Honda to develop new diesel engine for Civic and Accord

After a number of delays and postponements, the leading Japanese car maker Honda will be developing a new diesel engine for its premium cars – Civic, Accord and CR-V. So far, most of Honda cars are only available in Petrol versions and the company has developed only a 2.4L diesel engine for Accord. In a statement given in a recent interview Mr. David Hodgetts, MD, Honda UK, said that the company will be launching its new diesel engine once its new Civic model completes one year on road.

The new diesel power-train of the company will be rolled-out in across the world by the first quarter of year 2013. The move of developing a new diesel engine has been taken in the view of rising demand for diesel run cars in the country. The launch of diesel version will not only strengthen the company’s India portfolio, but will also enable its luxury cars in Indian to compete more promptly with their rivals.

The unavailability of diesel versions is now proving a major drawback for the Honda cars. For instance, the closest competitors of the Honda Civic model including Toyota Corolla Altis, Chevrolet Cruze and Skoda Laura, all are available in diesel versions.

Honda to Recall Nearly 60,000 Cars in India

The Indian unit of Honda Motor Co. said Thursday it will recall 57,853 units of the City sedan to replace a faulty part as part of a global exercise.

The company would replace the lost motion spring in the valve train in City cars manufactured between November 2008 and December 2009, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. said. The replacement would be done free of cost by informing customers directly, it added.

Honda said the recall doesn't impact the latest version of the City sedan that is currently produced and sold in India.

"Honda Siel is proactively replacing the part in these vehicles with a new improved part," it said. "Lost motion springs, which are compressed by rocker arms in normal engine use, may bend or break over time, resulting in abnormal engine noise and potentially causing engine stalling and problems in re-starting."

This will be the second recall of City sedans in about a year. In January last year the auto maker recalled 8,532 City sedans manufactured in 2007 to replace defective power window switches that could cause a fire.

Honda currently produces the City, Jazz, Honda Civic and Accord cars in India. It also imports and markets the CR-V sport utility vehicle.

The latest recall doesn't impact the Jazz hatchback in India, the auto maker said.

"The recall announced by Honda applies to certain units of Fit/Jazz fitted with 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, which is sold in other countries and not sold in India," it said. The Jazz is sold with a 1.2-liter gasoline engine in India.

Honda said it would recall a total of 693,497 vehicles worldwide due to faulty engine parts. Outside India this affects City sedans, some models of the Fit compact, also known as the Jazz in some markets and Freed compact minivan models sold in North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

New Honda Civic launched in three variants

Auto manufacturer Honda Siel Cars launched a refurbished Honda Civic sedan with alternations in its design, such as a five-point metallic front grille and a new bumper.

The new Civic is available in three variants that will come in two models - Elegance and Inspire. The car is priced in the range of Rs.11.8 lakh to Rs.14.13 lakh at showrooms in Delhi.

The company has also introduced dark smokey headlights and crystalline octagonal tail lights in the car to give it a "contemporary look".

"The new Honda Civic carries forward the legacy of the Civic which is already the most refined and advanced car in the segment," said Honda Siel president and chief executive Masahiro Takedagawa.

The car will have an additional colour option of polished metal besides the regular available colours.

"With the new look, we are confident we can revive the sales that suffered a setback due to global meltdown. However, the market will decide how many units we manage to sell," Takedagawa said.

Honda Siel is also offering an additional two-year warranty in addition to the existing two years, and will also offer a 24-hour roadside assistance.

The company plans to expand its dealership from 106 to 112 by the end of current financial year, said Takedagawa.

Honda Hybrid Cars Go Electric

Honda To Convert Gas Vehicles To Hybrid Electric Cars

Honda Hybrid Cars are rolling out everywhere on local roadways and highways. Honda hopes to expand its conventional vehicles by converting several models to hybrid and electric car technologies.

Honda is meeting increasing consumer demands as the automaker plans to produce more hybrid cars. Some of these plans include converting its Honda Fit and other models to new electric cars. Moreover, some of these car models are greener and will help the environment.

Honda Hybrid Cars are popular and one of the fastest selling hybrid cars in Japan is the Honda Insight. It was the top selling hybrid vehicle until the Toyota Prius was released. However, Honda wants to expand its current line-up by adopting new green technologies and convert some of its conventional gasoline vehicles to electric cars.

The new Honda automobiles that will soon make this conversion to hybrid technologies will come in various sizes and shapes. The plan is to convert as many cars before the end of 2010. For example, the Honda Fit Hybrid was scheduled for a 2011 release, but the automaker moved the schedule up to late 2010.

