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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Plan to add pumps may boost natural gas autos
This is great news for people that own Natural Gas Civic's!
By Alan Sayre
New Orleans —The United States has record supplies of natural gas and plenty of reasons to promote natural-gas powered cars. But so far, consumers, manufacturers and fuel suppliers haven't shown much interest.
Now, a major natural gas developer's plans to vastly increase the number of truck stops that offer liquid natural gas could help boost its use in the vehicles that burn the most fuel, while promoting its availability to a wider market.
Lots of natural gas is available, if U.S. drivers decide to use it. In just a few years, domestic natural gas supplies have increased by trillions of cubic feet through shale finds, boosting the supply to the point where plans are in place to export part of the overflow.
The growth of natural gas vehicles in the United States so far has been dominated by fleets of buses, taxis and garbage haulers. Only one natural gas car is commercially produced in the country: the Honda Civic GX, recently renamed the NG. It has sold a grand total of about 13,000 in 13 years of production.
The reasons for the lackluster sales of natural gas cars are many: The fuel is only available at a handful of public stations, tethering the vehicles within a certain distance of a fuel source. And even though the pump price of natural gas can run $1 to $2 less per gallon equivalent than gasoline, natural gas vehicles carry a higher sticker price.
The focus for the natural gas vehicle industry in the United States has been the fuel-guzzlers: commercial vehicles, especially tractor-trailer rigs.
Rich Kolodziej, president of the trade association NGV America, says that makes sense in terms of overall fuel usage. He said a driver who puts 12,000 miles a year on a car at 25 miles to the gallon will use about 500 gallons of gasoline annually. But a diesel-driven 18-wheeler can easily go 120,000 miles a year. At six miles per gallon, that comes to 20,000 gallons.
"If you're trying to reduce foreign imports of oil, you're trying to reduce greenhouse gases and emissions in urban areas, where do you put your effort? You put it on the big vehicles," Kolodziej said.
For reasons of tank space, liquid natural gas is used by commercial trucks, while compressed natural gas is the fuel of choice for cars.
According to the international trade association NGV Global, there are 12.7 million natural gas vehicles in the world, including 6.8 million in the Asia-Pacific rim, 4.2 million in Latin America, 1.4 million in Europe, and 122,000 in Africa.
The U.S. has just 112,000 of them — less than 1 percent of the global total, and less than a tenth of 1 percent of the 253.7 million vehicles in the U.S.
Most of them are in fleets.
"The big reason that they work well for fleets and not the average person on the street is that most fleet vehicles are used for relatively short trips," said John O'Dell, senior editor of Edmunds.com, which follows the vehicle industry. "They go back to the barn in the evening where they have a refueling station that can handle them.
"There is not a really good fueling system in this country," O'Dell added. "You have to have the infrastructure out there to convince people to buy natural gas cars."
Kolodziej said that there are about 180,000 gasoline stations — and only about 1,000 locations to fill up with natural gas.
But that may be changing.
The T. Boone Pickens-backed Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is embarking on a major expansion of natural gas fueling and plans to add liquefied natural gas pumps at 150 truck stops nationwide over the next 24 to 36 months.
"We've mapped out a strategy to cover every major interstate in the domestic United States," said Clean Energy Fuels chief marketing officer James Harger.
Harger and other natural gas proponents are putting stock in pending congressional legislation that would provide tax credits to cover 80 percent of the cost difference between a liquid natural gas tractor-trailer and a diesel. Harger said the five-year bill probably would cost about $1 billion a year. The U.S. spends over $1 billion a day on foreign oil.
"This will help jump-start this industry," he said.
Source;
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111229/AUTO01/112290345/Plan-add-pumps-may-boost-natural-gas-autos
By Alan SayreNew Orleans —The United States has record supplies of natural gas and plenty of reasons to promote natural-gas powered cars. But so far, consumers, manufacturers and fuel suppliers haven't shown much interest.
Now, a major natural gas developer's plans to vastly increase the number of truck stops that offer liquid natural gas could help boost its use in the vehicles that burn the most fuel, while promoting its availability to a wider market.
Lots of natural gas is available, if U.S. drivers decide to use it. In just a few years, domestic natural gas supplies have increased by trillions of cubic feet through shale finds, boosting the supply to the point where plans are in place to export part of the overflow.
The growth of natural gas vehicles in the United States so far has been dominated by fleets of buses, taxis and garbage haulers. Only one natural gas car is commercially produced in the country: the Honda Civic GX, recently renamed the NG. It has sold a grand total of about 13,000 in 13 years of production.
The reasons for the lackluster sales of natural gas cars are many: The fuel is only available at a handful of public stations, tethering the vehicles within a certain distance of a fuel source. And even though the pump price of natural gas can run $1 to $2 less per gallon equivalent than gasoline, natural gas vehicles carry a higher sticker price.
The focus for the natural gas vehicle industry in the United States has been the fuel-guzzlers: commercial vehicles, especially tractor-trailer rigs.
