Honda
Compact Honda Step Bus Concept - man maximum, machine minimum philosophy
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November 30, 2006 Our automobiles reflect who we are, and the Honda Step Bus Concept is designed specifically for high energy lifestyles, representing the ultimate expression of Honda packaging prowess with a mid-engine design and a fully maximized and quickly adaptable interior. The highly configurable, high-tech interior provides ultimate urban utility from the outside in. Sliding front doors with a space efficient design let people enter and exit in tight spaces. Although micro in exterior size, the cavernous interior can harbor large amounts of band equipment, sports gear and other bulky items. Read More
Honda REMIX Concept mixes sports car attitude with everyday functionality
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November 30, 2006 The Honda REMIX small sport concept vehicle made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show yesterday. The REMIX explores the shape and design of a two-seat sports car focused on agile and fun-to-drive performance that can also provide exceptional practicality as a daily driver. Sports car in shape and design, the low-slung REMIX features a wrap-around canopy that adds a fighter jet-feel to the driving experience. The aluminium-color exterior accentuates every line and curve in the geometric, yet fluid styling. Capable of delivering more than just driving performance, the rear storage area supplies generous cargo room. Read More
One Hundred Years - happy birthday to Soichiro Honda
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November 17, 2006 We regularly note significant historical milestones and today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of a significant technological achiever. Soichiro Honda, the founder of the Honda Motor Company was born this day, November 17, 1906. The son of a blacksmith and a weaver, Soichiro was fascinated by machines and how they worked. One of his earliest memories was being enthralled by the first motor car he had ever seen. He later said: “As the car rolled through our small village I turned and chased after that car for all I was worth.” The young Soichiro may not have been able to catch the car, but it signalled the chasing of his dream: to build his own cars and motorcycles and win world championships with them. Without formal education, Honda forged an empire encompassing road cars, All-Terrain Vehicles, engines, generators, outboard motors, personal watercraft, water pumps, scooters, snowblowers, robots and more recently jet aircraft. Read More
Honda’s 500bhp Element-D (for Drifting)
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November 1, 2006 The Honda Element-D ("D" for drifting) racecar shows what can happen when enthusiastic Honda associates raid the company parts bin. It's not all that long ago that racecar meant something with low frontal area and aerodynamic efficiency, but in the new sport of drifting, being as aerodynamic as a brick is an advantage. Built for the racing sport of drifting, the Honda Element-D racecar replaces the stock 4-cylinder/Real Time 4WD drivetrain with a custom-designed and longitudinally-mounted 3.2-liter Honda V6 and rear-wheel-drive. Producing 500-horsepower, the lightweight twin-turbocharged powerhouse is guaranteed to light up the rear tires and accelerate sideways at full opposite lock. Associates from Honda R&D Americas in Ohio plan to campaign the Element-D in the 2007 Formula Drift Series. Read More
US$3.65 million HondaJet sales begin for 2010 deliveries
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October 18, 2006 Honda Aircraft Company today began sales of HondaJet with the standard configuration selling for US$3.65 million with first deliveries in 2010. Carrying over the company’s automotive brand values, the HondaJet will be the fastest and most fuel efficient aircraft in its class with a 420 knot cruise speed, a range of 1180 nautical miles, and a 30-35 percent better fuel efficiency at cruise speed versus other jets of comparable performance. HondaJet’s cabin is the clincher as it sets a new standard for interior space and comfort being longer than even larger ‘light jet’ offerings with space for a fully-private lavatory and a 57-cubic foot aft cargo hold. Read More
Honda wins MotoGP Constructors World Championship and reveals the secrets of its RC211V
