More Details on Spoon Signature NSX-R GT

The Spoon Signature NSX-R GT is set to be formally announced at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon in January. Spoon will be racing a specially prepared version of the NSX-R at the Macau Grand Prix this coming weekend. According to GTChannel.com, Spoon's race-prepped NSX-R features a 450hp naturally-aspirated 3.5L V6 capable of turning 9800rpm, all in a 950kg package.

Pricing of the roadgoing version is expected to come in at around $150,000. Spoon plans to manufacturer five of these in 2009. Total potential quantities are unknown but are thought to be limited to around 20 to 25. Opak Racing (based in Northern California) will also offer kits to convert existing NSXs to Type-R specs. "The kit contains all the Type-R parts for conversion, including Spoon-prepped engine and transmission, with Spoon aero kit. TypeR parts: interior, door panel, dash, gauge cluster, steering, seats, carpets, accessories,etc. Wheels, (brake and suspension system by Spoon)."

Spoon Signature NSX Type-R GT

Engine	NA 3.2 L , Approx. 300HP Turbo 3.0L Approx. 450HP Spoon Balanced and Blue printed Spoon Yellow valve Cover All internals are Spoon balanced
Transmission	6-speed manual Option: Automatic
Color	White, Black, Yellow, Blue Available Type R colors
Seats	Type-R Red or Black
Wheels	F: TypeR 17”x 7 ½” R: TypeR 17”x 8 ½”
Tires	F: 215 40 17 R: 255 40 17 Bridgestone or BF Goodrich
Air/Heat	Type-R Standard
LSD	Type-R Standard
Exhaust	Spoon Dual Exhaust for NA Spoon Single Exhaust for Turbo
Brake system	Spoon Monoblock Calipers Spoon Large Rotors Spoon Brake pads Spoon Brake lines
Suspension	Spoon Custom Dampers
Air duct	Spoon Unicorn and sides air duct
Front Bumper	Spoon aero
Rear Bumper	Spoon aero
Carpet	Type-R Red or black
Instruments	Type-R
Door interior panels	Type-R
Lighting and lens	Type-R

Options:
* Turbo Charge
* Dry carbon Fiber trunk
* Dry Carbon Door panels
* Driver’s side airbag

Not included in the price:
* Shipment from Japan to US by Container ship.
* Tax – Homeland Security
* DMV Registration

The Spoon NSX will be tuned prior to shipment. Spoon warranty applies to engine and transmission.

For more info: Email: info@spoonsports.us or call Edmun Laurea at (650) 204 9483

Source: Spoon Sports/Opak Racing via Vtec.net

Sphere: Related Content

Honda Unveils New Experimental Walking Assist Device

Honda has unveiled a new walking assist device that supports bodyweight and could reduce muscle and joint fatigue for people who stand for long periods of time or perform repetitive tasks that put strain on the lower body.*

The new device reduces the load on leg muscles and joints in the hips, knees, and ankles by supporting a portion of the user’s bodyweight when bending and stretching the knees during actions like walking, going up and down stairs and crouching.

It comprises of a seat, frame, and shoes which can be fitted easily without being fastened to the user. Using one of the motors, the seat lifts to take the user’s weight as the frame between the shoe and seat bends and extends like real knees. As a result, the load on leg muscles and joints is reduced.

Two unique Honda innovations enable the device to provide natural and effective assistance – a mechanism that allows the seat and frame to follow the movement of the body and legs, and the ability to support the user’s centre of gravity in tandem with leg movement.

Natural walking is achieved by changing the amount of assistance applied to the right and left legs. This is accomplished by controlling the two motors based on information obtained though sensors embedded in the shoes.

The latest device features technology used in Honda’s advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO and benefits from the extensive study of human walking patterns carried out by Honda engineers in the development of ASIMO.

Honda began research into walking assist devices in 1999, with an aim to provide mobility to more people. This research has been conducted by the Fundamental Technology Research Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. in Wako, Saitama.

Honda will now begin testing the device in real-world conditions.

Key specifications

Weight: 6.5kg (including shoes and batteries)
Drive system: Motor x 2
Battery pack: Lithium ion battery
Operating time per charge: 2 hours (including walking and in a semi-crouching posture, etc.)
Suitable height of the user: Within plus or minus 5cm of the set height
(Example: set height for medium size is 170cm)

* This device is designed to support people who are still capable of walking on their own.