Rich Kolodziej, president of the trade association NGV America, says that makes sense in terms of overall fuel usage. He said a driver who puts 12,000 miles a year on a car at 25 miles to the gallon will use about 500 gallons of gasoline annually. But a diesel-driven 18-wheeler can easily go 120,000 miles a year. At six miles per gallon, that comes to 20,000 gallons.
"If you're trying to reduce foreign imports of oil, you're trying to reduce greenhouse gases and emissions in urban areas, where do you put your effort? You put it on the big vehicles," Kolodziej said.
For reasons of tank space, liquid natural gas is used by commercial trucks, while compressed natural gas is the fuel of choice for cars.
According to the international trade association NGV Global, there are 12.7 million natural gas vehicles in the world, including 6.8 million in the Asia-Pacific rim, 4.2 million in Latin America, 1.4 million in Europe, and 122,000 in Africa.
The U.S. has just 112,000 of them — less than 1 percent of the global total, and less than a tenth of 1 percent of the 253.7 million vehicles in the U.S.
Most of them are in fleets.
"The big reason that they work well for fleets and not the average person on the street is that most fleet vehicles are used for relatively short trips," said John O'Dell, senior editor of Edmunds.com, which follows the vehicle industry. "They go back to the barn in the evening where they have a refueling station that can handle them.
"There is not a really good fueling system in this country," O'Dell added. "You have to have the infrastructure out there to convince people to buy natural gas cars."
Kolodziej said that there are about 180,000 gasoline stations — and only about 1,000 locations to fill up with natural gas.
But that may be changing.
The T. Boone Pickens-backed Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is embarking on a major expansion of natural gas fueling and plans to add liquefied natural gas pumps at 150 truck stops nationwide over the next 24 to 36 months.
"We've mapped out a strategy to cover every major interstate in the domestic United States," said Clean Energy Fuels chief marketing officer James Harger.
Harger and other natural gas proponents are putting stock in pending congressional legislation that would provide tax credits to cover 80 percent of the cost difference between a liquid natural gas tractor-trailer and a diesel. Harger said the five-year bill probably would cost about $1 billion a year. The U.S. spends over $1 billion a day on foreign oil.
"This will help jump-start this industry," he said.
Source;
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111229/AUTO01/112290345/Plan-add-pumps-may-boost-natural-gas-autos
Honda back in the innovation game
By Richard Russell @ Globe and Mail
Although Honda built its reputation in engineering and innovation, in recent years it has strayed from that path – there have been no new engines, transmissions, hybrid, electric or plug-in systems in an era when the competition is bombarding us with new thinking.
Honda Motor president and CEO Takanobu Ito admits the company has had trouble. “The real challenge facing car companies around the world is the speed at which change is taking place. To be honest, we have not been able to keep up as well as we’d like.”
He also heads up Honda R&D and in that role says his first task as president is to push for advanced technologies, advances that will put Honda ahead of the pack in the fields of batteries, hybrids and fuel cells while working on further efficiencies with the internal combustion engine. “We’re hard at work on all of these at once,” he said recently.
The previous day, at the company’s R&D centre in Motegi, 125 km north of Tokyo near the area decimated by the March earthquake and tsunami, we had sampled a steady stream of new innovations that will find their way into an array of new vehicles in the next couple of years.
We drove a variety of new and future vehicles powered by a completely new family of four- and six-cylinder engines. We tried several new transmissions, a truly innovative all-wheel-drive system, various hybrids including one without a transmission, pure electric vehicles and a sleek sedan powered by a fuel cell.
On the engine front, a unique combination of variable valve-timing, twin camshafts and direct injection has been developed allowing engines to run on the fuel-savings Atkinson Cycle without the loss of power or torque previously associated with that method. These include a quartet of new four-cylinder gasoline engines ranging in displacement from 1.0 to 2.4 litres and a new 3.5-litre V6. The new 2.4-litre will first appear in the next Accord, late in 2012, and perhaps the new CR-V shortly afterward.
We drove vehicles powered by a new 148-horsepower, 1.8-litre four that would be right at home in a mid-cycle version of the new Civic being readied for the 2013 model year and a 127-horsepower, 1.5-litre four destined for the Fit. In all cases, these preliminary power figures are on the conservative side but considerably higher than current engines of similar displacement, while consuming 10 per cent less fuel. We also sampled a Civic powered by a potent little 1.6-litre turbo diesel.
Honda engineers have developed a trio of new continuously variable transmissions for small and mid-sized cars. On road and track they exhibited less of the “motor-boating” and “rubber-band” effects associated with CVT transmissions. Only when pressed hard on the track did they assume the CVT propensity to sound like a clutch was slipping.
Honda has also come up with a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox for higher power applications.
All of these engines and transmission will appear in standalone or hybrid applications across a wide range of vehicles of all sizes and shapes in the next two years.
Honda also showed off what it says is the world’s most efficient two-motor hybrid system, one that allows a big family-size car to operate without a transmission with a resulting saving in space and cost. Headed for the North American market next year in the next-generation Accord, it can run on electric or gasoline power or a combination of the two.