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October 3, 2006 With five riders on three different brands of machinery still capable of winning the World MotoGP riders championship, it has gone almost unnoticed that Honda has taken its 17th Constructors’ Championship and eclipsed MV Agusta’s 16 Constructors’ titles. With 203 premier class victories since it first competed at the highest level in 1966, Honda now dominates the history of MotoGP by almost any measure. Astoundingly, at the Japanese GP, it called a press conference and in an unprecedented move it revealed the complete engine internals of its RC211V, the bike which had won 47 (58.75%) of the 80 races since the 1000cc formula was introduced. Our image gallery for this story contains imagery of many of the famous riders who have tasted World Championship success with Honda such as Hailwood, Spencer, Rossi, Lawson, Gardner and Doohan, plus the bikes they rode from the RC181 of the sixties to the NSR500 V4 and high res imagery of the internals of the RC211V – clearly Honda feels that the internals of the V4 800 of next year with its hydraulically operated valves are so far removed from the V5 1000 that it has nothing to fear. But if you’re a lover of fine engineering, feast your eyeballs on the Honda’s internals. Read More
Honda shows next-generation diesel engine
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October 2, 2006 Honda has developed a next-generation diesel engine that reduces exhaust gas emissions to a level equal to a petrol engine and expects to have the engine available in its U.S. market cars within three years. The engine employs an NOx catalytic converter that enables a reduction in NOx emissions sufficient to meet stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II Bin 5 emission requirements. This catalytic converter uses the reductive reaction of ammonia generated within the catalytic converter to “detoxify” nitrogen oxide (NOx) by turning it into harmless nitrogen (N2). Read More
Honda waves the wand over the 2007 CBR600RR
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September 15, 2006 Honda doesn’t like getting beaten on the world stage and the success of Yamaha’s all-new 2006 600 supersport is biting into Honda’s success in competition (after four World Supersport titles in a row, it is likely to be beaten by Yamaha Germany’s Kevin Curtain for the 2006 title) and on the showroom floor. So, for 2007, Honda has done a complete makeover of every molecule of the CBR600RR and it promises the most advanced 600cc machine in the class for next year. The motor features two-stage fuel-injection system and ECU programming giving it more pull in the 7000-10,000 rev-range and an amazing 118bhp (nearly 200bhp/litre). Chassis-wise, the CBR600RR has shed a stunning eight kilograms for a dry weight of just 155 kilos! The new 2007 bike is also 22mm shorter than the older model and now features a new Honda Electronic Steering Damper (HESD) to keep the front-end of the bike securely planted on the road. An extensive article with lots of detailed pics inside on the CBR600 which celebrates its 20th birthday in 2007. No price has yet been fixed for this latest middleweight missile, but it will be available in March 2007. Read More
Honda’s all-new CR-V
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September 4, 2006 The Honda CR-V has posted strong retail sales everywhere since it was launched but with the benchmark being raised daily in the increasingly crowded SUV sector, Honda has completely reengineered the CR-V to be even better on the road at the same time as being more practical. The entirely-new Honda CR-V will hit showroom floors in January 2007 and according to company sources promises a driving experience as good as a D-sector saloon car, improved equipment levels and two optional active safety systems that are unique to the SUV segment. The first, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a radar-controlled cruise control function which maintains a set distance to the vehicle in front, while Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) predicts collisions and warns the driver, before applying strong braking and retracting the front seatbelts if the situation becomes critical. The new CR-V will receive its international show debut in Paris on 28 September. Read More
Honda’s 200 bhp Civic Type R Concept set for 2007 delivery
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March 6, 2006 With a level of success way beyond Honda's initial expectations, the Civic Type R which ended production last year proved a smash hit among those seeking the thrills of a sporty, high performance car, yet still delivering a strong dose of practicality at an affordable price. That dual personality thrilled over 35,000 customers, far exceeding Honda’s initial sales forecasts during its relatively short production run. The bold styling of the Civic Type R Concept unveiled at Geneva last week provides a clear indication of how the final production car will appear. Honda engineers have designed a 'superhatch' to deliver blistering performance (200 bhp). The aggressive, lower and wider-looking body encases a new 2.0 litre DOHC i-VTEC engine and the model, built in Britain, will go on sale in early 2007 priced around UKP18,000. Expect to see more 3 door versions at the London Motor Show in July. Read More
