Monthly Archives: December 2009

Honda Supercar Lives On Albeit Exclusively

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When Honda announced they are pulling the plug from the almost finished supercar, automotive fans around the world begs an answer. The car is finished, and seen running around in “the ring”, heck, there’s a photo of its gorgeous interior. Killing the car is like doing an abortion at 8 months… It’s wrong, just wrong.

NSX render from Autoexpress

Just imagine the cost of development for the car, a new engine and probably transmission, chassis and manufacturing line will certainly costs Honda quite a lot, and not putting the car to good use is baffling. With Honda retiring NSX for good from SuperGT race in Japan, especially because there’s a new rule that dictates all cars must be a front engine rear wheel drive to participate… Everything looks grim for Honda and its racing heritage back in Japan.

Well, here it is folks, a glimmer of hope, the silver lining in the cloud, the M in M & Ms, Honda is actually putting the supposed supercar for good use, although more exclusive than you think.

Honda is making the new supercar to run in the Japan SuperGT race sporting a a 3.4L V8 engine producing as much as 500 bhp as limited by the rule. The car, officially dubbed the HSV or Honda Sport Velocity (that’s hawt!), will carry on the ideal of Honda racing spirit.

The available render from French sourced Leblogauto indicates that the car already receives the fender flares for the race, as it looks more menacing than the available spy shot of the car.

Well, to all Honda fans, at the very least this car will definitely be in a downloadable form for Forza Motorsport 3 (XBOX users) and be available when Gran Turismo came out next year (Playstation users). Well, this is just me talking, but chances are high, count that in.

Source:

Original French news source

Autoblog english translated source

Honda Making A Nano Fighter After All

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In the worse taking back your comment in corporate history, Honda certainly is at the top… As Honda is indeed making a Nano fighter. On June 2008 Wall Street Journal article, Honda is dissing the Nano and betting that the booming middle class will choose bikes over small cars like the Nano. But what do you know? One year later Honda is making one, and will debut the car in January on an Indian auto expo.

The news is actually inline with Honda current CEO, Takanobu Ito statement in an interview done by Autocar magazine UK early this December. That there is a small car coming to Asia… So does Ito-san means this is the car that’s coming to India?

What we know that the car will be produced by Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. and is indeed smaller than the Fit/Jazz. The car will be targeted towards emerging countries and that’s about it… But what the heck is it? Honda already has quite a diverse Keii/small cars… What’s with the suspense people! As I’m certainly buying this car (if it has an auto) and Freed for the family (smiley face).

Source:

Honda small car is debuting at Delhi Auto Expo

Breaking News: Honda Indonesia Exporting 1000 Freed To Thailand

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Well my ASEAN friends, rejoice, this holiday season Honda is finally bringing the Freed out of Indonesia and into your hometown. As reported by our leading news media, Kompas, one thousand (1000) Freed is heading to Thailand on Monday 14th of December. Thailand will be the first country to receive the Freed but safe to assume every major ASEAN countries will receive the car eventually. The launching on Monday is indeed going to be a spectacle too, with government officials attending the event.

So for my Thailand friends who had kindly asked me for a confirmation date when the car will arrive to your hometown… This is your definite answer. And I know some of you are deeply in wait for the car, but if I might remind is to test drive the car first before committing to a purchase. It’s a great car for sure, but not for the vertically superior.

Source:

Honda imports 1000 Freed to Thailand (Bahasa language)

Honda CEO Interviewed, A Small Car Coming To Asia?

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Honda current CEO, Takanobu Ito is interviewed by Autocar magazine UK, talking mostly about Honda plan in Europe. However, there’s one interesting question that got a very interesting answer from the head honcho.

Here’s a quote:

What’s happened to the small sub-Jazz car that was mentioned last year?

The recession has caused our business to go through difficult times, and we had to revise our business plan, which has slowed development. Our priority now is to increase sales of the Jazz in Europe. But we haven’t given up on the small car. We’d like to try it in Asia first.

As you can read it for yourself, Honda is indeed making a sub sub compact car that is going to be slotted under the Fit/Jazz, and it will be coming to Asia first… However, like my previous question is… What is it? Ito-san talked like the car is something new, not pre existing one, as Honda already has the Keii car line which literally speaking are Honda small entry level car slotted under the Fit.

Anyway, the plan is certainly on hold, but if it came to fruition, Asia will get it first.

Source:

Autocar UK interview with Takanobu Ito

Scans and Data From Honda CR-Z Japanese Brochure

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One Japanese reader from Temple of VTEC has kindly scanned the soon to be released Honda Freed and what a chaos it instills. Click the link for the complete brochure scans.

The official data shows that the CR-Z will be using a 1.5L engine + electric motor producing a combined power of 128 ps, consisting of 114 ps gas engine and 14 ps electric motor. A bit… Less than expected, because this car is touted as a “sporty hybrid” by Honda. It’s not sporty… It’s… Just adequate… It should be dubbed an adequately sporty hybrid.

Scans from the official brochure

Many TOV readers are aflamed with the official data, stating that the power figure is diminutive/minuscule/any fancy term for small. So am I actually, but there is one relevant data that the brochure still doesn’t divulge… The car’s weight…

Dimension wise, the car is quite unique. It’s longer than the Fit, wider, lower, but has a shorter wheelbase.

Fit dimension:

  • Height : 1525 mm
  • Width : 1695 mm
  • Length : 3900 mm
  • Wheelbase : 2500 mm
  • Weight (heaviest trim FF + CVT): 1100 KG

CR-Z dimension:

  • Height : 1395 mm
  • Width : 1740 mm
  • Length : 4080 mm
  • Wheelbase : 24350 mm
  • Weight: ?

So a rough calculation dimensionally resulted in the CR-Z having quite less footprint than the Fit, which should means less weight. But the additional weight of the engine + motor and battery pack should give the car an extra weight that degrades its performance.

On a lighter note, even if the CR-Z will weigh roughly as the Fit, the hybrid engine should give quite a performance. The 120 ps engine in Fit Sport/RS is actually quite peppy and delivers quite a kick if you push it VTEC style. The electric motor on the CR-Z should deliver the much needed extra torque down low.

The confirmed trim level shows that the CR-Z will be available in two trim, the fancy Alpha and Beta trim… Optionally it will have the moonroof option and LED lighting. Interior wise, it’s very very upscale.

A fried of mine who didn’t share my sentiment for CR-Z lack of excessive power stated that the CR-Z main selling point is its looks… True that… The CR-Z is what the Insight 1.0 should have been but edgier. But I still want my CR-Z Type R though!