The 2014 Honda Odyssey is making its case as the best minivan ever

Shanghai Auto Show: Honda Concept M tries to make the minivan cool

Minivans are not cool. Carmakers have tried everything from extroverted styling to filling their ‘vans with legions of LCD monitors, but they’re losing the battle against perception. Honda has tried harder than most, even resorting to a 1970s-themed ad campaign for the Odyssey. Honda’s latest attempt at a cool minivan is the Concept M, which was just unveiled at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.

The Concept M definitely looks like a minivan, albeit one designed by the same person who designed the talking robots for Michael Bay’s Transformers movies.It’s rare to see a car with not one, but two sets of side air intakes, but that front end is pretty tall. Those gaping holes, and the unusual two-tiered grille, hide some of the Concept M’s girth.

Another interesting touch is the intense sculpting of the wheel wells. They’re pulled so far out from the sides of the car in back that some clamp-like pieces of trim can fit around them. We wouldn’t say the Concept M is pretty, but it definitely stands out and has a more aggressive look than any vehicle designed to haul packs of schoolchildren has a right to. It’s also truly mini: Whereas Honda’s own Odyssey is getting decidedly maxi in size, the Concept M is intended as a compact minivan, along the lines of the Mazda5.

Vehicles like that have always occupied a small niche in the United States, but that won’t be a problem for Honda if it decides to put the Concept M into production.

Honda is specifically targeting the Chinese market with this one, hoping to compete with the repurposed commercial vans that makes up the bulk of the country’s minivan fleet. Since the Concept M is a true car-based minivan and not a small commercial vehicle with passenger seats, it should offer more refinement and better performance than those vehicles.
Honda hopes to have a production version of the Concept M on the Chinese market by 2014. American buyers will have to make due with the Odyssey. At least we get an onboard vacuum cleaner.

Courtesy of Digital Trends

Honda celebrates 20 years in racing at Long Beach

When Dario Franchitti won the pole for Sunday's race at Long Beach, it put Honda out front for the first time this season.
The manufacturer has not had the start it had hoped for the 2013 IndyCar season, which celebrated this weekend the 20th anniversary of Honda Performance Development. The festivities were scheduled for Monday's annual "Race Day" when Honda drivers visit HPD and American Honda headquarters in Los Angeles.

Throughout its two decades of existence, HPD has followed the directive of Tetsuo Iwamura, president of parent company American Honda. 

"Our Challenging Spirit must be relentless," he said. "One after the other, each of us must be ever vigilant, to relentlessly overcome each challenge, to reach higher, set more innovative goals, and bring joy to our customers. The company cannot rely on its past successes, but must willingly revitalize itself by challenging each associate to achieve a greater level of innovation."
Honda has turned a corner since the season-opener at St. Pete, where flagship team owner Chip Ganassi questioned the engine manufacturer's commitment to winning. The Honda cars had lagged all weekend, and Honda drivers were shut out of the podium.

But it was a better showing two weeks later in Long Beach, where Scott Dixon finished second and three Hondas made it into the Fast Six round of qualifying.

Then came Franchitti's pole at Long Beach, where Honda again put three drivers in the Fast Six.
"I think Honda made massive strides," Franchitti said. "Actually pretty bad there in St. Pete to put a lap together. But I think Honda worked unbelievably hard to close the gap to Chevy, and we've seen it at Barber, and I think we saw it again (at Long Beach). So it's getting closer and closer."

Honda's history runs strong in open wheel, where engines produced or tuned by HPD have won 196 Indy car races under CART, IRL and IndyCar sanction. HPD also produces engines for the American Le Mans Series and FIA Endurance Championship competition, as well as grassroots and entry-level categories including karting, Quarter Midgets and Formula F. 

Courtesy of The Miami Herald 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/21/3356805/honda-celebrates-20-years-in-racing.html#storylink=cpy

Kelley Blue Book: Honda Fit EV Is Among Nation’s Best Green Cars

Saying that it “impresses as one of the most powerful and energy-efficient EVs available,” the experts at KBB.com have named the 2013 Honda Fit EV to their list of 10 Best Green Cars of 2013. This only makes sense, since the all-electric Fit offers the highest EPA marks of any EV in the country: 132 MPGe city/105 MPGe highway/118 MPGe combined.
Those numbers come courtesy of an advanced powertrain that blends a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an AC synchronous electric motor to provide drivers with 123 horsepower and 189 lb.-ft. of torque. As an FYI, that’s an additional 6 horsepower and 83 lb.-ft. of torque over the gas-engine Fit. Motivation is enhanced in the EV by a driver-selectable three-mode driving system. It all comes together to provide owners with an EPA-certified all-electric driving range of 82 miles, backed by charging times as low as 3.5 hours (with a 240-volt charger).
 