Honda also plans to release its Civic model to offer both hybrid and fuel cell versions. The Honda Civic fuel cell version will run on natural gas to produce lower carbon emissions. The Civic has a long track record for proven reliability, and it could become the next big seller in the auto industry.

The line-up for 2010 Hybrid Cars will be interesting and fast coming. Consumers are looking for new electric vehicles and cars to save on fuel as gas prices begin to climb once again. Electric cars also reduce carbon emissions, which are one of the causes for climate change and global warming.

Test driving the Honda Clarity

Hydrogen powered/energy stored vehicles, commonly called fuel cell vehicle, FCV are an interesting idea. We set out to drive a Honda Clarity and met with an owner. What happened next was an interesting mix of surprises and more questions that only time will answer.

The gist is that if you can step aside the passionate debate as to whether to use batteries to store energy or hydrogen as a medium, the real point at stake is the future of the electric drive. While batteries are pushing the performance envelop at breakneck speed, hydrogen is continuing to mature. Hence, when Honda decided to build a Clarity fuel cell vehicle, FCV concept, many wondered if it was just another PR trick. Other car makers, such as BMW have used a different approach, mainly that of burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, ICE.

Driving On Hydrogen. Stepping into the Clarity, you understand why Honda chose the name "clarity". You have a sense of 380 degree vision inside it. It is a modern car, and in many ways hints as to how future sedans will look like. It is spacious, mostly due to the inherent infrastructure of the electric vehicles, EVs design with the little space the motor takes in the front hood. Modern amenities abound, such as air conditioned seats and collision detection radars.

The Sound Experience. Starting the car is an EV experience. Nothing happen, short of faint noise of the hydrogen pump kicking in and the dash indicating the consumption state. On the right side of the dashboard, you have the blue hydrogen level, on the other the green battery's and in the middle how much hydrogen is used. You can gauge it by viewing a small blue dot that gets bigger and turns green as you accelerate. The accelerations were frank and the only thing you could hear with the high pitch sound of the electric motor, synonymous to torquey. The regenerative braking was smooth, as you would expect from a modern sedan. It is above all a sedan and acts accordingly.

Technically Speaking. The AC electric motor drives the front wheels and is rated at 100 kW, or 134HP, with a 189 ft-lb torque which is plenty for a car like that. Why is 134 hp enough? An electric motor delivers 100% of its torque as soon as it spins and the horsepower curve comes in much sooner than with an ICE. It uses a lithium-ion pack rated at 288V kept full by a fuel cell stack rated at 100 kW, that rests between the driver and passenger. The hydrogen tank is located in the trunk and packs 5,000 psi. And this is where Honda has innovated compared to other manufacturers using 10,000 psi tanks. According to the company, the performance gain are nullified with anything higher than 5,000 psi. The turn radius is above most modern gas cars and the Honda Clarity handles very well. It's range is only 280 miles which makes it a great city car and an average long distance traveler. In this aspect, it is on par with the best pure electric vehicles, EVs out there. Fueling up the car felt like a CNG process, except much quicker. It took about 5mn to fill the tank.

Final Thoughts. Honda has clearly put a lot of thought and engineering into its Clarity. From its Eco-friendly material to modern amenities, what impressed us most was the space inside an EV. As much as hydrogen is intriguing, there are still many roadblocks the community is working on. For instance, Hydrogen is still slightly cheaper than gasoline and in this aspect, electricity is cheaper. Water is a precious commodity now days and using it to make hydrogen is something that needs to be handled without detriment to the environment. Another point often brought to the table is that fuel stacks rely on platinum, which is a rare and expensive commodity. Research is happening to bypass using platinum.

Lastly, the debate is still out as to whether using batteries to power electric car or fuel cells to conduct energy is the best way. The advantages at this moment seems to be tipped toward pure electricity, since the infrastructure is already in place and it is cheaper to operate and construct. When the hydrogen community resolve these three issues, diverting water for hydrogen, using platinum and cost effectively building stations and FCVs , it will be a brilliant alternative. The next few years will be fascinating as car makers are betting on one technology or the other. Unfortunately, at this stage the debate is still too emotional and the only experts we need to listen to are the ones who are in the middle of the road, neither for or against but working on solutions.

Honda to Release Acura Coupe in 2010

At a time when American automakers such as Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are having their worst nightmare, Japanese and Korean car companies are coming up with new cars and new models at a stable pace. Even Indian car makers are trying their luck in an industry that is taking a lot of heat from the global economic climate.

