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Friday, January 29, 2010

Honda Takes the High Road on Toyota Recall

TORRANCE, California — In stark contrast to the tactics of General Motors and Ford in the aftermath of Toyota's massive recall, Honda on Thursday said it "will not react in a predatory way toward either Toyota or Toyota customers."
General Motors and Ford launched incentive programs this week aimed squarely at enticing disgruntled Toyota customers away from the brand as it struggles with a major image problem as a result of the recall. The domestic automakers' tactic of luring customers away from Toyota was criticized by some bloggers and even one other automaker — Hyundai — who likened the two to "vultures."

Honda also addressed customer concerns about how it is affected — if at all — by the Toyota recall for faulty accelerator pedals. The letter, to Honda and Acura dealers from John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor, is a tutorial on how to handle questions from the media and consumers.

"The recently announced Toyota recall has prompted some customer questions to you, our Honda and Acura dealers," said Mendel in the letter. "In fact, Toyota's recall, while serious, has no impact whatsoever on Honda or Acura customers. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is not aware of any reports for either Honda or Acura vehicles, regarding the type of failure Toyota is citing as the cause for its recall. Additionally, while we use the same supplier as Toyota for some of our products (as do other manufacturers), we do not use the same components."

Inside Line says: No Honda or Acura incentives are in the works for Toyota customers. And only time will tell which automakers had the correct response to the crisis. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Source;

Toyota CEO Apologizes to His Customers: 'I Am Deeply Sorry'

I for one wish that everyone would take a step back and look at what Toyota is actually doing to correct this. This negative backlash (I'm not saying we should expect everyone affected to be too thrilled about it either) is probably more than what Toyota expected and when many of the other companies (GM, Toyota didn't kick you when you were down - and now you're offering Toyota customers $1,000 additional for any Toyota trade?!?) that see this going on have thier own recalls to make, are they going to be as up front about them? There are numerous examples of unreported problems in the Auto industry and hats off to Toyota for taking care of their customers. I think that this will be a short term loss and a long term gain for Toyota/Auto industry.
In his first public comment about the massive safety crisis surrounding his company, the President and CEO of Toyota apologized to his customers for causing them so much worry.

"I am deeply sorry," said Akio Toyoda in a brief interview with the Japanese network NHK as he left his hotel in Davos, Switzerland. After the interview he was seen leaving in a black Audi( huh?!? Must be a rental).

Toyoda had been attending the economic conference with other corporate and government leaders this week, while his deputies struggled to quell a consumer rebellion triggered by the recall of nine million cars worldwide.

In the interview, Toyoda said he could not answer questions because the company "was still investigating." He said he hoped to provide an explanation to Toyota customers soon.

"Truly we think of our customers as a priority and we guarantee their safety," he said, according to a translation.

Referring to the near collapse of the company's once strong reputation for safety and quality, Toyoda said, "I would like for the people to trust us."

Toyoda is the grandson of the car company's founder and has publicly criticized the company's drive for profits in the last decade.

The Wall Street Journal reported Toyota would place full page newspaper ads in 25 cities Sunday and Monday to explain how it plans to fix the most-recent defect found in eight of its models involving a sticky gas pedal.

The company is awaiting federal government approval of a redesigned accelerator pedal that is being produced by its supplier, CTS, and has already been shipped to some of its factories, according to CTS.

The company ordered a halt to sales and production of the eight models with the flawed pedal on Tuesday, following a recall of millions of cars a few days earlier.

The recall, which spread to Europe and China, is now estimated to involve at least nine million cars and trucks.

Source;
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/toyota-ceo-apologizes-deeply/story?id=9700622

2012 VW Beetle/Herbie

I've always had a soft spot for Herbie....
Source;
http://www.burlappcars.com/2010/01/2012-vw-beetle.html

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Auto Tech: What is a Hybrid?

Here's a interesting read....
With all the interest in electric, plug-in electric, hybrid electric and hybrid vehicles, perhaps it is time to take a step back and just look what all these names mean. They are not all the same, yet some different technologies share the same names and sometimes similar technologies use different names. A lot of it seems to depend on the marketing the manufacturers are using for a vehicle, so let’s try to clear up some of the confusion surrounding types of systems and terminology when it comes to alternate energy sources for vehicles.

First, the term Hybrid can have several meanings. It could even be a conventional engine that uses two different types of fuel such as gasoline and natural gas, although popular use lately has been referring to these as bi-fuel vehicles. When most people hear “hybrid”, they think of gasoline/electric combined powertrains – Toyota’s Prius is the most recognizable symbol of this technology.

You may here the term “mild hybrid”. This was made popular with the introduction of the Saturn Vue hybrid and is now used on the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. This system uses an electric motor/generator that bolts onto the engine in place of the conventional charging system. During acceleration, the unit adds power to the conventional gas engine and during deceleration, the unit becomes a drivetrain-driven generator to recharge the auxiliary battery pack. Much of the fuel economy savings from any hybrid system come from the energy during vehicle deceleration by the generator unit.

Another major feature of hybrids is their ability to stop the gasoline engine while the vehicle is sitting at a stop light and then restart it again instantly when the driver wants to move the vehicle. Even the mild hybrids have this capability to save fuel.