The main electric motor produces 221 lb-ft of torque and is used to launch the car, which can run for up to 24 km on battery power alone. The second electric motor is used as a generator to recharge the batteries. At highway speeds, the electric motor drops out and a 134-horsepower gasoline engine takes over.
The IC engine also comes into use to drive the generator and keep the batteries charged, much like the Chevrolet Volt. With the big electric motor able to get the car to cruising speed there is no need for a transmission.
The company also turned us loose on the big oval of the adjacent Twin-Ring Motegi racetrack in an Accord-size sedan equipped with the new V-6 sending 310 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through the seven-speed DSG gearbox and a pair of 27-horsepower electric motors powering the rear wheels.
In addition to the abundance of instant torque when accelerating, one motor is programmed to send more power to the outside wheel in a corner while the other applies negative torque to the inside wheel.
Off-the-line performance can be silent and seamless with the twin electric motors providing the go – or is truly impressive if you get into the throttle and add the V-6 to the equation. Turn-in is exemplary and transient response exceptional thanks to the rear wheels being used to pull the car into the turn. Add to this the ability to get on the power earlier when existing the corner and you’ve got a true sports sedan.
Look for this combination in a forthcoming replacement for the big Acura RL sedan and the replacement for the NSX sports car.
Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/auto-news/honda-back-in-the-innovation-game/article2287398/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2287398
Thursday, December 29, 2011
New 400bhp Honda NSX
Honda supercar returns with a four-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain, and the coupe version will debut at Detroit Auto ShowThe Honda NSX supercar is set to return as a 400bhp four-wheel-drive hybrid. Honda has already confirmed that a new NSX will be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January, and now we have more information on the Japanese Audi R8 rival.
We’ve already seen spy shots of a concept car on the set of the new Avengers movie, and we’ve since had confirmation that the Detroit show car will be heavily based on that model. Our images show a coupe, but the final production version will also be offered as a roadster.
The concept will be shown as an Acura – the firm’s luxury North American arm – but it will be badged as a Honda when it arrives in the UK, and retain its forebear’s NSX name. Power will come from a 3.5-litre V6 driving one axle and a pair of in-wheel electric motors to turn the other. This will give the NSX four-wheel-drive traction and 400bhp-plus. Performance will be impressive, with 0-62mph taking under five seconds.
For full details on the new NSX, including how the hybrid powertrain will be adapted to suit the project, check out this week’s Auto Express magazine.
Source;
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/276454/new_400bhp_honda_nsx.html
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Is this the Next Honda Accord?
This pic was sent to me by 'Steve', not sure what to think about this, but it does look good, whether or not this is the Next Generation Accord or not .... we'll have to wait and see.*UPDATE*
This is the Euro Honda Accord, be nice to see this non-TSX front end here though.
Book: Hoffa is buried beneath the GM Building
Detroit— Some say Jimmy Hoffa is buried somewhere under the west endzone at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Others say he was cremated in a Hamtramck garbage incinerator or dumped in the Florida Everglades.But a new book penned by a man who was Hoffa's driver and a Canadian journalist says the legendary Teamster boss is still in Detroit, buried beneath General Motors' headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit.
The book — "The Weasel: A Double Life in the Mob" (Wiley; November 2011) — is the latest tome to expose what really happened to Hoffa. The book's authors are Marvin Elkind, a self-described "chauffeur and goon for mob bosses" who turned police informant, and Adrian Humphries, who has written two other books about the mafia.
Elkind claims he learned Hoffa was buried under the RenCen during a Teamsters conference in Detroit in 1985. Reputed mob boss Anthony Giacalone told him and a group of delegates, Elkind told the New York Post.
As the group left the hotel across the street from where the Renaissance Center was under construction, Giacalone nodded toward the new building's foundation and said, "Say good morning to Jimmy Hoffa, boys."
Source;
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111227/METRO/112270331/-1/archive/Book-Hoffa-buried-beneath-RenCen
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
2012 Mercedes Benz SLK Review
In 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK has been seen in many places hidden. But the spy photos show what the car will look like.
Mexican designer Victor Uribe transport has presented several sketches of what he considers the 2012 Mercedes Benz SLK should be similar. Mercedes Benz have a leaf from the book of Victor, its design is keeping with tradition, Mercedes Benz and lines.
Victor is the SLK concept front angle with a long hood, a new set of headlights and grille, which resembles the SLS AMG Gullwing.Auto also redesigned taillights round and look back.Side skirts seem to be bigger and side profile shows a lower waist. The new SLK will look at all the design Victor Uribe. In 2012, the SLK will look a bit aggressive.
Honda begins scrapping over 1000 cars damaged from Thailand floods
Vehicles are seen after floodwaters receded at the Honda factory in Ayutthaya province on Nov. 26. Thailand's worst floods in 50 years have killed 610 people and devastated industry, but the situation is slowly improving, with water receding in many affected areas.
A Honda worker lifts a flood damaged car at the Honda factory in Ayutthaya province on December 27, 2011. Japanese car assembler Honda automobile (Thailand) started to scrap 1,055 cars which were damaged by the recent floods in Thailand, ensuring that damaged parts would not be sold, the company said in statement.
