Mugen VS Mugen

We drive tuned versions of Honda CR-Z and the Ariel Atom back to back in this exclusive videoBy Jack Rix June 2011

Mugen is a company that doesn’t do things by half – and lately Honda’s tuning arm has been extremely busy.

The world’s most skeletal car, the Ariel Atom has been given a power boost without the need for a supercharger. The result is a 270bhp output from its 2.0-litre Honda-sourced engine that makes it just about the fastest thing on four wheels.

Other tweaks to the £50,000 road-legal track car include firmer suspension taken from the Atom V8 and a unique colour scheme for the chassis.

Alongside the Atom Mugen we drove the CR-Z Mugen – currently a one-off tuned version of the hybrid coupe. Now kicking out 200bhp it promises Civic Type R-beating pace with excellent Fuel Economy – and as we discovered its exhaust and styling aren’t for the faint-hearted.

Watch as we take both cars outside their comfort zones – testing the CR-Z on track and unleashing the Atom on public roads.

Source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/videoreviews/269185/mugen_vs_mugen_review.html#ixzz1S0GVAUF3

Powered-up Honda CR-Z races into Le Mans ahead of 24-hour contest

The Honda CR-Z will join the Nissan Leaf and a few other alternative-powered cars in the Le Mans Vers Le Futur demonstration preceding Saturday's start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. The demonstration features the potential future of Le Mans, with less noise, less pollution and less cash spent.

The upgraded CR-Z gets a 200-hp version of the 1.5-liter engine, producing 175 lb-ft of torque. It keeps the six-speed manual transmission and the seven-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery of the stock car.

Honda unveiled the competition version of the CR-Z last year at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. Later, it was entered into the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race in San Francisco. The compact CR-Z finished second in its class.

In Europe, the car is used as a pace car for the Speed EuroSeries.

Honda says it developed the car to be tested in race conditions, in part to help solve problems that arise when running a hybrid race car. The CR-Z isn't certified by the FIA, so it will only appear in the prerace festivities.

Source;
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article#ixzz1OmlLtEp1

Toyota confirms FT-86 details

Japanese automaker confirms a 2.0 liter Boxer engine from Subaru will power the FT-86

According to our colleagues over at Motorward.com, Toyota has confirmed certain details on the upcoming FT-86.

The report states that the FT-86 production version will feature a 2.0 liter Boxer engine from Subaru and a D-4S injection system from Toyota.

Transmission options will be a six-speed manual or six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.

The car will be a rear-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential.

The FT-86 has been a long time in development and we expect more details soon as the model is gearing up for its official introduction.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/111050233033/toyota-confirms-ft-86-details---report#ixzz1LIe1jCyQ

Inside Line: 2011 Dodge Charger vs. The General Lee Track Video

Shear awesomeness....

Honda to Debut CR-Z TS-1X Concept at this week's Tokyo Auto Salon

Could this be the model that Honda has been talking about making a non-hybrid, with a more powerful 1.6L engine?
With the conclusion of the press days of the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, the automotive world is now shifting its focus on the Tokyo Auto Salon 2011, which will be held from Friday, January 14, to Sunday, January 16, at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

At this year's event, Honda will be presenting several vehicles including the TS-1X concept study based on the CR-Z hybrid. The prototype model is the work of Honda Access Corporation, the Japanese carmaker's in-house aftermarket division.

Honda has not revealed any information on the concept model, but from the single photo it did release, we can see that the TS-1X is finished in a matt black paintjob and is fitted with a full body kit comprising of front and rear bumpers, beefy side skirts and a large rear wing that appears to extend on the CR-Z's sides.

Other Honda products to be displayed at Honda's stand include a variety of customized vehicles such as the Sports Modulo NSX, Freed Spike caravan car, the Acty Truck and the Enepo generator special coloring editions, plus several racing models like the HSV-010 GT, which won both the driver and team titles for the Super GT Series GT500-class races.

Our man Phil has already landed in Japan and will be covering the show live so stay tuned on Carscoop for more news on the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/01/honda-to-debut-cr-z-ts-1x-concept-to.html

SEMA 2010: Honda HPD CR-Z Racer Gets a Turbo and Push-to-Pass Hybrid Boost

Technically the SEMA Show doesn’t start until tomorrow but thanks to our spies inside we have these snap shots of just what potential Honda's new CR-Z has. The Honda Performance Development CR-Z Racer looks like a true racing machine and likely is with a fully stripped-down body, a lowered suspension, functional aero and some big 17-inch wheels with meaty racing slicks.

But the truly exciting mods are found under the hood, where Honda strapped a Borg Warner turbo to the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder to pump out 175-hp and 155 ft-lbs of torque. But that’s not all, Honda also rejigged the Integrated Motor Assist hybrid setup to produce added power that’s available with a Indy Car styled push-to-pass button. When pressed, the CR-Z makes a total of 200-hp and 175 ft-lbs of torque.

Other mods include an LSD and some big brake upgrades.

Hopefully Honda is serious about taking this car racing and we’ll be at the press conference tomorrow to find out.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/11/sema-2010-honda-hpd-cr-z-racer-gets-a-turbo-and-push-to-pass-hybrid-boost.html

No More Secrets: Ben Collins is The Stig

Professional race car driver Ben Collins has been identified through the High Court of London as The Stig after BBC looses court case. BBC’s Top Gear show is undoubtedly one of the most popular automotive shows among car enthusiasts and we have always wondered who the face was underneath the white helmet and race gear. Now we know who he is!

