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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

Let’s start with petrol engines and what Honda is so famous for, VTEC. Honda has enhanced its much vaunted variable valve timing and lift control system for better thermal efficiency and reduced friction. This will benefit both ends of the scale – fuel efficiency and higher output.

This “new VTEC” will be homed in a new engine series which has a new structure and higher expandability. The new range will include players in every engine class – from the JDM minicar standard of 660 cc to a 3.5 V6 that Americans require. Four cylinder units displacing 1.3, 1.5, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4 litres will sit in the middle.

Another major shift is the use of the Atkinson cycle, till now only seen in Toyota’s hybrid models. The Atkinson cycle provides high efficiency at the expense of power density. It’s also not the strongest at low engine speeds, so this is where Honda’s twin cam VTEC know how comes into play, normalising the situation. Honda plans to use the Atkinson cycle from 1.3 to 2.0 litre sizes; no change for engines outside this range.

That’s not all, as 1.3L engines and above will all receive direct injection. The 1.8 and 2.0 engines, likely to power Honda’s future C-segment cars like the Civic and CR-V, will also get high capacity EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation). If used with motor assist in a hybrid, the 2.0L engine will come with an electric water pump, eliminating the need for a belt in the auxiliary drive and reducing friction.

Honda gave us a sample of this next gen engine, which in 2.4L guise features direct injection, DOHC VTEC, VTC, high tumble port, double arm chain system plus “extensive friction reduction measures” and Idle Stop. With all these, Honda claims 5% improved economy and 5% better output, along with 10% more torque – the latter is also more accessible thanks to a friendlier torque curve.

The improvements over today’s K24A is noticeable. Housed in an Accord Euro and paired to a CVT, the new engine has sharp response on take off, opposed to today’s “comes alive at high rpms” character. Can’t quite remember the top end feel though, no thanks to the CVT. But one thing’s for sure – it performs with vigour that’s not very common in the class. Figures? Over 181 hp and over 240 Nm is what they’re ready to reveal at this point.

Japanese carmakers are always critisised for their lack of diesel engine development, so when we were told that there’s a new oil burner for sampling, we were naturally excited.

Honda will be replacing the 2.2L diesel it uses in Europe now for a thoroughly modern downsized unit – a 1.6L that’s aiming for best in class acceleration and fuel efficiency. I can see people at VW and PSA scratching their heads in disbelieve, but Honda is saying it with a straight face.

Firstly, this new 1.6L diesel is compact and has the world’s lightest body, according to its maker. Optimising engine rigidity and combustion pressure allowed them to use an aluminium open deck for the cylinder block, saving previous grams. Reducing mechanical friction was also a main objective, and the result is on par with current Honda petrol engines. There’s also a new compact and more efficient turbocharger.

This engine will make roughly 120 hp and 300 Nm of torque, but boy, it feels much better than that. Also demo-ed in an Accord Euro, but with a six-speed manual gearbox, you hear no diesel clatter in the car, and there’s no turbo lag. What’s nice is the way it revs so cleanly without any lack of breath or added vibration at high rpms.

“Like a petrol engine” is often used to describe nice diesels, but this is even smoother revving than many petrols. And since manual gearbox feel is something of a Honda trade secret, the package is top notch. In Malaysia, we can start writing a song dedicated to Honda titled “If Only”.

Honda is on a mission to inject sportiness and fun driving back into the mix, after focusing solely on green for some time, and the new SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) represents this efficient performance mix well. Developed for future large vehicles, the new SH-AWD is essentially a “hybridised” version of the physics defying tech. Presently, SH-AWD is a mechanical torque vectoring rear axle that can be found in high end models like the Legend and US market Acuras.

The electric SH-AWD was housed in an Accord body for sampling. Up front is the new direct-injected 3.5-litre V6 with 310 hp and 360 Nm. It is assisted by a 40 hp, 130 Nm electric motor and mated to a self-developed seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. At the back, each rear wheel is connected to a 27 hp, 70 Nm electric motor. The result is four-wheel drive without a link between front and rear axles.

Each rear motor is independently controlled, and can deliver either positive or negative torque. Instead of just directing torque to the outside wheel for more traction, SH-AWD can simultaneously generate power from the inside wheel, neutralising power use.

It’s sort of like taking from one hand and putting it into the other, in every corner. The front wheels does the usual regenerating thing. It’s all extremely efficient, and Honda says that this combo can deliver V8 go with four-cylinder fuel economy. And of course, there’s the physics defying traction. View this short video to better grasp the concept.

