2009 Honda Fit Head For 2007 Tokyo Auto Show

2007 Tokyo Auto Showpreview: all new 2007 Honda Fit. What appear to be official press shots of the all-new 2009 Honda Fithave surfaced online for the first time.

The new 2009 HondaFit should be making its official debut in a few weeks at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, with home market sales beginning this winter.

The Fit should subsequently head over to American showrooms next summer. The new model has a pronounced one-box shape with a sleeker look than the current model. The car in the photos also gets a panoromic glass roof.

Honda CRX will be hybrid in 2011

Honda has decided to make the new generation of the CRX a hybrid. Until now Honda refused to think at the idea of a new CRX, but lately it seems that the Japanese automaker is thinking seriousely at a new genration of CRX, and this time a hybrid one.
The program has been pushed back from 2009 to 2011, and now the product planners decided it must be employ a hybrid drivetrain.
The big questions are: Can a hybrid coupe be a really true CRX? Does this offend the CRX name?
The car presented in the photos is the Honda Remix concept. It looks like the new CRX will be a mixture between the Remix and the Small Hybrid Sports Concept shown at the Geneva Salon.

Honda FCX to get $12,000 Federal Tax Credit

The IRS announced that the hydrogen-powered Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle became eligible for the Qualified Fuel Cell Motor Vehicle Credit program. The credit is part of the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, which seeks to promote affordable, dependable and environmentally-sound production and distribution of energy for America’s future.


Propelled by electricity that is generated by a hydrogen fuel cell in conjunction with an advanced Honda-designed ultracapacitor, the FCX fuel cell vehicle’s only emission is water vapor.“This tax credit helps offset the higher costs associated with the early development of advanced technology vehicles that reduce CO2 emissions and dependence on oil. It is a further validation that the FCX is a real vehicle and another step towards market viability” said Stephen Ellis, Fuel Cell Vehicle Marketing Manager at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.In public use since 2002, the FCX is part of a long line of Honda vehicles developed to reduce the impact of transportation on the environment. The FCX is powered by Honda’s originally developed fuel cell stack (Honda FC Stack) with the breakthrough capability to start and operate in freezing temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius, along with increased performance, range and fuel efficiency compared with earlier models.

The FCX is the only fuel cell vehicle certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and U.S. EPA. The CARB and EPA have also certified the FCX as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and the EPA has confirmed a range of 210 miles. With seating for four people, the FCX is practical for a wide range of real-world applications, allowing placement of over 15 vehicles on the road in the hands of customers, including the cities of Los Angeles; San Francisco; Las Vegas; Chula Vista, California; the California South Coast Air Quality Management District and the state of New York.In 2005, Honda was the first to lease a fuel cell vehicle to an individual customer with a second customer added in 2007. Additionally, the Honda FCX is the only fuel cell vehicle fully certified to meet the applicable federal government crash safety standards. Honda undertook fuel cell research in 1989 and has been road testing vehicles in the United States since 1999. Honda has also been a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership since 1999.

Spy photos: 2008 Honda Accord interior

Thanks to the MagsReport we can see today some spy photos of the interior of the 2008 Honda Accord. We can see that the center console is wider comparing it to the interior of the 2003 Honda Accord.Also the buttons look larger. The vehicle information screen is now below the navigation LCD. Also the vents were moved below the navigation screen.


It looks like Honda did quite a good job with the new interior.Anyway we should better wait for the final photos because then we could compare it with the old version.

2008 Honda S2000 update

New for 2008, the S2000 has revised spring and damper tuning that subtly influences steering feel and high speed vehicle behavior. Inside, the minor changes include revised instrument panel meters and minor revisions to the seat design. Also, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has been added.

The Honda S2000 represents the purest expression of Honda fun-to-drive DNA with its 2-seat, open-topped roadster configuration and sophisticated front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform.
As a true sports car that can serve as a practical and fun daily driver and also feel equally at-home on a racetrack, this concept further evolves with the addition of a club racer-inspired S2000 CR to the Honda lineup.
As a quintessential roadster-style sports car, the S2000 is a performance icon for the Honda brand that combines racetrack-inspired performance with everyday usability. The front engine, rear-wheel-drive S2000 rewards driving enthusiasts with a potent 2.2-liter, 16-valve DOHC VTEC® 4-cylinder engine and a precise, short-throw 6-speed manual transmission, along with tenacious handling and an ideal 50/50 weight balance.
The renowned high-revving engine delivers 237 horsepower at 7800 rpm and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 6800 rpm. Perfectly complementing the engine’s output characteristics is a compact, longitudinally-mounted, close-ratio 6-speed manua transmission that features a direct linkage for precise shifting and quick throws. Additional performance features include a front and rear double wishbone suspension, electric power steering and a torque-sensing limited slip rear differential.

