Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2013 Honda Civic WTCC is ready for racing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/2013-honda-civic-wtcc-geneva-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/2013-honda-civic-wtcc-geneva-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/2013-honda-civic-wtcc-geneva-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Drumming up a little excitement for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship, Honda brought its new Civic WTCC car to the bright lights of Geneva for all to see. Honda joined WTCC late last year entering the final three races. The racing outfit will run this year's entire 12-round season, which kicks off later this month in Italy.

In the off-season, Honda made a few updates to its WTCC entry including better aerodynamics, improved suspension and braking and numerous engine and turbo enhancements. Two teams will field the new Civic racecar in this year's season: Honda Racing Team JAS and a private team from Hungary, Zengő Motorsport.

Fans of the WTCC in the US will be pleased to know that series makes a return visit to Sonoma Raceway on September 8 for the Race of the United States.

Continue reading 2013 Honda Civic WTCC is ready for racing

2013 Honda Civic WTCC is ready for racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civic wtcccivicgenevageneva 2013geneva motor showhondaWorld Touring Car ChampionshipwtccWed, 06 Mar 2013 19:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20490608/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/06/2013-honda-civic-wtcc-geneva-2013/20490608/article-detail.xml 20490608 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-honda-civic-wtcc-geneva_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-honda-civic-wtcc-geneva.jpg <![CDATA[Honda Civic Tourer Concept shows the shape of European things to come [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/honda-civic-tourer-concept-shows-the-shape-of-european-things-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/honda-civic-tourer-concept-shows-the-shape-of-european-things-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/honda-civic-tourer-concept-shows-the-shape-of-european-things-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Honda Civic Tourer Concept - front three-quarter view, Geneva Motor Show premiere

Honda will be expanding its European Civic range this year, and our first glimpse at the shape of things to come arrives in the form of this Tourer Concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. According to Honda, this swoopy concept provides a look at the upcoming Civic Tourer production model, which is set to be revealed in Frankfurt this September.

The Tourer Concept very obviously builds on the design groundwork set by the latest Civic hatchback when it first debuted in 2011. That means there are sharp, angular elements found up front and a sloping roofline that rakes down at the rear. Combine that with the large, concept-spec wheels and the funky front lighting elements, and what we have here is a really attractive little wagon - something that will no doubt battle the new Toyota Auris Touring Sports and Volkswagen Golf Variant that are also making their debut here in Switzerland.

It goes without saying, but don't expect to see this Euro Civic show up in the United States anytime soon. After all, we have the "there, I fixed it" 2013 sedan and coupe to keep us happy. Scroll down for all of the wagony details, including a video.

Continue reading Honda Civic Tourer Concept shows the shape of European things to come [w/video]

Honda Civic Tourer Concept shows the shape of European things to come [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 honda civic tourerciviccivic tourer conceptcivic wagongenevageneva 2013geneva motor showhondatourerWed, 06 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20490541/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/06/honda-civic-tourer-concept-shows-the-shape-of-european-things-to/20490541/article-detail.xml 20490541 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/honda-civic-tourer-concept-geneva_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/honda-civic-tourer-concept-geneva.jpg <![CDATA[Honda Civic Tourer images arrive early on web]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/03/honda-civic-tourer-images-arrive-early-on-web/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/03/honda-civic-tourer-images-arrive-early-on-web/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/03/honda-civic-tourer-images-arrive-early-on-web/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Honda provided a teaser sketch of its Civic Tourer concept wagon about a month ago (right), but today, just a couple days before its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show, we've found these official pics of the car in question from WhatCar?

The Civic Tourer concept adds a little length and height to the current Civic hatchback sold in Europe, stretching the shape every which way to make a new wagon model that will compete with cars like the new Volkswagen Golf Variant, which is also making its debut in Geneva this week.

As we mentioned when Honda released the teaser sketch last month, the European Civic is different from the Civic sold here in the US, so the production version of this concept, which should debut in the fall, will never see the inside of a dealership in the States. Do you care, or does the smaller Fit fill that role well enough for Americans?

If you want more details about the Honda Civic Tourer concept, stay tuned for our live coverage of the Geneva Motor Show this week where we'll get the skinny on this Euro-only wagon.