Source: Honda UK

Sphere: Related Content

Japanese Green Cars blog

Following the “Honda Hybrid Cars" blog which is up and running since September 2008, I thought that it would be a good idea to create a blog covering a wider range of Japanese "green" cars. The current blog will continue to cover Honda related news only and it will provide up to date information as always.

The question though is on what basis can a car be characterised as “green”? Two of them can been found below:

A characteristic of Japanese cars is that they have led the world in producing mature technology for the shift to alternative energies. The three different approaches are electricity, hydrogen-powered fuel cell, and hybrid systems that use either gasoline or electricity according to requirements.

The most straightforward way to reduce the impact of cars on the environment is to make smaller cars. Simplicity is the starting point for Japanese aesthetics, and Japan has a distinct category of mini-vehicles - also known as light cars, kei cars, or micro-cars. Tiny cars can be found around the world, but those in Japan are distinctive for being tightly packed with sophistication and advanced performance.

On both blogs there is a “My blog list” in order for you to be able to check if the other blog has been updated.

Some sneak previews of sports cars will also be available (...of Japanese origin of course), as a true car enthusiast can always keep dreaming!

If you would like to visit my new blog, click here: Japanese Green Cars blog

Sphere: Related Content

Honda Reveals Civic HFP Concept in SEMA 2008

Honda revealed a Civic Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Concept sedan that represents a new approach on performance improvement. With more consumer concern about fuel prices, future customers may want to maximize the performance of their vehicles without compromising fuel economy. Honda Access America, Honda's accessory development company, took on that challenge. Through aerodynamic improvements to the next generation HFP body kit, super-light alloy wheels with aerodynamic covers, a lighter HFP exhaust system and an upgraded HFP suspension kit, this concept offers the possibility of improving both fuel economy and performance. In fact, a very similar package has proven its worth on the race tracks of Japan on the Civic Type R race car, which campaigned in a spec series called the Super Taikyu Series.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

"How do Diesels Compare to Hybrids?"

Toyota Open Road Blog published an interested article on how diesels compare to Hybrids, which you can read below:

"If you follow what’s happening in the automotive scene, you probably know that Volkswagen is bringing the latest in what it calls "clean diesels" to its U.S. dealerships for 2009. You may also know that several publications have lauded the ’09 VW Jetta diesel for its fuel economy.

So we thought it might be interesting to take a look at the Jetta and its numbers to see how they compare to those of hybrids. Using numbers from a terrific site by the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency, here’s what we found.

We found that the EPA rates the Jetta at a combined mpg figure of 34. Based on that, the EPA calculates that the Jetta’s annual fuel cost would be $1,746, that it would use 11.6 barrels of petroleum per year and that its carbon-footprint number – i.e., tons of CO2 emitted per year – would be 6.2.

Great, but what does that mean? To find out, we dug up some comparative numbers. We checked out the EPA’s figures for the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Chevy Tahoe hybrid, the Ford Escape hybrid, the Prius and the Camry Hybrid.

What we found is that according to the EPA, the Jetta diesel has a larger carbon footprint than any of the vehicles we looked at, except for the Chevy Tahoe hybrid. Here’s how they stacked up:

The Civic Hybrid turned in an EPA rating of 42/combined and its annual fuel costs are listed as $1,328. The EPA says it will burn 8.2 barrels of petroleum annually and that its carbon-footprint number is 4.4.

Chevy’s Tahoe hybrid is, like the Honda hybrid, what’s called a mild hybrid. What that means, in short form, is that it delivers some, but not all, of the goodness of which full hybrids are capable. (For a discussion of hybrid families and types, click here.) And that’s born out in the numbers. The Tahoe hybrid is rated at 21 mpg/combined and an annual fuel cost of $2,656, 16.3 barrels of petroleum per year and a carbon-footprint number of 8.7.