Honda sets a world production record that will stand for eternity
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February 28, 2006 One of the most significant milestones in history went by without fanfare when total worldwide production of Honda’s Super Cub scooter reached 50 million units late in December, 2005. Launched in 1958, the Super Cub’s effort in becoming the first motor vehicle to achieve total sales of 50 million units is quite incredible. The best selling automotive design in history is the Volkswagen Beetle which sold an incredible 21,529,464 over 68 years before it ceased production in Mexico in 2003, surpassing the previous titleholder, the Model T Ford (16.5 million) in 1972. Though the 21.5 million figure for cars might come under threat when China's automotive industry hits full swing, the Beetle’s 68 year production period and the Honda Cub’s 50 million plus production run are likely to remain world records for eternity. With new technologies and ever-stricter emissions and marketplace imperatives requiring constant renewal, no model will ever be as futuristic enough in its design to produce 50 million units again. In the main image, one of these bikes is the first supercub and the other is the 50 millionth - which is which? Read More
Honda rumoured to have turbo 1800 VTX ready
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February 15, 2006 Reports emanating from informed sources suggest Honda is about to release its first turbocharged motorcycle in a quarter of a century with a turbocharged version of the VTX Concept 2 (pictured) which debuted at the Chicago Show in 2004. Designed by HRA (Honda R&D Americas) in Torrance, California, the bike is reported to have use a turbocharged version of the existing Honda VTX motor, which would give it a power output of 110 to 120 kW and brutal acceleration. We loved the existing VTX 1800 when we rode it, describing it as “capable of thunderous acceleration”, and that was with the standard 75 kW motor – imagine how the bike will accelerate with 110+ kW! No doubt the new bike is a reaction to the extraordinary success of the Triumph Rocket III, and quite clearly, the new VTX would offer similar mid-range grunt to the big British triple, with an all-important bigger top end.
Honda’s new lawnmower with SMART Drive System
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February 5, 2006 Honda Power Equipment is introducing a new lawnmower line and apart from the mandatory higher performance and superior fuel efficiency which consumers expect with every new series, the new HRR line is a better mousetrap because it focuses on the user experience. We’re not sure why lawnmowers seem to have escaped the user-friendly evolution of most other household contraptions, but figure it’s worthwhile lauding Honda for its advancements in the hope the other lawnmower manufacturers will do likewise. Specifically, the new HRR line is equipped with a SMART Drive transmission system and new ErgoActive easy-folding handlebars, which combine to offer what Honda claims to be “an infinitely easier lawnmowing experience.” The heart of the SMART Drive transmission system is a Variable Speed Transmission (VST) which allows the user to easily control the mower's speed simply by resting his or her hands on the ErgoActive handlebars which place the mower's primary controls within easy reach, increasing comfort during operation. Read More
Honda unveils new F1 challenger
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January 25, 2006 The Honda Racing F1 Team unveiled its challenger for the 2006 Formula One season in Spain this morning with the new driver line-up of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. This marked an important milestone for Honda as it is the first Formula One car launched by a Honda works team since 1968. Two identical RA106 race cars were delivered to the launch to enable Button and Barrichello to begin testing at the same time. The RA106 sported its new base canvas of Honda Racing White, a colour which has been synonymous with the Honda motorsport identity since the company’s F1 debut in 1964. The rest of the livery has the more familiar feel of the Lucky Strike brand, which remains as title sponsor for the 2006 season. The new cars and their RA806E engines are the product of a single, unified team which combines the resources of the Honda Racing F1 Team Operations Centre in Brackley, England, Honda Racing Development’s engine base in Bracknell, England, and Honda R&D in Tochigi, Japan. Read More
Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle production announced
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January 9, 2006 In his opening remarks at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, Honda president Takeo Fukui noted that the FCX Concept car on the company’s stand was “very close to the next generation fuel cell vehicle we will debut in 3-to-4 years” and that the company would be offering the media “limited driving opportunities with a prototype version of this vehicle” as early as Q3 this year. Clearly, the era of the viable fuel cell vehicle is nearly upon us. Read More
Experimental HondaJet with over-the-wing engines
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November 22, 2005 Honda is already one of the world's leading producers of mobility products including making more engines than any other manufacturer (19 million a year), plus automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, power products, marine engines, personal watercraft and in the not-too-distant future, light jets. Honda’s aeronautical ambitions have taken shape in the form of the experimental HondaJet boasting a number of innovations including a patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration, a natural-laminar flow (NLF) wing and fuselage nose, and an advanced all-composite fuselage structure. The over-the-wing engine-mount configuration helps eliminate the need for a structure to mount the engines to the rear fuselage and, thus, maximizes the space in the fuselage. Further, by determining the optimal position for the engines, the over-the-wing mount actually reduces drag at high speed to improve fuel efficiency. Read More
Honda shows automatic 700 Sports motorcycle
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October 24, 2005 One of the surprises of the 39th Tokyo Motor Show 2005 which opened on saturday was Honda's showing of a large-size sports motorcycle concept model dubbed the DN-01. The motorcycle is equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a water-cooled, 4-stroke, OHC, V-twin, 2-cylinder, 680cc engine. Most significantly, Honda stated that it "will continue the development of DN-01 with the goal of introducing it to the market in the near future." CVT has already been introduced into the market in a range of scooters with Suzuki's futuristic Burgman scooter the most obvious shining example. Honda's version of the CVt is being touted as different to other CVTs and is described as an hydraulic mechanical continuously variable HFT (Human Fitting Transmission) system featuring two automatic modes and a 6-speed manual mode which the rider operates through buttons on the handlebars. Read More
Honda to unveil key motorcycle safety initiatives: rider trainer and airbags
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October 15, 2005 One of the sad facts about riding a motorcyle is that although it can accelerate quicker and stop faster than an automobile, the lack of a steel cage surrounding the occupants makes a motorcycle much more dangerous – you’re around seven times more likely to die on a motorcycle than a car for an equivalent distance traveled on public roads. So it’s not surprising that the World’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, Honda, is devoting a considerable share of its massive R&D budget to making motorcycles safer. Next week the company will make two significant technology announcements that will save countless lives in coming years – the world’s first motorcycle airbag, and (much) more importantly, the availability of affordable advanced rider simulation machines for every Honda dealership. Rider training is the key to survivability on a motorcycle and Honda’s groundbreaking development of an affordable rider training simulator is to be loudly applauded. In many countries the simulators will become available in every Honda dealership within 12 months, giving it a massive advantage over its competitors in attracting a greater share of new motorcycle riders. Read More
Honda E4-01 900cc scooter
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October 24, 2005 Honda’s media information for the Tokyo Motor Show exhibits was sparse this year and kept everyone guessing as to exactly what was behind the exterior of the motorcycle stand’s central focus – a concept motorcycle with a stylish superscooter exterior dubbed the E4-01. Accompanying the image of the bike was the simple sentence, “Honda's vision of the future begins with the E4-01 concept vehicle which offers customers a new take on motorcycling lifestyles.” The E4-01 has some strong visual similarities to the centrepiece of the 2003 Tokyo Show motorcycle exhibition which was dubbed the Griffon, and the Griffon was an evolution of the 2001 centrepiece, the full-roofed Elysium, both powered by 750cc horizontally opposed motors. Our initial suspicion that it was an electric motorcycle was also wrong. It's a 900cc motorcycle with "sports automatic" transmission, and claims of supersport performance and handling, all wrapped up in scooter styling. Read More
