The Honda Portals Updated look

Thanks for your patience while I updated the layout of The Honda Portal. I thought it was time for something new. What do you think?




(sure have come a long way from where I started)

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Honda FIT Hybrid: Honda new hybrid to be cheapest one in Japan

* Hybrid cars becoming low-margin game for car makers-analyst
TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co 's (7267.T) new hybrid car will cost one fifth less than the cheapest hybrid on the Japanese market, according to a newspaper report -- a move that may make hybrids low profit margin models for automakers.

The new car will cost around 1.5 million yen ($16,570), making it the cheapest hybrid in Japan when it goes on sale this autumn, the Nikkei business daily said.

It will cost about 400,000 yen less than the Insight, Honda's other hybrid offering, and about 200,000 yen more than Honda's popular gasoline-powered Fit compact car, it said.

"Lower prices are good for consumers but not for shareholders," said Yoshihiko Tabei, an analyst at Kazaka Securities.

He added that the reported price was lower than the market had expected and could lead to a punishing price war with Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) as well as put both automakers at a disadvantage when compared with rivals who just focus on higher margin gasoline-powered vehicles.

"Toyota has finally begun enjoying profits on the Prius and Honda is barely making profits on the Insight. It will be tough for them to make profits on hybrids."

A Honda spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.

The new hybrid will be based on the Fit and share core components with the Insight, reducing Honda's development costs, the Nikkei said, adding that it will be able to travel 30 kilometres on a litre of gasoline, compared with the Fit's 24 kilometres per litre.

Price competition between Honda and Toyota in the growing hybrid car market has heated up since the debut of the Insight hybrid in February 2009, which was quickly followed by the launch of the cheapest-ever Toyota Prius hybrid.

The relatively low prices of the two latest flagship hybrids, as well as tax incentives for green cars, has helped popularise hybrid cars in Japan.

"With prices in the popular range of 1.5 to 1.6 million yen and with the performance of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle, hybrids will be increasingly popular even without tax incentives," Tabei said.

Shares of Honda dipped 0.6 percent to 2,704 yen while Toyota slipped 0.6 percent to 3,200 yen, underperforming the Nikkei stock average .N225 which inched up 0.2 percent. ($1=90.51 Yen) (Additional reporting by Abhiram Nandakumar in Bangalore; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE65M0JI20100624

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Honda S2000 successor to be a mid-engine hybrid

Patent filings in Japan by Honda suggest that the automaker is working on a new roadster to take over where the Honda S2000 left off, according to Autocar. The application says the car will use "an engine being fitted to a centre frame," suggesting that the rear-wheel drive car will be mid-engined.

The magazine believes this model will be a hybrid, though that is speculation based on Honda's ever-changing corporate strategy. As S2000 sales dwindled in recent years, Honda will need to produce something that is both unique and competitively priced. Their push towards vehicles with reduced direct emissions does support the possibility of a hybrid roadster from the Japanese automaker.

After cancelling the Honda/Acura NSX successor, eliminating niche models across both brands, and reducing their motorsports spend -including the cancellation of the F1 team - the company was believed to only be in the "mass-market" game. A successor to the S2000 could keep in line with this strategy, if it is built to directly compete with the Mazda MX-5/Miata.

According to the patent application, the company would use parts and a frame from existing models, though these could be modified. Look for aluminum to be used in an effort to keep weight low. Current speculation suggests the car will be built on a similar platform as the Honda Jazz.

Autocar is hoping for the best, imagining a drop-top with a 50/50 weight ratio, well-geared electric motor, and petrol engine with more power than the CR-Z. Such a model would be capable of sprinting to 100 km/h in six seconds flat, writes the magazine.But until 2014, when the car would be released, we will just have to dream.

Source;

http://www.worldcarfans.com/110062226951/honda-s2000-successor-to-be-a-mid-engine-hybrid

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Retro Take for 2012 New VW Beetle Design Study

Hmmph....I like it....
There's a lot of speculation going around about whether or not Volkswagen will introduce a second generation of the New Beetle. Either way, independent designers from all four-corners of the world are continuing to offer their take on how a 2012 New Beetle should look like.

This here design study for a New Beetle MkII was penned by our Brazilian friend Eduardo Oliveira, who you may remember from previous concepts like the 2012 Jetta, Hyundai i30 Sedan and Ford Thunderbird CC. Unlike David Cordoso's futuristic-looking proposal (see here) that we showed you back in May, Oliveira's design for the New/New Beetle is far more retro.

Source (with more pic's);
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/06/retro-take-for-2012-new-vw-beetle.html

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Toyota to launch two new hybrid sports cars: MR2 and Supra

According to the latest reports it appears that Toyota is ready to built two hybrid sports cars: a successor to the MR2 and a reborn Supra.

First of all, we have the MR2 which is set to receive a hybrid powertrain based on a 1.5-liter petrol engine, just like the Honda CR-Z, which uses a 1.5-liter engine capable to deliver 102 hp but also an electric motor which develops an extra 20 hp. Apparently, the MR2, which will make its debut in 2013, was set to receive a V6 petrol engine but due to the success of the Honda CR-Z, Toyota changed its mind. Regarding the Supra successor, it seems that this car will be inspired by the FT-HS Concept unveiled back in 2007 at the Detroit Auto Show and will receive a V6 hybrid powertrain. Set to make its debut in late 2013 or 2014, the car’s development is now running almost in parallel with that of the FT-86.


Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/toyota-to-launch-to-new-hybrid-sports-cars-mr2-and-supra/#more-8958

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Rendered Speculation: Reader-penned Acura TL Sportwagon

With the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon now on sale and the Acura TSX wagon coming this fall, Autoblog reader Andrew decided to try his hand at producing a five-door version of the larger TL sedan.

By merging the roofline of the seven-seat MDX crossover with the body of the midsize sedan, Andrew has created what to our eyes is a fairly handsome sedan... well, at least those of us in the minority that actually like the look of the standard TL. The D-pillar does look a bit heavy in this application, so perhaps a more forward sloping rear window in the manner of some of Audi's Avant wagons would give the car a sleeker look. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source:
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/rendered-speculation-reader-penned-acura-tl-sportwagon/
Andrew Stump

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Honda Accord Receives New Styling and Increased Fuel Economy for 2011

EPA fuel economy goes up to 23/34 city/highway mpg (+2/+3) on some models; more features and a new Accord SE Sedan model to debut
06/24/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
Set to go on sale in mid-August, the 2011 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe receive significant updates including improved fuel economy, enhanced exterior and interior styling and the addition of a new leather-equipped Special Edition (SE) trim level. Available as either a sedan or a coupe in 4-cylinder and V-6 variations, the Accord offers a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value specific to each individual model.

"For 2011, the Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features," said Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers."

Improvements to vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and transmission gear ratios all contribute to fuel economy improvements. The EPA fuel-economy ratings1 for Accord 4-cylinder sedan models equipped with an automatic transmission improve by 2 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 3 mpg on the highway, for a city/highway rating of 23/34 mpg. (US Gallon)

The 2011 Accord Sedan's exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence with a new style for the front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid, along with a new wheel design.

