Honda Motor Europe Ltd recently announced the new Civic Type S, a 3-door hatchback which is the latest model in the transformation of Honda's iconic C-segment brand into a premium, individual, sporty range. Sales are expected to commence in early 2007.This new model makes its world debut at the British International Motor Show, to be held at ExCeL, London, in July 2006.
Sharing the same dynamic silhouette and overall dimensions as the acclaimed 5-door model, the Civic Type S further emphasizes the Civic's sporty and fun-to-drive direction to appeal to a young audience. The styling is therefore more assertive and the suspension is tuned for sharper chassis dynamics, with revised spring and damper settings and a 20mm wider rear track.
Further emphasising its sporty nature, the Civic Type S is powered by either a 1.8 litre petrol engine or a 2.2 litre diesel engine, both of which produce 103kW/140PS and are mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.Two model grades will be offered. The extensive specification of the standard Type S includes 17 inch alloys, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), air conditioning, cool box, remote audio controls and side curtain airbags. The Type S Plus adds dual zone air conditioning, cruise control, front fog lights, retractable mirrors, automatic wipers and automatic headlamps. Certain markets also gain HID headlamps, heated front seats and a panorama glass roof.
Sculpted and fully integrated side skirts flare outwards towards front and rear wheels and seamlessly blend into the wheel arch surrounds, familiar from the 5-door model. These in turn flow into the front and rear spoilers to complete the lower body structure, all of which is finished in a gun metallic colour for added visual appeal. The deep front air intake, together with the 17 inch alloy wheels and wider rear track provide the Type S with a particularly muscular and planted look.Black Alcantara seating and a leather trimmed steering wheel, both with silver stitching, plus aluminium pedals, set the tone for the equally sporty interior. Large seat bolsters provide reassuring support during cornering.
The cabin is focused around the unique and visually arresting Dual Link concept fascia introduced on the 5-door model. Key driving information, including vehicle speed, is displayed in the upper part of the instrument panel, while other information is provided in the lower section. This design is particularly effective in presenting information without compromising the driver's concentration on the road.
The Civic's coupe-like styling has not compromised the cabin space. The interior instead succeeds in providing a high degree of flexibility and passenger accommodation. The distance between the hip point of front and rear passengers at 803 mm, for example, equates to that in higher segment cars.
The rear seats also incorporate Honda's familiar one-motion, dive-down feature that instantaneously creates a flat loading space of a spacious 485 litres, mirroring that of the 5-door model. The cargo floor can also be dropped down to reveal an under-floor compartment. A centrally positioned fuel tank located beneath the front seats, rather than impinging on the luggage area, plays a key role in achieving this packaging efficiency.
The comprehensive safety features include ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution with brake assist, VSA, front and side SRS airbags, full length side curtain airbags, double seatbelt pre-tensioners on both front seats and active headrests. The instrument display also features an innovative seatbelt reminder for both front and rear seat passengers. Honda anticipates a Euro NCAP result of 5 stars for front and side impact safety, 3 stars for pedestrian safety and 4 stars for child protection safety, making it one of the safest cars in its class.
The Civic Type S forms the basis for the forthcoming Civic Type R, which is scheduled to be launched in early 2007. While the reputation of its predecessor makes it a tough act to follow, the new model will offer greater sophistication without compromising the Type R philosophy of exhilarating performance achieved through advanced engineering. More details will be provided when the Civic Type R makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year.
Source: Honda Press Releases
Honda recently announced the release of an all-new Stream. Featuring a low-floor platform, the new Stream combines stylish compact exterior with a comfortable interior and powerful driving performance. With a low overall height of 1,545mm, the new Stream has a modern dynamic look and fits conveniently into most restricted-height mechanical parking lots. The new Stream will go on sale from Friday, July 14 at Honda automobile dealers throughout Japan.