If you remember, Perry McCarthy was the previous Stig as it was revealed in his autobiography ‘Flat Out, Flat Broke’. Since 2003 the mystery of who flogged the crap out of cars around the Top Gear test track faded into a trivial guessing game.

Top Gear over the years thrived on the marketing success of keeping the identity of the Stig a secret. Yesterday during the BBC’s court case the lawyers said the BBC had been refused an injunction blocking publication of a book that revealed the identity of the Stig. Right after, publishers HarperCollins said in a statement that a 33-year-old racing driver named Ben Collins “has a great story to tell about his seven years as The Stig, which will appeal to a wide audience beyond just motoring enthusiasts.” HarperCollins said the book will be published in Britain on September 16th and called the situation a “victory for freedom of speech”. Now after every victory lap the Stig does from hear-on-out we will all know who is really behind the wheel.

Source;
http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/14080/no-more-secrets-ben-collins-is-the-stig

Honda Civic Si Takes 1st Place At SCCA RallyCross Championships

When someone says, “rally car” you probably immediately think of a Subaru WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Perhaps with the PR around the new 2011 Ford Fiesta, you think of Kent Block’s tricked out WRC Fiesta rally car. One thing is for sure, you probably don’t have your eyes set on something like a Honda Civic Si. However, much to the surprise of a lot of people, one particular stock Honda Civic Si took not only 1st place, but 2nd place in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) RallyCross® Modified two-wheel drive championships. It just goes to show that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

For the second consecutive year the SCCA National RallyCross Championships have been held in Fountain, Colo. at the U.S Truck Driving School. Last year’s event was so successful that the SCCA home office in Topeka though it would be a good idea to come back to the Rockies and run another championship event. Quite an event it was too, with almost 80 cars, some of which traveled from all over the contiguous 48 states. The real surprise though was the type of cars that come out to race at these events.

The SCCA National RallyCross Championships saw cars from the expected Subaru WRX to VW Golfs to the more unusual Chevrolet Berretta. To some degree, Rally racing isn’t so much about the type of car, as it is about the driver. Ken Cashion, operational steward of the National RallyCross Championships, wanted to prove that sometimes you don’t have to go overboard to win a Championship title. Cashion and myself set off to do what some deemed to be the impossible—win the modified two-wheel drive championships with a stock (except for rally tires and rims) Honda Civic Si with six-speed manual transmission. At 195 horsepower and with the infamous Honda VTEC motor, the Civic Si isn’t playing around. However, could it beat fully modified cars?

The answer was yes. Honda, from the factory, is able to build a car that could not only take first place in the Championships, but also claim second place (with yours truly behind the wheel) in the same category and another second place victory in the prepared two-wheel drive class. This little red Civic also claimed the fastest time of the day in its class on Sunday with myself piloting it around the course.

Bottom line—Small cars aren’t what they used to be and Honda has the proof in the pudding with the Civi Si. The question now is, will you check on out for yourself?

Source;
http://www.allsmallcars.com/blog/1048629_honda-civic-si-takes-1st-place-at-scca-rallycross-championships

Demon Car Veritas RS III to join FIA GT1 World Championship?

Demon Car.... looks so amazing, it takes the 'angry look' to a whole new level....
The FIA GT1 World Championship just kicked off its inaugural season since its organizing body, SRO, split the former FIA GT Championship into separate series for the GT1 and GT2 classes. Already, manufacturers are lining up to participate.

At the opening round of the new series, six different vehicles were on the grid, including the Nissan GT-R, Corvette C6.R, Lamborghini Murcielago R-SV, Matech Ford GT, Aston Martin DBR9 and Maserati MC12. But if the latest reports become reality, that impressive lineup could see a new challenger from a decidedly more niche manufacturer.

According to some reports, Veritas is preparing a fixed-roof GT1-spec version of its RS III supercar – complete with BMW-sourced V10 – for participation in the series. The reports emanate from the Top Marques show in Monaco, where the automaker reportedly indicated its racing ambitions. If Veritas gets its act together on time, they could be joining the series mid-season as soon as the Nurburgring round this coming July.

Source (with more pics);
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/02/veritas-rs-iii-to-join-fia-gt1-world-championship/

Honda's HSV-010 (Next Gen NSX!) Spied by Kansenzyuku (via Vtec.net)

What makes these snap shots bitter sweet is the fact that this NSX was so close to production that they were able to sell the GTA.co to allow them to enter the race with this car! This would have been a sweet production car!

Now, here's how I feel....

Source (via www.vtec.net);

http://www.kansenzyuku.com/circuitdiary/diary.cgi?no=129

Honda to compete in GT500 class of 2010 Super GT Series with HSV-010 GT

December 22, 2009―Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced today that it will compete in the GT500 class of the 2010 Super GT Series (managed and run by GTA Co., Ltd.) with its HSV-010 GT.

The HSV-010 GT was developed exclusively for racing with the hope of offering thrills and dreams to fans through an unremitting focus on speed—the starting point of all motorsports. The model conforms to the 2010 GT500 Regulations, (including a 3.4-liter V8 engine and an FR layout) issued by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), having earned JAF-GT500 basic vehicle registration. The HSV-010 GT is slated to debut at the Super GT season opener at the Suzuka Circuit, held on March 20–21 (Sat.–Sun.), 2010.

* The letters “HSV” stand for Honda Sports Velocity.

Since joining the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) in 1997 with its NSX-GT, Honda has competed in a total of 106 races during 13 years through the end of the 2009 season. During this time, Honda has taken the pole position 50 times and won 37 races.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=870316