Concept cars at the Geneva Auto Show

Nissan Qazana.


Lexus RX 450H Hybrid.


Mazda Kiydra Concept.


Honda Insight.

Mugen Civic Type R Revealed

Source: MUGEN

2008 Honda S2000 CR at the New York Auto Show

PRESS RELEASE
04/04/2007 - NEW YORK -
The club racer-inspired 2008 Honda S2000 CR Prototype making its world debut at the New York International Auto Show introduces a higher level of track-worthy performance and style to the S2000 roadster, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
The Honda S2000 CR will be available as an entirely new S2000 trim level when it goes on sale in the fall of 2007. The lighter, stiffer and more aggressive overall design is engineered to maximize the S2000's potential on a racetrack with the goal of substantially-improving track times, chassis balance and feel. The factory-tuned roadster provides highly-aggressive suspension settings, increased body and chassis rigidity, overall weight reduction and an aerodynamic body kit dialed-in for reduced lift. An aluminum hardtop replaces the convertible soft top as standard equipment.
"The S2000 CR is the closest thing you can get to a Honda-built racecar with license plate holders and a horn," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Its features and equipment are designed to appeal to weekend club racing enthusiasts."
The full-body aerodynamic package reduces lift through large and highly-tuned front and rear spoilers. Exclusive chassis features include a quicker steering ratio, Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires, a wider rear tire size, firmer springs and dampers, larger stabilizer bars and a new wheel design in a dark gray color.
Substantial structural bracing has been added to the storage area previously occupied by the soft top, resulting in additional rigidity. The aluminum hard top replaces the soft top of the conventional Honda S2000, resulting in an overall weight savings of approximately 90 pounds when removed (relative to the current S2000).
The exclusive interior is highlighted by unique cloth seating surfaces with yellow stitching, a unique spherical aluminum shifter and carbon fiber-style trim panels. Air conditioning and an AM/FM Stereo with CD player are optional equipment. Standard features for the Honda S2000 include 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, ABS and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). While VSA serves to effectively enhance driver control during acceleration, braking, and cornering, the system can be disabled with the touch of a button when conditions warrant it.
Widely considered the quintessential roadster-style sports car, the S2000 is the performance icon for the Honda brand and combines uncompromising racetrack-ready performance with everyday usability. The Honda S2000 rewards driving enthusiasts with a potent 2.2-liter, 16-valve DOHC VTEC® 4-cylinder engine and a precise, short throw 6-speed manual transmission, along with tenacious handling and a perfect 50/50 weight balance.
The renowned high-revving engine delivers 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 6,800 rpm. Perfectly complimenting the engine's output characteristics is a compact, longitudinally-mounted, close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission that features a direct linkage for precise shifting and quick throws. Combined with a front and rear double wishbone suspension, precise electric power steering, and a torque-sensing limited slip differential, the end result is a complete, no compromise, performance package for the enthusiast driver.

sourse: autoblog.com

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Honda Civic Type R Japan

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced the release of the all-new Civic Type R, a pure sports edition of the Civic with further enhanced driving performance. The new Civic Type R will go on sale throughout Japan on Friday, March 30.
This new Civic Type R was developed to make the driver feel at one with the car for the ultimate driving experience in all driving conditions, including on circuits.The all-new Civic Type R comes equipped with a specially tuned 2.0-liter normally aspirated engine matched to a 6-speed manual transmission. A lighter, more rigid body shell, specially tuned suspension, 18-inch tires and large 17-inch front disc brakes contribute to the Civic Type R’s ability to push the performance envelope. Newly developed aerodynamic devices further enhance high-speed performance while giving the wide and low form a more aggressive look. Front bucket seats, a unique instrument panel and other performance accessories contribute to an easier and more responsive drive.
Type R models are specially tuned to take full advantage of the potential of the base model and provide a racing car-like driving feel. First offered on the NSX in 1992, the Type R range was extended to the Integra in 1995, and the Civic in 1997. This latest all-new Civic Type R is the distillation of 15 years of technological progress and the latest expression of Honda’s “Challenging Spirit.”

Key Features of the Honda Civic Type R
Exterior Design
The exterior employs a pure sports one-motion form design with aerodynamically advanced surface treatment and sharp edges. Newly developed aerodynamic devices include a large air intake in the front bumper and grille, a rear bumper with built-in rear diffuser, a high-mount rear spoiler, and extended side sill garnishes, giving the car an aggressive overall appearance.
• Specifically designed engine hood and front fenders.

• Specially designed shiny black chromed front grille bar, headlight sub-reflector and Civic emblem design.
• Type R red Honda emblem front and rear.

Interior Design
• The overall black color scheme gives the interior cockpit a racing car-like appearance, bringing the driver closer at one with the car.

• The front bucket seats are specially designed for Type R. Separate center/side construction with high side bolsters and optimized cushion rates help hold the body in place, helping the driver concentrate on driving.

• The multiplex i-VTEC engine revolution indicator alerts the driver that engine speed is approaching maximum allowed revolutions. Self-illuminated, lit with red-colored flashing lights and is strategically located for minimum eye movement in circuit and other high speed driving conditions.

