Smaller Toyota Rav4 (Rush) coming to North America?

Here's a nice find on Woodyscarsite.com, a proposed smaller version of the Rav4 coming to North America? Didn't see this coming, however, with the introductions from Nissan (Cube, Juke) and others coming it does make sense....
Source with more info....
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/01/new-smaller-rav4-toyota-rush.html

2013 Honda Accord (codename 2GA) rendering and information

Back in July Honda President, Takanobu Ito, reveal plans to introduce midsize plug-in hybrid car to United States and Japan in 2012. Accoding to latest report from Japanese Mag-x,the car will be a plug-in hybrid version of next generation Honda Accord (codename 2GA).

The same source also reveal that the car is in research and development at Honda R & D center in Japan. The new car will divide to Japanese/European version and U.S./China/Asia version.body size of the new North american’s Accord is about 4895×1845x1470mm.

The engine will be the range of inline four cylinder 2.0L, 2.4L and V6. 3.5L.But the most interesting is the debut of Plug in Hybrid-petrol version.

In 2010 LA motorshow honda reveal a plug-in hybrid platform which autoten expect to use in the 2013 Honda Accord hybrid. A four cylinder 2.0L petrol have The two-motor system continuously moves through three different modes to maximise driving efficiency: all-electric, petrol-electric and a unique, engine direct-drive mode. The plug-in hybrid also uses regenerative braking to charge the battery.

When the Honda plug-in hybrid system operates in electric mode, it can achieve a range of approximately 10-15 miles in city driving and a top speed of 62 mph.Fully recharging the battery will take 2 to 2.5 hours using a 120-volt outlet and 1 to 1.5 hours using a 240-volt outlet.

The car will arrive in November 2012.

Source;
http://autoten.com/2010/12/08/2013-honda-accord-codename-2garendering-and-information/

Quit smoking and you may get a Honda: Canadian Cancer Society

According to a recent survey, 20% people in Ontario use tobacco in the form of cigarettes, cigars. The study has been released by the Cancer Society of Canada at the commencement of its Driven to Quit Campaign.

The survey also reveals that 53% of Ontarians would not prefer to date a person who uses tobacco. However, the startling revelation is that around 50% of the smokers have tried to quit but in vain.

CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Ontario Division, Martin Kabat, revealed that the campaign has been successful in making 130,000 people quit tobacco since 2006.

This year also the Society is making its best possible efforts to make more and more people quit tobacco. This time the stake is even higher as the prizes include a new Honda hybrid vehicle, two CAA vacation getaways worth $5000 each and seven MasterCard gift cards worth $2000 each.

These prizes will be given to those people who will abstain from smoking in the month of March.

The people who are willing to take the challenge should get themselves registered by Monday i. e. February 28 which is the last day for taking the entries The people who register in January will get a chance to win a $1,000 MasterCard gift card.

Source;
http://topnews.us/content/233152-quit-smoking-and-you-may-get-honda-canadian-cancer-society

What will a new battery mean for the Honda Civic Hybrid?

No more IMA lights?

Despite its more mild hybrid tendencies I’ve mostly been a fan of Honda’s hybrid cars. However, a number of battery-related problems in recent years have made me question Honda’s commitment to hybrids.

But, now that lithium will replace the sometimes shoddy NiMH battery packs in the upcoming 2012 Civic hybrid, it might be time to forgive and forget.

OK. For those now suffering or having suffered through Honda’s hybrid problems, there might never be forgiveness. Honda’s handling of some of the problems facing early Honda hybrid supporters has been appalling. Period.

Thinking forward, however, Honda is an important automaker and their hybrid vehicles have great meaning in the fuel economy debate. Consequently, some 2012 Honda Civic hybrid spyshots on InsideLine set up an obvious question: How much more fuel efficient will the new lithium-powered Civic hybrid be?

The spyshots show the new Civic hybrid being tested along with the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight. Thus, its impossible not to wonder how close the new Civic hybrid will come to matching the fuel economy numbers of the Prius.

Without a larger battery pack, catching up to the Prius seems impossible. However, adding a larger battery pack, especially one made of lithium, also increases costs. Of course, no automaker made the kind of NiMH investment that did Toyota. So, maybe the cost difference between lithium and NiMH isn’t as extreme for Honda.

