Category: Honda

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Honda

Honda Civic Type R Concept revealed (again)

Honda Civic Type R Concept

Honda has previewed the Civic Type R Concept it will have on display at the Paris Motor Show later this week. And if you think you’ve seen it before, that’s because you have. That “strikinig luminous blue” paint scheme isn’t fooling anyone.

The hype about this new Civic Type R has shifted up a gear, too, with Honda claiming the 2.0 litre turbocharged engine will be the most responsive the company ever made. Yes, even better than the original NSX.

“Honda has had four Type R model derivatives—the Civic, Integra, Accord and NSX,” recalls Suehiro Hasshi, Large Project Leader for the Civic Type R at Honda R&D. “The engine in this new Honda Civic Type R is unrivalled against all of them in terms of raw power, torque and engine response.”

More important than any of that, though, is the fact the 2015 Civic Type R will boast a +R button on the steering wheel. None of those other cars ever had that, did they!

“In default standard mode, the Civic Type R is exceptionally agile, an everyday sports car with an enjoyable and fluid acceleration,” Hasshi-san explained. “The ‘+R’ button brings out a more dynamic and athletic car for the driver, sure to set pulses racing.

“The difference in character is immense. The ‘+R’ mode is extreme; the car is ideal for the track and will be appreciated by the genuine sports-driving enthusiast.”

Other details revealed by Honda include the very pleasing news that the hero hot hatch will be built exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Handling will be aided by a four-point Adaptive Damper System with a number of settings available depending on the driver’s mood.

The Civic Type R is a pretty cool looking car in concept form and let’s hope Honda stays true to its form when the production model is released next year. We think they will, unlike those numbskulls at Subaru.

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Formula 1 Honda McLaren

McLaren could test with Honda engine this year

Eric Boullier, McLaren

The McLaren-Honda reunification could make its track-based return this year, just days after the end of the 2014 season, according to Eric Boullier.

“The safe side is that we’ll obviously be in Jerez with a McLaren-Honda car,” said Boullier, McLaren Racing Director. “But it keeps open to maybe the possibility that if everything is matching in our schedules to run it earlier.”

The only earlier opportunity for McLaren to run with its new Honda power unit would be the post-season Abu Dhabi test which is scheduled for 25–26 November.

“We won’t give a definite answer now because we actually don’t know yet exactly. It’s very likely to be before Jerez. We’ll see,” Boullier added.

Only last week Honda’s Yasuhisa Arai said the company was on track with the development of its V6 power unit and that its debut was expected in the first pre-season test at Jerez in 2015.

[Source: Sky Sports F1 | Pic: McLaren]

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Honda McLaren

Honda on track for 2015 Formula 1 return

Ayrton Senna, 1991 Belgian GP

In an interview with the official Formula 1 website Honda’s Yasuhisa Arai has confirmed the McLaren-Honda deal is exclusive for one season only and that they will consider supplying other teams from 2016 if there is demand.

Arai also stated it is unlikely that Honda will run its V6 power unit in earnest before 2015 pre-season testing begins in Jerez.

“We are absolutely within our development plan,” Arai told Formula1.com. “Our engine—or more precisely our power unit—is ready for a whole system check, but without the chassis. It will still need more time to bring the power unit and chassis together and then be able to run checks with the complete car.

“In the next couple of weeks we will run simulations and at the beginning of next year we will start to run on the track—very likely at Jerez. That will very likely be the first time to show the whole car, the Honda engine and the McLaren chassis—the Honda McLaren.”

Follow the link below for the full Q&A article.

[Source: Formula1.com | Pic: Cahier Archive]

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Honda Oh the humanity

New Honda NSX needs improved cooling

Honda NSX

The motoring world fell in love with the Honda NSX concept when it first debuted in early 2012. Mostly because it looks so damn good, but also because we know how much respect Honda has for the NSX badge. They won’t cock this up.

We also knew there would be a long development process, which may take a little bit longer after this NSX prototype was burnt to a crisp during a test session at the Nürburgring this week.

Thankfully neither of the occupants were hurt or injured in the incident which is believed to have started in the engine bay.

Acura/Honda spokeswoman Jessica Fini commented on the mishap:

Acura can confirm that an NSX prototype experienced a fire today while testing at the Nurburgring. We make safety a top priority, and fortunately no injuries occurred. We are investigating the cause but as the vehicle is still under development, we’re not in a position to share details. While an incident like this is unfortunate, the development of the NSX continues its progress toward its highly anticipated launch.

The car is powered by a twin turbo V6 with additional electric power being to both the front and rear wheels, which should be good for 500hp or more. A 7-speed dual clutch transmission will ensure that power is delivered efficiently as well.

It looks like a supercar and burns like a supercar. And we reckon this new NSX will be a bloody good supercar!

You can see video of the NSX in its pre-barbecue state after the break.

[Source: AutoGuide]

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Honda Video

Predator wolves used to promote Civic Type R

Honda Civic Type R 'Disruption' video

And not just any predator wolves, either, these ones have evil bioluminescent eyes! Not any old cheesy 1980’s film clip bioluminescent, but evil bioluminescent goddamit!

It’s all part of a promo for the new Civic Type R called ‘Disruption’. Here’s a snippet of Honda’s description (and, please, make sure you read the whole thing):

The campaign kicks off with the sixty second film, ‘Disruption’. We open on a sunny suburban street. A family is packing a picnic into the boot of their car. Everything is happy and jolly, including the music. It’s the most generic car film you’ve ever seen. Suddenly, the picture distorts and pixelates and the Honda R-Rated advisory flickers up on screen, as though someone just hijacked the broadcast. We see the Honda R-rated advisory notice appear. The warning disappears into black.

