2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Twelve modified 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupes are featured prominently in the Honda booth at the 2010 SEMA Show, LAS VEGAS, which opens today. The 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept is the sporty evolution of the Honda CR-Z, prepared by the Japanese Mugen Motorsports, officially associated with Honda. Honda has teamed up with Mugen again for a new hotrod special - but this one's a hybrid. The new 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept is a slightly more ecologically sound proposition than the banzai 2009 Civic Type R Mugen, and brings the race car treatment to Honda's hybrid coupe.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

As the first available sport hybrid, the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept demonstrates new opportunities for vehicle personalization among the import tuner community. Several significant vehicles are being unveiled at the show, including a 2011 CR-Z equipped with MUGEN* accessories, the Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) CR-Z Hybrid R Concept, the HPD CR-Z Racer and several vehicles equipped with Honda Genuine Accessories.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Also unveiled today were two concept vehicles from HPD: the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept and the HPD CR-Z Racer. Though neither vehicle is intended for sale, HPD, Honda’s North American racing company, was determined to demonstrate the potential of the CR-Z for both street and racing performance. Both vehicles share many performance enhancements, with the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept highlighting Honda-designed street styling and the HPD CR-Z Racer opting for serious racing capability. To demonstrate that capability, HPD will campaign two HPD CR-Z Racers at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race in December. HPD enhancements to both cars include: a turbocharger and upgraded IMA™ hybrid system, resulting in an estimated combined 200 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. of torque; performance clutch; limited-slip differential; ‘circuit-tuned’ suspension; upgraded brakes and aerodynamic components.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Two vehicles were on display to demonstrate currently available Honda Genuine Accessories. For the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept, Honda displayed a vehicle equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels; side, front lip and tailgate spoilers; a rear diffuser; an illuminated door-sill trim and an interior armrest. Additionally, a 2010 Accord Coupe equipped with dealer-installed Honda Factory Performance™ (HFP™) components melded a distinctive, custom appearance with an enhanced level of handling performance. All Honda Genuine Accessories offer the same 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty as the rest of the vehicle, when installed at the time of new vehicle purchase, and are engineered to be fully compatible with each Honda vehicle.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Mugen Euro has developed a highly-tuned version of the Honda CR-Z that aims to deliver up to 200PS and 215Nm of torque by boosting the hybrid's petrol-electric powertrain. The goal of the project was to prove hybrid cars can be exciting to drive, by producing "Civic Type R-like" performance from the hybrid coupe while remaining sympathetic to the original Honda direction for the CR-Z. Torque Mugen Honda crz provide 50 percent greater power and use electric as the fuel. Obviously this is a good concept for a Honda hybrid sport cars. 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept uses a 5-speed adjustable front and mounted on the back, which would increase the width base and weight of the settlement.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Colin Whittamore from Mugen Euro explains the philosophy behind the creation of the CR-Z Mugen: “We wanted a car that has genuine performance available at the touch of a button, but can perform just like a standard CR-Z and offer good fuel economy when the driver wishes. For that reason, we’ve kept the three driving modes, so the driver can select “eco” or “normal” to switch to economy and low emissions for daily driving, but press the Mugen button for the full-blown weekend-warrior settings”.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

In addition, Mugen’s engineers also widened the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept’s front and rear tracks and fitted stiffer 5-step adjustable dampers and a limited slip differential to maximize traction. The Honda CR-Z Mugen stops courtesy of larger brake discs and 4-pot calipers. 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept comes with sporty interior, there are Recaro sports seats, a different gear knob and a carbon rear view mirror cover, but your attention will be instantly drawn by the addition of three gauges that display water and oil temperature and pressure.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

Among factors that features the sportiveness stands out the lowered bumper, a large roof spoiler and the carbon-fiber bonnet which, according to Honda, is an important technical detail. The weight of the 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept then was reduced by more than 50 kg, through the use of lightweight materials as, again, the carbon-fiber, and first tests seem very positive.

