision Deterrence (Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Keep Assist System).

In the name of safety, the all-new CR-V also comes with six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, Agile Handling Assist, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, Electronic Brake Distribution, Anti-Lock Braking System and a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera available in the top variant.

The all new CR-V is priced from RM142,400 to RM167,700 (basic prices with GST) and is available in five different colours; Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, Obsidian Blue Pearl and the brand new Dark Olive Metallic.

To add more functionality to the CR-V, future owners can opt for a number of different accessory packages that ranges from RM1,900 to RM5,900. All new Honda CR-V comes with a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage.

Together with the launch of the brand new CR-V, Honda Malaysia also introduced their brand new line-up of merchandise centred on the “Challenging Spirit” value as their design core of inspiration. The new merchandise line-up includes t-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, backpacks, water bottles and many more. The entire collection will be available at all 91 showrooms at the end of August 2017.

Sepp Iran