Honda CR-Z concept 2009

Honda fans of all sorts have cause to celebrate today with the reveal of the 2009 iteration of the CR-Z coupe. In typical Honda fashion, this CR-Z remains a concept in name and detail only. What you see here is essentially the production coupe that will go on sale in Japan next February and then arrive in North America in the Fall.

The cool scoop-like grille from the original 2007 concept has been largely carried over, with the biggest changes being a somewhat taller roof and a more upright windshield with blacked out A-pillars – concessions to the fact that real people will have to fit into the production car. On the exterior, the only elements likely to change once it hits the assembly line are the side mirrors, which will probably be a bit larger, along with the internals of the light clusters.

The good news for fans of the much-loved 1983-1991 Civic CR-X is that the CR-Z should have significantly better performance than the disappointing new Insight, a car that is geared more toward fuel economy than performance. In any case, the CR-Z coupe gets a bump in displacement up to 1.5-liter and – wait for it – a six-speed manual gearbox! This will be the first hybrid with a row-it-yourself six-speed

Honda Accord Tourer Type-S

The vehicle above represents some of our favorite features in a main-stream car, but we're fully aware that we're in the minority when it comes to drivers in the U.S. market. This is the new European market Honda Accord Tourer Type-S, the same vehicle sold in sedan form in the States as the Acura TSX. The wagon retains the overall size and dynamic characteristics of the four-door while adding a huge dollop of utility when needed, and it's particularly handsome in person. Rumor has it we'll see this body style appear as a new Honda CUV in the U.S. this fall with the high riding Outback treatment.

The wagon is not new to Europe, but the Type-S (also available as a sedan) is. The Type-S Accord gets a 178 hp version of Honda's new iDTEC 2.2L diesel four cylinder with a stiff 280 lb-ft of torque, along with larger 18" wheels and bumper and sill extensions for a more aggressive look

Honda pulls out of Frankfurt Motor Show to save costs

It's looking like all auto shows are going to be feeling the pinch of a shrinking auto market including the mighty Frankfurt Motor Show. Honda has joined Nissan by pulling out of this fall's event in Germany in order to save money. Earlier this year, Nissan announced that it would only participate in one auto show on each continent -- Geneva, Tokyo and Los Angeles -- and although Honda hasn't made such a sweeping announcement yet, it appears to be taking things one show at a time. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see a similar move with only one North American show presence as well. At this year's Detroit Auto Show, Honda and Acura had stands but didn't bother with a press conference. Instead the new Insight was simply revealed on the show floor.

Speaking of the Insight it goes on sale in Europe on April 18. Elsewhere, Honda will begin testing its FCX Clarity fuel cell car in Germany later this year and will divert other resources to fuel cell and hydrogen development. Honda sees fuel cells as a better long term bet than batteries and plug-in vehicles and intends to pursue that direction

Honda CEO says Insight price won't be reduced further

Honda's new Insight went on sale in hits homeland about a week ago, and already it's under attack. Before it hit the market, there were rumors that it would be much cheaper than the Toyota Prius. Toyota, however, has other ideas. The Insight is 1.89 million yen ($18,853 USD) in Japan, which is the same price as the current Prius. Toyota then priced the coming third generation Prius at 2.05 million yen ($20,437 USD) to keep it close to the Insight. Then Toyota said it would keep the second-generation Prius on sale in Japan, and there have been rumors that Toyota is also working on a cheaper Prius costing around 30% less than the current one. That would pit three Prius models against one Insight, all similarly priced.

In response, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui said Honda will not lower the price of the Insight. Said Fukui, "I think that is something we can't do right now. We have to carefully examine the new Prius to know whether it is necessary for us to take certain measures. We have to think about the balance between cost and effectiveness." If Toyota does come out with three Japan-market Priuses, Honda will be thinking long and hard about those issues.

Unlike Toyota, though, Honda does have the CR-Z hybrid coming, which could give Honda some sporting hybrid credentials that Toyota doesn't yet have. Honda also said it is expanding its research and hybrid push into large sedans instead of counting on clean diesels for its bigger cars. Fukui feels that clean diesels are too expensive to develop be practical.

[Source: Automotive News]

Guangzhou Honda Linian roadster concept

Guangzhou Honda surprised everyone at the Shanghai show with this tidy little roadster, its second Linian concept in as many years. While the 2008 Beijing show concept was a more pedestrian five-door, this two-seat droptop has us wishing for a proper S2000 successor.

Oh, one can quibble over some of the design details (oversized grille element, the showcar-only airplane yoke-style steering wheel, etc.), but fundamentally this is an interesting package.

Sadly, according to our compatriots at Autoblog Simplified Chinese, Honda's domestic partner was mum on specifics, including driveline configuration, powerplant, and so on. That said, the shape does look quite production friendly. Add in a stronger windshield header, some larger mirrors, and do away with that Knight Rider steering wheel, and the rest seems plausible enough.

[Source: Autoblog Simplified Chinese]

Honda S2000 successor independently rendered

Late yesterday, we showed you the handiwork of 3D rendering guru Lars Martensson (a.k.a. 'GRID'), who had applied his skills to a future vision of a new Subaru WRX STI. Today, we bring you the skilled Swede's take on what a next-generation Honda S2000 roadster might look like.

While this concept has no basis in reality (and rumors of an S200 successor have thus far amounted to nothing), as with the Subie, we find a lot of merit in what we see. Click on the gallery below to see if you don't agree.

[Source: 3DLuvr]

Mugen takes on the Honda Stream

You wanted something sporty, but due to additions to the family, a minivan is as athletic as its going to get. But if that minivan is the 2010 Honda Stream, you can still satisfy your sporty urges thanks to Mugen. The practically in-house tuner has developed a full line of interior, exterior, aero, performance, handling and cosmetic parts for the people mover -- from typical Mugen mods like spoilers and wheels to a performance air filter and TypeT touring brake pads. If you add the sport suspension to your minivan, well, maybe you really do need to get a different car.

[Source: Mugen]

okyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept

Honda's new CEO Takanobu Ito started off his tenure at the head of the company today by unveiling a new plug-in battery electric concept. The EV-N showcar hides its futuristic electron pumping powertrain in a decidedly retro bodystyle thanks to a design reminiscent of the subcompact 600N of the Sixties.

Honda has yet to reveal much in the way of technical details about the diminutive hatch, but we do know it uses lithium-ion batteries and the electric motor drives the front wheels. The car can be started with a fob called the Loop that incorporates a display showing the driver know the battery pack's state of charge

Tokyo 2009: Should Honda bring the Freed MPV to America?

Here in Tokyo, we were hanging around with some American Honda Motor Co. officials when they got their first up-close look at the Freed. The Freed is a compact minivan/MPV based on Honda's Fit architecture. For reference, the six-seat, three-row Freed is about 15 inches shorter than a Mazda5 and about 4 inches longer than a U.S.-spec Fit.

Freed's third row seats fold up against the sides of its body, leaving a completely flat load floor. At least two U.S. Honda PR people checking out the model loved the idea of offering it Stateside, although they'd be inclined to see two changes. Because of the micro-van's short length, they would drop the third row and move the second row back for more legroom. Additionally, the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (the same one used in the U.S. Fit) would also likely be replaced by something a bit larger for the our market – possibly a 1.8-liter or even a 2.0-liter.

[Source: Honda