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Honda Micro Commuter EV concept and Motor Compo two-wheel EV concept – twice the versatility, and fun

November 11, 2011 at 1:58 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, Honda, International News

Besides the AC-X and Small Sports EV concepts, Honda will be showcasing the Micro Commuter Concept in Tokyo. As its name suggests, it’s a micro-sized, futuristic, electric city commuter vehicle. No details on how it moves along, but the company says that another concept it’s displaying at the show can be slotted into the Micro Commuter.

This is the Motor Compo, a two-wheeled EV offering the casual and convenient mobility of a bike, but which is also useful even when it’s not being ridden, the company says – the Motor Compo features a detachable battery that can be used as a power source for daily needs. No mention of the range available with the Motor Compo, but it’s certainly handy as a back-up if the Micro Commuter runs out of juice, no?

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Honda Small Sports EV concept to premiere in Tokyo

November 10, 2011 at 6:21 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, Honda, International News

Alongside the AC-X, Honda is set to unveil in Tokyo what it calls the Small Sports EV, which is the tentative name for the vehicle for now. The company is keeping absolutely mum on the car, aside from saying that it’s a next-generation EV sports model which maximises the fun of driving while achieving excellent environmental performance.

The sketches reveal an open-top two-seater with very rakish lines, and if the real deal is anything to go by what the penned drawings suggest, this could be a very scrumptious dish in the flesh. We’ll be in Tokyo to cover the show, so expect full details on this one when the time comes!

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Honda AC-X plug-in hybrid concept – 0.90L / 100 km!

November 10, 2011 at 5:21 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, Honda, International News

Honda will be showcasing a number of what it has tagged ‘electromotive concept models’ at the Tokyo Motor Show, which begins on Nov 30, and one of them is the AC-X, or the Advanced Cruiser-X, to give it its full designation. The company says that the next-generation plug-in hybrid vehicle is equipped to offer a comfortable and thoroughly enjoyable drive, be it in urban surroundings or over long-haul runs.

Word has it that the futuristic sedan is powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine offering 127 hp and a 120 kW electric motor combination, and numbers include an operating range just a shade under a thousand clicks, in this case 997 km, and a stupendous 0.90 litres per 100 km consumption.

The AC-X features a choice of drive modes, an “engine drive mode” for more aggressive driving or an “automatic drive mode” for those relaxed moments. Not much explained about the funky interior, but that steering looks just plane awesome. Sorry, couldn’t resist that.

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J.D. Power Asia Pacific report finds that overall new vehicle quality in Malaysia is up notably from 2010

November 8, 2011 at 9:24 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Local News, Nissan, Toyota

According to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2011 Malaysia Initial Quality Study (IQS), overall new-vehicle initial quality in Malaysia has improved from 2010. The study – fielded between March and July this year – is based on responses from 2,858 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle between September 2010 and May 2011. It includes 67 passenger car, pickup and utility vehicle models from 14 brands.

The study, which is in its ninth year, examines new-vehicle quality during the first two to six months of ownership, and measures more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle components, these being vehicle exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation, seats, HVAC, vehicle interior and engine/transmission.

All problems are summarised as the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100). Lower PP100 scores of course indicate a lower rate of problem incidence and higher performance.

Overall initial quality in Malaysia averaged 124 PP100 in 2011, a 23 PP100 decrease from 2010. Initial quality has improved from 2010 in six of the eight problem categories: vehicle exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation, vehicle interior and engine/transmission. The report says that the greatest improvements have occurred in the vehicle exterior category.

Despite overall improvement, the five problems reported most frequently by owners continue to be excessive wind noise, noisy brakes, excessive fuel consumption, air-conditioning which doesn’t get cold fast enough and the engine losing power when air-conditioning is on.

The study found that 44% of new-vehicle owners indicated having a problem-free experience with their vehicle. Among these owners, 51% say they “definitely woull” recommend the model they own to friends or relatives. In contrast, among the 56% of new-vehicle owners who experienced at least one problem with their vehicle in their initial six months of ownership, only 27% said they would recommend the model they own.

In terms of specific models, the Honda City ranks highest in the entry mid-size segment for a third consecutive year, with a score of 62 PP100, an improvement of 36 PP100 from 2010. Following in the segment rankings is the Toyota Vios. In the mid-size car segment, the Nissan Sylphy finished top of the heap with 39 PP100, followed by the Toyota Corolla Altis at 43 PP100 and the Honda Civic, with 55 PP100.