A flood damaged Honda car is destroyed at the Honda factory in Ayutthaya province on Dec 27. Japanese car assembler Honda automobile (Thailand) started to scrap 1,055 cars which were damaged by the recent floods in Thailand, ensuring that damaged parts would not be sold, the company said in statement.
Workers walk amidst Honda cars that were damaged by the flood before the destruction demonstration at Honda automobile plant in Ayutthaya province, central Thailand on Dec. 27. The 1,055 unit of Honda cars, mostly Brio eco-cars and City subcompacts, were destroyed in an action to assure to customers that the flood-damaged cars will not be repaired and sold.
Natalia Jimenez writes
In an effort to prove that no flood damaged vehicles will not be sold to customers, the Honda factory in Thailand's Ayutthaya province began destroying over 1,000 cars. The factory was one of the hardest hit by the several months of record flooding, which only receded a few weeks ago. The devastating floods were the worst the country experienced in 50 years and left over 700 people dead. According to AFP, the scrapping process is expected to take one month.
Honda's production was disrupted from the floods and only recently returned to normal. According to AP, American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel says it will not be until March that dealers will be fully restocked.
Aerial images of the submerged cars in the Honda lot provided powerful visuals of the effects of the severe flooding on businesses. (One of the images made it into our selection of the Year in Pictures: 2011.) The area is home to large production centers for global car and computer industries. According to Bloomberg, Toyota had to suspend local production of its Camry and Prius lines, and Apple faced delays in parts used for Mac computers. Western Digital shares hit a year low in October and is now working to regain their losses, according to Reuters.
See more images of the severe flooding in Thailand on PhotoBlog.
Source;
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/27/9737801-honda-begins-scrapping-over-1000-cars-damaged-from-thailand-floods
Honda plans to make lighter vehicles - Nikkei
Dec 24 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co plans to adopt new design and assembly methods to make its vehicles lighter, the Nikkei business daily reported.Some of Honda's new manufacturing methods involve welding outer panels to the frame, rather than assembling the ceiling, side and other panels, to reduce the use of bolts and reinforcing materials, the Japanese newspaper said.
Honda plans to spend tens of billions of yen to revamp production lines in Japan and overseas, using the new methods on small vehicles initially, then on all models within several years, the Nikkei said.
The automaker has begun steps to scale back on materials, parts and processing steps for producing its minivehicle, the N Box, which was launched last Friday, the daily said.
Honda modified one of the two production lines that assemble the N Box at its Suzuka plant in Mie Prefecture, the Nikkei said. The move will help make the N Box 10 percent lighter and lower manufacturing costs, the paper added.
By making lighter and cheaper automobiles, the carmaker aims to fast track its advance into emerging markets, which is one of its top priorities, the newspaper said.
Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/23/honda-idUSL3E7NN2XB20111223
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Honda Portal!
I hope everyone has a great safe and happy holiday!
Friday, December 23, 2011
2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Review
Subaru has a new 4-door version of the flagship 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI performance. Is the first time, Subaru Impreza WRX STI is available in two body variants (5-door and 4 door). Besides the new design provides the 2011 WRX STI tuned suspension thorough review and lighter to handle 18 inches higher.
Power and torque remain unchanged at 296bhp at 6,000 rpm and 300 lb-ft at 4000rpm. However, the chassis has been redesigned and now uses a spec C to stop. It offers, among other things, the spring rate by 15.6 per cent fighting at the front and a huge 53 percent on the back. In the heart of the difference seems to be now more than ever, set in three modes, automatic and manual mode, which offers six levels of adaptation.
The price is more than £ 32,995 (from £ 27 590) increased, which Subaru increased the exchange rate between the yen and the pound.
Report: Honda Will Revise Sales Forecasts Up While It Revises Civic
By Ben TimmonsHonda’s not taking its recent Civic-related setbacks quietly, and it certainly isn’t giving up in the face of natural disasters, supply problems, and cheap plastics: the company is shooting to increase sales by 24 percent next year.
Automotive News reports that Tetsuo Iwamura, the President and CEO of American Honda, is predicting a 24 percent increase next year in sales, as the company works to upgrade and fix its 2012 Civic coupe and sedan. If Honda can pull off both of these ideas well, it would spell a great 2012 for a company that struggled through 2011. Its Civic sedan is down 13 percent thanks to inventory problems and quality problems, and the whole nameplate is off 5.3 percent year-to-date.
Keep in mind, also, that Honda was one of the hardest-hit Japanese automakers in last March’s Great East Japan Earthquake, and it continued to suffer during the Thai floods later this year. Sales of Honda’s hybrids, which are either produced in Japan or rely on Japanese parts, were down 53 percent in November 2011 from the same period in 2010.
Still, Honda hopes that its product portfolio will carry it to victory next year, as it pushes the one-two punch of natural disasters further and further in the rearview mirror. It is looking to replenish dwindling inventories of the Civic as it readies the update, and along with the all-new CR-V, sell roughly 1.25 million Hondas in 2012.
It’s a lofty goal, but we’ll see just how attainable it is in the coming months.
Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/report-honda-will-revise-sales-forecasts-up-while-it-revises-civic-96285.html
Feds' crystal ball sees tough times for 2 bailed-out automakers
By Christina RogersDETROIT -- President Barack Obama boasts about the successful reorganization of General Motors and Chrysler, but some in his administration are using forecasts that anticipate a lackluster future for those automakers.
Projections released by the EPA and the Department of Transportation predict that by the 2025 model year, Chrysler's sales will plunge to less than half of what they were in the 2008 model year, when the Wall Street financial crisis triggered an auto industry depression and catapulted GM and Chrysler toward government-run bankruptcies.
The U.S. Treasury still owns a 32 percent stake in GM; Chrysler has repaid its government loans.
GM sales in the 2025 model year are projected to be just about what they were in 2008, while overall U.S. vehicle sales are expected to climb 25 percent to 17.3 million vehicles in the same period.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen and Hyundai are expected to more than double their U.S. sales.
These are some of the predictions tucked away in the administration's 567-page proposal to lock in tougher fuel economy rules for the U.S. auto industry.
These are some of the predictions tucked away in the administration's 567-page proposal to lock in tougher fuel economy rules for the U.S. auto industry.
The proposal, released in November by the EPA and Department of Transportation, seeks roughly to double today's standards by raising requirements to an average of 54.5 mpg for each automaker by the 2025 model year. The new rules received the backing of 13 automakers in July.
VW and Daimler AG have refused to endorse the proposal because it creates no new incentives for diesel cars.
Rulemaking process
The 2025 model year projections are a part of the rulemaking process and are based on forecasts obtained by the federal agencies from the Department of Energy, as well as outside forecasting firm CSM Worldwide (now a part of IHS Automotive). A custom forecast, covering the years 2017-2025, was purchased from CSM Worldwide by the agencies in December 2009.
The figures will be updated before the rules are made final, and the public will have a chance to comment on the EPA-DOT rules in January.
The 2025 model year projections are a part of the rulemaking process and are based on forecasts obtained by the federal agencies from the Department of Energy, as well as outside forecasting firm CSM Worldwide (now a part of IHS Automotive). A custom forecast, covering the years 2017-2025, was purchased from CSM Worldwide by the agencies in December 2009.
The figures will be updated before the rules are made final, and the public will have a chance to comment on the EPA-DOT rules in January.
The long-range estimates help set a baseline for where sales in the industry are trending even before the more stringent standards are in place. The projections are compiled by the government. Typically, automakers don't release such long-term forecasts publicly.
Chrysler, GM and Ford declined to comment on the 2025 projections.
Chrysler, GM and Ford declined to comment on the 2025 projections.
In a statement, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the arm of DOT that prepared the analysis, said: "The agencies' projections are based on the best information available to the agencies at the time. Such forecasts are always subject to change as the industry and economy shifts."
NHTSA declined to comment further.
The EPA also said in a separate statement: "The data were from DOE and CSM, a respected independent research firm. When EPA and NHTSA finalize the rule, we will update it with the more current data that becomes available."
The EPA also said in a separate statement: "The data were from DOE and CSM, a respected independent research firm. When EPA and NHTSA finalize the rule, we will update it with the more current data that becomes available."
The projections offer a glimpse into how U.S. regulators view the sales landscape in the coming years. The forecasts predict U.S. vehicle sales will hit 17.3 million for the 2025 model year -- up from 13.9 million in 2008 -- with major carmakers like Honda, Toyota, Kia and Nissan posting healthy double-digit sales increases.
Chrysler, now owned by Italian carmaker Fiat S.p.A., is the only major automaker expected to lose business during this time frame. Its sales are expected to plummet 54 percent from 1.7 million in the 2008 model year, to 768,241 in model year 2025.
That's a big departure from Chrysler's own publicly announced projections: U.S. sales of 2 million in 2014, up from 950,000 in 2009.
GM's sales will rise 3 percent to 3.2 million between model years 2008 and 2025, while Ford is expected to increase sales by 26 percent to 2.2 million in the same period, according to projections cited by the agencies.
Tesla, which sold 800 electric cars during the 2008 model year, is expected to sell 31,974 in 2025.
Dubious forecast?
Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive, said the government's figures for each automaker are a bit dated, especially given all the changes in the industry over the last few years.
Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive, said the government's figures for each automaker are a bit dated, especially given all the changes in the industry over the last few years.
Chrysler, which historically has had a truck-heavy lineup, is starting to add small car options that will help sustain sales even if gasoline prices rise.
Other automakers also will adjust their lineups in response to advances in fuel-saving technologies and shifts in consumer demand, making it tricky to forecast sales so many years in advance.
"When you get that far out, as a forecaster it becomes a crapshoot," Schuster said. "They don't even know what their lineup is going to be in 2025, so it's difficult for a forecaster to know."
Feds' projections for auto sales
Feds' projections for auto sales
The EPA and Department of Transportation include future sales projections for each automaker in the agencies' proposal for tougher 2017-2025 fuel economy standards released in November. The annual sales estimates are based on data provided by the Department of Energy and outside forecasting firm, CSM Worldwide.
