Geneva Debut: 2011 Honda Accord Facelift

Honda has announced plans to introduce the facelifted 2011 Accord (Euro-spec) at the Geneva Motor Show.

The refined 148 bhp 2.2 litre i-DTEC diesel engine offers improved fuel economy and emissions, coupled either to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Other changes that improve CO2 emissions and fuel economy include a host of underbody aerodynamic aids, including a larger front air dam, underfloor and a rear subframe cover.

Inside there have been a few titivates going on, with dark silver panels and shiny silver grips for the handles and handbrake. New seat materials and linings appear on the ES, and both ES and EX get pretty blue footwell lights.

The 2011 Honda Accord is scheduled to start arriving at European dealerships in April.




Press Release

The New Honda Accord Debuts at Geneva

The revised Honda Accord sedan and Tourer models will make their debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Both cars receive a host of changes with the styling, emissions, ride and handling all enhanced for 2011.

Summary of Changes:

• Revised exterior styling
• Detail changes to interior finishes
• Improvements to emissions and economy on all engines
• 138 g/km 2.2 i-DTEC introduced
• Ride and handling improvements for all models
• Auto High-Beam Support System and Active Cornering Lights debut on Accord
• 180 PS Type S model now available across Europe with bespoke interior and exterior styling

Exterior Design
Both the sedan and Tourer have benefitted from small but noticeable changes to the head lights and bumpers to complement the changes under the skin. The head lights have been given a cleaner, crisper appearance with the previously amber indicators now in a clear finish. On top grade cars the lights are now bi-xenon and feature Active Cornering Lights to improve night time visibility. The grille has been subtly remodelled with the two central spars finished in the same chrome material as the outer grille, for a sportier look. The cooling duct and fog light recesses on all models have been re-profiled with the taper of these areas given a more aggressive line, giving the car a more planted appearance.

The rear of the sedan model has been subtly enhanced with the rear lights having a light red finish for the reversing light and indicators to match that of the fog light, giving a balance to the rear styling. The exclusive styling of the sedan is rounded off with a light chrome garnish above the rear licence plate on most models and a dark chrome finish on Type S grade cars. The new exterior design cues are finished off with three new colours consisting of Alabaster Silver, Graphite Lustre and Celestial Blue Pearl added to the line up.

Interior Design
The exterior styling changes have been complemented by a number of subtle changes to the interior with most grades having new seat materials and door linings, changing the ambience of the cabin. Type S models have exclusive half leather, seats in a dark grey finish and a black head lining to further distinguish the top grade. The metal-look finish interior trim that covers the hand brake, gear lever surround, steering wheel garnish, door inlays, with a red background and sweeps up across the centre of the dash is now in a darker hue, to complement the new interior fabrics. The footwells of the majority of models are now illuminated blue if the headlights are on and red on Type S models.

Fuel Economy and Emission Improvements
The refined 2.2 litre 150 PS i-DTEC diesel engine has had internal frictional losses reduced to improve fuel economy and emissions. The result of these changes is an 9 g/km drop in CO2 emissions for the sedan with the 6-speed manual transmission and an 11 g/km reduction for the automatic variant. These internal changes have been combined with a host of underbody aerodynamic aids, including a larger front air dam, underfloor and a rear subframe cover Honda's engineers have also put effort into reducing the frictional losses in the wheels and tyres with low friction wheel bearings and reduced rolling resistance tyres. Accords equipped with Automatic transmission have also benefitted from minimised frictional losses in the gearbox and optimised ratios to improve economy and emissions.

Quieter Cabin
The already impressive NVH performance of the current Accord has been further improved with the adoption of higher density foam in the under bonnet and dashboard areas. The underfloor noise insulation has also been revised and teamed with additional sound deadening shields on the DPF and exhaust manifold cover of the diesel engine. The suite of noise reductions techniques is completed with a small 0.9 mm increase in the thickness of the rear window glass, improving the rear passenger experience.

Chassis
Engineers from Japan worked with their counterparts in Germany and the UK to further refine the dampers of the Accord Tourer and sedan for the vast range of road conditions found in Europe. Detailed refinement of the dual mode dampers has given improvement in both high speed stability for highway driving and a significant improvement in ride quality, even over poor road surfaces.