In the MPV/Van segment, the Toyota Avanza was class-leading for a second consecutive year, with a score of 64 PP100, with the Toyota Innova (73 PP100) and Nissan Grand Livina (107 PP100) in second and third respectively. As for the pickup category, the Toyota Hilux led the pack with 32 PP100, followed by the Isuzu D-Max at 47 PP100 and the Mitsubishi Triton at 64 PP100.

The IQS is one of three consumer-based studies that J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts in Malaysia. This year’s Malaysia Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, which measures new-vehicle owner satisfaction with after-sales dealership service, was released in July, while the Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study for 2011, which examines new-vehicle buyer satisfaction with the sales and delivery experience, was released in September.

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Honda CR-Z launched – RM115k OTR with insurance

November 3, 2011 at 8:39 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News

Honda Malaysia earlier this evening launched the CR-Z, making Malaysia the first country in Southeast Asia to offer the three-door hybrid hatch to car enthusiasts. The third Honda hybrid to be introduced in the country is priced at RM115,000 on the dot, on-the-road with insurance (or if you will, RM111,878, without insurance).

The “hot-hatch hybrid,” as the company has tagged it, is powered by a 114 PS and 145 Nm 1.5 litre LEA SOHC i-VTEC engine and a 10 kW (or 14 PS) and 78 Nm MF6 brushless DC electric motor and a sophisticated Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) – together, the powertrain combination delivers 124 PS at 6,000 rpm and 174 Nm of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm.

The IMA Hybrid System is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which is the standard transmission for the car, with a Hill-Start Assist function present. The vehicle also features a 3-Mode Drive System, which enables the driver to choose and switch between Sport, Normal and Economy modes with the switch of an individual button.

The three modes alter the response of the throttle, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the level of assistance provided by the IMA Hybrid System, and the individual modes are also indicated on the Illuminated Advance Sports Meter as glowing coloured rings of light. In Sport mode, you get – as expected – improved acceleration response, and steering feedback is tighter; in this mode, the light on the meter goes red.

Normal mode of course provides the optimum balance between driving performance and fuel economy, with an EPS response that’s balanced, smooth and agile. Switching to Econ mode, as it’s called, reduces throttle response, optimises motor assist, controls the air conditioning economically and lengthens idle stops to maximise fuel efficiency.

In Normal and Econ mode, the glowing coloured rings of light in the meter display changes from blue to blue-green to green depending on the driver’s style of driving; green, of course signifies the most fuel efficient driving.

Equipment on the 1,160 kg vehicle includes halogen headlamps with LED positioning lights, front fog lamps, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, cruise control, a six-speaker audio system with USB and an auxiliary input, rear foldable seats (which really are jump seats at best – there’s enough space to get in for an adult, but you can’t sit up straight!) and a glovebox cooler, among others. Folding down the rear seat back translates into 410 litres of boot space, which allows space for two golf bags.

On the safety front, the car comes equipped with dual front airbags, side airbags with Occupant Position Detection System and side curtain airbags. There’s ABS, BA and EBD as well as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) in the mix too.

The CR-Z rides on 16-inch five twin-spoke alloys, wrapped with 195/55 series rubbers. At point of launch, there’s only a single external colour for the car, which is Premium White Pearl, but expect other shades to join the palette list soon – we hear that red, black and silver will come about as it goes along. And yes, you can also expect an auto CVT-equipped version to arrive on the scene sometime next year, but no word yet exactly when.
[Read more...]

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2012 Honda CR-V pops up on Honda Japan’s website

October 31, 2011 at 6:42 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News


Click to enlarge.

Last month, the 2012 Honda CR-V Concept was revealed, and now, the first images of the production fourth-generation CR-V have come about – Honda’s Japanese website teases the new SUV, which is set to make its debut at next month’s LA Auto Show.

The production model – which you can get a wallpaper of on the website! – retains most of the styling direction as seen on the concept, though the front bumper on it looks more sedate and the wheels, while keeping to the five twin-spoke theme, also look less showy.


Click to enlarge.

The site also has graphics that present a peek into the all-new vehicle’s interior – there’s certainly more line flow present in the dash, and noticeable cues are a large screen housing the navigation/audio system on the centre stack, with another display console above it; the latter houses what looks very much like a digital interpretation of an analogue clock. Sizeable speedo too, by the looks of it!

Familiar cues have been retained – the climate control switchgear orientation and dash-mounted gearshift, for one, though gone is the void area between the centre console and dash, which was a great space for ladies to house their handbags (as I am told!); in its place it is a open storage unit where the cupholders also reside. Which means the slide-covered storage box just aft of it should be much more voluminous than the present CR-V’s. No tech details as of yet, but LA should take care of that.