Building on the sedan's design character, the Accord Coupe's unique muscular stance is enhanced with a bolder front grille design, new front bumper shape, enhanced brakelight appearance and a new wheel design for V-6 models.

Striking a balance between value and luxury, the Accord SE Sedan offers the additional features from the popular Accord LX-P with the added luxury of leather-trimmed seating, heated seats, driver's power-lumbar support and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

New features on certain models include steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe, a USB Audio Interface on all coupe models and Accord EX and EX-L Sedans, and a rear view camera on sedans equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation2 System™. Additionally, Accord EX-L V-6 models receive a two-position memory system for the driver's seat. Additional interior updates on all models include new seat fabrics on models with cloth seats, an updated instrument panel design and more-refined accent points throughout the interior.

Interior styling on all models provides attainable luxury with generous standard equipment, world-class ergonomics and intuitive vehicle controls. The front seats are designed to provide generous lateral support and to complement the Accord's sporty side. The fold-down, rear seatback offers cargo-carrying versatility and also includes a lockable pass-through for long items like snow skis.

New for 2011, the most frequently used climate-control buttons are now positioned on the left side of the control stack, closer to the driver for ease-of-use, and less-frequently used buttons are now positioned on the right side. Vehicle clock adjustment is also made easier by more prominent control lettering.

A 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedans and Accord LX-S, EX and EX-L Coupes. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans produces 177 horsepower.

The available 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine produces 271-horsepower and takes advantage of Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising to improve fuel economy. Preliminary EPA fuel-economy ratings3 for the 2011 Accord V-6 Sedan are 19 city/30 highway mpg, an improvement of 1 mpg in highway driving.

The performance-oriented Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission has a unique 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine (without VCM) that provides a performance-tuned valvetrain, intake and exhaust system to broaden the torque curve in the low- to mid-rpm range for enthusiast-level performance.

A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on 4-cylinder models and a 5-speed automatic is available. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on V-6-powered models. A 6-speed manual transmission is available exclusively on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe.

For safety, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE®) is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE™ design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.

The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2011 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, or 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the model.

Three audio systems are available – all with MP3/Windows Media® Audio (WMA) playback capability and an auxiliary input jack. The standard system provides a single-disc CD player, six speakers and 160 watts of power. Radio Data System (RDS) displays information broadcast by participating FM radio stations that often includes call letters, station type (searchable by genre) and programming information. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on every Accord. The Accord EX Sedan and LX-S Coupe add a 6-disc in-dash changer.

A premium 270-watt audio system comes standard on Accord EX Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models, and includes a six-disc CD changer and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer. XM Radio® is standard equipment on all Accord EX-L models.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System (available on Accord EX-L) uses an 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. Features include the Zagat Survey® guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions. Accord EX and EX-L Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment for connecting wirelessly with compatible mobile phones.

The Accord Coupe (4-cylinder) has 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment, with 18-inch alloys standard on the Accord V-6 Coupe. All Accords feature four-wheel disc brakes.
Currently more than 95 percent of the Accords sold in the United States are produced4 at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, and at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama. The Marysville plant is the sole global source of the Accord Coupe.

1 Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
2 Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.
3 Preliminary mileage estimates determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
4 Honda products are produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5498

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Honda’s Ito Defends Efficiency Lead as Hyundai Gains

By Makiko Kitamura and Alan Ohnsman
June 23 (Bloomberg) -- Takanobu Ito became a star at Honda Motor Co. with his work on the NSX sports car, the company’s most powerful model. Now, as chief executive officer, he’s focusing on fuel efficiency as Ford Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. threaten Honda’s leading position in North America.

While Honda’s fleet is rated the most fuel-efficient in the U.S., Ford’s Fiesta subcompact gets up to 33 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving, compared with 31 mpg for Honda’s rival Fit hatchback. Hyundai’s Sonata sedan tops Honda’s top- selling Accord in economy and horsepower, and its revamped Elantra compact promises to use less fuel than Honda’s Civic.

“Ford is coming back, and Hyundai is gaining market share,” said Tadashi Usui, an analyst at Moody’s K.K. in Tokyo. “The gap between Japanese automakers and rivals is shrinking.”

Honda, after axing its V-10 NSX supercar project in 2008, is redoubling efforts to boost fuel efficiency to fend off growing competition. Ito delayed the release of a revamped Civic compact after telling engineers he was unhappy with its size and fuel economy, said Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s research and development unit.

Even as factors including pricing and design shape research efforts, “fuel efficiency has become the first priority in our discussions,” Kawanabe said in an interview at Honda’s research center last month in Wako, west of Tokyo.

Risking Reputation
Honda’s U.S. sales gained 13 percent in the first five months of 2010, trailing industry growth of 17 percent. Ford’s rose 31 percent in the same period, while Hyundai’s sales grew 23 percent.

Japan’s second-largest carmaker has focused on only mild improvements in fuel economy recently, risking its “green” reputation, said Ed Kim, an industry analyst at AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, California. For example, Honda uses 5-speed automatic transmissions as the industry adopted more efficient 6-speeds, and seems reluctant to use direct-injection and turbocharging technology, Kim said.

“Even before the green thing was big, they were into green,” said Kim, a former Hyundai product planner. “Over the last few years, they’ve been completely leapfrogged in new engine technologies.”

Honda’s U.S. fleet of Honda and Acura 2009 models averaged 23.6 mpg in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fuel efficiency assessment, adjusted for real-world driving.

Hyundai- Kia group vehicles were second in the 2009 model-year survey, averaging 23.4 mpg.

Hyundai models alone, excluding those of Kia Motors Corp., exceeded Honda’s fleet with an adjusted average of 23.9 mpg, according to EPA.

Depositary Shares
Toyota Motor Corp. had an adjusted fleet average of 23.2 mpg, and Ford, with a 20.5 mpg fleet, ranked seventh.

Honda’s American depositary receipts, each representing one ordinary share, fell 9 cents to $29.90 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading, have dropped 12 percent this year. The shares fell 1.5 percent to close at 2,720 yen in Tokyo.

Another motivation for Honda to raise vehicle efficiency is a U.S. regulation forcing an industrywide increase by model year 2016. Honda’s fleet must average 37.4 mpg by that time, a 50 percent improvement from about 26 mpg now, John Mendel, head of Honda’s U.S. sales operation, said June 8.

The global recession following the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September 2008 also spurred Honda’s strategic shift, said Ito, who became CEO a year ago.

“In a certain sense, Lehman was a blessing,” Ito said in Tokyo last month
.
Unlike before the recession, price increases are tough to justify and vehicle size and fuel economy need to “conform to these times,” Kawanabe said.

Prius Competition
Expanding Honda’s line of hybrid cars is part of the strategy. Honda plans to introduce a new hybrid Civic with a lithium-ion battery that can store twice the power of a nickel- metal hydride battery, Kawanabe said. The company will unveil a new hybrid version of the Fit later this year.

