Inside Line: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Long-Term Test

By Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor Published Feb 28, 2011Our staff is growing up. We've got two new babies and a new hire with a 5-year-old, so it seems fitting that our long-term test fleet should add a little bulk. In the spirit of baby announcements, please join us in welcoming the 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring to our growing family. This rather large delivery took place on February 1, weighing in at 4,541 pounds and measuring 202.9 inches.What We GotThere are five Honda Odyssey trim levels, with our Touring model ranking second only to the Touring Elite. Included with our Topaz Metallic minivan are 18-inch alloy wheels, dual power-sliding doors, a power liftgate, a sunroof, foglights, front and rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, memory...

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Honda's 'road to zero emissions'

Honda is very much looking to the future - and a clean one too. It will use the Geneva show to strut its environmental credentials"Road to Zero Emissions" is the theme of Honda's stand at Geneva, where it will showcase its EV Concept electric vehicle and a platform for mid-sized plug-in hybrids.The concepts - first unveiled at the LA Auto Show in November 2010 - aim to illustrate the current technology of hybrids, alongside the "near-future" technology of plug-in vehicles and the ultimate goal of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, such as the company's FCX Clarity.Both the EV Concept and the plug-in hybrid platform are integral to the "Honda Electric Mobility Network", the company's approach to reducing CO2 emissions through innovative products,...

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2012 Honda CRV Rendered Speculation pt2

This is another from Japan Car Design Corner, a really good site for Japanese car enthusists! Second time I have seen this pic, this would be something that I'd have to warm up to, the front end is not grabbing me. Anyway, they say style is subjective....Source;http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-honda-cr-v-coming-this-autumn.h...

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Scoop: Next Gen Honda/Acura NSX Rendering

This car has has so many renderings that I am starting to get dizzy just trying to keep up with what all the speculations are, - V8? 3.5v6? High performance 4cyl? Hybrid (please no)? 4WD? Boxter? and so on....Click on the link to get even more speculations!Source;http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/latest-honda-nsx-successor-rendering.h...

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Next Gen Honda Odyssey for Japan

The Honda Odyssey is a smaller van in Japan, much in the same vein as the old 1995-1998 Honda Odyssey that was here in North America. This was taken from a MagX (Japanese auto mag) cover. Anyway, not coming here, but nice to see none the less.Source;http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/02/scoop-on-new-jdm-honda-odyssey.h...

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2012 Honda Civic Trim Levels and Colours available for Canada

2012 Honda Civic DX Sedan Manual Transmission (no Automatic)-Base model, not expecting Air Conditioning (?).....NH-578 - Taffeta White with Grey InteriorNH-700M - Alabaster Silver Metallic with Grey InteriorNH-731P - Crystal Black Pearl with Grey InteriorNH-737P - new Grey with Grey InteriorB-561P - new Blue with Grey Interior2012 Honda Civic LX Sedan Manual and Automatic Transmissions-Expect Air, Tilt, Cruise, XM, Bluetooth, etc....Same colours as above only adding;R-543P - new Red with Grey InteriorYR-578M - Urban Titanium Metallic with Grey Interior2012 Honda Civic EX Sedan Manual and Automatic Transmissions-Expect Moonroof, etc....Same colours as above only changing;YR-578M - Urban Titanium Metallic with new 'GG' (???) Interior2012 Honda...

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Update on the 2012 Honda CRV

Well, I have confirmation that the next generation CRV is indeed pretty much ready to go, however won't be released until the fall this year. Your guess is as good as mine as to what this incarnation is going to look like, however I have been told that this won't be a dramatic departure from the current formula. It would sure be nice to see the 2.2l diesel engine make it's way here, but as far as I know that's not even on the table.Honda has been doing a great job of keeping this one under wraps, I have found a few drawings out there as to what the vehicle may end up looking like (Crosstour front end?), and when I asked a Honda Canada rep (who had seen the 2012) about the Crosstour front end they just looked at me and said 'nope'. That...

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Vancouver Sun: CRV Review: A compact sport-ute evolution

First introduced in 1997, the Honda CR-V is nearing the end of what has been a successful third generation of this compact utility vehicle. It was the first utility vehicle produced by Honda and has been an unqualified hit both for this auto maker and with its owners . . . just ask one.Outstanding in terms of its reliability and excellent resale value retention, the CR-V has evolved over the years and the 2011 edition has also embraced a more stylish cross-over design trend.Yet, it still retains excellent interior functionality and off-the-beaten track driving capability.Last year, CR-V received a mid-life cycle refit, receiving more power out of its one and only engine without compromising fuel economy. Its 2.4-litre four-cylinder powerplant...