New Honda concepts include a dog-friendly car, a premium fuel cell sedan and a four seater sports car
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October 6, 2005 The Tokyo Motor Show is home ground for the Japanese manufacturers and Honda has indicated its intention to create a massive impression of technological progress at this year’s show due to open in a fortnight. The Concept Vehicle Zone will showcase some new ideas in concept vehicles such as the next-generation, 4-door Sports 4 Concept, designed to make sure everyone in the vehicle shares the exhilaration of the drive; the W.O.W Concept, which offers a more enjoyable, dog-friendly mobile lifestyle; and the FCX Concept, a next-generation premium fuel-cell sedan featuring advanced intelligent technologies, a low-floor, low-center-of-gravity platform and a full-sized cabin. Read More
Honda FCX Integrates Hydrogen Station Locating Navigation System
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July 28, 2005 It makes sense that with so few hydrogen service stations yet in service that hydrogen vehicle rivers know where they are, Honda has decided to fit all hydrogen fuel cell-powered 2005 FCX vehicles with a special Honda-developed navigation system. This new navigation system is the first in the world to incorporate the location of hydrogen stations, including stations being developed as part of California's "Hydrogen Highway" Initiative. if you're outside California though, you might need more than a good navigational system - 17 of the 26 hydrogen stations listed in the database are in California. Read More
New Honda Hybrid System with 3-Stage i-VTEC + IMA
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July 15, 2005 Honda will introduce a new Honda Hybrid System in the 2006 Civic Hybrid that features a 3-stage i-VTEC engine that employs Honda’s “intelligent” VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system to provide three stages of valve timing (low-rpm, high-rpm and cylinder idle mode), combined with a significantly more compact and efficient Honda IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system. The new Honda Hybrid System will be introduced in the all-new Civic Hybrid, to be launched Q3, and will offer significantly improved performance and fuel economy over the current system. The new Honda Hybrid System employs intelligent engine functions and a more efficient IMA system to achieve an approximate 20 percent increase in system output over the current system and performance similar to a 1.8-liter engine while improving fuel economy by about 5 percent, reducing the system size by 5 percent and significantly improving emissions performance. Read More
US MotoGP: Hayden leads American 1-2
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July 10, 2005 Americans Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards struck a major blow for the sport of motorcycle road racing when they finished 1-2 and demoted the world’s best rider into third spot at the Red Bull United States Grand Prix here today. In showcasing the world’s best motorcycle racing event to the American public, Hayden and Edwards did their home country proud and will surely have enhanced the prospects for greater acceptance and coverage of MotoGP in the world’s biggest and most important motorcycle marketplace. For Hayden, with a career just beginning and a rockstar’s good looks and persona, his first MotoGP win is expected by many to move him into the elite and make him a regular contender for the win. For Rossi, it was business as usual because although he finish in third place, he extended his points lead to 79 points, giving him a three race lead (at 25 points for a win) with nine races remaining in the title chase. Read More
Honda’s Fuya-jo Party-on-wheels Concept
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History has produced some wonderful concept cars that became significant production models. It has also produced many that were somewhat less than well received. Japan in particular, has an automotive culture which takes significant chances with its concept vehicles, and is often prepared to go well beyond the traditional to explore new niche markets. One such long shot was the Fuya Jo from Honda – the vehicle whose name means "Sleepless City", was designed specifically to transport “party animals who demand the full excitement of night life.” Read More
Honda HSC - the NSX replacement?