Ford’s Escape hybrid, meanwhile, is rated at 32 mpg/combined, an annual fuel cost of $1,747, 10.7 barrels of petroleum annually and a carbon-footprint number of 5.7

The Prius leads the league in mpg numbers at 46/combined. The EPA calculates its annual fuel cost at $1,211, barrels of petroleum used at 7.4 and its carbon footprint at 4.0 – another league-leading number.

Our Camry Hybrid doesn’t quite match those numbers but still does pretty well. Its mpg is rated at 34/combined and an annual fuel cost of $1,641. The EPA calculates that it will burn 10.1 barrels of fuel per year with a carbon-footprint number of 5.4.

You can make of these numbers what you will – we’d remind you that they’re the federal government’s, not ours. What we make of them is that manufacturers are working hard on economy, efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint, and that’s terrific. But we also see that the term "clean diesel" is relative, and that the technology appears to use more fuel, at greater cost, than hybrid technology does, and appears to leave a larger carbon footprint.

That said, we certainly understand that there are situations in which diesel is the fuel of choice. For that reason, we offer, in markets outside the U.S., diesels in a number of our vehicles. For now, though, at least in the U.S., diesel carries two premiums about which buyers apparently remain wary - the additional cost of the diesel powertrain over a standard powertrain and the elevated cost of diesel fuel.

The lesson we take from this is that our Hybrid Synergy Drive continues to look like a pretty good way to go. - Ron Kirkpatrick, Corporate Communications"

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Toyota Prius Brand: "Another Rumor, Another Dose of Truth"

"The roumors regarding the future Prius brand proved to be false with the following reply posted on Toyota Open Road Blog: "Prius brand a ‘go’ for Toyota," trumpets the headline. Well, we suppose this will generate traffic for LeftLaneNews.com, the site that carried the story. But it also proves that you just cannot believe everything you read on the Internet.

The LLN post tells us, "You can now file this one under ‘confirmed’ as Toyota’s new green brand has been given the green light."

The trouble with this report is that it’s completely false. A reader might suspect that, actually, since the post doesn’t contain the name of a source – or even suggest that there was a source, other than what the post calls "the rumor mill."

What I can confirm is that the possibility of a separate Prius brand is something that we’ve been studying and discussing internally here at Toyota. But no decision about this has been made, no product has been identified, and there certainly has been no timetable established for the rollout of such a brand.

- Irv Miller, Group Vice President, Corporate Communications"

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Lexus RX (2009) Revealed in Brochure Blunder

Lexus has let slip pictures of its new RX after a Japanese brochure was seemingly leaked ahead of the car’s launch. We weren’t supposed to see the 4x4 until the November 2008 LA auto show, but we’ve tracked down the photos of the new Lexus RX early.

Are these Lexus RX pictures the real thing?
They certainly look it and insiders at Lexus GB suggest they are genuine. If so, the new RX is hardly a radical departure from the current model. As is the trend for 4x4s, the new RX appears to be longer and wider, possibly to accommodate a third row of seats.

Also expect a development of Lexus’s advanced front lighting system, the pictures revealing multiple ‘pockets’, or light clusters, within the headlamps.

The new RX’s interior is notably different, with a cockpit showing strong sweeping lines and big information displays.

New Lexus RX: the launch timetable
The brochure pictures show two models: the RX350, a V6 petrol and the RX450h – the 'h' denoting this is the petrol-electric hybrid car. Expect the new model to hit UK showrooms in summer of 2009 and this time the Brit importer will axe all petrol versions. It’s hybrid only for the UK.

The 450h will feature Toyota’s latest generation petrol-electric tech, so expect improvements in CO2 figures, making it greener than the current model's 192 g/km.

Lexus’s timing couldn’t be better. Demand for, and second-hand values of, big petrol SUVs is collapsing.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Future of Toyota Prius: Separate brand, 3 different models

The rumor mill has been churning non-stop about the possibility of Toyota spinning-off the Prius nameplate into a separate brand. You can now file this one under “confirmed” as Toyota’s new green brand has been given the green light. The main goal of the Prius brand will be to bring down the price of hybrids. Toyota is said to be aiming to cut the cost of hybrid technology so much that it would only add $500-$1000 in vehicle cost on the retail end.