“Consumers only have one choice for the most energy efficient electric vehicle—the Honda Fit EV. What’s more, its power and handling make it one of the most fun-to-drive EVs available,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. “This recognition from KBB.com further highlights the tremendous environmental and customer value that the Honda Fit EV offers.”

The 2013 Honda Fit EV is currently being offered for lease in California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and New York, with terms starting at $389 per month for 36 months. Just note, Honda will only offer a limited number of Fit EVs during this phase of the vehicle’s launch, so interested drivers are urged to visit www.FitEV.Honda.com today for lease applications.

Courtesy of Honda 

Honda Hybrid Spotlight

With the brand-new Accord Plug-in Hybrid already on sale and a “traditional” Accord hybrid on its way, Honda has caught up to its archrival Toyota as the auto brand with the most hybrid car models on sale in this country.


In addition to the Accord duo, Honda’s high-efficiency hybrids include two dedicated entries, the Insight and CR-Z, both of which provide their own unique benefits for green-conscious owners. The Insight is the least expensive hybrid vehicle currently on sale in the United States, with a price of admission that starts at $18,600 and EPA ratings of up to 41 mpg city/44 mpg highway/42 mpg combined. As for the dynamic CR-Z, it showcases refreshed styling and enhanced performance for the 2013 model year, highlighted by output increases to 130 horsepower (+6.5 percent) and 140 lb.-ft. of torque (+9.4 percent). But not only will drivers benefit from the car’s new, more powerful lithium-ion battery pack, but they’ll also see an added 1 mpg in the city in CVT-equipped models and an extra 1 mpg on the highway for the CR-Z with the standard six-speed manual. The CVT is now rated to achieve 36 mpg city/39 mpg highway/37 mpg combined, while the manual rings up an EPA line of 31/38/34. Like the Insight, the CR-Z is priced below $20,000, featuring an MSRP of $19,975.

Next on the roster: The Honda Civic Hybrid. Like the CR-Z (and the rest of the Civic family), the Civic Hybrid also benefits from a fairly extensive range of upgrades for the current selling season. While the revisions included plenty of obvious improvements to the car’s design and quality, they also brought enhancements that Honda hopes you’ll never notice: Structural reinforcements helped the Civic family, including the hybrid model, become the first compact cars to achieve the new Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

The 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid boasts marks of 44 mpg in all facets of the EPA’s current fuel-economy testing program.

Courtesy of Honda 

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Honda Civic Si Delivers Big Fun in a Compact Package

The 2013 Honda Civic is continuing its long run as one of the best-selling compact cars in America, and not just because it’s also one of the most fuel-efficient small vehicles. Further helping matters is that the brand also provides a little bonus for enthusiasts—in the form of the Honda Civic Si.


Available in both coupe and sedan configurations, the Civic Si is an agile performer with both increased power and improved driving dynamics over the standard Civic. Beneath the hood, for example, the Si models holster a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque, providing advantages of 43 and 33 percent as compared to the traditional Civic. Further, the sportier choices boast a helical limited-slip differential and retuned suspensions for athletic handling and nimble reflexes. Naturally, the only transmission is a close-ratio six-speed manual.
That kind of premium performance brings some upscale cabin amenities, too, with standard and available goodies like:

• A 360-watt seven-speaker premium audio system with an interface for Pandora Internet radio and Bluetooth audio-streaming capabilities
• Bluetooth technology for hands-free calling
• The automaker’s i-MID intelligent display system with five-inch LCD screen and Si-exclusive power meter
• A one-touch power moonroof
• Satellite-linked navigation with voice recognition and integrated multi-angle rearview camera system
• A leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel
• Aluminum pedals and gearshift knob
• Safety measures such as Honda’s new SmartVent airbags
• Si-exclusive design cues, including a restyled rear spoiler, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome-tipped exhaust, and a revised front-end appearance highlighted by a chrome-accented honeycomb grille and prominent front bumper

Courtesy of Honda in the News 

Honda Civic Racing Toward US WTCC Debut This Fall

The Honda Civic has long been known for its nimble ways on the racetrack, and this year’s model is no different. In its first full season with factory support, the Civic scored a third-place finish in the first race on the 2013 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).  During this past weekend’s competition, Civic driver Gabriele Tarquini took pole position and then clinched second place on the podium. He is now second in the WTCC driver’s standings.