Some vehicles use what may be called a “medium” hybrid system, such as the Honda Civic or Insight, although you won’t hear Honda referring to it with that term. Honda calls it an Integrated Motor Assist, where the electric motor is used in place of the flywheel in a conventional transmission. This electric motor can assist the gas engine during acceleration and recharge the battery pack during deceleration just like the mild hybrids but does so much more efficiently and provides more power. Honda has made many improvements on the system since it was first introduced over a decade ago and when combined with intelligent valve control systems, is now almost equal to what we traditionally call a “full hybrid.”

Toyota’s Prius is the best known example of a “full hybrid,” a vehicle that can operate on electric power alone for some distance. It does this with a transmission that contains two motor/generator units. The design of this transmission allows the engine to remain off while one electric motor moves the vehicle. If you need more power or the battery charge is low, the gas engine will also start up to work in combination with the electric motors. Today several vehicles use a hybrid system that will operate on electric power by itself. Toyota has the Prius, Camry and Highlander, while Lexus has a full range of hybrids. Ford has the Escape and Fusion Hybrids, while GM and Dodge are using a similar system in rear wheel drive configuration in their hybrid sport utilities. GM also is using it in pickup models.

The yet to be produced Chevy Volt is also a hybrid but with a different concept. This vehicle operates on electric power all the time. When the battery pack becomes discharged, a small gas engine turns on to operate a generator, which recharges the battery pack. The gas engine never directly powers the wheels, yet this vehicle is also considered a hybrid.

Plug-in Hybrid is a new term, where the vehicle can be recharged by plugging it in to either 110-volt of 220-volt electrical outlets. This type of vehicle will operate on electric power most of the time but could still use a gas engine to supply energy for extended trips.

Electric vehicles are just what the name sounds like. They operate on Electric power only. Golf carts are a popular example, but several manufacturers are introducing electric passenger vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf or the Mitsubishi iMIEV. Toyota has announced plans for a fully electric small car similar to the FT-EV2 concept car will go on sale in 2012. Recharging these vehicles at home or work will become common practice, although already MacDonalds has announce they will offer free-to-use charging stations at some facilities and already opened the first one this past July in the U.S. In Japan, they are already working on infrastructure for electric car battery swap stations, where you pull in and exchange your leased battery for another in less time than it takes to fill a conventional car with gasoline.

While conventional gasoline powered vehicles will still dominate the marketplace for a long time, there are alternatives on the marketplace, and that is good for the future of the automobile.

Jim Kerr is a master automotive mechanic and teaches automotive technology. He has been writing automotive articles for fifteen years for newspapers and magazines in Canada and the United States, and is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/01/27/auto-tech-what-is-a-hybrid.htm

Honda Plans to Take On Nissan With China-Only Brand

Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s second- largest automaker, plans to introduce its cheapest car in China next year as competition heats up with Nissan Motor Co. in the nation’s fastest-growing regional markets.

The car, developed by Honda and local partner Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., will have an engine smaller than 1.6 liters and will be sold under a new China brand, Li Nian, Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo said in an interview yesterday in Tokyo, where Honda is based.

China overtook the U.S. as the world’s largest automobile market in 2009, and sales growth in rural areas exceeded that of urban regions for the first time. Honda’s City and Fit compacts, both with engines smaller than 1.6 liters, face competition in China from Nissan’s cheaper Livina model, Kondo said.

“Much of the new demand last year came in smaller cars at lower prices, an area that Honda has traditionally steered clear of,” said Michael Dunne, president of Beijing-based Dunne & Co., which provides consulting services to automakers. “The new brand name allows Honda to step down into territory it might otherwise forgo” because of quality concerns, he said.

Nissan outsold both Honda and Toyota Motor Corp. in China last year, as demand for the Yokohama-based company’s vehicles surged 39 percent.

Small-Car Incentives
The Chinese government reduced the sales tax on new vehicles with engines of 1.6 liters or smaller to 5 percent from 10 percent last January. It said Dec. 10 it was raising the rate to 7.5 percent.

The government incentives reversed a trend where larger cars were in favor, Dunne said. Demand from an emerging middle class in second-tier cities for smaller cars will continue to grow this year, he said.

“The under-1.6-liter mass-market segment is really hot right now,” Kondo said. “We see Li Nian as the product that will be able to compete in this range.”

The best-selling car in China last year was the F3 sedan, made by Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co. and available with a 1.6- liter or 1.5-liter engine.

Honda plans to add on average about 100 car dealerships a year in China over the next five years, and is focusing expansion in suburbs and exurbs of major cities.

The carmaker also plans to build a new plant in Hubei province with partner Dongfeng Motor Group Co. to open in 2012 and will increase production capacity at the venture’s existing plant in the province to 240,000 vehicles this year from 200,000.

Li Nian, which means “ideal” or “spirit,” is the first original brand developed between a foreign automaker and local joint-venture company in China, according to Honda.

Honda may be disinclined to export the brand as it only collects half the profits from the joint venture and the car would compete with Honda’s own-brand cars in other markets, Dunne said.

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-20/honda-plans-to-take-on-nissan-with-china-only-small-car-brand.html?chan=autos_autos+--+lifestyle+subindex+page_top+stories

Toyota adds another 1.1 million cars to floor mat recall.

The accelerator pedal, right, in a 2010 Toyota Camry is seen on the show room floor of Bobby Rahal Toyota in Mechanicsburg, Pa., Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will replace accelerator pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the United States because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats.