We tried the SH-AWD Accord mule on a very short loop of the Motegi road course, and yours truly came away very impressed. Here’s a big heavy car that can corner like few other. There’s so much more traction in the corners when the regular FWD Accord would have already washed wide, leading me to carry higher than expected speeds in the corners.

It was a super brief stint, but the slalom run gave the Accord, which is already the entertainer of the class, a chance to show off its nimble feet. It danced, not plowed, around the cones, and the car’s tail played along. Ok, it wasn’t drifting, but it was obvious that it wasn’t just front end grip dragging the car around. The only negative factor is major body roll, but that’s not part of what’s being tested here. Highly promising.

There was also a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the evaluation car. It wasn’t conspicuous, which is a good thing to report for a DSG type ‘box.

There you go, one afternoon worth of exciting discovery at Motegi. Many enthusiasts, me included, have been lamenting the “death” of Honda’s enthusiast/engineering streak, replaced by an obsession with eco and hybrid. The condolences are premature, and I’m happy to know that there are exciting times ahead from the brand. Just that this time, performance will be fused with eco consciousness.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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 60^th 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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Over in the US, according to news reports, a Superior Court judge in San Diego has finalised the approval of a class-action settlement between Honda and Civic Hybrid owners in the US, who claimed that their cars fuel economy was not that which was promised, in this case a combined total of 50 mpg.

The settlement agreement will give owners between US$100 to US$200, as well as a rebate towards the purchase of a new Honda. The ruling covers around 200,000 Civic Hybrids from model years 2003 to 2009, with owners of 2006 to 2008 year models set to get the higher amount due to additional claims over battery defects, the reports add.

The settlement is valued at around US$170 million. It will also award the plaintiff attorneys more than US$8 million.

The case became big news last month after Heather Peters, a Civic hybrid owner who had declined to join the class-action suit, won her case in Small Claims Court against Honda on the fuel economy issue, in which she was claiming against Honda that her 2006 Civic failed to deliver the 50 mpg economy that was promised.

The Los Angeles resident won nearly US$10,000, and Honda has filed an appeal in that case. Unlike Peter’s small claims case, class-action lawsuits only awards claimants against Honda a maximum of around US$200 in compensation, the reports said.

The reports added that more than 1,700 Honda owners opted out of the settlement, some believing that owners should be paid more, while some complained that the attorney fees were too high.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Chronologically, this interview happened yesterday, but Honda had kindly asked us to keep mum about it until the launch of the Jazz Hybrid took place.

So here is it, the brain-picking session with Shingo Nagamine, the Large Project Leader of the Honda Jazz Hybrid. We asked him about the Jazz Hybrid, how it compares to the current petrol model and how does the battery fare in our climate. Enjoy.

With the battery, how much heavier is the Jazz Hybrid compared to the standard Jazz?

It is about 70 kg heavier.

Won’t that jeopardise the efficiency of the Jazz Hybrid? More weight usually requires more effort to run, does it not?

The Jazz Hybrid features better aerodynamics as well as low resistance tyres and low drag brake calipers to negate the weight increase. The low drag calipers are only fitted to the rear.

Can you elaborate further on the aerodynamic improvements to the Hybrid? I see that the grille and the front bumper are different.

The bumper is made sharper, especially on the sides, and we have closed most of the holes and smoothed them over, so that more air flows around the car rather than into the car. The grille, which is larger, also directs more air over the bonnet. In short, the only holes that we have left open are the necessary ones. The resulting improvement in aerodynamics is 3%.

What about fuel efficiency? From the slide, you’ve quoted a consumption of 21.3 km/l. In what cycle was the fuel consumption tested?

The Jazz Hybrid has 25% to 30% better fuel efficiency compared to the petrol-engine version. As for the fuel consumption, it was tested using the Euro ECE 101 cycle.

What about the chassis? Has anything been changed to accomodate the additional weight of the IMA and the battery?

Yes. We have made the rear axle beam stronger and stiffer. Plus, we have increased the damping and spring rate for the front and rear suspension. Handling performance is not compromised though.

Traditionally, the spare tyre is placed underneath the floorboard of the boot area, which is now totally being occupied by the battery.

The Jazz Hybrid does not come with a spare tyre. Instead, it comes with an emergency puncture kit as a substitute. You can find it on the right side of the boot.

