Toyota’s Rumored Sports Coupe Plan
Rumors fueled by official statements abound that Toyota
will be bringing two new sports cars to market – one positioned above
the Scion FR-S/FT-86, and one below. These cars will form a trifecta of
sports coupes, similar to the group of sports coupes that carried Toyota
to popularity and profits in the 1980′s and 90′s. This new knowledge
has people excited, but also confused about the future of sports models
they’d hoped were going to be resurrected.
The new CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, seems to be as ready as everyone else for a new rear-wheel drive sports coupe, or two. Although the GT86 is fairly new to the brand, two more RWD models are taking one slot above and one below the GT86/FR-S in accordance with plans of the incoming chairman. His plans were outlined as including two new sports cars with the 86 in the middle of both.
More specifically, he plans to make the larger of the cars a successor to the Supra — this model is said to be under development in collaboration with BMW. The smaller of the models is being hinted as a joint effort, but no details were given as to who Toyota would team up with to make it. Some speculate that the smaller of the models might be a MR2 or Celica.
It’s not exactly time to start putting in orders at local dealerships, neither model has actually been given the green light for production.
Next Generation of Supra: Will They or Won’t They?
In the early 2000′s, Toyota ceased production of the Supra. As far back as the conclusion of the latest generation of Supra, talk of replacement models and a new generation have caused quite a stir in the import enthusiast community. The news about the plans being made by Toyota’s future chairman has people wondering if the Supra even stands a chance still of a comeback.
Although conceptual drawings and speculation are in no short supply, the reality of a Supra now seems more unlikely now than ever. If Toyota has a new successor to the Supra in the works, they probably won’t bring this model back into their lineup to murk up the waters for their upcoming sports coupes.
So, why won’t Toyota axe the model forever or confirm its comeback? They want to keep consumers on the hook. The rumors, regardless of what the ultimate truth is, will keep the idea of a Toyota sports coupe on the minds of drivers.
The most current rumor (one started before the rumors about the two new models) is that Toyota will unveil their newest Toyota Supra concept at the 43rd annual Tokyo Motor Show at the end of the year. This is when the world will know, with almost absolute certainty, if the Supra is actually coming back, or if it’s time to let it go.
It’s at this same show that eager Toyota sports car enthusiasts will likely get their first glance at the other models Toyota’s chairman has alluded to. It seems at this point that the best chance the Supra has of a return is being the name on the larger of the sports models planned by Toyota.
Author Jason Lancaster is a huge fan of the Toyota Supra and hopes it will return. He works with Olathe Toyota Parts Center, an online seller of wholesale OEM Toyota parts.
Source;
http://www.motorward.com/2013/09/toyotas-rumored-sports-coupe-plan/
AutoNews.com: How the Honda Accord's innovative hybrid system works
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| Click on the image to enlarge |
MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- Most of the attention for Honda's Accord hybrid will come from its eye-popping 50-mpg EPA city rating and under-$30,000 starting price. But those with an eye for engineering will see a creative combination of new technology with elements from the Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid.
"Honda put in all we had," said Koji Ninomiya, chief engineer for the Accord Hybrid, through an interpreter. "We did our best, and we ended up at 50 mpg."
The car, which gets to dealerships in late October, uses three drive modes to crack the 50-mpg figure -- something no other mid-sized car, including the European diesels, can match.
Ninomiya said 50 mpg or any specific number was not the goal when Honda engineers began nearly a decade ago studying a new hybrid powertrain to replace its current design.
"We considered everything, [including] driving resistance and regenerative braking. We made the powertrain all new, and the biggest purpose of this was to aim for the most efficient system in the world. As we tried to optimize the efficiency, we decided two motors will be best," he said.
Here's how the two electric motors work in the Accord Hybrid's three drive modes, EV, Hybrid and Engine.
• EV mode: The car is propelled only by an electric motor powered by the lithium ion battery pack. The top speed is about 60 mph, but the range is very limited, just a few miles. Once the battery is depleted, the car automatically switches to Hybrid mode.
• Hybrid mode: The Accord Hybrid works a lot like a Chevrolet Volt. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine powers a generator to create electricity for the electric motor. Honda calls the generator a motor, hence two motors. Only the electric motor, fed by the generator, moves the car in Hybrid mode.
• Engine mode: The electric motor is decoupled, and the Accord's Atkinson cycle gasoline engine drives the wheels directly through a one-gear transmission. In that highway gear -- similar in efficiency to a sixth gear on a manual transmission -- the gasoline engine runs in its sweet spot, delivering both strong acceleration when needed and high fuel economy.
Ford and Toyota hybrids also use Atkinson cycle engines. The Accord's Atkinson cycle 2.0-liter gasoline engine is a first for Honda.
In an Atkinson cycle engine, the intake valves remain open briefly during the compression stroke. That pushes some of the air in the cylinders into the intake manifold, which lowers the compression ratio. That enables fast, smooth starts, which is ideal for hybrids. The downside is that it reduces power.
To solve that problem, Honda engineers installed VTEC, a system that electronically controls the timing of the valves with camshafts that have two sets of lobes. One set of lobes is for the Atkinson cycle; the other is for normal combustion. The engine's computer switches back and forth between the two sets of lobes, based on engine speed and load.
Other new technologies include the car's innovative regenerative brakes, which send electricity to the battery. Regeneration begins the instant a driver's foot leaves the accelerator, not when the brake pedal is pressed as it does on other hybrids.
The air-cooled lithium ion battery pack fits in a compact case between the rear seat and the trunk. The pack does reduce trunk space. The hybrid's trunk is 12.7 cubic feet, while the regular Accord's trunk is 15.8.
Honda will offer three versions of the Accord Hybrid. The base model starts at $29,155; a midlevel E-XL version, at $31,905; and the loaded Touring, at $34,905. The prices exclude shipping; figures haven't been announced.