Tonight Toyota has added another 1.1 million cars to its floor mat recall in September.

That recall now includes the these additional models:

2008-2010 Highlander;
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Venza;
2009-2010 Matrix;
And the 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe
.

This is in addition to the 4.2 million cars recalled in September for floor mat issues.
Here’s how Toyota plans to fix these cars:

“Toyota's remedy plan is to modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles to address the risk of floor mat entrapment, even when an older-design all weather floor mat or other inappropriate mat is improperly attached, or is placed on top of another floor mat. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included in the remedy plan for any model for which it is deemed appropriate.

Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made available to the dealers for the repair. Customers who have had the pedal reshape remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire, after replacement pedals become available.

In addition, Toyota will replace any Toyota all-weather floor mat in a subject vehicle with a newly designed mat, free of charge. For those customers who have the previous design all-weather floor mat but do not need or want the newly designed all-weather floor mat, Toyota will recover the previous design all-weather floor mat and reimburse its price.”

Toyota gas pedal problem blogs since last year
Floor mat warning issued- September 29, 2009
Gas pedal sticking update- October 29, 2009
ABC News investigates gas pedal problem- November 3, 2009
Toyota announces fix for gas pedal problem- November 25, 2009
More gas pedal problems prompt recall of 2.3 million Toyota cars- January 21, 2010
Pontiac Vibe part of recall- January 24, 2010

Toyota halts sales of 8 models with gas pedal problems - January 26, 2010

Source;
http://www.kvue.com/news/consumer/Toyota-adds-another-11-million-cars-to-floor-mat-recall-82856627.html

Toyota learns the dangers of being No. 1

At the end of the day you can say one thing about this whole Toyota debacle, they are doing the right thing.

Quality problems follow period of rapid expansion
When Toyota Motor Corp. (TM-N79.77----%) was on the brink of overtaking General Motors as the world's biggest auto maker in 2008, executives were busy sending out warning signals about the dangers of being No. 1.

Toyota is now witnessing the realization of those fears, caught in a mushrooming recall debacle affecting as many as eight million cars – a development many say underscores the difficulty of maintaining top-notch quality in a hasty expansion.

It may also be the manifestation of the “big-company disease” that Toyota President Akio Toyoda has vowed to quash since taking the helm last June, aiming to restore the company's solid foundation that he said was lost during a decade of rapid global growth.

Mr. Toyoda has not commented publicly on the faulty accelerators and floor mats since expressing regret for the deaths of four people in a crash linked to the problems in August last year.

“Toyota is the new GM in terms of experiencing quality glitches, overexpansion and the proliferation of new product models,” said Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group.

“Toyota has been too aggressive and perhaps complacent in terms of focus on quality. They can't concentrate on the details with so many models.”

Toyota, Japan's largest company with a market capitalization of around $141-billion, produces dozens of models around the world and has more than 500 subsidiary companies.

Toyoda, who warned last year that his company faced the prospect of “capitulation to irrelevance or death“, citing a five-phase road to demise outlined by business scholar Jim Collins, has his work cut out for him.

The reason? Toyota's recent quality woes are not new.

As vehicle recalls mounted to more than a million a year, then-president Katsuaki Watanabe in 2006 assigned two executive vice-presidents to oversee quality improvements. One was tasked specifically to work closely with suppliers to catch design defects early.

The current recalls in North America and Europe involve accelerator pedals produced by CTS Corp.

Two years later, in 2008, Mr. Watanabe had said those efforts had borne fruit, and that recall cases had fallen dramatically. Indeed, the “back-to-basics” goal was one that Mr. Watanabe had promptly pledged when he took office as far back as 2003.

The latest recall, of unprecedented scale, throws the efforts back to square one.

Mr. Toyoda, the grandson of Toyota's founder, has outlined broad steps aimed at returning the company to profit and speed up decision making, but has yet to announce new plans to improve quality checks.

TOYOTA-BASHING

The level of attention on Toyota's woes – from consumer groups, media and the government – is also the manifestation of another major fear that Toyota has harboured: that public opinion could be unkind to those at the top.

In addition to the recall, Toyota has shut down sales of its best-selling vehicles in North America under pressure from the Obama administration to address the product safety issue, in an almost unheard-of intervention.

Unlike GM, Toyota has feared the backlash and shunned the spotlight as the world's biggest auto maker. As the Detroit giant – once the symbol of U.S. industrial might – faced bankruptcy last year, those worries had escalated.

Many industry watchers say matter-of-factly that Toyota's massive loss forecasts for this year were a deliberate attempt to prevent a potential bashing – a charge that Toyota denies.

Last May, Toyota projected an operating loss of a staggering ¥850-billion ($9.4-billion) for the financial year to March 31. It has since revised that to a ¥350-billion loss, but analysts expect it to end up at close to break-even.

“If I were the president, I would do the same thing,” said Toshiro Yoshinaga, an analyst at Aizawa Securities.

“As long as GM is sick, it wouldn't look good if Toyota turned a profit this year,” he said.
Many also see Toyota's handling of the current recall as an attempt to win over consumers' hearts.

