HOT! Honda to join mini-SUV bandwagon

This is not to be for North America....

2012 Honda FIT Shuttle, the extended FIT sold in other areas of the world.

Yet another firm is keen on entering the mini-SUV segment as action heats up. Honda, best known for their small cars and sedans is keen on bringing in an SUV in the sub 4.2-metre segment to take on the likes of the Renault Duster, Ford EcoSport and upcoming SUVs from Suzuki and even Peugeot.

Little is known about the SUV at the moment, but speculation is rife that it will be based on the Jazz platform. Expected to arrive in the next two to three years, most likely based on the next-generation Jazz, the SUV could be powered by both petrol and diesel motor options. To be sold in most markets around the world, expect it to be powered by either a 1.2-litre and/or a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine while a new 1.4-litre diesel engine could be the likely option for markets like Europe and India.

Honda is joining the bandwagin at a time when most manufacturers are looking at urban SUVs and crossovers that are based on small-car platforms. Like its other contemporaries, the Honda SUV too will be primarily front-wheel driven, but could come with real-time all-wheel drive like the CR-V. This, however will depend on cost structures. 

Source;
http://www.bsmotoring.com/news/hot-honda-to-join-mini-suv-bandwagon/5427/1

A possible roadmap for Honda’s diesel engined car foray in India emerges

Just yesterday, we brought you buzz about the Honda Brio diesel being tested in India. While official confirmation of the same might never arrive due to Honda being fearful of losing sales of petrol engined Brio models, more such spottings in the coming months could reaffirm the presence of a diesel engined model in the Japanese car brand’s scheme of things. Talking of which, Honda definitely has big plans for diesel engined car models in the future. Not for nothing has the automaker put a bunch of ex-F1 engineers on the job to come up with a range of new generation turbo diesel engines to power future car models.

Coming to the possible roadmap for Honda’s diesel engined cars to be launched in India, a news report carried by the EconomicTimes suggests that the Brio might indeed be the first Honda car model in India to be outfitted with a diesel engine. The City sedan is another car that could see a diesel engine under the hood. Once a best seller in the C-segment sedan space, the lack of a diesel engined variant has seen the model slowly losing market share to rivals like Hyundai, Volkswagen and Nissan. So, a diesel engine is very much needed to resurrect the Honda City’s stature as a top selling car in its class.

The story goes on to assert that the Brio diesel will debut by the middle of 2013, which is just a year away. A 1.2 Liter, three cylinder version and a 1.5 Liter, four potter turbo diesel could be in the works. The Jazz could be the other car that could get a diesel engine, with a likely launch at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. The brand already has diesel engines ready to be deployed in its other cars such as the Civic, the Accord and the CR-V crossover. In fact, Honda sells diesel versions of all the three aforementioned cars in the European market, which is extremely diesel friendly.

Likewise, Honda indeed needs diesel cars in its portfolio if the brand wants to remain relevant in India, as the cost difference between petrol and diesel has further widened to an unprecedented high with the latest hike in petrol prices, days ago. Honda currently has no diesel engined cars in its India portfolio and the new range of turbo diesel engines are seen as a saviour for the brand, which has clearly lost its way,amidst plummeting sales over the past couple of years. Honda for its part continues to officially deny that it is planning to launch diesel engined cars in 2013.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/a-possible-roadmap-for-hondas-diesel-engined-car-foray-in-india-emerges-59467/#more-59467

Honda developing 7-seater MPV for India; codenamed '2NH'

Honda Freed

The new MPV based on the Honda Jazz platform is expected to arrive in India by 2014.

Honda Siel Cars India is reportedly, working on a new seven-seater MPV for India, which is codenamed as '2NH' that will challenge the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Mahindra Xylo and the Toyota Innova. 

The new MPV will be developed on the same lines as the current Malaysian-spec MPV called Honda Freed, which in turn is based on the same platform as the next generation Honda Jazz with three rows of seating for 7 adults. The Malaysian-spec Freed with be Indianised, localized and in the process is bound to ditch some of its features before it lands on the Indian shores. 

The Honda 2NH MPV for India will come with a wide range of engine options for both petrol and diesel variants, with more emphasis on the diesel version owing to the higher demand of diesel powered vehicles in the Indian market and also the much awaited Honda's Earth Dreams series of diesel engines is expected to debut in the coming months. 

The current Honda Freed MPV packs in high quality of interiors, much like the Honda Jazz and is distinct for its small engine compartment and large cabin space for passengers and luggage. It will certainly be interesting to see, how the Japanese automaker re-shapes the Freed into the India-spec 2NH and also the price tag it will bring along to compete with one of the lowest priced MPV, the Ertiga in India.

The Honda 2NH MPV is expected to arrive in the Indian market by 2014. 