Honda is assembling the Accord Hybrid at its Marysville plant; it is the first time the Accord Hybrid has been built in North America.
The car's innovative powertrain could help win back some former Honda fans who deserted the brand for other makes with more advanced engines and transmissions.
In the past, Honda had stuck with nickel-metal hydride batteries in its hybrids while other automakers developed more efficient gasoline-electric powertrains that use lighter, stronger lithium ion batteries.
And in its gasoline-powered cars, the company has been slow to shift to automatic transmissions with more than four speeds.
The result of that strategy: middle-of-the-pack fuel economy ratings and a string of misfires dating back nearly a decade, including the failed 2004-06 Accord Hybrid, a slow selling Civic Hybrid and dismal sales for the Insight and CR-Z hybrids.
The Accord Hybrid's 50 mpg is "a pretty strong statement," said California dealer Dave Conant. He is CEO of The C.A.R. Group, which owns 13 stores, including four Honda outlets.
"For a long time Honda sort of owned the territory," he said. "I think a 50-mpg Accord is going to absolutely swing people back to thinking of Honda as a fuel economy leader. It's long overdue, honestly."
Friday, September 27, 2013
New Honda Odyssey MPV – now taller, with sliding doors, coming to Malaysia before the end of 2013
Honda surprised us today by teasing the first photos of the all new Honda Odyssey. With the new generation, the Odyssey’s formula has been significantly tweaked – it now has a taller roofline and gets sliding doors for the rear.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen a tall Japanese market Honda Odyssey – the first two generations followed this ‘van’ formula, then the third gen and fourth gen became ‘low riders’, very much like 7 seater wagons. Note that the JDM market Odyssey and the American market Odyssey are different cars.
I guess Honda figured out that the successful Toyota Estima formula worked better and has decided to compete directly against it, instead of offering an alternative.
Honda’s other JDM MPVs all have tall rooflines – the Elysion which competes against the Alphard, the Stepwgn which goes against the Noah, and the Honda Freed. A tall roofline certainly does wonders to ease movement within the cabin, and I suppose it also makes makes the cabin feel roomier.
You have the option for two reclining captain seats in the second row or a proper 3 seater bench. You can have it in either 2WD or 4WD forms (What!?!?), with a CVT transmission. That’s all Honda has revealed so far.
The new Odyssey will probably be available with a 2.4 litre engine like the generation before it, but since it has a larger body now will Honda offer a 3.5 litre as well?
Honda Malaysia sold the third generation Honda Odyssey here, but skipped the fourth generation. But good news to car buyers with families – the Odyssey is coming back. This fifth generation will be coming to Malaysia by the end of the year through official channels, so you won’t have to buy grey.
Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/26/2013-honda-odyssey-unveiled-now-taller-sliding-doors/
2016 Ford Mustang GT350 caught on video
Should we have more than 450 bhp (335 kW)?
The Mustang fanatics at Mustang6G have managed to catch the 2016 Shelby GT350 on video.
While the car is heavily disguised, we can see it will have a four-tailpipe exhaust system that produces an intoxicating noise. Previous spy photos have also shown the model will have a hood-mounted scoop, lightweight wheels and a high-performance braking system.
Little else is known about the model, but speculation suggests it will replace the Shelby GT500 and adopt either the Shelby GT350 or SVT 350 name. There have also been rumors that the model will eschew the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 - that develops 662 bhp (494 kW) and 631 lb-ft (854 Nm) of torque - for a new engine that is derived from the 5.0-liter Coyote V8. There's no word on how much it will displace but Road & Track has said it will produce "substantially more" than 450 bhp (335 kW).
Thanks to Jon for the tip!
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113092663515/2016-ford-mustang-gt350-caught-on-video
While the car is heavily disguised, we can see it will have a four-tailpipe exhaust system that produces an intoxicating noise. Previous spy photos have also shown the model will have a hood-mounted scoop, lightweight wheels and a high-performance braking system.
Little else is known about the model, but speculation suggests it will replace the Shelby GT500 and adopt either the Shelby GT350 or SVT 350 name. There have also been rumors that the model will eschew the supercharged 5.8-liter V8 - that develops 662 bhp (494 kW) and 631 lb-ft (854 Nm) of torque - for a new engine that is derived from the 5.0-liter Coyote V8. There's no word on how much it will displace but Road & Track has said it will produce "substantially more" than 450 bhp (335 kW).
Thanks to Jon for the tip!
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113092663515/2016-ford-mustang-gt350-caught-on-video
2014 (2015 for us in North America) Honda Fit won't get 'stop-start' fuel-saving technology in North-America
For all the wrong reasons...
We've already written about the new 2015 Honda Fit hybrid, but the regular gasoline Fit is also interesting. It has an idle-stop, or stop-start system that turns off the engine when the car is stopped, and restarts it whenever the driver steps off the brakes. This technology has proven its worth for saving fuel in city driving over the years, yet Honda has decided not to bring it to North-America. That's right, the rest of the world gets the fuel saving technology, but not North-Americans.Why? Well, that's the sad part. I don't believe that Honda has very good reasons for making Americans burn more fuel... They told Automotive News that the extra split second it takes for the engine to re-start (it's very quick, usually by the time you move your foot from the brake pedal to the gas pedal, it's done) is somehow too much for drivers to accept.
Nobuhiko Shishido, a lead powertrain engineer for the new Fit, said that in the United States, where speed and power rule, stop-start systems mean small cars will be left in the dust.Really? I think if you're buying a Fit, you probably care more about fuel economy than about racing against Mustangs at red lights...
They "will lose at stoplights to V-6s," Shishido said at a recent Fit preview.
There also is a marketing problem because the EPA's fuel economy testing cycle doesn't give extra credit to stop-start systems. So even though their real-world performance is better than their official mpg rating, they are a hard sell.That's just a marketing problem. It shouldn't matter more than giving a better, more economical and environmentally-friendly product to your customers! Honda could even make ads with this, saying: "It might not show up on the MPG sticker, but our new Fit saves you more gas than the equivalent car from the competition."