The original
Anchoring the brand will be the Prius sedan we’ve known for some years now. The 2010 model year will bring a totally redesigned Prius that is set to debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Along with new sheet metal, the Prius sedan will get a slightly larger motor, moving from a 1.5L to a 1.8L motor. A significant bump in the fuel economy rating is also expected. Whispers of a highway rating anywhere between 60 and 80 mpg have been heard.

With Lithium-ion battery technology still not ready for prime time, the Prius will solider on with a nickel metal hydride battery pack for now.

Big Brother
The first all-new Prius brand vehicle we’ll see will come in the 2012 model year. Based on Toyota’s MC chassis, this vehicle would be larger than current Prius sedan. While design planning is still under way, it’s been said this larger-than-Prius vehicle would come to fruition in a 5-door body style. Possibly something along the lines of Toyota’s foreign market Mark X Zio.

Power is set to come from a new 2.5 liter, four-cylinder, ZR-series motor mated to a next generation version of their Hybrid Synergy Drive. Whether lithium-ion batteries would be ready in time for this car remains to be seen. Pricing for this up-market hybrid should start in the $28,000-$30,000 range.

Little Brother
Toyota will wait until the Yaris is due for a total redesign to launch a smaller-than-Prius vehicle in the 2013 model year. While this new hybrid will share the Yaris chassis, the Prius-brand vehicle is slated to have completely different sheet metal. A 4-door sedan seems to be the format that Toyota will choose for the baby Prius. A vehicle undoubtedly aimed at the Honda Fit Hybrid due in the 2011 model year.

Power will most likely come from a hybridized version of Toyota’s 1.5 liter, four-cylinder. With Toyota aiming for a price point in the upper teens, this model will skip the more expensive lithium-ion batteries in favor of the cheaper, tried and tested, nickel metal hydride battery pack.

Whether any of these vehicles will be plug-in capable remains a question mark. Look for Toyota to officially announce the Prius brand, and possibly show a concept or two, during the upcoming auto show season.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

First Official Photos of New Nissan 370Z

Well, it is not a Honda and definitely not a hybrid, but it will certainly be one of the best sports cars in its class and of course Japanese! I just couldn’t resist posting the first official photos of it, which were released yesterday. Stay tuned for updates in the near future.

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Honda Begins Rail Exports from Swindon Factory

Honda’s car factory in Swindon has begun exporting cars by rail to allow faster transportation of vehicles and reduce the associated environmental impact.

Almost 3,000 trucks a year will be taken off the road following the re-opening of an existing rail head next to the Honda of the UK Manufacturing site at Swindon. Replacing trucks with trains will halve the annual CO2 emissions for one of the key deliveries into Europe.*

The rail head was officially opened earlier today by Rail Minister, Under-Secretary of State, Lord Andrew Adonis.

Up to two trains a week will run from the rail head, with each service transporting over 200 Swindon-built cars to Honda’s European Vehicle Logistics Operations in Gent, Belgium. It’s estimated around 23,000 cars will be exported this way over the course of a year.

“We export Civics and CR-Vs built in Swindon to 60 countries across Europe,” says Simon Stacy, Manager – Logistics Operations at Honda Motor Europe.

“The new rail head and the service it allows will not only deliver Honda cars into Europe faster, but will minimise the amount of trucks travelling in and out of the factory.” The new rail freight terminal links directly to the Honda facility, and has been developed by Kilbride Group. Vehicle logistics company STVA operates the movement service for Honda.

“This new rail option achieves operational improvements combined with quality service delivery,” says Ian Brown, Managing Director of STVA. “It demonstrates that rail can meet a transport logistics challenge while simultaneously minimising environmental impact.” “We are delighted to have provided the infrastructure to enable Honda to move cars by rail through the Channel Tunnel to mainland Europe. The Kilbride Swindon Terminal represents another investment in rail freight infrastructure on behalf of a major industrial customer by the Kilbride Group, following on from the Jaguar Castle Bromwich facility,” said Colin Banyard, Chairman, Kilbride Group.

“Kilbride has carried out both these projects with Legal and General, which are the first two within the £150m Sustainable Development fund set up with Legal and General in April 2007.”