Active Cornering Lights
One of the most visible changes to the top of the range Accords is the addition of Active Cornering Lights, which provide enhanced illumination when the vehicle is turning. Additional lights units have been subtly integrated into the existing lights units, casting all of their light to the side of the vehicle to help the driver in low visibility conditions. The light unit on the relevant side will be illuminated when the driver activates the indicators in that direction or turns the steering wheel more than 90 degrees. When the vehicle is in reverse, both lights will be activated to give a good view to either side of the driver.

High-Beam Support System
Another new lighting technology for Honda is the High Beam Support system, which is fitted on vehicles with the bi-xenon headlights. This system is controlled by a CMOS camera fitted to the windscreen in the area of the driver rear view mirror. The camera detects oncoming headlights or the taillights of a vehicle in front and automatically dips the headlights onto their normal setting if they are on high-beam. This allows the driver to fully concentrate on the road conditions, without having to manually control the high-beam setting.

The new Accord goes on sale across Europe from April this year.

Detroit Auto Show: 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe Concept

Honda has unveiled its 2012 Civic Si Concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, previewing the production versions of the popular small car and targeting a growing number of competitors with an aggressive new look and multiple engine choices.

With a series of revamped elements at the exterior and improved interiors, the Honda Civic Si Sedan and Coupe Concepts features 19 inch alloys, and while he four-door model looks pretty much similar to the current generation Civic, the 2-door seams heavily inspired by the current Accord Coupe.

Meanwhile, four-door buyers can expect an exterior design very similar to the 2011 Civic. Though the sedan's front-fascia wears a little bit more menace than the current design, the carried-over grille and headlights are more than a little familiar. Out back, new tail lamps and a re-sculpted trunk deck dominate the view.

Under the hood, power will be provided by the "widest array of engine choices available in its class." Options will include conventional petrol units, a natural gas variant, and a hybrid. The latter is slated to adopt the newest Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system which will be powered by a lithium-ion battery - a first for a Honda.

The new 2012 Honda Civic will go on sale in Spring 2011.

via: carscoop




Press Release

Honda Debuts Sleek and Sophisticated Concepts for All-New 2012 Civic Si Coupe and Civic Sedan Models

The Honda Civic Si Concept coupe and Civic Concept sedan are making world debuts at the North American International Auto Show today, providing the first official glimpse at the styling direction of the all-new, ninth-generation 2012 model set to go on sale this spring, the company announced.

"The Civic is known for providing a balance of 'just-right' packaging, fun-to-drive character and outstanding fuel economy, at a price that even first-time buyers can afford," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. "The redesigned Civic builds on this legacy and promises to be the best Civic yet."

The 2012 Civic embraces the company's vision as a "Civic for all people," a phrase originally expressed in defining the goal of the first-generation Civic. With the widest array of engine choices available in its class, the 2012 Civic lineup intends to meet the needs of an increasing group of compact-vehicle buyers with a renewed vision of a "Civic for all people." The diverse vehicle range includes a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline models, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant. Collectively the depth of the Civic line offers a compelling balance between fuel economy, low emissions and fun-to-drive performance unlike any other vehicle in the industry.

As a new interpretation of the current Civic's iconic "one-motion" mono-form shape, the upcoming, ninth-generation Civic conveys a more substantial, high-energy appearance. The exterior styling of both Civic concept models showcases the sedan's and coupe's clean-yet-powerful lines with steeply raked windshields, wide stances and pronounced character lines along the profile. The lower character line on both models broadens toward the rear fenders to enhance the dynamic feeling of forward energy. The front fender surface treatments form a complex, three-dimensional look to further enhance the image of sophistication and structural depth against the deeply set headlights.

The Civic Concept sedan takes on a sophisticated presence with a front grille defined by crisp lines and a solid bar that integrates a chrome Honda emblem. The look of the Civic Si Concept coupe conveys an aggressive demeanor with a more angular front fascia, mesh grille and a tapered rear roofline that flows smoothly into the trunk. The Civic Si Concept coupe is exclusively equipped with a rear air diffuser, a center-mounted exhaust outlet and a rear deck lid spoiler with dual vents. Each concept model has 19-inch machined alloy wheels.