And stop-start has other idiosyncrasies. For example, the air conditioner compressor turns off during the stop phase. While the system continues to blow cool air, it's not quite as cool as full-blown air conditioning.That could easily be solved by having a way to turn off the stop-start system on very, very hot days. The rest of the time, it shouldn't matter much if you have a few seconds of slightly warmer air...
Honda, we really like what you've done with the new Fit and Fit hybrid. It's an innovative, frugal car with a lot of interior space. But please, bring stop-start over to North-America and be a leader. Other carmakers will probably follow suit and also bring stop-start over, saving everybody a lot of gas.
Source;
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/2014-honda-fit-wont-get-stop-start-fuel-saving-technology-north-america.html
Scoop: Honda Mobilio makes an appearance on Indonesian roads
(Not for North America)
Based on the same platform as Brio and Amaze.
Honda
is using the Brio platform quite effectively. After tasting success
with the Brio hatchback and Amaze sedan, the Japanese carmaker is ready
to bring out the next product.
Called Honda Mobilio,
it's an MPV based on the same platform. It was showcased at the
Indonesia International Motor Show before making an appearance on the
streets of Indonesia. The leaked brochure pictures suggested the MPV
will be available in three variants. Engine options include a 1.5-litre
VTEC motor (which is used in the Honda City) for the Indonesian market
and in all likeliness, a 1.5-litre i-DTEC unit (the one from Amaze) in
addition to that for the Indian market. A manual gearbox will be part of
standard equipment while a CVT gearbox will be available on the
top-spec variant, when it goes on sale in Indonesia.
Production of the Mobilio begins in January next year while the sales in Indonesia will commence in 2014 itself.
Source;
Honda buoyed by progress with IndyCar twin-turbo engine
Honda says that it is satisfied with the progress being made on its twin-turbo IndyCar engine after track-testing the unit for the first time at Fontana on Tuesday.
Simon Pagenaud ran between 50 and 60 laps in a spare Sam Schmidt car fitted with the new-spec Honda engine, reportedly posting speeds in the 211mph range.
Unofficial times put the quickest outright lap of the test, set by Helio Castroneves, at just over 218mph, but HPD technical director Roger Griffiths told AUTOSPORT that Honda was not focusing on outright pace from the engine that it will race next year.
"It was a successful test," Griffiths said. "We had a test plan, we ran through it, did what we needed to do, and are happy with the result. It was a good day.
"We didn't go out to try and go fast; we didn't go out to try to set a record number of laps. We had a specific test programme and a specific list of items that we wanted to focus on, and that's what we did."
Honda currently races a single-turbo configuration of its V6 IndyCar engine, but was working on a change to the twin-turbo layout for 2014 even before such a switch was mandated by the series.
Source;
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110166
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Honda Debuts New Fit In Japan; Global Launch Within Twelve Months
North America is indispensable to Honda's profitability since more than 40% of the company's sales come from this region. Therefore, it isn't surprising to see Honda focus its energy on building a vehicle that gets liked by the American public.
Hugely Important
Going forward, the Fit is hugely important to Honda's strategy. Honda expects the model's sales to pip those of Civic to become its largest selling vehicle. The sales could even surpass 1.5 million units by 2016 as per the company's estimates. The Fit is also known as the Jazz in some countries.
Last year, Honda unveiled its mid-term plan in which the automaker hopes to double the sales to 6 million by 2017. Honda expects a majority of the incremental sales to come from the subcompact series which will include the Fit (or the Jazz), the City and the new compact SUV. All of these vehicles share a common platform.The crossover SUV or the 'urban SUV', as Honda likes to call it, will target less affluent buyers than the ones that purchase the CR-V.
SUVs have always been an integral part of the American car market since the customers have a preference for big and spacious vehicles. However, a decade of high oil prices have seen customers shifting to the more fuel efficient smaller cars. Crossover SUVs or subcompact SUVs target people who have a predilection for SUVs without compromising too much on fuel efficiency.
Shares of Honda have traded in a narrow range this year on a couple of modest quarters. Investors were expecting the company's profits to soar now that the yen has depreciated against the dollar. However, Honda exports only a tiny fraction of its Japanese production, so a weak domestic currency does not have a significant impact on its overall profitability.
But, in order to take advantage of the weak domestic currency, Honda started building a new production plant in Japan, which recently became functional. A greater proportion of production in Japan will benefit Honda's margins now that the yen has depreciated against the dollar. Besides Japan, Honda is also looking to increase production in China, Thailand and as already mentioned, Mexico.
We have a $42 price estimate for Honda Motors.
Source;
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/honda-debuts-new-fit-in-japan-global-launch-within-twelve-months-cm279401
Monday, September 23, 2013
GALLERY: Honda CR-Z Mugen RZ on display at IIMS
Making an unannounced appearance at Honda’s IIMS 2013 stand is this little blue gem, a Honda CR-Z Mugen RZ. The Japan-only limited edition sports car was unveiled at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, and shows Mugen’s take on putting in more R into the latest CR-Z.
It cuts a dashing figure with its bespoke Azure Blue Metallic paintjob, and the complete Mugen bodykit with genuine carbon-fibre parts sure make it look the business. It sits lower to the ground thanks to a five-way adjustable suspension, and the pretty 17-inch forged alloys hide away uprated brake rotors and calipers.
Unlike most dressed up CR-Zs you see around though, there’s more than meets the eye in this one. Mugen has bolted a supercharger kit on the 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine, raising outputs to 156 PS and 185 Nm of torque – a healthy increase from the standard car’s 120 PS and 145 Nm. The 20 PS/78 Nm electric motor is untouched, as is the standard six-speed manual transmission.
