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  • New Honda Civic launched in Thailand – 1.8 and 2.0 SOHC

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 327 comments

    The new Honda Civic was launched earlier this month in Thailand, giving us a good preview of what’s coming. Unlike the previous gen, where our Civic looked significantly different, the new Thai Civic is largely identical to the US-market car. Extra garnish comes in the form of rear reflectors that link the rear lamps to the license plate.

    The cabin has been redesigned, although it retains Honda’s two-tier dashboard that was such a revolution when it debut in the FD Civic. The upper tier is now much longer, incorporating a colour screen that displays various menus.

    In Thailand, one can specify the Civic with a Navi package, and the 2.0L model comes with push start keyless entry, a new feature for the Civic. There’s also an ECON button on the right of the steering.

    Like before, two engines are offered – 1.8L and 2.0L i-VTEC units. The smaller engine puts out 141 PS and 174 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. That’s 1 PS more than our current Civic, made 200 rpm higher, so it’s probably just fine tuning.

    The 2.0L is no longer the K-series engine, but a SOHC sibling of the 1.8. Chosen for better fuel economy no doubt, it produces 155 PS and 190 Nm at 4,300 rpm.

    Max power is the same, but there’s 2 Nm more torque, made 200 rpm lower. Both engines continue with Honda’s slick five-speed auto, with paddles on the 2.0. The 1.8 can be had with a five-speed manual as well.

    The rest of the spec sheet show some differences. For instance, Honda has traded the FD’s double-wishbone rear suspension for a multi-link unit. EPS steering is now standard across the range, turning circle is better (5.42 vs 5.8m) but steering is slower at 3.1 vs 2.65 turns lock-to-lock.

    The new Civic has a smaller footprint and shorter wheelbase; the latter is down by 30 mm to make 2,670 mm. The current Civic has superb rear legroom, and we’ll have to see if there’s any real difference in space when the time comes. We’re sure that Honda would have done some repackaging magic, something it’s very good at. The Civic’s flat floor remains.

    In Thailand, the Civic range starts from 773,000 baht for the 1.8 S Manual, topping out at 1.124 million baht for the 2.0 EL with Navi, the only trim for the bigger engine.

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  • Honda to recycle rare earth metals in hybrid car battery

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 18 comments

    Honda is making hybrid engines a little bit friendlier to the environment. And I don’t mean by a new more efficient engine that cuts more emissions. Honda Motor Co. and the Japan Metals & Chemicals Co. have joined forces to establish the world’s first process to extract rare earth metals from various used parts in Honda products.

    This is not an experimental process but one that actually works. The recycling will happen in an actual recycling plant in a mass-production process.

    Before the end of the month, the partnership will begin extracting rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries, which are current present in a majority of hybrid cars on the road. The batteries will be collected from Honda hybrid vehicles at Honda dealers inside as well as outside of Japan.

    Here is how it works (an exerpt from the press release):

    Honda had been applying a heat treatment to used nickel-metal hydride batteries and recycling nickel-containing scrap as a raw material of stainless steel. However, the successful stabilization of the extraction process at the plant of Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., Ltd. made possible the extraction of rare earth metals in a mass-production process with purity as high as that of newly mined and refined metals.

    The newly established process enables the extraction of as much as above 80% of rare earth metals contained in used nickel-metal hydride batteries. Honda will strive to reuse extracted rare earth metals not only for nickel-metal hydride batteries, but also to a wide range of Honda products. Moreover, Honda will further expand the recycling of rare earth metals in the future as the newly established process enables the extraction of rare earth metals from a variety of used parts in addition to nickel-metal hydride batteries.

    So, if you own a Honda hybrid or will be owning one soon, you can rest easier knowing that your car is a little bit greener.

     

  • Honda City facelift – how the 2012 model shapes up

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 110 comments

    Still no sign of the Honda City facelift, which was announced in Thailand late last year, and which we ran leaked brochure scans of, as well as a video. Presumably, the arrival of the car here has been delayed due to the effects of the severe flooding that hit Thailand last year.

    Over in Australia, the car has just been introduced, so the photos give an impression of how it’ll shape up to the eye. Two variants are available there, these being the VTi (in manual and automatic form) and VTi-L, essentially the equivalent of the Thai S and SV grades.