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Globe and Mail: Honda unveils 2012 Civic

New model will start rolling off the assembly line in April; Just as the Honda Civic Coupe “concept” was making its Canadian premiere at the Canadian International Auto Show last week, the company released details and photos of the actual production coupe, sedan and hybrid versions, scheduled to arrive this spring in Canada.The 2012 Civic is to start rolling off assembly lines in Alliston, Ont., and Greensburg, Indiana, in April, and it’s obvious that fuel economy will remain a calling card of this Civic, even in non-hybrid versions. Its base 1.8-litre engine will produce 140 hp, as well as fuel efficiency ratings of 7.2 litres/100 km city/5.0 highway, a 12 per cent improvement over the miserly current Civic four-door. But Honda is also dropping...

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Mazda May Exit From U.S. Factory Operated With Ford

By Makiko Kitamura and Yuki Hagiwara - Feb 18, 2011Mazda Motor Corp. may pull out from a U.S. factory it operates jointly with Ford Motor Co. after production turned unprofitable, Chief Financial Officer Kiyoshi Ozaki said.The company will announce plans for the factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, by middle of this year, Ozaki told reporters in Tokyo today. Mazda may also consider overhauling the plant or changing the models built there, he said without elaboration.Mazda, Japan’s second-largest auto exporter, has been hurt by the yen’s sustained rise against the U.S. dollar in recent months. The Hiroshima-based company’s U.S. sales fell 9 percent in January, as increased incentives on Toyota Motor Corp.’s Corolla compact, and demand for Hyundai...

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Jim Smail, Acura Dealer Advisory Board: Acura Q and A.

Jim Smail was into motorcycles before he was into cars. Grabbing a Yamaha franchise in 1974, he added Honda bikes in 1975, saw their engineering strengths and added Honda automobiles the year after that.Smail Auto Group has expanded significantly since then, and it now sells nine brands. Smail has gained such respect among his peers that, in addition to chairing the Acura Dealer Advisory Board, he also becomes chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association this month.Smail spoke with Staff Reporter Mark Rechtin about what the future holds for Acura.Q: How was 2010 for Acura dealers?A: It was a significant improvement over 2009. Not only were sales up 27 percent, which is right up there with the best increases in the industry,...

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Honda Motor To Cut Number Of Directors To 12 From 20 - Update

(RTTNews) - Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC: News ) Tuesday stated that its board of directors has decided on a plan for changes in management and board structures. The plan includes reducing the number of directors to twelve from presently twenty.The plan, which was decided at a board meeting held today, is intended to strengthen the company's management structure amid changes in the economic environment.The planned changes are subject to shareholders' approval at the general meeting to be held in late June 2011 and a decision at the board meeting to be held immediately thereafter.According to the company, in 2005, it had implemented an operating officer system to strengthen the execution of regional and on-site operations and...

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Honda Showcases Tuning Potential With REMIX CR-Z and Accord Tuner Cars [CIAS 2011]

By Colum Wood at AutoguideHonda is well aware that it has a strong following of enthusiasts who love to modify their cars and with the launch of the 9th generation Civic expected later this year, the Japanese automaker is catering to its fan base, displaying a few tuner cars at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.Flanking the new Civic Si Concept and Civic Sedan Concept are what Honda is calling the REMIX CR-Z and REMIX Accord Coupe, built in association with Performance Auto & Sound Magazine (PASMAG).As expected with PASMAG, both cars have big audio systems, but otherwise the builds are surprisingly clean, both using matte white and matte black paint, with tame aero kits, suspension drops and some nice Enkei wheels. For all...

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All-New 2012 Honda Civic Emphasizes Style, Fuel Economy and Performance

02/17/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.Featuring the widest array of engine choices available in its class, the 2012 Civic is designed to even better meet the diverse needs of the compact-vehicle buyer when it launches this spring.The entire redesigned ninth-generation Civic lineup will become more fuel efficient with two models – the all-new Civic HF and the Civic Hybrid – each delivering fuel economy estimates of more than 40 mpg on the highway.Built on the tradition of Honda fuel efficiency, the economical Civic HF model will be the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup when it launches this spring. Equipped with a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the Civic HF is targeted to earn EPA-estimated fuel economy1 of 41 mpg on the highway....

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Another 2012 Honda CRV Artistical Rendition

Stumbled across this in http://www.crvownersclub.com/ , definately looks like a Honda Accord CrossTour front and gives it an almost 'Mitsubishi-ish' look to it, not sure what to think about this one.......