Sadly, this is as close as we’ll get to it, as all 300 complete cars are only sold in Japan (the show car carries a dash-mounted ‘Mugen RZ No.088’ plaque). Oh well; still makes a good viewing though, doesn’t it?
Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/23/gallery-honda-cr-z-mugen-rz-display-iims/
How Japanese quake rebooted Honda's design
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| Yoshinori Asahi, left, and Toshinobu Minami, who lead Honda's interior and exterior design, aim for cutting-edge designs that are practical to produce. |
But the disaster carried a silver lining for Honda that has radically transformed its design department -- for the better.
Refugee engineers from Honda's tremor-trashed r&d center in the quake zone initially had no place to work. So they bivouacked to Honda's design and styling studio just outside of Tokyo.
And what happened next stunned insiders, recalls Yoshinori Asahi, global head of interior design for Honda and Acura.
Working elbow to elbow, engineers no longer shot down stylists' ambitious designs with a dismissive e-mail. And designers more willingly dialed back fantastical drawings after receiving a face-to-face dose of reality from more grounded engineers.
Both sides riffed off each other so well that Honda permanently transferred dozens of engineers to the global design center last spring. Their arrival is crucial as Honda rolls out a new design language to revitalize the brand.
"Before, engineers saw the designs and said 'So, this is what you want, eh?'" Asahi said. "Now they say, 'We can't say no.'"
Honda says the overhaul is not only speeding design work but delivering more practical designs that are more cutting-edge, because both sides are more vested in creating something good.
The stakes are high because Honda is introducing the new design language with the third-generation Fit small car that went on sale in September in Japan. Dubbed Exciting H Design, it's aimed at returning Honda to its sporty roots.
"We have lost a bit of our sportiness while retaining good functionality," said Toshinobu Minami, global director for exterior design at the carmaker's two brands. "First, we want sportiness. The thing I want most is to recover our uniqueness."
The design overhaul of Honda's product range targets both exterior styling -- long criticized for ho-hum looks -- and the interior, which was panned as cheap and plasticky in the debut of the latest Civic sedan.
Keywords of the philosophy: High Touch, High Tech and High Tension.
Minami and Asahi adopted the English terms -- used even in Japan -- for a common language that could be easily grasped in Honda's far-flung design studios in America, Europe and Asia.
High Touch refers to quality surface treatments and the use of top-grade materials, an obvious rebut to the Civic critics.
High Tension denotes a more muscular stance and a more engaging cockpit.
High Tech is realized through the extensive use of touchpad controls on the center stack. Meanwhile, Minami's new formula for a front look, dubbed Solid Wing Face, blends the grille into the headlamps, creating a more futuristic look.
"Face is important," Minami said. "But this is a new phase. This time, Honda's new face integrates the grille and headlights into one. It's a new era."
What Honda's design duo doesn't want is a new look just to be new. New can quickly become old.
"We used to debate the meaning of new, what is the value of new. But it's not about old and new," Asahi says. "It has to be stimulating and emotional."
A better, more exciting stance is critical, Minami says.
Consider the third-generation Fit.
It has a much more athletic, chiseled look than the outgoing Fit, which is bubble-shaped. And while both are the same width and height, the new model has a more low-slung stance.
Minami says he achieved this by twisting the car along the sharply creased character line to push the rear wheels out and pinch the rear cabin inward. The line's sudden downward bend toward the front wheels lends the feeling of a lower front end.
From the front, Minami tries to accentuate a broader tread by spacing fog light cowls low and wide near the corners. Though presented as air intake vents, they are actually dummies that are sealed shut. That is to improve aerodynamics. In fact, the lower mesh grille below the H badge is also part dummy, with about half the mesh openings actually closed.
Improving aerodynamics is another big focus. Minami said the latest Fit achieves a big improvement in drag reduction over the outgoing model, though Honda declines to give specific figures.
Tweaks throughout help cheat the wind:
• Taillamps wrap around the edge of the hatchback. They get a razor-cleaved rim to make a clean break with the wind, but because they are transparent plastic, they mitigate a boxy look.
• An all-new platform was designed to keep the car's undercarriage flat by raising bumps and bulges such as the oil pan.
• The A-pillars get special ridges to maximize air flow. The ridges are then integrated into the overall design through creases that stretch down each side of the hood.
Watch for those tricks, as well as the rest of the Exciting H package, to be deployed across the Honda line.
Next up: A Fit-based small crossover that will debut at November's Tokyo Motor Show and go on sale in Japan this year.
A concept version, the Urban SUV Concept, was shown at the Detroit auto show last January. That car, which gets many of the Fit's styling cues, is very close to the production version, Minami said.
A Fit-based subcompact sedan will follow the crossover.
Involving engineers early in the design process is key.
Before, the creative types at the design studio would start a design by dashing off dozens of sketches drawn from the farthest frontiers of their imaginations, Asahi says.
Yet, less attention was paid to whether such designs were realistic. What raw materials are needed? How will it be manufactured? Does a flashy dash panel actually accommodate the air conditioning offered by suppliers? Does the center console sufficiently house the audio display?
"As you do the feasibility studies, the design starts looking worse," Asahi said. If you don't start with the big picture, one small miscalculation can throw off the whole package.
Now designers start from materials and functions, and they draw ideas to fit those realities. "It's a big mind change," Asahi said.
Stationing engineers inside the design center to consult earlier in the development cycle helps streamline the process.
While it injects a dose or reality for the designers, it also pressures the engineers to try harder to realize more avant-garde ideas. "A good mix is necessary," Asahi said.
Indeed, last October, the design studio opened the 01 Lounge as a kind of creative retreat for engineers and designers.
There, they chill out on couches, sip cappuccinos or pluck a guitar as they banter back and forth to fire their neurons and find inspiration for that leap from nothingness to an initial idea, the first step in Honda's 10-stage march to a fixed design.