Powertrain Technology
The Civic's family of engines with "intelligent" Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC®) technology become even more fuel efficient for 2012. The upcoming Civic Hybrid offers the latest generation of the compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist^TM (IMA^TM) gasoline-electric hybrid system and features the first application of a lithium-ion battery in a Honda hybrid.

Building on its emphasis on fuel-economy, most upcoming Civic models receive Honda Eco Assist^TM technology, already available in the CR-Z and Insight hybrids. The 2012 Civic is the first U.S. Honda model to employ Eco Assist technology in a gasoline-only powered vehicle. Eco Assist is just one example of how the new Civic can be customized and configured by the drivers to suit individual preferences.

Additionally, Honda is expanding retail sales of the natural gas-powered Civic GX model, which is the only OEM-built, dedicated CNG passenger car assembled in America. The increased availability of the Civic GX helps bring inherently clean-burning natural gas technology to an even broader audience while also supporting diversity in transportation energy resources.

Safety
The 2012 Civic continues to emphasize safety and is anticipated to score well in both the federal government's New Car Assessment Program1 (NCAP) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety2 (IIHS) vehicle evaluations. The 2001 Honda Civic Coupe was one of the first two passenger cars ever to earn the federal government's top 5-star crash safety rating3 for the driver and front- and rear-seat passengers in both frontal and side-impact crash tests.

All 2012 Civics are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist^TM (VSA®) as standard equipment. Additionally, the ninth-generation Civic continues to provide Honda's exclusive and innovative Advanced Compatibility Engineering^TM (ACE^TM) body structure for frontal collision energy management.

Accolades and Manufacturing
As a top-selling model for Honda, the current, eighth-generation Civic has sold more than 1.5 million units since the 2006 model went on sale in late 2005. The 2006 Civic earned both the prestigious Motor Trend "Car of the Year" and the North American Car of the Year awards.

The current-generation Civic continues to be a significant entry-point to the Honda brand for younger buyers, introducing on average more than 90,000 new-car customers under the age of 35 to the brand every year. More than 95 percent of all Civics sold in the U.S. as of calendar-year 2010 were made4 in North America at manufacturing facilities in either Greensburg, Indiana or Alliston, Ontario in Canada.

Honda Li Nian S1 announced for China

Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., an automobile production and sales joint venture of Honda in China, today announced the all-new compact sedan model of Guangqi Honda's original automobile brand, "Li Nian" (Everus) to be known as "Li Nian S1"."Li Nian S1" is based on one of Honda's small car platforms and applies 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre engines. Targeting the younger generation in China, it adopts a powerful, energetic and outstanding design form. Li Nian S1 will be available in the market from the spring of 2011 through the current Guangqi Honda sales channel.




Press Release

Honda announces "Li Nian S1" the first model from Guangqi Honda's original brand, at the 2010 China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition

Guangzhou, China, December 20, 2010 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the following information at its press conference at the 2010 China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition (Press Day: December 20, Exhibition period: December 20-27).

1. All-new compact sedan model "Li Nian S1" from Guangqi Honda's own brand "Li Nian" (English brand name: Everus)

Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., an automobile production and sales joint venture of Honda in China, today announced the all-new compact sedan model of Guangqi Honda's original automobile brand, "Li Nian" (Everus) to be known as "Li Nian S1".

"Li Nian S1" is based on one of Honda's small car platforms and applies 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre engines. Targeting the younger generation in China, it adopts a powerful, energetic and outstanding design form. Li Nian S1 will be available in the market from the spring of 2011 through the current Guangqi Honda sales channel.

"Li Nian" (Everus) is Guangqi Honda's original automobile brand with Guangqi Honda fully handling each step including design, production and sales with the goal of targeting the younger generation and entry level car customers. By introducing the Li Nian (Everus) brand, Honda will further expand its line-ups in China while continuously enhancing the quality of the brand to meet the diversifying needs of customers in the expanding China market.

US: Honda axes the Element

Honda’s US section has killed off a boxy Element observant 2011 will be a final indication year. First introduced in judgment form as a Model X during a 2001 Detroit show, a Element was launched in 2002 as a 2003 indication as well as became a prime of tiny businesses, outside enthusiasts as well as house pet owners. It never utterly strike a mark with childish surfers, as Honda has intended, as well as was some-more expected to be seen in a hands of a 40- or 50-something streamer home from a large box store.