Toyota said on Wednesday it would offer to replace floor mats or accelerator pedals on another 1.1 million vehicles across five models in the United States because many consumers had called asking for a remedy. A Toyota spokesman said there was in fact no known glitch in those models, and that the voluntary action was solely meant to appease worried drivers.

“Toyota is trying very hard to do the right thing and being bold and having large recalls to portray the fact that they are willing to stop at nothing and spare no expense so nobody gets hurt in their vehicles,” said Jake Fisher, automotive engineer at Consumer Reports.

Meanwhile, “challenger” GM has capitalized on Toyota's woes, saying it would offer incentives to U.S. consumers switching from Toyota cars.

But Mitsuru Kurokawa, an analyst at IHS Global Insight, said would-be Toyota buyers would not necessarily flock to U.S. brands, but rather to rivals such as Hyundai Motor.

“And if that happens, there's a chance that the criticism will then turn to Hyundai,” he said.

Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/toyota-learns-the-dangers-of-being-no-1/article1447164/

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Honda Begins Operation of New Solar Hydrogen Station

01/27/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
Honda today began operation of a next generation solar hydrogen station prototype at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., intended for ultimate use as a home refueling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles.

Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user's garage, Honda's next generation Solar Hydrogen Station reduces the size of the system, while producing enough hydrogen (0.5kg) via an 8-hour overnight fill for daily commuting (10,000 miles per year) for a fuel cell electric vehicle.

The previous solar hydrogen station system required both an electrolyzer and a separate compressor unit to create high pressure hydrogen. The compressor was the largest and most expensive component and reduced system efficiency. By creating a new high differential pressure electrolyzer, Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely - a world's first for a home use system. This innovation also reduces the size of other key components to make the new station the world's most compact system, while improving system efficiency by more than 25% (value calculated based on simulations) compared to the solar hydrogen station system it replaces.

Compatible with a "Smart Grid" energy system, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station would enable users to refill their vehicle overnight without the requirement of hydrogen storage, which would lower CO2 emissions by using less expensive off-peak electrical power. During daytime peak power times, the Solar Hydrogen Station can export renewable electricity to the grid, providing a cost benefit to the customer, while remaining energy neutral.

Designed for simple, user-friendly operation, the intuitive system layout enables the user to easily lift and remove the fuel hose, with no hose coiling when the hose is returned to the dispenser unit.

Engineered for an 8-hour, slow fill for overnight refilling of a fuel cell electric vehicle, the home-use Solar Hydrogen Station would replenish the hydrogen for a typical daily driving, meeting the commuting requirements of many drivers. As with the previous generation system, the hydrogen purity from the new station meets the highest SAE (J2719) and ISO (14687) specifications.

Installed at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, the new Solar Hydrogen Station will employ the same 48-panel, 6.0kW solar array that powered the previous system. The array utilizes thin film solar cells composed of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) produced by Honda Soltec Co., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda that was established for the mass production and sales of solar cells capable of efficient renewable electricity generation. Honda's unique solar cells reduce the amount of CO2 generated during production as compared to conventional solar cells.

Designed to support the needs of the future owners of fuel cell electric vehicles, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station was also designed to complement a public network of fast fill hydrogen stations. The Honda FCX Clarity electric vehicle is fast fill capable and offers an EPA-estimated driving range of 240 miles. With fast fill public stations providing 5-minute fueling time for longer trips, and the opportunity of convenient nighttime slow filling at home using a solar station with a Smart Grid connection, the Honda FCX Clarity can cover a wide range of driving demands from the daily commute to weekend trips.

A key strategy in creating a solar hydrogen station for home-use was to create a new lifestyle with convenient, clean, energy-efficient and sustainable home refueling, by addressing the need for refueling infrastructure that can advance the wider use of fuel cell electric vehicles by consumers.

The combination of a fuel cell electric vehicle and the solar hydrogen station could help lead to the establishment of a hydrogen society based on renewable energy, resulting in a major reduction of CO2 emissions and greater energy sustainability.
Honda began operation of its first Solar Hydrogen Station at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas in 2001:

July 2001: 3-unit system with hydrogen storage begins operation.
October 2003: new 2-unit system with an original Honda electrolyzer and a new solar array utilizing prototype Honda CIGS solar cells offers improved system efficiency.
August 2008: solar array fitted with mass production CIGS cells from Honda Soltec Co., reducing the size of the array by 20% and further improving photo voltaic (PV) energy efficiency.
January 2010: new single-unit station begins operation, improving to world's best system efficiency - increasing the efficiency by more than 25% (value calculated based on simulations) compared to the previous solar hydrogen station system, for a world's highest system efficiency.

About Honda R&D Americas, Inc.Honda R&D Americas, Inc. (HRA) is responsible for creating advanced technologies and products in the U.S. that provide new value to Honda and Acura customers. HRA began R&D operations in the U.S. in 1975 with market research activities in California, and has steadily grown its capabilities over the past 35 years to include all aspects of new vehicle design and development, as well as taking a leading role in the advancement of leading-edge safety and environmental technologies.

Today, Honda operates 15 major R&D facilities in the U.S. with more than 1,300 designers, engineers and support personnel engaged in the development of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment products for North America and global markets.