Honda is one such Japanese company that has been working on new models of its cars. Now auto news Autoblog is reporting that Honda could release an Acura coupe in 2010. The car could be styled similar to a dropped-off ZDX and will have a powertrain-transmission combo like it. Also, in terms of the size, the coupe is expected to fill the gap between the between the TSX and the TL.

Though the Honda Acura Coupe is expected to be out next year, there are speculations it would be revealed at an upcoming auto show, maybe the Detroit Auto Show. It seems that the coupe could then hit the showrooms late in 2010. Previously, there were reports that Honda was working on the 2012 Honda Civic and the CR-Z.

[Source: Autotantra.in]

Honda staff vote for 3% pay cut

Workers at Honda's Swindon plant have voted in favour of taking a 3% pay cut for 10 months in an attempt to safeguard 490 jobs.

In return, the workers will receive a bonus of six additional days' leave, Unite the union said. Managers' pay will be cut by 5%.

Of those balloted, 89% voted for a cut after the plant closed for four months.

They were asked to take a salary reduction after too few staff took up the offer of voluntary redundancy.

The plant has been shut for four months because of a fall in demand for new cars. It is due to reopen next month.

While pay freezes have become common in the car industry, pay cuts are more unusual.

"While a number of struggling companies are imposing pay freezes on their workers, to get employees to accept a pay cut is a significant achievement," the BBC's employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said.

"It is a measure of the calibre of industrial relations at the plant."

Jim D'Avila, regional officer for Unite, said the workers at Honda were standing together in "true solidarity in difficult times to protect hundreds of jobs".

The slump in car production was underlined earlier by industry figures which said the number of cars made in the UK halved in April.

Carmakers are pinning their hopes on the government's car scrappage scheme, which started earlier this month.

Honda's Ace in the Hole, The 2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid

Honda has something that Toyota doesn't and it just might be want Honda needs to outgun Toyota in the hybrid war between the two companies. What is this little something that Honda has? The 2011 Honda CRZ Hybrid.

The Honda CRZ is a two seat hybrid disguised in a sports car body or a sports car fitted with a hybrid powertrain. Though Honda wanted to make the CRZ in a gasoline version too, they decided to make it as a dedicated hybrid to be on par with hybrid offerings from Toyota.

The Honda CRZ is powered by a 1.8 liter engine taken from the Civic. The engine is rated at 140hp, significantly higher than the Insight's 98 hp. The hybrid components will be nearly identical to that of the Insight to keep costs down and provide a working power train in a short amount of time.

The sporty nature of the CRZ comes from its light mass and relatively powerful engine. The Honda CRZ will weigh in around 2,800 pounds. The Civic engine is a high revving mill and the electronic motors will provide ample low end torque. Combined with an optional manual transmission, a rarity in hybrids, and you have all the necessities for a sports car.

The pictures tell the story as the Honda CRZ does not look like your typical hybrid. Its coupe body style and wedgy design make it stand out among hybrids. The name CRZ is derived from Honda's long gone and much loved 2 door coupe the CRX. Honda is hoping consumers will feel the same way about the styling and sporty nature and buy the Honda CRZ not because it's a hybrid, but because the car is fun to drive and attractive to look at.

Honda Launches 8-seater Compact Minivan

Honda Motor Co Ltd launched a new compact minivan "Freed" in Japan May 30, 2008.

The Freed measures 4,215 (L) x 1,695 (W) x 1,715mm (H) (according to the 2WD specification), and the wheelbase is 2,740mm long. Compared with the company's three-row seater compact minivan "Mobilio," the Freed is 145mm longer, 10mm wider and 25mm lower (comparison between 2WD models).

The main goal in the development was the "cabin that is spacious enough to be recognized as a minivan." Based on the lesson learned from the case of Mobilio, which failed to be appropriately recognized as a minivan due to the third-row seats that are slightly narrow for adults, the Freed has a cabin space that allows 185-centimeter tall adults to sit comfortably in all three rows.

For this purpose, the company employed the low floor technology developed for "Stepwagon" and used a compact plastic fuel tank. As a result, the Freed has a floor height of only 390mm (according to the FWD specification) in the second row, which is comparable to that of the Stepwagon.

The Freed uses a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which are also used in the Fit. But its final reduction ratio is approximately 7% greater to handle an increase in vehicle weight.

Compared with the Mobilio, which is equipped with a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with a fuel efficiency of 16.0km/L (measured in Japan's 10-15 test mode), the fuel efficiency of the Freed has improved by 0.4km/L to 16.4km/L (comparison between 2WD models).

