Although this year’s Tokyo Motor Show seems to be a bit smaller than in previous years, thanks to the poor economic environment that has kept foreign automakers from attending, it still yield plenty of exciting new models. Perhaps one of the most anticipated is the Honda CR-Z hybrid sports car.
The Honda CR-Z Concept first appeared at the Tokyo Motors Show in 2007 and more recently sources indicated that it was on track for production. Now, according to Honda Service Denver the latest production-ready model is poised to make its first official appearance in October.
Not many details have emerged, but the new CR-Z will likely be nearly production-ready and have a more developed interior and than the previous concept car. Virginia Honda dealers say the CR-Z is essentially a modern version of the decreased CRX, a compact that combined high-efficiency and sportiness. The new model is expected to have a 2.0-liter four cylinder engine combined with an electric motor along with a continuously variable transmission.
With its compact dimensions and two-seater configuration, the Honda CR-Z will likely be lightweight and should have plenty of power to compete with other sporty compacts such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata or Mini Cooper. Shoppers at Used Cars Colorado Springs are already counting down to the launch of this exciting new car.
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New Honda concept cars will be covered on this blog.
The Honda Accord Crosstour is already getting plenty of attention for its eye catching styling. Whether you love it or hate it, it looks to be a formidable competitor to the Toyota Venza. Part wagon, part sedan, part crossover, the Honda Accord Crosstour is certainly a new direction for the otherwise conservative Accord lineup.
One way that Honda hopes to boost interest in the Accord Crosstour is by promoting the new vehicle on Facebook and other social media locales according to Fairfax Honda. With advertising and a page that users can become fans of in order to get updates, the Facebook page in particular no doubt seemed like a great way to get plenty of eyeballs on the all-new Crosstour.
Unfortunately, Honda’s PR efforts on Facebook seem to have backfired a bit observes San Luis Obispo Used Cars. Users overwhelmingly discussed how unattractive the new Crosstour was. To make matters worse, a Honda employee chimed in and voiced his opinion the new vehicle’s good looks - without identifying himself as being employed by the automaker.
Honda has since updated the photos of the Accord Crosstour on Facebook, citing the original photos as “bad yearbook” shots. According to used Honda Fredericksburg dealer, the updated photos feature the car in bolder colors and different settings. The switch has yielded somewhat more positive feedback, but it does show that Honda is more than willing to listen to consumers. By their own admission, the Crosstour may not be for everyone, but it illustrates that Honda is certainly willing to take risks in product design as well as in marketing.
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A full review of the Honda Crosstour is coming soon!
In the U.S., Honda is mostly known for producing somewhat conservative, economical cars. However, the image of Honda outside of the States is far more performance oriented. This is attributed to a range of models that can be had overseas, but remain unavailable here.
One of the latest new performance-oriented Hondas is the European Civic Type-R. Slated for a Q3 release in the UK, the Type-R has performance tuning inspired by the Civic Mugen RR concept. Mugen is a Honda tuner and accessories manufacturer, and nothing says Honda performance quite like Mugen.
Powered by a 2.0-liter four cylinder engine, the Honda Civic Type-R features 237 horsepower and 160 lb ft of toque. According to the bad credit car loans Washington DC specialists, this Civic of course has serious modifications to its suspension, not to mention unique systems by Mugen and huge Brembo brakes.
What helps the new Honda Civic Type-R become the ultimate import hot rod says one Middletown CT Honda dealer is the vehicle's slim weight. Thanks to ample use of carbon fiber, and even the removal of rear seats, the Civic Type-R is extremely light, helping to aid the car’s performance and handling. There’s also bucket seats by Recaro and aggressive 18-inch wheels which customers at Honda Financing St Louis point out, helping give the Honda Civic Type-R an aggressive look that matches its performance tuning.
Unfortunately, the Honda Civic Type-R will see only limited production. With few cars being produced, they’re also likely to go fast. What’s even further disappointing is that U.S. customers will likely never see this Civic. We’ll just have to settle for the Civic Si.
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Read new Honda car reviews and much more soon.
Beginning with the all-new 2010 Honda Insight, Honda is changing up its hybrid vehicle strategy in order to reduce costs and produce hybrids that are more affordable than the competition. Already Honda has succeeded with the new Insight, which is the officially the most affordable hybrid in America. The next low-cost hybrid we’re likely to see from Honda is the new Honda Fit Hybrid.