Notes:
• *According to STVA figures
• Honda (UK) already transports cars to Newcastle and Scotland by rail (via Bristol).
• Trains leaving the new rail head in Swindon will carry mostly 5-door and 3-door hatchback Civic models on double-decks
• Up to 243 cars can be transported with each train service
• One road truck can transport eight cars
• One train service could effectively take 30 trucks off the road
• Each train leaves Swindon at approximately 4pm and arrives at Gent, Belgium at 7am the next morning

Source: Honda UK

Sphere: Related Content

Honda R&D Develops Racing Version of Civic Hybrid!

Honda R&D has developed a racing version of Civic Hybrid with 162 ps!!!

Click here to watch the video

Sphere: Related Content

Honda OSM concept: Honda's Civic face

Honda's low-emission sportscar study model, revealed at the British International Motor Show, provides an indication of next gen Honda Civic's face according to Car Design News, but unfortunately I don't have access to the full story...The new Honda Civic is expected to hit the markets in 2010 or early 2011.

Sphere: Related Content

Honda says no plans to change its earnings guidance

TOKYO, Oct 16 - Honda Motor Co, Japan's second-largest automaker, has no plans to change its earnings guidance despite the yen's renewed strength and worries about a further slowdown in the global economy, its top executive said on Thursday.

The comment came after Toyota Motor Corp President Katsuaki Watanabe said on Wednesday the business environment has deteriorated beyond earlier expectations and predicted the key North American car market would remain sluggish through next year.

Honda president Takeo Fukui told reporters on Thursday: "We will give an update at the announcement of fiscal half results at the end of this month, but at this point we have no plan to revise our full-year earnings estimates."

Honda is basically on track to achieve global sales volume targets and has kept sales promotion costs under control in the United States, the world's largest car market, by adjusting the levels of production and inventory, he said.

Honda expects an operating profit of 630 billion yen ($6.29 billion) for the year to March 2009, below a consensus of a 668.4 billion yen profit in a poll of 19 analysts by Reuters Estimates.

Fukui said the automaker did not see any need to change its business strategy even if the dollar falls slightly below 100 yen.

Honda has assumed the dollar will average 101 yen in the financial year, while Honda vice president Koichi Kondo told reporters on Thursday that the dollar averaged about 108 yen for the company in the April-September first half.

A Toyota company source told Reuters last week that the world's largest automaker was considering what would be a rare downward revision of its earnings outlook because of sluggish global demand and a firmer yen.

In the United States, where car demand is falling amid a deepening credit crisis, Fukui said "at least at this stage, we are not expecting a major drop in our sales" because of shifting demand in favour of fuel-efficient cars, the type of cars Honda focuses on.

Among emerging markets, Honda's car sales are growing in China despite falling demand industry-wide, while the company's motorcycle sales are on track with a plan in India, Fukui said.

On growing signs of an industry realignment, the Honda president said the global car industry is going through a tough time because of soaring fuel and raw materials costs, coupled with cooling consumer sentiment, but that Honda will likely benefit from the demand shift to smaller cars.

"U.S. carmakers, such as General Motors and Ford, reacted too slowly to shifting demand. The age of pickup trucks has ended, and we are not playing in that segment," Fukui said.

He said he would not object to U.S. government-sponsored financial assistance to these rivals, as such a move would also help those parts suppliers which Honda also uses.

Elsewhere in the industry, Ford Motor Co has asked Toyota-affiliated auto parts supplier Denso Corp to buy part of its stake in Mazda Motor Corp, the Nikkei business daily reported earlier on Thursday.

Honda shares closed down 10.2 percent to 2,115 yen. The benchmark Nikkei average fell 11.4 percent to 8,458.45. ($1=100.12 yen).

Source

Sphere: Related Content

Live Photos of New Honda Odyssey (JDM) - Part 3

Sphere: Related Content

Live Photos of New Honda Odyssey (JDM) - Part 2

Sphere: Related Content

Live Photos of New Honda Odyssey (JDM) - Part 1

Link

Sphere: Related Content

New Honda Odyssey Absolute (JDM) Officially Revealed - Part 2

Sphere: Related Content

New Honda Odyssey Absolute (JDM) Officially Revealed - Part 1

Sphere: Related Content

New Honda Odyssey (JDM) Officially Revealed - Part 2

Sphere: Related Content