London-based film and digital agency, Gaucho production, has produced this 90 second launch film for the new Honda CR-Z Hybrid. Commissioned by Honda Motor Europe, the film debuted at the international press launch of the Honda CR-Z and will be used as part of the car’s upcoming television marketing campaign in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Honda told producers that the film was to be brief, but emotive and was to capture the dynamic, aesthetic and environmental qualities of their... [...]
Honda U3-X concept has its first US demonstration – video
Honda has this week given its first US demonstration of its personal mobility concept, the U3-X. First introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, the U3-X uses Honda’s proprietary balance-control system and is controlled simply by shifting your body weight in the intended direction of travel. The U3-X concept follows a similar theme to the GM Segway or Toyota i-REAL, but is far more compact in size weighing in at just 9.97 kilograms. The one-wheeled U3-X features retractable footrests and... [...]
Acura ZDX Review
Here’s an interesting crossover vehicle from Honda’s luxury brand in the USA ‘Acura’, as reviewed by our North American correspondent, Mark Hacking. Los Angeles, Calif.—The term “crossover” was first introduced in the mid-2000s as marketing-speak to describe any car-based vehicle that looks like it should, really, belong in some other, more commonly understood category. But the marketing gurus—they need to justify salaries and support families, too. So, years ago, when some indeterminate... [...]
Honda Insight, Civic, Accord named top commuters by AAA
America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organisation, the AAA (American Automobile Association), has named three Honda vehicles in its illustrious top ten list for 2010. The Honda Insight (1st), Honda Civic (7th) and Honda Accord (9th) scored favourably on the annual list which compares vehicles on such criteria as affordability, comfort, driveability, fuel efficiency, practicality and safety. AAA judges awarded the Honda Insight hybrid first place for performing strongly in areas of comfort,... [...]
Australian Honda Jazz commercial now aired in the Netherlands
Honda Australia’s latest television commercial, dubbed ‘Imagination’, is now being used to promote Honda Jazz in the Netherlands. The result of a creative partnership between Honda Australia and Revolver Films’ director Kris Moyers, the commercial was produced in collaboration with advertising agency 303. The ad uses 1,469,333 multi-coloured plastic blocks, the exact number calculated to fill the interior of the Jazz, through a series of images — including a giant dog... [...]
Honda CR-Z orders top 10,000 in Japan in first month
The all-new Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe is proving popular in its homeland of Japan. After just one month on sale in the Japanese market, the country’s second-largest vehicle manufacturer has taken more than 10,000 orders, ten times initial monthly predictions. Half of those buyers were new to the brand, and Honda is now just 2000 vehicles away from its conservative first-year prediction of 12,000. Ninety percent of orders have been placed by men, with most between 30 and 50. Around 9000 orders... [...]
Honda Odyssey Review – Video
Full Review of the Honda Odyssey The Odyssey also won our people mover comparison convincingly read the full comparison here Read More →
Honda Odyssey, Element models recalled in US for braking fault
Honda US will recall 344,000 Odyssey and 68,000 Element models to replace a brake system component that, according to customers, has caused a “soft” brake pedal feel, and in some instances, lowered brake pedal position. The faulty component, known as the Vehicle Stability Assist modulator, causes the issue to gradually worsen with some customers saying the pedal was nearly against the floor. If left unchecked, the problem could cause a severe reduction in the vehicle’s braking... [...]
Honda’s hydrogen future may lie with solar home refueling
Honda says the future of its hydrogen-powered vehicles may lie with solar-powered home refueling stations. The Japanese manufacturer hopes its latest idea will make hydrogen the fuel of choice for zero-emission cars, believing hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles offer the best long-term alternative to fossil fuels. While many manufacturers, such as GM and Toyota, continue to invest heavily in battery technology, Honda is widely seen as the hydrogen leader, strongly tempted by the idea of a car that uses... [...]
Honda CR-Z sport hybrid tallies 7000 orders in Japan
Honda has already recorded 7000 orders for its all-new CR-Z sport hybrid in Japan, only 5000 shy of its projected annual target. The Honda CR-Z, which went on sale in Japan on February 25, 2010, is a sport-oriented petrol-electric hybrid three-door hatch powered by the combination of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. Total output figures are 91kw/174Nm while combined fuel economy is 6.2L/100km. Honda was recently criticised for the CR-Z’s poor fuel consumption figure... [...]
