Honda NSX Gets New Lease on Life

Finally! Some Honda/Acura sportscar news! Now if we can just get Honda to start thinking about a Next Generation Honda Prelude (non hybrid of course) ....
The NSX lives, at least in a different form. According to one source, Honda never gave up its plans for an NSX successor. Even though the V-10-powered post-NSX concept came along at the wrong time -- during the economic meltdown -- and had to be cancelled, Honda engineers didn't completely shelve the project.

They simply applied a more market-friendly (and eco-friendly) sports-car approach to the company's flagship two-door, giving it the latest hybrid gizmology. Completely different than Toyota's THS-II hybrid system, the technology slated to power Honda's new sports coupe "can be driven with either a clutch and an engine only, the engine and motor only, or the motor only," says our source. It will also offer a manual transmission option.

It apparently will employ a modified Accord platform, and power will come from either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V-6, with the latter considered the sure favorite. Why do we think so? Once again our spies in Japan have uncovered a patent application that specifies a "V6 powertrain developing upwards of 400 horsepower." (yes!) That makes sense, especially when you consider what one company staffer told us about Honda's desire to return to making sports cars.

"Honda does not see the CR-Z as a sports car. It's a sporty coupe and a great first try in the hybrid-sports direction. To be called a sports car, a car needs to have the potential of an NSX or an S2000. That's what we need to aim for."

And as expected, the coupe will employ a version of the automaker's proven SH-AWD system, but Honda will apply NSX concept technology by fitting the rear-drive-based SH-AWD setup that enabled the test mule to lap the Nürburgring in 7 minutes, 37 seconds two years ago.

Using the front-wheel-drive Accord platform as a base for this car will cut R&D costs dramatically. Engineers will swap the front and rear around to create a rear midship AWD package. If the coupe gets the green light for production, expect to see it in showrooms as early as 2014. Still unclear is if the car will continue to be badged as an Acura here in the U.S.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2010/1011_honda_nsx_gets_new_lease_on_life/index.html

The Original, Hand built, Honda Civic Type R Mugen Concept Finds an Owner

The original Honda Civic Type R Mugen Concept car, a hand-built, dream-about performance creation has now found an owner.

The concept, which was created as a test bed for the 20 units built by Honda’s race engine-tuning partner Mugen was given away as a prize for a British nationwide draw that celebrates the automaker’s presence in the British Touring Car Championship. The vehicle comes with a high-reving 2.0 liter naturally aspirated powerplant that delivers 240 hp and is worth over 60,000 pounds.

The out of this world hot hatch was handed over to the Jim Morgan from Manchester at the Silverstone circuit, where the winner met Honda’s BTCC drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden. Subsequently, Morgan was offered a tour of the Mugen workshops in Northampton, also meeting the team of specialist that brought the compact monster to life.

“I still can’t quite believe I’ve won this unbelievable concept car," said Jim. "To meet Matt and Gordon, rocket around Silverstone in a Type R, and talk to the guys who built my car was incredible! Seeing how this the Type R MUGEN was built really gives you a feel for how special it is: the guys at MUGEN have put everything they’ve got into this car,”

"It really is a great car to drive; perfectly well behaved around town but with a fantastic response to a heavy right foot! I feel extremely lucky," the winner added.

Honda offers a limited edition Civic Type R Mugen finished in Championship White paint, which is based on the concept car that now belongs to Morgan.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-civic-type-r-mugen-concept-finds-an-owner-26737.html

2010 Honda Civic HFP Si Review

Frequent Trips to the Redline May Put Your Driving Record at Severe Risk
Given the fact that I have to relinquish the keys to my 2010 Honda Civic HFP (Honda Factory Performance) Si coupe tomorrow, I am left to wonder if perhaps they make a patch that could
help curb my withdrawal symptoms. Quite frankly, my Dyno Blue Pearl colored Civic HFP Si should come with a Surgeon General's Warning: "Frequent Trips to the Redline May Put Your Driving Record at Severe Risk."

At least in my case, it is utterly and totally impossible to drive this whirling dervish of a car in a calm and sedate manner. The engine cries out to be revved and the manual transmission is the most pleasurable unit I have ever used. And I have tested the Mazda Miata, Nissan 370Z, Mini Cooper and a number of BMW manual transmissions. It is, quite simply, the best manual transmission in the world.