The S2000 comes with 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, ABS and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). (VSA is the Honda brand name for electronic stability control.) While VSA serves to effectively enhance driver control during acceleration, braking, and cornering, the system can be disabled with the touch of a button when conditions warrant. Air conditioning and an AM/FM/CD audio system are standard equipment on the S2000, optional on the S2000 CR for weight savings.
New for 2008, the S2000 has revised spring and damper tuning that subtly influences steering feel and high speed vehicle behavior. Inside, the minor changes include revised instrument panel meters and minor revisions to the seat design. Also, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has been added.
Powertrain
The 2.2-liter, DOHC VTEC 4-cylinder engine produces 237 horsepower and 162 lb-ft. of torque while meeting California’s Low-Emission Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) standards. Honda’s innovative VTEC advanced variable valve-timing system operates the engine’s 16 valves in both intake and exhaust modes. This system is compact and tailored to the high-output, high-rpm operating characteristics of the S2000 engine. Torque and horsepower are optimized over the engine’s entire operating range to simultaneously provide low-end power and top-end performance near the engines 8000 rpm redline. The S2000 is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds.
The aluminum-alloy cylinder head maximizes space efficiency with a compact gear and chain-drive system for the dual overhead camshafts. The ancillary drive system for the alternator, water pump and air-conditioning compressor also use a space-efficient design.
The engine’s highly rigid, aluminum-alloy cylinder block features long-wearing FRM (Fiber-Reinforced Metal) cylinder liners.
Lightweight pistons are made of forged aluminum alloy and the forged-steel connecting rods and crankshaft are heat-treated for added toughness. Numerous friction-reduction techniques, such as, roller-bearing cam followers and advanced bearing materials, are used in the engine.
A large-capacity, low-restriction intake system and low back-pressure exhaust system contribute to the engine’s overall efficiency and help create the S2000’s audible performance demeanor. (The S2000 CR sport muffler is tuned for a more aggressive exhaust note.) The exhaust system uses a high-efficiency metal-honeycomb catalyst. A direct-ignition system and Honda-programmed multi-point fuel injection contribute to the S2000’s engine achieving its LEV-2 status.
A 6-speed, manual transmission uses closely-spaced low gear ratios on gears one through five, and a “tall” sixth speed gear for relaxed highway cruising (65mph = 3500 rpm). The transmission is a compact design and features a direct mechanical shift linkage with short throws between each gear. A Torsen limited-slip differential distributes torque to both rear wheels simultaneously or variably as traction conditions permit.
Body
The S2000 is an open-topped, two-seat roadster with a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution. The S2000 uses steel body construction with the exception of the hood, which is aluminum. The body and frame are a hybrid monocoque structure. The “High X-Bone Frame” is formed by the body’s high side sills, and diagonal (X) bracing underneath the body. A large central tunnel runs down the center of the cockpit. The tunnel serves as the backbone and main load-bearing structure for the vehicle, as well as a housing for the transmission and driveshaft.
The exterior styling of the S2000’s body is designed to appear angular, modern and sleek. The long hood and flared front fenders create the impression of lowness and mass. High-intensity discharge (HID) projector headlights highlight the front of the vehicle, while the taillight design follows a similar theme with large, round multi-LED taillights set in clear-lens housings.
The S2000 CR adds extensive aerodynamic body work that functions to significantly reduce lift and enhance chassis balance at high speeds. An underbody front spoiler and a trunk lid-mounted rear spoiler combine to lower the Coefficient of Lift (Cl) by as much as 70-80 percent depending on the roof configuration. Downforce is created by the rear spoiler when the hardtop is installed as the contour of the roof is designed to influence aerodynamics at the rear of the vehicle.
Chassis
The S2000’s front and rear double wishbone suspension systems are a compact in-wheel design, similar to the type used on racing cars. At each wheel, upper and lower A-shaped wishbone links carry suspension loads directly to the subframes. Front 215/45 R17 87W and rear 245/40 R17 91W (255/40 R17 94W on CR) tires are mounted on newly-designed and lighter weight 17-inch alloy wheels. The 11.8-inch vented front brake discs and 11.1-inch solid rear brake discs are calibrated to provide world-class stopping power and a solid, linear brake feel. Coil springs and mono-tube, gas-pressurized dampers (remote reservoirs in the rear) are used at each wheel. Front and rear stabilizers help keep body roll to a minimum.
Electronic stability control is provided through the VSA system, and an ABS system is standard equipment. An electrically-assisted power steering system provides more power steering assist at low speeds for ease-of-maneuvering. As vehicle speed increases, less power assist is supplied, giving the steering a more direct feel.
For 2008, the S2000 suspension has been tuned with new spring, damper and stabilizer bar settings to further enhance road-holding and steering feel. The S2000 CR suspension tuning goes even further by taking advantage of body rigidity enhancements made possible with the exclusive removable hardtop configuration and by adding stiffer springs and sway bars, and firmer dampers. Specially-developed steering gearbox stiffeners on the S2000 CR provides an even more direct, reflexive feel, and is further supplemented by a quicker steering ratio of 13.8:1 (compared to 14.9:1 for the S2000).