• Other performance-oriented features include a small-diameter, genuine leather oval steering wheel, an aluminum ball-type shift knob, a short stroke sports shift linkage, metal sports-type pedals and footrest, and a separate, button-type engine starter.

Engine
• A higher compression ratio and improved breathing efficiency help the naturally-aspirated K20A 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine output a maximum of 165kW (225PS) at 8,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 215Nm (21.9kgm) at 6,100 rpm.

• NSX production methods contribute to smoother port surfacing, improving intake/exhaust airflow.

• Drive-By-Wire (DBW) provides for finer tuning of throttle response and power output.

• Optimum tuning of intake and exhaust manifolds provides for high output at high engine speed while also improving torque characteristics over a broad engine speed range.

Transmission
• A close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission is matched to the Type R engine.
• Optimized gear ratios offer superior accelerations at high speeds, providing exhilarating performance.

• New features include a highly rigid aluminum transmission case while the addition of a baffle plate helps mitigate oil starvation at high cornering speeds.

• A short stroke shift linkage contributes to a sporty shifting feel.

Highly Rigid Yet Lightweight Body/Chassis

• The highly rigid Civic body and its advanced layout serves as the basis for an even more highly rigid, yet lightweight Type R body. Measures to enhance body rigidity while reducing weight have translated into a body that is 50% more rigid than in the Integra Type R production model sold between 2001 and 2006.
• Specially tuned suspension, high performance 18-inch tires, a torque-sensitive helical limited slip differential, large disc brakes for improved fade resistance and other performance-enhancing features contribute to higher cornering performance and stability for an exciting, racecar-like driving experience.
• The specially tuned suspension boasts revised spring and damping rates, and thicker stabilizer bars for improved vehicle stability.

• 225/40R18-sized high-performance Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires.
• 17-inch disk brake with Brembo 4-pot aluminum front calipers.
• Specially-tuned ABS/EBD system.
• Special lightweight 18-inch aluminum wheels are matched to black wheel nuts.

Safety Performance
• Honda’s original G-CON (G-force Control) technology is incorporated to create a body with a crash safety performance that is among the best in the world, withstanding a 55km/h full-frontal collision, a 64km/h front offset collision, a 55km/h side collision, and a 50km/h rear collision.
• The vehicle’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body provides a high level of self-protection and also improves compatibility toward other vehicles.
• The vehicle is also designed to help mitigate pedestrian injury in the event of a collision thanks to the use of impact-absorbing structures.
• The front seats are equipped with 3-point, load-limiting ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) seatbelts with E-pretensioners.
• Front-seat occupants are further protected by standard driver/front passenger i-SRS air bags.
• ISO FIX compatible child seat anchoring bars and tether belt anchor plates are standard on the rear seats.

Environmental Performance
• The Civic Type R complies with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport emissions regulations for 2005.
• PVC and Cr6+ use have been eliminated from interior and exterior components and wherever possible throughout the vehicle to achieve over 90% recyclability*.
* Honda calculations

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Honda Civic Hybrid Awarded: Greenest Car in UK

The United Kingdom's Environmental Transport Association (ETA) annual awards have named the Honda Civic Hybrid Britain's greenest car for the second straight year. Finishing ahead of the Vauxhall Corsa 13.CTDi and Toyota Yaris 1.4 Diesel, the Civic won out for its superior combination of engine size, fuel consumption, noise pollution and safety impact on pedestrians.
The award for Greenest Off-Roader went to the Toyota RAV4 diesel and the Greenest Luxury Car award went to the Jaguar XJ 2.7 diesel. The wrong end of the list was dominated by luxury brands including Lamborghini, Ferrari and Aston Martin, proving that making a car really fast still requires a lot of petrol.
Analysis: Small, light vehicles get great fuel economy and are unlikely to mow down pedestrians while large, fast sports cars are made to go even faster by using bigger engines that suck more fuel. That's why the Tesla Roadster is such a revelation - a fast, sporty vehicle that runs on electricity and has zero emissions. By the looks of this list, it will have the other sports cars beaten hands down for environmental performance for a while yet.

Top ten green cars:
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi
• Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D Manual
• Renault Modus 1.2 16V VVT
• Daihatsu Sirion M300
• Citroen C1 1.1
• Toyota Aygo 1.0 Manual
• Peugeot 107 Manual
• Daihatsu Charade Manual
• Fiat Panda 1.3

Top ten worst cars:
• Lamborghini Diablo Roadster
• Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster
• Ferrari Supermerica
• Ferrari Scagliatti
• Bentley Azure
• Bentley Arnage RL
• Aston Martin Vanquish
• Aston Martin DB9 Manual
• Bentley Continental Flying Spur
• Ferrari F430 Spider

puregreencars.com

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Inside the Honda Factory

Honda Siel Cars India Ltd., (HSCI) was incorporated in December 1995 as a joint venture between Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Japan and Siel Limited, a Siddharth Shriram Group company, with a commitment to providing Honda's latest passenger car models and technologies, to the Indian customers. The total investment made by the company in India till date is over Rs. 800 crores.