Honda OSM: Low Emission Roadster to Debut in London Show

Following in the footsteps of the environmentally friendly CR-Z hybrid concept, Honda announced today that it will unveil a low-emission, lightweight roadster concept at the British International Motor Show later this month. Designed by Honda's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany, the OSM (for Open Study Model) looks pretty good in the sketch provided by the Japanese carmaker. But then again, all vehicles look nice in preliminary renderings…

Although there are no plans for this design study model to enter production, Honda said that it will gather feedback from customers at the show to guide any future developments.

2010 Honda S2000 Roadster Rendering

While we still haven’t received any official word on the S2000 replacement, Japanese car magazines are at it again drawing up their own renderings of Honda’s next generation rear-wheel-drive roadster. According to T.L. who sent us this latest scan, the unnamed Japanese magazines says that new S2000 is expected to be unveiled in 2010 with worldwide sales starting in 2011. It is stated that Honda’s S2000 will offer buyers more options in terms of powertrains, including two new engines, a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder V-TEC unit delivering approximately 250Hp and a 3.5-litre V6 V-TEC unit with about 350Hp.

Thanks for the scan T.L.!

US Top 20 Best Selling Vehicles in June: Toyota & Honda Take First Four Positions

Not that it comes to a surprise to anyone aware of the dramatic shift in consumer tastes in the U.S. combined with the knowledge of what the former Big Three have to offer, but just as they did in May, Japanese carmakers took the first four positions in Autodata’s U.S. top 20 best selling vehicles list.

The only difference compared to May is the order of the protagonists, as the Toyota Corolla/Matrix dethroned the Honda Civic that fell in third position, right after the Toyota Camry that took second place. Honda’s Accord managed to maintain the fourth position, followed by Ford’s F-Series that saw its sales shrink 40.5% compared to last year. Notably, Hyundai’s not so well received Sonata managed to make it in the top 10 list with an 11.9% gain over last June’s sales. -See the top 20 list after the jump

	June 2008	% Change	2008 YTD	% Change
Toyota Corolla /Matrix	42,180	15.6%	194,488	-3.8
Toyota Camry	41,572	-10.8%	239,881	-0.3%
Honda Civic	39,967	9.5%	204,961	17.9%
Honda Accord	39,704	37.3%	205,862	12.9%
Ford F-Series	38,789	-40.5%	274,713	-22.7%
Chevrolet Silverado	34,290	-23.7%	231,320	-25.6%
Nissan Altima	24,541	-5.4%	158,006	12.7%
Chevrolet Cobalt	20,888	21.6%	114,250	18.5%
Ford Focus	17,950	-5.5%	123,449	27.6%
Hyundai Sonata	16,875	11.9%	65,927	-2.6%
Chevrolet Impala	16,671	-53.5%	138,952	-23%
Dodge Ram	16,149	-48.1%	128,944	-30.4%
Honda CR-V	15,794	-19.9%	104,811	0.6%
Ford Escape	15,099	-21.1%	92,065	-0.2%
Ford Fusion	14,726	18.4%	87,923	11.7%
Pontiac G6	14,620	34.2%	85,682	22.5%
Hyundai Elantra	14,482	50.6%	61,978	24.1%
Dodge Caravan	14,214	52.2%	75,805	-26.8%
Chevrolet Malibu	13,650	86.4%	87,410	45.6%
Honda Odyssey	12,602	-18.8%	72,589	-9.6%

Source: Autodata Corp

Video: Prototype Honda / Acura NSX at the Ring

This amateur video of a prototype Honda / Acura NSX running around the Nurburgring race track in Germany might not be of the best visual quality, but boy does that i-VTEC sound nice! From what we’ve heard, the new NSX will feature a front-mounted V10 engine and a new high-performance, rear-wheel-drive based version of Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. -Video after the jump

Prototype Honda NSX Rumoured To Have Lapped the Ring in 7:37 min

Continuing the “Lord of the Ring” saga, our fellow chaps at Cartribe informed us today that a spy photographer at the Nurburgring race track in Germany timed a next generation Honda NSX (Acura NSX in North America) performing tests around the Nordschleife. According to the spy photgrapher’s time watch, the NSX prototype lapped the Ring in 7 minutes and 37 seconds. If true, that puts the NSX pretty close to the 2009 Nissan GT-R that was officially timed at 7 min and 29 sec. -Continued

Unfortunately and other that the prototype looks awfully similar in shape with the Lexus LF-A, there’s not much info going around the NSX. It has been said though that Honda’s supercar will be powered by an F1-inspired V10 i-VTEC engine delivering more than 550 Hp.

Via: Cartribe

First Honda FCX Clarity Rolls off Production Line

The first ever production FCX Clarity came off the production line at Honda’s Takanezawa-machi factory in Japan today. Honda’s advanced hydrogen fuel cell car will be leased to a limited number of customers in the US and Japan with lease sales scheduled to begin in July in the United States, and in Japan this autumn. The combined sales plan for both countries will be approximately 70 cars per year, with a total of 200 units over three years. Customers will follow a three-year lease term, at a price of $600 per month (approx €390), including maintenance and collision insurance. -Continued

At the heart of the FCX Clarity is a fuel cell stack that utilizes an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O₂) to convert chemical energy into electrical energy which in turn powers a motor that drives the car’s wheels. Honda’s FC stack simultaneously generates electricity and water, emitting no CO₂ or other harmful emissions.