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Honda Civic Ti Limited Edition

I always thought that these UK versions would make their way over here with an Acura badge, guess not....The Japanese car maker is introducing the Honda Civic Ti, a limited edition model which combined 'race-car looks' with high-spec interior equipment, and which is based on the 1.4 and 1.8 i-VTEC SE.According to the company, the Honda Civic Ti has been inspired by their Racing British Touring Car challenger, so it features 17 inch 'Pro Race' matt black wheels, redesigned front and rear spoilers, new side sills, and a rear body skirt, plus the exclusive Premium White Pearl body paint.At the interior the Honda Civic Ti features the Pioneer Navigation Multimedia System which includes a 3D touch screen, a map database covering 44 countries, a...

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HONDA JAZZ HYBRID - LOW EMISSIONS AND PRACTICALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Not for North America....The Jazz Hybrid made its world motor show debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, further demon-strating Honda's continuing commitment to petrol-electric hybrid technology.The new version will be sold alongside a revised version of the petrol Jazz and marks the first time a parallel hybrid vehicle has been available to B-segment consumers. Importantly the Jazz Hybrid will not lose any of the practicality of the conventional car, with the compact nature of the Honda IMA system allowing the B-segment car to retain its ultra-flexible "Magic Seats" and 300 litres of boot space.The IMA battery pack and power control unit have been integrated in the area under the boot floor, retaining the normal boot area and allowing the "Magic...

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Volt and Leaf Fail to Topple Honda Civic GX From Green Book List

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a Washington-based nonprofit group financed by foundations, electric utilities and state and federal agencies, released its annual list of the 12 greenest vehicles of the model year on Tuesday. With five models having displaced 2010 honorees, this year’s list differs markedly from last year’s group.With the Nissan Leaf electric car and Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid now being delivered in the United States, one would think they would duke it out on the group’s list for top honors, too. Not so.The Leaf earned second place in this, the council’s 14th Green Book annual ranking. As for the Volt? It managed a 12th-place finish, while topping the list for the eighth consecutive year was the Honda...

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What should Honda do to the (2013?) Honda Accord for North America?

This is not the next Honda Accord.Here are some facts to consider about what type of direction this car should go, it is no secret that here in Canada we prefer the smaller cars, our 2010 Honda Civic sold 57,501 units VS the 2010 Honda Accord which sold a paltry 14,659 (down I might add from 16,017 in 2009). However in the US, different story, the 2010 Honda Accord sold 311,381 (up I might add from 290,056 in 2009) and placed 2nd overall for cars sold in the US (Toyota Camry sold 327,804 units). The 2010 Honda Civic sold 260,082. So, in the US, it's obvious that they like the larger cars. Looking at these numbers, and thinking of North America as a whole, I would have to say that the car is the right size. I will start this off by going...

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Rendered Speculation: 2012 Honda CRV

Not sure where they dug up this sketch, but it's here none the less....Source;http://cheapsportscars.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-honda-cr-v-coming-this-autumn.h...

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Cars.com: $29,000 SUV Shootout: The Results

Here's an interesting review, done by a interesting choice of reviewers, didn't know that Joey Lawrence was a car guy (mind you, I do seem to remember him being a mechanic on his show). I find it frustrating that one of the biggest cons against the CRV is style, which in my opinion is one of the most subjective things when reviewing a vehicle.... can't wait for the 2012, although I have no problems with the 2011. Which SUVs?How did we pick these SUVs? In many cases, we let the automakers pick them. We talked to J.D. Power & Associates to see which SUVs consumers cross-shopped with the Chevrolet Equinox and the Hyundai Santa Fe. They came back with this list: Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Kia Sorento, GMC Terrain and Dodge Journey....

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Honda's big hopes for a new Civics generation

GREG KEENAN — AUTO INDUSTRY REPORTERMARKHAM, ONT.— From Tuesday's Globe and MailPublished Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 7:49PM ESTLast updated Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011 8:55AM ESTIf Honda Canada Inc. (HMC-N43.950.150.34%) president Masahiro Takedagawa is worried about the Civic plunging out of first place in compact car sales last month, he’s not showing it.Sales of Honda’s most important vehicle stumbled badly last month, dropping 51 per cent compared to the previous January. They sat behind sales of five other compact cars: the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus.“January was a bit unlucky,” Mr. Takedagawa said in an interview, attributing some of the drop to snowstorms wreaking havoc on sales.“We do also have the...

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