First photos of Mugen Fit Shuttle

The Fit Shuttle will be launched next month and already the first photos showing the Mugen bits and pieces have leaked. The Mugen Fit Shuttle is expected to be officially revealed one month later.

[Source: 頑張れ！ 三菱自動車 応援ブログと株日記]

Rendering of future Honda Beat!

According to BC, Honda is also working on a Beat successor, which is likely going to share bits and pieces with the new N (earlier post).

Honda N coming next year

Honda presented back in 2009 the EV-N concept and it seems that this cute little car is heading for production next year. Initially, the petrol version will be launched in March next year, and then the EV version will follow 6 months later. According to this rendering by BC, the production model will look very similar to the concept. Now, I really want one of these...

Some more info about Honda's 2.0L NA CR-Z

As posted a few days ago (earlier post), Honda is working on a naturally aspired CR-Z and according to Best Car, Honda is speeding up the development of it due to high customer demand. BC claims that it is very likely to use the K20A engine of the Euro Civic Type R, which produces 201 PS at 7,800 rpm and 17.7 kgm of torque. The NA CR-Z is expected to have a better fuel efficiency, around 15.0 km/L under the 10.15 mode, compared to the 11.6 km/L of the Euro Type R. The NA CR-Z could wear the Type R badge.

In the past, Autocar reported that we will get a spicy CR-Z equipped with a turbocharged engine (earlier post). I guess we will have to be patient until we really find out what engine will be fitted, but at least we know that the CR-Z will not remain a hybrid only model.

Development of NSX successor officially back on track

Honda president Takashi Ito announced today that the company will resume the development of the NSX successor (earlier post). So, now it's official that there will be a new NSX! Can we have it without batteries please?

Prices of new Honda Fit Shuttle

Prices of the new Fit Shuttle, which will be launched in March (earlier post), will start from ¥ 1,650,000 for the petrol version, while the base price of the hybrid version will be ¥ 1,850,000. 15C and Hybrid C grades, which are business specification, are going to cost ¥ 40,000 cheaper than the standard ones. The 4WD model, available only with the petrol engine and 15X trim level, will cost ¥ 1,825,600.

Yet another scoop on future Honda NSX

OK, so here we go again... following the last scoop on the NSX and S2000 successors (earlier post) almost one month ago, BC has published another rendering of the future NSX. I hope I will be able to get the new BC issue soon and provide you with more info.

Web preview of new Honda Fit Shuttle

Honda has launched a website featuring info on the new Fit Shuttle (earlier post), which is scheduled to debut in March. A hybrid version will be available as expected.

All-new Honda Civic caught undisguised in Japan!!!

The first new Honda Civics have been caught leaving from the Suzuka plant in Japan! Those units are under way to the States and I have to admit that I am seriously disappointed by the design. I think the new Corolla (earlier post) will be much nicer than this...

More photos after the jump!

More photos of new Honda Fit Shuttle!

The upcoming wagon version of the Fit, called Fit Shuttle (フィット シャトル), is nothing new since a lot of leaked photos have been published. The new model is heading for a domestic launch in March, and in the latest Mag-x issue, there a lot of photos and detailed info (even the trim levels are listed)!

More photos after the jump!

Honda readies 2.0L NA CR-Z and Beat successor!

The latest issue of BC has some interesting news regarding the upcoming Honda models, and it seems that a 2.0L NA CR-Z is coming soon, as well as a Beat successor!!!

Soon I will be able to provide you with more info... so stay tuned!

All-new Honda Insight coming in 2013

As you will have already figured out, one of the most disappointing cars, in my opinion, is the Honda Insight. I was really excited when it was under development and I was convinced that it would be my next car. Unfortunately, the final result was rather bad and far away from what Honda was promising back then.

In any case, the current model will get a nip/tuck this year (earlier post), in July, and a full model change is due in February 2013. The new model will come with a bigger petrol engine, having a displacement of 1.5L, featuring Honda's variable valve timing system, VTEC, plus VTC. The new engine will be called 1.5L e-VTEC. The new Insight will be the first Honda model to use the new Fit platform (earlier post) and the main aerodynamic characteristics of the current model will remain.

In terms of overall dimensions, the new model will be slightly longer (4425 instead of 4400 mm) and taller (1435 instead of 1430 mm).

[Source: Mag-X via CarSensor]

Revised Honda Accord to debut at Geneva

• Revised exterior styling
• Detail changes to interior finishes (new seat materials and door linings)
• Improvements to emissions and economy on all engines
• 138 g/km 2.2 i-DTEC introduced
• Ride and handling improvements for all model
• 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
• On sale across Europe from April this year.

* High Beam Support system 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.

Honda Civic Type R: EK9 vs EP3 vs FD2 vs FN2

Below is a nice technical comparison between all the generations of the Honda Civic Type R!

 EK9 vs EP3

Release Year	1995/09	2000/09
Year end	2000/09	2005/09
Type the reference year	1999/12	2004/04
Type	GF-EK9	ABA-EP3
Car Name	Civic	Civic
Grade	Type R	Type R
Riding capacity	4	4
Price	¥ 219.8 万円	¥ 233.1 万円
Takeshi Tamotsu × width × height	4185 × 1695 × 1360mm	4135 × 1695 × 1430mm
Interior length × width × height	1695 × 1390 × 1115mm	1805 × 1455 × 1175mm
Front / rear	1480mm/1480mm	1470mm/1470mm
Wheelbase	2620mm	2570mm
Turning circle	5.4m	5.7m
Vehicle weight	1070kg	1190kg
Drive system	FF	FF
Transmission	5MT	6MT
Tire Size	F:195/55R15　R:195/55R15	F:205/45R17　R:205/45R17
Engine Type	B16B	K20A
Emissions and type	1595cc　直4　DOHC	1998cc　直4　DOHC
Diameter × stroke	81mm × 77.4mm	86mm x 86mm
Compression ratio	10.8	11.5
Intake System	NA	NA
Maximum power output	185ps (136kW) / 8200rpm	215ps (158kW) / 8000rpm
Maximum torque	16.3kg ・ m (159.7N ・ m) / 7500rpm	20.6kg ・ m (201.9N ・ m) / 7000rpm
The use of fuel	High-octane gasoline	High-octane gasoline
10.15 mileage	13.6km / L	12.4km / L