2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept

The 2011 Honda Sport Cars Hybrid CR-Z Mugen Concept is purely a concept car at this stage, designed to demonstrate the potential and versatility of the Honda IMA system, with no confirmed plans for further production. Mugen and Honda (UK) will consider media and customer feedback before deciding on any next steps.

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2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

Spoon is always one step ahead of the competition, whether that be in racing or introducing tuned versions of Honda’s sportiest cars. The new Spoon CR-Z closely follows Spoon president Tatsuru Ichishima’s philosophy on car tuning, improving the soul of the car rather than just its performance. Spoon makes the sporty Honda CR-Z a true sports car.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

Honda CR-Z is known responsiveness of his suspension and high-quality power units, engineers Spoon upgraded clutch and chassis components to give the box a better ratio. In general, engineers do focus on the work of transmission, which should be maximally adapted to road races. In addition, special attention is paid to improving the aerodynamics of the body, at the moment is working with the side mirrors.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

The Spoon car sits much closer to the ground, lowered by about an inch and a half. A black carbon-fiber hood and flashy wheels highlight its styling. Under the hood, Spoon took apart the 1.5-liter inline-4 and reassembled the i-VTEC powerplant with many of its own parts.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

The ECU was remapped, increasing redline from 6200 rpm to 8500, with more torque in the mid range. Of particular note is Spoon’s new exhaust, which makes this hybrid sound like an Italian exotic. Together, the gasoline engine and electric motor produce about 145 bhp and about 150 lb.-ft. of torque, significant gains over stock. Also, 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars claims it shed about 220 lb. from the car’s curb weight.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

Mash the throttle, and the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars leaves the line in the same way as the original, with verve, but the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars gets stronger as the engine revs rise. The 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars, with a 6-speed manual gearbox, dashed to 60 mph in a scant 6.9 seconds and to the quarter mile in 15.5. Naturally, the car’s fuel economy takes a hit; I predict the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars will still get around 25/29 mpg city/highway.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

So far, “hybrid” and “performance” haven’t really meshed for any automaker. But with Spoon’s touch, this CR-Z may give hybrid a whole other meaning. According to our engineering contact at the firm, bigger things are in store for the Honda hatchback.

The 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars handling is much sharper, thanks to stiffer springs and shocks and thicker anti-roll bars. With a strengthened chassis and a custom limited-slip differential, the 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars feels much more neutral than the stock CR-Z. Spoon is currently working on a race version that Ichishima says will introduce a new era in endurance racing. He plans to have this car finished for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in December.

2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars

This tuner version of the CR-Z will be available as a complete car later this year for about $8000 plus the cost of the car. First test 2011 SPOON SPORTS CR-Z Honda Sport Cars scheduled on 01 April.

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Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

The Japanese Cars company has created the Air concept, an alternative transportation solutions for those with a hyperactive lifestyle. The company's designers took inspiration from roller coasters and skydiving wind suits, the Honda Sport Cars Air Concept is powered by a compressed air and pneumatic regulator system.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

This system ‘utilizes turbo vacuums and external air-flow to regenerate tank pressure for extended range and increased boost for an estimated 100 miles’. to keep the car lightweight, all components are mounted directly to the chassis, eliminating unnecessary structures.

With a chassis composed of vegetable-based polymer panels, Honda Sport Cars Air Concept weighs a mere 800 pounds and its reserve tanks can be filled via a gas station tire filler or a common off-the-shelf air compressor.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

The Honda Sport Cars Air Concept’s cockpit and package is aimed at maximizing the open air experience. In order to save weight and increase performance, a hub-less wheel and drive system eliminates the use of heavy drive train components. Additional weight savings are achieved thanks to the glass reinforced seating panels, urethane tire composition and skeletal sub-frame components.

The main tanks and reserves can be filled quickly and safely using a simple generator / air compressor at home or a tire filler at the local filling station.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

At just under 800 lbs., the powerful anthem of pneumatic propulsion and a character unlike any zero-emission vehicle exemplifies Honda's concept of fun to drive. The pow[air] of dreams Honda Sport Cars Air Concept.