These days, floods are frequently plaguing Malaysia. Is there any worry that floodwater will damage the battery?

Since the battery is placed within the car, it is protected from the water; hence it will not cause any problem. However, if water level reaches higher than the chassis, then there is a possibility that the water might seep into the battery and damage it. In any case, should the water get in, the battery will automatically shut down to prevent any electrical shocks.

What about heat and humidity? Will it affect the battery adversely?

There is a vent that takes in air from the car. It will be drawn in by a fan placed in the vent, closer to the battery. As for humidity, we have tested the Jazz Hybrid extensively in Thailand, which has about the same climate in Malaysia, and found no problems.

The recent launch of a hybrid car from a close competitor has made hybrids even more accessible to the public. How is the Jazz Hybrid different?

The Jazz is already known for its easy handling, large luggage space and smart storage solutions in a compact body. The hybrid engine adds more fuel efficiency features that will further enhance the daily usability of the Jazz, which means added value for our customers.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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UPDATE: Launch gallery and detail shots added

After months of speculation, the Honda Jazz Hybrid is now officially launched. The green car was unveiled to the media at a very green location, FRIM in Kepong, minutes ago. Sharing the 1.3L Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) powertrain with the Insight we’re familiar with, the Jazz Hybrid is priced at RM94,800 OTR including insurance.

The Jazz Hybrid made its world debut at Paris 2010. Honda has managed to integrate the 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine + IMA powertrain from the Insight into the B-segment body of the Jazz, famous for its space and brilliant packaging. The claimed fuel consumption figure is 21.3 km/l in the European cycle.

Apparently, the engine, motor, battery and Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) goes into the Jazz without affecting practicality – the Jazz’s multi-folding Magic Seats are retained, as is a boot volume of 300 litres, or 846 litres with the rear seats folded. The IPU tucks in beneath the boot floor, so there’s no spare tyre in the car, but a tyre repair kit.

Among the hybrid features are the ECON driving mode and Eco Assist function. Also standard are six airbags, Hill Start Assist, Multi Info Display and Charge Assist Indicator. Available in five colours – Fresh Lime Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Milano Red, Crystal Black Pearl and Tafetta White – the car is priced at RM94,800. The battery comes with a five-year or 140,000 km warranty, the same as the Insight and CR-Z’s.

More details and an in-depth look into the Jazz Hybrid will be coming your way soon, in a special interview with Shingo Nagamine, Large Project Leader of the Jazz Hybrid.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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1. Honda Jazz Hybrid spotted in Taiping, launch on March 15
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5. Honda Jazz Hybrid to debut in Malaysia sometime in Q1
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The new facility – expected to be up and running in 2014 – will sit on the grounds of the company’s existing factory located in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta. Despite the recent production half brought about by strikes, it looks like the company has decided that people are easier to handle than nature.

When the new facility arrives, it’ll double production lines at the site to two, and with planned upgrades to the existing line – which currently has an output capacity of 60,000 vehicles annually – the annual production capacity will be 180,000 units with both lines running.

The company says the expansion means it will be ramping up production of models made at the existing Bekasi plant, and these are the Jazz, the CR-V and the Freed MPV.

It’s also set to build models that haven’t been built in Indonesia, and candidates are the little Brio compact as well as the City, which is currently being brought in to the country from Thailand.

The automaker built around 49,000 vehicles in Indonesia in 2011, 11% less from the year before – the interruptions brought about by the flooding in Thailand forced Honda to cut output across the region. It is based on this experience that the company has taken the decision to split its Asean production, looking at turning Indonesia into a key site.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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It was in Detroit that Honda stopped teasing the world and unveiled the NSX Concept. The world was excited. Now, chances are you’ll soon be seeing this car very soon in the cinemas, being driven by Iron Man himself, or so Hollywood’s rumour mill says. But before you head into the cinemas to drool at the car (I’ll be doing the same), here are a few more highlights of the next-generation NSX Concept as revealed by Honda.

The first thing that you should know about the NSX is that Honda is not joining the horsepower race. While most supercars are filled to the brim with the brute force of a large engine, the NSX will have a very favourable power-to-weight ratio. So, you can expect lightweight materials to be one of the defining features of this car.

There are no final numbers on its weight yet, but the dimensions of the NSX is as such: 4,330 mm long, 1,895 mm wide and 1,160 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,575 mm. The NSX will have a front wheel size of 19-inches wrapped with 255/35 tyres and 20-inch units wearing 275/30 rubbers adorn the rear.

