Honda News

No wonder Jerry Seinfeld wants the new NSX, we have been waiting a decade for a new one. Watch the up-coming Superbowl commercial and see the lengths that Jerry will go, to be the first. 

Thanks Honda for bringing back Ferris Bueller for promotion of the new Honda CR-V in their new Superbowl ad. The CR-V is expected to arrive in Australia in the middle of this year.

Below taken from Wheels Press Release.

It’s a hybrid with spirit, and the 2011 Wheels Car of the Year.

Expertly engineered, impressively efficient, and with strong safety credentials, the Honda CR-Z is also a genuine joy to drive. The little petrol-electric coupe may not be blindingly quick, but it is eye-openingly agile. Endowed with the kind of handling and steering that invites involvement, the Honda puts a smile on the face of any driver who accepts the invitation. And this, it hardly need be said, is a first for a hybrid…

It’s hard to dispute the Honda’s efficiency, nor the excellent safety credentials. Equipped standard with six airbags, the Honda already had an Australian NCAP five-star safety rating in the bag at launch.

Especially in town, the CR-Z’s hybrid drivetrain makes good sense. That thin electric motor sandwiched between engine and transmission adds noticeable low-end torque, exactly where the 1.5-litre engine is weakest. Working together this way, the engine-motor combo is surprisingly elastic and flexible. The fuel-saving Auto Stop system works well in stop-start traffic too.

The 1.5-litre four seems to revel in hard work, and sounds, well, happy, to be run to its 6500rpm redline. The CR-Z’s six-speed manual is a lovely thing to use, so frequent shifting is a real pleasure.

Neither the CR-Z’s chassis hardware or its line of descent contain any hint of surprise and delight. But the Honda is literally a joy to drive. The company’s chassis tuners – this time – have made a gem from the most basic materials. It even rides well, at least in part because it has sensibly sized tyres. Cars that drive like this never happen by accident.

Having set out to create a fun-to-drive coupe with good efficiency, Honda bullseyed its target. And it was this that lifted the CR-Z above the pack, earning it the votes for COTY victory. Honda may be going through tough times right now, with a patchy model range and dwindling sales. But while it can still create a car like the CR-Z it deserves respect … and the occasional trophy.

PETER ROBINSON

 “Beyond my expectations.”

“Great to have a hybrid with a decent manual gearchange”

“Lacks concept version’s daring front end.”

JAMES WHITBOURNE

“CR-Z takes the car where it should be going… smaller, lighter, more efficient, more fun.”

“Small wheels and tyres help ride, and will be cheap to replace.”

JON HAWLEY

“A revelation! Handles fast stuff with great stability and changes direction no fuss at all.”

“Performance is ho-hum, but just about the right power for the chassis.”

JOHN CAREY

“A hybrid with spirit, at last. Not fast, but fun to drive.”

BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

“Performance from 1.5 and IMA comes on stronger than expected”

BILL THOMAS

“Bucketloads of ‘old Honda’ spirit. Welcome back!”

“A hybrid that’s fun to drive… if this is the future, I’m there.”

“Loveable. Terrible visibility… don’t care. Tiny rear seat … don’t care.”

BRUCE NEWTON

“Good things come in small packages.”

“Supportive seats. Weird rear view.”

“Econ mode S-L-O-W”

GLENN BUTLER

“Strange, magnifying rear window makes me feel nauseous.”

Honda Australia has announced the arrival of a new take on the popular Honda Jazz with even better value for money.

The new Jazz Vibe, which continues to combine style and versatility, will be available in Honda showrooms from February 2012.

Honda Australia Director and General Manager Sales and Marketing, Mr. Stephen Collins, said the Japanese sourced Jazz Vibe is part of Honda’s recovery plan to combat limited stock availability from Thailand caused by the recent floods.

“Honda is pleased to offer the growing number of Australian small car drivers the Jazz Vibe, delivering substantial upgrades in features and overall value. Customers can visit their Honda Dealer right now to order a Jazz Vibe for delivery in February,” Mr. Collins said.

Available in three variants, the Jazz Vibe 1.3 litre manual is available from $17,990 drive-away, the Vibe 1.3 litre automatic is $19,990 drive-away and the Vibe-S 1.5 litre automatic is $22,240 drive-away.

Packed full of features, the Vibe includes 15 inch alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning, leather steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, driver and front passenger seatback pocket, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts (auto transmission only), rear tailgate spoiler, electric retractable side door mirrors with integrated indicator light, driver and front passenger vanity mirror and leather gear knob.

Taking things up a notch, the Vibe-S receives 16 Inch allow wheels, aero front and rear bumpers and side skirts. Standard features across the range include Bluetooth phone system and iPod compatible USB connectivity, height adjustable driver’s seat, power windows with driver’s side one-touch auto up/down function and a five-star ANCAP safety rating with six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist and Traction Control System.

The stylish Jazz is available in three new colours, with something to suit every taste. Azure Blue, Milano red and Storm Silver join Crystal Black, Alabaster Silver, Fresh Lime Green and Taffeta White.

Different from the rest, the Jazz is small on the outside and big on the inside with clever storage, Magic Seats that flip and fold in 18 different combinations and large rear seating to ensure your passengers are comfortable on any journey.

Honda is the world’s biggest engine manufacturer, a leader in automotive research and development and consistently rated a top performer in customer satisfaction. There are more than 400,000 Hondas on the road in Australia and millions of happy customers worldwide.

Written in the context of the US car industry.

As any Acura diehard would be quick to tell you, a revival of the iconic NSX is long overdue. In true Honda fashion, the automaker decided that, if it was going to go to the trouble of producing a legitimate sportscar, it was going to take on the very best in the industry. Suffice it to say, the NSX delivered the goods.

We now have a new concept to drool over. While the last conceptual sportscar Acura showed off left NSX purists with a sour taste in their mouths – a V10 engine mounted up front was a far cry from the lightweight and high-revving mid-engine V6 of the original – we have a strong feeling that nobody is going to turn their noses up at this new NSX Concept.

Like its forebear, this latest take on the NSX promises to shed excess weight through the use of a high-tech platform made from the latest lightweight materials. Power, as with the original, will come from a V6 mounted behind the two occupants that sends its power to the rear wheels; except this time, it will be augmented by an electric motor.

Acura's latest SH-AWD incorporates one electric motor in a dual-clutch transmission, forming a hybrid setup. Additionally, two more motors can instantly send negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering for improved handling and efficiency, and the whole package can be tailored via software. Acura says the new all-wheel-drive system will provide "supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency."

We're not so sure environmentalists are ready to accept the notion of an eco-friendly supercar, but it's clear Acura's parents at Honda are keen to keep emissions and fuel usage in check. "In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities," says Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

Acura isn't saying how much horsepower its V6 engine and three electric motors will amount to, but we're not expecting outlandish figures. The automaker says it's aiming for an "extremely favorable power-to-weight ratio." We like the sound of that, and hope the production version, which is expected within the next three years, delivers on this laudable promise.