Sounds ace, doesn’t it! (No, not really.) So, what are you waiting for, take the jump and watch this masterpiece…

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Alfa Romeo Audi BMW Bugatti Chevrolet Citroen Dodge Ferrari Fiat Gumpert Honda Hyundai Jaguar Kia Lamborghini Lexus Motor Shows

2014 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 1

2014 Geneva Motor Show

Like us you probably haven’t had a chance to duck over to Europe to check out the Geneva Motor Show. So here’s the first of a two part series bringing you a selection of the cars on show. Here we start with Alfa Romeo and go through to Lexus.

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Honda Motor Shows

Geneva 2014: Honda Civic Type R Concept

Honda Civic Type-R concept

Honda has given us the first look at the all-new Civic Type R with this concept model now on show in Geneva. Yeah, it’s easy to laugh at the massive rear wing and 20″ alloys and dismiss this as another rice rocket, but this, this Type R is going to be good.

At least it will have to be in order to stand up to the hype and bold statements Honda is already making about the car. It’s a “racing car for the road,” Honda claims.

For now this is all part of Honda’s lengthy tease before the Type R is launched in Europe in 2015. So all they’re giving us is that the car will be powered by a 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo producing “at least” 280PS (206kW), which we already knew.

That leaves you to enjoy the pics and video after the break.

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Honda

Honda Civic Type R wait just got more interesting

Honda Civic Type R Concept

Honda has ensured the long wait for the 2015 Civic Type R has become a bit more interesting with this teaser shot of the concept model they’ll have on show in Geneva next month.

It looks pretty wild and let’s hope not much is lost in the move from concept to production line.

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Honda McLaren Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes and McLaren working towards split

McLaren MP4-29

Not everybody is excited about McLaren’s reunification with Honda in 2015. We can’t imagine why, the Marlboro liveried Macs reigned supreme during one of F1’s golden eras and many hope those glory days are near again.

Well, of course, if we worked for Mercedes-Benz we could probably imagine not being overly pleased. Unrequited love is never very satisfying.

Mercedes Executive Director, Toto Wolff, explains things are okay with McLaren now, but says he expects relations will shift as the year goes on.

“In these early days of the season we have a short-term target which is common—in making the power unit reliable and performing,” Wolff told Autosport. “It is welcome that we are all having an exchange and all sharing the same short term target, and this is to make the power unit last and be quick.

“How that is going to pan out during the season, that daily management of the relationship, could change obviously.”

Wolff explains Mercedes is okay with playing happy families now, but it will soon be keen to protect its intellectual property.

“There is still a fair amount of knowledge that you can share on developing the power unit,” he said. “But then there is a fair amount of knowledge that you wouldn’t want to exchange anyway because they are switching to Honda.

“I think certainly them heading off to one of our competitors is not an ideal situation.”

[Source: Autosport]

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Honda

Your chance to buy “Ex-Ayrton Senna” Honda NSX

Ayrton Senna's 1992 Honda NSX

That’s not any old Honda NSX, that’s Ayrton Senna’s old NSX. Well, that’s the story at least. If you’re keen you can buy it for yourself too. The 1992 model will be up for grabs late next month at the Silverstone Auctions and is expected to fetch as much as £85,000 (approx AU$160,000).

Actually, on closer inspection of the auction listing it turns out that Senna used the car on a regular basis, it was owned by a close friend, but it wasn’t legally his own car:

Antonio Carlos de Almeida Braga was a close personal friend, manager and mentor of Ayrton Senna who purchased this NSX for the great driver to use when he visited his house in Sintra, Portugal north of Lisbon. Senna already had another red NSX that was kept at his villa in the Algarve. Antonia Braga ordered the same specification car that Ayrton had at his home in Brazil. Senna stayed with the Braga’s on numerous occasions and would have been a guest when competing in the Portuguese Grand Prix in 1992/3 at nearby Estoril, endorsing his Honda contract by commuting in the NSX.

Still, that’s good enough, isn’t it? We wonder where the other two NSXs used by Senna are now?

[Source: Silverstone Auctions]

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Honda Motorsports

Because racecar

2014 Honda Civic WTCC

It’s true we don’t really spend any time following the FIA’s World Touring Car Championship, another category undergoing big changes for 2014. But we couldn’t resist sharing this new image from Honda Racing showing off its very cool and aggressively styled 2014 Civic WTCC…

…because racecar!

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Honda

2015 Honda Civic Type R development continues

2015 Honda Civic Type R

Honda has continued the development of the 2015 Civic Type R by racking up a few laps of its own Tochigi test track. Aside from that they’re not telling us much else. And that’s not really news anyway, is it.

We already know the car will be powered by a new 2.0 litre turbo pumping out more than 280PS (206kW). We already know they’ve been testing at the Nürburgring. In case we’ve forgotten they’ve wheeled out WTCC driver Gabriele Tarquini to remind us (see video below).

What we do have is a selection of new images with no camouflage other than matte black paint. As you’d expect the Civic Type R has some extreme styling and overall it doesn’t look too bad. Aggressive and purposeful, let’s just hope for Honda’s sake that it’s got the balls to match its hype.

Remember, the Civic Type R isn’t due for release until 2015, so we’re going to be getting a lot more hype between now and then.

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