Mazda to fit brake override technology to all future models
Although Mazda hasn’t yet experienced any of the unintended acceleration complaints recently experienced at Toyota, the manufacturer has today announced that it will install a brake override system on all future models as a precautionary step. Toyota recently announced it will install the system on all its models from 2011 onward following two recent safety recalls involving nearly 9 million vehicles around the globe. The Mazda system will cut power to the engine in the event the vehicle senses... [...]
Honda Civic Type R at Rally of Tasmania
At the end of the Rally of Tasmania the Honda Civic Type R just missed out on a podium finish by seconds to finish overall in fourth place. Fourth place isn’t a bad outcome for the Evans Motorsport Honda Civic Type R’s first go. Over two competitive stages on Friday the Evans and Weston team finished first and second and ended the day second overall by just 0.3 of a second. Saturday’s second leg covered eight stages and the teams confidence was high, even with tyre problems Evans... [...]
Honda 3R-C concept to preview the future at Geneva
One vehicle set to debut on Honda’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show next week hasn’t been designed to give an impression of what we will be driving in five months time or even five years time. The Honda 3R-C could be looking closer to five decades into the future of minimalist single-person urban transportation with its three-wheeled, battery-powered R&D experiment. Developed at Honda’s Research and Design centre in Milan, the 3R-C’s electric drivetrain has been mounted as low as possible... [...]
Honda Hybrid System for Larger Cars in development
With the Honda Insight Hybrid and the Honda CR-Z Hybrid only weeks away from their global launch, Honda Motor Co. is working as hard as possible on hybrid systems for larger cars. According to Tomohiko Kawanabe the Japanese company’s head of automobile research and development, a finished product is only about three years away. “We’ve left the research stage and entered the field of development,” he told Reuters in an interview. Unlike the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight... [...]
Honda Civic Type R JAS Motorsport prepares for 2010 ARC – video
If you’re anything like the crew here at CarAdvice, Monday mornings usually require that little extra motivation to get you in to the working week. So with that in mind, this video released by Honda Australia this morning should certainly do the trick. The video, released this morning by Honda Australia, shows Evans Motorsport driver Eli Evans and co-driver Glen Weston putting the new JAS Motorsport-built, Mugen-powered Honda Civic Type R through its paces at the Broadford Motorsport Complex,... [...]
Honda Jazz Vibe limited edition released
Honda have today announced a limited edition Jazz model to be known simply as ‘Vibe’. Vibe is essentially an option package available on Honda Jazz GLi and Honda Jazz VTi models featuring 1.3- and 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines respectively. The Vibe limited edition includes $3,200 of additional equipment including a sports grille, alloy wheels (including a matching spare), front foglamps, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and of course, Vibe badging, to the already well equipped... [...]
2010 Honda CR-V launched in Australia
Honda Australia has released a refreshed version of the Honda CR-V for 2010 with updated styling, upgraded specification levels and more aggressive pricing. With curtain airbags becoming standard on the entry-level model every car in the CR-V range is now equipped with dual front, side and curtain bags. The ride and handling has been improved with revisions to the front suspension. Revised side mirrors and extra sound deadening around the engine bay and cabin have improved NVH levels and passenger... [...]
2011 Honda Odyssey Concept at the Chicago Auto Show
It’s called the Honda Odyssey Concept, but this latest offering at the Chicago Auto Show gives a very real indication of the production version of the fourth-generation US-spec Honda Odyssey. Following what is already a sleek people-mover design, Honda said it wanted the new Odyssey to appear lower and more grounded. As a consequence the minivan sits on the same 3m wheelbase but is 3.6cm wider and incorporates tighter bodywork and uncomplicated lines. While the huge alloys and discs of the show... [...]
Honda CR-V, Accord Australian recall expands
As part of a worldwide recall, Honda Australia has today expanded its recent local recall of 1,323 Honda Accord and 22 Honda CR-V units produced between 2001 and 2002 by a further 703 vehicles. The recall was issued to replace the driver’s SRS airbag inflator which, although yet to malfunction, is believed to contain a defective propellant (the chemical substance which generates gas to inflate the airbag) that may rupture the inflator’s casing in turn causing fragments of airbag parts... [...]
Honda Insight a finalist in 2010 World Green Car Awards
The New York International Auto Show opens on April the first where the winner of the 2010 World Car award will be announced. Honda’s second generation Insight has been named one of five finalists. Launched January 2004 the World Car awards recognise automotive excellence on a world wide scale. If the Honda Insight wins it will follow the success of the Honda FCX Clarity which won the 2009 World Green Car award. Honda’s aim for the Insight is to make Hybrid technology affordable and... [...]