"Once the factory people start working closely with designers, they become more motivated to actually help bring those designs to life," Asahi said. "It's a very powerful support for us."
Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20130923/OEM03/309239989/how-japanese-quake-rebooted-hondas-design#axzz2fiwXA84X
Friday, September 20, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Bloomberg: The Legacy of Eiji Toyoda; Passes Away at 100yo
by Maryann Keller of www.businessweek.com
Eiji Toyoda died on Tuesday at the age of 100, almost 30 years after retiring from active management of Toyota Motor (TM).
Like Alfred Sloan and Henry Ford before him, Toyoda was an engineer
whose vision dominated the company in its formative years and beyond. He
transformed Toyota into a global powerhouse with management and
manufacturing processes that transcended the auto industry. Where would
we be without kanban, kaizen, muda, and keiretsu,
as well as acronyms like JIT (just in time), TQC (total quality
control), ZD (zero defects), and TPS (Toyota Production System)?
At Toyoda’s insistence, the company took its first, hesitant steps to produce cars outside Japan. Toyota didn’t know if its production system could be replicated overseas, and it was cautious to commit, even after Honda Motor (HMC) and Nissan Motor (7201:JP) were building cars in the U.S. Toyoda’s answer was a joint venture with General Motors (GM), a decision that was not enthusiastically embraced within Toyota, but once his mind was made up, there was no changing it (nor would anyone try).
Toyoda challenged his management team to forge the agreement with GM and to accept GM’s closed Fremont (Calif.) assembly plant as the production site. Fremont was notorious for inferior quality and poor labor relations, which Toyoda saw as an opportunity. If they could succeed there, they could succeed on their own anywhere, he told executives. Although Toyota used GM’s bankruptcy to terminate joint production at Fremont in 2010, the company gained immeasurably from the experience. It learned how to manage a Western workforce and a long-distance supply chain without giving up the important elements of its production system. The most advanced product in the plant was probably an electric typewriter, and even without automation, Toyota was able to build cars in fewer person-hours than GM, and with quality comparable to Japan.
In reaching decisions, the only things that mattered to Eiji Toyoda were genba—production site or factory—and genbutsu—products. He always retained his love of manufacturing and took great pleasure in visiting Toyota assembly plants and those of the competition. He could stand in the middle of a plant and listen; by the sound alone, he could judge how well it was operating.
Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-18/eiji-toyodas-legacy-by-maryann-keller
Paul Tan: Honda Mobilio Spec's and Pictures
Not for North America....
We now have fresh and full details of the new Honda Mobilio, along with live photos of the vehicle from its world debut earlier today at the Indonesian International Motor Show 2013. The budget seven-seat MPV is an interesting vehicle indeed, especially since it’s aiming to be the cheapest of its kind in Indonesia.
Still labelled as a prototype, the budget MPV will not go into production exactly as it’s seen here, but the changes will be minimal, according to Honda. It looks completely production ready though, so perhaps it won’t be very long before the Mobilia completes its development programme.
It looks rather good in the flesh; much better than most pictures suggest. Its ‘Dual Solid Motion’ design concept is distinctive, if not exactly unique. The character line that runs across the side of the vehicle draws attention away from the thick proportion as well as help improve all-round visibility. Honda calls it the ‘lightning-bolt’ belt line.
While the front is heavily based on the Brio hatchback it’s derived from, the rear end is all new. The lights have a BMW-like notched design, and the D-pillar is partly covered by the rear quarter panel – another move to break up the visual mass. The prototype sits on 15-inch aluminium wheels.
No pictures of the interior yet, as we weren’t allowed in (this is a prototype, after all). Honda claims to have a class-leading “sensation and comfortable” cabin, without saying it’ll be the roomiest small MPV around. It goes on to say that the rear-most seats will have limited space, but makes up for it by having a “comfortable and relaxed atmosphere” back there.
Practicality should be a high point in the Mobilio. The third row seats can be folded 50/50, while the centre row can tumble down in a 60/40 configuration. A necessary feature in all MPVs, the small Honda MPV will feature a double-blower air-conditioning system, with a dedicated multi-vent panel behind the front seats.
Engine-wise, the Honda Mobilio is powered by a 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC unit with 118 PS at 6,600 rpm and 144 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm. There’s either a five-speed manual or a CVT ‘box. That should be sufficient for a vehicle that measures 4,390 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,610 mm tall. The Brio platform has been stretched, here offering a long 2,650 mm wheelbase.
Safety is paramount in a people (often family) carrier, yes? The Mobilio has dual airbags, Honda’s G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) and ABS with EBD. Seatbelts with pretensioners, impact mitigating headrest and integrated pedestrian protection are all standard too.
Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/19/honda-mobilio-full-details-live-gallery-mpv/
We now have fresh and full details of the new Honda Mobilio, along with live photos of the vehicle from its world debut earlier today at the Indonesian International Motor Show 2013. The budget seven-seat MPV is an interesting vehicle indeed, especially since it’s aiming to be the cheapest of its kind in Indonesia.
Still labelled as a prototype, the budget MPV will not go into production exactly as it’s seen here, but the changes will be minimal, according to Honda. It looks completely production ready though, so perhaps it won’t be very long before the Mobilia completes its development programme.
It looks rather good in the flesh; much better than most pictures suggest. Its ‘Dual Solid Motion’ design concept is distinctive, if not exactly unique. The character line that runs across the side of the vehicle draws attention away from the thick proportion as well as help improve all-round visibility. Honda calls it the ‘lightning-bolt’ belt line.
While the front is heavily based on the Brio hatchback it’s derived from, the rear end is all new. The lights have a BMW-like notched design, and the D-pillar is partly covered by the rear quarter panel – another move to break up the visual mass. The prototype sits on 15-inch aluminium wheels.
