Just some thoughts about the new Vitz, Toyota and Honda...

Honda is my favourite Japanese manufacturer, while Toyota has been so far a big let down in my eyes, but things seem to change fast. The financial meltdown has forced manufacturers to change their strategies and now Toyota looks much more promising, with Honda having lost its edge.

In my point of view, everything started with pulling out from F1 and canceling the NSX project. Those decisions left Honda with its "green machines", but in the case of the Insight (earlier post), it didn't work out that well. Then, Honda decided to bring out the Fit Hybrid (earlier post). Well, this could be a move in order to utilize the electrical and oily bits of the Insight, since it didn't prove to be successful and somehow, the development cost had to be covered. But, I am not sure if there is much point in that.

I don't know whether the new Civic will be any good or not, but by judging from the spy shots, I don't reckon that it will have the same impact as the current generation had when it was launched. Then again, it's the Type R... is there going to be a new one? And if there is, will it come with a 1.6 L turbocharged engine (earlier post)? If Honda goes ahead with an engine like that, I will be seriously disappointed. Honda is about high revving engines... let the Europeans play with their fancy turbos. And I won't mention the S2000... I have read so many rumours about its successor and I just hope that Honda will not mess with it and put electrical bits in it.

On the other hand, Toyota that has failed miserably over the last few years in bringing out anything exciting, somehow looks so promising (OK, there is Lexus' LFA which is amazing, a car to cry about, but it's a little bit above my bugdget...). There is the new FT-86 (related posts) which will bring an inexpensive sports car to the masses with all the right "ingredients". Low weight, rear wheel drive, 2.0 L naturally aspired engine producing around 200 hp, sharp styling and the important fun to drive factor!!!

In the meantime, we will get the new Vitz / Yaris. Ah, a car I never liked looks now spot on! It looks much sharper, without any drama in its design, but with a clean and aerodynamic design. What really caught my attention though was the interior design. It looks elegant, yet simple. No drama, no complicated stuff in order to impress the ladies. So far, the only interior I liked in this segment was the one of Mazda's 2, but now it's Toyota taking the lead IMO. Oh, and no hybrid version!!! A wise move from Toyota, since good fuel efficiency can be achieved in other ways as well. What's the point of making a small car heavy and complex in order to achieve great mileage? Low weight is the key factor and in the case of such a small car, a hybrid system is out of place. 

If Toyota comes up with a decent Corolla (... come on, make it "spicy"!) and perhaps a hot version of the new Vitz with Gazoo Racing being involved, then Toyota will definitely be back from the dead.

I have already a brand new Honda keyring from Japan, but I will keep it sealed since it may take a few years until I use it... as I guess my next car will be a Toyota!

FD2 Civic Type R at Aoyama dealership (... my favourite Civic Type R!!!)

Last orders: Honda Civic Type R (FN2)

A very nicely written article. Check it out!

Last orders: Honda Civic Type R « PetrolBlog
 

Rendering of next-gen USDM Honda Civic Coupe

Honda has already released an official teaser sketch of the concept (earlier post) to be displayed at Detroit in January, and now, TOV (Temple of VTEC) member blackstripe77 has come up with this great rendering. Well, not far off from the teaser actually, but as I have stated in the past, I am not very optimistic about the styling of the production version. I wish I am wrong...

Honda to display Civic concept at Detroit

Honda has released this sketch claiming that the concept, which will be revealed in a few weeks time at the Detroit, will preview the actual next-gen Civic. The new USDM Civic will be available in spring.

Although the sketch looks really cool, I am not so optimistic having seen the upcoming JDM model (earlier post).

Some more renderings of next-gen Honda Civic (2HC)

We have seen some very clear spy shots (earlier post), so there are no surprises... unfortunately. Those renderings seem very realistic, but I wish the real thing would be different. I still think that the current model (FD) looks much better.

Some new scale model pre-orders placed!

Further to my latest pre-order for an Advantage GT-R Concept scale model (earlier post), I have placed three new ones today. Note that the photos of the Civic Type R model are from moke-up, so the real thing will much more detailed. Hopefully, I should get all of them by the end of March.