Body frame rigidity has been enhanced for improved driving performance, and the front sub-pillars have been eliminated to attain a significant increase in visibility. The floor design has also been significantly improved to create a flat foot area from corner to corner and a significantly lower floor for the third row of seats. These innovations mean improved passenger comfort as well as a lower center of gravity for superior handling. Both powerplants-the newly developed 2.0l i-VTEC engine with CVT and the 1.8l i-VTEC engine with 5-speed automatic transmission-deliver powerful, smooth driving performance from low-to-mid speeds.
All models have earned Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport certification as Low-Emissions Vehicles, with emission levels 75% lower than those required by 2005 standards, while the front-wheel-drive models exceed Japanese government fuel economy standards for 2010 by 10%.
Sporty SUV features Honda's first ever turbocharged engine and super handling AWD vehicle.
RDX features an all-new 2.3-litre i-VTEC(R) four-cylinder turbocharged engine that generates 240 horsepower and 260 lbs-ft of torque (179kW / 352Nm). This is the first application of forced induction technology in Honda history. The revolutionary i-VTEC Turbo technology uses a variable flow turbocharger, which is exclusive to the RDX, and provides dramatic performance benefits while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency. To complement the all-aluminium high-performance engine, the RDX utilizes Honda's steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to manually operate the 5-speed sequential SportShiftTM automatic transmission.
The Honda CR-V is a highly-versatile four-door entry crossover SUV with a spacious five-passenger interior, sedan-like handling and ride comfort, and a reputation for offering the highest levels of standard safety features in the segment. The all-new 2007 Honda CR-V injects a dynamic sense of style and refinement, bridging the space between sport and utility better than any CR-V yet - while adding collision compatibility safety enhancements like Honda's exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE(TM)) Body Structure.
Top-of-class standard safety equipment includes side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), active front head restraints, Vehicle Stability Assist(TM) (VSA(R)), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
A highly rigid body and fully independent suspension result in a quiet cabin and smooth, agile handling performance. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and standard 5-speed automatic transmission provide an excellent balance of power (166-horsepower) and fuel economy (EPA-rated 23/30 city/highway mpg, 2WD).
The 
The Remix Small Sport Concept is a product of the Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Advanced Design Studio in Southern California. Purely a design concept, the vehicle is fashioned around a front wheel drive small car platform with a 4 cylinder engine and a 6 speed manual transmission. A sport suspension, along with aggressive tyres and brakes, further supplement its performance side.
The company will operate 10 major facilities in North America with the addition of two new design centres by the end of 2007. More than 1,300 designers, engineers and support personnel are engaged in the development of Honda and Acura passenger cars, motorcycles and power equipment products for North America and global markets. Its main centres of operation include the Los Angeles Centre (Torrance) responsible for market research, concept development and styling design; the Ohio Centre (Raymond, Ohio) responsible for complete product development, testing and support of North American supplier and manufacturing operations; and two dynamic test facilities in Mojave Desert, California, and East Liberty, Ohio.
Honda is announcing the arrival of the Honda Racer, a much-anticipated 1/64th scale Hot Wheels car designed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in Torrance. The Honda model, along with designs from five additional automakers, were selected as part of the Hot Wheels Designer's Challenge as a way to celebrate the die-cast brand's 40th anniversary. The Honda Racer arrives on store shelves in May 2008.
A powerful Honda V-10 VTEC engine sits between the piloting team. If brought up to scale, the engine would displace an amazing 2.0 litres per cylinder. A set of velocity stacks and an intake that receives air through the body of the car sits between red DOHC valve covers to provide a technologically-advanced look. The exhaust system is a giant set of twisted, yet balanced tubes that reside high above the engine, complementing the power plant design at the back end of the car. The dynamic expression of technology, history and detail is evident throughout the design of the car.
Starting in mid-August, the Honda Racer 1/5th scale model and other cars from the Designer's Challenge will be part of the Hot Wheels 40th anniversary road trip travelling along historic U.S. Route 40, stopping at multiple cities along the way. The tour starts at the Mattel headquarters in El Segundo, California, in August and ends at Watkins Glen, New York, in early September.