Anyway, greatly looking forward to the final Civic hybrid fuel economy numbers.

Source;
http://www.favstocks.com/what-will-a-new-battery-mean-for-the-honda-civic-hybrid/1831444/

Road and Track: 2011 Acura TSX Wagon Review

Hatching a plan for sporty, stylish and practical transport.
By Douglas Kott

What’s Hot:
Tight handling
Swoon-worthy styling
Crossover carrying capacity
What’s Not:
No V-6 offered
No manual gearbox offered
Inline-4 merely adequate

Small, sporty wagons are a little like Elvis or Colin Chapman: By most accounts they’re dead, but occasionally there will be sightings. Truth is, we wonder why there aren’t more of them as they’re likable adversaries to sport utes and crossovers, lacking the tippy “command” seating position and pretense of off-road capability yet endowed with car-like handling and truly useful cargo capacity. Consider that Acura’s latest here has a storage volume aft of the rear seats that’s roughly the same as its RDX crossover, albeit differently shaped. With its 60/40-split rear seats folded down, there’s a full 60.5 cu. ft. of space, which slots the TSX slightly ahead of marketplace rivals Audi A4 Avant and BMW 328i Sport Wagon.

Acura chose not to compare acceleration times in its presentation, as the TSX Sport Wagon comes just one way, with a 201-bhp 2.4-liter inline-4 paired with a paddle-shift torque-converter 5-speed automatic. Let’s just say the combination makes for, er, adequate acceleration with, um, reasonable roll-on torque, the quick-reacting gearbox doing its best to keep the engine in the feel-good upper half of the rev range. Shifts are snappy….with the selector in S, both kickdown reaction and throttle response are really crisp, and shifts summoned by the paddles are laudably fast. The only transmission demerit? There’s no auto-blip on downshifts.
On a twisty road, the TSX Sport Wagon carries its additional 130 lb. and 3.5 in. of length well, the extra rear overhang reducing the nose-heaviness by a couple of percentage points…now 57/43 front/rear, versus roughly 59/41 for a comparably equipped TSX sedan. The electric-assist steering weights up nicely as more steering angle is cranked in, and roll control is excellent, with spring/damping rates definitely skewed toward the sportier end of the spectrum.

The same could be said of looks. With its wedgy beltline, snazzy 17-in. alloys (with P225/50R-17 Michelins) and brightwork for both the sturdy roof rails and side window trim, the Sport Wagon appears anything but utilitarian. Up front, the oft-criticized “Power Plenum” grille has been tastefully toned down—it now has a platinum-look horizontal element ringed with chrome.

Inside, all the standard TSX trimmings are there—thick-rimmed sport wheel, futuristically styled center stack, and great seats with perforated leather inserts and substantial up-high shoulder bolstering. The cargo area is well finished also; dual brushed stainless sill plates for the hatch are a nice touch, as are chrome tie-down hooks and a total of four hidden storage spaces beneath and to the left side of the load floor. The main compartment is square and quite shallow, perfect for shady types involved in the pizza smuggling trade.

Across the model line, all TSXs for 2011 benefit from slightly better fuel economy (the Sport Wagon’s numbers are 22/30 city/hwy) through measures such as low-friction engine coatings, lower-viscosity ATF, an ATF heater (!) and underbody fairings that improve aerodynamics. A noise-insulating windshield and thicker rear side glass are said to further reduce cabin noise. And the Sport Wagon featured here has a generous roster of standard equipment including a power moonroof, heated leather seats, a 360-watt 7-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, etc. Opting for the Tech Package ($3650 dearer than the base Sport Wagon’s MSRP of $30,960) buys the excellent nav system/high-def display screen, the 460-watt ELS sound system with hard drive storage for roughly 3500 songs, and a power tailgate.

Acura’s sales goals are modest for the Sport Wagon, about 4000 units for the 2011 model year. With its slick styling, sporty road manners and considerable utility, this tailgated TSX might jump-start the resurgence of the small sporty wagon. Is it possible that Elvis has re-entered the building?