Source;Motor Trend: 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan Review
December 22, 2011By Carlos Lago Photos Michael Shaffer
Two hundred dollars won't buy you an iPad. It won't even pay for a half-decent coffee maker. But in the case of the Civic Si, $200 pays for two more doors, an easier-to-access trunk, and more passenger and cargo volume. Most importantly, those extra doors and enlarged capacities of the 2012 Honda Civic Si sedan come without sacrificing the fun-to-drive nature found in the Si coupe, or the performance. It's the same fun, now comfortably seating four.
In its transformation from coupe to sedan, the Civic Si grows 1.8 inches longer and 1.5 inches taller. Interior dimensions, as you might expect, grow most notably for rear passengers. Rear seat headroom expands to 1.9 inches, legroom to 5.4 inches, and shoulder room 1.1 inches. These increases mean little to overall weight. On our scales, the Si sedan weighed in a negligible 13 pounds heavier than the 2012 Civic Si coupe we tested, and its front/rear weight balance, at 61/39 percent, remains the same.
Also identical is the sedan's figure eight lap time. At 26.4 seconds, it matches the best lap we've seen from the Si coupe. Disappointingly, the sedan also retains the same understeer. During limit handling, the Si doesn't offer many choices; its rear tires resolutely follow the fronts. With lateral acceleration at a 0.88 g average, grip is admirable, but we found ourselves longing for some personality. Once the front starts plowing, your only option is to sit and wait for the understeer to end.
And that's with the summer tires. If you enjoy driving (and of course you do, you're buying a Si), avoid the all-seasons. During a back-to-back test with both tires on our figure eight, the Michelin Pilot Exalto summer rubber turned a 0.4-second quicker lap time than the all seasons. That lap time difference may seem slight, but the difference behind the wheel was most telling. The all-seasons exacerbated the understeer, squealing too easily and barricading you from fun.
Buy this car with summer tires, even if you don't plan on racing around two skidpads as fast as possible all day. Under normal driving, on city streets, the Si is an agreeable car to drive quickly. Its steering, though light, feels nicely precise. The clutch engages positively, and the gearbox slinks between gears as fast as you want it to. The absurdly short 4.76 final drive means you get to row that delightful shift knob frequently. The gearing also pays dividends in acceleration, where the Si sedan reaches 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at 94.8 mph. Lugging around town, you can get into fourth as early as 25 mph, something rare for performance-orientated Hondas. When approaching intersections, I frequently shifted into second when I should've shifted into third.
While the shifter is tidy and quick, we can’t say the same for the engine. This 2.4-liter mill hangs on to revs every time you depress the clutch between shifts, as if it were suspended in zero gravity. So you have to wait (and wait some more) to engage the next gear, which makes smooth shifting difficult. Honda says it is the result of chasing smooth deceleration when the throttle is lifted, an attempt to minimize torque shock. But to us, waiting for the revs to fall is frustrating because it is so at odds with the attitude of the rest of the car.
There's another oddity: You can't option summer tires with navigation, as you can with the coupe. Word from Honda is that the take rate on that combination in the previous generation was too low. At $24,675, even the most expensive, nav-equipped Si sedan costs $3590 less than a comparably equipped GTI and $2255 less than a comparably equipped Mazdaspeed3. That difference easily covers a set of wheels and summer tires. Those all seasons? Save 'em for winter.
The Si sedan encapsulates the same things we enjoy from the coupe (and the things we aren't particularly fond of) without diminishing any of the performance. Understeer at the limit and rev hang notwithstanding, the Si sedan still delivers the driving satisfaction we've come to expect from the badge. For $200, we're still hunting for a downside. And a better deal.
Source;
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1112_2012_honda_civic_si_sedan_first_test/
Hyundai America Nabs BMW Designer Christopher Chapman
Smart....
If there's one thing that Hyundai and Kia can lay claim to, is that both companies eventually understood the importance of design and made significant efforts to improve the styling of their vehicles in the past few years.
To achieve their goal, the Koreans didn't hesitate to bring in experienced designers from other brands, with the most notable transfer being that of Peter Schreyer from Audi who took over and revolutionized Kia's design language.
The South Korean group continues to inject its brands with foreign designers, with its latest hire being Christopher Chapman of former BMW fame. Chapman was named chief designer of the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, California, and will be responsible for new vehicle and concept design for Hyundai.
“With over 22 years of experience in the industry working on esteemed automotive brands, Chris provides a level of talent that will help further our design portfolio,” said SukGeun Oh, Head of Design, Senior Executive Vice President Hyundai Design Center. “We are thrilled to have Christopher Chapman as chief designer for Hyundai and look forward to continuing the strong momentum of our vehicle designs.”
Chapman started his career at the Isuzu Technical Center of America in Cerritos, California, in 1989 and was the designer chosen for the exterior of the XU-1 show car, which won Best Concept at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show.