• Honda Civic Type R 1999 EK9 (Championship White) by Interallied (インターアライド)
• Lexus IS-F 2008 (Black) by Kyosho
• Toyota Crown Athlete 2008 (White) by Kyosho

Next-gen Honda Civic (2HC) rendered

The next-gen Honda Civic 4-door, codenamed 2HC, has been caught almost undisguised (earlier post), and this photoshop work gives an even better idea of what to expect. Still very disappointing...

Honda about to end Civic (FD) production in Japan

Honda will end the production of the Civic Hybrid in Japan, as sales have dropped and a hybrid version of Fit (Jazz) has also been launched. Production will end in December.

Production of the JDM Honda Civic Type R (FD2) was ceased at the end of August (earlier post) and also, the "normal" Civic equipped with the R18A1 engine is no longer available either. However, production in overseas markets (e.g. US) will continue.

I really do like the JDM Civic, but the current model has reached the end of its life cycle and a successor is underway (earlier post)... sadly!

Honda Civic Type R FD2 scale model by Ebbro

All the recent models that arrived (earlier post) are sealed and thus I wasn't able to take decent photos. Well, I decided to unwrap one of them and here are some detailed photos of it. This is a Honda Civic Type R FD2 scale model (1/43) by Ebbro in Crystal Black Pearl.

Honda Civic Type R Euro (FN2) YM2010 to be made available in Japan

Honda Civic Type R Euro YM2009 was made available in Japan last year and now,  Honda announced that the YM2010 will also be sold in limited numbers.

Next-gen Honda Civic 4-door (2HC) fully exposed!

CAR Middle East has provided the first pictures of the next-gen Civic sedan, 2HC (earlier post), completely naked of all camouflage!

Now you have a clear picture of what to expect and I have to admit that I was hoping for something better than this. As an owner of the current generation (FD1), I was looking forward for the next-gen and I am rather disappointed.

I think that CAR is right when writing "Now Honda looks to be losing faith in its daring design direction, delivering a cheese-wedge sedan that could easily be mistaken for – whisper it – one of the equally wedgy Koreans that are flooding out of South East Asia. Or perhaps it’s merely a reflection of these austere times where sobriety is a virtue. Either way: we want our old Honda back".

Source: CAR Middle East

Latest scale model arrivals

During the last few weeks, the following models have been arrived from Japan:

• Honda Civic Type R FD2 (2007) in Championship White by Ebbro

• Honda Civic Type R FD2 (2007) in Crystal Black Pearl by Ebbro

• Honda Civic Mugen RR FD2 (2007) in Red by Ebbro

• Honda Civic Type R FN2 JDM in Championship White by Ebbro

• Nissan GT-R R34 V-SPEC II (2000) in White Pearl by Ebbro

• Nissan GT-R R35 V-SPEC (2009) in White Pearl by Ebbro

• Toyota Supra RZ (1996) in Gungray by Ebbro

Interior of next-gen Honda Civic 4-door (2HC) revealed!!!

The interior of the next-gen Civic 4-door has been revealed and as you can see, the two-tiered design theme makes a return, but basically everything has been completely redesigned.

Source: Temple of VTEC

Rendering of next-gen Honda Civic (2HC)

On the front cover of Japanese Mag-X magazine, there is a rendering of the next-gen 4-door Civic, codenamed 2HC. Unfortunately, I don't have any further info or access to read what Mag-X claims, but I will do my best in order to find out...

What we know about next-gen Honda Civic

My next car is going to be the new Civic, 4-door and made in Japan, which is expected to be introduced in 2011-2012.

So, what we already know, based on information from 2010 Mid-Year CEO's speech, is that the hybrid version of the Civic will be equipped with a high-output and compact lithium-ion battery, which will be supplied by Blue Energy, a joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda.

A new plug-in hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles is currently under development. Vehicles equipped with this new system are scheduled to go on sale in 2012 in Japan and the U.S. and therefore, it is very likely to see also a plug-in Civic.

In terms of petrol engines, Honda will continue advancing technologies to improve the performance and fuel economy of internal combustion engines. Honda will begin renewing its engine and transmission lineup starting in 2012 to further improve its fuel economy.

First spy shots of upcoming Honda Civic

The Civic is one of my favourites cars, having owned one, and the next-gen has been caught for the fist time close to Honda's European development centre in Germany. Of course, the test car was completely disguised...

I have also read that Honda will continue selling in Japan only the hybrid version of the Civic, which means that the R18A1 engine will no longer be available.

Source: SecretNewCars.com