The Honda Fit Hybrid will introduce hybrid technology for a whole new market as the Fit is significantly smaller than the existing Civic Hybrid and Insight Hybrid. Following the launch of the Fit Hybrid, Honda will also be launching the CR-Z which will be a hybrid in the form of a compact sports car.
The Honda Fit Hybrid marks a new direction for Honda according to used car dealers in St Louis. The automaker has previously avoided adding hybrid technology to models that don’t need it, unlike other automakers. As the Fit is already a very fuel efficient car, adding a hybrid variant was previously considered unnecessary. But Honda has reversed its strategy and will be offering a hybrid Fit as early as late 2010.
Part of Honda’s reversal from its initial hybrid strategy says Washington DC Collision Center stems from enhancements to the hybrid systems themselves. By providing lower cost hybrid systems, Honda can then provide hybrids at lower costs to consumers, which Connecticut Car Loans believe should appease plenty of would-be hybrid buyers. In order to achieve Honda’s goal of producing low cost hybrid systems, Honda revamped its manufacturing facilities and processes to make them as efficient as possible.
While the exact date of the Honda Fit Hybrid release is not yet known, it’s estimated that the vehicle will start under $16,000 when it arrives in showrooms late next year.
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Look for more news surrounding the Honda Fit Hybrid on Honda Dealer Information.
The Honda Civic Si has been an incredibly popular model with a wide range of consumers. While there some that are drawn to the Si’s import-sport character, many consumers just want a car that offers performance without the sacrifice of economy, reliability, and value. For those sets of consumers, one Honda St Louis dealer says the Si is ideal. But Honda now offers an even sportier Civic-based alternative, the Mugen Si.
Honda’s Civic Mugen Si is not just tweaked by Honda, but it’s also equipped with unique aftermarket parts and components that improve the Si’s already excellent handling prowess. These include M-Tec sourced suspension, exhaust, and body upgrades.
At around $30,000, this is clearly not your average Honda Civic. Unlike the economy-focused Civic, the Civic Mugen Si is a true performance machine, but as Los Angeles Honda parts retailers point out it has the convenience of Honda reliability and four doors. Comparable vehicles such as the Volkswagen GTI do provide a solid on road feel, and even a DSG transmission. But Honda’s use of aftermarket accessories and component blend well with the stock Si dynamics. Together, New Haven Honda dealers encourage customers to drive the Mugen Si to see for themselves how it handles curves with sports coupe precision, and even successfully achieves S2000-like performance.
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More Honda videos and reviews are coming your way.
American drivers have long loved larger cars. Sedans from Detroit fueled this by providing large, powerful sedans with seemingly endless cargo and passenger carrying capabilities. However, fuel prices, the environment, and a change in consumer behavior have rapidly changed this passion, and drivers are no longer flocking to oversized sedans from Detroit. That being said, consumers still demand roomy, powerful sedans. The difference is that they want don’t want to sacrifice fuel economy and reliability.
For those drivers that want it all, the latest Honda Accord is likely the answer you’re looking for. With a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, drivers at Cerritos Honda dealers have noted that there’s more than enough passing power on tap. In addition to loads of power, the Accord V6 also delivers efficiency. Thanks to Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, the Accord's V6 can actually run on four-cylinders at cruising speed, helping to save fuel.
Power and efficiency is assured, but on-road ride will also please many large sedan shoppers according to Pittsburgh Honda. Passengers have ample leg, shoulder, and headroom, plus there’s plenty of room in the trunk. The dash in the latest Accord features Honda’s outstanding ergonomic design prowess, meaning everything is located right where you would expect it to be.
The Honda Accord is larger than ever before, but many Accord shoppers among San Francisco Used Cars say it doesn’t have the stigma of the bloated, sluggish, and lackluster large sedans that we’ve seen emerge from Detroit. Powerful, efficient, and even surprisingly luxurious, the latest Honda Accord is the ideal vehicle for carrying family, friends, and business associates alike.
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Find a full 2009 Honda Accord review on this blog soon.
Honda has long been known for building fuel-efficient, economic cars that also provide a low-impact on the environment. However, the hybrid segment is where Honda has long been number to Toyota, whose Prius remains the top selling hybrid vehicle. With the 2010 Insight, Honda hopes to change perceptions and become the hybrid leader.
The 2010 Honda Insight is an important model within Honda’s lineup. Sure customers can get a hybrid Civic or Accord, but for those drivers requiring fuel efficiency at a low cost, it just made more sense to opt instead for the gasoline-only Civic or smaller Fit. Gardena Honda dealers say the Insight is intended to change this pattern, providing a bonafide green alternative even for those on a tight budget.