Honda’s Insight and Civic hybrids haven’t gained ground on Toyota’s Prius, the world’s top-selling hybrid. The Prius outsold the Insight 6-to-1 in the U.S. this year through May.

One reason may be fuel economy. Toyota’s hybrid gets 51 mpg in city driving, while the Insight gets 40 mpg. Honda Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo also said the Insight, a compact model in the U.S. compared with the midsize Prius, may be too small for Americans.

The company is also exploring stop-start technology, turbochargers and expanding continuously variable transmissions to boost fuel efficiency, said Hiroshi Ataka, a Tokyo-based analyst at consulting company IHS Global Insight.

Favoring Hydrogen Power
While Honda is researching electric cars, it’s less optimistic about demand for them than Nissan is and favors hydrogen-powered cars as the ultimate zero-emission vehicle.

Honda set up a lithium-ion battery venture with GS Yuasa Corp. and can shift gears quickly if necessary, Ataka said.

The company stopped producing the NSX supercar, its fastest production model, in 2005. It planned to reintroduce it this year. Instead, it built the low-priced, sporty CR-Z hybrid that arrives in the U.S. in August.

As a young engineer Ito consulted bullet-train designers to develop an all-aluminum body for the first-generation NSX when superiors considered the notion impossible, according to a company publication.

“I love sports cars,” Ito said at the Beijing Motor Show in April. “But we have to watch the economic situation and our purse strings.”

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-23/honda-s-ito-defends-efficiency-lead-as-hyundai-gains.html

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Consumer Reports: Point/counterpoint: Fresh air in new sunroof trends

Interesting take on things....
Point: More and more automakers are installing large glass roof panels that can’t be opened. If I have a big sunroof letting light in, it makes me want fresh air, too. I’m a big moonroof fan, and initially liked the idea of these larger open roofs.

But after living with several, I’ve found they’re usually too noisy to open on the highway and only really useful on back roads. Plus, if you don’t use the sunshade, they add a lot of heat in the cabin on sunny days, making the air conditioner work harder. Some of these panels-like on the Lincoln MKT and the Volkswagen Passat CC--don’t even open at all. I’d prefer automakers go back to offering smaller, normal, quiet moonroofs.
–Eric Evarts

Counterpoint: I don’t like moonroofs. Sure, they can be an occasional novelty, but I much prefer a lower purchase price, more head room, and reduced risk of problems. Plus, I like a quiet cabin where I can enjoy music or the company of my traveling companions.

For me, the trend of fixed glass tops is welcomed. Exposing more of the outside world can be wonderful on a tree-lined road or even just during balmy weather with fluffy clouds in the sky by day and stars at night. In most vehicles so-equipped, fixed glass benefits the rear passengers, creating a more open cabin feel and enhancing their enjoyment.
–Jeff Bartlett

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/06/pointcounterpoint-fresh-air-in-new-sunroof-trends.html

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The Cars.com Top 10 American-Made Cars

Cars.com's American-Made Index rates vehicles built and bought in the U.S. Factors include sales, where the car's parts come from and whether the car is assembled in the U.S. We disqualify models with a domestic parts content rating below 75 percent, models built exclusively outside the U.S. or models soon to be discontinued without a U.S.-built successor.
In today's global economy, there's no easy way to determine just how American a car is. Many cars built in the U.S., for example, are assembled using parts that come from elsewhere. Some cars assembled in the U.S. from strictly American-made parts don't sell well, meaning fewer Americans are employed to build them. Cars.com's American-Made Index recognizes cars that are built here, have a high amount of domestic parts and are bought in large numbers by American consumers.

Accord Up, F-150 Down
The Toyota Camry, which dethroned the Ford F-150 pickup in last year's AMI, remains at the top for 2010. But the No. 2 model, Honda's strong-selling Accord, surged unexpectedly. Since the AMI's 2006 inception, we've scrutinized two generations of Accords. In the past, Honda sold few imported Accords to U.S. buyers — "a percentage below 10 percent for many years," spokesman Ed Miller said — but the Accord spent several years with its domestic parts percentage in the 60s. That's not the case this year. With all Accords sold in the U.S. now assembled in either Ohio or Alabama, the Accord's 75 percent domestic content and strong sales came close to unseating Toyota for first place.

The Accord is only the most noticeable changing of the guard. Half the models in last year's AMI didn't make it back, including the venerable F-150. Blame a decline in its domestic parts content, which dropped to 55 percent for the 2010 model year. In past years the F-150 has held steady around 80 percent domestic parts content; even last year's redesign, which had the potential to change the figures, returned a respectable 75 percent rating. That's not the case anymore."

Fluctuating [parts content] figures are pretty common," Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer said. Changes in sourcing, drivetrain components or parts pricing "can make the numbers move around quite a bit."

As we move to more global sourcing," Schirmer said, "obviously the percentages change."

Ford has stayed strong on the list, however, with the Escape SUV and Focus small car slotting in at third and fourth, respectively. Although neither one made last year's AMI, both have appeared on it previously.

GM, once responsible for half the models on the AMI, is down to just one player: the Kansas-built Chevrolet Malibu, which comes in fifth place. The automaker's full-size pickups — the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra — were once regulars here. Production of both trucks is split between the U.S. and Mexico, however, and today's models have only a 65 percent domestic parts content.

Chrysler, whose Michigan-built Sebring landed a spot in the 2008 AMI, is back with two models. The Sebring isn't one of them, but the Michigan-built Ram 1500 pickup and Ohio-built Jeep Wrangler SUV make the list. Neither vehicle has made the AMI before. Filling in the remaining places are the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sienna. All three return from last year's AMI.

More Cars, Higher Content
Domestic parts content, the documenting and listing of which has been mandated by the American Automobile Labeling Act since 1994, rates the percentage by cost of a vehicle's parts that originated in the U.S. or Canada. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collects the figures each year, but the list alone shouldn't drive your purchase considerations. Consider the 2010 models NHTSA pegged at 90 percent, the highest percentage earned by any vehicles this model year:

For the rest of the article, follow the link;
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=top&subject=ami&story=amMade0710

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Toyota’s Top Test Driver Naruse Killed in Car Crash in Germany

June 24 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s chief test driver, Hiromu Naruse, was killed in a car accident yesterday in Germany, the world’s largest automaker said.

Naruse, 67, died following the accident near a test track, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing the German newspaper Rhein-Zeitung. A Bayerische Motoren Werke AG vehicle driven by another test driver was involved in the accident, the cause of which is still unclear, according to the report.

“We are surprised by the sudden sad news,” Mieko Iwasaki, a Tokyo-based spokeswoman for Toyota, said by phone today. “We express our heartfelt sympathy to people who were in the accident.” Iwasaki declined to comment on the details of the accident pending an investigation.
Naruse joined the Toyota City, Japan-based carmaker in 1963 and was involved in developing sports cars including the 2000GT and Lexus LFA, according to the Times report.

