Autoblog

Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Honda, Volkswagen, Comparisons

Battle Of The Eco Compact Cars

Battle of the Eco Compact Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you wanted a highly efficient compact car five years ago, you bought a hybrid. Diesel was still a dirty word commonly reserved for heavy-duty pickups and the occasional Euro import, and 30 miles per gallon was just becoming the new industry benchmark. The Chevrolet Volt was still just a concept, all-electrics like the Nissan Leaf were barely a blip on our radar, and if a car was turbocharged, it was for go-fast reasons, not fuel-sipping ones.

Fast forward to 2011. Times have changed.

Now, 40 mpg is the new 30 mpg, and we're quickly approaching the days when 50 mpg won't be such a lofty number. After all, there are quite a few cars that already crest that mark without breaking a sweat (including one or two of the cars in this test...).

Enter the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco and 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - a trio of cars that all boast fuel economy figures of 42 mpg or higher on the highway, and all have price points within the $18,000 to $24,000 range. All three fuel-sippers take a completely different path towards overall efficiency - traditional hybrid, turbocharged gasoline and clean diesel.

We're here to put these three eco compacts through their paces - testing not only economy, but general drivability, quality, comfort and value. The winner won't be based simply on its miserly ways - all three cars are pretty darn close in that regard. Instead, we're looking to see which car represents the best overall package, regardless of powertrain. We're here to find out which eco-warrior is the one we'd open our wallets for.

Continue reading Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic prototype holds on to two-tier dash

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Honda

2012 Honda Civic spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

After seeing a handful of spy shots of the next-generation Euro-spec Honda Civic, the North American car is finally starting to show up out roaming the heat-soaked roads of Death Valley. When the new Civic arrives next year, it won't be that much larger than the current car, and the overall shape looks to have stayed the same, though substantial changes to the front and rear fascias are definitely on deck.

Our spies were able to get a peek inside the Civic's cabin, showing that the two-tiered dash theme from the current car will likely be carried over to the new Civic. This means we can expect a digital speedometer on the top shelf with an analog tach below, and while we've never been big fans of this arrangement, it has its adherents among Civic fans.

We're not expecting to see the Civic debut until sometime in 2011, possibly at the Detroit or New York auto shows. For now, check out Honda's latest prototype from all angles in our gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: 2012 Honda Civic prototype holds on to two-tier dash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:30:00 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

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST

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.

Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[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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Honda's fix for prematurely dying Civic hybrid batteries hurting fuel economy, performance?

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Honda

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Until the past year or so, the Civic Hybrid had been by far the best selling gas-electric model introduced by Honda. However, the second-generation model introduced in 2006 has not been entirely problem-free. There have been several lawsuits against Honda claiming that the Civic doesn't meet its advertised mileage claims. While those sort of claims are often dubious given their dependency on factors like driving style, climate and terrain, premature battery failures are not.

According to the Los Angeles Times, it appears that 2006-2008 Civic Hybrid models are suffering an abnormally high rate of battery failure at relatively low miles. The nickel-metal-hydride batteries are evidently prematurely losing their ability to hold a charge - particularly in hot weather areas like Arizona and when used in a lot of stop-and-go traffic. The Civic Hybrid has a dual compressor air-conditioning system with an engine driven primary compressor and a smaller electric compressor to keep the system going when the engine is shut during a stop. Using the air conditioning will cause the battery to go through more charge cycles, eventually wearing it down. Read on after the jump for more on why the battery might be failing and how Honda is attempting to address it.

Update: Honda spokesman Chuck Schifsky let us know that the software updated for the 2006-8 Civics is based on the changes that were introduced for the refreshed 2009 models. The 2009 models apparently also got an updated battery but obviously that change isn't going into the older cars. The original 2006-8 models would spend a lot of time during hot weather use with the A/C on which apparently caused the charge cycling rate to increase wearing down the battery.

Update 2: Honda confirmed that the battery pack did change from 2008 to 2009 but its not clear exactly what was updated.

Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

Continue reading Honda's fix for prematurely dying Civic hybrid batteries hurting fuel economy, performance?