In 1994, he joined the BMW Group at DesignworksUSA in California, where he designed the exteriors of the X5 Sport Activity Vehicle and X Coupe concept car before he moved to Germany to design the CS1 concept shown at the Geneva Auto Salon in 2002, followed by the first generation 1 Series production Coupe and its derivatives.
In 2002, Chapman was appointed Director of Automotive Design and has been responsible for leading several conceptual and production vehicles including the new X5, X3, Z4 and the first BMW 1-series E87.
“Christopher Chapman is an outstanding addition to the design team at HATCI,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “We are proud to add such a talented individual to lead the team of dedicated designers at HATCI that will continue to develop innovative vehicles for both the United States and global auto markets.”
Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/hyundai-america-nabs-bmw-designer.html
If there's one thing that Hyundai and Kia can lay claim to, is that both companies eventually understood the importance of design and made significant efforts to improve the styling of their vehicles in the past few years.To achieve their goal, the Koreans didn't hesitate to bring in experienced designers from other brands, with the most notable transfer being that of Peter Schreyer from Audi who took over and revolutionized Kia's design language.
The South Korean group continues to inject its brands with foreign designers, with its latest hire being Christopher Chapman of former BMW fame. Chapman was named chief designer of the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, California, and will be responsible for new vehicle and concept design for Hyundai.
“With over 22 years of experience in the industry working on esteemed automotive brands, Chris provides a level of talent that will help further our design portfolio,” said SukGeun Oh, Head of Design, Senior Executive Vice President Hyundai Design Center. “We are thrilled to have Christopher Chapman as chief designer for Hyundai and look forward to continuing the strong momentum of our vehicle designs.”
Chapman started his career at the Isuzu Technical Center of America in Cerritos, California, in 1989 and was the designer chosen for the exterior of the XU-1 show car, which won Best Concept at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show.
In 1994, he joined the BMW Group at DesignworksUSA in California, where he designed the exteriors of the X5 Sport Activity Vehicle and X Coupe concept car before he moved to Germany to design the CS1 concept shown at the Geneva Auto Salon in 2002, followed by the first generation 1 Series production Coupe and its derivatives.
In 2002, Chapman was appointed Director of Automotive Design and has been responsible for leading several conceptual and production vehicles including the new X5, X3, Z4 and the first BMW 1-series E87.
“Christopher Chapman is an outstanding addition to the design team at HATCI,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “We are proud to add such a talented individual to lead the team of dedicated designers at HATCI that will continue to develop innovative vehicles for both the United States and global auto markets.”
Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/hyundai-america-nabs-bmw-designer.html
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Updated 2013 Honda Civic Coming Late Next Year, Company Says it Expects to Improve Sales
With less than two weeks to go before the year’s end, we can safely say that one of the biggest disappointments of 2011 was the ninth generation of Honda’s U.S.-market Civic. Launched in April as a 2012 year model, the new Civic was criticized for its drop in quality and was even removed from Consumer Reports’ “Recommended” list.Honda Motor CEO Takanobu Ito took personal responsibility for the new Civic's poor performance. And now, the company's executives confirm earlier reports that Honda is rushing back to the drawing board much earlier than originally anticipated.
Honda U.S. executive vice president of sales John Mendel may claim that “building a good car isn’t good enough for us, we have to build a great car”, but we suspect that the 13 percent drop in sales to 200,690 units in 2011, is probably the reason why the Civic is getting ready for a redesign only a year after launch.
Tetsuo Iwamura, Honda’s top North American executive, told Bloomberg News that the 2013MY Civic will go on sale by late next year and that it will be “upgraded”. That was to be expected, as the Civic is Honda’s second best-selling car in the U.S. after the Accord.
Iwamura admitted that “the gap between the Civic and the competitors has been narrowed”, adding that “we have to make it wider”. Thus, he revealed that the Japanese carmaker will improve the styling, driving dynamics and comfort of the 2013 MY Civic.
The performance of such a critical model only added insult to injury for Honda, as the March earthquake that hit Japan seriously diminished its inventory and resulted in a 5.3 percent drop in the company's U.S. sales through November.
Despite this year’s performance, Japan’s third biggest carmaker has set quite a high target for next year: it wants its U.S. sales to increase from about 1 million units in 2011 to 1.25 million, and its luxury brand Acura to improve its record even more, from 126,000 to 180,000 deliveries.
“It looks like quite a high jump, but because of the availability problem we had a really low year in 2011”, Iwamura told Bloomberg. “That is the reason why growth looks huge, but for us, it’s a natural growth.”
Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/updated-2013-honda-civic-coming-late.html
Consumer Reports Gives the Honda Civic Si a “Recommended” Rating
Just when Honda announced it is developing a revised Civic for the 2013MY that will be launched in the U.S. in late 2012, Consumer Reports, the publication that started the storm of negative publicity on Honda’s compact model, has awarded the Si version with a “Recommended” on its latest report.CR still stands by its original verdict on the base 2012 Civic when it stated, “while other models like the Hyundai Elantra have gotten better after being redesigned, the Honda Civic has dropped so much that now it ranks near the bottom of its category.”
The difference is that the model tested this time is the sportier Si version fitted with the more powerful 2.4-liter engine. According to the test results, it earned a notably better score than the basic model and as a result, CR says it now recommends the Si.