HRA's major centers include the Los Angeles Center (Torrance, CA), responsible for market research, concept development and styling design; the Ohio Center (Raymond, OH) responsible for complete product development, testing and support of North American supplier development; and a dynamic test facility in Ohio; and the North Carolina Center (Swepsonville, NC) responsible for power equipment R&D.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5366

Honda to Debut Next-generation Odyssey Concept at Chicago Auto Show

Finally, some news on the next gen Honda Odyssey! I would venture to guess that they would have a production ready version sometime in Feb/March....
01/26/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. - American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will debut a concept version of the next-generation Honda Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show on February 10, the company announced today.

The next-generation Odyssey will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency. The Odyssey, currently in its third generation, was the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2008 and 2009. It is produced from domestic and globally sourced parts by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC in Lincoln, Alabama.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5365

2011 Honda CR-Z Official Website

For those of you interested in any new news on the 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid, here's the link to Honda's dedicated CR-Z site;

http://cr-z.honda.com/

Toyota suspends sales of eight models due to sticky gas-pedal problem.

Wow, these are strange times....
Japanese automaker Toyota has announced it is suspending sales of eight of its models being recalled in Canada and the United States due to a dangerous sticky gas-pedal problem.
Starting Monday, Toyota will temporarily halt production at six of its plants, including its two in Woodstock and Cambridge, Ontario, until the accelerator glitch is resolved.

The Japanese automaker said the sales suspension includes the following models:
the 2009-2010 RAV4,
the 2009-2010 Corolla,
the 2007-2010 Camry,
the 2009-2010 Matrix,
the 2005-2010 Avalon,
the 2010 Highlander,
the 2007-2010 Tundra
and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

Source;
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100127/OTT_TOYOTO_100127/20100127/?hub=OttawaHome

Monday, January 25, 2010

Honda provides generators, equipment for Haitian earthquake relief


TORONTO • Honda has announced a donation to the Red Cross of more than $300,000, as well as portable generators, water pumps and other Honda products for use during humanitarian relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.

The donation represents the collective contribution of the Honda family of companies in North America, which consists of sales, manufacturing, finance and research and development operations in Canada, the United States and Mexico, with employment of more than 31,000 associates.

"We want to help address the dire human need that Haiti is experiencing as a result of this disaster," said Manabu Nishimae, president & CEO of Honda Canada Inc. "Honda has supported the Canadian Red Cross in the past and we will continue to work with them to assist with the effort to provide much-needed relief."

The disaster in Haiti affects Canada, since a large number of Haitians have made this country their home and many still have families in Haiti. Additionally, Canada has sponsored significant humanitarian efforts in Haiti for many years, which has strengthened the bond between our two countries."

The Red Cross has emphasized that the greatest current need is funding to support on-site emergency response teams. Honda has also been in close communication with the Red Cross regarding its need for material and equipment such as generators and water pumps on site, and Honda said it will continue to work with the Red Cross to determine its need for such support in Haiti.

The Honda donation consists of more than $300,000 in cash. This pledge will be augmented by a company matching gift available at various Honda companies, including Honda Canada, with funds designated to the Red Cross Haitian earthquake relief fund.

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posteddriving/archive/2010/01/21/honda-provides-generators-equipment-for-haitian-earthquake-relief.aspx#ixzz0ddw5CSG9 The

Source;
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posteddriving/archive/2010/01/21/honda-provides-generators-equipment-for-haitian-earthquake-relief.aspx

Honda Gathers Advance 4: technology that combines voice command and gesture control in the car


Honda Gathers Advance 4 is a technology that will combine voice command (voice recognition) and gesture control (command based on the movement) to operate the car navigation system and entertainment media in the car (multimedia system). At least with these two things above, you do not need to turn your eyes from the road.

As seen in the figure, motion sensors placed in the center of the steering wheel so that when you want to access a menu, simply move the hand on the steering wheel and it can be done without seeing.
The Honda Gathers system is a proprietary Honda audio, multimedia and navigation system already on the market in Japan. The idea of using both voice and gesture recognition to control an entertainment and navigation system makes more sense than any touch-based system, so we’re quite keen to see whetre things lead with this.

Source;
http://www.itechdiary.com/honda-gathers-advance-4-technology-that-combines-voice-command-and-gesture-control-in-the-car.html

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD Manual - Short Take Road Test


Another six-speed hit from the makers of the Honda S2000 and Acura TSX.
If there’s one thing that imbues a car with a more sporting character, it’s a manual transmission. None of this automated-manual mumbo jumbo; we’re talking about a true manual with a clutch pedal to the left of the brake and more left-right movement in the shift pattern than just sliding the shift lever into sport. The Acura TL has always been pretty agile and responsive, but the new generation launched in 2009 without a manual.

What a Stick Is Supposed to Be
The TL gets a manual transmission for 2010, however, and although we wonder why—Acura concedes that maybe five percent of buyers will opt for the manual—we welcome any transmission as satisfying as this. In our first drive of the TL manual, we relayed Acura’s boast that these are the shortest throws in class, and we have little doubt the claim is still true. In addition to the tidy throws, the effort is nearly perfect and the action crisp and clean. The clutch, too, is wonderfully tuned with a progressive, predictable takeup and a light feel that requires just enough muscle to keep it from feeling overly assisted.

The manual is only available paired with all-wheel drive—Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, or SH-AWD in Acura lingo—and a 305-hp, 3.7-liter V-6. Additionally, it only comes on cars with the Tech package—premium leather, navigation system—which boosts the manual’s base price to $43,195, or more than $7000 higher than a base TL. You want to row your own, you’re going to pay for the privilege. The only option is the addition of 19-inch wheels and high-performance summer rubber, which our car did not have.