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-24/toyota-s-top-test-driver-naruse-killed-in-car-crash-in-germany.html

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Me too!: 2012 Hyundai Veloster expected to breach the 40 mpg barrier

I can't help but think that what Honda and Toyota took 50 years to achieve, Hyundai is trying to accomplish in a short amount of time, alot of this seems rushed, only time will tell. Their cars are sure looking nicer, I'll give them that, and only time will really tell if they are on the right track. Competition's healthy though.

Hyundai’s upcoming small sports coupe will pierce the 40 miles-per-gallon barrier, according to Hyundai Motor America president John Krafcik.


In an interview at Los Angeles, Krafcik told reporters that with this figure, its coupe will be able to beat the new 2011 Honda CR-Z, which, which despite having a hybrid powertrain, achieves only 36/39 city/highway when equipped with a CVT and 31/37 with a manual gearbox. The Hyundai coupe, which could be named either Veloster or Tiburon, will be able to achieve those figures with a conventional four-cylinder engine, avoiding the additional cost, complexity and weight of a gas-electric system. Krafcik gave assurances that this model will beat the Honda in fuel economy and will also perform better as well as provide added utility, including rear seats and better access. Krafcik explained that since its coupe isn’t powered by a highly expensive hybrid drivetrain, it’s likely to be priced lower. Krafcik told Autoblog that the coupe will appeal to the world’s younger generation and increasingly auto-ambivalent consumers with additional technology. All Velosters are fitted with a large screen on the dashboard as standard equipment to manage connectivity features aside from the more conventional vehicle functions.



Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2012-hyundai-veloster-expected-to-breach-the-40-mpg-barrier/

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Hyundai launches Verna Transform in India Priced at Rs 6.55 - 9.21 Lacas - Verna Transform Photos, Images

Hyundai India launched the all new Verna Transform, on Wednesday, 23rd June, 2010 with dynamic features and a distinctive sporty styling. Verna Transform gets a fresh new bumper design, new headlamps and stylish new front body coloured grille with gives more aggressive look.

New Hyundai Verna Transforms will compeet with Maruti-Suzuki SX4, Honda City, Fiat Linea and Ford Fiesta. The Verna Transform retains the powerful & popular powertrain of its predecessor. The petrol variants include – 1.6 VTVT & 1.6 SX VTVT – while the diesel variants include - 1.5 CRDi VGT, 1.5 SX CRDi VGT & 1.5 SX VGT (AT).

New Hyundai Verna Transforms Prices in India:

Petrol Version - Rs.6.55 to 7.50 Lakhs (Ex showroom Delhi)

Diesel Version - Rs. 7.87 to 9.21 Lakh (Ex showroom Delhi)

New Hyundai Verna Transforms Photos:

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2011 CR-Z SI or electric versions not in Honda’s plans

Honda’s 2011 CR-Z model will start selling on August 24 in the US. Honda revealed that pricing is estimated to range from under $20,000. (US)

Honda also said that it isn’t planning to produce an Si variant or an electric version of the CR-Z and that a federal tax credit will not be offered with the sporty hybrid coupe. In response to an e-mail query, Honda spokesman Chuck Schifsky said that the CR-Z will not qualify for an alt-fuel federal tax credit because each company is limited to only 60,000 hybrids and Honda hit this number “a long time ago.”

Earlier this month, Honda confirmed during a press conference that a CR-Z Si will not be launched this summer. John Mendel, Honda’s US executive vice president of sales, was asked pointblank if there is a Si variant currently being developed. Mendel replied, “Nothing official.” With regards to the idea of an electric CR-Z, Mendel commented that he “[doesn’t] think” that there are plans to make a purely electric vehicle.

He also said that the success of the pure EV or BEV [battery-electric vehicle] will depend upon the application, charging times and range. Formal pricing information on the CR-Z has not been released yet but Honda executives have said that the CR-Z will be priced from under $20,000, including destination.

A fully equipped CR-Z EX with a navigation system will cost at under $24,000. Honda said that the pricing of the vehicle was kept low because it is equipped with a nickel-metal hydride battery rather than a lithium-ion battery.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2011-cr-z-si-or-electric-versions-not-in-hondas-plans/

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Globe and Mail: 2010 Honda Accord: Accord a choice selection

Choosing a family sedan is a daunting task.

There are way too many choices, including the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and the Volkswagen Jetta – to name just a few. So when it comes to narrowing down your choice, a good option is to turn to the best-sellers like the Honda Accord to find out what all the fuss is about.

The 2010 Honda Accord sedan comes in a number of trims. The base LX model starts at $25,290. The most expensive model is the top-of-the-line EX-L V6 Navi sedan, which costs $37,390. My tester is in between – it's an EX-L Navi sedan with an inline-four-cylinder engine. It's $32,790 and offers a nice balance of luxury, practicality and affordability.

The 2010 Accord is a carry-over from 2009. Design-wise, the Accord isn’t a stunner, but it’s not distasteful either. It has attractive sharp angles across its body.

Even if you settle for the base model you won’t be disappointed. It’s well-equipped for the price, outfitted with power heated side-view mirrors, power door locks, power windows, cruise control and a tilt-and-telescoping steering column.

My tester adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moon roof and a fantastic navigation system that is simple and straightforward to use. Unlike many other navigation systems with touch screens, this one is accessed via a dial you turn to scroll through the alphabet to input your destination. You can even do it while driving, which some people might consider a distraction, like talking on your cell phone. But it’s intuitive and fast – you barely take your eyes off the road to program it. What is distracting is the layout and all the buttons and knobs that surround the driver. It’s difficult to quickly find some functions, like the scan button.

The cabin is spacious and the front seats are comfortable. They’re eight-way power adjustable with height adjustment; while the passenger seat is four-way power adjustable on my tester. The base model gets six-way adjustable seats, but it’s manual so it requires some elbow grease to find the perfect driving position.

Buttons on the leather-wrapped steering wheel let you set the cruise control, change the radio, or adjust the volume. The controls are illuminated so it’s easier to see at night. My tester has an upgraded stereo with a 270-watt premium system with six-CD changer, MP3/WMA capability and seven speakers including a subwoofer.

It also has many useful storage compartments including a centre console bin, front and rear door pockets, a sunglass holder, driver and passenger seatback pockets and dual front illuminated vanity mirrors. A centre armrest in the back has dual cup holders and a locking trunk pass-through to carry longer items such as hockey sticks or skis.

In the rear, legroom is a little tight for taller passengers; but headroom is excellent thanks to the Accord’s tall roofline. The trunk is spacious, too, with 397 litres of room. And the rear seats fold down should you need more space.

My tester has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not enough you can opt for the top EX-L V-6 trim with a more powerful 3.5-litre V-6 engine that puts out 271 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque. Mated to the engine is a five-speed automatic transmission with smooth and seamless gear changes. There’s no manual-shift mode, either, which I like. I rarely use the gadget anyway.

