日本自動車デザインコーナー「Japanese Car Design Corner」

2011年1月12日

New Civic Hybrid to be lighter with improved electric drive range

Following the reveal of the Civic concepts at Detroit, which are basically what will be sold in the States in the spring, we are now waiting for more info to come up regarding the JDM and EUDM versions.

The hybrid version of the new Civic will be equipped with a lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable battery. Li-Ion batteries are the next step in terms of battery technology and the Civic Hybrid will be the first Honda to come with one. The battery will be provided by Blue Energy, a joint venture of Honda and GS Yuasa, and according to Tech-On!, production has already started.

The IMA system will be the same as the one used at the moment across the Honda lineup, and the capacity of the battery has not been disclosed yet. However, Honda claims that the new Civic will have improved electric drive range and with the new battery, it is possible to more efficiently harvest electricity by using regenerative braking. As for the self-developed motor, its output is apparently higher than that of the motor used for the Insight and the Fit (10 kW).

The new Civic is going to be lighter than its predecessor, and a larger amount of high-tensile steel will be used.

Honda to make insulated toolkit available for EV maintenance

Honda has already announced that it will start lease sales of the EV-neo electric scooter in a few months (earlier post). Therefore, it prepares an insulated maintenance toolkit, which will be distributed to the dealers in order to carry out maintenance tasks on the EV-neo. This will ensure the safety when performing various tasks. Also, special training of the dealers will be done in order stuff to learn the basics of low voltage electric handling.

The insulated toolkit, has the surface of the metal parts covered with a film coating that doesn't allow electric charge to move, thus preventing a potential shock. Of course, the same type of measures will be taken once EV cars come out.

Honda at 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon

The 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon opens in a couple of days, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, and Honda just announced that Honda Access will display a TS-1X test study model based on the CR-Z.

Also on display are accessorized production cars and motorcycles, along with a variety of specially designed vehicles to show the playful nature of customization, such as the Freed Spike caravan car, the Acty Truck and the Enepo generator special coloring editions.

Oh, the HSV-010 GT machine, which won both the driver and team titles for the Super GT Series GT500-class races, will be there as well!

Lexus launches CT 200h in Japan

Lexus announced today the launch of the CT 200h in Japan, with a sales target of 1,500 units per month. Three versions will be available, the version L costing 4,300,000 ¥, the F Sport costing 4,050,000 ¥ and version C costing 3,750,000 ¥. The CT 200h is manufactured at the Miyata plant.

2011年1月11日

Toyota's WRC comeback in 2012!!!

According to a Japanese publication, Toyota's long rumoured WRC comeback will happen in 2012. The car to compete in WRC will be the new Vitz (aka Yaris) powered by a 1.6 L turbocharged engine. Hmm, any help from Subaru there? In any case, welcome back Toyota... it was about time!

[Source: IMP-X's blog]

Latest rumour suggests a Prius pick-up...

I guess people have started to get overexcited with the Prius family… but in any case, the latest rumour is that a pick-up might joint the Prius family in the future.

Bob Carter's answer to this was “possibly, if it meets the criteria. It’s not off the table, but nothing is decided at this point.”