Honda Mugen CR-Z RR Study

Here's a new set of photos of the Honda CR-Z Mugen RR competition study that made its debut alongside the more production ready CR-Z Mugen Concept at the beginning of July in the Moving Motor Show area at Goodwood Festival of Speed.
While the CR-Z Mugen was designed and built by "MUGEN EURO" based in the UK, the more hardcore RR model is the work of the firm's Japanese division.
The CR-Z Mugen RR features a range of bespoke prototype parts, several of which are made from carbon fibre, including the bonnet, passenger doors and rear tailgate. Other unique parts to the car include a full-length carbon-fibre underbody, a twin central-exit exhaust, vented front bumpers and race-developed suspension.
A set of orange-colored 4-piston monobloc brake calipers and forged 18-inch alloy wheels in black along with the lively Valencia Orange Pearl paint round off the exterior looks.
As for the cabin, Mugen dressed the seats in a combination of orange leather and black Alcantara and plenty of carbon fiber trim that covers the dashboard, the door panels and the center console.
A key highlight of the CR-Z RR's interior is the addition of a race-developed information screen that can record chassis and engine data while also housing a Satellite navigation and audio system.

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2012 Honda Civic European Hatchback

The ninth generation Civic hatchback for the European market will soon make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September but Honda has provided us with a sneak peak of the five-door model with photos of a camouflaged prototype and a video explaining the changes under the body.

The Civic hatchback has been designed exclusively for Europe and will continue to be a separate model from the North American four-door sedan and two-door coupe variants with which it shares the same name.
The photos of the test car suggest that Honda will keep the edgy styling of the current model including the hidden door handles tucked away at the corners of the rear windows. However, the new Civic will be a tad longer improving passenger space.
Underneath the sheetmetal, Honda makes it a point to state that the European Civic will sport a heavily revised suspension that will significantly improve the car's ride quality, comfort as well as handling and body control.
Honda says it has achieved this even though the Civic, unlike many of its competitors in the C-segment like the Golf that feature fully independent, sophisticated multi-link suspension systems at the rear, retains a rear torsion beam.
A key change to the rear suspension system is the adoption of what Honda engineers describe as "clever fluid-filled compliance bushes".
The Japanese automaker is still keeping mum on the powertrain details, but according to our sources, one of the new introductions to the range will be a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will slot right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.

VIDEO

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2012 Honda Pilot

Tis' the season for changes at Honda. After the news on the 2012 CR-V Concept that previews the soon-to-be-launched production model, yet another official photograph of a new Honda model is making the internet rounds. This time it is the redesigned 2012 Pilot SUV.
The facelift comes three years after the introduction of the second generation Pilot in 2008. The most noticeable change is the brand-new and simpler looking three-slate front grille that replaces the oddly styled fascia of the outgoing model.
The new trim elements of the lower front grille and fog light surrounds, along with the new alloy wheel designs and exterior mirrors that incorporate turn signals, sum up the exterior changes.
Honda has not yet issued an official announcement, but it is reported that the 2012 Pilot will also benefit from a six-speed automatic transmission that replaces the 2011MY's 5-speed unit, as well as a refreshed interior with new navigation and audio systems.

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Honda Announces 2012 CR-V Concept

An online leak resulted to a photo of Honda's 2012 CR-V Concept appearing on the internet earlier today, but now the Japanese carmaker has given in and released a high-resolution image as well as initial information on the crossover model.


Honda said that the concept will make its first public outing at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, in September 2011, and go on sale in North America by the end of the year, and in Europe in Autumn 2012. This means we will probably see the final production model at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
It's pretty much clear that the 2012 CR-V Concept is more of a pre-production model with some fancy trim like the smoked out headlamps and glossy black moldings than a pure study.
"The 2012 CR-V Concept introduces the exterior styling for the more sophisticated and dynamic design of the upcoming production model," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda.
"Long considered the benchmark for packaging and user-friendly design in the small SUV segment, the all-new CR-V will offer an added dimension of style, amazing interior versatility and Honda's latest technologies for convenience and refinement," he added.
Though we only get a glimpse of the rear end, Honda said that the current model's signature vertical rear taillights remain for 2012 with "a more three-dimensional style that wraps further into the design of the vehicle".
The Japanese automaker added that the latest CR-V will also feature an "all-new interior with a more accommodating and spacious design with a lower cargo floor", "a more fuel-efficient engine" and "reduced body weight" without getting into any further details.
Aside from a gasoline engine with a smaller displacement than its North American counterpart, the European version will also be available with a more frugal turbo diesel unit.

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2012 Honda Ridgeline

As you probably expected after the introduction of the 2012 Pilot, Honda also announced the first details on its updated for the new model year Ridgeline pickup truck.

The big news is the addition of a new member to the Ridgeline family called Sport that supposedly targets customers looking for more personalized and slightly sinister looks.
The package comes with special black accents, which can be found on the newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels, the headlamps, the brake light housings and the restyled honeycomb grille.
As with the 2012 CR-V Concept and the 2012 Pilot that were both teased today, Honda has not released any further information on the Ridgeline.
However, North American buyers should expect the non-sport variants of the pickup truck to benefit from a new grille design similar to the one found on the revised Pilot and possibly, the introduction of a six-speed automatic transmission and minor tweaks to the engine as well as the interior.

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Toyota and Honda want to Win Back Sales Share from Hyundai Sonata

Not too long ago, if someone told you that a South Korean model would challenge America�s best selling sedan, the Toyota Camry, you would have probably laughed in his or her face.