Mugen Honda Freed: Jazz/Fit Minivan Sport Package

As with every model that comes out of Honda’s factory, the Japanese carmaker’s official tuning arm has presented a sport package for the Freed that was officially introduced on May 29 (see details here). Mugen’s offerings for the minivan version of the Fit / Jazz hatch include a full bodykit, silver or dark 16-inch alloy wheels and a sport silencer along with a more powerful brake system. –Image gallery after the jump

2009 Honda Freed: 5-8 Seater Minivan Version of Jazz / Fit

Unveiled today in Tokyo, Japan, the Freed is Honda’s newest proposition in the compact minivan class. The Freed, whose name was coined from the word “freedom, is based on the new 2009 Jazz / Fit. While the Freed retains the same width as the Jazz / Fit at 1,695 mm, it’s longer (4,215 mm vs 3,900 mm), higher (1,715 mm vs 1,525 mm) and it also features an extended wheelbase measuring 2,740 mm in length (vs 2,500 mm).

Honda will offer three different variants the Freed in Japan: a seven-passenger edition featuring captain’s seats in the second row; an eight-passenger version and a five-passenger type which offers a large cargo space. It goes without saying that all versions feature amenities like split/folding seats. All three variants of the Freed are also equipped with sliding rear doors on either side of the vehicle. Also available with each variation are power sliding doors that open and close easily for added convenience. -Continued

In Japan, the Freed will be offered in front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive variants, both of which are equipped with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder that delivers an output of 120Hp. For the time being, it remains unclear whether or not the Freed will find its way out of the Japanese market.

Honda Reveals Plans on New Hybrids: CR-Z, Jazz –Fit, Civic & Standalone Model

Honda made it official that it will launch four new hybrid models into a market that has been dominated for years now by Toyota. The announcement was made in a speech by Mr Fukui, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co. in Tokyo today (May 21). The Japanese carmaker’s plans include the introduction of a sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z Concept (pictured above), hybrid versions of the Civic and Fit / Jazz along with an all new standalone model.

According to Mr Fukui, Honda’s dedicated hybrid will be a convenient and compact 5-door/5-passenger size with an exterior design that employs the concept of the FCX Clarity. Honda expects to sell approximately 200,000 units globally of the new car annually, while combined sales of all four hybrids are estimated to reach 500,000 units.

2009 Honda Pilot SUV Starts from $27,595

The all-new 2009 Honda Pilot is set to go on sale at dealerships across the U.S. on May 22 with prices starting at $27,595 for the basic LX, which is the same as the 2008 model's price entry point. The better equipped Pilot EX that adds alloy wheels and an upgraded audio system starts at $30,395 while the Pilot EX-L, equipped with additional features such as leather seats and a moonroof, starts at $33,595.

As for the top-of-the-range Pilot Touring edition, which is a new premium trim level for 2009, it’s priced $36,795 and ads among other things, Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System. If you want to add a 4WD system to the Pilot, it will cost you an additional $1,600 no matter what trim you choose. For further details and a high-res image gallery of the 2009 Pilot, click here.

2009 Honda Freed: Jazz – Fit Minivan to be Unveiled on May 29

Turns out that all those rumors surrounding the Freed were actually true as we found out that Honda will officially take the wraps off the all-new Jazz / Fit based minivan next Thursday, on May 29, 2008. Earlier reports suggested that the Freed will be able to accommodate eight passengers in three rows of seats, but we’ll have to wait and see. As for the engine range, don’t expect any surprises as the Freed will most probably be offered with the same units found in the new Jazz – Fit. Sales of the Freed will begin in Japan shortly after its public unveiling.

Honda to Develop New Minicar for India

Honda’s Indian arm, “Honda Siel Cars India Ltd” has revealed its plans to develop an all-new mini car in order to grasp a larger chuck of India’s booming small car segment which accounts for about 80 percent of the total market. "We plan to enter the small car market with a vehicle that will be manufactured at our new unit coming up in Rajasthan in two years time," Honda Siel Cars India's President and CEO, Masahiro Takedagawa told reporters earlier this week.

Via: TheHindu

Honda Airwave Tweaked by Mugen

The Honda Airwave is essentially a station-wagon version of the previous generation Fit / Jazz that’s sold exclusively in the Japanese market. Even if the Airwave isn’t your typical tuner’s car, nevertheless Mugen has released a new sport package for Honda’s subcompact station model.

Buyers can choose from a wide variety of accessories that include an aerodynamic bodykit, several different 15-inch alloy designs and interior enhancements along with suspension and brake system upgrades. Click through for more images.

Honda Readying 8-Passenger Version of Fit / Jazz?

These renderings depicting an 8-passenger variant of the new Honda Jazz / Fit were scanned from an unknown Japanese car magazine which supports that the car will be called Freed. Based on a stretched version of the Fit /Jazz, platform, the Freed is said to be able to seat 5 to 8 passengers, depending on the seat configuration.

The magazine also supports that the Fit / Jazz minivan will be powered by a 118 Hp 1.5-liter engine matted to a CVT transmission. Well, as they say, seeing is believing so we'll be wary until we actually see production pics of the alleged “Freed”. –More pics after the jump

Via: Winding Road , Source: Le Blog Auto