Honda leans toward 2 motors for next Civic Hybrid

The two-motor hybrid system that debuted in the new Honda Accord Hybrid is more powerful and fuel efficient than Honda's one-motor system.

by Hans Greimel of www.autonews.com

TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. has a new and greatly improved one-motor hybrid system for small cars. But engineers for the next Civic are leaning toward the more powerful and fuel-efficient two-motor system that debuted in the mid-sized Accord Hybrid that went on sale last fall.

Honda has not said what kind of gasoline-electric drivetrain the next-generation Civic Hybrid, expected around 2016, will get. But Hiromitsu Ishibashi, chief engineer for the one-motor system at Honda R&D Co., said engineers are considering the two-motor layout.

Honda has doubts about how the one-motor system's dual-clutch transmission will be accepted in America, Ishibashi said on the sidelines of Automotive World, an annual technical conference here. And the two-motor system would deliver better fuel economy.

The newly developed one-motor system, deployed in the Fit hatchback and the Fit-based Vezel subcompact crossover, pairs a 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor with a dual-clutch transmission.

Hybrid versions of both cars already are on sale in Japan, but there are no current plans to bring the gasoline-electric versions to the United States.

The two-motor Accord Hybrid uses a continuously variable transmission.

'Customers don't care'

"U.S. customers don't care that much about which system [they get], as long as fuel economy and drivability are good," Ishibashi said. "Also, DCTs have not been that well received."

Honda's two-motor system is capable of delivering better fuel economy than the one-motor system because it allows for longer electric-only driving. The Accord Hybrid has a 50-mpg city rating, better than any other mid-sized sedan. The downside: added cost.

Ishibashi said engineers are still evaluating which system would work best in the Civic but added: "My personal guess is it could be two motors."

Honda said in November it will replace step-geared automatic transmissions with CVTs in all automatic Civics starting with this year's freshening of the nameplate.

The company has not officially said when a re-engineered hybrid will arrive. The current version uses Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system, a one-motor technology often criticized for falling short in fuel economy and power. It achieves a combined city-highway 44 mpg rating.

Honda has been wrestling with what powertrain to use in the Civic Hybrid, partly to make it a tougher competitor of the Toyota Prius, which gets a combined city-highway 50 mpg rating.

Honda engineers have said in the past that one option might be two types of two-motor systems: a more expensive one for the Accord and a lower-cost version for the Civic.

Gains

Even if Honda goes with a one-motor system, it would still bring gains.

The new one-motor system, dubbed Sport Hybrid Intelligent Dual-Clutch Drive, delivers across-the-board improvements over the outgoing system.

For the redesigned Fit Hybrid that debuted last year in Japan, Honda switched to a lithium ion battery, from a nickel-metal hydride one, boosting energy capacity 50 percent. Power output was more than doubled to 22 kilowatts, from 10. Engineers also made the battery 23 percent smaller and more than doubled the torque to 118 pounds-feet, from 58.

Honda also slashed the weight of the intelligent power unit, which includes the battery, inverter, DC/DC converter and battery control unit, by 40 percent.

The Fit Hybrid also gets a new Atkinson's cycle 1.5-liter engine.

Source;

http://www.autonews.com/article/20140127/OEM06/301279985/honda-leans-toward-2-motors-for-next-civic-hybrid#axzz2rc2k8jJQ

Why Honda Edited Out Scenes Of Detroit Protesters From This New Ad

by Aaron Taube of www.businessinsider.com

Good morning, AdLand. Here's what you need to know today:

Honda edited a new version of a recent, optimistic ad from RPA to remove images of people protesting in front of the Detroit federal courthouse that is hearing the city's bankruptcy proceedings. Rev. Charles Williams II, the head of the Michigan chapter of civil rights group the National Action Network and one of the leaders of the protests, summed up Detroit's anger at the original ad as such: "They're using our pain for their pleasure to promote Japanese automobiles while we are suffering in part because of the decline of American automobiles from foreign automakers." So Honda cut the protest scene.