Interior

The S2000’s driver-oriented interior is designed to be functional in much the same way as a purpose-built racecar with excellent outward visibility and simplicity of controls. High sides reinforce the cockpit-like feel of the interior. The seats contour to provide excellent lateral support during aggressive turns. Controls such as the steering, brakes and clutch, operate with a high level of precision and a direct, commanding feel. The aluminum and leather-wrapped shift knob, racing-inspired digital instrument display and engine-start button further highlight the vehicle’s racing pedigree.

The list of comfort and convenience features includes a power-operated convertible top that opens or closes in approximately six seconds (replaced by a removable aluminum hardtop on the S2000 CR), power door locks, power windows, cruise control, Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System and keyless entry for the doors and the trunk. The following features are standard on the S2000 and available on the S2000 CR: air conditioning with micron air filtration and an AM/FM/CD audio system with eight speakers (including four speakers located in the roll bar hoops behind the seats) and remote-operated audio controls.

For 2008, a few noteworthy changes have occurred to the interior on all S2000 models. The instrument panel has a revised meter design for the fuel and temperature gauges, adding to the aesthetics of the display. Specifically, the fuel and temperature meters now reside along the arc formed by the tachometer instead of a semi-circle configuration below and to the right of the tachometer.
The S2000 CR interior follows traditional racecar themes with fabric seating surfaces highlighted by yellow stitching. Synthetic suede bolsters enhance lateral grip. A spherical aluminum shift knob on the S2000 CR rests 12.6 mm lower for a 6 percent reduction in shift stroke compared to the regular S2000 cylindrical shift knob (aluminum/leather wrapped). Additionally, shift load effort increases by 10 percent for even more direct feedback when engaging a gear. The S2000 CR instrument panel meters include a “peak-power indicator.” When the engine is operating at peak power, a round, green light illuminates to the right of the digital speedometer.
Safety Features
The S2000 has dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags (SRS) for the driver and passenger, three-point seat belts with load limiters and pre-tensioners, roll bar hoops and reinforced windshield posts. For pedestrian safety, the hood hinges and windshield-wiper pivots are designed to collapse and minimize the severity of a head injury to a pedestrian. Vehicle Stability Assist, ABS and a tire pressure monitoring system are standard equipment.
S2000 Background
The design and engineering concept for the S2000 is to deliver race-car-like performance and handling-something an enthusiast driver could use and enjoy, even in everyday driving situations. In addition, the S2000 is intended to be a modern, socially-responsible automobile with low emissions. The S2000’s roadster layout also captures the spirit of the legendary high-performance sports cars of the past, as well as Honda’s very first sports car, the S500 roadster.
However, the S2000 makes no attempt to be a retro sports car. It is a unique, Honda interpretation of a modern sports car - with high performance, state-of-the-art technology, style, and Honda durability, quality and refinement.