With hybrid technology costing a premium, creating a cheaper hybrid was no easy feat. The batteries and electronic motors that power hybrids are complicated, and Washington DC Honda dealers admit that they usually require owners to pay thousands more above non-hybrid equivalents.
The Honda Insight is scheduled to go on sale at dealerships shortly, and the base price of the insight begins at $19,800. At that price, the Insight has become America's most affordable hybrid vehicle, a distinction that San Francisco Honda dealers believe will make all the different among buyers.
Honda claims the new 2010 Insight will go 40 miles in city driving with a gallon of gasoline. Highway mileage is rated at 43 mpg. Although the mileage is outstanding, it isn’t the most compelling, especially from an all-new hybrid vehicle. Compare this to the original 2000-2006 Honda Insight’s 52 miles per gallon combined city and highway driving. However unlike the all-new model, the predecessor was at an advantage with only two seats and limited cargo capacity.
The latest Insight is a five door hatchback, improving the functionality of the previous Insight which Salinas CA Honda dealers say remains an important consideration among buyers. In addition to sharing this same body configuration with the Prius, the new 2010 Honda Insight also looks similar to the Toyota competitor.
While functionality has also improved (at the cost of fuel economy), Honda has also improved other areas of the vehicle. For example, the speedometer can actually change color to indicate how economical the driver is. While it’s a neat visual feature, it also keeps fuel economy in mind for the driver at all times. New Haven Honda customers were also amazed that there is even an “Econ” mode to reduce throttle response and adjust air-conditioning and electric assist to maximize fuel economy.
The challenge of the Honda Insight remains its main competitor, the Toyota Prius. Conveniently, Toyota has also updated its hybrid powerhouse, just in time to compete for the same hybrid buyers. But, with the Prius going for $24K and up, the promise of a cheaper hybrid with comparable space and fuel economy may be exactly what buyers want.
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The hybrid vehicle battle keeps heating up, which continues to give more fuel efficient choices to consumers.
By now is obvious what the global economy has done to domestic automakers, and their dealers. But perhaps a less obvious sign of problems is how it has affected motors sports. Honda just announced that it will be pulling out of Formula One racing, citing the high costs involved in maintaining such a racing team.
For Honda, focusing on selling cars is simply more important than racing cars for the time being. The F1 racing competition is expensive for any automaker to participate in, which Washington DC Honda dealers say is precisely why Honda has decided to put its team up for sale. With one of the largest automakers pulling out of F1 racing, it may force F1 to change the way it operates, and somehow make racing more affordable.
Although F1 racing may not be as popular in the US as other forms of racing, one Pittsburgh used Hondas dealer suggests it nonetheless illustrates the struggles of automakers around the world. Honda, like other automakers, has recently announced job cuts due to decreased demand to cars. Production has also been cut recently. With plenty of signs that suggest things may get worse before they get better, Honda Birmingham believes that Honda’s departure from F1 is probably a wise move.
F1 is an increasingly expensive sport, which FIA president Max Mosley said was “unsustainable” at its current $1.6 billion a year spending. But cost-cutting measures are making their way into F1’s operations, which will hopefully make it more affordable for teams to participate in the sport in the future. Honda’s departure from F1 is simply one indication of just how necessary cost-cutting is to the sport’s survival. Honda Philadelphia warns that with Honda now out of the race, rumors suggest that their main rival, Toyota, may also depart from F1.
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Look for more news on Honda racing right here.
With the hybrid vehicles in high demand, it’s no wonder why hybrid leader Honda is preparing to introduce an all-new compact hybrid called the Insight. The 2009 Honda Insight is an all-new model, and will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this next month.
The new Honda Insight is a five-door vehicle that offers plenty of space for five passengers, and an easy to access cargo area thanks to its rear hatch. Honda Louisville also expects that the 2009 Insight will be the most affordable hybrid car available when it goes on sale in spring of 2009.
Honda is expecting global sales of the 2009 Insight hybrid to reach 200,000 units per year, with about half of those sales going to North American buyers. Honda will also attract Jackson Honda buyers thanks to an array of technology, including a new fuel economy system which Honda calls the Ecological Drive Assist System, or Eco Assist for short.