Here's the updated ad:

Source;
http://www.businessinsider.com/honda-removes-detroit-bankruptcy-courthouse-protesters-from-ad-the-brief-2014-1

Here's a link to the full commercial;
http://www.thestraighth.blogspot.ca/2014/01/ad-of-day-honda-spreads-message-of-hope.html

A car dealer’s scientific guide to the 10 worst used vehicles

#1 Mazda CX-7

Trade-ins are a great measurement of that emotional question. Most consumers who trade their vehicle will get a price hundreds to thousands of dollars less than retail. Car dealers not only know the wholesale market, they know the retail market as well, and are often able to get cars repaired for a lot less than most car owners.

This isn’t always the case. Clean cars can sometimes be traded-in at a retail price, and then financed to a sub-prime car buyer for even more money. Dealers who specialize in a given car brand are usually more effective in marketing and selling that specific name, and they also get a greater share of trade-ins from the brand — along with a better selection of clean vehicles.

To remove this bias, I decided to gather data on trade-ins sent to wholesale auctions by large used-car retailers and other regional used-car retailers that don’t cater to a single automaker. This way there wouldn’t be an over-representation of a given brand. I also employed the help of Nick Lariviere, a statistician capable of creating visuals that would make all this real-world used car data easy to understand.

One year and nearly 300,000 vehicles later, we have developed a new quality index that you can find here.

For now, we are focusing on brands and models. As the study continues to pool more vehicles, we’ll

gradually introduce specific model year data, and even powertrain combinations, so that used car buyers can figure out where to find that older used vehicle that has truly earned its quality reputation.

So what out there is truly low quality? As far as those cars with the highest defect level at trade-in time, here are the 10 worst:

10. Volkswagen New Beetle (automatic transmission issues and cheap interior components; diesel models with 5-speed manuals are by far the best powertrain option.)

9. Mazda 626 (automatic transmission issues, all models.)

8. Lincoln Aviator (a gussied-up, unpopular Ford Explorer that had unique sensor and software issues which negatively impacted the overall powertrain and electronics.)

7. Jaguar S-Type (Extensive transmission and engine issues on all V-6 and V-8 models. Along with Limited edition models with ungodly replacement costs.)

6. Lincoln LS (Same basic powertrain as the Jaguar S-Type with nearly identical results.)

5. Mazda Millenia (Engine issues, transmission issues and cheap interiors that just don't wear well.)

4. Land Rover Discovery (Expensive parts. Expensive powertrains. Electronics that are apparently the spawn of Beelzebub.)

3. Mini Cooper (Bad transmissions that are unusually expensive to replace. Cheap interior parts. Cheap hydraulics.)

2. Land Rover Freelander (A cost-cutting exercise that went way past the bone.)

And a true shocker, the single worst used vehicle at the wholesale auctions when it comes to overall defect rate at trade-in time is....

1. Mazda CX-7 (Engine issues on these vehicles are legion with nearly a third of these vehicles sold with "Engine needs service" announcements at the auctions.)

No list can be perfect, and it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t offer at least a couple of important caveats here. 

There are cars out there that are worth so little money now that they go straight to the junkyards instead of the wholesale auctions: Older Chryslers with defective 2.7-liter engines, older Suzukis and Kias, and the aquatic late '90's Ford Tauruses sometimes fall straight into the crusher once a major problem takes hold.

Also, if the vehicle appeared to have reliability issues, but didn't have enough of a sample size at this point (for example: Mercury Mystique, Isuzu Axiom, Suzuki Forenza), I have kept it off the list for right now.

Finally some models, like the VW New Beetle, may have a pearl of quality in a specific engine/transmission combination within the overall swamp of trouble.