The four-cylinder doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the ride. Even though it’s a four banger, the ride is steady, refined, and compliant. The Accord accelerates quickly and gets up to speed when merging onto the highway with faster-moving vehicles.

It’s agile and perfectly sized so it doesn't feel awkward to park or drive. Visibility is excellent thanks to large windows and small pillars. The sedan also soaks up potholes and other degradations in the road well. But when pushed, some engine noise is noticeable. While it’s sure-footed and comfortable, the steering is a bit loose for my tastes.

Overall, it’s a practical family car and an excellent daily commuter. It’s also more fuel-efficient than the V-6, which is rated at 11 litres/100 km city and 6.7 highway. My inline-four tester is rated at 9.9 city/6.5 highway, which is respectable, especially if you do a lot of highway driving.
All Accords also come with numerous standard safety features such as front airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, active front seat head restraints, ABS with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability assist with traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, child-proof rear door locks and lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH).

Amid the pack of mid-size sedans, the Honda Accord stands out as one of the best family cars on the market.

Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/reviews/accord-a-choice-selection/article1605194/

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Honda Reveals New 2011 Odyssey

Honda revealed its fourth-generation Odyssey minivan Thursday in an online news conference from its research and development center in Ohio.

The location for the conference was important because the new 2011 Odyssey, which will be released in the fall, is the first Honda van developed by a team of engineers in the United States. It will be built at the same plant in Alabama where the current Odyssey is assembled.

The new minivan looks sleeker. It has a roofline that is 1.6 inches lower than the current model and a track (the distance between opposite wheels) that is 1.4 inches wider, also improving aerodynamics for better fuel economy and providing more interior width. Honda added almost an inch of extra shoulder room in the front row.

The engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 with Honda’s three-mode variable cylinder management system, which allows the engine to run on 3, 4 or 6 cylinders, depending on how much power is needed. The old model has the same type of V-6; if any enhancements have been made to the engine for the new model, Honda is not saying.

Much of the information Honda gave out Thursday had to do with the interior and seating.
Honda created a “cool box” that will hold and keep cool six 12-ounce cans or four 20-ounce bottles while the vehicle is running. A new center console between the first row seats is large enough to hold a purse. And it can be removed so someone can walk through to the second row and then be reinstalled.

There are three seating configurations for the second row. The center seat between the two captain’s chairs has been a very narrow affair, but now it is four inches wider so that it might be comfortable for even an adult. The second change is “wide mode” seating that allows both outboard seats to move sideways almost two inches so that some of the largest child seats on the market can fit in all three seats simultaneously. Finally, the center seat has a comfort slide feature so that parents can move an infant in that seat almost six inches closer to the front row.

As for the third row, Honda said the cabin was wider back there to make adults more comfortable by keeping the sliding door motor below shoulder level. Third-row legroom was increased by one inch as well. Honda said it has made the third row “magic seat” that folds into a well in the floor — a concept that Honda introduced to the market years ago — easier to stow or lift. Instead of having to use a handle and a strap, it can now be done with just one strap.

Honda has not announced pricing for the 2011 Odyssey. Preliminary estimated fuel economy for the top-of-the-line Touring Elite model is 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 m.p.g. on the highway. That’s an improvement over the outgoing Odyssey Touring model.

Source;
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/honda-reveals-new-2011-odyssey/

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First Look: Honda's CR-Z Hybrid Is a Blast to Drive. No Really

Hybrids are many things. Efficient, yes. Practical? Sure. Attractive? Hmm, well, maybe. Sporty? You're kidding, right? No one in their right mind would call hybrids sporty.

Until now.

Honda delivers much-needed excitement to eco-friendly driving with the CR-Z, an attractive, affordable hybrid that's a genuine hoot to drive. It isn't, contrary to the buzz, the second coming of the venerable CRX and you aren't going to see it tearing up any tracks, but the CR-Z is, dare we say it, sporty.

The thing is, the CR-Z doesn't feel like a hybrid. There's no lag when the 10-kilowatt electric motor hands off to the 1.5-liter engine. The responsive antilock brakes lack the mushiness found in other hybrids, and the continuously variable transmission is smooth.

There's a paddle-shifting slushbox available if you want to row through the gears, but the six-speed manual — a first in a hybrid — is the way to go. It's much more fun. Trust us on this.
We spent several hours exploring some of our favorite back roads north of San Francisco, and the CR-Z showed its athletic side with nimble handling and reasonably brisk acceleration. The chassis is tight, the suspension is firm and there's a hint of understeer. The car feels a bit heavy — the six-speed model weighs 2,630 pounds — but most of the bulk is down low, and the CR-Z is fairly easy to toss around.

You've got a choice of three driving modes to suit your style. Sport — where we spent most of our time — gooses the output of the electric motor, optimizes throttle response and gives the electric power-steering a tighter feel. Econ shifts the equation toward maximum fuel efficiency. Normal splits the difference.

The gasoline engine does most of the work regardless of the mode. The small (5.7 ampere-hour) nickel–metal hydride battery and 10-kilowatt electric motor are there to boost acceleration and ease the load on the engine when cruising. The gas-electric combo gives you 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque.

Set the car in normal mode and it'll get 35 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway (37 combined) with the automatic tranny. Chose the six-speed and you'll see 31 city, 37 highway, 34 combined. Yeah, you might expect a hybrid to do better, but the CR-Z skews ever so slightly toward performance end of the spectrum over efficiency. Still, Honda says it's among the top-five fuel misers in America (based on combined fuel economy figures of 2010 models).

Around town, the CR-Z trudged through an afternoon commute without complaint. The cabin is relatively spacious and nicely appointed. Our car had the optional seven-speaker, 360-watt audio system and the optional navi (with 6.5-inch screen). Both were easy to use and performed reasonably well.

The seats are supportive, and there's plenty of leg and headroom for all but the tallest people. You've got up to 25.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats, and a huge hatchback makes it easy to use it all.

When Honda unveiled the production version of the CR-Z at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, it all but called it CRX 2.0. It has toned down the comparisons, but the Z bears a strong resemblance to the X. It's wide and low, and at 160.5 inches long and 54.9 inches tall about the size of the Honda Fit. Honda claims it's more aerodynamic than the Toyota Prius.

The car is not without its flaws. The instrument cluster, though comprehensive and easy to read, is laughably futuristic. "Aluminum-style" interior trim always looks cheap. The shifter feels limp — a mortal sin in a car with sporting pretensions. And the rear quarter windows are useless, with blindspots about the size of an SUV.

But those are minor quibbles in a car that'll run less than $20,000 or so when it goes on sale Aug. 24. Choose all the options that came with our test model, and Honda says you'll pay less than $24,000. (Honda hasn't finalized pricing.)

As nice as the CR-Z is, those who truly enjoy driving will want a bit more power and handling prowess. Honda has "nothing official" to say about whether we'll see a sportier Si version, but the tuner crowd already is developing parts. If the CR-Z isn't the second coming of the CRX, it might soon be.