Beating in the middle will be Honda’s next-generation direct-injection VTEC V6 engine that will be partnered with a dual-clutch transmission and a third electric traction motor integrated within the transmission housing to give supercar acceleration while still having an efficient fuel consumption.

Two more electric motors can be found in the NSX, and they form what is called Super Handling-All Wheel Drive, or SH-AWD for short. This new hybrid all-wheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering. Honda predicts that the SH-AWD will deliver handling performance unlike any other.

The NSX will be developed by Honda R&D Americas and Ohio will be its chosen birth city. The bad news? The NSX will not be made anytime soon and will only go on sale in the next three years. Bummer.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda Yuasa Racing has revealed its 2012 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) car in full livery. It will be driven by Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, with the former defending his BTCC title. The car will test for the first time in public next week at Silverstone.

The BTCC car is based on the ninth-generation “FB” European Honda Civic Hatchback. The made-in-England five-door hatch made its world debut at last year’s Frankfurt show.

In the UK, the latest Civic is available with three engine options – a 1.4L i-VTEC, 1.8L i-VTEC and a 2.2L i-DTEC diesel. Only the higher powered petrol engine can be had with a five-speed automatic, the rest are exclusively paired with a six-speed manual.

Click here to see the road car.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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It’s no secret that the next hybrid car to be launched here will be the Honda Jazz Hybrid – we have already received the event invites and will bring you full details of the car this Thursday. But for now, let’s have one last round of spyshots before the car makes its official debut.

Reader Rui Hao was caught in a jam on a rainy March 12 evening, and in the gridlock heading towards Taiping town (in Perak, for those who don’t know), he spotted this truck ferrying four units of the Jazz Hybrid.

Like our last series of spyshots, we see only green and sliver coloured units here, so perhaps these are the only colour options for the car. The Lime Green metallic colour you see here is the model’s signature hue.

The Jazz Hybrid made its world debut at Paris 2010. Click here for full details and a gallery. More spy shots and a peek at the car’s dashboard can be seen in our previous post.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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10. 2012 Honda Insight – refreshened hybrid set for Frankfurt

Honda Malaysia has introduced the facelifted Insight hybrid, in its 1.3 litre form. Aside from some external revisions, the facelift – which made its debut in Frankfurt last year – promises to deliver better fuel economy along with a string of other refinements.

Kicking things off are new front and rear bumpers, and the headlights now wear a tint of blue highlight. Additionally, the new grille design features a blue reflector underneath. The tailgate spoiler has also been slimmed, and together with a modified tail gate garnish and a reduction in the size of the wiper motor unit, results in overall increased rear visibility.

Appearance aside, the aerodynamics of the car have also been improved, reducing the running resistance and thus resulting in better fuel economy. The 1.3 litre IMA system – with 88 PS and 121 Nm from the engine and 14 PS and 78 Nm from the motor – gets some powertrain efficiency improvements.

Revisions to the CVT and mill, the latter in the form of reduced engine friction, as well as alterations to the air conditioning system, all do their bit to contribute to lower fuel consumption.

The Insight also features a quieter ride, with the inclusion of added noise insulation materials for better NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance. Meanwhile, the seats are now upholstered with a new fabric, and rear passengers now enjoy an extra head clearance of 15mm, following adjustments to the shape of the roof lining and the hip point of the rear seats.

Still on dual airbags, but there’s Hill Start Assist (HSA) and VSA on this one, and the wave key has been changed to a more compact jack-knife version. Four exterior colours abound, and these are Platinum Aqua Metallic, Premium White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Alabaster Silver Metallic.

The facelifted Insight goes for RM99,800 (on-the-road), and comes with a five-year or 140,000 km warranty on the IMA battery. The best part is that you don’t have to wait long for one, if you’ve been eyeing it – fully aware of the current demand of the new Insight, Honda Malaysia says the waiting period for an Insight is now less than two weeks. No indication as to when the 1.5 litre job will arrive.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda Malaysia (HM) today held a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for a new Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) Centre and Vehicle Quality Test Course at its plant Alor Gajah, Melaka. Expected to be completed by June this year, the facilities will cost HM RM40.12 million. This sum includes land acquisition, building and equipment.