    Both variants wear the external cues mentioned in our earlier story – new chrome grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers as well as a new brake light design.

    The VTi-L wears the newly-designed 16-inch alloys and adds a master door lock switch on the driver’s side, and aside from the blue-lit speedometer mentioned previously, the City gains aluminum-look treatment for the interior panels and trim, while the audio and climate controls in the VTi-L receive a chrome treatment.

    There’s also a new seat fabric, with the VTi-L’s receiving additional blue stitching. Elsewhere, thicker window glass and enhanced floor carpeting has come about to significantly improve cabin quietness.

    No changes to the running gear – the 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC continues on with 120 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,800 rpm. Given that the car has now begun selling in Australia, it shouldn’t be too long before we finally get going with it. Well, hopefully that’s the case.

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  • Honda Earth Dreams Technology – aiming for best in class fuel consumption in every segment, with fun to match

    In 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, Feature Stories, Honda / By / / 22 comments

    Along with concepts like the EV-STER and Micro Commuter, Honda officially revealed its banner for next generation technology called Earth Dreams Technology at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The company, and president/CEO Takanobu Ito, promises both to care for the environment and provide joy of driving under EDT. From what we’ve heard and experienced, it sure smells as sweet as Eau De Toilette!

    There are few main weapons in the Earth Dreams Technology arsenal, comprising new petrol and diesel engines, a CVT gearbox, a fresh “two-motor” hybrid system, electric SH-AWD for efficient performance and of course, a compact electric powertrain for EVs.

    With these, Honda is aiming high. No, forget high, let’s make it THE top. With Earth Dreams Technology, Honda is looking at being the fuel efficiency leader in every vehicle class within three years – how’s that for a mission? Alongside this FC target is a plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% for all products sold worldwide by 2020, relative to emission figures from year 2000.

    Continue reading after the jump.
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  • Dongfeng-Honda Ciimo – an 8th-gen Civic for China

    In Cars, Dongfeng, Honda, International News / By / / 56 comments

    Dongfeng-Honda has introduced the Ciimo sedan specifically for the Chinese market – if the shape in the photos look familiar, it is; the Ciimo is pretty much the eight-generation Civic, repackaged for China.

    The car – which made its debut in Beijing – is available in only one engine variant form, this being the 1.8 litre i-VTEC, mated to either a five-speed manual or five-speed auto transmission. Kit includes ABS with EBD and active headrests.

    Pricing for the Ciimo begins from 111,800 Yuan, and word is that the Ciimo name won’t just be worn on this one, but rather on a series of models as it becomes a sub-brand. Reports indicate that a SUV based on the CR-V is next on the cards.

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  • Honda Concept S and Concept C show Chinese style

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 31 comments

    First off, apologies for the patchy posts coming off from China; I had nightmares with the Internet there, with the speed and stability bringing back nasty memories of dial-up connection – it took about three hours to complete the upload of the couple of Great Wall posts at the end of the first day. Now back, I’ll be rounding up other stuff from the show.

    Honda, in an effort to match Toyota’s triple concept outing in Beijing, premiered two concept vehicles developed for the Chinese market, called the Concept C and Concept S.

    The names sound rather sedate upon first glance, but the C in this case stands for China and also Challenge and Cool, while the S translates into Stylish, Smart and Surprise, the company says.

    Nothing too boring about the looks though, with the Concept C looking very much like a stretched and sleeked-out Accord on steroids – that dramatic front end won’t probably see the light of day in the production model, but much of the concept looks workable. Honda is set to develop the Concept C into a production model sometime next year.

    Meanwhile, no mistaking the intent of the Concept S, a people mover in the mould of the Stream, but with more swoops and curves. Designed from the start as a hybrid offering, the Concept S will arrive in Chinese showrooms in 2013, produced and sold by Dongfeng Honda.

    It won’t stop there – while the Concept S may have been developed with China as its primary market in mind, the vehicle is set to expand its presence by becoming a global offering in 2014.

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  • Honda develops new CVT, available with Step WGN

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 43 comments

    Whether you are a fan or not, the CVT gearbox is here to stay. Point in case is the new CVT from Honda, which is part of their Earth Dreams Technology, specially developed for mid-sized Honda vehicles.