Source;
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/impressions/2011-acura-tsx-sport-wagon

Honda Premieres “The Undying Dream” Short-Film Documentary at 2011 Sundance Film Festival

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of the “DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE” Documentary Series, today Honda debuted its eighth short-film documentary, “The Undying Dream,” at the Sundance Film Festival. Honda’s more than 844,000 Facebook fans, as well as its YouTube channel viewers, will also get a sneak peek of “The Undying Dream” today.
“‘The Undying Dream’ is about finding your unique strengths and talents and having the passion and resilience to commit to your calling”

“‘The Undying Dream’ is about finding your unique strengths and talents and having the passion and resilience to commit to your calling,” said Barbara Ponce, manager of corporate advertising for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The Sundance Film Festival is the ideal venue to present Honda’s new film, as the Sundance Institute and Honda both encourage an independent spirit, taking risks to bring forth bold ideas, and realizing the power of your own dreams in the process.”

Directed by Ondi Timoner, the only filmmaker to twice win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, with producers @radical.media, “The Undying Dream” brings to life a Honda corporate principle — the challenging spirit. This spirit is demonstrated in Honda’s quest to pursue and achieve impossible dreams, which has led to the creation of innovative products that enhance human mobility and advance environmental consciousness.

“For our newest film, ‘The Undying Dream,’ we had the opportunity to interview some truly amazing and inspirational people — Laird Hamilton, professional surfer; Ashley Fiolek, pro Motocross racer; Jeremy McGrath, Supercross champion; Takanobu Ito, president and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and other Honda associates — who discuss their passion for achieving their dreams while realizing there’s always a new goal coming up right behind it,” said writer and producer Todd Carey at RPA, Honda’s longstanding advertising agency of record.

“The Undying Dream” will screen at the “Honda Power of Dreams Experience,” an interactive venue showcasing unique Honda products highlighting innovation, environmental leadership and advanced technology. In the exhibit, Honda will conduct demonstrations of the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO, as well as display some of the company’s innovative products, such as the Honda FCX Clarity, a cutaway of the Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid, a 12-foot scale model of the HondaJet, and Honda motorcycle products, including an interactive motorcycle rider safety and training simulator. The “Honda Power of Dreams Experience” is open to the public free of charge Fri., Jan. 21, through Wed., Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The Undying Dream” will be shown every hour on the half hour starting at 10:30 a.m.

Beyond the Sundance Film Festival, “The Undying Dream” will be supported in-theater and online. Spots of either 90 or 30 seconds will be featured on the YouTube masthead and full-episode players. The full-length film and corresponding 90-second trailer will also air on TiVo.
Launched in January 2009, the “DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE” Documentary Series is intended to speak to both the hearts and minds of consumers by revealing stories of Honda’s corporate philosophy at work through an intimate multimedia, interactive website.

The campaign, developed by RPA, targets 25- to 49-year-old adults with a youthful spirit, who are comfortable with technology, who value authenticity, and who are drawn to brands they can relate to, connect with, or admire.
Credits

Film
Chief Creative Officer: David Smith
Writers: Todd Carey, Curt Johnson
Agency Senior Producer: Isadora Chesler
Executive Producers: Barbara Ponce, Gary Paticoff, Jon Kamen, Frank Scherma, Frank Stiefel, Justin Wilkes
Production Company: @radical.media
Producers: Liz Bradley, Todd Carey, Curt Johnson
Director: Ondi Timoner
DP/Lighting/Cameraman: Andrij Parekh
Editor: Ting Poo/Outpost Digital
Original Soundtrack: Q Department.
Post Production: Method Studios, CD/Flame Artist: Claus Hansen
Telecine: Co3, Artist: Siggy Ferstl
Graphic Designer: Dave Dimeola
Photographer: Davi Russo

Interactive
Chief Creative Officer: David Smith
Executive Producer, Content: Gary Paticoff
Senior Producer, Content: Isadora Chesler
Creative Director/Art: Curt Johnson
Associate Creative Director/Copy: Todd Carey
Senior Art Director/Art: David Mesfin
Senior Copywriter: Brenna Hajek
User Experience Lead: Alex Yra
Technology Director: Scott Westerfield
Technologist/Flash: Jeff Siegal

Source;
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110121005032/en/Honda-Premieres-%E2%80%9CThe-Undying-Dream%E2%80%9D-Short-Film-Documentary

Honda CR-Z TS-1X : DigInfo