No pictures of the interior yet, as we weren’t allowed in (this is a prototype, after all). Honda claims to have a class-leading “sensation and comfortable” cabin, without saying it’ll be the roomiest small MPV around. It goes on to say that the rear-most seats will have limited space, but makes up for it by having a “comfortable and relaxed atmosphere” back there.
Practicality should be a high point in the Mobilio. The third row seats can be folded 50/50, while the centre row can tumble down in a 60/40 configuration. A necessary feature in all MPVs, the small Honda MPV will feature a double-blower air-conditioning system, with a dedicated multi-vent panel behind the front seats.
Engine-wise, the Honda Mobilio is powered by a 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC unit with 118 PS at 6,600 rpm and 144 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm. There’s either a five-speed manual or a CVT ‘box. That should be sufficient for a vehicle that measures 4,390 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,610 mm tall. The Brio platform has been stretched, here offering a long 2,650 mm wheelbase.
Safety is paramount in a people (often family) carrier, yes? The Mobilio has dual airbags, Honda’s G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) and ABS with EBD. Seatbelts with pretensioners, impact mitigating headrest and integrated pedestrian protection are all standard too.
Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/19/honda-mobilio-full-details-live-gallery-mpv/
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Will the 2015 Honda Civic Type R Spawn the Next Generation Honda CRZ?
Honda is hard at work developing a new hot hatch with 276 horsepower derived from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four and directed to the front wheels only. The car is the latest version of the Civic Type R that the rest of the world enjoys, but as with the previous generation the new one will be skipping the U.S. market.
Part of the reason is due to our Civic being different to the one sold elsewhere. Furthermore, the Civic is seen as an econo car over here so Honda may be reluctant to launch a Civic-based model as its performance flagship locally.
But the U.S. is still Honda’s biggest market and the automaker will need some sportier models if it wants to rebuild its faded performance image and lure back buyers that may have opted for top models like the Ford Focus ST, Mazdaspeed 3, Volkswagen GTI and Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ twins.
That’s where a redesigned CR-Z, sharing a platform with the Civic Type R, fits in.
A source has revealed to Car Sales that Honda is keen to launch a redesigned CR-Z based on the bones of its 276-horsepower Civic Type R, should a second-generation CR-Z be approved for production. In fact, a prototype is alleged to have already been built.
The prototype version is said to feature a direct-injected and turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with the current CR-Z’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is also said to have replaced both the CVT and manual options of the current CR-Z. Peak output of this prototype is said to be around 221 horsepower, a significant leap over the current car’s paltry 130-horsepower rating.
Should production be approved, the car could be on sale within two years. Stay tuned for an update.
Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1086960_will-the-2015-civic-type-r-spawn-the-next-cr-z
Monday, September 16, 2013
2015 Honda Civic Type R rendered
Confirmed with at least 280 HP
ATC Design has come up with a virtual styling for the highly anticipated 2015 Honda Civic Type R.As you would imagine, the hot Civic hatchback was envisioned with a more aggressive body kit and a lowered suspension arrangement. It comes with large glossy black multi-spoke alloys, four tailpipes and has received a large wing at the back.
Powering the 2015 Civic Type R will be a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine which will provide a minimum of 280 HP (206 kW) sent to the front axle. Honda has big plans for the new Civic Type R as they want it to establish a new record on the Nürburgring for a front-wheel drive car.
The current record was set in 2011 by the Renault Megane RS Trophy which lapped the circuit in 8 minutes and 7.97 seconds. Honda Europe's president Manabu Nishimae mentioned during Frankfurt Motor Show last week they tested a prototype and was close to taking down the official record.
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113091663009/2015-honda-civic-type-r-rendered
Friday, September 13, 2013
Honda Brio – Indonesia launches 1.2L, new variants
Honda has refreshed its Brio model lineup in Indonesia – new variants of the compact hatch have been introduced, including the entry-level Satya variant that has come about in response to the country’s Low Cost Green Car (LCGC) programme, and the 1.2 litre finally makes its way into that market.
The Brio was first introduced in Indonesia last August as the automaker’s first offering in the city car segment. It made its debut in 1.3 litre i-VTEC form, the 100 PS and 127 Nm four-cylinder unit being available with CVT or five-speed manual transmission choices.
The 1.3 continues on, and is now joined by the 88 PS and 109 Nm 1.2 litre SOHC lump that was first seen on the Brio in Thailand. The current range thus comprises the Brio Sports (E grade only), the Brio 1.2 (S and E model grades) as well as the Brio Satya 1.2, which is available in three trim line grades (A, S, and E). The Brio 1.2 is available only in auto transmission form, while the Brio Satya is only available with a manual transmission.
The Brio Satya is entirely produced in Indonesia, with 85% local content, and is the automaker’s cheapest model in that market. Cheap it may be, but there’s much pride in it. The car wears a suffix and logo created specifically for Indonesia – the Satya name comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “sincere” or “faithful,” and the car also bears a logo that takes the form of the jasmine, the country’s national flower.
It’s also quite well specified. All the Brio Satyas are equipped with dual airbags, and for the range-topping E grade, the kit list includes fog lamps, rear wiper, 14-inch alloys and a double-DIN CD/MP3 player with USB/iPod connectivity.
Pricing for the revised 2013 Indonesian Brio lineup starts from 106 million Rupiah (RM30,100) for the Type-A Brio Satya and tops out at 179 million Rupiah (RM50,800) for the Brio Sports E automatic.
Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/12/honda-brio-new-variants-launched-in-indonesia/
SCOOP: HONDA WORKING ON RWD COMPACT SPORTS CAR
Many Honda engineers and executives believe that they were beat to the punch when Toyota/Subaru introduced its affordable rear-drive sports offering. And now that they know the market is hungry again for exciting affordable sports cars, a new “S1500” is on the drawing board within the walls of the company’s Tokyo headquarters. The car would be small, probably even smaller than the Mazda MX-5, and come equipped with either a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter inline-4 with i-VTEC. If the latter, it could well be the current engine under the Fit’s hood that can produce up to 132 hp. The car would be very light, about 900 kg or right at about 2000 lb., making it very quick and agile. It would of course be rear-drive, and come with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Our source says he would like to see the car priced around $20,000. There’s even talk that the “S1500” may come with a mid-engine layout, a la the Honda Beat.