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Honda’s Thai plant may be out for up to six months

October 31, 2011 at 12:31 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

Honda’s Thailand assembly plant in Ayutthaya, which was submerged when floodwaters inundated the factory on October 9, may be out of action for up to six months, according to reports.

The automaker will need to replace a range of equipment damaged by the flood, and is still attempting to determine the full extent of the damage at its factory in the Rojana Industrial Park, where it produces its Civic and City models – the area remains submerged under two to three metres of water, and most of the flood-hit equipment remains inaccessible. The floodwaters are expected to recede in mid-November at the earliest.

The firm’s suppliers in Thailand have also been affected by the extensive flooding, as roads and other key infrastructure have been severely disrupted. “We will be forced to revamp the plant,” one Honda official was quoted as saying.

The reports add that the automaker has apparently told some of its suppliers that it will probably take six months before it can resume operations at the facility, and will likely not reopen the plant until next spring.

The company’s total production loss is expected to exceed 100,000 units, accounting for about 3% of the automaker’s planned global output for fiscal 2011. While Japan’s eight automakers have operations in the Southeast Asian nation, Honda is the only manufacturer whose facilities have been directly damaged by the floods. Honda Malaysia had last week announced a temporary halt to its production in Melaka as a result of parts shortages caused by the Thai floods.

In related news, Toyota has begun cutting output in seven countries – Japan, the US, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines – from today until November 5 as a result of the flooding in Thailand. While its facilities in the Kingdom have not been directly hit by the floods, operation at its three factories in the country have been halted since October 10, and potential delays in the procurement of parts are expected.

Elsewhere, Mazda halted production at its AutoAlliance JV plant with Ford in Rayong from Wednesday to Friday last week, as parts shortages came into play. The company said it was considering shipping parts to the facility from China and Japan.

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Honda Insight facelift launched in Japan – features new Insight Exclusive variant with 1.5 liter IMA system

October 27, 2011 at 2:04 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda

Honda has officially revealed the facelifted Honda Insight in Japan, which now comes with a higher-end model called the Insight Exclusive that comes with a larger 1.5 litre IMA engine. Other than reworking the exterior and adding the new 1.5 litre engine option, Honda has also reworked the 1.3 litre IMA system in the regular Insight, which is now rated at a more fuel economical 27.2 km/L measured on the JC08 mode and 31.0 km/L measured in the 10-15 mode.

The company has also added more sound insulation and absorption materials to increase interior quietness. The suspension settings have been updated for a more comfortable ride, and VSA stability control is now standard on all variants of the Insight. On the inside, the shape of the rear seats have been redesigned for better passenger comfort and driver rear visibility.

The Insight Exclusive with the 1.5 litre engine does 23.2 km/L in the JC08 mode and 26.5 km/L on the 10-15 mode. Exterior features unique to the 1.5 litre model include a different front grille with integrated LED accessory lights, a unique front bumper, side sill garnishes, a rear bumper diffuser, and a shark fin antenna. On the inside, there’s dark faux wood panels with silver accents. The steering wheel also has paddle shifters to manually control the CVT gearbox’s seven-virtual gear ratios.

Look after the jump for more pix of the facelifted Insight.
[Read more...]

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Honda Malaysia halts CKD plant due to parts shortage

October 25, 2011 at 4:28 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda

Honda Malaysia has announced that it its Melaka plant production will be halted effective today due to parts shortage caused by the floods in Thailand. Supplies from Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co. Ltd and other major suppliers which supply to Honda Malaysia have been interrupted because of the floods.

“We apologize for the delay of delivery and we appreciate the understanding of our customers. We are doing all we that can within our capacity to recover the production here in Malaysia as soon as possible,” said Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

This means there will likely be supply issues with the CKD models, which include the City, Civic and Accord. CBU models such as the Insight, Stream and Freed are not affected, except for the Honda Jazz which is CBU imported from Thailand.

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Honda CR-Z set for November introduction in Malaysia

October 17, 2011 at 2:35 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News

It’s confirmed – the photo snapped of it last week suggested its arrival was on the cards, and now Honda Malaysia has announced that the CR-Z will be introduced to the Malaysian market in early November, making us the first country in Southeast Asia to launch the vehicle. No word with regards to specs and pricing on the three-door hatch though.

The CR-Z, which is equipped with a 1.5 litre LEA i-VTEC four-cylinder mill and Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system, with 122 hp and 174 Nm for output numbers, will be the second Honda hybrid currently available here, following the Insight, which was launched at KLIMS in December last year. Until next month, then!

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