The PDI Centre will do incoming inspection, accessorisation, warehousing, final inspection, car tracking and washing to ensure vehicles meet Honda’s pre-delivery requirements. “With this new PDI Centre, we will be able to expedite the delivery process of new cars to all our dealers nationwide. The new PDI Centre will be able to process 30% more vehicles. This also means that we will be able to offer more job opportunities for fellow Malaysians,” said Yoichiro Ueno, MD and CEO of HM.

The existing PDI Centre operates on a single shift with 51 staff processing 180 units of vehicles at any one time. The new facility is specially designed without sidewalls for good air circulation, but equipped with a roofed loading bay for bad weather. Total built-up area is 6,570 square metres and parking capacity is 1,522 vehicles. Upon completion, it will be able to process 410 vehicles at any one time over two shifts.

Meanwhile, the 2.148 km Vehicle Quality Test Course will be able to fully test new vehicles on various road conditions. Surfaces include slippery, pot-holed, hilly, bumpy and cobbled-stone roads. There are also dynamic testing zones (max speed 140km/h) to check on body noise, wind noise, hard brake, car pulling, steering spoke angle, transmission function and reverse function.

The two new facilities will process CKD models produced in Melaka as the City, Civic, Accord and CR-V. HM has another PDI facility in Bangi that processes imported CBU vehicles. Built in 2008, the Bangi PDI is able to process 60 vehicles in one shift.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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The hybrid fever is set to continue! UMW Toyota launched the Prius c and facelifted Prius to great reception last week, and now we’re seeing a sea of Honda Jazz Hybrids in Malaysia. Reader Ching Hong snapped these pics at PKFZ Klang, and they show a big group of green cars fresh off the boat. With tow hooks in sight, they should be heading to Honda’s stockyard somewhere else.

The Jazz Hybrid uses the same IMA system as the Insight, a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine paired to an assisting electric motor. Using the standard CVT gearbox which sandwiches the motor in between it and the engine, Honda claims a combined fuel consumption of 4.4 litres per 100 km and emissions of 104 g/km of CO2 for the Jazz Hybrid.

Externally, the Jazz Hybrid is distinguished from the standard car with blue surround headlights, clear rear lights, new front grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate garnish. Besides the car’s signature Lime Green metallic colour, we can see some silver units in the pics as well.

Inside, the motor-assisted Jazz will get a unique instrument panel incorporating the Charge/Assist meter and Eco Assist function, which uses the speedo ambient lighting to encourage the driver to drive economically. Honda says that the Hybrid will not lose any of the Jazz’s famous practicality; flexible “Magic Seats” and 300 litres of boot space are retained. The battery pack and power control unit are under the boot floor.

The Jazz Hybrid made its world debut at Paris 2010. Click here for the report and gallery. Toyota’s RM97k sticker for the Prius c is widely seen as a good price for the spec – how much do you think the Jazz Hybrid will cost?

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda has revealed the first images of its European CR-V Prototype ahead of its public debut in Geneva next month.

The prototype showcases the exterior styling direction of the new European Honda CR-V, which is set to go on sale sometime in autumn this year. Essentially, the Euro version of the fourth-generation SUV adopts a slightly more aggressive outlook than its Japanese and North American siblings.

No specific details about the vehicle, but design cues include deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia – there’s a revised lower front bumper, which integrates more smoothly into the fascia for improved aerodynamics. The Euro version also gets more athletic-looking wheels.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Boon Siew Honda has unveiled two new Honda performance bikes – the CBR1000RR and the 2012 Gold Wing. At the same time, the company announced that it will introduce the CRF250L in June this year.

The CBR1000RR is a super sports machine described as the “ultimate litre-class machine”. It runs on a 999 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine framed in an all-aluminium twin-spar chassis. The latest CBR features new suspension – 43 mm “Big Piston” fork up front and Unit Pro-Link rears with double-tube shocks. There’s also a new multi-function LCD panel and Combined Anti-Lock Braking System (C-ABS). The CBR1000RR is priced at RM109,900 with C-ABS and RM98,900 for the non-ABS version.

The 2012 Gold Wing is powered by a 1,832 cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine. Its bodywork has been improved by increasing lower body wind protection. This 2012 model gets new seat material, a Pro-Arm Rear Swingarm and iPod connectivity. On the safety front, there’s ABS and Combined Braking System (CBS). The Gold Wing comes in Pearl White or Graphite Black and will set you back RM174,900.