Overall design and look of Honda Sport Cars Air Concept paves way for futuristic cruiser cars that have the perfect combo of style, ride elation and most importantly zero-emission properties combined with ample power under the hood to set your heart beat racing.

Honda Sport Cars Air Concept

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2010 Honda Cars Civic Hybrid 1.3-liter 4-cylinder Engine with IMA

Looks like a Civic, drives like a Civic, but achieves better gas mileage than a regular Civic. In a nutshell, that's the Civic hybrid, one of the best cars for highway commuters according to Forbes Magazine. Honda's second generation hybrid Civic offers improved city fuel economy, and an incredibly better body design with softer, sleeker design cues. And within 2 - 3 years, the Civic hybrid will make another upgrade, when it switches from NiMH battery technology to lithium-ion technology, which could provide Civic hybrid-like performance, but at a cheaper cost. And, despite some complaints over mileage, particularly in city traffic, most Civic hybrid owners are very happy with the gas mileage of their hybrid Civics.

2010 Honda Cars Civic Hybrid

The 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid does just what it's designed to do: carry you and yours all over town with superb fuel efficiency. The four-door 2010 Civic Hybrid uses a blend of gasoline and electric power to achieve a real-world 45 mpg, but hardly anyone will know you're driving a hybrid. It's the hybrid for people who don't need to show off their green credentials. At a base price of $23,800, the Civic Hybrid competes with the Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel sedan, the Honda Civic GX natural-gas vehicle, and the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid hatchback.

It takes a trained eye to tell the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid apart from other Civics. Along with the other Civic four-door sedans, it got a new grille and lights last year; otherwise, it's unchanged for 2010. The Hybrid's minor exterior tweaks include different wheels, clear turn-signal lenses, turn indicators built into the side-view mirror housings, and a small trunk-lid spoiler. Inside, it sports blue lighting and a wonderfully rich blue cloth interior and blue vinyl dash cap.

The 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid with advanced Integrated Motor Assist IMA® hybrid technology achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 40/45 miles per gallon and includes Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and an available leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and heated side mirrors. 

The Civic Hybrid is certified by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) as an Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard equipment.

The Civic Hybrid can deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain low-speed cruising situations. Power for the Civic Hybrid is provided by a 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 15 kilowatt electric motor, producing a combined 110-horsepower @ 6000 rpm and combined 123 lb-ft. of torque @ 1000-2500 rpm.

Speaking of technology, the second generation hybrid Civic also increased its horsepower, which when combined with a continuous variable transmission, provides a smooth, yet powerful ride. Ultimately, the Civic hybrid significantly reduces fuel consumption without losing any performance.

The 2010 Honda Civic lineup has its bases covered with technologically advanced Civic Sedan and Coupe models, a Civic Hybrid, a high-performance Civic Si and a dedicated natural gas-powered Civic GX. All Civics were recently enhanced inside and out for the 2009 model year with new exterior styling, colors and increased availability of tech-friendly features. For 2010, the entire range of Civics remains largely unchanged.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, available on Civic EX, EX-L, Si and Hybrid models, has a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to the internal single-disc CD player, and a digital audio-card reader that can play MP3 and Windows Media® Audio (WMA) files from CompactFlash® cards (via a PC card adapter).

The navigation system features more than 7 million points of interest and the voice activation can control the navigation menus and the audio system, along with entering city and street names. 

The system includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, a wireless telephone interface that works with compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile telephones for hands-free operation via steering wheel-mounted controls.

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Honda S2000

Honda is on track to celebrate the S2000’s eighth anniversary with a special edition of the roadster called the Club Racer

Auto Express Car Reviews

New model will boost S2000’s track day appeal

24th March 2007

Debuting at next month’s New York Motor Show, the car will hit the road in the US in the autumn.

The Club Racer’s specification is still a secret, but Honda has admitted that the special S2000 will feature new aerodynamic bodywork, as well as lightweight panels for the bonnet, doors and boot.

Engineered to meet the demands of track drivers, the car will also get a tuned engine and revised suspension. Prices are secret and interested UK buyers could face a long wait for the newcomer. A Honda spokesperson said: “There are currently no plans to import the Club Racer, but production of the S2000 will continue for at least another 18 months.”