Until then, Honda has done something remarkable. It's made an affordable hybrid that's actually fun to drive, even sporty.

Source;
http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_honda_crz?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29

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2011 Honda Ridgeline Changes for Canada

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline will be the same as the 2010 with the exception of colour changes, no word on those yet, stay tuned....

*UPDATE* Here they are....

From Concept to Ridgeline
Honda's approach to building a truck was to start with a clean slate and create a unique and integrated overall package with distinct advantages that make it a comfortable people hauler, a confident cargo transporter and a practical everyday driver. Traditional truck buyers have had to forego a secure and integrated trunk, athletic driving performance, fuel economy and some passenger comfort in exchange for utility that often exceeds their needs. The Ridgeline addresses those trade-offs and either eliminates or minimizes the choices that must be made between everyday practicality and all-around utility.

This "clean slate" approach was rewarded with the Ridgeline being recognized as both the Motor Trend and North American Truck of the Year in its first year on the market.

Honda Ridgeline: A Next-Generation Four-Door 4WD Truck - Restyled
The Honda Ridgeline re-defines what a truck can be with its true half-ton truck payload capability, an interior similar to a full-size truck and the exterior length of a compact truck. Built on a segment-first closed box unibody frame that combines the strength of a ladder frame with the many advantages of a unibody design, the Ridgeline adds refinement, handling performance, innovative In-Bed Trunk™ and packaging previously unattainable with a traditional body-on-frame truck design. Designed to meet the needs of a growing population of consumers purchasing trucks to support their active, outdoor oriented lifestyles, the Ridgeline delivers the right mix of overall truck capability, towing performance, ruggedness and value in a fun-to-drive and responsible vehicle.

The Ridgeline fuses the core capabilities of a truck, including towing, hauling and off-roading, with traditional Honda strengths including high value, world-class engineering, fun-to-drive performance, and exceptional durability, quality and reliability (DQR) – along with industry leading safety and environmental performance.

Honda Ridgeline Highlights
Four-Door Cab Design with spacious 5-passenger seating and re-configurable second row seating for people and/or cargo

5-foot SRC composite bed with six integrated heavy duty-tie down cleats and 1,100 pound (1/2 ton) bed payload capacity with minimal wheel well intrusion and one of the industry's strongest tailgates, which also features dual-action operation

Exclusive and secure In-Bed Trunk with a volume of 241 litres.

Transverse-mounted 250-horsepower 3.5-litre SOHC VTEC V-6 engine with 247 lb.-ft. of torque

Integrated closed-box frame with unibody construction is extremely rigid and 93 percent unique to any Honda vehicle and supports a 1550-pound total vehicle payload capacity

Independent front and rear suspension

True 5,000 lb. towing capability with standard transmission and steering coolers with trailer pre-wiring factory installed

Advanced VTM-4 four-wheel-drive with lock mode and medium duty off-road capability

Standard Safety for Everyone features include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction

Control, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, front side airbags and pedestrian safety design

What's New for 2011

Colour Changes

Source;

Honda Canada

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Report: There will be no 2011 Honda CR-Z Si or electric-version

During a press conference held earlier this month for the 2011 Honda CR-Z, the Japanese automaker confirmed that there will be no Si version or an electric-version of the company’s new sporty hybrid hatch.

When asked whether Honda would be interested in doing a high-performance version of the CR-Z with an Si badge on it, Honda’s U.S. executive vice president of sales, John Mendel, said that there is “nothing official.” As for as an electric-version or electric-car segment as a whole Mendel said “I don’t think that there’s plans to make this vehicle a pure electric. I wouldn’t say that we believe that the pure EV or BEV will flop in the U.S. It depends upon the application. If you talk about longer charging times and limited range, it speaks to a different usage than a 150-miles-per-day commuter would require.”

Pricing for the 2011 Honda CR-Z will start under $20,000 when it goes on sale in August in the U.S. The hybrid hatchback will not qualify for federal tax-credit since Honda has already passed the 60,000 hybrid limit per car company.

Refresher: The 2011 Honda CR-Z is powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC mated to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system. It produces a total of 122-hp and a maximum torque of 128 lb-ft when mated to manual transmission (123 lb-ft for CVT models). Fuel-economy is estimated at 31/37 mpg (city/highway) for the manual model and 36/38 mpg for the CVT model. Sales begin in the second half of 2010.

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/06/18/report-there-will-be-no-2011-honda-cr-z-si-or-electric-version/

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Honda to Fuse S2000 and Beat Into One

Small, Rear-Drive, Mid-Engine Roadster on the Drawing Board

The Honda S2000 was recently killed and the Honda Beat 660cc minicar of 1991 all but forgotten, but in a strange comeback story, they both may live again -- fused into the one car. We have just caught word from a source close to Honda that the company is busy at work 'molding' the two together in a radical new project that is taking shape inside the halls of Tochigi's R&D Centre just north of Tokyo. Dropped onto a modified Fit (Jazz) platform, the new roadster will apparently employ a rear mid-engined layout. An illustration of what the new car could become is depicted.

It's an intriguing new sports car plan from a company that doesn't really have much left in that genre short of the Civic Si and the hybrid CR-Z (the Civic Type R will cease production in August). We did some background research and discovered that Honda has lodged a patent pending in Japan to build a roadster using a subframe and parts from current cars but adding technology to lower curb weight and reduce production costs. The patent actually refers to the "engine being fitted to a center frame" which translates from Japanese to mid-engined and rear-wheel drive. So it will no doubt be lightweight and have good front-rear weight distribution at the same time.

But whether that "mid-engine" refers to a hybrid, fully electric or fuel cell is still unclear. In recent years, Honda has dabbled in all three alternative forms of propulsion, so it's anyone's guess which way they will lean. It's unlikely the automaker will build the car with a gasoline engine option as that would restrict its international application. And if there's anything the company wants, it's to make this car a global success. Don't expect to see this car on the road before 2014.

In other rear-wheel drive compact coupe news, as we've reported, Toyota too is in the process of developing a vehicle, but it will be a gas-powered, 1.5-liter two-door based on the hot hatch concept from GRMN that it debuted at last January's Tokyo Auto Salon. For those who haven't been paying attention to the company's racing exploits at Nurburgring recently, GRMN stands for Gazoo Racing - Meister of Nurburgring. Called a mini-FT-86 in Japan, the new compact coupe is expected in showrooms by early 2013.

Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-working-on-a-small-rear-drive-mid-engined-roadster/

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2011 Honda Odyssey Video Press Conference Remarks by Art St. Cyr, Chief Engineer and Steven Frey, Principal Engineer Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

06/17/2010 -
Art St. Cyr
Hi, I'm Art St. Cyr, Chief Engineer of the 2011 Honda Odyssey.

I'm here with a member of my development team at Honda's R&D Center in Ohio to tell you about the all-new Odyssey coming to Honda showrooms this Fall.

This fourth generation Odyssey is the first one developed by a team of Honda engineers in the U.S. and it will be built exclusively at a Honda plant in Alabama.