Unveiled at last year’s Tokyo show, the road-going enduro-style Honda CRF250L is designed on the concept of a street-legal dual-sport bike. Powered by a liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC single-cylinder with PGM-FI, this engine emphasis is on low-rpm torque. The slim body is supported by a twin-tube oval-pipe steel frame.

The bike has disc brakes with wave-shaped rotors and a skid plate. Other features include an inverted fork front suspension, rear Pro-Link suspension and an aluminium swing arm. This bike is related to the CBR250R. Price to be announced later.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda is set to stop assembling its Civic sedan in the Philippines. The move, it is reported, is being made to improve efficiency and centralise production in Thailand, where the company’s Asean hub is located.

The automaker has a plant located in the Philippine province of Laguna, and the facility makes the Civic – in its eight-generation form – as well as the City sedan. Parts shortages caused by the flooding in Thailand last year brought production to a halt in the Philippines, and it wasn’t until January 26 that City production resumed.

Civic production hasn’t; currently, vehicles are being imported from Japan, but once Thai production resumes sometime towards the end of March, Honda is set to switch to Civic imports from Thailand.

The Philippine plant can build 15,000 vehicles annually; in 2010, it produced 9,000 Citys and nearly 3,000 Civics, but in 2011, flood-induced parts shortages caused production to dip to 6,300 Citys and 1,500 Civics.

Honda took the decision to move Civic production to Thailand and produce only the City in the Philippines because significant demand growth isn’t expected for the more expensive Civic. In addition, the tariffs abolished in the region as a result of AFTA means profitability can be maintained while exporting from Thailand, the report adds.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Cham Tack Keong from Johor Bahru recently drove home a brand new Honda Insight. The hybrid car was the grand prize of the lucky draw in Honda’s After-Sales Promotion Campaign, which was announced in June last year.

Cham, 40, has been consistently servicing his Honda Accord 2.4 in Sutera Auto Sdn Bhd since 2006. “I am happy that my loyalty to Honda’s after-sales service pays off. I always believe in sending my car back to Honda for routine maintenance so that I can be sure that my car is well taken care of,” he said.

In an effort to retain customers for life, Honda Malaysia has initiated a series of activities to promote Lifetime Ownership Loyalty (LOL) and this campaign was one of them. Besides the Insight, Honda Malaysia also gave away service vouchers worth RM672,000 and 20 units of the iPad 2 for the campaign.

“We believe in building a lifelong relationship with our customers. Once we hand the key over to them, it is not an end but a beginning in our relationship. Hence, through this campaign, we would like to thank all our customers for giving us the opportunity to be friends. We would also like to remind our customers that Customer Satisfaction is our number one priority,” said Yoichiro Ueno, MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda’s FIA World Touring Car Championship will be the 5-door hatchback you see above, developed with Mugen and J.A.S. Motorsport, but what’s under the engine hood is more interesting – a Honda R&D developed bespoke 1.6 liter engine that’s not found in any current production Honda car!

Honda’s two car WTCC entry will be powered by a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder direct injection turbo engine, developed in accordance with FIA’s Super 2000 regulations. The cars will be managed by J.A.S. Motorsport, and will be entered in every race in the 2013 season.

A typical race covers between 50km to 60km in distance, and the full racing season covers 12 racing weekends, with 2 races per weekend. All vehicles who compete in the championship are based on mass production cars with more than than 4 seats. 

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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The plant was severely affected by the flooding that hit the Kingdom last year; production was suspended on October 4, and the company has since been restoring plant facilities and manufacturing equipment since completing the drainage of the floodwater and carrying out cleaning up operations.

“In October 2011, we had to temporarily suspend production at our facilities in Rojana Industrial Park, which inevitably impacted unit sales. We have finished repairing and installing production equipment and are now running thorough system checks,” Honda Automobile Thailand’s executive vice president, Pitak Pruittisarikorn said in a statement.

He added that until production at Ayutthaya resumes, the company will import Jazz and Accord models from Japan for local sales. Production of parts for export to Honda’s plants in other ASEAN countries will also resume – Honda says that it expects these plants, which had to suspend production due to a shortage of parts, to restart production in April.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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The Honda CR-Z has been rather well received in Malaysia. Launched in November last year, Honda Malaysia targeted to sell 100 units of the RM115k hybrid by the end of 2011, but has received over 300 bookings within a month of the launch.

In December, Honda Malaysia announced the availability of three new colours – Storm Silver Metallic, Milano Red and Crystal Black Pearl. This year will also see HM bring in a CVT version of the CR-Z, now only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. This will further widen the appeal of the hybrid coupe, which is now only considered by enthusiasts and those with an active left leg.