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2009 Honda OSM

Honda unveiled at the British Motor Show the OSM (for Open Study Model), a low-emission sportscar study model.

The exterior design is a balance of smooth, rounded curves and sharp lines to provide definition in key areas. The headlights are cleverly integrated into the front end, stretching from the nose to the top of the wheel arches to look more like a part of the original body.

Inside, this uninterrupted, fluid approach is continued, with long sweeping curves extending from both door panels to form a frame for the instrument display. The concept for the dashboard was to avoid creating the traditional block of ‘heavy’ color and material in front of the driver; in keeping with the clean and lightweight theme. For that reason, the dash is broken into sections, with the most important instruments in direct line-of-sight of the driver.

Press release

Honda’s low-emission sportscar study model has been revealed at the British International Motor Show, at ExCel, London.
The lightweight roadster design study displays one of Honda’s core engineering principles – to design stylish and exciting cars that are also environmentally responsible.

Named the OSM (for Open Study Model), the two-seater joins the confirmed-for-production CR-Z sports hybrid and FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car on the Honda stand at the show.

“We’re trying to show that low emission cars can be attractive,” says Andreas Sittel, Project Leader for OSM. “There is no reason why a car that’s more environmentally friendly can’t look great too – and be sporty and fun to drive.”

The concept for the project was ‘Clean and Dynamic’ – and this direction was followed for both the exterior and interior design, ensuring a joined-up, consistent ‘language’ between the two. One example of this can be seen at the rear of the car, where the body actually extends into the cabin between the seats.

The exterior design is a balance of smooth, rounded curves and sharp lines to provide definition in key areas. The headlights are cleverly integrated into the front end, stretching from the nose to the top of the wheel arches to look more like a part of the original body.

Inside, this uninterrupted, fluid approach is continued, with long sweeping curves extending from both door panels to form a frame for the instrument display. The concept for the dashboard was to avoid creating the traditional block of ‘heavy’ color and material in front of the driver; in keeping with the clean and lightweight theme. For that reason, the dash is broken into sections, with the most important instruments in direct line-of-sight of the driver.

Key information is displayed in a rounded, enclosed central binnacle, with levels and figures in bright blue on a black background. This matches the trim inside the car, with the seats and door furniture trimmed in a new, gloss-effect blue leather, accompanied by white leather sections, in line with the exterior body color, a one-off paint called Mystic Pearl.

The driver’s main controls and functions are distributed in an intuitive layout, close at hand on a panel that curves downwards to the right of the driver. A centrally-mounted semi-sequential gear-shift points towards a fun-to-drive transmission, along with paddle shifts either side of the steering wheel. Integrated into the gearshifter itself is a red ignition ‘start’ button, which reinforces the sporty direction of the car.

The Honda OSM was designed by Honda’s R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany. It’s the latest example of the young talent being developed within Honda’s design studios in Europe – following the Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept (Geneva 2007) and the Accord Tourer Concept (Frankfurt 2007).

At present, the Honda OSM is a design study model, and there are no plans for it to enter production.

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An Iron Horse: 2010 Honda Fury Motorcycle

I really wish I never gave away the motorbike my Dad gave me. Well, I didn’t so much give it away as I was just too lack when it came to fixing it up. Simple clean of the carburetor would’ve seen me atop an Iron Horse of my own. My dad likes taking cross-country trips on his bike. It gets me thinking about maybe snagging a bike of my own and joining him Diggin the style of the Honda Fury, The only thing is, you think it’d be a good bike to get me from Denver to, say, Maine? Or is it more of an around-town thing? I know not a lot about bikes.

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2009 Honda V4 Concept

2009 Honda

V4 Concept

2009 Honda V4 Concept

2009 Honda V4 Concept

• 2009 Honda V4 Concept

2009 Honda V4 Concept

Honda has always sought to push back motorcycling

boundaries, challenge engineering convention and introduce daring and innovative new designs and technologies that will delight our customers.
The challenge that entices us is to celebrate the passionately creative heritage of that first V4 four-stroke and incorporate 30 years of Honda V4 expertise to create our next generation of products. Once again Honda will use the power of dreams to take motorcycling somewhere it has never been before.
The first of the new generation V4 models will be released in 2010.