FD2 vs FN2

Release Year	2005/09	←
Year end	2010/08	Drive current (December 2010)
Type the reference year	2008/09	2010/10
Type	ABA-FD2	ABA-FN2
Car Name	Civic	Civic
Grade	Type R	Type R Euro
Riding capacity	5	4
Price	¥ 283.5 万円	¥ 300.0 万円
Takeshi Tamotsu × width × height	4540 × 1770 × 1430mm	4270 × 1785 × 1445mm
Interior length × width × height	1900 × 1470 × 1170mm	2230 × 1445 × 1195mm
Front / rear	1505mm/1515mm	1505mm/1530mm
Wheelbase	2700mm	2635mm
Turning circle	5.9m	5.6m
Vehicle weight	1270kg	1320kg
Drive system	FF	FF
Transmission	6MT	6MT
Tire Size	F:225/40R18　R:225/40R18	F:225/40R18　R:225/40R18
Engine Type	K20A	K20A
Emissions and type	1998cc　直4　DOHC	1998cc　直4　DOHC
Diameter × stroke	86mm x 86mm	86mm x 86mm
Compression ratio	11.7	11.0
Intake System	NA	NA
Maximum power output	225ps (165kW) / 8000rpm	201ps (148kW) / 7800rpm
Maximum torque	21.9kg ・ m (214.6N ・ m) / 6100rpm	19.7kg ・ m (193.1N ・ m) / 5600rpm
The use of fuel	High-octane gasoline	High-octane gasoline
10.15 mileage	11.0km / L	11.6km / L
JC08 fuel economy		10.8km / L

[Source: greeco car channel]

New Honda CR-V coming this autumn

The current-gen CR-V was introduced in 2007 and following a cycle of almost 4 years, the new model will be introduced in October this year. BC's article mentions that a 2.4L engine, delivering 170 PS, will be used for the JDM version, achieving a fuel efficiency of 12.0 km/L (10.15 mode).

In terms of styling, the specific rendering suggests that the new CR-V will have a coupe-like roofline, similar to the BMW X6. Now, this can't be good...

A rather unsual paint job by ARTIS (アルティス)!!!

Now, that's an unusual paint job! This 3D hologram of eeer... scratches really looks cool and it was exhibited at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The company responsible for this paint job is called ARTIS.

New 2011 EUDM Honda Civic - launch of every Civic variety within weeks of each other!

So far, we have seen spy shots of both JDM and EUDM Civics, and Honda has even presented two concepts of the USDM 9th-gen Civic at Detroit. The USDM versions will go on sale in April, and apparently, every Civic variety will be launched within weeks  of each other, according to John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda!!!

Quattroruote magazine has came up with this 'photoshoped' image, giving an impression of how the EUDM model (earlier post) could look like. Well, judging by the spy shots, the overall shape won't change much and it makes sense, since after the "revolutionary" design of the current-gen model, Honda has decided to play it safe.

According to the article, the engines are expected to be the same, meaning that the 2.2 L diesel engine will be on offer, along with the 1.8 L petrol (R18A1) one. I suspect that once again, the hybrid version will be made in Japan and thus Europe will get the JDM Civic Hybrid.

I would like to thank my dear friend, Dimitris, for providing me with this magazine scan!

Honda speeding up development of turbocharged CR-Z

According to Autocar's sources, it was reported in the past that Honda is preparing a turbocharged version of CR-Z (earlier post). Now, Autocar again claims that buyer's feedback is so strong, and the drop-off in domestic sales so steep, that Honda is speeding up the development of the hot CR-Z. It could even make its debut as early as next December at the Tokyo Motor Show.

13 Japanese companies eye smooth domestic launch of FCVs

As already posted, Japan is pushing the adoption of FCVs (Fuel Cell Vehicles) by 2015 (earlier post). In order to achieve this target, more hydrogen filling stations and more cooperation between manufacturers will be needed.

Thus, 13 companies in Japan - Toyota, Nissan, and Honda along with a number of gas and utilities companies - are joining forces to enable a "smooth domestic launch" of fuel cell vehicles as soon as 2015. They hope to create about 100 hydrogen stations across the country, work to form a broader hydrogen supply network, and also educate people about FCVs in general.

The companies are the following:

Toyota Motor Corporation

Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.

Honda Motor Company, Ltd.

JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation

Idemitsu Kosan Company, Ltd.

Iwatani Corporation

Osaka Gas Company, Ltd.

Cosmo Oil Company, Ltd.

Saibu Gas Company, Ltd.

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation

Tokyo Gas Company, Ltd.

Toho Gas Company, Ltd.

Honda TS-1X and Sports Modulo NSX at 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

The TS-1X has some fancy "floating flaps" as you will notice, but a press release hasn't been published yet explaining the actual use of them. In any case, it looks like Batman's CR-Z...

Honda displayed also some new items for the legendary NSX, including a Modulo carbon fibre spoiler, Modulo shocks, springs and even control arms. It's nice to see that Honda still supports old models! Now, what about the NSX successor Honda…?

More photos after the jump!