Honda's fix for prematurely dying Civic hybrid batteries hurting fuel economy, performance? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emissions regs to kill Honda Civic Type-R in most of Europe at end of 2010

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Honda

Honda Civic Type-R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda Europe has announced that sales of the Civic Type-R throughout most of the Continent will cease by the end of 2010. The 2.0-liter, 198-horsepower hatch debuted as a production model in late 2006, and in its current form the engine doesn't meet the new Euro-V emissions standards which apply throughout the European Union.

The Type-R is only produced at Honda's Swindon factory in the UK and production will continue for other markets, including Japan, where it went on sale earlier this year after production of the Type-R sedan ended. If you're in the market for that rapidly vanishing species known as the hot Honda, you'll have to move fast.

Gallery: Honda Civic Type-R

Continue reading Emissions regs to kill Honda Civic Type-R in most of Europe at end of 2010

Emissions regs to kill Honda Civic Type-R in most of Europe at end of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda recalling 383,000 vehicles over runaway risk

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety

Honda has announced plans to recall 383,000 Civics, Accords and Elements built in 2003 and 2004. Due to a fault with the ignition interlock system that normally prevents the key from being removed until the transmission lever is in Park, the affected Hondas could roll away on their own accord.

According to Honda, the interlock system can wear prematurely, allowing the key to be pulled regardless of the shifter position. If the parking pawl isn't engaged, the vehicle can roll away if parked on a slope.

While this has nothing to do with the sort of problems that Toyota has experienced, there is an interesting parallel regarding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's defect database. Toyota complained that there was insufficient detail in the database categories, resulting in the appearance that there were more incidents of unintended acceleration than there actually were. This Honda issue is purely a mechanical failure of the locking system and yet it is grouped under Electrical System:Ignition problems. This lack of detail makes it much more difficult and time consuming for engineers to sift through the data to find and prioritize issues to fix. As part of the follow-up to its recalls, Toyota has been talking to NHTSA about revising the database to make it easier to mine relevant information other automakers will likely be following suit.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda]

Continue reading Honda recalling 383,000 vehicles over runaway risk

Honda recalling 383,000 vehicles over runaway risk originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda to kill off Acura RL/Legend globally, discontinue gas Civic models in Japan [*UPDATE]

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Japan, Acura, Honda, Luxury

2010 Acura RL - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word coming from Japan's Nikkei business daily (as reported by Reuters) indicates that Honda has finally decided to discontinue the slow selling Acura RL and its Japanese market counterpart, the Honda Legend.

Ostensibly the flagship of Acura's brand here in North America, the RL has been a slow-seller for quite some time, upstaged in part by the company's less-expensive, higher-volume TL sedan. For some years now, the TL has offered more space, similar tech and even more power (in the Type S model), making the RL a particularly tough sell for dealers. Through the first half of this year, only 872 RLs have been sold in the United States.

Another production change reported by the Nikke that would only affect the Japanese market is the discontinuation of conventional gasoline versions of the Civic. If accurate, that would mean that from now until at least until the next-generation Civic arrives in the Fall of 2011, Honda will only sell the Civic hybrid in its home market.

In addition, the JDM Elysion minivan is also apparently set to get the axe.

Autoblog reached out to Honda for comment on the Nikkei story, and spokesman Chuck Schifsky would only say that the automaker does not comment on future product plans, noting that no official announcement has been made about the fate of the RL/Legend, the JDM Civic or the Elysion. Top tip, Joaquin!

UPDATE: Acura has released a statement saying that RL will continue to be the brand's flagship model and it's in no danger of being euthanized.

Gallery: 2010 Acura RL

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Honda to kill off Acura RL/Legend globally, discontinue gas Civic models in Japan [*UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Autocar pits Audi R8 V10 versus... Honda Civic Type R Mugen?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Performance, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Audi, Honda, UK

Audi R8 V10 vs. Honda Civic Type R Mugen - Click above to watch the video

There are certain debates that will rage on until the end of time: Coke or Pepsi, Zeppelin or the Stones, real or fake. But few take the cake in our little corner of the writing world quite like the infamous "fast cars slow or slow cars fast" dispute. On the one hand, what's the point of having a gazillion dollar supercar capable of cracking off triple-digit speeds at the drop of an eyelash if you're stuck on public roads? On the flip side, fans of mighty metal will politely ask you, why waste your life behind the wheel of anything with less than 400 horsepower?