Honda Civic Tourer images arrive early on web originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civiccivic tourer conceptcivic wagongenevageneva 2013geneva motor showhondaSun, 03 Mar 2013 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20486364/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/03/honda-civic-tourer-images-arrive-early-on-web/20486364/article-detail.xml 20486364 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/000-honda-civic-tourer-wagon-concept-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/000-honda-civic-tourer-wagon-concept-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Honda Civic]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/2013-honda-civic-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/2013-honda-civic-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/21/2013-honda-civic-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

2013 Honda Civic EX - front three-quarter sunset shot

On some level, it's hard to blame Honda for the strategy it took with its new-for-2012 Civic. Executives looked at the key players on the market as the model was being developed, soaked in the growing global economic malaise, and decided that if they wanted to make decent money on their small car, they'd have to find creative ways to take cost out of its build. In light of the financial crisis, consumers and critics would surely understand some belt-tightening in order to secure the company's legendary reliability, resale value and ease-of-use, right?

So Honda took a pass on expensive new technology - more complex transmissions, forced induction, active aero, and so on. And it also substituted in some cheaper interior materials, skimped on sound deadening, creature comforts and found lots of little ways to save money. Surely in a segment where the frankly ancient and moth-eaten Toyota Corolla has consistently ranked among the sales leaders, nobody would care, eh?

Well, Honda was half right. After an unusually long product cycle with the eighth-generation Civic, loyal customers were all too eager to plunk down their hard-earned cash for a new model, with 2012 sales totaling well over 300,000 units. But the model's long-term prospects were less certain. That's because Honda miscalculated the strategies of its rivals, playing things close to the vest when others chose to double-down in the segment.

Between the time the 2012 Civic's design was locked in and the moment it hit the market, the compact car fray became exponentially more competitive. Ford took the wraps off of its sophisticated and tech-rich Focus. Hyundai rolled out its audaciously styled and value-laden Elantra. Mazda took its already great-driving Mazda3 and elevated its fuel economy with Skyactiv engineering. Even perennial small car backmarker General Motors put forth a high-quality effort with its mature new Chevrolet Cruze. Critics' reaction was no less swift and stern: Not only was the 2012 Civic a galactic comedown in terms of interior appointments and design, it wasn't as much fun to drive as its predecessor, nor was it the least bit innovative. For a company that made its nut - and its reputation - on the back of its engineering prowess, all of this was bitterly disappointing.

We're not sure whether it was enduring the media drubbing (that Consumer Reports fall-from-grace had to sting), looking around at its suddenly fierce competition, fielding embittered calls from its dealers or just a simple bit of soul searching that spurred Honda to react so quickly, but here we are, just one model year later and there's a surprisingly comprehensive update on sale. But is it an impressive about-face for Honda or just a bit of apple-polishing and slight-of-hand? We spent a week with a loaded EX-L to find out.

Continue reading 2013 Honda Civic

2013 Honda Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civiccivicfeaturedhondareviewreviewsThu, 21 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20470193/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/21/2013-honda-civic-review/20470193/article-detail.xml 20470193 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/08-2013-honda-civic-review-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/08-2013-honda-civic-review-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Honda Civic Wagon Concept to debut at Geneva]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/honda-civic-wagon-concept-to-debut-at-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/honda-civic-wagon-concept-to-debut-at-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/honda-civic-wagon-concept-to-debut-at-geneva/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Honda Civic Wagon rendering - official rear-three quarter view of Geneva concept car

Honda is getting warmed up for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, with a sketch of some very Euro-flavored forbidden fruit. Seen above (click on the image to see an expanded view) is the Honda Civic Wagon Concept Model - a rather tentative name for a car that Honda claims "provides strong cues for the exterior design of the final mass produced version."

The sketch seen here is obviously very stylized, but we think that if Honda can stay true to its sleek rounded forms and aggressive silhouette, the final product could be quite fetching. Note that this is an image handed out by Honda of Europe, for a European auto show - we have every expectation that that any production-ready Civic wagon will be a Europe-only deal. Sorry, guys.

Find Honda's brief press release below, which also includes news of the European debut of the updated NSX Concept we saw at January's Detroit Auto Show, along with a diesel-powered CR-V.