The Honda Freed comes in three trim levels. There is a seven-seat model, which employs captain seats in the second row for the first time in the 1.5-liter class, an eight-seat model, which is also a first in the 1.5-liter class and a five-seat model without the third row.

The monthly sales target in Japan is 4,000 units. The prices range from ¥1,638,000 (US$15,541, price may vary depending on country) to 2,257,500 (including tax).

Honda to skip 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

The world economy’s taking a real toll on car makers and customers alike. And autoshows are caught right in the middle of the crunch.

With sales declining and calls to cut costs increasing, Honda has decided to cancel its appearance at september’s Frankfurt auto show. “Due to the unprecedented market downturn, Honda has come to a conclusion that the company will have to skip its participation to the Frankfurt motor show this year,” the company said in a statement.

Honda has also resorted to dropping out of the F1 circuit as it tries to handle the tough economic conditions of today. I hope the cost cutting’s going to be temporary.


HONDA PRESS RELEASE:

Honda’s participation in IAA 2009

About Honda’s participation in IAA 2009

In response to economic climate, Honda cancels participation in IAA 2009, while strengthening environment and customer focused activities.

* New Fuel Cell research in Europe
* More Hybrid vehicles
* New Honda Academy to strengthen Quality and Customer Service

March 31st 2009 - Honda has announced today that it will not participate in IAA, Internationale Automobil Ausstellung, known as Frankfurt motor show, this year. Due to the unprecedented market downturn, Honda has come to a conclusion that the company will have to skip its participation to the Frankfurt motor show this year.

As seen in the withdrawal from Formula One, Honda is trying to reduce every possible cost in various areas including manufacturing, sales and marketing activities to strengthen its business constitution to overcome the tough climate of today.

Whilst the 4 month shutdown to adjust the inventory balance, Honda’s UK car manufacturing facility in Swindon is taking the full advantage of production suspension to refurbish its plants and prepare for smooth introduction of Jazz into Swindon factory planned in autumn this year.

Honda is the world’s biggest engine manufacturer with 24 million engine powered products sold in 2008 in the areas of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment, and is committed to swiftly respond to unprecedented situation in the global scale. While vigorously taking on every possible cost reduction measure, Honda is also focusing on research and production of environmentally responsible products.

The Insight Hybrid will be on sale in Germany from April 18th, the hybrid car has already had more than 18.000 customer orders in Japan just in one month, More than 3 times larger than its monthly target of 5.000 units in Japan. Besides that Honda will bring to market a sporty Hybrid based on the CR-Z Concept in 2010 which will be followed by a Jazz Hybrid.

Moreover, Honda will begin a new research project of Fuel Cell technologies in Germany as from autumn this year. This involves permanent deployment of FCX Clarity in Europe, Honda’s sophisticated master piece of hydrogen driven vehicle, which already is on lease sales in the USA and Japan. Honda R&D Europe (Deutschland) GmbH in Offenbach will use the FCX Clarity for long term research of Fuel Cell technology and Hydrogen Energy conformity in European conditions.

Honda will divert the resources for environmentally responsible technology to win the race for Zero Emissions. Furthermore Honda will also realign its forces regarding Service Quality and customer orientation. On March 23rd Germany saw the ground breaking ceremony of the new Honda Academy for Europe at Erlensee near Hanau. This 15 Mil EUR invest is dedicated to train Honda and dealer’s staff in a way that they are able to exceed customer’s expectations also in the future.

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

You might be thinking that with the Honda Insight Hybrid Concept taking all the limelight, Honda has all but forgotten about their best selling hybrid car, the the award winning Civic Hybrid.

No so, according to the company. The hybrid version of Honda’s best selling car is expected to undergo a minor facelift with the updated model making its world debut at the Paris motor show next month.

As far as we can gather, there are no major internal changes, merely cosmetic changes to the front and rear lights, with the addition of a more aggressive bumper and updated alloy wheel.

It sure does seems as though Honda is more focused on its new range of hybrid cars.

One other Honda hybrid car expected at Honda’s Paris stand is the CR-Z sports concept car. The car which we are determined will become the new CR-X. It will also be the first mass produced hybrid sports car from the Japanese company.

Honda intends to start a revolution with the CR-Z, by offering a small petrol-electric hybrid sports cars. The CR-Z, a sporty 2+2, takes many ideas from the CR-X cult-car, most notably it will utilise a split level glass rear window, a feature Honda has used in over three decades in the CR-X.