As for the car’s design direction, we hear that Honda would either use the Japan-only N-ONE as the base (as pictured here) or make it look more like the current Civic. We like the N-ONE styling because it pays homage to the S600. Either way, look for Honda to come up with this answer to the Toyota 86 and the Mazda MX-5 in 2015 or 2016.
Source (via www.autoblog.com);
http://www.gtchannel.com/blog/scoop-honda-working-rwd-compact-sports-car
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Honda NSX to launch in 2015
The new Honda NSX will launch in 2015 with ground-breaking technology that will only be employed if it improves the driving experience, according to its development chief Ted Klaus.
Honda's new NSX is undergoing chassis development in the US, while powertrain work is being carried out in Japan. The Honda will feature a mid-mounted V6 engine, supported by three electric motors, offering a combined output of 400bhp. Honda has previously promised sharp handling and a high performance potential.
Klaus, however, has reiterated that the complex electronics will only intervene if they improve the driving experience. In particular, he highlighted the possibility of using the electric motors to deliver instant throttle response, or to allow silent all-electric drive.
'"The NSX must stay true to the role it created, of being an everyday exotic," said Klaus. "That means we must only use the new tech to support the driver to live with the car every day, and to give the driver a car with a depth of abilities that they can peel away with familiarity, as they get to know the car.
"The technology gives us a chance to create a car that is focused on being agile, precise and linear in its responses like never before. We are looking to do more than chase numbers on paper - as with the original NSX we wont have the most powerful car in the category, for instance, but we believe the human element is more important than that. Whatever we do, the driver must be at the centre of the experience, not the car."
Klaus also confirmed that Honda hoped to involve racing drivers from inside and outside the company during development, as it did with Formula 1 racer Ayrton Senna with the original NSX. The firm returns to F1 with McLaren in 2015.
"We call them acid tests - be it exposing the car to the world's most demanding drivers or test tracks. We may get burned by that acid, but that is the only way to improve," said Klaus.
Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/frankfurt-motor-show/honda-nsx-launch-2015
All-New Nissan X-TRAIL / Rogue revealed in Frankfurt
Goes on sale Q1 2014
The all-new Nissan X-Trail/Rogue has made its world debut today at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
It has lost some of the familiar rugged looks as these were replaced by a more premium styling with sculptured muscular lines, "boomerang" taillights and modern 19-inch alloys. Nissan mentions upper-spec models will get full LED headlights with daytime running lights once the car goes on sale in the first quarter of next year.
The interior cabin is a blend of chrome, metal and piano black finishes with a "theater-style" seating arrangement and the possibility of ordering two extra seats for a seven-seat layout. Lower-spec models come with a cloth fabric but more expensive versions feature full leather upholstery with contrasting stitching.
The 2014 X-Trail's rear doors open to almost 80 degrees which enables an easy access inside the cabin, and those sitting on the middle row seat now benefit from additional knee room thanks to the elongated wheelbase. The third row of seats can be folded forward to boost cargo capacity, whereas the middle row can recline and slide.
It has received the latest generation of Nissan's ALL MODE 4x4i system controllable by using a rotary switch installed on the center console. The driver gets to choose between 2WD, Auto mode or Lock which offers permanent four-wheel drive. The 2014 X-Trail also boasts Active Ride Control capable of monitoring the road up ahead to spot undulations and will modify the damping to compensate. Active Engine Brake is also fitted and can increase engine braking during cornering or when decelerating to a standstill.
Nissan fitted the new X-Trail/Rogue with Active Trace Control comprising an on-board sensor monitoring steering angle, speed, braking effort and throttle opening to brake the wheels individually as a method of reducing understeer. Lastly, the off-roader will be offered with Uphill Start Support and Advance Hill Descent Control.
Details about the engine lineup will be disclosed closer to the car's market launch.
It has lost some of the familiar rugged looks as these were replaced by a more premium styling with sculptured muscular lines, "boomerang" taillights and modern 19-inch alloys. Nissan mentions upper-spec models will get full LED headlights with daytime running lights once the car goes on sale in the first quarter of next year.
The interior cabin is a blend of chrome, metal and piano black finishes with a "theater-style" seating arrangement and the possibility of ordering two extra seats for a seven-seat layout. Lower-spec models come with a cloth fabric but more expensive versions feature full leather upholstery with contrasting stitching.
The 2014 X-Trail's rear doors open to almost 80 degrees which enables an easy access inside the cabin, and those sitting on the middle row seat now benefit from additional knee room thanks to the elongated wheelbase. The third row of seats can be folded forward to boost cargo capacity, whereas the middle row can recline and slide.
It has received the latest generation of Nissan's ALL MODE 4x4i system controllable by using a rotary switch installed on the center console. The driver gets to choose between 2WD, Auto mode or Lock which offers permanent four-wheel drive. The 2014 X-Trail also boasts Active Ride Control capable of monitoring the road up ahead to spot undulations and will modify the damping to compensate. Active Engine Brake is also fitted and can increase engine braking during cornering or when decelerating to a standstill.
Nissan fitted the new X-Trail/Rogue with Active Trace Control comprising an on-board sensor monitoring steering angle, speed, braking effort and throttle opening to brake the wheels individually as a method of reducing understeer. Lastly, the off-roader will be offered with Uphill Start Support and Advance Hill Descent Control.
Details about the engine lineup will be disclosed closer to the car's market launch.