Continue reading Honda Civic Wagon Concept to debut at Geneva

Honda Civic Wagon Concept to debut at Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 geneva motor showciviccivic wagongeneva 2013geneva motor showhondahonda civic wagon concept modelWed, 06 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20450241/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/06/honda-civic-wagon-concept-to-debut-at-geneva/20450241/article-detail.xml 20450241 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/honda-civic-wagon-concept-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/honda-civic-wagon-concept-628.jpg <![CDATA[Honda giving away free Civics in <em>Forza Horizon</em> to celebrate launch]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/honda-giving-away-free-civics-in-forza-horizon-to-celeb/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/honda-giving-away-free-civics-in-forza-horizon-to-celeb/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/honda-giving-away-free-civics-in-forza-horizon-to-celeb/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Just a friendly reminder from Honda: The Honda Challenge Pack DLC is now available for Forza Horizon. To reward you for the trouble of pressing a few buttons on your Xbox controller, you'll get the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe, an HPD Rally Fit and a 1986 Honda Civic Si Coupe in your garage, and you'll get them free. The event of the new DLC has also kicked off a photo contest that will reward someone with an Xbox 360 console wrapped in a Honda Civic Si theme.

Otherwise, the word "Challenge" keeps coming up because of the chance to run an online race against IndyCar driver Scott Dixon. The track for that digital throwdown has already been decided by Xbox players who voted before January 8. Yet it's not too late to hop into the Honda section in Xbox Live and lay down a time fast enough for a shot at the title "The Driver That Shellacked Scott Dixon," and meeting the man in person.

Check out the press release from Honda below, and the sweetness that is the 1986 Civic Si in the gallery above.

Continue reading Honda giving away free Civics in Forza Horizon to celebrate launch

Honda giving away free Civics in Forza Horizon to celebrate launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civicciviccivic coupecivic sicivic si coupedlcfocusfocus svtfordforzaforza horizonhondahonda challenge packturn 10videoWed, 16 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20427074/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/16/honda-giving-away-free-civics-in-forza-horizon-to-celeb/20427074/article-detail.xml 20427074 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/forzahondadlc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/forzahondadlc.jpg <![CDATA[Refreshed Honda Civic's first commercial is a minor mea culpa]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/refreshed-honda-civics-first-commercial-is-a-minor-mea-culpa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/refreshed-honda-civics-first-commercial-is-a-minor-mea-culpa/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/refreshed-honda-civics-first-commercial-is-a-minor-mea-culpa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Honda Civic Ad

Honda has officially rolled out the first ad for the 2013 Civic. The one-minute spot focuses on a number of clever inventions that improve on old themes, from rocket-powered parachutes to hover bikes and smart window shades, before shifting to the redesigned compact. Set to Santigold's "Disparate Youth," the ad culminates with the phrase, "Things can always be better." This is likely as close as we'll come to hearing Honda say, "we could have done better."

Unveiled at the 2012 LA Auto Show, the 2013 Civic features revised front and rear fascias, nicer cabin materials and an updated suspension just one year after the ninth-generation model debuted. That car received scaling reviews from critics, most notably Consumer Reports, who felt the 2012 Civic was a step backwards for a company known for producing high-quality, economical vehicles. You can check out the full ad for the 2013 Civic below before it debuts during the Rose Bowl.

Continue reading Refreshed Honda Civic's first commercial is a minor mea culpa

Refreshed Honda Civic's first commercial is a minor mea culpa originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 civic2013 honda civic2013 honda civic adadvertisingcivichondavideoThu, 27 Dec 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20412045/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/27/refreshed-honda-civics-first-commercial-is-a-minor-mea-culpa/20412045/article-detail.xml 20412045 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013-honda-civic-ad-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013-honda-civic-ad-628.jpg <![CDATA[<em>Forza Horizon</em> announces Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge DLC packs [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/forza-horizon-announces-rally-expansion-and-honda-chall/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/forza-horizon-announces-rally-expansion-and-honda-chall/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/forza-horizon-announces-rally-expansion-and-honda-chall/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Forza Horizon Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge

The guys at Turn 10 Studios have more DLC served up for Forza Horizon. On January 15, 2013, we'll get the Honda Challenge Car Pack that puts the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe, an HPD Rally Fit and a 1986 Honda Civic Si Coupe in our garage. Part of Honda's effort to return the Civic to its former place in everyone's hearts, we presume.

