Pioneer: Honda Motor Completed Payment For New Share Buy

TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Pioneer Corp. (6773.TO) said Tuesday that Honda Motor Co. (7267.TO) has completed payment of around Y2.50 billion for new shares in the electronics company.Pioneer issued 14.7 million new shares to Honda for Y170 per share. The company said it plans to use the capital to develop new in-vehicle electronics products.With a 4.5% stake, Honda is now one of the leading shareholders in Pioneer. Sharp Corp. (6753.TO), which holds 9.19%, is the company's largest shareholder.Pioneer originally announced the share issue plan in April 2009, but postponed it a number of times as it said it wanted to give other potential investors the same offer terms as Honda. Source;http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100323-700837.html?mod=WSJ_l...

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Honda Motors to release portable power generator (for Japan)

Not Auto news, but Honda news none the less....Honda Motor Co. has announced it will release a portable power generator fueled by butane gas cartridges in May, mainly for outdoor use and in case of disasters.The new power generator, dubbed "enepo," is easy to carry around like a small suitcase with wheels. Users can simply generate electricity by putting a pair of butane gas cartridges into the generator, turning it on and pulling a cord.Compared to existing gasoline-fueled models, the fuss-free generator is capable of up to 2.2 hours of continuous operation and provides 100 volts -- the same amount as household power supplies.The generator can supply power to computers, lighting equipment, electric tools and outdoor cooking tools. It can also...

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2012 Honda FIT/Jazz Hybrid caught Testing in Germany

No official word on whether or not this will land on our shores here in North America....NEW SPY PHOTOS obtained today reveal that development of the upcoming 2012 Honda Jazz Hybrid continues apace.Joining the new CR-Z and Insight hybrids, the Jazz Hybrid - to be sold overseas as the Fit Hybrid - is expected to use a powertrain based on the Insight's 1.3 litre petrol engine and 10kW electric motor.With the Jazz already a frugal car, achieving 6.4 l/100km, success will perhaps lie in the lower development and production cost of Honda’s hybrid systems compared to other manufacturers.If these new spy photos are anything to go by, the styling of the Jazz Hybrid is unlikely to differ greatly from the regular petrol-powered model, the most likely...

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HA! I guess I made it big time now!

Well, I recieved my first Legal Request to remove a post, I guess I've made it BIG TIME now....lol. I won't even go into what the post was about b/c I don't want to be responsible for any extra attention brought to this company's creative team. Too bad too, it was done by a Canadian Ad agency, and it was good work, they should be proud of themselves. All I was doing was spreading the word....

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C-West Developing Aero For Honda CR-Z, Insight And RX-8

Kansai aero parts specialists C-West have also got their hands on Honda’s latests hybrids and will soon have aero kits available.It seems that companies would be crazy not to offer at least something for the Honda CR-Z with customers starting to take delivery of their new cars now. I’ve seen a few CR-Zs on the streets in and around Osaka and Kobe and it looks very slick in the metal. C-West makes some very good looking (and functional) aero kits and the new design in store for the CR-Z looks to continue that tradition. The CR-Z isn’t the only car to receive attention though, the Honda Insight and Mazda RX-8 are also in line to get some C-West treatment. More info will be available nearer to the release date but for now, we have these renders...

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TOV Reader snags more 2011 Honda Odyssey Spyshots

"These are likely the first spy shots of a near-production 2011 Odyssey to hit the web, courtesy of TOV reader Nick Longo."Source;http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=889...

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2011 Honda Odyssey Spyshot

Another nice Burlapp find, I knew it would only be a matter of time before these surfaced. Looks almost exactly like the concept....Source;http://www.burlappcars.com/2010/03/2011-honda-odyssey.h...

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Watch the All-New TSX Sport Wagon Debut Live from the New York Auto Show

03/24/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -For those who cannot attend the New York International Auto Show in person, Acura will unveil the all-new 2011 TSX Sport Wagon live via webcast at www.acuranews.com/live on March 31st at 3:35 PM, EST. Following the press conference at 4:30 PM (EST), Acura will conduct a live Q&A session on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Acura_Insider with Vicki Poponi, Assistant Vice President of Product Planning. Participants are encouraged to follow @Acura_Insider on Twitter to join the conversation and use the hashtag #tsxwagon when asking questions.For media information and high-resolution photos of the Acura TSX Sport Wagon, please visit www.acuranews.com just after the reveal. For consumer information, please visit www....