But that's only one reason we call this vehicle an "American Odyssey." The majority of my team of engineers are also longtime Odyssey customers. Many of us have owned three or more Odyssey's in our lives.

And we used this intimate knowledge and experience with the product to create an all-new vehicle focused on the needs of American customers within this uniquely North American vehicle segment.

The minivan segment was built on the strength of the Baby Boomers as the main customer.

We had a major challenge in how to keep the minivan characteristics the Baby Boomer customer appreciated while reaching out to a demanding new customer in Generation Y, the first generation to grow up with this vehicle class.

This required more modern styling and more intuitive features, which everyone likes, but GenY demands, all while keeping the legendary functionality that Odyssey has brought to the market in the past.

The current Odyssey is already a class leader in customer satisfaction and we recognize that.

Our objective is first to retain the core values that have made the Odyssey the industry benchmark for minivans, including class-leading fuel economy, safety, quality and reliability. But to create new value, we focused on three core themes: to make the Odyssey more intuitive, more functional and more comfortable, wrapping the entire package in a stylish and distinctive design.

Our goal was to make Odyssey the ultimate family vehicle, really a vehicle for the modern American family. A customer who is more connected to the world and wants to spend more time with family -- desiring quantity time, not just quality time. So, this is a vehicle we think the customer will want to spend a lot of time in.

Today, we're going to show you the 2011 Odyssey's top of the line "Touring Elite" model.

Exterior Styling
The first thing you'll notice with the 2011 Odyssey is a much more stylish shape.
It's lower and wider, which is not just for a sportier look, but it makes it roomier and more aerodynamic.

We recognize the minivan is first and foremost a functional vehicle. One thing we know and confirmed throughout this development was that minivan customers were unwilling to sacrifice any of their interior space and functionality. So, we focused on maintaining and enhancing this interior space.

Let's talk about a few of the new styling features. We start with premium features like high-intensity discharge headlights in the front, and an 18-inch tire and wheel package.

Inside you may notice the bigger brakes for better secure braking feeling.

And, as introduced at the Chicago Auto show, we also moved the door handles closer together for a cleaner look and added safety and style features such as a turn signal to the side mirror.

As Odyssey customers ourselves, we know the importance of being able to identify your vehicle in a sea of minivans and SUVs in parking lots. So, we gave it a signature "lightning bolt design" for a distinctive and fresh modern look.

Our team originally called this "100 meter styling" because we wanted a strong styling statement that will make it easy for our customers to find their Odyssey in a crowded parking lot, even from 100 meters away. .

This new design also provides better visibility from inside, allowing us to lower the glass line for better visibility for third row passengers.

But with this distinctive styling, we found in our focus group research that people were surprised to learn that we could make this interior more functional and roomy, even with this sporty styling package.

As I already mentioned we realize that functionality is still the main reason people buy minivans. So, our goal was to enhance our class-leading interior functionality from the current Odyssey.

First Row Area
Steven Frey
Hi, I'm Steven Frey, principal engineer for the 2011 Honda Odyssey. As Art stated, we've created a new interior design focused on the three themes of making this Odyssey more intuitive, more functional and more comfortable.

Let me show you specifically how we worked toward this in the front row. And as you'll see, the execution is really about attention to detail from the moment you open the door -- from the convenience of a puddle light at the bottom of the front door to the improved interior ambient lighting in the foot area, and as well as from overhead.

We've made a significant effort to increase the comfort in the front row. One area of focus was to identify the surfaces that the customers most often touch, by adding padding to areas like the door lining upper and the armrests. We've made our customer's "quantity time," more enjoyable on those long family drives.

As Art mentioned, the increased exterior width has directly translated to an increased interior width -- we added almost an inch of extra shoulder room here in the front row.

And to further improve seat comfort, we added a new power lumbar feature, which gives the driver 10-way power adjustment -- something that discerning customers can really appreciate.
In this technology age, we also set out to make Odyssey more intuitive.

Our design concept for the center stack area was to separate the heating & cooling controls, the 12-speaker premium sound audio controls and the navigation system into three distinct areas.

We identified the primary use controls for each, and relocated them to make them easier to find and more intuitive to use. Of course we paid attention to even the smallest of details, like moving the glove box latch closer to the driver, moving the heated seat switches to the heating and cooling area and simplifying the operation of our navigation system.

We also understand with today's modern family, there is an increasing need for hidden, secure storage that is functional and easy to use, so we wanted to enhance and improve their ability to store the ever increasing number of new gadgets in the market.

To address this need, we added what we're calling the "Media Tray," specifically designed to hold things like your cell phones and MP3 players. We even moved the power outlets directly next to this unique new storage compartment and found room to add a cup holder.

Now let me tell you about an experience that one of our team members shared with us.

On his long family trips, he would bring along a small cooler to keep his drinks and snacks cool. The problem was finding a good place to put it that was safe and easy to access. We took this challenge and created the "cool box" function.

Inside this even larger storage compartment there's enough room in here to store drinks and snacks for you and your kids. We sized it to fit common-use items like six 12-oz, cans or even four 20-oz. beverage bottles, and it will keep them cold for hours.

To compliment these functional storage compartments, we also added this new center console, which we designed to hold large items such as a purse. We also looked at the new and unique beverage containers in the market today, and made these cup holders functional with drinks as small as a red bull, or as large as a big gulp. We even made it removable to allow easy access into the second row.

Now, with all of these new storage areas, combined with those in the door liners, you'll have ample room to hold small, medium and large items, all within easy reach of the driver.

Second Row Area
Now, let me show you how we improved the comfort and functionality of the second row, with flexible seating that operates in three main configurations to comfortably and easily accommodate the needs of either adults or children.

The primary seating configuration is with two captain's chairs, and the center seat in the down position. In this configuration, you can really get a feel for the interior spaciousness of the second row.

Let me highlight some of the features here:

Cup and bottle holders in the center console, door linings and the arm rest.

Not only does the center seat make a great arm rest, but we increased its width by four inches to make it a seat everyone can enjoy sitting in.

And, our all-new 16.2 inch Ultra-Wide Rear Entertainment System with the ability to show movies in true wide mode, or split the screen in half, and allow two separate inputs, for those times when your children can't agree on what to watch on those long family road trips.

And as all parents know, kids generate lots of trash, so we decided to add this new feature which we're calling the "Trash Ring". The ring flips up from the base of the center console, and easily fits a standard plastic shopping bag. You assemble it around the ring and it fits securely in place.

Now there's no reason to find empty hamburger wrappers on the floor at the end of your next family vacation.

The primary mode offers the maximum amount of head and shoulder room, but we wanted to offer even more functional and flexible seating configurations, so we took advantage of the wider exterior, and created the second seating configuration called "Wide Mode" seating. Here, both outboard seats move almost two inches, allowing us to fit among the largest child seats in the market in all three seats, and each seat has its own child seat anchors.