“It is tough to be really challenging at this level,” said Alessandro Mariani, director of the Honda JAS racing team. “But pole position and second place shows the great potential we have. The season is a very busy timetable with many races and we must try to keep up with our development plans in between those races.”
While Tarquini is currently No. 2 in the driver’s championship points, Honda is No. 1 among those vying for the manufacturer’s title.

For those who aren’t familiar with the WTCC, it’s one of the world’s top international racing series for stock-based racecars and is supported by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). This is the same organization that sanctions both Formula 1 racing and the World Rally Championship. For 2013, the WTCC will include 12 events across four continents, and one of them will be held at the famed Sonoma Raceway, during the weekend of Sept. 7-8, 2013.
Added Mariani: “I am very proud of the great job that Honda and our staff have done to get us ready for the 2013 Championship, and of the team spirit we’ve created, which will be essential to get us through the challenging campaign ahead.
“And whilst we know it will be extremely difficult as a newcomer to win the Championship this year, for Honda and racing fans around the world, we are making this our goal.”

Courtesy of Honda 

2014 Mazda 6 Full Test

 

Let's face it: Most of us, if we're shopping in the midsize sedan segment, just want the safe choice: the car that will get us through three to five years with as few hassles as possible. There are plenty of such cars, all of them optimized to deliver low risk for buyers whose loyalties lean more toward practical than provocative.

The Mazda 6, however, which is all-new for 2014, has something most of its competitors desperately need.

Personality.

It drips with charisma in places where its competitors offer only convention. There's identity in its styling both inside and out. Its front seats alone offer comfort and support utterly lacking in most of its competition. And if there's even one midsize sedan that's remotely interesting to drive, it's this one.

The question, then, is this: Can the 2014 Mazda 6 be both desirable and practical?

Power and Efficiency
The all-aluminum, direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder under the 6's hood follows the same streamlining strategies as the engine used in the smaller Mazda 3 sedan. The big four utilizes balance shafts, which keeps it smooth all the way to its 6,500-rpm redline and an even higher 13.0:1 compression ratio. It's a smooth, slow puller, but one that's every bit as powerful as it needs to be. Sensitive ears will notice the telltale clatter of direct fuel injectors at idle, but overall this engine offers every bit of refinement you'll find in the class leaders.

It cranks out 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Mazda recommends regular 87-octane fuel and there's an optional regenerative braking system designed to enhance fuel economy, though it wasn't present on our tester. A 2.2-liter diesel will be the optional in the second half of 2013. Expect it to be better performing, more efficient and more expensive.

Still, this gasoline-fired mill is plenty efficient on its own. When equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission, the 6 is rated at 38 highway mpg. Its city rating is 26 mpg and the EPA says it should achieve 30 mpg in mixed driving, which places it ahead of the Toyota Camry in all three categories.

But these are EPA numbers. The real world often tells a different story and it did with our 2014 Mazda 6. We only managed a combined 27.1 mpg in mixed driving.

About That Personality
Though none of the current crop of midsize sedans will arouse honest enthusiasm among driving geeks, the 2014 Mazda 6 identifies itself as the athlete of the group. Though it might not run away from others on a back road, its driver won't want a divorce when the curves end. Traditionally we'd thank Mazda's attention to chassis calibration for this quality, but much of the credit here also goes to the six-speed automatic transmission, which is as penalty-free as any we've driven.

Mazda's automatic transmission manages to be a key component in the car's efficiency and in its engaging driving character, which is a groundbreaking achievement in any segment. Rev-matched downshifts are ripped off with precision, and the torque converter remains locked most of the time. The result is an honest connection between the engine and the front wheels, a situation that's becoming less common as CVTs become the go-to fuel-saving solution.