Most of the improvements are due to the 201HP engine, which CR says offers “terrific acceleration” at high rpm and at the same time, more low-end torque, as well as the "slick shifting" six-speed manual gearbox. The publication also notes that the Si returned "a very good" combined fuel economy of 29 mpg.
On the other hand, CR repeats that the Si suffers from the same cheap plastics, harsh ride, noisy cabin and vague steering as the basic versions, which placed the base Civic at second-to-last place. The Civic Si ranked 9th out of 11 tested models in Consumer Reports' sporty car category.
"The Civic Si has a great powertrain, but it needs a better car wrapped around it," said David Champion, sr. director of Consumer Reports Automotive Test Center.
Source;
http://www.carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/consumer-reports-gives-honda-civic-si.html
Lexus to Unveil Sport Coupe Concept Vehicle at North American International Auto Show in Detroit
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec.21, 2011 – Taking the new Lexus design direction one step further, the LF-LC 2+2 sport coupe will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit at 1:25 pm Eastern time on January 9, 2012."Crafted from a clean sheet of paper at the request of Lexus headquarters in Japan, the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine," said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "The clean lines of the vehicle emphasize motion, creating a distinctive look for this futuristic sport coupe."
Conceived as a design exercise to explore the future of Lexus design, the LF-LC was created at the company’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, Calif.
Source;
http://www.lexus.com/concept/_pdf/Concept_Vehicle_Press_Release_12_21_2011.pdf
New Four-cylinder 2012 Honda Crosstour EX and EX-L Combine Affordability, Fuel Efficiency and a Sleek Crossover Design
12/21/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.Two new four-cylinder, two-wheel-drive Honda Crosstour® models are set to go on sale next month, broadening the vehicle's appeal through a lower price point and EPA-estimated fuel economy that increases 3 mpg1 in the city and 2 mpg1 on the highway.
Equipped with a 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower, the newest Crosstour is available in two trim levels, including the Crosstour EX and leather-upholstered Crosstour EX-L. A Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System2 is available on the Crosstour EX-L.
EPA-estimated fuel economy on the four-cylinder Crosstour is 21 mpg1 city and 29 mpg1 highway, a significant increase from the 271-horsepower 2WD V6 model's EPA estimated 18 mpg1 city and 27 mpg1 highway.
With the launch of the new four-cylinder Crosstour models, some useful features are now standard across the entire Crosstour family, which first debuted for the 2010 model year with V6 power. Standard features now include an automatic dimming rearview mirror, a rearview mirror back-up camera display for improved rear visibility (non-Navigation models), convenient auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth®3 HandsFreeLink® and USB audio interface.
Bold Exterior and Functional InteriorHonda Crosstour approaches the crossover SUV formula from a distinctively sleek, sporty and fuel-efficient perspective, while also maximizing the interior's cargo capacity, versatility and premium feel.
The exterior design emphasizes a bold, aerodynamic look that also conceals an accommodating rear cargo area. The four-cylinder model includes body-color door handles and unique 17-inch alloy wheels with P225/65 R17 all-season tires. Two new colors are available on all 2012 Crosstour models: Twilight Blue Metallic replaces Glacier Blue Metallic, and Basque Red Pearl II replaces Tango Red Pearl.
Premium interior styling, appointments and details extend from the passenger compartment all the way through the cargo area. An under-floor storage area in the rear of the vehicle adds functionality, while reversible cargo floor panels accommodate dirty objects.
Efficient Four-cylinder PowertrainThe new four-cylinder Crosstour models come with a 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine for power and efficiency. The engine produces 192 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 4,400 RPM, while achieving an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 21/29/24 mpg1. To maximize efficiency, a technologically advanced 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control is standard equipment.
Comprehensive Feature ListIn addition to auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth3 HandsFreeLink®, USB audio interface and rearview mirror back-up camera display with integrated guidelines, additional standard features on the new four-cylinder Crosstour EX include projector-beam headlights, a moonroof, body-colored power side mirrors with defrost, auto-up/down driver and front passenger side windows, and rear privacy glass. Inside are air conditioning with second-row ventilation, a 360-watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers, steering wheel-mounted cruise, audio and phone controls, an easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seatback, a hidden removable utility box and more.
Crosstour EX-L adds leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, a memory driver-side seat and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down capability, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, an automatic dimming rearview mirror, a premium audio system with Kevlar® cone speakers and front aluminum dome-type tweeter speakers, XM® Radio and more. Also available on the Crosstour EX-L is the Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System2 which includes a rearview camera with guidelines integrated into the display.
Safety AssetsSafety technology includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment on the Crosstour includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and active front seat head restraints.
The Crosstour is assembled in Ohio at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant using domestic and globally sourced parts.
WarrantyThe 2012 Honda Crosstour is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.
Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the 2012 Honda Crosstour is available at www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.
Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/new-four-cylinder-2012-honda-crosstour-ex-and-ex-l-combine-affordability-fuel-efficiency-and-a-sleek-crossover-design
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