SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Hybrid, Performance, Hatchback, Honda

Nearly one year later, we’re still digging the idea behind Meguiar’s Wraptivo system. For under $2,000 you can design and have a professional installer wrap your car in vinyl, complete with custom graphics and textures. And to drum up more interest in the program after its debut at last year’s SEMA show, Meguiar’s has picked up a 2011 Honda CR-Z and enlisted the tuning talents of RJ De Vera and rendering artist Jon Sibal to show what it has planned for the 2010 show.

Naturally, the CR-Z Type-F Concept is focused on the matte black and “carbon fiber” wrap, but the real party pieces are underneath the vinyl.

A supercharger will be fitted to the anemic 1.5-liter four-pot, with a custom exhaust system and a Hondata ECU used to extract maximum power. Accessories from Honda’s performance line will join a Tein suspension, HKS components and some Volk TE37 wheels, while the inside will benefit from a pair of Recaro buckets, Alcantara trim and a new shift knob. And while it might be easy to dismiss the Type-F (which apparently stands for “Fun”) as a SEMA show queen, Meguiar’s plans to enter it in Source Interlink’s annual Super Lap Battle the week after the show. Get all the details in the press release after the jump and check out Sibal’s high-res rendering above.

[Sources: Jon Sibal, Motorworldhype]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F

SEMA Preview: Wraptivo Honda CR-Z Type-F originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota

Even with the impending launch of the Volt later in the Fall, the Chevrolet Cruze may be the biggest vehicle General Motors will launch in the U.S. this year. The reason is money. The Cruze should make some of it, while the Volt and its pricey development and battery packs likely won’t for a long time.

The Cruze looks pretty good to us, but we know that the new sedan will only be successful if it is properly launched and marketed. So how do you best show off a refined interior, 10 standard airbags and more hip- and shoulder-room than the top sellers in the class? Automotive News reports that The General will ask its 3,000 dealers to purchase a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Civic so Bowtie shoppers can compare and contrast the newest Chevrolet against the C-Segment stalwarts from Japan.

Since the Cruze is all-new in the U.S. market and both the Civic and Corolla are a bit long-in-the-tooth, we’re thinking the Chevy will win more than its fair share of buyers, but we’d like to see Chevy stores step up to the challenge of the Mazda3, as well. Perhaps the bigger challenge, though, will be to get customers who would traditionally buy a Honda or Toyota to shop at a Chevy store in the first place. GM plans to officially launch the Cruze in late September.

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: GM asks Chevy dealers to buy Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla for Cruze comparisons originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda, Reviews

Take off your rose-colored glasses, CRX fans

Okay, so the 2011 Honda CR-Z isn’t exactly the modern-day CRX redux that we were all hoping for. Mildly upsetting, yes, but perhaps this disappointment tarnished our initial impression of this newest hybrid offering from Honda. We still have many questions about its form and function, but need to accept the fact that times have changed, Honda’s product strategies have been realigned to the times and the CRX shall remain a modern classic – especially the Si. Besides, this little two-seat hybrid isn’t really all that bad. Really.

What we have here is an inherently good vehicle that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It only has two seats and its EPA fuel economy numbers are underwhelming. A Ford Fiesta, for example, is more functional, less expensive and gets nearly the same combined fuel economy – at least compared to a manual-equipped CR-Z like our tester.

But don’t write off the CR-Z completely. It may be a tough sell when looked at from a big picture perspective, but on its own, it’s a pretty good little whip. Follow the jump to find out why.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z

Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: Honda Canada not canceling Insight, Civic hybrids, will order as needed

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Honda, Canada

Remember the report from Quebec that suggested Honda Canada would be discontinuing the Insight and Civic hybrid for the 2011 model year due to poor sales? According to company spokesman Richard Jacobs, the two hybrids have not in fact been discontinued. Instead, Jacobs tells us that Canadian dealers currently have a six month supply of the Insight and Civic so it hasn’t ordered any new cars from the factories in Japan.

“Honda Canada will listen to the voice of our customers and will bring the products they want,” says Jacobs. Both hybrids will remain available and Honda will be monitoring inventories and customer demand to determine when to order more units. Perhaps the launch of the CR-Z will get customers to reconsider its siblings as well.

[Source: Honda Canada]

Update: Honda Canada not canceling Insight, Civic hybrids, will order as needed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Widebody, mid-engine Honda CR-Z coming to SuperGT?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Hatchback, Honda, Racing

The GT Channel crew have snagged a handful of shots of a widebody Honda CR-Z being built for an unknown venue, and while it could just be an elaborate show car for this January’s Tokyo Auto Salon, it’s possible Honda is prepping the CR-Z for a run in Japan’s SuperGT touring car series.

With one of the Honda HSV-010 teams holding down second place in the GT500 class this season, HoMoCo could be looking to capitalize off its success – and the popularity of the hybrid hatch in Japan – by fielding a CR-Z is the GT300 class. The engine and chassis restrictions are less rigid compared to the top-tier SuperGT racers, so the mid-mounted V6 (or V8?) shown in the gallery below is a-okay with JAF (the regulating body behind SuperGT) – even with a set of turbos.

If the build is taking place now (check the carbon fiber doors coming out of the autoclave), Honda or one of its racing affiliates is likely to start testing the CR-Z racer this fall before the new season kicks off in March of 2011.

[Source: GT Channel]

Widebody, mid-engine Honda CR-Z coming to SuperGT? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Jazz Hybrid officially unveiled, not fit for U.S.