Source;

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/car-dealer-scientific-guide-10-worst-used-vehicles-222709616.html

Autoevolution.com: Crocodile Leather and Gold Porsche Panamera Interior by TopCar [Photo Gallery]

by Mihnea Radu of www.autoevolution.com 


We know we made this joke before, but the Porsche Panamera by TopCar is another awesomely ostentatious vehicle that matches the "opulence, I has it" mantra.

TopCar are Russian tuning specialists who make their own carbon fiber body kits and custom interiors. Their clientele comes from among the richest people in the country, folks who are more than will to pay as much for unique parts as for the whole car.

With rubles no object, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S was totally transformed from the inside out. Its interior is covered in a combination of purple leathers of different types, including crocodile, purple carbon fiber and gold trim for the air vents.

If you've never seen gold-colored pedals and cup holders (we haven't), the Panamara Stingray GTR by TopCar is a thing to behold.

Source (with more pictures);
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/crocodile-leather-and-gold-porsche-panamera-interior-by-topcar-photo-gallery-75438.html

Volkswagen's labor chief says U.S. operations a 'disaster'

I will use any excuse to use a picture of the 'Love Bug'....

By Andreas Cremer and Jan Schwartz



(Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) top labor representative has dubbed the carmaker's U.S. operations a "disaster" and called for more models and swift decisions to revive the German group's declining fortunes in the world's second-largest auto market.

While VW has risen to become the biggest automaker in China and Europe, the group has yet to fully understood how to succeed in the United States, Bernd Osterloh, VW's works council chief, told reporters in Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

"The U.S. are a case of disaster" for VW, said Osterloh, who also sits on the carmaker's supervisory board.

The German multi-brand group last month ousted U.S. divisional chief Jonathan Browning, who oversaw the much-lauded 2011 launch of the midsize Passat, sales of which declined 6.3 percent last year after a 2011/12 surge.

Osterloh echoed criticism from the company's new head of U.S. operations, Michael Horn, who this month said that VW headquarters had paid little heed to the dynamics of the U.S. market.

VW's situation in the United States, where the company has been grappling with losses for years, won't improve until 2016 and it needs more models there, including a pick-up truck, Osterloh said.

At the Detroit auto show in January VW announced plans to make a sport utility vehicle (SUV) for North America as part of a $7 billion investment in the region.

Osterloh lamented that a year after the "CrossBlue" SUV was unveiled, it's still unclear where the model will be built. The carmaker favors its U.S. plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, over a factory in Puebla, Mexico, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

VW's labor leader said that Chattanooga would make sense from an economic viewpoint if the company could offset the higher personnel costs compared with Puebla.

Separately, Osterloh said that the carmaker would be able to cope with changes to top management at any time. Five of the nine executives, including CEO Martin Winterkorn, are older than 60.

"I believe we can react quickly if we're in need of (personnel) changes," Osterloh said.

Speculation about a potential lack of a younger generation of leaders at VW flared up last September when the carmaker denied a report claiming that 76-year-old chairman Ferdinand Piech would soon step down for health reasons and be replaced by 66-year-old Winterkorn.

Osterloh said he is counting on both Piech and Winterkorn to serve through at least until 2018, the year VW has pledged to overtake Toyota (7203.T) and General Motors (GM.N) as the world's biggest carmaker by volume.

"I would be one of the first who would find out if one of those two wants to go," said Osterloh, a member of the board's influential steering committee.

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/22/us-vw-usa-labour-idUSBREA0L15O20140122

PaulTan.org: 2014 Honda City launched in Thailand – two airbags and VSA standard, six airbags an option

Not for us in North America, it's basically a 4dr Honda FIT/Jazz....

by Anthony Lim of www.paultan.org

Following the 2014 Honda City‘s global market debut in India just over two weeks ago, the car has now made its ASEAN debut in Thailand, with six variants priced from 550,000 baht.

All variants are powered by a 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine, which can also run on E85 fuel. It produces 117 hp at 6,000 rpm and 146 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm (in India, 117 hp at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm). Save for the baseline variant which has a five-speed manual gearbox, the new Honda City now comes with a seven-step CVT gearbox, replacing the outgoing model‘s five-speed automatic.