The Challenge part of the equation will be the online race against Scott Dixon, wherein you try to beat the IndyCar driver's time around a track in a 2013 Civic Si for the chance to meet the racer in person. What's more, Horizon players will get to choose the track - look for the Honda section in Xbox Live and place your vote by January 8 for the showdown venue. There's also a photo contest that starts on January 15, the same day that the absolutely free challenge pack will be available. The winner of that contest will get custom-wrapped Civic Si Xbox 360 console.

While you wait for that, available as of yesterday is the rally expansion pack. It adds five rally cars, new multiplayer events, co-drivers making announcements and a seven-race series in Colorado with 20 stages that culminates in someone being declared rally champion. If you want in, it's free if you bought the $50 Season Pass - and you'll also get a 2003 Ford Focus SVT as a special bonus - or it'll be 1,600 MS Points if you aren't a member of the Season Pass club. We're working on a review of the significant expansion, too, so stay tuned.

The video below takes you on a romp through the rally pack, with ample demonstration of all the crashes you can't wait to have.

Continue reading Forza Horizon announces Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge DLC packs [w/video]

Forza Horizon announces Rally Expansion and Honda Challenge DLC packs [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civicciviccivic sicivic si coupefocusfocus svtfordforzaforza horizonhondaturn 10videoWed, 19 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20404362/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/19/forza-horizon-announces-rally-expansion-and-honda-chall/20404362/article-detail.xml 20404362 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/forzahorizonrally_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/forzahorizonrally.jpg <![CDATA[Honda begins 2013 Civic Si marketing by getting animated]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/15/honda-begins-2013-civic-si-marketing-by-getting-animated/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/15/honda-begins-2013-civic-si-marketing-by-getting-animated/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/15/honda-begins-2013-civic-si-marketing-by-getting-animated/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Just one model year after a complete redesign, Honda saw fit to make some pretty big changes to the Civic for 2013. Now, with the car about to hit dealers, we're getting our first look at the company's advertising direction for its high-volume compact car. Done as a comic-book-style action cartoon, this video is for the sportier Civic Si models and is obviously geared toward younger, more enthusiast-oriented buyers.

In the video, our two hero drivers pilot a Civic Si coupe and sedan against a bunch of Mad Max-like vehicles with Tron-like consequences. Like any good commercial, this ad crams many of the car's key features into the two-minute video showing off new features like Bluetooth and a text message reader.

Check out the video posted after the jump.

Continue reading Honda begins 2013 Civic Si marketing by getting animated

Honda begins 2013 Civic Si marketing by getting animated originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civic2013 honda civic sicar commercialciviccivic sihondavideoSat, 15 Dec 2012 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20403827/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/15/honda-begins-2013-civic-si-marketing-by-getting-animated/20403827/article-detail.xml 20403827 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/animated-2013-honda-civic-si_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/animated-2013-honda-civic-si.jpg <![CDATA[Acura ILX headed for Civic-like early upgrades]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/12/acura-ilx-headed-for-civic-like-early-upgrades/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/12/acura-ilx-headed-for-civic-like-early-upgrades/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/12/acura-ilx-headed-for-civic-like-early-upgrades/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The not-yet-ready-for-primetime 2012 Honda Civic saw it quickly returned to sender for refurbishment, now the Acura ILX is headed in the same direction in its very first year. Automotive News reports that the small, Civic-based sedan from Honda's luxury brand isn't meeting sales expectations, with an annualized rate of 22,000 to 24,000 sales instead of the 30,000 the company is after. More telling is that the ILX "is being outsold by the Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC and Audi A4," and, except for two months since it launched, it has also been outdone by the Acura TSX it is meant to replace.

Part of the cause has been the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine: its 150 horsepower to motivate a sedan that can weigh up to 2,970 pounds doesn't offer the kind of performance or value experience that buyers in the segment respond to. Another big issue is that the top-level 2.4-liter engine is only offered with a six-speed manual even though most buyers of the highest trim don't really want to shift their own gears. Lastly, the ILX might not put enough space between it and its frugal underpinnings - our first drive review pegged it as "the world's nicest Honda Civic."

An automatic transmission is on the way for the 2.4-liter, but it isn't clear when. And while Honda admits that the 2.0-liter is underpowered and Automotive News says it's on the way out, the company hasn't yet said how that situation will be corrected.