Autocar has recently taken it upon itself to try to answer the unanswerable by pitting an Audi R8 5.2 FSI with 518 horsepower against the more common 239 horse Honda Civic Type R Mugen over a typical European country road. There are no solid performance figures or dyno pulls, just whether the pint-size hatch can keep up with the big mid-engine monster through the twists and down the straights. What do they find? Well, we won't spoil it for you. You'll just have to hop the jump to find out for yourself.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10

Gallery: Honda Civic Type-R Mugen (Euro)

Audi R8 photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autocar]

Continue reading Video: Autocar pits Audi R8 V10 versus... Honda Civic Type R Mugen?

Video: Autocar pits Audi R8 V10 versus... Honda Civic Type R Mugen? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Euro-spec Honda Civic hatchback caught playing in the rain

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Honda

Euro-spec Honda Civic spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Even though we won't be seeing the next-generation U.S.-spec Honda Civic until sometime in 2011, we must remember that the European model is a wholly different vehicle. Our spies have just captured these photos of a Euro Civic test mule, showing that Honda is making good progress with updating its best-selling compact in other markets.

Our spies indicate that the new front bumper is already in place under the camouflage on this jimmied-up Civic, giving it a larger stance, though the wheelbase looks about the same as the current car, meaning the overall size probably won't change too much. Out back, slightly wider rear fenders mimic the larger proportions up front. As for what's under the hood, we assume that the standard range of both gas and diesel engines four-cylinder engines will be offered in Europe, and the hybrid setup from the CR-Z hatch could possibly find a home in the redesigned Civic, as well.

No word has been given as to when the new Euro Civic will make its debut, but we're willing to bet that the Honda hatch will hit the streets before the delayed American model debuts. See the full set of spy shots for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Euro-Spec Honda Civic Hatchback

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Euro-spec Honda Civic hatchback caught playing in the rain originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delayed Civic Begs the Question: Has Honda lost the plot? [w/poll]

Chris Shunk — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Coupe, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Honda, Design/Style

Honda Civic: A History in Pictures - click above for a high-res image gallery

Honda Vice President John Mendel recently admitted to AutoWeek that the next-generation Civic will be delayed from the Fall of 2010 to sometime in 2011. Mendel said in the interview that the Civic was delayed because of tightening emissions standards and he also noted that changing market conditions were partly to blame. AW also notes that the Civic's design was changed along the way, as Honda's second biggest selling model was originally scheduled to be larger for 2011. Happens all the time, right? Well, not to Honda it doesn't.

Bill Visnic over at Edmunds Auto Observer has taken a deep-dive look at the broader implications of the Civic redesign, and came up with some very interesting points. For starters, Krebs speculates that the next Civic was delayed in part because it wasn't competitive compared to the new, vastly improved competition from companies like Hyundai, General Motors and Ford. While some analysts feel that the Honda redesign shows that the Japanese automaker is willing to swallow some humble pie and get things right, Krebs counters that going back to the drawing board shows that Honda has lost its touch with the car-buying public. Further support for her theory centers around the lackluster greeting for the Insight by both consumers and pundits, Acura's polarizing styling language and the love/hate Accord Crosstour and its embarassing social media launch efforts. Analyst John Wolkonowicz of Global Insight appears to agree with Krebs, saying that Honda is living off of its reputation from the 1980s and 1990s.

Where do we stand on the Honda Civic design pushback? We're thinking that as long as the Civic continues to sell in big numbers with relatively small incentives, Honda is smart to head back to the drawing board, especially as it is still selling strongly five years into its lifecycle. However, we've been worried that Honda has been losing its engineering-led focus for a while now, so we'll be looking to the next-gen Civic for some level of redemption.

Be sure to take our poll and check out our high-res gallery of Honda Civic history before heading over to the Auto Observer for some very interesting analysis.