The Perfect Shifter Makes a Car Way Faster
Although the engine and SH-AWD of this car were the same as on past testers, the performance we measured this time was anything but similar. Snicking off our own gearchanges liberated 0.8 second from the 0-to-60-mph time (5.2 seconds versus 6.0) and cleaved a full second from the quarter-mile, and we gathered an extra 4 mph on the way, for a 13.8-second pass at 101 mph.
The manual is a little lighter overall than the automatic (72 pounds), but this doesn’t much affect the TL’s fundamental dynamic balance. Skidpad grip drops some, to 0.88, from the 0.92 g we’ve reported in previous tests, but that’s the result of downgrading from the summer-only Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s on previous cars to Pilot HX MXM4s on this one. Paired with either tire, the torque-vectoring SH-AWD makes it feel from the driver’s seat as if the outside rear wheel were growing in proportion to cornering forces, helping push the car through the curve and mitigating understeer. The car just seems to lean back on that wheel and zip away. Braking likewise deteriorates from a best of 158 feet to 171, although that’s still a perfectly acceptable number.

All These Buttons Are Pushing Our Buttons
We’re not fans of the lack of on-center steering feel and the flinty ride over small, abrupt bumps, but our major complaint with this car remains the acres of buttons swarming across the steering wheel and center stack. Stare at this button crop long enough, and Homer Simpson’s workstation at the Springfield nuclear power plant comes to mind. The “twist here, push here, tilt here” Bop It!–style control knob/stalk for the navigation system doesn’t alleviate any of the stress, either.
However, the most important controls in a car are the ones that control its motion. The six-speed manual in the TL is, like Honda and Acura’s other self-shifters, an altar for those with hyperactive left feet. There are a lot of good competitors bracketing the TL—some that put up better straight-line numbers and some we’d choose over it for a day at the track—but none has a better stick than this. That should make for a very happy five percent.

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q4/2010_acura_tl_sh-awd_manual-short_take_road_test

Safety of cars' keyless entry and ignition systems questioned

Wow, this is a really good read, as a Honda person (only push button start system we have in north america is the S2000), I come across a lot of people asking why Honda has not adopted the Push Button technology, here are a few reasons why (now watch every 2011 come equipped....).
The sleek Infiniti G37 Cindy Marsh bought last August was the car of her dreams, equipped with the latest keyless electronics technology that allows her to start the engine with the touch of a button.

But right away, the system gave her trouble. To get the engine started, she would sometimes have to tap the power button repeatedly. Sometimes it wouldn't start unless she opened and closed the car doors, Marsh recalled.

She eventually adapted to the system's quirks but said that even now she isn't sure how to shut off the engine in an emergency."

I don't know if I ever read it in the owners manual or not," said Marsh, who lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Old-school car keys appear headed for extinction, as automakers rush to install wireless systems that allow drivers to unlock their doors and start their engines with an electronic fob that they never have to take out of their purse or pocket.

Introduced less than a decade ago on luxury models, the push-button systems are rapidly spreading to all segments of the market, including bargain-priced Kias. The number of models with them as standard or optional equipment has quadrupled in the last five years.

Many drivers don't fully understand how the systems work, however, leaving them vulnerable to potentially serious safety problems.

In complaints to federal regulators, motorists have reported that they were unable to shut down engines during highway emergencies, including sudden acceleration events. In other cases, parked vehicles accidentally rolled away and engines were left running for hours without their owners realizing it.

And although traditional keys all work the same way and are universally understood by consumers, automakers have adopted different procedures for using the keyless ignition systems. As a result, owners may not know how to operate their own cars in an emergency, let alone a rented or borrowed car.

"Where you have a second to make an emergency maneuver, you shouldn't have to search around for the right procedure to use on a switch," said Henry Jasny, general counsel at Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., that pushes for laws to make roads safer.

Standards weighed
The risk is considered serious enough that federal regulators and an auto industry trade group are looking at adopting standard procedures.

All of the systems rely on a similar architecture that uses a fob: a small transmitter that communicates with the vehicle's computer. The fob can automatically open door locks when the owner approaches the vehicle, and then the engine can be started with just the push of a power button on the dashboard.

But to shut down the engine while the vehicle is moving, drivers must hold down the power button for one to three full seconds, depending on the make. In some cases, two or three successive taps on the button will work. Mercedes-Benz allows drivers to kill the engine with a single push of the power button, but only if the transmission is in neutral. At least one manufacturer prevents emergency engine shutdowns if the vehicle is moving at less than 5 mph.

Industry officials say that the devices have become wildly popular with buyers and that glitches will be eliminated through the normal course of technological improvements, making new regulations unnecessary.

"We really haven't seen too much confusion with these systems," said Dave Proefke, a vehicle security engineer at General Motors Co.

"As they become more widely adopted, I think we'll find that they converge in how they operate," he said.

Besides offering convenience for motorists, Proefke said, the technology gives auto designers greater styling freedom because there's no longer the need for a key cylinder in the steering column. It also benefits older people who have difficulty removing keys from their pockets or turning a key in a lock.