The six variants of the Thai-market Honda City consist of the S MT, which is priced at 550,000 baht (RM55,650), the S AT at 589,000 baht (RM59,600), the V at 649,000 baht (RM65,670), the V+ at 689,000 baht (RM69,720), the SV at 734,000 baht (RM74,270) and the SV+, which goes for 749,000 baht (RM75,790).

Like the Indian-market City, the interior features a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which supports a smartphone interface, and an automatic air-conditioning system with a touch-control panel for the SV and SV+ variants (the other variants get manual AC and a standard audio system). The triple gauges are illuminated by blue light rings and house a multi-information display on the V, V+, SV and SV+ versions – the baseline S has amber illumination.

Other features include keyless entry with push-start ignition and a multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters, cruise control, audio control switches and a hands-free telephone switch for the SV and SV+.

Unlike the rather bare Indian-spec car, all Thai variants come with good safety features as standard – ABS brakes, VSA stability control, Hill Start Assist and Emergency Stop Signal. Let’s hope the same goes for the Malaysian-spec car.

The V+ and SV+ variants include an upgrade to the standard safety specs, adding i-Side airbags and side curtain airbags to the mix, bringing the total airbag count to six. The ‘+’ in the model name also adds a multi-angle rearview camera with three-level adjustment.

There are seven colour choices for the car – Modern Steel Grey (metallic), Carnelian Red (pearl), Crystal Black (pearl), Alabaster Silver (metallic), Taffeta White are joined by two new shades, these being Brilliant Sporty Blue (metallic) and Golden Brown (metallic).

Honda Automobile Thailand is targeting sales of 60,000 units of the new City per year. This should of course aid Honda’s cause in the 2014 passenger car sales race – Honda overtook Toyota in Thai passenger car sales for the first time ever in 2013.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2014/01/23/2014-honda-city-launched-in-thailand/

IIHS Tests Minicars and finds a few surprises

I for one am shocked at how poorly the FIT did in this test, the 2015 bodystyle (ACE II) can't get here soon enough....

Minicars fall short for small overlap frontal protection

ARLINGTON, Va. - Only 1 minicar out of 11 tested achieves an acceptable rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small overlap front crash test, making these tiny vehicles the worst performing group of any evaluated so far.

The Chevrolet Spark's acceptable rating in the test, along with good ratings in the Institute's four other crashworthiness evaluations, earns the new minicar a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK award. The Spark was among the initial award winners announced in December. The new small overlap test results for the rest of the minicar group mean that no other models in this size category join the Spark in the winner's circle yet.

Introduced in 2012, the small overlap test replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole. In the test, 25 percent of a vehicle's front end on the driver's side strikes a rigid barrier at 40 mph.

The test is more difficult than the head-on crashes conducted by the government or the longstanding IIHS moderate overlap test because most of the vehicle's front-end crush zone is bypassed. That makes it hard for the vehicle to manage crash energy, and the occupant compartment can collapse as a result. Nevertheless, in many size categories, manufacturers have found ways to improve vehicle structures to meet this challenge.

"Small, lightweight vehicles have an inherent safety disadvantage. That's why it's even more important to choose one with the best occupant protection," says Joe Nolan, IIHS senior vice president for vehicle research. "Unfortunately, as a group, minicars aren't performing as well as other vehicle categories in the small overlap crash."

In contrast to the minicar group's performance, most models in the small car category, which are a little larger, have done much better in the test. There are five good ratings and five acceptable ratings among 17 small cars that have been evaluated so far.

Looking at the component ratings that make up the overall marks, every minicar, including the Spark, rates marginal or poor for structure, the most fundamental element of occupant protection. When a vehicle's structure doesn't hold up, injury risk is high. Collapsing structures can knock frontal airbags and seats out of position, exacerbating the problem.