Acura ILX headed for Civic-like early upgrades originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civic2013 acura ilxacuracivichondailxWed, 12 Dec 2012 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20401436/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/12/acura-ilx-headed-for-civic-like-early-upgrades/20401436/article-detail.xml 20401436 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/ilxrefresh_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/ilxrefresh.jpg <![CDATA[Honda recalls small number of 2012 Civic models for improper steering column]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/04/honda-recalls-small-number-of-2012-civic-models-for-improper-ste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/04/honda-recalls-small-number-of-2012-civic-models-for-improper-ste/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/04/honda-recalls-small-number-of-2012-civic-models-for-improper-ste/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Honda has issued a recall of just 157 examples of the 2012 Civic due to a steering column issue. The sedans in question were built between October 26 and October 30 this year, and were fitted with the wrong steering column assembly. Because these particular columns "may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics," in the event of an accident the risk of injury is increased.

Honda is notifying owners and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the recall is expected to begin on December 4. The affected owners will have their steering columns replaced free of charge. The bulletin below from NHTSA has more information.

Continue reading Honda recalls small number of 2012 Civic models for improper steering column

Honda recalls small number of 2012 Civic models for improper steering column originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civiccivichondaNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationnhtsarecallTue, 04 Dec 2012 10:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20392637/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/04/honda-recalls-small-number-of-2012-civic-models-for-improper-ste/20392637/article-detail.xml 20392637 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/civicrecallsteering_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/civicrecallsteering.jpg <![CDATA[Redone 2013 Honda Civic seems to appease <em>Consumer Reports</em>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/30/redone-2013-honda-civic-seems-to-appease-consumer-reports-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/30/redone-2013-honda-civic-seems-to-appease-consumer-reports-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/30/redone-2013-honda-civic-seems-to-appease-consumer-reports-e/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Honda Civic undergoing first testing by Consumer Reports - video screencap

Consumer Reports and the Honda Civic appear to have kissed and made up. Following the compact's substantial "emergency refresh" after just one year on the market, CR got its hands on the vehicle for a quick drive. While the evaluation was far from the standard CR test, the organization found the 2013 Civic to offer a better tuned suspension and less vague steering at first blush. While the split-tier dash still hangs around for another few years, the cabin has ditched much of its oddly textured plastic bits in favor of soft touch materials with nicer detailing. That fact also won the new model points over its predecessor.

As you may recall, the 2012 Civic scored too low in Consumer Report evaluations to earn a "Recommended" rating. That fall from grace marked the first time the Honda model failed to make the cut, though that news didn't stop buyers from flocking to the vehicle. Consumer Reports will buy its own Civic and evaluate it once again soon. In the interim, you can check out the organization's initial impressions by scrolling down, as well as the brief writeup in the link below.

Continue reading Redone 2013 Honda Civic seems to appease Consumer Reports

Redone 2013 Honda Civic seems to appease Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civic2013 honda civiccivicconsumer reportsconsumer reports recommendedhondavideoFri, 30 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20391228/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/30/redone-2013-honda-civic-seems-to-appease-consumer-reports-e/20391228/article-detail.xml 20391228 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/consumer-reports-2013-honda-civic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/consumer-reports-2013-honda-civic.jpg <![CDATA[Honda debuts the 2013 Civic that will fix everything]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/29/2013-honda-civic-la-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/29/2013-honda-civic-la-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/29/2013-honda-civic-la-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Honda Civic Si

Honda has officially unveiled the 2013 Civic at the 2012 LA Auto Show, complete with its substantially revised interior and exterior, which the Japanese automaker hopes will stem the tide of criticism levied at the completely redesigned 2012 model. Designers did away with the short-lived front and rear ends found on last year's ill-received Civic in favor of a look that borrows heavily from the attractive Accord line.

Buyers will now find Bluetooth hands free calling and streaming audio as standard equipment alongside a rear-view camera, USB port and redundant controls on the steering wheel, among other goodies. The price will jump by $160 across the line, however, which means the 2013 Honda Civic carries an entry MSRP of $18,165, plus a $795 destination fee.

The option sheet has bulked up a bit as well, with safety tech like lane departure warning and forward collision warning systems now part of the party. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if the trick LaneWatch blind spot camera from the new Accord will make it to the mix.