Filed under: Hybrid, Europe, Japan, Hatchback, Honda

The Japanese and European market Jazz Hybrid has been officially unveiled by Honda. The visual alterations from the standard model are slight, apparently down to tweaked bumpers and headlight glass and a unique Lime Green metallic color. The price premium, however, isn’t. We’re hearing a $4,700 premium over the standard Jazz. Still, that would be the low price baseline in the segment as far as hybrids are concerned in Japan.

The Jazz Hybrid features the same IMA hybrid drivetrain as the CR-Z and Insight, so don’t expect Prius-slaying fuel economy numbers, though Honda claims they will be comparable to the smaller CR-Z.

Earlier this month Honda reiterated the fact that there were no U.S. plans for a Fit Hybrid. However, with the Insight and Civic Hybrid in obvious trouble, Honda devoted to hybrid powertrains and the Fit still a popular option on our shores, we wouldn’t be surprised if that changed. After all, in December 2006 Honda said there wouldn’t be a Fit Hybrid at all. The Fit Hybrid will make its formal debut at the Paris Motor Show next month, but you can have a look at it and the European Jazz Hybrid in the gallery of photos below.

[Source: Honda, Carscoop]

Continue reading Honda Jazz Hybrid officially unveiled, not fit for U.S.

Honda Jazz Hybrid officially unveiled, not fit for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda Canada discontinuing Insight and Civic hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Honda, Canada

It’s no secret that the revived 2010 Honda Insight has been a huge sales disappointment in North America. The once-robust sales of the Civic hybrid have also evaporated in the last two years. Apparently, things are far worse for Honda’s hybrids in Canada where higher fuel prices typically cause people to buy more efficient vehicles.

An unconfirmed report from a Canadian web site indicates that both the Civic hybrid and the Insight are being discontinued there. Checking the Canadian sales charts, the Civic as a whole is one of the top-selling cars in Canada with 31,604 units sold in 2010 through July.

While hybrid sales are not broken out by Honda Canada, we can do a little educated guessing. Since only 643 of those Civic sales were imports and the hybrids come from Japan, we can figure that those 643 were the hybrid models. Similarly, Canadians only bought 748 Insights in the same period. When it launched, Honda projected 10,000 annual sales in Canada. Evidently Canadians just aren’t taken with hybrids – even the mighty Prius has only found 2,272 Canadian buyers this year.

Honda hasn’t yet responded to a request for comment on the cancellation of these two models. Apparently, Honda Canada will still proceed with the launch of the CR-Z there, maybe leaving it as the company’s only hybrid. A tip of the hat to Mario!

[Source: Monvolant]

Report: Honda Canada discontinuing Insight and Civic hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All New 2009 Honda City Launched in Philippines (by tsikot)

Visit our forums for more details tsikot.yehey.com All New 2009 Honda City Press Launching January 7th, the new City took the limelight of Hondas 5-day exhibition at the Activity Center of the Glorietta Mall in Makati City. Visit www.citychangetherules.com and http to appreciate even better the new benchmark in modern and sophisticated motoring. Rules are bound to change with the All-New Honda City! Tsikot.Net Directory of Auto Shops, Vendors & Services in the Philippines www.tsikot.net Car Show Events http Watch Tsikot Videos at a clearer resolution in our very own video site (Tsikot Tv) www.tsikot.tv CONTACT US Feel free to contact us for event sponsorship opportunities, web ad placements, online marketing and others needs TSIKOT E-MEDIA, INC. (OFFICE) Hotline: 0905-333-8-777 Tel #: 866-1496 Email: tsikot@gmail.com Yahoo Messenger: xdanzx@yahoo.com Website: www.tsikotemedia.com http – Join the Largest Automotive Community in the Philippines. Tsikot.com or tsikot.yehey.com is the Largest Automotive Community in the Philippines with 70000 registered members and growing. Check our forums and register for more updates about cars. tsikot.yehey.com For Buyers and Sellers. tsikot.yehey.com Add our growing Friendster & Multiply Network to your list! Friendster Account profiles.friendster.com Multiply Account tsikoteers.multiply.com

Video Tease: HKS working on supercharger for Honda CR-Z

Filed under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, Videos, Hatchback, Honda

When we first laid eyes on the specs for the Honda CR-Z, you could say we were less than enthused. We’d been hoping for more grunt than 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque while at the same time expecting better efficiency than the CR-Z’s 36 city, 39 highway miles per gallon. Those disappointments didn’t change much after we drove the CR-Z, as decent driving dynamics were compromised by a significant lack of punch.

That could change after HKS Power finishes working on what sounds like a very sweet supercharger. As of this moment, the supercharger is reportedly driving CR-Z power up to a more respectable 170 ponies, though we wouldn’t be surprised if the tuners will be able to tweak the blower to surpass 200 horses. Hit the jump to watch a 16-second teaser video of a blown CR-Z on the dyno. The developmental vehicle hits 169 friction-free miles per hour while sounding like a Formula One car.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video Tease: HKS working on supercharger for Honda CR-Z

Video Tease: HKS working on supercharger for Honda CR-Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda to supply new 2.4L turbo V6 for 2012 Indycars

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda

Honda Performance Development will continue its involvement in IndyCar through the 2012 season when new engine and chassis rules take effect. The current, normally aspirated 3.5-liter V8s will be replaced after the 2011 season with smaller displacement and lower cost units that are limited to 2.4-liters. Honda announced this weekend at the Mid-Ohio race that it will produce a new twin-turbocharged 2.4-liter V6 available for lease at a price 40-percent below the current engine’s price.

The new formula is open to all manufacturers, but so far Honda has been the only company to commit to the new engines. Honda has been the sole supplier of IndyCar engines since 2006 following Chevrolet’s withdrawal from the series.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda to supply new 2.4L turbo V6 for 2012 Indycars

Honda to supply new 2.4L turbo V6 for 2012 Indycars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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