Needless to say, a lot has changed over the past few years with Hyundai and in particular itslatest Sonata sedan, not only challenging, but this past May even surpassing the Camry in U.S. sales for the first time in history.

Of course, the fact that Toyota�s production capabilities were seriously affected by the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, played a significant role in Hyundai�s accomplishment.

Nevertheless, U.S. sales of the Camry from 2007 to 2010 dropped around 31 percent to 327,804 units, while the new Sonata, which was launched in January of 2010, saw its sales soar 35 percent to 196,623. In the first half of 2011, U.S. sales of the Sonata are up 29 percent to 115,014 units, while the Camry fell 4.4 percent to 147,469 cars.

And of course, Toyota is taking notice.

�Sonata became a very honorable contender in the market,� Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota�s North American chairman, told Bloomberg news on a July 12 interview. �We do have good respect for the model, and the sales figures show it�s increasing quite a bit.�

Toyota is planning to launch a new generation of the Camry later this year. According to the Japanese company, its bread-and-butter mid-size sedan will sport a more modern design as well as improved driving dynamics.

But Toyota isn�t the only Japanese automaker worried about the success of the Sonata; so is Honda which saw U.S. sales of its Accord drop 28 percent to 282,530 in the period from 2007 to 2010.

�We recognize that the Korean models are very competitive because of their good quality and affordable price,� said Keitaro Yamamoto, a Honda spokesperson in Tokyo. �Before, it was Accord versus Camry, but it�s definitely becoming Accord versus Camry versus Sonata.�

Honda is also said to be working on a redesign for its Accord sedan, which should arrive in North American showrooms sometime next year.

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Honda odyssey 2011

Honda odyssey 2011

 Honda odyssey 2011

New 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan tried the concept of an aggressive and sporty look "flash" back to the belt line. Lightning does not just looks alone, but also increases the visibility and passengers of the third row.

 Honda odyssey 2011

The new feature improves the comfort within the family, while the entertainment technology available for connectivity and high-definition screen in a split screen to enter. At present the best minivan in the United States to sell the new Honda Odyssey, 2011 will be released in autumn 2010. Compared to the previous Odyssey, 2011 model roof line is lower (-1.6 vs 2010 Odyssey EX-inch) wider track (1.4 inches) has a lighter, stronger and more dynamic aerodynamics that help increase the presence of fuel economy and the increase resulted in greater internal width.

 Honda odyssey 2011

The introduction of a tapered cabin and a signature "lightning" waistline. Lightning Bolt Beltline improves view outward to the third-row passengers. improved aerodynamic body with the technical improvements throughout the vehicle to help a forest road in first class, fuel economy EPA 28 mpg in the Odyssey Touring models, an improvement of 3 miles per gallon over the same 2010 model and above for all eight passengers minivan (Odyssey LX seven passengers).

 Honda odyssey 2011

A more powerful and efficient i-VTEC 3.5-liter V-6 with Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models of 2011) and produces 248 horsepower (4 HP 2010), while providing the EPA city overstated / highway / combined fuel consumption of 19/28/22 mpg Odyssey Touring models (18/27/21 mpg Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L). For more refined driving the Odyssey Touring models, from a six-speed automatic transmission as standard. All others received a five-speed automatic transmission.

 Honda odyssey 2011

 Honda odyssey 2011

 Honda odyssey 2011

 Honda odyssey 2011

 Honda odyssey 2011

 Honda odyssey 2011

Honda odyssey 2011

Honda odyssey

Honda odyssey

The Honda Odyssey minivan was first released in 1994 and available for three generations now. There were two related Odysseys that were available in the market since 1999. The larger Odyssey was made available in North America and the second one which is the smaller between the two was sold in Japan and other markets.The current seven-passenger minivan from Honda is available in four trims, the LX, the EX, The EX-L and the Touring. The LX trim of the Odyssey features all the power accessories like the cruise control, side curtain airbags, stability control and the CD player. The EX adds something extra like the alloy wheels and seating for eight. This trim also incorporates the power sliding doors, the power driver seat, CD player, in-floor storage and sunshades. The EX-L on the other hand is known for its leather seating, heated seats, sun roof and the power tailgate. And finally, the upscale Touring adds triple-zone climate control and a number of A-one features.

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

 Honda odyssey

Honda odyssey

Mugen Attempts to Make the Honda Fit Shuttle Look Cool

When the people over at Honda�s tuning partner Mugen aren�t working on more interesting and unique projects like the Civic Type R and even the CR-Z, they are usually kept busy with the brand�s more mundane vehicles such as the newly introduced Fit Shuttle.

The Japan market only Fit Shuttle is a slightly taller, longer and more practical version of the Fit (also marketed as the Jazz in certain countries) which itself is a tall five-door subcompact model.

To make the Fit Shuttle more appealing to the younger crowd looking for something more dynamic in looks and handling, Mugen developed a series of styling and performance parts.

These include an aero kit comprising of a front bumper with optional LED fog lights, a Mugen grille with an illuminated �Hybrid� logo, side skirts, a rear apron that makes space for a bespoke tail pipe and a roof spoiler. The car�s looks can be further enhanced with carbon fiber mirror caps and a choice of 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels in numerous designs.

Interior modifications are limited to a door sign light, a carbon mirror cover and two-tone floor mats.

Mugen also offers a sport exhaust system, a lowered suspension kit, high-performance brakes and sport air filters.

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