Source;

http://www.oncars.in/Car-News-Detail/Honda-developing-7-seater-MPV-for-India-codenamed-2NH/2403

Scoop! Honda Siel could be readying another facelift for the Accord

While we are going to be getting a fully refreshed 2013 Honda Accord in North America, looks like in other parts of the world they will be getting another Minor Model Change....

Honda Siel is said to be working on a final facelift for the current Accord before the new one arrives in 2013.

Image of the current, eighth generation Accord used for representation.

Not having a diesel engine in the entire line-up has definitely taken a toll on Honda’s fortunes in India. Add to it the constant blows from existing and newly launched models and variants like the 2012 Hyundai Sonata and the economical Skoda Superb Ambition and you’ll know how difficult it is getting for Honda to sell their aging Accord. It is still a worthy contender, no doubt, but it could be getting ready for its last facelift now – before the all-new model arrives 2013.

If the word floating in the air is to be believed, then Honda Siel is working towards adding a little more bling to the existing Accord. We are told that the taillights are getting a minor redesign by way of re-arranged detailing. There will be a generous dose of chrome garnish as well – on the taillights as well as on the rear bumper. At the front too, the grille and the bumper will get additional chrome lining for a more premium stance.

Honda Siel had given the Accord a mid-life facelift back in 2011 and had also added a few new features to breathe fresh air into the model. The upcoming facelift, if true, will probably be the last update that the eighth generation model will receive. The all-new ninth generation Accord will arrive in 2013 and is expected to have a diesel engine option too. Stay tuned for more!

Source;
http://www.oncars.in/Car-News-Detail/Exclusive-Honda-Siel-could-be-readying-another-facelift-for-the-Accord/2374

Honda City facelift – how the 2012 model shapes up

This is not for the North American market....

Still no sign of the Honda City facelift, which was announced in Thailand late last year, and which we ran leaked brochure scans of, as well as a video. Presumably, the arrival of the car here has been delayed due to the effects of the severe flooding that hit Thailand last year.

Over in Australia, the car has just been introduced, so the photos give an impression of how it’ll shape up to the eye. Two variants are available there, these being the VTi (in manual and automatic form) and VTi-L, essentially the equivalent of the Thai S and SV grades.

Both variants wear the external cues mentioned in our earlier story – new chrome grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers as well as a new brake light design.

The VTi-L wears the newly-designed 16-inch alloys and adds a master door lock switch on the driver’s side, and aside from the blue-lit speedometer mentioned previously, the City gains aluminum-look treatment for the interior panels and trim, while the audio and climate controls in the VTi-L receive a chrome treatment.
There’s also a new seat fabric, with the VTi-L’s receiving additional blue stitching. Elsewhere, thicker window glass and enhanced floor carpeting has come about to significantly improve cabin quietness.

No changes to the running gear – the 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC continues on with 120 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,800 rpm. Given that the car has now begun selling in Australia, it shouldn’t be too long before we finally get going with it. Well, hopefully that’s the case.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2012/05/02/honda-city-facelift-how-the-2012-model-shapes-up/

Beijing Auto Show Honda Concept C Mid-Size Sedan in line for the Chinese Market

Hmmm....is this the direction that the North American Honda Accord is going to take?
BEIJING, China, April 23, 2012 - Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. today exhibited at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show the world premiere of the Concept C and the Concept S, two concept models that show the direction of mass-production models Honda will introduce to the market next year. (The 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, press days: April 23 -24, public days: April 27 - May 2, 2012)

Concept C
Concept C is a concept model for a middle-class sedan Honda is developing specially for the Chinese market. The "C" represents "Cool," "Challenge," and "China." The Concept C features a stately, distinctive and sporty design that was inspired by the image of a dragon. The product planning for this model was led by Honda's Chinese associates and the development was done through cooperation between development teams in China and Japan. Honda is planning to introduce a mass-production model based on this Concept C next year through Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.

Source;
http://world.honda.com/news/2012/4120423Beijing-Motor-Show/index.html

No Honda City diesel sedan launch in 2012, confirms top Honda official: ICB Exclusive!

Ahead of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show that will happen very soon, there has been fresh speculation about Honda launching a diesel variant of its flagship City sedan in the Indian market, as early as this year. We got very interested in this seemingly big development and immediately got in touch with a top Honda official to confirm this story. Yet again, the Honda diesel bubble stands pricked as the Honda official clearly told us that Honda SIEL Cars India(HSCI) has no plans whatsoever of launching the diesel variant of the Honda City sedan in 2012. Therefore, the rumors of a City Diesel being launched in 2012 remain just that, mere rumors.

We also have gathered that Honda has no plans of launching any diesel engine car in India during 2012 from the HSCI official we got in touch with, consonant with the previous report we carried a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, it seems like the Civic Diesel too will take some time to arrive onto the Indian car market. Honda is the only mass market carmaker in India to not have even a single diesel engined variant in its portfolio and this hasn’t done the brand any good at the hustings, even as the Indian car market has shown a dramatic shift in preference towards diesel cars over the past few years. Honda though, does have plans of launching diesel engined cars in the future and a brand new line of diesel engines are being developed by Honda engineers.