Source: Honda





Press Release

2011 Will Be Final Model Year of Production for Honda Element

The 2011 Honda Element will be the final model year of production of the innovative and functional crossover utility vehicle, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. First introduced in concept form as the Honda Model X at the 2001 North American International Auto Show, the Element virtually created its own functional class and became an immediate favorite for small businesses, outdoor enthusiasts and pet owners. After a long life cycle, utility-seeking customers have more recently embraced other vehicles in the Honda lineup like the versatile and comfortable CR-V.

"The Element proved that ultimate functionality can often come from thinking inside the box," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "It made boxy vehicle designs cool, and Element owners continue to enjoy its unique styling and unmatched versatility."

Developed from the inside-out, the Honda Element entered new territory when it debuted during the 2003 model year by providing a multi-functional cargo area, innovative and versatile seating, a durable and dirt-friendly interior, energetic performance and outstanding value. Major upgrades were made through the years including more power and safety features in the 2007 model year. More recently, the Element embraced its long-held position as a pet-friendly vehicle by introducing the Dog Friendly Element accessory package in 2009.

More than 325,000 Elements have been sold in the United States since its introduction in December 2002.

Honda shows BRIO city car prototype

Honda Exhibits World Premiere of Honda BRIO Prototype, Honda’s New Small Vehicle Developed for Asian Markets at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo 2010

Honda Brio Prototype is being developed as a commuter vehicle which is easy to use even in urban areas, the Honda Brio has a length of 3,610mm, width of 1,680mm and height of 1,475 mm, while ensuring enough cabin space achieved by highly efficient packaging.

Likewise, the Indian market Brio will come with a bigger focus on driving performance to suit customer demands. As of right now, there's no indication as to what engine powers the Brio, but early reports lean heavily toward the company's 1.2-liter four-cylinder mill.

Inside, the no-frills cabin is pretty straightforward but that's to be expected as the car was developed for emerging markets such as India and Thailand. Despite this, the BRIO will apparently offer air conditioning which is a nice option for hot and muggy climates in southeast Asia.

Honda cars from a long time has been known for its advanced features other than the fuel economy, reliability and durability. Honda Motors follows the ISO 9001 standards which measures quality management and ISO 14001 for the environment management.

Source: Honda

Press Release

Honda Exhibits World Premiere of Honda BRIO Prototype, Honda's New Small Vehicle Developed for Asian Markets at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo 2010

Bangkok, Thailand, November 30, 2010 - Honda today debuted the world premiere of a prototype of Honda BRIO, the new small-sized vehicle developed for Asian markets and scheduled to be introduced in Thailand and India in 2011, at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo starting November 30, 2010 (press day: November 30, public days: December 1-12.)

Honda BRIO Prototype is being developed with Honda's advanced technologies, while further advancing Honda's "man maximum, machine minimum" concept*1. Being developed as a commuter which is easy-to-use even in urban areas, the Honda BRIO prototype adopts an easy-to-handle compact body (length 3,610mm x width 1,680mm x height 1,475 mm) while ensuring enough cabin space achieved by highly efficient packaging. With this vehicle, Honda thoroughly pursued the creation of an advanced exterior form, which is compact while asserting a strong presence.

For the mass-production model, which will be an entry-level car, for which demand is increasing in newly emerging nations, Honda will develop unique versions for Thailand and India to reflect different customer needs in those markets. Moreover, with this vehicle, Honda will leverage the resources Honda has cultivated through its motorcycle business and utilize local sourcing of parts and materials such as sheet steel.

For the Thai model that is scheduled to be introduced in March 2011, the fuel economy of more than 5liters/100km*2 will be targeted so that the vehicle will qualify as an eco-car by the Thai government, and a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht will be targeted as well. For the Indian model that is scheduled to be introduced within 2011, local customer needs for a small car will be reflected and local content will be increased to create a model that achieves a good balance between vehicle performance and price.

"Honda would like to expand the joy of mobility to more customers in Thailand, India and other Asian countries through the introduction of a new small vehicle with compact and highly efficient packaging by utilizing our own experiences cultivated by motorcycle business here in Asia," said Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor.

• 1 Honda's "man maximum, machine minimum" concept is a basic approach to Honda car design calling for maximizing the space available for people and minimizing the space required for mechanical components.
• 2 Measures with ECE R101 mode