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Honda Oree Electric Motorcycle Concept

A design project by German college students Nike Albertus and Andre Look, the Honda Oree is a electric motorcycle concept model debuting at the 2008 INTERMOT Bike Show. Wandering the 1057 booths at the 2008 INTERMOT Bike Show in Cologne, Germany, one of Motorcycle USA’s favorite exhibits was the Innovation Café. Featuring alternative two-wheeled designs, electric motorcycles and scooters were prominent. Yet there was one electric design that stood out in our minds, the Honda Oree.

A naked street bike concept, the diminutive scale model size of the Oree doesn’t diminish its big ideas. The creation of two German design college students, Nike Albertus and Andre Look, the intention of the Oree “was to create a concept bike for dynamic road riding.”

Creating the model only days before the INTERMOT show, Albertus and Look sourced their interest in motorcycles and honed their talent at the Academy of Art and Design in Offenbach am Main.

The Oree concept is powered by an electric motor with battery packs mounted on the circular exterior.

“One of our first fundamentals was to create a concept bike which is made by riders for riders,” explains Look, “with the ambition of innovation and also the idea of making the technique and the concept work.”

The minimalist design is fashioned around an electric motor, with radial battery packs placed around the circular edge of the powerplant – including the recharge plug. Citing the performance benefits of an electric motor, including high torque at low revs and quick acceleration, Look notes his design also does without a CVT gearbox or clutch. Instead power is transmitted directly via belt drive.

The ambitious student design anticipates a motor producing 90-plus horsepower, 125 lb-ft of torque and top speed near 120 mph. Weight would be in the range of 290-375 lbs with a range of between 80-190 miles, depending on the number of batteries used. Of course, this is all speculative, as no such batteries or motor now exists (remember it’s a design college project!).

“The main point of our design was to let the rider feel the action happening in and around the motorcycle,” says Look on the unique lines of the Oree.

Albertus and Look wanted the rider to see the suspension working, so the rear shock is visible though the frame in front of the seat.

Claiming inspiration from popular European naked bikes like the Kawasaki ER-6, the bare styling of the Oree sports a less-is-more gestalt (that’s German for design). Odd-shaped hand controls include hanging mirrors. A circular control display is located in a more conventional position, above the fork – the front houses the headlight assembly. Taillights are tucked under the scant seat.

Chassis design features a single pivot point around the motor for the single-sided swingarm and final drive. Looking down in their stance, a rider will see the shock in action, as it’s placed between the frame’s backbone spars.

“The major aspect of the suspension is to expose functions and attitude – in standstill for every viewer and also while riding,” explains Look. “At first the direct effects of the road can be recognized through the fork and swingarm movement - further the motion of the suspension shocks between the frame halves can be realized.”

Not an official Honda development, Look assures the two students “requested Honda R&D to backup our knowledge of motorcycles with their professional experience.”

Readers may remember the big Honda news at the 2008 INTERMOT Bike Show in Cologne was the unveiling of its V-Four concept bike. More akin to a sculpture than a functional ride, the wild-looking V-Four concept got top billing. Sure, the Oree is a scale model, but it looks like a more finished product and in pure creativity, the college kids may have bested Big Red at INTERMOT.

It will most likely never move beyond miniature model stage, but the Oree is still a design with big ideas.

The Oree was met with enthusiasm in the Innovation Café. “The response at the Intermot Cologne was stunning,” confirms Look, “even a lot of Ducati riders were zealous about the look of the bike and the idea behind it.”

As for the Oree’s non-scale-model future?

Although Honda CEO Takeo Fukui did announce the manufacturer plans to introduce an electric design in about two year’s time, don’t expect to see the Oree at your Honda dealership anytime soon. For now it remains an independent creative experiment, with Look saying, “how the project will continue is currently still open.”

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