Gallery: Honda Civic: A History in Pictures

View Poll

[Source: Auto Observer]

Delayed Civic Begs the Question: Has Honda lost the plot? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KBB names coolest cars under $18k... do you agree?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Suzuki

Kelley Blue Book Top 10 Cars for under $18k - Click above for high-res image gallery

Being in the market for a cheap new car used to mean resigning yourself to time bombs like the Chevrolet Citation or windups like the Geo Metro or Ford Aspire, but the times, they are a-changin', and the good folk at Kelley Blue Book have worked up their very own top 10 list of cool cars for under $18,000.

Not surprisingly, the 2011 Ford Fiesta nabbed a mention thanks to its 28 mpg city, 40 mpg highway EPA rating and mile-long standard feature list. Likewise, the new 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring received a spot on the list. The Korean automaker's new long roof manages 23 city and 30 ~~mph~~ mpg highway thanks to its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The base Mitsubishi Lancer also made the cut - another 2.0-liter bruiser, the baby brother of the Evolution nabs 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Suzuki also got some love on the KBB list with its SX4. When optioned with the five-speed gearbox, the car walks away with 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Rounding out the list is the ever lovable 2010 Honda Fit. Just like the Suzuki, if you want a few more miles per tank, you'll need to opt for the manual transmission. Thusly equipped, the little Honda can 28 mpg city and up to 35 mpg highway.

Want to see what else made the list? Hit the jump or visit KBB for the whole list.

Gallery: Kelly Blue Book Top 10 Cool Cars

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading KBB names coolest cars under $18k... do you agree?

KBB names coolest cars under $18k... do you agree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #178: GM Profit, Civic Redesign, 40 mpg Fiesta

Dan Roth — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:19:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., BMW, Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Our iTunes feed for the Autoblog Podcast is still busted, thanks to the TV Squad debacle with an update gone wrong. We're still waiting on resolution of the issue, and the real fix may involve each and every one of you having to resubscribe. We'll let you know.

In the meantime, if you subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast via iTunes, you may not automatically receive this week's episode. The easiest workaround until we get this fixed is to use the link below to download the MP3 file directly and drag it into iTunes. We're terribly sorry for the inconvenience, thanks for your ongoing patience.

For Episode #178 of the Autoblog Podcast, Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, and Dan Roth cover GM's profit announcement, the delayed Honda Civic redesign, the 40 mpg fuel economy rating for the Ford Fiesta, and wistfully pine to have been part of our recent sports car comparison test. It starts with the Autoblog Garage and ends with a couple questions, with 82 minutes between snippets of theme music. See you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #178: GM Profit, Civic Redesign, 40 mpg Fiesta

In the Autoblog Garage:

BMW 750Li
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
Toyota Tacoma

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, Dan Roth,
Runtime: 1:22:04

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #178: GM Profit, Civic Redesign, 40 mpg Fiesta originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next-generation Honda Civic may be delayed

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Honda

Typically, most automakers stick to a relatively strict five-year product cycle for their highest-selling, most important products. The Honda Civic, for example, debuted in September of 2005, so realistically, a new model should be just around the corner, right? Not exactly.

In an interview with AutoWeek, American Honda executive vice president John Mendel said that changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations have strongly affected the development of the next-generation Civic, meaning that the new model won't come until sometime in 2011. AW also reports that the Civic's redesign has been altered along the way - the new model was supposed to be larger than the current model, but now it has been redesigned to be closer in size to the current one (pictured above).

What's more, with hot new products like the 2012 Ford Focus on deck, Honda will certainly have to up the ante on the Civic's level of equipment, style and refinement. The Civic is still one of the world's best-selling cars: about one million are moved each year. And with the U.S. accounting for approximately one-third of those sales, Honda would be wise to ensure that the next-generation Civic will be attractive enough to keep it in the top tier of high-selling vehicles in the States.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic

[Source: AutoWeek]

Next-generation Honda Civic may be delayed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda fixin' to release new limited-edition Civic Type-R three-door in Japan

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Hatchback, Honda, UK

Honda Civic Type R Euro Mugen - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Honda Civic Type R Euro has been a solid hit in Japan. The UK-built hatchback packs 201 horsepower, love-it-or-leave-it styling and a suspension that has been honed on the lunging tarmac of Europe. No, it may not be as fast as its predecessors, but that hasn't stopped Japanese buyers from snapping them up in troves. Honda says that since the car went on sale in November, the company has sold 1,850 units on its home turf.

