Tag Archives: Honda

Honda Teases New Civic Type R

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Honda is taking its newest Civic Type R to Nurburgring to test it before it joins the U.S. stable next year.

Teaser photos reveal that the new version is going to be a much cleaner design. It has lost a lot of its flashy elements, especially on the rear end.

While it is still speculation, Honda is toting it was the highest performing Civic Type R ever.

The 11th generation of Civic sedans and hatchbacks didn’t get many mechanical updates and some believe the new Type R won’t either.

The current Type R runs at 306hp from a turbocharged 2.0 liter engine with a six speed manual transmission. The regular 2022 Civics got a bit of a power boost so the Type R may too.

The hatchback Type R will resemble its newest family members in its interior with a honeycomb like strip of metal running across the dash—which is a much more simple design.

The Type R will probably have some exclusive options like racing seats, medal pedals and contrast style racing paint jobs.

Pricing is expected to hover around the 2021 model mark starting at $38,910.

Honda Resurrects the Integra

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Honda is resurrecting their famous Integra name after 15 years and will introduce a new “compact premium” car that will arrive in 2022.

The Integra name was used by Honda from 1986 until 2006 and included four generations of the famed sports coupe’.

Acura, the American market premium brand from Honda, announced the return of the Integra. They stated that Integra will rejoin the performance brand’s product portfolio as a new compact premium entrant.”

They stated that the new Integra will maintain the original’s “fun-to-drive spirit.”

There are still a lot of unanswered questions such as if the Integra would be available outside of North America or whether Honda or Acura would produce a Type R or Type S version, respectively.

The new Integra could be produced at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio plant. It would be a logical production replacement to the NSX and could very well be using some basics from the Civic.

The original Honda Integra, launched in 1985, replaced the Quint as a sports coupe’. It was originally built in Japan and was one of just two cars branded as Acura when the brand launched in America.

 

Honda Motor Company’s Honda e, company’s first mass-produced EV

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Honda Motor Company’s Honda e will be available in October in Japan. It is the company’s first massed-produced electric vehicle.

Honda is looking at the end of October and the price will be about 42,000USD or 4.5 million yen. The car is targeted primarily at urban consumers. The Honda e will travel about 300 km on a single charge. Focusing on the compact size of the vehicle Honda sacrificed a larger battery which would have given it a more competitive range. The Honda e is less than 4 meters long!

The EV compact also comes with a parking system designed to assist drivers in narrow spaces. Again, the smallness is the attraction for urban customers. Door mirrors were removed to help with tight parking and instead rear cameras and a interior monitors replace the mirrors. The interior monitors are five screens arranged horizontally to provide as near to a natural view as possible.

The Honda e’s domestic price is lower than its competitors. The Nissan Ariya is about 5 million yen. The Tesla Model 3 is about that price.

The Honda e will also be marketed as eco-friendly and has already begun sales in Europe. Honda hopes to sell 11,000 units between the two markets in the first year.

 

Supermini Honda Jazz Goes Hybrid-Only in Europe

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At launch next year the newest generation Honda Jazz will be offered as hybrid-only. The best-selling Honda model in the UK is set to be revealed at the October motor show in Tokyo. It is thought the Jazz will be the first in the Honda stable to go hybrid-only, though the brand promised to go hybrid only in Europe by 2025.

At this time, the only model that offers hybrid at all is the CR-V. This hybrid replaced a former diesel variant. Honda is still selling a gasoline version of the CR-V in Europe as well. The CR-V hybrid as done well for Honda, accounting for an impressive 60% of model sales.

To follow the hybrid Jazz in 2020 will be the electrified version of the Civic in 2021.

The Jazz, more than likely, will take is powertrain setup from the CR-V hybrid. The CR-V employs two electric motors and a 2.0 liter gas engine combined with a CVT transmission. The Jazz will, however, have a smaller gas engine and less power given its smaller size and “supermini” status.

Honda’s goal with the new Jazz is for it to remain familiar to old customers—remember its Honda’s best European seller—yet bring in new customers to Honda through the entry level Jazz model.

 

Honda Recalls 1.2 Million Accords Over Fire-Prone Batteries

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According to MSN Auto News Honda is recalling 1.2 million accords whose batteries might catch fire. Owners of Accord midsize sedans from model years 2013-2016 should call Honda customer service at 1 (888) 946-6329.

