Honda designs car without steering wheel

Alot of people are speculating that this will be the DNA of the next Honda S2000....

By David Millward, Transport Editor, Geneva

Instead of the steering wheel, this car is controlled with the aid of two levers.
The EV-Steer is intended to give the motorist the same experience as somebody riding a motor bike, who uses the handlebars to turn.
Instead of turning the wheel, the driver pulls and pushes the levers according to the direction of travel.

"It's fun, it is very tactile and it is very accurate," a Honda spokesman insisted.
"The car keeps the driver alert, because it is very sensitive to movement. Your whole body is kept moving.
"In fact it is a mini-cross trainer," the spokesman added, without the slightest note of irony.
While the car may lack a steering wheel, it is not short of dashboards. In fact it has three.
The middle one would normally display the routine information such as speed.
Then on either side, just above each of the levers are two more dashboards, which can be configured according to the driverﾒs wishes.
One, for example, can be dedicated for the satellite navigation system, while the other could be used to control the audio system or car temperature.
The car. which has a top speed of just under 100 mph, has already been driven thousands of miles on a Japanese test track.
Fitted with an electric engine, the car can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge. Charging the battery takes around three hours.
A mid-range sports, Honda expects to go into full production of the EV-Steer within the next three years. and will have a price tag between £30,000 and £35,000.

Source;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9126441/Honda-designs-car-without-steering-wheel.html

Honda NSX Concept Unveiled to Europeans in Geneva

Geneva 2012: Honda CR-V European Prototype [Live Photos]

This handsome looking new crossover from Honda is the prototype for the CR-V that will replace the current one on the European market in autumn 2012. The styling is bolder and more upmarket than before, with a sculpted new grille and headlights.

The full production version of the 2012 CR-V is going to officially debut at the Paris Salon in autumn, but the looks will remain unchanged. As of yet, the interior is not fully complete, and the engine range has yet to be announced. But a bit of educated guesswork reveals petrol range will include a 2.0-liter i-VTEC, while the diesel one will focus on the 2.2 i-CTDi, which we know was refined for better economy in the new Civic hatchback. The 1.6-liter diesel that makes its debut in Geneva as well is unlikely to be offered at least for another year.

Source;

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/geneva-2012-honda-cr-v-european-prototype-live-photos-43168.html

Honda Sports up the Jazz with a New Si Limited Edition in Geneva

Honda quietly revealed a new special edition version of its Jazz supermini at this week's 2012 Geneva Motor Show. It's called the Si and it has been designed exclusively for the European market combining a sportier look inside and out with an uprated chassis.

The first thing you'll notice on the Jazz Si is the new aero package that consists of new front and rear bumpers, with deep valances and prominent side skirts, along with a set of 16-inch alloy wheels fitted with low profile sport tires.

In the cabin, you'll find new sport seats plus a leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel and gearshift lever, all of which feature silver stitching.

Unlike other special editions of the sort, the Jazz Si validates its sportier looks with an uprated chassis. Among other things, Honda's engineers combined new dampers with a larger front anti-roll bar to improve straight-line stability and body control, while the electric power-steering system was also modified for improved feel and response.

Power comes from Honda's familiar 1.4-litre i-VTEC 100PS (99bhp) engine matched to a five-speed manual gearbox that offers a top speed of 113mph (182km/h).

The new Si model will be available for order in Europe at the end of August.

Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/03/honda-sports-up-jazz-with-new-si.html

Honda Motor Europe President, Manabu Nishimae delivers Geneva Press Conference Speech

-New Civic with 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine will deliver CO2 emissions of 95 g/km*
-NSX will be sold in Europe as a Honda
-New European CR-V prototype makes debut
-UK factory to double 2012 production volumes to 180,000

A full transcript of the speech follows:

Good morning, and welcome to Honda's media conference. I am very pleased to be here with you today.

Last year proved to be a very challenging year due to the natural disasters in Japan and in Thailand that impacted on our supply of new vehicles. Our ability to deliver cars to the customers who wanted them was restricted. Our Thai plant resumes full production within a month and all other production activity is fully restored. Whilst we must learn from recent history, we now look forward to what is an exciting future.

This is an important show for Honda. We are displaying products and technologies that will be at the heart of our growth plans for Europe. We are now entering a period of numerous product launches which will see Honda increase production volumes and increase sales.

In 2012, our UK factory will double production volumes to 180,000 units. In May, the New Civic assembly line will start a double shift and 500 new workers will join us.
Later in the year we start production of the New European CR-V.

The all New CR-V will be built in Europe and will be introduced in the Autumn with improved quality, performance, and enhanced fuel economy, along with new features unique for the European market. Today, we are showing a European CR-V prototype. We will display the production model at the Paris show in September.