The third seating configuration offers the most flexibility and functionality. For families with children in two car seats, we've added a comfort slide feature to the center seat. You can move your infant almost six inches closer to you in the front row. Re-inserting the pacifier does not require pulling over to the side of the road any more.

Earlier we mentioned the low and wide design of this new Odyssey, and here is one of the primary benefits of this wider package. Even with two child seats in use in the second row, with a simple tip and slide motion the outboard seat slides forward creating ample space for an adult to ingress into the third row. And to make this even easier, we relocated the seat lever for more intuitive access.

Third Row Area
While the second row was designed to accommodate three child seats, the third row was designed to enable three adults to sit comfortably.

We made the interior cabin wider back here for increased adult comfort by keeping the slide door motor below shoulder height. This was the key to enabling three adults to sit in the rear.

We also increased 3rd row leg room by one inch and added a center arm rest

New for the 2011 Odyssey, is an integrated third-row sunshade to go along with those in the second row.

The combination of extra shoulder room, leg room and as Art mentioned earlier, the lower glass line, creates a much more spacious feeling in the third row.

So, this is not only a comfortable space for adults, but with HDMI and RCA jacks and a 150-watt power outlet, the third row becomes a great space for families that want or need to create a separate area for older children, away from younger siblings.

Interior Summary
A critical aspect of Odyssey's value to American families has been the flexibility provided by the large, accessible cargo area. This vehicle is used for everything from a commuter vehicle, to a kid hauler, to a cargo hauler. So we needed to focus on what this vehicle can carry in addition to people.

We retained Odyssey's great cargo capabilities for large items like luggage, golf clubs, hockey bags and even larger items such as 4 x 8 sheets of plywood.

In addition, we also added some functional, smaller storage bays where you can organize and safely stow washer fluid, first aid kits and other items that are needed by today's families.

Making all of this even easier to manage, is a further enhancement of the innovative third row Magic Seat that Honda introduced to the industry more than a decade ago. With a more intuitive one-strap stowage concept, we have improved the ability to stow or lift the magic seat with this simple strap. Now, the storage area has become even easier to use.

I've just given you some exciting interior features that make this 2011 Odyssey more intuitive, more functional and more comfortable. I haven't touched on every interior feature, such as the 15 cup holders, cargo hooks and other surprises that we've added based on our focus on the real world needs of our customers -- including those we discovered through our own experience as customers of this vehicle.

Summary
Art St. Cyr
We hope you enjoyed your first look at the 2011 Odyssey.

The reality is that we've only begun to tell you about all of the things that make the all-new Odyssey a truly special vehicle...something that will live up to our billing as the "ultimate family vehicle."

In the days ahead, we'll offer you more information about how we enhanced Odyssey's already class-leading dynamic performance through fuel economy, safety as well as some other proprietary features that create a more intuitive, and functional experience for the driver and all passengers.

We hope you can begin to appreciate the meaningful changes that you will find in this all-new "American Odyssey."

This year marks the 35th anniversary of our startup of research and development activities in America. And in many ways this 2011 Honda Odyssey represents another great example of our ability to design, develop and engineer vehicles from scratch right here in America.

But more important than where it was conceived, is the fact that we created this vehicle with a complete focus on the wants and needs of American customers, and we can't wait to share even more details with you a little later this year.

Thanks for your attention and so long for now!

Video Module Transcripts
Real Family Logic
Art St. Cyr
One of the interesting things is that during one of our team meetings, we actually thought it would be fun to add up how many Odysseys each of the team members had, and over the years, we realized that as a team we have owned 46 Odysseys in our lifetimes. So we have a lot of intimate experience with Odysseys and our families using Odysseys. We used this as an opportunity to enhance some of the already class-leading features that we have on this current Odyssey.

For example, the third row seat has a one-touch, stow function. On the current Odyssey we actually improved that. Instead of having a handle and a strap, we actually changed that to have just a single strap so you can stow and fold the seat down more easily. One of the other things that we did was enhance the logic of the slide door. We know this is a family vehicle that carries parents that are often times dropping their kids off at play dates, at school, at pools, or whatever they're doing, so we enhanced the ability to open the slide door when the vehicle's not in park..

So as long as the vehicle is not moving, you're able to open and close the slide door without the alarm going off. There are many examples of features in this vehicle that are present because we understand the Odyssey customer and how the Odyssey is used. We think it's a much more improved vehicle...a vehicle that customers will really appreciate the attention to detail that we have.

Input from Honda Families
Art St. Cyr
One of the things that was very important for us when we made this minivan, was to make it very intuitive for the customer to use. So in order to validate that goal, for the first time ever at Honda Research and Development, we actually brought our families in to check the vehicle out at a very early development stage. So we had them actually use the controls the way that we thought that they should be used, and what we found was there were many minor changes we could make to make the vehicle much more intuitive for the customer.

On our head unit, we have a CD player and a DVD player. We had a label that said CD and DVD, but during what we're calling the non-expert check, we found people actually trying to put a DVD in the CD slot. So we moved those labels where the CD is on the top, and the DVD is on the bottom. It is now very clear. Also, with our ultra wide rear entertainment system, you can show two movies at the same time on that screen.

We also wanted to find a way to swap the images on the rear entertainment screen, but we found this was somewhat difficult to do. In the end, we added a button that says, "SWAP," to make this function very easy. So, in the end we made a lot of changes. In the end, we made almost 50 different changes based on the "non-expert" check, and we think that the end result is going be a very intuitive vehicle that the customer will really appreciate and easily understand how to use all the controls.

Sleek Exterior, Surprisingly Large Interior
Art St. Cyr
At our focus groups we had an exterior styling mockup and an interior styling mockup that we had customers get in and out of. The general feedback that we received, which really surprised us, was that they really, really liked the exterior styling that you see here. However, when they got in the interior mockup, nobody believed that we could actually fit all the space they found into this exterior styling.

When we asked them which one of the cars was their favorite, they didn't necessarily pick this one, because they said it didn't appear to have enough space for what they need. So, we think they'll be really surprised when they actually see that all that stuff that we wanted to have in this vehicle is in this vehicle.

Walk-Through Flexibility
Art St. Cyr
The current Odyssey has a fold down tray in the vehicle. The purpose of the improved fold down tray in the new Odyssey was to allow the customers to move into the back row from the front row and basically have some walk-through functionality. What we found through our research is that two things happened. One was that customers don't really use that walk-through feature very often. And the second finding was that the customers really desired more storage space, especially in the front row of the vehicle.

So what we did in this case was to try to make the best of both worlds. We installed a center console that has huge storage space inside, enough to fit a woman's purse, CDs and anything that you might want to store in the center console. But we also added a feature that actually made it removable. So for customers that actually desire to walk through into the backseat, they're able to remove that center console, walk through to the backseat, reinstall it, and still have all the storage they want.

Along with that center console being removable, it provides the flexibility of being able to put long objects such as 2X4s or PVC pipe in the removable console space. We think this is the best of both worlds, allowing the customer the flexibility to choose the configuration that they want.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5481

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