As follows is my review of the many aspects of this two door Honda Civic HFP Si that truly make it an unforgettable driving experience. You think you need an utterly impractical sports car to have a good time? Well, this sports car has a spacious 11.5 cubic foot trunk, split folding rear seats, brilliantly designed cupholders and enough cubbies in the interior to hold all of your junk.

And if you need even more utility the Civic Si is also available as a hugely practical four door family sedan. Mind you, this is a family sedan that also just so happens to have an engine that revs all the way to a stratospheric 8,000 RPM.

What is HFP?

Honda Factory Performance (HFP) is the line of accessories that you can add to your standard Civic Si coupe at the dealer. My tester boasted uprated 18 inch wheels on Summer tires (standard wheel size is 17 inches), a stylish front under spoiler with more aggressive looking foglights, a rear under spoiler, side skirts and a sport muffler. All told they would add about $4,000 to the price of your Civic Si not including installation but the overall look is well worth it.

The uprated tire/wheel combo makes the Civic Si not only look cooler but they also improve the handling with a slight penalty in ride quality. If you are going to use your Si as a family car, however, you might want to consider sticking with the 17 inch HFP wheel upgrade. The sport muffler, however, turns the Si into a howling screamer as you reach the engine's 8000RPM redline. The noise the motor makes is well and truly addictive making it nigh on impossible to drive this car slowly.

Exterior Styling

The Civic Coupe is a styling two door to begin with but with the rear spoiler that comes standard with the Si and all the visual add-ons courtesy of HFP it looks positively menacing. This may cause problems because this car looks like it is going fast even standing still. The Dyno Blue Pearl exterior color is deeply luminescent and would be my choice were I to buy this car for myself.

Interior Design, Materials Quality and Utility

Unlike most Civics, the Si has a digital speedometer that reads in a slightly devilish red color (instead of the usual soothing blue). The interior is airy and spacious although the coupe feels more cramped in back than the rear seat of the sedan. So if you carry passengers often buy the four door Si sedan.

The black seat fabric on the seats is positively gorgeous with red Si logos stitched into the seatback and these sport seats offer plenty of comfort over long drives. All of the plastics are of high quality and the air conditioning easily battled the high Memorial Day Weekend temperatures in Southern California.

The shift knob is a tactile delight made from some metal alloy and is perfectly for hands of all sizes. The two tiered speedometer/tachometer design is still inspired and all of the knobs and switches move with a high quality feel. Overall, this is Honda interior design at its most delightfully whimsical, practical and forward thinking.

Driving Experience

Driving the Civic HFP Si around the suburban streets near my home I could not keep my speeds below 60 miles per hour which can be troubling on streets with 35 mile per hour speed limits. Thankfully most of the roads near where I live have 50 mile per hour speed limits. But once you rev the engine to redline in first and second you are at 60 miles per hour. To paraphrase the inimitable Britney Spears, "Oops, officer, I did it again."

Thanks to the 18 inch summer tires, the 2010 Honda Civic HFP Si handles corners as tightly as Joan Rivers clings onto the phone number of her plastic surgeon. To use a horrible cliché, this coupe really does corner like it is riding on rails. I can't believe I just said that but it's true.

As I have said earlier the shifter is such an utter joy to use that you will find yourself using the perfect gearing to slow the car down as you approach stop lights instead of applying the strong brakes. This will no doubt slow wear of the brake pads as those wear far quicker than clutches. Especially clutches made by Honda.

The steering in the 2010 Honda Civic HFP Si has a precise feel yet never feels darty like the racks in some competitors such as the Mini Cooper S. Although the engine screams as you hit the redline, the engine does quiet down sufficiently in sixth gear on the freeway to facilitate a peaceful interior at cruising speeds. But what fun is that?

Is This Car Family and Dog Friendly?

The interior of the Civic Si has durable plastics, the sturdiest feeling cloth upholstery I have ever seen in a test vehicle and everything is obviously assembled with the typical Honda level of care. The only issue is that this car accelerates so quickly and can handle such high cornering speeds that you should invest in a safety harness for your dog and an Indy 500 strength car seat for your youngsters.

Final Thoughts

As this car returns to Honda tomorrow I am going to cut this review short so I can go take it for a drive on my favorite twisty road near my house. The 2010 Honda Civic HFP Si just screams "bad influence" but given its practicality, fuel efficiency and low price when compared to vehicles with similar levels of performance it remains the sports car buy of the century. So when you go out and buy yourself a Civic HFP Si also be sure to pick yourself up a really good radar detector.