Already a leader in producing fuel efficient and clean products, Honda hopes to reach new heights with a new ultra affordable hybrid. The new Honda Insight should be a success as Honda Denver dealers are already eager to get their hands on them as buyers are constantly demanding more and more fuel efficiency. Although it’s easy to see why some shoppers at Warner Robins Honda have suggested that the Insight’s styling is reminiscent of the Toyota Prius, Honda doesn’t hide the fact that the new Insight is targeting the same buyers that would likely have the Prius on their shopping list as well.
For more information about the upcoming debut of the Honda Insight, check out the press release below.
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2009 Honda Insight Hybrid to Make World Debut at the North American International Auto Show
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 3, 2008 — The all-new 2009 Honda Insight hybrid will make its world debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The five-passenger, five-door Insight will go on sale in the spring of 2009.
The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year - approximately 100,000 in North America - and will utilize a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™).
A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda introduced to market the first mass produced low-emission gasoline vehicles; America's first commercially produced gas-electric hybrid car and the world's first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.
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Inching closer to the Honda Insight debut. Check back for the latest.
While other auto makers were busy offering powerful V8 engines and gas guzzling trucks, Honda was sitting back producing affordable, reliable vehicles with solid build-quality and fuel efficiency. While this seemed silly at the time, it now shows that Honda’s conservative strategy has paid off.
With its fuel efficient and value-packed offerings, Honda has weathered the global financial crisis far better than the automaker’s larger competitors. In some months where other automakers had reported steep sales declines, Honda actually reported sales growth!
Much of Honda’s sales success in recent month could be attributed to vehicles like the Fit, which has just undergone its first redesign. Although you can call the Honda Fit an economy car, it provides qualities that are in demand at Honda Denver and aren’t typically associated with similar models, such as roominess, sportiness, and build quality.
For 2009 the Honda Fit has been redesigned, and has grown in size slightly – but that’s not saying much, it’s a mere 4 inches longer than a Mini Cooper Clubman. The Fit is currently sold in nearly 115 counties, and has quickly become one of Honda’s most popular models worldwide.
Competing against the likes of Toyota’s Yaris or Chevy’s Aveo, Honda Longview Texas shoppers have found that the Honda Fit provides a more quality ride, and a refined interior, that doesn’t exude a cheap feel.
Compared to its competition, the Honda Fit is sporty both inside and out, and posses the driving dynamics to match its sporty character. The latest models add 16 in. wheels and new front fascia with bold air intakes, and even a spoiler and chrome exhaust tip.
As with other Honda models, the new Fit offers plenty of safety, which is among the top concerns of Colorado Honda Dealer customers. With standard ABS, six air bags, new head restraints to curb whiplash, and even a more rigid body to reduce noise and vibration and improve safety. There’s even a Sport model that adds a stability control system.
Inside the Honda Fit, the Honda Fit provides a 160-watt audio system with MP3 connectivity and an organized dash. There are even 10 cup holders, so no need to worry about where to place your drink.
Americans typically don’t admire hatchbacks, but the Honda Fit’s hatchback design adds plenty of space that would otherwise be unavailable, which is also what many buyers noticed about the previous generation according to Louisville used car dealers. In addition to ample cargo space, there’s plenty of space for two adults in the back seat.
Despite its tiny exterior, drivers will appreciate the Honda Fit’s abundant interior space. The Fit even has more space in the cargo area than the truck space of any full-size luxury sedan. With a wide-opening rear hatch and plenty of tie downs, the cargo space is also very accessible and useful.
Powering the new Fit is a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 117 horsepower. The Fit goes from 0-60 in about 9 seconds, but at high speed is quiet and composed. Honda dealer Georgia drivers say the engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission which complements the engine well. The Sport model also adds paddle shifters for greater shifting speed.
Although it offers plenty of sport, one of the biggest draws to the Honda Fit is its efficiency says Honda Washington DC. The standard fit delivers 28 miles per gallon and 35 miles per hour on the highway. The Sport model offers 27 mpg city and 33 mpg on the highway.
Domestic automakers will have a hard time matching the value, sportiness, and quality of the Fit, but the Nissan Versa and Toyota’s Scion xD are perhaps the toughest competition. If car buyers can see past the economy image, they may see that the Honda Fit is precisely what they need to cut fuel costs and still have a fun to driver vehicle.
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More on the latest Honda Fit hatchback can be found here.
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tymur said:
Amusing and interesting article. Yes and unlike the majority of other like that. read more
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Unique idea. I wonder, how much time it took him. read more
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Hi, thank`s for the article that you wrote article... A lot of time I was trying to find some new... read more
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O, well, thank`s for the article that you wrote article... A lot of time I was trying to find some... read more
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