And "it has that cool factor," said Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing at www.edmunds.com, an Internet automobile research site.

Auto safety experts say the industry needs to do a better job explaining the functions of advanced technology to motorists and needs to adopt common operating procedures.

Automakers are offering the systems on 155 models this year, compared with 41 in the 2006 model year, according to Edmunds.com. Ford Motor is planning to make keyless ignition an option in its entry-level 2011 Fiesta, due out later this year.

Freeway panic
But some owners say that confusing software rules have put them in peril.

Wally Brithinee was in his 2007 Toyota Avalon last August when it began to speed out of control on Interstate 5 near San Diego. Thinking quickly, Brithinee, president of an electric motor repair business in Colton, pressed the sedan's power button, but nothing happened.

"This car isn't stopping," he told a passenger as he felt panic swelling in his chest. "I really didn't know what to do at that point."

Five terrifying miles later, Brithinee managed to halt the runaway Avalon by braking hard and shifting to a lower gear. He walked away unharmed. All that could have been avoided, he later learned, had he depressed the button for a full three seconds, the emergency shut-off procedure used in Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.

A keyless ignition system may also have played a role in the Aug. 29 crash that took the life of California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and three members of his family when a Lexus ES 350 lent to Saylor by a car dealer accelerated out of control to speeds of more than 120 mph before hitting an embankment in suburban San Diego County.

Some safety experts believe that a warning label should be included on the dashboard, telling motorists how to shut off the engine. But industry analysts say manufacturers typically resist installing such labels.

What's more, automakers maintain that shutting off the engine may not be the best option in an emergency, because doing so will cause the driver to lose power steering and possibly braking ability.

Toyota has blamed the San Diego accident on a floor mat that trapped the accelerator pedal. But a September memorandum by investigators for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also identified the Lexus' push-button ignition as one of the "significant factors" in the crash and noted that "there was no ignition key" that could shut down the engine or warning label on the power button to explain how to shut off the engine.

In the aftermath of the Saylor tragedy, Toyota issued a recall covering 4.3 million of its vehicles and said it would modify gas pedals, change floor padding and install new software.

Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the company is also discussing internally whether to change the function of its power button.

And Thursday, Toyota launched another recall targeting 2.3 million vehicles, including many of the models subject to the floor-mat recall, saying their gas pedals could stick.

Paul Green, a human factors expert at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, said he sees the issue with keyless technology as part of a growing problem of high-tech features being introduced faster than the industry is able to agree on common operating procedures.

"The amount of research we are doing is not adequate," Green said.

Motorists are confused even when they pay top dollar for advanced features. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found in a recent survey that a majority of owners of Infinitis equipped with automatic lane departure warning systems did not know that a button on the steering wheel turned the system on and off.

"They had no idea that they had a button on the steering wheel that could activate the system," said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute.

The highway safety administration said in a statement that it has begun to look into possible standards for the keyless systems. And the Society of Automotive Engineers formed a committee in July to examine keyless technology and "study a possible standard on how long the ignition button should be depressed to shut off the engine."

But new federal safety rules or industry standards typically can take years to adopt. The scrutiny is coming eight years after the first system was introduced by Mercedes-Benz.

Abetting thefts
Beyond safety problems, the push-button technology has some idiosyncrasies that have left motorists stranded but also provided loopholes for car thieves.

In early General Motors vehicles with push-button start systems, owners would sometimes shut down the engines with the transmission still in gear.

That would not electronically lock the ignition system, and thieves soon found they could simply get in the vehicle, push the start button and drive away, said Forrest Folck, a forensic mechanic in San Diego who investigated the issue for an insurance company."

Cars were being stolen all over the United States," he said.

Larry Stewart, a former Times sportswriter, discovered an opposite problem with the technology in his 2007 Toyota Camry.

After he parked at a Granada Hills restaurant last summer, the car would not start. The tow truck driver who came to Stewart's rescue wasn't surprised, telling Stewart he had been there several times recently for the same reason.

The driver blamed the problem on stray radio signals, possibly from a powerful police or fire station transmitter nearby. He towed the car 100 yards, and it started immediately.

"It's really unnerving that such a thing could happen," said Stewart, who lives in Arcadia.

Even GM engineers found themselves in the same situation when they parked test vehicles at a Detroit-area shopping mall and found that the keyless ignition system was disabled, according to Proefke, the GM expert.

"It was a dead zone," he said.Proefke said the problem was traced to interference from a nearby nightclub's lighting system, which was broadcasting unlicensed high-power radio signals.

Source;
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-carkeys24-2010jan24,0,6794000,full.story

Report: Honda will develop a hybrid that bests Prius' mpg rating

Honda is planning on taking on the Toyota Prius. Again. Even though sales figures for 2009 proved that people liked Toyota's hybrid more than Honda's, the company is not going to just roll over. There's a new ad campaign for the Insight planned, but Honda is looking a bit further down the line for revenge. CEO Takanobu Ito reportedly told his research and development team to come up with a hybrid that has a better miles per gallon rating than the world's most popular hybrid. Whether this is a next-gen Insight or a totally different hybrid has not yet been decided, but it's going to need a major boost to knock the leader off its perch.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/24/report-honda-will-develop-a-hybrid-that-bests-prius-mpg-rating/

Finally! A Camper Bike....and a Camper Kart....