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P4: Honda’s Asimo humanoid gets a re-design after 13 year [Update: No, he doesn't]

Honda’s Asimo is probably the world’s most famous humanoid robot. The company today leaked the first technical details and pictures of the fourth version of Asimo, the P4. And the new and improved Asimo, which took 13 years for Honda to develop (P3 was unveiled in 1997), looks much more elegant and human astronaut-like than the previous models.Standing 160cm tall, Asimo is probably only second in height to “tower robot” Tsutenkaku. P4 is as tall as P3, but Honda managed to reduce his weight from 130kg to 80kg. He now has 34 joints (two more joints in each hand than P3) and is said to be able to dance better than his predecessors (“dancing” was always one of Asimo’s special skills).Update: Sorry readers, it looks as if P4 is just being publicly...

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Honda's Hybrid Shatters Sales Target in First Month

By MARIKO SANCHANTA And HIROYUKI KACHIAs Toyota Motor Co. attempts to rebuild its reputation around the world, Honda Motor Co. on Wednesday said orders for its new hybrid sports car exceeded its forecast by 10 times, quietly stealing the march from its main Japanese rival.Honda Motor Co. unveiled its CR-Z model in Japan roughly a month ago, making it the first mass-market hybrid sports car to hit dealerships. The company said cumulative orders for the car had exceeded 10,000 vehicles, far surpassing its monthly sales target of 1,000 vehicles.Japan's second-largest car maker plans to introduce the model in the U.S. and Europe after June, with a combined annual sales target of 40,000 to 50,000 in the three markets. The move comes as Honda has...

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Euro Fit getting Si Treatment

A new set of shiny 16-inch alloy wheels along with a chrome sports front grille and rear spoiler, embroidered carpet mats and Si branding on the boot lid and glove box is what makes the new "Si" grade sporty and "appealing to young drivers who want their car to stand out from the crowd" in Honda UK's eyes.We beg to differ but if the Jazz Si makes you heart swing, the new trim level is priced at an additional £870 over the 1.2 SE and 1.4 ES models offering (always according to Honda) nearly £2,000 worth of extra equipment.On-the-road prices in the United Kingdom are set at £12,835 and £13,510 for the 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter Jazz respectively with sales starting from April 1 - no joke.Source;http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/03/honda-launche...

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Edmunds.com Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z First Drive

A Tesla Roadster at a Honda PriceBy Peter Nunn, Contributor Published Mar 17, 2010Finally the 2011 Honda CR-Z has come down off the stand at the auto shows and it's sitting right here on the asphalt on Naruto Skyline, a mountain road down the spine of Shikoku, the smallest of the main islands of Japan. We've been waiting to get behind the wheel of this car since the concept first appeared at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, and now we're getting our chance.Already there's plenty of hype building for the car's introduction to the U.S. late this summer, as American Honda has already built a Web site to promote the car's arrival. But this is the real car in front of us, ready to be released into the Japanese market, and Honda officials tell us that...

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Canadian 2011 Honda Pilot Information

No news on a special edition EX-L Navi like in the US.... 2011 Honda Pilot LX 2WDModel Code: YF3H2BEColours;-NH-603PX BWhite (Grey Interior)-NH-700MX TSilver (Grey Interior)-NH-731P Black (Grey Interior)-NH737MX XGrey (Grey Interior)2011 Honda Pilot LX 4WDModel Code: YF4H2BEColours;-Same as above2011 Honda Pilot EXModel Code: YF4H4BEColours;-Same as above plus;-R-529P Red (Grey Interior)2011 Honda Pilot EX-LModel Code: YF4H5BJNColours;-Same as above plus;-NH-731PX XBlack (Beige Interior)-YR-573MX XBeige (Beige Interior)2011 Honda Pilot EX-L RES (Rear Entertainment System DVD)Model Code: YF4H6BJNColours;-Same as above2011 Honda Pilot TOURINGModel Code: YF4H9BKNColours;-Same as above*The 2011's are on their way and should be at dealers...