To celebrate, Honda is turning out a special edition version of the Civic Type R Euro three-door. Don't expect anything too radical, though. The car is basically a styling update and not much else. The bodywork gets a slight redesign for the 2010 model year. If Honda's planning anything spectacular, the company is keeping its secrets to itself.

For those of you still holding onto the hope that we may finally see a hatchback version of the Civic here in the States once again, keep dreaming. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Honda Civic Type-R Mugen (Euro)

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda fixin' to release new limited-edition Civic Type-R three-door in Japan

Honda fixin' to release new limited-edition Civic Type-R three-door in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda confirms end of four-door Civic Type R production

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

Honda Civic Type R (JDM) - Click above for high-res image gallery

After only three years of production (in its current form), the Japanese market Honda Civic Type R will take its final bow at the end of August. Here in America, we've always lusted after Honda's Type R products (though we've always been very pleased with our own market's Civic Si), but we can't help but feel saddened by the loss of a true performance icon.

What's to love, you ask? For starters, the Civic Type R is fitted with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, able to produce around 225 horsepower at a screaming 8,000 rpm, and when you consider that the whole package weighs less than 2,800 pounds, it's makes for a relatively quick Civic. Couple that mill to one of the best six-speed manual gearboxes on the planet and you've got a recipe for success. What's more, Civic Type Rs are fitted with 18-inch wheels on Bridgestone Potenza performance tires and four-piston Brembo brakes - the equipment you need for a serious track day pocket rocket.

There's no word if another Civic Type R is in the works, especially with Honda's larger focus on hybrid cars taking up most of the research and development money. Still, we are indeed mourning the loss of this mean machine and are hugging our Civic Sis here in the U.S. for comfort. Hit the jump for Honda's official press release.

Gallery: Honda Civic Type R sedan (JDM)

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda confirms end of four-door Civic Type R production

Honda confirms end of four-door Civic Type R production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Environmental group sues Honda for "Save The Earth" trademark infringement

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Honda

All Honda wanted to do was save the Earth, one gallon of gasoline at a time. It turns out, though, that in the act of saving said Earth, the Japanese automaker stepped on a few toes - namely, those of Save the Earth Enterprises, an environmental group based in the United States.

See where this is going? That's right, Save the Earth Enterprises, which trademarked the slogan 'Save the Earth' way back in 1972, has sued Honda and its advertising agency, Rubin Postaer & Co., for infringement. The lawsuit seeks to recover Honda's profits from a recent ad campaign for the Civic and to stop future use by Honda of the Save the Earth trademark.

"The Honda ad campaign confused people into thinking that we endorsed Honda or were affiliated with Honda. We aren't affiliated with them and don't endorse them," said Neal Pargman of Save the Earth Foundation in a statement you'll find after the jump. The statement adds that Honda ignored cease-and-desist letters from the foundation. Perhaps they were too busy... saving the earth? Check out the official press release after the jump for the details.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

[Source: Save the Earth Foundation]

Continue reading Environmental group sues Honda for "Save The Earth" trademark infringement

Environmental group sues Honda for "Save The Earth" trademark infringement originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Presenting the coolest Honda Civic Wagon film ever

Chris Paukert — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Etc., Videos, Honda, Off-Road

Wagon Attack II- Click above to watch the (epic) video

More than a few Autobloggers regularly pine for the days when Honda (among other automakers) built simpler, smaller, lighter cars that were still packed with functionality. A sterling example of this philosophy is Honda's mid-Eighties Civic Wagon, the pioneering pent-roof with the brand's then-new RealTime 4WD system. Arguably one of the earliest crossovers, the Civic Wagon was incredibly robust, and more than a few enterprising shadetree mechanics have subsequently realized that they have similar tuning potential to their far more popular sedan and hatchback cousins. Enter the Attack Wagon.