Source (with a lot of pix);
Honda confirms 2.0-liter turbo Civic Type-R with at least 280 HP
Due in 2015
As promised, Honda has released more details about the highly anticipated Civic Type-R which will be launched sometime in 2015. Its heart and soul will be a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine which will produce at least 280 HP (206 kW).
Other details are limited at this moment but judging from the attached official pics and video we notice the range-topping Civic will have a quad exhaust setup and a rear wing. It also seems to be lower than the regular model and rides on larger alloys. Other upgrades will probably be in the steering and braking departments, together with an uprated gearbox and revised looks.
With two years of development still to go, Honda will pull out all the stops to make the new Civic Type R the fastest front-wheel drive car around the Nürburgring. Honda Europe president Manabu Nishimae said testing has already begun and the car was close to taking down the record. The objective is to beat the 8m 7.97s time achieved back in 2011 by the Renault Megane RS Trophy.
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113091062754/honda-confirms-20-liter-turbo-civic-type-r-with-at-least
As promised, Honda has released more details about the highly anticipated Civic Type-R which will be launched sometime in 2015. Its heart and soul will be a direct-injection, turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine which will produce at least 280 HP (206 kW).
Other details are limited at this moment but judging from the attached official pics and video we notice the range-topping Civic will have a quad exhaust setup and a rear wing. It also seems to be lower than the regular model and rides on larger alloys. Other upgrades will probably be in the steering and braking departments, together with an uprated gearbox and revised looks.
With two years of development still to go, Honda will pull out all the stops to make the new Civic Type R the fastest front-wheel drive car around the Nürburgring. Honda Europe president Manabu Nishimae said testing has already begun and the car was close to taking down the record. The objective is to beat the 8m 7.97s time achieved back in 2011 by the Renault Megane RS Trophy.
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113091062754/honda-confirms-20-liter-turbo-civic-type-r-with-at-least
Frankfurt 2013: Subaru WRX Concept Makes European Debut
I got to say, I just love this design....
After making its world debut at New York, the Subaru WRX Concept
was also brought to the 2103 Frankfurt Motor Show to also make its
European Debut, previewing the next WRX model.
We already saw a prototype of the next WRX testing but until it is officially released, we have to 'cope' with the Concept only. And what a concept it is. It's done in the traditional Subaru blue paint but this time it's been upgraded to 'WR Blue Mica III' and looks stunning.
As usual, it's wearing Subaru traditional design cues like the bonnet scoop and large cooling vents, whilst the contrasting yellow we've been used to on WRX cars for quite a while now, is present around the exhaust tips and the brake calipers.
The new car is expected to have a 2-liter boxer turbo engine with 270 HP, set to be unveiled somewhere around next year, to mark the launch of a new era in the Subaru WRX history, ditching the hatch design currently used and returning to a more familiar Sedan shape.
Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/frankfurt-2013-subaru-wrx-concept-makes-european-debut-live-photos-66670.html
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| Nice back end! The models not bad either.... |
We already saw a prototype of the next WRX testing but until it is officially released, we have to 'cope' with the Concept only. And what a concept it is. It's done in the traditional Subaru blue paint but this time it's been upgraded to 'WR Blue Mica III' and looks stunning.
As usual, it's wearing Subaru traditional design cues like the bonnet scoop and large cooling vents, whilst the contrasting yellow we've been used to on WRX cars for quite a while now, is present around the exhaust tips and the brake calipers.
The new car is expected to have a 2-liter boxer turbo engine with 270 HP, set to be unveiled somewhere around next year, to mark the launch of a new era in the Subaru WRX history, ditching the hatch design currently used and returning to a more familiar Sedan shape.
Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/frankfurt-2013-subaru-wrx-concept-makes-european-debut-live-photos-66670.html
Monday, September 9, 2013
Carscoops!: First Photos of New 2014 Nissan X-Trail and Rogue 7-Seater SUV
A lot nicer than the existing Rogue....
The unofficial unveilings of the Frankfurt Motor Show
continue with the first images of Nissan's brand new, but as of yet,
unspecified production SUV, which we believe to be the 2014 X-Trail.
These pictures, courtesy of China's Autohome, seem to have been shot from Nissan's booth at the Frankfurt Messe.
While we're still waiting for Nissan to confirm the name of the European version, the Japanese carmaker has already told us that the same model will be marketed as the 2014 Nissan Rogue in North America.
We also know that it's the production-trimmed / slightly toned down version of last year's HiCross Concept and that it will be the brand's sole seven-seater (optional in Europe) SUV offering as there won't be a "+2" version of the next Qashqai, which itself is scheduled to arrive in Europe next year following a presentation this November.
The X-Trail and its North American twin will make use of Nissan's new modular "CMF" chassis, offering both front- and all-wheel drive variants, and four-cylinder engines.
For full details, we'll have to wait for the official release from Nissan.
Source;
http://www.carscoops.com/2013/09/first-photos-of-new-2014-nissan-x-trail.html
While we're still waiting for Nissan to confirm the name of the European version, the Japanese carmaker has already told us that the same model will be marketed as the 2014 Nissan Rogue in North America.
We also know that it's the production-trimmed / slightly toned down version of last year's HiCross Concept and that it will be the brand's sole seven-seater (optional in Europe) SUV offering as there won't be a "+2" version of the next Qashqai, which itself is scheduled to arrive in Europe next year following a presentation this November.
The X-Trail and its North American twin will make use of Nissan's new modular "CMF" chassis, offering both front- and all-wheel drive variants, and four-cylinder engines.
For full details, we'll have to wait for the official release from Nissan.
Source;
http://www.carscoops.com/2013/09/first-photos-of-new-2014-nissan-x-trail.html
Honda's Urban SUV Concept, what we know so far
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| Official Concept |
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| Official Concept |
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| Rendering |
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| Rendering |
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| Rendering |
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| 2014 Urban SUV Spyshot |