Vehicle Tested: 2010 Honda Civic HFP Si Coupe with Navigation & Summer Tires

Price as Tested: $24,055 plus HFP Accessories

Engine: 2.0 liter 4 Cylinder

Power: 197 horsepower/139 lb. feet of torque

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual (No automatic offered)

Economy: 21 city/29 highway

0-60: 6.7 Seconds

Trunk Size: 11.5 Cubic Feet

Safety Ratings (Government):
Front Impact (Five Stars)
Side Impact: Front Seat (Four Stars)
Rear Seat: (Five Stars)
Rollover: (Four Stars)

Source;
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5441622/one_week_test_the_2010_honda_civic.html?singlepage=true&cat=27

Visiting the Honda HSC

The Honda HSC (High-performance Sports Concept) was initially shown to the public at the 2003 Tokyo Auto Show and although Honda never confirmed it, most thought that the HSC was going to be the next generation NSX.

The 2003 HSC featured a light weight, mid-mounted aluminum 3.5L V6 i-Vtec engine, with a 6 speed transmission controlled by either an F1 style paddle shifter on the steering wheel, or a unique dial shifter on the center console. When shifted into reverse, the navigation system's adjustable flat-panel screen in the center console becomes a display for a rear mounted camera. Abundant leather and aluminum trim pieces round out the interior, an all aluminum frame with Carbon Fibre body panels keep it light, and scissor style doors affirm its Super Car status.

I think that the back end of this concept would be a nice touch onto what Honda is proposing to be the next NSX, it stays closer to the actual NSX roots in my opinion.

Here's a link to the Honda HSC design page from Honda;
http://world.honda.com/collection-hall/globaldesign/hsc.html

More Honda FC Sport Pic's

Here is my orig. post on the subject with more pic's and information;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-la-auto-show-honda-fc-sport.html

2008 LA Auto Show; Honda FC Sport Hydrogen Car

Honda FC Sport Design Study Suggests Hydrogen Sports Car Future
Innovative fuel cell packaging demonstrates green performance potential

11/19/2008 - LOS ANGELES -
Honda today revealed the Honda FC Sport design study model, a hydrogen-powered, three-seat sports car concept, at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The FC Sport emphasizes the design flexibility and potential of Honda's V Flow fuel cell technology - already deployed in the Honda FCX Clarity sedan - and reconfigures it into a lightweight sports car design with an ultra-low center of gravity, powerful electric motor performance and zero-emissions. The design study concept is inspired by supercar levels of performance through low weight and a high-performance, electrically driven fuel cell powertrain.

"The Honda FC Sport explores how to satisfy automotive performance enthusiasts in a world beyond petroleum," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "People who love sports cars will still have a reason to love in a hydrogen-powered future."

The high-output Honda fuel cell powertrain and a sleek, aerodynamic body contribute to the vehicle's performance potential. A modular approach to fuel cell component packaging and the electric drivetrain contribute to the FC Sport's low center of gravity with the majority of vehicle mass distributed between the axles, creating the balanced weight distribution sought after in sports cars.

The ideal placement of the Honda V-Flow fuel cell stack and related components demonstrates the benefits of a platform-specific, hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrain. The FC Sport is configured to accommodate a custom-formed high-power fuel cell stack, located between the rear seats, and a battery pack placed low in the middle of the vehicle. The electric motor resides just forward of the rear axle. Two fuel storage tanks, visible from above, are located above the rear axle.

The optimal placement of fuel cell components for performance also allows for a relatively large passenger cabin by conventional supercar standards with enough space for three seating positions. The interior layout focuses primarily on the driver with a racecar-like center driving position. The enclosed canopy opens upward from the rear to allow for entry and exit. Two rear passenger seats flank the driver's left and right side.

The sleek, low-profile body is designed to convey a high-technology appearance with sculpting that combines angular shapes in the front of the vehicle that taper into geometric, hex forms in the rear. The rear hex forms house cooling radiators for the fuel cell. Formula 1-style barge boards behind the front wheels enhance high speed aerodynamics and convey the vehicle's racing pedigree. The hydrogen storage tanks, visible from the rear deck, showcase the FC Sports fuel cell technology in much the same way that a "naked bike" motorcycle showcases its engineering technology.

The glacier white body color conveys the FC Sport's clean environmental aspirations while the dark wheels and deeply tinted glass provide a symbolic contrast befitting of the vehicle's unique combination of clean power and high performance. Green construction techniques further contribute to a reduced carbon footprint. An organic, bio-structure theme is carried through to the body construction where exterior panels are intended to use plant-derived bio-plastics.