Not only is the subject of Wagon Attack II a thoroughly bitchin' example of what can be done with forced induction and a few bulletproofing sessions, the folks that made the above video clearly went beyond the call of duty to chronicle its awesomeness in high-definition. Click through to the jump to watch the most entertaining - and arguably best quality - car video you'll see today. When you're done watching the 1989 Honda earn its Civic Shuttle namesake (as it was known in other markets) vaulting off Michigan's Silver Lake Sand Dunes and tearing around broken-down airport runways, be sure to check out the making-of video as well.

And yes, we want one now too. Thanks for the tip, Luke!

[Source: WagonAttack.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Presenting the coolest Honda Civic Wagon film ever

VIDEO: Presenting the coolest Honda Civic Wagon film ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: NHTSA probe opened into Honda airbag recall timing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Acura, Honda

2001 Honda Accord - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the last year, Honda has recalled roughly 444,000 vehicles to repair overpressurized airbag inflators in certain 2001-2002 Honda Accord, 2001 Civic and 2002-2003 Acura TL models. According to the automaker, there has been one death and multiple injuries stemming from the defect, which can send small metal fragments through the airbag and onto the vehicle's occupants.

For whatever reason, the total recall was announced in two separate increments that were eight months apart - and NHTSA wants to know why. Earlier, Honda had said that the problem was traced back to Takata Corp., which supplied the faulty inflators, and that the supplier had made "incorrect assumptions" about the numbers of parts it had sent to Honda. Says Honda spokesman Chris Martin:

The initial range of recalled vehicles was based on a relatively small sample of problematic airbag deployments...It took some further customer reports of airbag deployments for us to be able to look back and say, these vehicles are not in the lot we identified but have the same problem.

Honda denies any wrongdoing and promises to fully cooperate with the NHTSA investigation.

Gallery: 2001 Honda Accord

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: NHTSA probe opened into Honda airbag recall timing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #150 - Tokyo Motor Show Edition

Dan Roth — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Buick, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

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It's Episode #150 of the Autoblog Podcast, and we raided the crypt to give you your buck-and-a-half's worth. Former podcast staples John Neff and Chris Paukert have been unearthed and join Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, and Dan Roth for this milestone occasion.

A review of the Tokyo Motor Show starts things off, and then we drill down to talk more specifically about both ends of Toyota's sports spectrum: the Lexus LFA and the Toyota FT-86 concepts. Other Tokyo standouts like the Honda CR-Z and Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept weave into the conversation before we turn to the next-generation Honda Civic, rumored to be lighter and smaller. From there, things devolve entirely before this week's big crew wraps it up.

We'll hit your questions again next time around, keep them rolling in to Podcast at Autoblog dot com. We appreciate you filling our survey with data, and remember, if you get lonely, there's always Joystiq and Engadget. Thanks for listening! You can also leave us a message at our new Google Voice number 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Who knows... we might even play it on the podcast!

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Autoblog Podcast #150 - Tokyo Motor Show Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Honda goes back to drawing board for smaller, lighter next-gen Civic

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:26:00 EST

Filed under: Honda

2009 Honda Civic - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you introduced an '80s-era Honda Civic to its modern counterpart, it couldn't recognize what it's become. But after decades of growing dimensions, Honda's going back to the drawing board for the next-gen Civic.

The change in direction was reportedly ordered last year before the global economy took a nose-dive by product chief Tsuneo Tanai who observed a rise in oil and raw metal prices. Once the financial sector hit rock bottom, the Civic emerged as a strong player, out-selling the Ford F-Series pickup as the number one vehicle in the United States in May 2008. Not satisfied with sitting back and seeing how things shape up, though, Tanai ordered his engineers and designers to scrap their plans and redesign the next-gen Civic to be smaller, cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient.

The move coincides with Honda's re-strategizing vis-a-vis hybrids and electric vehicles, not to mention the cancellation of its V8 and rear-drive programs. But despite having put more people on the job, the decision to restart the Civic's development halfway through the process is sure to be a major setback for the company's lifecycle schedule. And not just for the Civic itself, but also for vehicles that share its platform, including the CR-V crossover, the Element sport-utility-box, the JDM Stream and European-market FR-V minivans, to say nothing of the upcoming CR-Z, Acura RDX, and of course the all-important Canadian-market Acura CSX.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Honda goes back to drawing board for smaller, lighter next-gen Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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