Camper Bike, a functioning sculptural piece, built in April 2008. A stand alone piece and the subject of a series of paintings.

....and for all your homeless needs....
Camper Kart: a pop-up camper constructed out of a shopping cart. The project investigates habitats and housing; recycling and ecology; exploration and mobility.

Source (via autoblog.com);
http://www.kevincyr.net/index.php?/project/camper-bike/

Saturday, January 23, 2010

2011 TSX will be the first hybrid Acura

With the addition of hybrids to the lineup, Acura dealers are expected to cheer up after having been disheartened over the cancellation of plans for V-8s and rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Honda Motor Co. CEO Takanobu Ito confirmed that the luxury brand will get hybrid variants.

No time frame was given. It also wasn’t disclosed which models will get the technology. An Acura dealer said that a hybrid version of the TSX sedan is planned for the 2011 model year and two other hybrid models will follow soon after.

In an interview conducted at the Detroit Auto Show, Ito said that Honda still has to complete development of a hybrid system for large vehicles.

John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co. executive vice president for auto sales, explained that the plan for Acura hybrids isn’t a new one and that it isn’t a result of losing the V-8 and rear-drive vehicles that had been promised to dealers at a national meeting two years ago.

Honda executives in Japan had an agreement to challenge top-tier luxury brands with V-8 and rear-drive models however; these plans were dropped due to the economic downturn that started in the fall of 2008.

Mendel did not provide further details but he did confirm that there will be more than one model getting a hybrid variant.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2011-tsx-will-be-the-first-hybrid-acura/

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Honda Civic GX the Greenest in USA for Seventh Successive Year

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its environmental ratings for model year 2010 vehicles. The “greenest vehicle” title goes once again to Honda’s natural gas-powered Civic GX. With a ‘green score’ of 57 points, the Honda Civic GX continues its dominance over nearest rivals the Toyota Prius on 52 points and the Honda Civic Hybrid on 51 points. The top ten green vehicles ranged from 57 down to 45 points out of a maximum 100.

The outcome is a repeat of last year’s result, and the year before that, in fact way back to 2004, when the Honda Civic GX was first named the ‘greenest vehicle’ sold in the US by the ACEEE, beating all gasoline vehicles, including all the gasoline hybrids. 2010 is the 10th annual “Green Book(R) Online” ranking of environmentally responsible vehicles.

ACEEE vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan noted, “While clean diesels once again perform well on our annual ranking, high prices both for the vehicles and for diesel fuel have kept them from really catching on thus far. They’re not having the impact in the U.S. that they have had in Europe, and as a result, manufacturers are scaling back production and promotion of diesels.”

ACEEE’s website greenercars.org provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2010 model. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a “Green Score,” a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that cause global warming.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.

Source;
http://www.ngvglobal.com/honda-civic-gx-the-greenest-in-usa-for-seventh-successive-year-0121

2011 BMW 330is pic's leaked

Coinciding with an earlier report, the first images of the 2011 BMW 335is have leaked out, and if history is any indication, we should have all the official details within a few days.

Available in both coupe and cabrio form, the 335is – designed to slot in above the recently revised 335i and below the V8-powered M3 – will reportedly be equipped with the last 335i's twin-turbocharged inline-six (N54), putting out an estimated 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with an overboost function increasing the twist to 369 lb-ft for short durations. Predictably, the 0-60 time will drop to around five seconds and the top speed will increase to 149 mph.

A six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox are expected to be part of the package, along with an M-Sport Appearance package, blacked-out grille, darkened mirrors and a mildly revised suspension. Expect all the information to be revealed soon and plan to see the 335is, along with the rest of the revised 3 series line, in person at the Geneva Motor Show this March.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/20/more-bimmer-leakage-2011-bmw-335is-images-outted/

GearHead Performance introduces 2010 Trans AM

To me, this adds a nice touch to the already nice Camaro.
East bound and down, loaded up and truckin. Let your inner bandit out and check out our new custom Trans Am mod. This 6spd bird has an optional 900hp 6.2 liter twin turbo LS9 under its wings and will smoke any smoky from Colorado to Georgia. It even comes with the optional snowflake wheels in a modern 22”.

Standard: LS3 426 HP
Optional: Twin Turbo 6.2 ltr LS9 900 HP +


Custom suspensions available
Lowered 1" in the front and 2" in the rear
6 speed transmission with hardened gears and drive axle
22" custom wheels (snowflake available)
Functional fender vents for brake heat reduction
Gold interior accents

Source (via autoblog);
http://gearhead-pg.com/showroom.php

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Nissan launches sports car 370Z in India, priced at Rs 53.5 to 54.5 Lacs - Nissan 370Z Pics, Photos, Images


Nissan launches sports car 370Z in India, priced at Rs 53.5 to 54.5 Lacs - Nissan 370Z Pics, Photos, Images

Nissan finally launch its worldwide hit sports car "370Z" in India on Wednesday, 20th January, 2010. Nissan is one of the most loved and award winning sports car since its launch in 2009. Nissan 370Z will be available in 8 colours with 2 interiors option in India. Nissan 370 Z launched with 7-speed auto box and a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Nissan 370Z Price in India:

7-speed Auto Box - Rs. 54.5 Lakhs
6-speed Manual - Rs. 53.5 Lakhs

Nissan 370Z Photos:

















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