The issue is with sensors on the battery’s negative terminal that were not properly sealed to resist moisture. Road salt can cause corrosion and possibly a short, which in turn creates heat and potentially fire. Honda has already reported four incidents of engine fires from exposed battery sensors. Thankfully none of these incidents caused injury or death. All incidents happened in the U.S. during winter months when road salt was being used.

As is the routine, owners will be notified and dealers will replace faulty sensors free of charge. Sensors that show no signs of corrosion will still receive an adhesive sealant and will be replaced once parts become available.

Honda May Face 35 Million Dollar Fine

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Although automakers are required to report deaths and injury claims involving their vehicles to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, automaker Honda failed to report 1,729 serious accidents that involved death or injury between 2003 and 2014. Honda blames computer programming and data entry errors.

This under-reporting could cost this automaker tens of millions of dollars.

Honda finds itself in a turbulent ocean – as the news of the under-reporting comes upon them as they deal with the recall of some 6 million cars world wide that contain the Takata airbags. Airbags that can explode and hit passengers with shrapnel. Honda has acknowledged four deaths involving the Takata airbags. Eight of the unreported seventeen hundred some accidents involved the Takata airbags.

The mistakes have come to light after NHTSA asked Honda to conduct an internal review of its reporting process.

NHTSA has not yet announced if it will fine Honda, but could fine them a maximum of 35 million dollars—a hit GM had to take for a decade long delay in reporting faulty ignition switches that were tied to at least 35 deaths. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has stated that the 35 million dollar limit amounts to little more than a “rounding error” for an Automaker like Honda who makes billions of dollars a year. His department is petitioning Congress to raise the limit to 300 million.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/24/news/companies/honda-underreport-deaths-injuries/index.html?iid=HP_LN

Joe Victor

For the economy-minded: Here are the 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000

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Kelly Blue Book has a list of the 10 Coolest cars under $18,000.

  1. 2013 Chevrolet Spark
  2. 2013 Honda Civic
  3. 2013 Volkswagen Jetta
  4. 2013 Fiat 500
  5. 2013 Mazda MAZDA3
  6. 2013 Dodge Dart
  7. 2013 Honda Fit
  8. 2013 Kia Soul
  9. 2013 Ford Focus
  10. 2013 Hyundai Veloster

(When you go the Kelly Blue Book site (link above) you will be asked for your zip code so you will get the current pricing for your area.)

~ The Victor crew

Joe asks Jody Victor: 10 Best Values In Used Cars, 2012

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If you are in the market for a used car, you may have trouble finding one. Here’s Jody Victor® telling us about it from an article by Jessica Anderson of Kiplinger.

Jody Victor®: Hey, Joe, sometimes a used car is the way to go, no matter what kind of vehicle you are looking for. But since the Great Recession, used cars have not been around – people are hanging on to their older cars longer. Here’s a list, in two parts, from msn.com  that will give you something to go on.

2008 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Price when new: $19,545 (automatic)
Dealer used price: $9,902
Private-party price: $8,731
Certified used price: $11,480
MPG (city/hwy): 21/30

Hyundai’s Sonata offers a thrifty 2.4-liter engine, standard stability control and six airbags. Plus, it keeps ownership costs low — the brand’s 5-year/60,000-miles new-car warranty and five-year no-charge roadside assistance transfer to new owners (they get the remainder of both). The famed 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, however, doesn’t transfer.

2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i sedan

Price when new: $18,190
Dealer used price: $12,191
Private-party price: $10,967
Certified used price: $12,859
MPG (city/hwy): 20/27

Engaging driving dynamics and Subaru’s always-standard all-wheel drive are only part of the Impreza’s appeal. It garnered a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and has side and side-curtain airbags. If a collision causes the front airbags to deploy, smart technology protects the driver and front-seat passenger. Sensors measure the driver’s proximity to the steering wheel, as well as the passenger’s weight (to determine whether a child or an adult is occupying the seat), and adjust the airbags’ force accordingly.