Inside, designers gave the cabin more soft touch materials than before, though the dash still appears to suffer from a disjointed design, complete with multi-tier displays and a smattering of vents. Honda also claims its engineers took a crack at sharpening up the steering and suspension for a little more precision. Check out the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading Honda debuts the 2013 Civic that will fix everything

Honda debuts the 2013 Civic that will fix everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 la auto show2013 honda civiccivichondalala auto showThu, 29 Nov 2012 13:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20390289/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/29/2013-honda-civic-la-2012/20390289/article-detail.xml 20390289 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/2013-honda-civic-si-la_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/2013-honda-civic-si-la.jpg <![CDATA[Will Hyundai's MPG malfunction give ground to Honda?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/will-hyundais-mpg-malfunction-give-ground-to-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/will-hyundais-mpg-malfunction-give-ground-to-honda/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/will-hyundais-mpg-malfunction-give-ground-to-honda/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hyundai sign with shadowy figure

One man's loss is another man's gain. The same notion can be applied to the automotive marketplace, where bad press for one brand presents an opportune time to capitalize for another. A new Bloomberg puts forth a potential automotive example of this - fallout stemming from the recent Hyundai and Kia fuel economy debacle. The Korean automakers were recently marred for incorrectly calculating their fuel economy data, resulting in the downward adjustment of the fuel economy figures for many of their most popular models.

While this represents a setback for Kia and Hyundai, brands like Toyota and Honda are looking to gain ground on the two Korean marques, which have been catching up to Japan's volume automakers thanks to their radically improved lineups.

In 2010, Hyundai began touting its lineup as the most fuel-efficient in America. This stirred emotions at Honda, a brand that had been the nation's top performer in fuel economy for 33 years. With this recent adjustment by Hyundai, Honda is evidently hoping to wear the fuel efficiency crown once again.

According to the report, the Korean automakers' errors came in the EPA's "coastdown" test, in which a test car is driven to 80 mph, put in neutral and "coasted" to 9 mph. Hyundai admits this part of the test was not performed correctly. According to Sung Hwan Cho, president of Hyundai's US technical center, "These were just honest procedure errors in a very complex testing process."

Adding to Honda's opportunity is the recently previewed 2013 Honda Civic, set to go on sale the same day it is revealed at this month's LA Motor Show. The 2012 model came in for harsh criticism from the automotive press, though the model's sales proved largely unaffected by the controversy. Industry analysts suggest that Honda's new (and presumably improved) 2013 Civic should put the automaker in prime position to reclaim both consumer mindshare and the industry's MPG crown.

Will Hyundai's MPG malfunction give ground to Honda? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civiccivicepafuel economyhondahyundaikiampgMon, 19 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20381768/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/19/will-hyundais-mpg-malfunction-give-ground-to-honda/20381768/article-detail.xml 20381768 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/hyundai-sign-with-shadowy-figure_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/hyundai-sign-with-shadowy-figure.jpg <![CDATA[Honda unveils new diesel for overseas Civic... will it come here?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/honda-unveils-new-diesel-for-overseas-civic-will-it-come-here/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/honda-unveils-new-diesel-for-overseas-civic-will-it-come-here/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/honda-unveils-new-diesel-for-overseas-civic-will-it-come-here/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Honda has indeed been promoting its new Earth Dreams family of fuel efficient engines, and with good reason. The next generation of the Japanese automaker's powerplants are said to deliver more power with less consumption. You can't go wrong there.

So it has greatly piqued our interest that Honda has taken the wraps off the first diesel member of the Earth Dreams family. This 1.6-liter i-DTEC inline-four will be launched in the European version of the Honda Civic starting in the beginning of next year. The engine makes 118 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It is made up of aluminum block and cylinder heads, and according to Honda, is the lightest diesel engine in its class.

Part of this new engine design is a fourth-generation Garret turbocharger, which features a variable-nozzle design. The speed of the turbo is also electronically controlled to optimize fuel efficiency and minimize turbo lag. The engine is designed specifically with the European market in mind, and will be produced in Honda's Swindon, UK manufacturing facility. Honda is capable of making 500 of these new diesel engines per day, which equates to one new engine every 138 seconds. Not bad for productivity.

So will this diesel mill come to the US market? Right now, it seems unlikely, but with diesel variants of other vehicles popping up in North America (there's that new C-segment Cruze Diesel on its way), it's not unthinkable that Honda would bring this engine over. Until then, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed. To pass the time, you can also check out the press release below and gallery above, featuring detailed engine photos.