    This new CVT features newly developed high-efficiency electric oil pump, high-strength belt and exclusive CVT oil raise transmission efficiency, which enhances fuel economy. It also features a wide ratio that gives more torque in the lower rpm range that translates to quick acceleration from standstill. In addition, the new CVT is equipped with the G-Design Shift that controls the gearing, throttle and hydraulic control to make the system respond quicker to driver input.

    The take back from this new CVT is that it offers five percent better fuel economy than the conventional CVT, and 10 percent better than a traditional 5-speed automatic. The new CVT will not reach us yet. It is still new in Japan and will be first shoehorned into the Step WGN and Step WGN Spada.

     

  • Two Honda concepts teased ahead of Beijing Motor Show

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 12 comments

    Take a look at the two pictures you see here. The line drawings are from Honda and it is supposed to depict the two concept cars that will be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. Incidentally, it is not only the concepts will be introduced but the CR-Z, Insight and Fit Hybrid will also get their debut in the Chinese market.

    Honda did not release meaty information about the car other than the concepts will have a ‘focus on Chinese customers’. The first concept obviously has the typical lines of a people mover, the rear end reminds of the Honda Odyssey, so this could be a seven-seater MPV.

    The other could either be a sporty model, a coupe perhaps? It is definitely not the Integra, which is now a motorcycle. And it is definitely not the NSX Concept; it will be shown together with the RDX and the ILX in the Acura booth. So, are we seeing the first lines of the Prelude? Or could this be another version of the Accord Coupe Concept as guessed by caradvice.com.au? It’s anyone’s guess at this point.

    We will definitely get more information as we creep closer to the start of the Beijing Motor Show. In the mean time, your thoughts please.

     

  • New Honda 3S Centre opens in Setia Alam, Shah Alam

    In Cars, Honda, Local News / By / / 14 comments

    Honda Malaysia have recently officiated the opening of its new 3S Centre in Setia Alam. Tiong Nam Motor is the latest and biggest Honda 3S Centre in the Shah Alam-Klang area that offers Sales, Services and Spare Parts under one roof.

    Tiong Nam Motor invested RM7.3 million for building, facilities and equipment into this 60th Honda Dealer in Malaysia, which is also the first 3S Centre located in the Setia Alam township. The Honda 3S Centre has 12 service bays with hoists and is capable of accommodating 40 cars per day for repair service. There is also 1 bay dedicated to wheel alignment service and 2 bays for car wash.

    Among the facilities and services provided by Tiong Nam Motor include a new car delivery bay, free Wi-Fi, touch screen PC, road tax renewal and insurance coverage, car wash and detailing service, nitrogen gas tyre inflation service, car key drop service (available upon request), SMS for Preventive Maintenance Service Schedule (PMSS) reminder, SMS and call customers for car collection, shuttle service within Setia Alam, car’s work-in-progress tracking system and a multi-info visual queue management system.

    For appointment and operating hours, customers can contact Tiong Nam Motor at 03 – 3343 1111 for Sales and Service or log on to www.honda.com.my for more information.

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  • Honda resumes auto production at flood hit Thailand plant

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 24 comments

    Honda is back on track producing cars in Thailand. Honda Automobile Thailand Co Ltd (HATC), is restarting production today at its Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya facility that was badly hit by the floods that covered Thailand late last year.

    Production was suspended there since October 4 last year. The process of draining out flood water was completed at the end of November 2011, and then came efforts to clean, inspect, repair and replace plant facilities and manufacturing equipment. After around four months of such restoration work, HATC is now ready for business. The company is planning a ceremony on March 31 to commemorate the restart.

    Over the past months, Honda has been sourcing vehicles from Japan to some countries in the Asia-Oceania region including Thailand. This will now end since all plants have resumed production, which is expected to normalise in April. For all other Honda plants outside of the region, the impact of the flooding in Thailand has already been resolved. Honda’s Alor Gajah, Melaka plant is also back on steam.

    “Positioning HATC as one of the most important production operations in the Asia/Oceania Region, Honda was totally committed to realising the earliest possible recovery. Honda will maintain the same positioning of HATC in the future and further promote business operations in Thailand,” Honda said in a statement.

     
 
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