Shifts are triggered either from a manual gate on the console shifter or using wheel-mounted paddles. Response is immediate, yet appropriately suited to a car designed more for hauling kids than hauling ass. Don't worry. Your mother-in-law will never suspect the subtlety of shifting gears means so much. And should she get anxious, "Drive" is only a click away, achieved by holding the upshift paddle for a few seconds.

Ride and Drive
And when the road straightens, the 2014 Mazda 6 acquits itself with admirable ride quality considering the 19-inch rubber it wears at each corner. Sure, if you want a softer ride, there are plenty of choices: Accord, Camry, even the Sonata. Certainly the 6's ride is well controlled, but it's not likely to draw attention to itself from anyone except the most sensitive passengers.

You'll be reminded that it comes from a group of people who assume driving means thinking about what you're doing, even if it's just getting the kids to school. Possibly it's this philosophy that killed the Mazda MPV minivan and relegated the previous 6 to an also-ran sales position among midsize contenders.

Whatever the case, Mazda's refusal to shy from the strategy is both bold and honorable. There's ample damping to control the chassis during lively driving and the tires are easily the limiting factor in any dynamic maneuvers that matter. Medium weighted steering communicates the 6's modest limits better than that of most of its competitors. But if you're into drop-throttle oversteer, you can forget about it here: a point likely to increase your favor among the in-laws.

 

 

Courtesy of Edmunds Review

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AAA: Honda Odyssey Is a Top Choice for Commuters

According to the AAA—originally founded as the American Automobile Association more than 100 years ago—the average round-trip commute in this country is at 50 minutes. That’s a lot of time to spend in your vehicle, and given the price of gas, that’s a lot of money to spend on your vehicle, too. Of course, the AAA auto-buying experts—and the Honda Odyssey—can help folks to keep calm and carry on.

That’s because the Odyssey was recently named as the No. 1 minivan in AAA’s annual roundup of “Top Vehicles for Commuters.” Based on factors like fuel efficiency, comfort and overall performance, the recognition comes with the association’s experts noting that:

• “Even basic versions [of the Odyssey] are well equipped and comfortable.”
• The Odyssey is equally at home on the highway and in urban settings.
• “Front and second row seating comfort is quite good.”
• With the third row folded flat, there’s “ample space for a wide range of items.”

These are just the latest in a long line of recent honors for the 2013 Odyssey, which also has been named:

• Best Minivan for Families by U.S. News & World Report
• A “Greener Choice” in the minivan segment by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
• Winner of a 2013 Residual Value Award from ALG
• A Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

Even better? The award-winning Honda Odyssey has been upgraded even further for the 2014 model year, with new available features like an integrated cargo-area shop-vac, the latest HondaLink technologies, sharpened styling, and key structural enhancements designed to help the Odyssey achieve the IIHS’ new, more rigorous Top Safety Pick+ designation.
The 2014 Honda Odyssey will arrive in dealerships this summer.


Courtesy of Honda News 

Crosstour Adventure!

Watch three blogger dads as they head out on a Crosstour adventure from LA to Houston to attend the Dad 2.0 Summit.

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Honda announces new City-Brake safety system

One of the most common situations for drivers to have accidents is in low-speed traffic within a city. Drivers become distracted and before you know it rear end collisions happen. A number of automakers around the world have been introducing systems to improve safety and help prevent rear end collisions. Ford has offered this sort of system on some of its vehicles for a while that activates flashing lights, an audible alarm, and then hits the brakes if needed.


Honda has now announced that it has developed its own accident avoidance support system called the City-Brake Active System. The Honda safety system operates when the vehicle is traveling at speeds under 18 mph. The system relies on a laser radar installed in the upper part of the windscreen to detect when a collision is imminent.

Once the safety system identifies a high risk of collision, it will activate both audio and visual warnings for the driver. If the driver doesn’t take action to avoid the collision the City-Brake Active System automatically applies the vehicle’s brakes. The safety system also has a secondary function designed to prevent accidental acceleration.

At speeds of less than 6 mph, or from a standstill, if the system determines that the driver has pressed too hard on the accelerator when there is another vehicle within 4 m of the front, the system will deliver audio and visual warnings. The system will then restrict engine output to prevent the vehicle from moving forward. The idea is that the system can help prevent rear end collisions in instances where the driver mistakenly steps on the accelerator rather than the brake.

(Source: Slash Gear)