All the vehicles except the Spark and the Mazda 2 also earn low ratings for restraints and kinematics. Seven of the 11 were downgraded for allowing too much occupant forward motion during the crash. In these cases, either the safety belt didn't do a good enough job holding the dummy in place, or the dummy's head missed or slid off the frontal airbag. The side curtain airbag, which has an important role to play in small overlap frontal crashes, provided insufficient forward coverage in eight of the minicars and didn't deploy at all in the Toyota Yaris. In many models, the steering column moved sideways, and in three cars the seat tipped.

The two worst performers are the Honda Fit and the Fiat 500. In both cases, intruding structure seriously compromised the driver's space, and the steering column was pushed back toward the driver. In the case of the Fit, the dummy's head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off and hitting the instrument panel. During the test of the 500, the driver door opened after the hinges tore. An open door creates a risk that the driver could be partially or completely ejected.

Injury measures on the dummy's left legs are marginal or poor for many models. In most cases, potential injuries involved the lower leg, but the Fit, 500 and Hyundai Accent were downgraded for left thigh or hip injury. The Fit and 500 were the only vehicles to record elevated injury risk to the right leg as well.

Despite its marginal structure, the Spark achieves an acceptable overall rating because the dummy's movement was fairly well controlled and its injury measures were low. The Spark is the only vehicle with good injury measures for all body regions, including the lower leg and foot, generally a problematic area in the small overlap test. This may be related to the fact that the structure around the lower part of the occupant compartment held up better than other minicars, despite intrusion in the upper part.

Consumers should remember that the Spark, while offering more small overlap protection than other minicars, weighs less than 2,500 pounds and doesn't protect as well as a larger and heavier vehicle with a comparable rating. Frontal crash test results can't be compared across weight classes.

In addition, neither the Spark nor the other minicars in the test group offer front crash prevention, an increasingly common safety feature that can prevent or mitigate some kinds of frontal crashes. For 2014, vehicles must be available with front crash prevention to qualify for the highest safety award from IIHS, TOP SAFETY PICK+.

Source;
www.iihs.org

Fiat Completes Buyout of U.S. Carmaker Chrysler

MILAN — Fiat has completed its buyout of Chrysler, making the U.S. business a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Italian carmaker as it gears up to use their combined resources to turn around its loss-making operations in Europe.

The company announced on January 1 that it had struck a $4.35 billion deal - cheaper than analysts had expected - to gain full control of Chrysler, ending more than a year of tense talks that had obstructed Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne's efforts to create the world's seventh-largest auto maker.

Fiat said on Tuesday that it had completed the acquisition of the remaining 41.46 percent stake in Chrysler from a retiree healthcare trust affiliated with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The trust, known as a voluntary employee beneficiary association, or VEBA, received $3.65 billion in cash for the stake, $1.9 billion of which came from Chrysler and $1.75 billion from Fiat.

Chrysler has also committed to giving the UAW trust another $700 million in four equal annual installments, the first of which was paid in connection with the deal closure, Fiat said.

The Chrysler buyout talks have been closely watched by debt and equity investors because Fiat's long-term plan to cut losses in Europe depends on its ability to deepen ties with Chrysler.

The U.S. business is now a profit center for Fiat, but the two companies are still forced to manage their finances separately. A full merger will make it easier - but not automatic - to combine the cash pools of the two companies, giving Fiat more funds to expand its product line-up.

Fiat will discuss the merged company's future headquarters and a potential listing outside Italy at a board meeting scheduled for January 29.

The company is widely expected to move its headquarters outside Italy, where Fiat was founded 115 years ago - a sensitive topic among local unions and politicians eager to protect jobs in Fiat's home market.

Marchionne said at the Detroit car show last week that a listing of the combined entity was on the agenda for this year. While New York is the most liquid market, Hong Kong is also an option, the CEO said, pledging to stay at the helm of the merged group for at least three years.

The first big test for the merged Fiat-Chrysler will be a three-year industrial plan Marchionne is expected to unveil in May, in which he will outline planned investments and models.