Continue reading Honda unveils new diesel for overseas Civic... will it come here?

Honda unveils new diesel for overseas Civic... will it come here? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civiccivicclean dieseldieselearth dreamshondaMon, 19 Nov 2012 10:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20381890/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/19/honda-unveils-new-diesel-for-overseas-civic-will-it-come-here/20381890/article-detail.xml 20381890 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/honda-diesel-2-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/honda-diesel-2-628.jpg <![CDATA[Redesigns that worked and flopped determined by new Cars.com index]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



The 2013 Ford Fusion is probably the latest, greatest example of a completely redesigned car that has evoked widespread calls of "Look at that!" Above its buzzworthy looks, though, Ford will be concerned about how the 2013 Fusion sells and by how much - if at all - it beats sales of the previous version. Cars.com has run the sales numbers on 61 models that have been redesigned in the past four years, ranking them as Winners, Underperformers and Losers depending on how a new-generation model is selling compared to the one it replaces.

The rankings are sorted by sales class - small, medium and large sellers - so that the success of a niche sports car is weighted differently than the success of a popular midsize car. Compared to a four-year sales average for redesigned cars in each class, Winners were those who outsold the average, Underperformers didn't make the average but did outperform the previous year's (hence, the previous car's) sales, while Losers couldn't do any better anywhere.

Among the most recently introduced winners were the Toyota Camry and the Honda CR-V. The Camry beat the Four-Year Category Average Redesign Increase for large sellers by 2.2 percent, the CR-V managed 0.2 percent. Underperformers included the Audi A6/S6 which, even though it has outsold the previous generation by 58 percent, still isn't getting near the small seller category average of 79.2 percent. The new Hyundai Accent is also considered an underperformer, the new model boosting sales by 5.5 percent - nowhere near the 61.5 percent of the medium seller category average. The only Loser listed in the chart is the Honda Civic, taking one last thrashing before the "honed" 2013 redesign gets a chance to right the ship.

As for that Fusion, the 2013 model has strong numbers to follow: the 2010 Fusion was a huge winner, putting up a 55.1-percent increase in the large seller category, beating the average by 33 percent. It only trailed the redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata shown above, which pasted the average by 42.5 percent. You can find a few more of the ranked models in Cars.com's chart by heading over to their website.

Redesigns that worked and flopped determined by new Cars.com index originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accentauto salescamrycar salesciviccr-vcrvfordfusionhondahyundairedesignsonatastudytoyotaThu, 15 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20380117/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/20380117/article-detail.xml 20380117 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/hyundasonatacars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/hyundasonatacars.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #308]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/autoblog-podcast-308/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/autoblog-podcast-308/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/autoblog-podcast-308/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Motor Trend Car of the Year, 2013 Honda Civic, 2014 Ford Mustang, Global Ford Ranger wins award

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Episode #308 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff Ross talk about the Tesla Model S being named Motor Trend Car of the Year, the 2013 Honda Civic and the new hybrid systems and Micro Commuter concept also coming out of Honda, the 2014 Ford Mustang and the departure of the Boss 302, and the global Ford Ranger winning an International Truck award. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #308:



Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Volvo S80 T6 AWD Inscription
2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe
2013 Infiniti FX37

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Jeff Ross
Runtime: 01:17:54

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #308

Autoblog Podcast #308 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 bmw 6 series gran coupe2013 honda civic2013 infiniti fx2013 volvo s802014 ford mustang6 series gran coupeautoblog podcastautoblog podcast 308bmwcar of the yearcivicfeaturedfordford rangerfxhondahonda civichonda micro commuterinfinitimicro commutermodel smotor trend car of the yearmustangpodcastpodcast 308s80teslatesla model stesla motorsvolvoTue, 13 Nov 2012 17:29:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #308Autoblog01:17:54 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20378598/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/13/autoblog-podcast-308/20378598/article-detail.xml 20378598 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Honda Civic Type R to get 2.0L turbo with up to 300 horsepower]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/honda-civic-type-r-to-get-2-0l-turbo-with-up-to-300-horsepower/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/honda-civic-type-r-to-get-2-0l-turbo-with-up-to-300-horsepower/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/13/honda-civic-type-r-to-get-2-0l-turbo-with-up-to-300-horsepower/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Honda Civic Type R prototype spy shot - front three-quarter view

Not that we're expecting to see the car over here anyway, but we hear that the impending return of the Honda Civic Type R could bring with it a more powerful engine crammed under its short hood. Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has already confirmed the Civic Type R would return in 2015, and now Auto Express says that a Honda R&D employee has confirmed that this car will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing "as much as" 300 horsepower - earlier speculation had the car powered by a smaller 1.6-liter four.