In fact, Honda has deputed ex-Formula1 engineers on the job and the first diesel engine to emerge from this operation is the recently unveiled 1.6 Liter i-DTEC turbo diesel unit, which generates 120 Bhp of peak power and a superb peak torque output of 300 Nm. This engine will debut on the 2012 Honda Civic sedan. Honda is also said to be developing smaller, downsized variants of the 1.6 Liter i-DTEC engine which may power cars like the Jazz and Brio hatchbacks in the future. There is also some buzz about Honda unveiling another small capacity engine at the fast approaching 2012 Geneva Motor Show, which is said to be one of the most prestigious amongst auto shows. Watch this space.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-city-diesel-sedan-launch-2012-confirms-top-honda-official-icb-exclusive-56370/

Honda may spend $650 mln to restore flood-hit Thai plant - Nikkei

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co <7267.T> will completely overhaul its flood-hit factory in Thailand in a project that could cost more than 50 billion yen, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.

Thailand's worst floods in half a century late last year hit Honda the hardest among Japanese automakers, with its 240,000-cars-a-year plant in the Ayutthaya Province in central Thailand submerged under water.

Honda, Japan's No. 3 car producer, has already started replacing equipment with the aim of resuming output in April, the Nikkei said.

Refurbishing the flood-hit factory will almost be the equivalent of building a plant from scratch, the Nikkei quoted an unnamed Honda executive as saying.

Honda may receive payment from insurers, which are still assessing damage at the factory, as early as in the current financial year to March, lessening Honda's financial burden to a certain extent, the Nikkei said.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne, Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

Source;
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/honda-may-spend-36650-mln-to-restore-flood-hit-thai-plant-nikkei_651354.html

Honda City facelift spied! Launch could be in October

It is time for the all new Honda City to get a makeover. Honda is expected to launch the Honda City in October with a mid-life facelift. Honda recently dropped the prices of its products which has made the Honda City a very attractive buy among the other mid-sized sedan in its company. The new aesthetic package will only add to the popularity of the Honda City. Autocar India is carrying spy shots of the all new Honda City facelift testing.

The changes however, minor have helped freshen-up the overall visual appeal of the mid-sized car. The major change to the front end consists of a redesigned front grille finished in brushed black. The front bumper has also been redesigned and has fog lamps neatly integrated in to it. The car also gets new side skirts as well as rear bumpers with subtle sporty touch. The new alloys are from the Accord. The 10-spoke alloys enhance the sporty theme that is evident from the new aesthetic touches that have been added to the new Honda City.

The top-of-the-line variant of the Honda City is also expected to carry a sun-roof. Also, we hope Honda might add automatic-climate control, bluetooth and auto-retractable mirrors. The main competitors of the car offer these features in their cars and Honda might respond to this. If, Honda includes these features on the City, cars like the Hyundai Verna are in for a big battle in the coming months. The mechanicals on the car will remain the same though. The all new facelift Honda City will get the same 1.5 litre i-VTEC with 116 horsepower on tap. The prices of the car are expected to remain the same.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-city-facelift-spied-launch-october-48468/

Honda's Walk Assist

Corporate June 30, 2008

Honda to Conduct Collaborative Testing of its Walking Assist Device

Japan, June 30, 2008– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will begin collaborative testing of its experimental walking assist device as from July 1, 2008, with Shinseikai Medical Group, Kasumigaseki-Minami Hospital (Kawagoe, Saitama prefecture). The device was created to support walking by the elderly and other people with weakened leg muscles.*

The compatibility and effectiveness of Honda’s walking assist device will be evaluated during rehabilitation training to help people relearn to walk safely and efficiently, that is conducted at Kasumigaseki-Minami Hospital. The testing also will identify and study areas of effectiveness and potential issues from different perspectives by the trainees, physical therapists, doctors and researchers.

Honda began research of a walking assist device in 1999 with the goal to provide more people with the joy of mobility. The cooperative control technology utilized for this device is a unique Honda innovation achieved through the cumulative study of human walking just as the research and development of technologies was conducted for Honda’s advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO. With this device, the user’s stride will be lengthened compared to the user’s normal stride without the device and therefore the ease of walking is achieved.

Currently, the device is in the feasibility stage and Honda has been showcasing and gathering feedback from a wide range of people who experienced the device at relevant trade shows including the International Trade Fair on Barrier Free Equipments & Rehabilitation for the Elderly & the Disabled (BARRIER FREE 2008) held in April (at Intex Osaka) and at the Welfare 2008 in June (at Nagoya International Exhibition Hall).

* people who can still walk on their own