While analysts have widely welcomed the Chrysler deal, which Marchionne funded without needing a rights issue, they have been more skeptical about the group's rising debt and 61-year-old Marchionne's ability to cut losses in Europe.

Fiat has said its new strategy will focus on revamping its Alfa Romeo brand and keeping production of the sporty marque in Italy as it seeks to utilize plants operating below capacity, protect jobs and compete in the higher-margin premium segment of the market.

Shares in Fiat were up 1.77 percent at 7.46 euros by 1630 GMT, outperforming a 0.11 percent rise for Milan's blue-chip index.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by David Goodman)

Source;

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/01/21/business/21reuters-fiat-chrysler.html?partner=rss&_r=0

014 Honda CR-Z provides unheard of hybrid performance

Hybrid vehicles are great for the environment and the wallet when it comes time to fill up, but if there was one pitfall to these gas-sipping vehicles, it would be that they lack the athleticism and style many vehicle shoppers are after. Generally easy to spot, most hybrid vehicle options feature lackluster designs where the majority of innovation gets placed into powertrain configurations. Going against the hybrid grain, the 2014 Honda CR-Z at Matt Castrucci Honda takes a completely different approach on what a hybrid should look and drive like.

Packaged tightly into a sleek hatchback design, the 2014 Honda CR-Z features a surprisingly aggressive look for a vehicle that competes in the hybrid segment. Thanks to a sport-inspired front end design, aggressively molded side panels and a distinct rear end, the CR-Z looks more like a performance vehicle pieced together with aftermarket parts than one concealing a hybrid engine.

Honda doesn't just stop with changing the appearance of its CR-Z to become more athletic. An extra emphasis on its driving characteristics are also taken into consideration. Producing a more thrilling ride for its drivers, the CR-Z uses the combination of a gas-powered and electric motor to give it unheard of hybrid performance.

The CR-Z produces a lively 130 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque (with a six-speed manual transmission) that is controlled with Honda's perfected science of the responsive drive-by-throttle steering system.  In addition to the responsive steering of the CR-Z, a firmer suspension has also been placed into the CR-Z to give it a driving feel unlike any other vehicle in its class.

Even though the 2014 Honda CR-Z has been built to be a more compelling vehicle, it holds true to the hybrid mentality in terms of efficiency, obtaining highway fuel marks north of 35 mpg.

Source;
http://www.einnews.com/pr_news/186451088/2014-honda-cr-z-provides-unheard-of-hybrid-performance

Autos.ca: Preview: 2015 Honda Fit

review by Mark Stevenson; photography by Mark Stevenson and courtesy Honda North America.

EXCITING H DESIGN!!! EXCITING H DESIGN!!!

If you were part of the Japanese media when the new Fit was first shown in September, this is the mantra given as Honda’s new design philosophy. EXCITING H DESIGN must mean squishing a Honda Civic, making it taller, and giving it a different grille, because it doesn’t look particularly exciting.

If there is one car in Honda’s lineup that the automotive press falls in love with time and time again, it’s the Fit. It’s aerodynamic nose, triangular headlamps, and clever packaging always made it a favourite in our hearts and minds. It also came from a time when Honda was a bit more enthusiast-oriented but delivered practicality by the tonne at the same time. The Honda of today is more focused on rehashing its failed Earth Dreams motto from Formula 1.

One glance at this new hatchback will tell you which direction it’s heading. The 2015 Fit is almost identical in proportion to Nissan’s newest B-segment hatchback, the Versa Note. Both cars were designed in Japan mainly for the Japanese market. In fact, both were on sale in Japan long before we could get our hands on them in North America.

Gone are the signature triangular lights for those resembling those of its big brother Civic, albeit with a slight change of shape to match the narrower body. And while some may call this new design “bolder” than the outgoing shape, it’s definitely derivative of everything else in Honda’s lineup (though not nearly as bad as Acura’s design laziness). While the current Fit is a unique gem at the bottom of the range, this newest iteration plans to join the pack through mimicry.