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Honda's Global Small Concept

Toyota's Etios is on the attack, but that has not kept heir-apparent Honda from bringing out its own saber. The Honda Global Small Concept will not just defend Japan's no. 2, but may also get it into a coup-de-grace positionIt is like fencing, this game of domination between the two Japanese bigwigs - Honda and Toyota. While the world's biggest car maker has often been on higher ground around the world, and Honda has been playing the aggressor. In India however, Honda SIEL's headstart has paid off well not only in terms of its portfolio and profits, but also by developing it into a trusted, popular and more prolific brand than Toyota. Clearly, since the underdog is often better placed to attack, Toyota has lunged for contact at the Auto Expo...

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Honda Plans Lithium-Ion Civic to Narrow Toyota’s Lead

March 18 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s second- largest carmaker, plans to introduce lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid cars as it struggles to narrow Toyota Motor Corp.’s lead in sales of gasoline-electric cars.Honda plans to use lithium-ion batteries in its Civic compact “within the next two to three years,” as well as in its Acura luxury cars and other models, Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo said in an interview.Honda has failed to match Toyota’s success with hybrids, led by the top-selling Prius. Lithium-ion batteries can store as much as twice the energy of nickel-metal hydride batteries that currently power the Prius and Honda’s Civic, Insight and CR-Z hybrid models, said Takeshi Miyao, a supply-chain analyst for auto consultant...

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Bentley launched Mulsanne in India priced at Rs. 2.90 Crores | Bentley Mulsanne Photos, Pictures, Images

High end luxury car maker Bentley launched its flagship model "Mulsanne" in India at the British High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi. The new Bentley V8 engine is lighter and features cylinder de-activation and variable cam phasing, a combination that can significantly reduce both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.Bentley Mulsanne Price in India: Rs. 2.90 CroresBentley Mulsanne Phot...

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2011 Honda Pilot SUV Offers Room for Eight People, Standard V-6 Power with Variable Cylinder Management and Available VTM-4 Four-Wheel-Drive

Pilot EX-L adds available navigation system for 2011 (not sure if this is going to be in Canada too, I'll let you know once I know). I will say this, 2010 pretty much just started! This early introduction thing is getting silly, call it a 2010.5 or something....03/15/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -The Honda Pilot earned its reputation as one of the original innovators in the crossover SUV segment, raising the prominence of on-road driving sophistication, three-row passenger capability and higher fuel efficiency compared to conventional SUV designs.Currently in its second generation, the Pilot continues to represent the refined, comfortable, and family-oriented vehicle choice with space for eight passengers and a wide variety of useful capabilities...

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2010 Honda CR-V EX-L NAVI Review

Standing out from the crowd is no small task for compact sport utility vehicles. The competition in this market segment keeps getting wider and fiercer. Yet, at the same time, most entries feature similar aesthetics, making the selection a tough dilemma.The front grille stretches wide to form a complex structure that integrates a pair of tapered headlight clusters for a unique crowning effect.How does the Honda CR-V continue to shine, then? Well, this popular Japanese SUV boasts a rather distinctive silhouette and, while extreme off-road trips are definitely not its game, it offers a smooth, uneventful ride along with a sensible, fuel-efficient operation.Sensible — now that’s a word that perfectly defines all aspects of the 2010 Honda CR-V.Singular...

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Toyota executives to testify in Ottawa

More and more stuff is coming out about this Sikes guy....Toyota owner James Sikes tells reporters that his Prius reached speeds topping 150 km/h after the accelerator became stuck on a San Diego County highway. Several Toyota executives are scheduled to appear at a House of Commons committee hearing in Ottawa to answer questions about recent recalls.Toyota has recalled about 8.5 million vehicles worldwide since last fall because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius.MPs will question Yoichi Tomihara, president and CEO of Toyota Canada, about sticky accelerators and safety concerns.Yoshi Inaba, president and chief operating officer of Toyota North America, is also scheduled to appear before the Standing...

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UK AutoExpress Review: 2011 Honda CRZ

Exclusive verdict on Honda’s revolutionary new performance hybridBritain’s love affair with hybrid cars is growing ever stronger – but until now, our obsession has been built on machines that offer low CO2 and high mpg, rather than great performance. So, can this bullet-shaped new 1.5-litre hybrid coupé be the car to put that right? The daring Honda CR-Z will hit UK roads in June, and with prices set to start at £16,999, the CR-Z is aiming to reinvent the sector. It has a 0-60mph sprint time of less than 10 seconds, and an emphasis on performance that has been missing from petrol-electric rivals. To find out more, we headed to the scenic southern Japanese island of Shikoku foran early first drive.Under the skin, the new CR-Z is loosely based...

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