The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas, in Pasadena, California, developed the FC Sport design study with the primary objective of using existing fuel cell technology as the basis for an ultimate Honda sports car. Designer Jason Wilbur led the design efforts.

Honda R&D Americas, Inc. began its operations in California in 1975 with local market research activities and has steadily grown its capabilities over the past 33 years to include all aspects of new vehicle design and development. Recent development efforts include trend-setting products such as the Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, Element, Civic Coupe and Civic Si.

In 2008, the company opened two new design centers in Southern California: the Acura Design Studio (Torrance), for the research and design of new Acura products; and the Advanced Design Studio (Pasadena), for the exploration and development of advanced design themes for both Honda and Acura.

The company operates 11 major R&D facilities in North America, including a full vehicle development center in Raymond, Ohio, and three design studios in Southern California. Honda R&D designers, engineers and support personnel are engaged in the development of Honda and Acura automobiles, powersports products, and power equipment for North America and global markets. The company's main centers of operation include the Los Angeles Center (Torrance, California), responsible for market research, concept development and styling design; the Ohio Center (Raymond, Ohio), responsible for complete product development, testing, and support of North American supplier and manufacturing operations; and a dynamic test facility in Cantil, California.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/4879

Next Gen Honda S2000 Speculation, The Honda S3000?!?

A typhoon of rumors has been swirling around Honda's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, about the company's next generation of sports cars. While we have already seen spy photos of the future NSX, we have not seen anything about the next-generation S2000. A source close to the company revealed that Honda is indeed in the process of building such a car, but wouldn't disclose specific details.

The OSM (Open Study Model) concept car definitely raised some eyebrows recently at the London show, but that car was just a convertible version of the CR-Z hybrid sports car shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The OSM was penned by Honda's European design team, and our people tell us that the real S2000 successor will have much more influence and input from Japan. Also, the CR-Z and OSM have been engineered as front-engine/front-wheel-drive models, and the S2000 successor will no doubt be a rear-wheel-drive car. So apparently the OSM has nothing to do with the S2000 successor. Or does it...?

There's the possibility that the OSM may very well be a design study of the next S2000, wearing the veil of an open-top CR-Z to throw us off. There was also a sighting of a mysterious prototype sports car near Honda's R&D headquarters in Japan that seemed to share the OSM's proportions, yet looked completely different. Could this be another design study of the S2000? We think so, so we took pieces of that car, melded it with the OSM and came up with this image, a handsome car with an Audi R8-esque face, a long hood and a profile reminiscent of the current S2000.

As for what will go under the hood is still unclear. There have been rumors that Honda may equip the car with a V-6, perhaps a new 3.0-liter or the 3.5-liter in the Acura TL, thus the name S3000. In the U.S., this makes sense because it would give the car much more low-end torque (something we Americans love), not to mention improved smoothness and quietness for freeway driving.

With such an engine, you can expect power to be in the 280- to 300-bhp vicinity, enabling a 0–60 run in the sub-5-second range. The more probable choice is a 2.2- to 2.5-liter inline-4. Honda, which has traditionally shied away from big-displacement powerplants, may feel that a 4-cylinder engine makes more marketing sense in this age of high gasoline prices. There's also talk of a simple hybrid system.

Only those directly involved with the next-generation S2000 project know for sure what the car will be like. We'll know for sure in 2011, after Honda releases the NSX and CR-Z.

Source;
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=7109

A Honda CR-Z Rendering

Found this rendering of what the CR-Z may look like from a reader over at Autoblog.com.
Here's the concept version of the car.

So much has been made about the new Honda Insight that it seems like the CR-Z had been forgotten. This car looks like it will be a two-seater like the CR-X was and is said to be designed with the CR-X as a heavy influence.

Source;

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/17/rendered-speculation-honda-cr-z-hybrid-coupe/

New Honda Convertible Concept, Not the Next S2000

With the July 22nd London Auto Show approaching brings out a new concept from Honda, the Open Study Model or OSM. The lightweight, two-seater, open-air sports car is another design study by Honda that attempts to blend performance and sustainable motoring into a comprehensive package. Designed by Honda's R&D center in Offenbach, Germany, the OSM is a vehicle in the same environmentally friendly vein as the CRZ Concept unveiled in Tokyo last year, considered to be a low emissions alternative to the traditional sports coupe.

Honda insists that the OSM is strictly a design study and is not confirmed for production.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/honda-to-reveal-osm-open-top-concept-in-london/