2009 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT

Price when new: $23,225
Dealer used price: $13,114
Private-party price: $11,937
Certified used price: $14,141
MPG (city/hwy): 22/33

With its 2008 redesign, the Malibu garnered a lot of accolades: Kiplinger’s Best New Car and Best in Class awards were just a cherry topping to the industry’s prestigious North American Car of the Year award. But to play it safe, we recommend buying a redesigned vehicle in the second year of production — the first year’s examples often have kinks to work out. For 2009, stability control became standard across the trim lineup, along with side and side-curtain airbags.

2009 Nissan Rogue S

Price when new: $21,020
Dealer used price: $14,971
Private-party price: $13,435
Certified used price: $16,123
MPG (city/hwy): 22/27

After a 2008 redesign, when we named it Best New Small Crossover, the Rogue ascended to Kiplinger’s Best in Class award for 2009. Its stylish exterior complements the value it holds inside — including a peppy 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Plus, it was rated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

2008 Honda CR-V LX

Price when new: $21,370
Dealer used price: $15,135
Private-party price: $14,089
Certified used price: $16,402
MPG (city/hwy): 20/27

A perennial Kiplinger’s Best New and Best Used pick, the CR-V keeps its value throughout its lifespan. It boasts fuel economy on par with a midsize sedan, but it has more than twice the cargo capacity (36 cubic feet behind the rear seats). Its standard stability control and six airbags helped win it a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.

Thanks, Jody! More next time.

Joe Victor

Joe asks Jody Victor®: Best Quality Cars III

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Well, we’ve gone through quite a list, but coming up are some of my favorites. Here’s Jody Victor®  with the next installment of the best quality cars for 2012.

Jody Victor®: Hey Joe, some of these are my favorites too. Installment number 3 from an article by Cliffor Atiyeh of msn.com.

Top Premium Sport Car: Porsche 911

Somehow, Porsche ends up having fewer problems than Honda or Mercedes (we’ll chalk it up to lower production volume and fewer miles traveled). Whatever the reason, the 911 is a fantastic way to spend upwards of $80,000. It’s practical, conservative-looking, yet altogether badass when the time comes to push it on a favorite back road. Among sports cars, the 911 is an indisputable legend that’s been going strong for five decades.

Top Compact Crossover/SUV: Honda CR-V

In 1997, the CR-V was one of the few compact crossovers, and Honda got it right from the start. With its slim proportions, all-wheel drive and generous cargo room, the CR-V is about as utilitarian as anyone really needs. The 4-cylinder engines are snappy and good on fuel, and while the interiors need some improvement and the doors feel flimsy, there’s a lot of well-engineered car here.

Top Compact MPV: Kia Soul

While hip-hop hamsters drive it on TV, in real life the Kia Soul is driven by all sorts of people, much like how Scion has attracted buyers beyond its original “youth” demographic. The boxy Soul, with its pulsing speaker lights and oddball cloth textures, is fun to drive and invites stares. Generous cargo space, simple controls and Kia’s impressive powertrain warranty seal the deal.

Top Entry Premium Crossover/SUV: Infiniti EX

The EX crossover is essentially a G sedan with more headroom and a hatch. Therefore, it nearly matches the G’s aggressive attitude, with crisp handling and powerful acceleration that’s livelier than an Audi Q5. The interior is feeling a little old next to Infiniti’s other models, and the ride can be rough at times. But it’s nice to have a crossover exhibiting some old-fashioned soul.

Top Midsize Crossover/SUV: Buick Enclave

Among three-row SUVs, this Buick outsells them all. It’s a stylish, ultraquiet family hauler with all the trimmings — and unlike previous Buick SUVs, it’s not a carbon copy of a cheaper Chevrolet. For 2013, the Enclave gets a mild refresh with more soft-touch interior materials and other moderate improvements. If you can stand minivans, you won’t do much better for the price than this Buick.

Top Large Crossover/SUV: Ford Expedition

This is a weird choice, considering that the Expedition has been long forgotten in the Ford lineup in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient SUVs. For its sheer towing capacity, living-room size and brute strength, it’s hard to argue with an Expedition or its luxury cousin, the Lincoln Navigator. We’d like to think that better, more modern V8-powered 3-row SUVs are available.

Thanks, Jody! More next time!

Joe Victor