In Japan, those shopping for a CR-Z will have this special edition “Label α” model to choose from. It goes on sale this week and will be available as a limited release until the end of May. Nothing major, just bespoke burgundy pearl metallic finish on the outside with a matching interior color for the seats, door panels plus the stitching on the leather steering wheel and stick shifter.

The “Label α” also gets aluminum sport pedals and alloy wheels, the latter not standard across the range in Japan. Available in both CVT and manual form, it is priced at 2,510,000 yen (or about US$32,150) in Japan.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Word has it that Honda Malaysia is set to introduce the Jazz Hybrid in the country sometime in the first quarter, further widening the choice of hybrids for the consumer. There’s no indicative pricing for the five-door hatch, which made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but it should be nicely clear under the RM100k mark and by all accounts cheaper than the Insight, currently the cheapest hybrid in the country.

The Jazz Hybrid is powered by an 88 PS and 121 Nm 1.3 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, with a new generation Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system made up of a 14 PS and 78 Nm DC brushless electric motor and 0.6 kWh Ni-MH battery pack.

A few subtle cosmetic tweaks help distinguish the car from its petrol-based sibling – these include revised headlamps (with a blue-tint), a new front grille and reworked front and rear bumpers, as well as a new tail lamp cluster. There’s also that signature Lime Green exterior shade to denote its eco-friendly character; wonder if that colour will do well here.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda unveiled this Accord Coupe Concept at Detroit, which should be just a concept in name. It shows off the styling direction for the next gen Accord, as well as a host of new technologies for the ninth-generation 2013 model, set to go on-sale in America this fall.

The 2013 Accord will feature three all-new powertrains, including a 2.4-litre direct-injected four-pot and two-motor plug-in hybrid system from Honda’s next-generation Earth Dreams technologies. In addition, the V6 Accord will be the first Honda sedan to feature a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Both the Accord Sedan and Coupe are expected to achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings in the US.

Honda says that the next gen Coupe will retain today’s size, but the new US Sedan, which we normally get, will feature a more compact exterior footprint with shortened length and reduced weight for “more responsive handling and improved driving dynamics.” Despite the smaller body, both the Sedan and Coupe will retain the current model’s generous cabin space.

The new 2.4L DI engine will make more than 181 hp and 240 Nm of torque, which is more that today’s 2.4L, while delivering better economy. This engine will be paired to a 6-speed manual or a new CVT, which utilises an innovative cooperative control system for “excellent acceleration and responsive shifting.”

Higher up, the re-engineered 3.5L V6 engine will be paired to a new 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual. There will be an increase in horsepower and torque over the current model, and automatic transmission variants will come with Honda Variable Cylinder Management technology. Once again, class leading economy is the target.

The 2013 Accord range will also feature the first application of a new two-motor plug-in hybrid system in the Sedan. The system moves continuously through three modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive.

In all-electric mode, the car will use a 6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and a 120 kW electric motor to achieve an all-electric range of approximately 16 to 24 km in city driving scenarios and a top speed of 100 km/h. A full charge will take less than four hours using a 120-volt, outlet and less than 1.5 hours using a 240-volt charger.

In the gasoline-electric mode, the Accord is powered by a 2.0L, i-VTEC inline four Atkinson cycle engine, paired with an electric Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT). For more efficient high-speed cruising, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid can engage in a direct-drive mode, in which only the engine drives the front wheels. This model will debut late next year.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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Honda has unveiled its NSX Concept at the NAIAS in Detroit, effectively previewing the next-generation NSX, which is expected to enter the market in the next three years. The concept arrives wearing an Acura badge, and sports a hybrid drivetrain.

The NSX Concept wears a mid-mounted, next-gen VTEC V6 engine with direct-injection, mated to a dual-clutch transmission, working in tandem with a 2 Electric Motor Drive combination that features a bilateral torque adjustable control system.

Elsewhere, there’s a new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) drivetrain, which can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, and Honda anticipates the system will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems.

The new NSX will be developed by Honda’s North American R&D centre, and will be built in Ohio, but the company states that the car will be pretty much a global offering, catering to sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.

“Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities,” Honda’s president and CEO Takanobu Ito said in Detroit.

This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of, “the synergy between man and machine,” he added. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:46:49 +0000.

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