Honda has already vowed to make the Civic Type R the "fastest front-wheel-drive vehicle on the Nürburgring," so this much power doesn't seem out of the question. We already spotted a Type R test mule putting some laps on the 'Ring earlier this summer. Other reported details about the new Type R include it retaining its front-wheel-drive layout but adding a limited-slip differential and possibly even rear-wheel steering for optimal performance and handling.

Honda Civic Type R to get 2.0L turbo with up to 300 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 honda civic type rciviccivic type rctrhondahonda ctrtype rtype-rTue, 13 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20378623/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/13/honda-civic-type-r-to-get-2-0l-turbo-with-up-to-300-horsepower/20378623/article-detail.xml 20378623 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/honda-civic-type-r-spy-shots_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/honda-civic-type-r-spy-shots.jpg <![CDATA[Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #308 LIVE!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-308-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-308-live/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-308-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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We record Autoblog Podcast #308 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #308

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #308 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civic2014 ford mustangautoblog podcastautoblog podcast topicscar of the yearcivicfordhondahonda micro commutermotor trendmotor trend car of the yearmustangpodcastpodcast topicsMon, 12 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20377787/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/12/submit-your-questions-for-autoblog-podcast-308-live/20377787/article-detail.xml 20377787 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg <![CDATA[Honda debuts "honed" 2013 Civic]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/honda-debuts-honed-2013-civic/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/honda-debuts-honed-2013-civic/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/honda-debuts-honed-2013-civic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Honda Civic - front three-quarter view

Here it is, folks - the highly anticipated "emergency refresh" of the decidedly disappointing ninth-generation Honda Civic. You know, the model that made the entire automotive media wear a collective frown. And the car that was dropped from the Consumer Reports 'Recommended' list. Critically speaking at least, it's been a bad year, Civic.

The vast majority of updates for the 2013 model are skin-deep, and Honda says the Civic has been "honed to make the segment's best-selling car even better." Up front, there's a new lower front fascia with a prominent chrome accent bar and a black honeycomb grille, along with new headlamps. The whole schnoz features more sculpted, shapely lines that flow up into the more curvaceous hood. At the back, Honda has redesigned the bumper and diffuser, and the chrome accent up front is mimicked at taillamp level. In fact, those rear lights themselves have been redesigned and now carry over onto the trunk lid. A host of new alloy wheels will also be offered.

Honda has not yet divulged any other details regarding the "safety, feature, comfort, chassis and interior styling enhancements" that will round-out this 2013 Civic, but it's clear the changes are an attempt to whittle the Civic's way back into critics' good graces. We definitely hope that some work has been done to the mechanical components you can't see, as our biggest complaint regarding the ninth-generation model was that it lost the great-to-drive dynamic that has historically been one of our favorite things about the Civic. Interior materials and overall fit-and-finish will hopefully receive a healthy once-over, as well.

Either way, it's impressive that Honda has reacted this quickly, pulling ahead a planned mid-cycle redo after the current generation had just one year on the market. It's an unprecedented showing - we can't recall the last time a mainstream car received such substantial year-over-year changes. What makes it even more unusual is that all of the hand-wringing among pundits doesn't seem to have affected sales - through October, Honda has cleared its decks of 276,196 Civics in the US - a 38.8-percent increase over last year.

Scroll down for Honda's brief press release detailing the styling tweaks to the 2013 Civic. The full smattering of details will hit the Interwebs as part of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show festivities, with the car officially going on sale on November 29, the same day it gets its auto show reveal. Stay tuned.

Continue reading Honda debuts "honed" 2013 Civic

Honda debuts "honed" 2013 Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 honda civiccivichondala 2012la auto showlos angelesMon, 12 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20376744/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/12/honda-debuts-honed-2013-civic/20376744/article-detail.xml 20376744 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/001-2013-honda-civic628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/001-2013-honda-civic628opt.jpg -1 2