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March 3, 2005 The HSC (High-Performance Sports Concept) originally unveiled at last year’s North American International Auto Show was Honda’s main exhibit at the 2005 Melbourne International Motor Show opened today, further fueling speculation the car is the basis for the next generation NSX. Like the NSX it will replace, the HSC builds on decades of Honda’s engineering heritage to deliver the ultimate driving experience in an easy to drive package. Its muscular exterior, with sharp lines and elaborate detail, serve as a teaser for what lies beneath the hood. The two-seater coupe features a mid-mounted DOHC i-VTEC V6 engine delivering in excess of 300 horsepower from 3.5-litres. Read More
Honda Reveals Next Generation Asimo
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December 15 2004 Honda Motor has released details of its next-generation ASIMO robot that has now been under development for 19 years and is widely regarded as the most advanced humanoid robot in the world. The new version processes information far quicker than previous models and is hence more capable of responding to real-world environments. ASIMO incorporates three new major technologies, including "Posture Control" technology, making it possible for ASIMO to run in a natural, human-like way, "Autonomous Continuous Movement" technology, enabling ASIMO to choose a flexible route to a given destination and enhanced visual and force sensor technologies, enabling ASIMO to smoothly interact with people. Read More
Honda/Plug Power test home hydrogen refuelling unit
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November 24, 2004 Honda R&D Americas and Plug Power have announced the successful operation of the second-generation Home Energy Station (HES II), a home-based hydrogen refueling solution for fuel cell vehicles that furthers the development of a hydrogen infrastructure, and in turn, a sustainable energy future. HES II is the further evolution of a joint development effort by Honda and Plug Power to produce a home refuelling unit that provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refuelling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home. Testing of the HES II system will be done in conjunction with demonstration of Honda's 2005 FCX fuel cell car on public roads in the Northeastern U.S. Read More
Honda survey reveals what children want from cars
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November 21, 2004 Adults may dismiss flying cars as the stuff of science fiction, but for children, according to a new survey released by Honda, only a flying car will do. Gizmag readers, of course, know that such vehicles are already in development
and that by the time many of the children surveyed here are old enough to drive, flying cars will be a common sight. Read More
Honda NSX Police Car
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We've covered some exotic police cars in Gizmo, such as the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Dodge Magnum SXT, but the unveiling of a Honda NSX in police livery has added weight to the trend. The car was exhibited by Avon and Somerset Police in the UK at a car show and drew some interesting responses from the punters. Read More
Honda Develops Intelligent Night Vision for automobiles
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Honda has announced an Intelligent Night Vision System for automobiles, which uses "far infrared" cameras to detect pedestrians in or approaching the vehicle's path. The system provides the driver with visual and audio cautions to help prevent accidents involving pedestrians. The new system will be available on the Honda Legend in Japan later this year. Read More
Honda announces fuel cell, hybrid and electric scooters
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Honda Motor Company has announced its intentions to hotly contest the sustainable future of two wheel transport by showing several new prototype model developments surrounding fuel cell, electric and hybrid (petrol/electric) scooters. Building on its success with fuel cell automobile technology, the most significant announcement was a scooter powered by its light, compact fuel cell system, the Honda FC Stack. Read More
American Honda Releases Images of Honda Accord Hybrid
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American Honda has released the first images of its 2005 Accord V6 Hybrid, a petrol-electric hybrid car scheduled to go on-sale at Honda's US dealerships later this year. Utilising a next-generation hybrid powertrain, the Accord V6 Hybrid will deliver power and performance above the current 240-horsepower (177kW) Accord V6 with the fuel economy of a compact-class, four-cylinder Civic sedan. It's another sure indicator that the hybrid vehicle is becoming mainstream, at least at the top of the market. Read More
Honda's next generation SUT Truck Concept
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The Honda SUT Concept made its world debut at the 2004 North American International Auto Show as American Honda announced plans for the launch of an all-new sport-utility truck slated for introduction in 2005. Read More
Honda's next-generation Fuel Cell
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Thursday October 16, 2003: Honda's latest example of rapidly advancing fuel cell technology employs a newly developed stack structure to deliver high performance, increased range and power generation at temperatures ranging from -20'C to +95'C. Read More
Another first for Honda's Fuel Cell Car
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Monday August 4, 2003: Honda Motor Co has become the first automaker to supply a fuel cell vehicle to a private corporation with the delivery of a Honda FCX to the Iwatani International Corporation in Tokyo. While six FCX vehicles have been supplied to the public sector since its initial release in December 2002... Read More