Honda will also renew our entire European engine line-up, with a new engine series called Earth Dreams Technology. With these engines we aim to be Number 1 in fuel economy in each sector within 3 years.

The first engine from this series will be a new 1.6 litre diesel engine. Designed for Europe, it is expected to deliver 95 grammes per kilometre CO2 emissions and is the world's lightest engine in its class. It will be introduced on the New Civic and production starts at our UK factory at the end of this year.

Earth Dreams Technology engines will also deliver excellent performance characteristics. And at the summit of this range.... There is the new NSX.

This NSX Concept is powered by a mid-engine V6 ... and a new Sport Hybrid All-Wheel Drive system that comprises of 1 motor on the rear axle and 2 on the front. Supercar acceleration and outstanding efficiency will be the hallmarks of this revolutionary powertrain. The two motors in the front axle enable independent control of the left and right wheels to realize a ground-breaking "On-the-rail-cornering" experience. New NSX is set to define a new standard of Super Sport.
The US will launch new NSX with the Acura brand in 3 years. I can confirm the NSX will come to Europe....as a Honda.

NSX is the ultimate top-line Sports model, could we develop a smaller one? The EV-STER is another European premiere. This small sports EV Concept indicates the direction of how environmental technology can be incorporated with the pure joy of driving.

Our sporty plans are not limited to new models. A half century ago, Honda established the Suzuka circuit in Japan. It was the first racing track in Asia.

In October, at the Suzuka round, we plan to enter a European Civic into the FIA World Touring Car Championship. This celebrates the 50th anniversary of Suzuka Circuit. It also marks the 40th anniversary of Civic.

This racing Civic will be powered by Honda's new 1.6 direct injection turbo racing engine solely developed by Honda R&D. This is an important first step as we enhance the sportiness of Civic and the Honda brand.

Through Earth Dreams Technology, Honda will continue to minimise our environmental footprint so that we will all be able to enjoy sports driving for future generations and preserve Blue Skies for Our Children.

Thank you for your attention.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,2198-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Autoblog; Geneva 2009: Honda Accord Tourer Type-S (a sneak peak at our upcoming Accord CUV Wagon?)

Judging by the 'spyshots' of the Accord CUV Wagon that we in North America are getting for September 2009, this is going to be a sharp indication of what it will look like. Expect the North American Accord's nose and with a 4 wheel drive option, the vehicle will probably sit a little higher.
The car pictured above represents some of my favorite features in a main-stream car: it's a wagon and it's a diesel. I'm also fully aware that I am in a distinct minority on both counts among drivers in the U.S. market. This is the new European-market Honda Accord Tourer Type-S. We get the sedan version in the U.S., badged as the Acura TSX. Personally, I prefer the wagon version because it retains the overall size and dynamic characteristics of a sedan while adding a huge dollop of utility when needed. It's also quite a handsome car. Rumor has it we'll see this body style appear as a new Honda CUV in the states this fall with the high-riding Outback treatment. The wagon is not new to Europe but the new Type-S (also available as a sedan) is.

The Type-S Accord gets a 178 hp version of Honda's new iDTEC 2.2L diesel four cylinder with a stiff 280 lb-ft of torque. The Type-S gets larger 18" wheels and bumper and sill extensions for a more aggressive look. Unfortunately, this is very likely the car we were supposed to get as a TSX this year. However, market conditions have forced Honda to indefinitely cancel those plans. What a shame.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/04/geneva-2009-honda-accord-tourer-type-s/

Honda UK; Honda Accord Type S Diesel to be Introduced at Geneva Auto Show

This car would effectively be called the Acura TSX here in North America, but don't forget, Honda has cancelled the diesel Accord for North America....
Honda will unveil its first hot diesel, in the shape of the new Honda Accord Type S, at the Geneva motor show in March, the company has announced.

The Honda Accord Type S will use the same 2.2-litre diesel engine as the standard car, but tweaked to produce and extra 22lb ft of torque and 29bhp more.

The power gain is achieved through the use of a larger intercooler and changes to the turbocharger and cylinder head.

Customers will have the choice of saloon or estate bodies and two new paint colours, White Pearl and Basque Red. The new Honda Accord Type S will also get 18-inch alloys and clear indicator covers as well as Type S badging.

Joining the Honda Accord Type S at the Geneva motor show will be a limited-edition Honda S2000 to commemorate the end of its production. Only 100 models of the Edition 100 S2000 will be available in the UK, all of which will come with Grand Prix White paint and a red leather interior.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?AR=237815#