Fit still features a tall greenhouse but its silhouette has changed to be more aero friendly. Instead of being a sharp-angled arrow through the air, Honda has given the subcompact a more rounded shape.

Also gone are the relatively flat sides of the Fit in favour of deeply cut body creases swooshing through the metal. The top crease connects both door handles to the redesigned taillights at back while the bottom line attempts to give the Fit a sporty stance.

Around back, the Fit’s rear window has shrunk due to “beltline creep” with the rest being good news for the most part. A restyled rear bumper gives Fit an athletic appearance and new taillights have a shape than can only be described as Japanese calligraphy. Rear hatch doors also feature a bright chrome bar across the middle, splitting the rear glass and metal bodywork.

The interior has been significantly improved over the current Fit, which was more old than bad. All trims will get Bluetooth and back-up camera (in anticipation of new NHTSA rules requiring such devices). Upper trims will also receive “smart entry” with push-button start, heated mirrors, moonroof, Honda LaneWatch, and seven-inch display audio. For the first time, Fit will also be available with leather seating surfaces.

Under the hood, Fit receives a brand new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder engine producing 130 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque (13 hp and 8 lb-ft more than the outgoing model). Along with this new engine is a pair of new transmission options. Thankfully, Honda will retain a manual option in their subcompact, providing a new six-speed manual (the current Fit can be had with a five-speed). However, just like many other cars, the Fit loses its traditional autobox for a new continuously variable transmission such as the one in the Nissan Versa Note. The CVT’s only saving grace is it will get paddle shifters, hinting at a stepped CVT setup much like the new Corolla.

Honda anticipates the new Fit won’t just be frugal, but safe as well. With the new ACE body structure engineered for the subcompact, Honda expects to hit a home run on all IIHS tests and receive a five-Star NCAP score.

Fit will be produced for the first time in Honda’s Celaya, Mexico plant and should be available mid-2014. No pricing information has been announced but expect it to get a slight price drop, closer to the Nissan Versa Note’s MSRP of around $13,500.

Source;
http://www.autos.ca/honda/preview-2015-honda-fit/

Hmmm....What would the CRV look like as a Truck you ask.....?????

I stumbled across this photo shop, looks pretty good too, not saying I'd want to see this a reality, just saying Matheus Castro did a bang up job on it.

www.gt-x.blogspot.com.br

Next-Gen Camaro Rendering Has Bumblebee Written All Over It--a futuristic take by Michael McGee

The next-generation Chevrolet Camaro is still a long way off, but rendering of what the new pony car might look like have been surfacing the Internet quite often recently.

Last month we’ve encountered two different designs for the 2016 Camaro - a futuristic take by Michael McGee, who also created a 1:3 scale model, and a couple of sketches that could be passed on as concept propositions for the next-gen musclecar.

Now, the folks over at Camaro6G posted a brand new rendering on their Facebook page. Far from being out this world, the new study borrows several styling cues from the Bumblebee Camaro we’ve seen last year, including slender headlamps with LED treatment and a front grill that’s barely tall enough to include a Bowtie badge.

However, there’s a different story underneath, where a more aggressive spoiler and intake have been added. You’ll also notice that the rims are transferred from the brand new 2014 Camaro Z/28.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/next-gen-camaro-rendering-has-bumblebee-written-all-over-it-75091.html

Carbuzz.com: What if Honda Built a New Integra?

Sadly, the chances are practically zero.

Back in the day, Honda built a great front-wheel-drive model called the Integra.  It was sold as an Acura in the US, and it managed to attract quite a loyal following.  Powered by Honda's famous VTEC enignes, the Integra was affordable, fun to drive, and easy to tune.  By the time the final generation appeared in the US, Acura renamedit the RSX, but it was dropped entirely in 2006.  Honda felt that with its Civic Si, which was a bit cheaper, could easily fill in the high-performance coupe market slot.  But still, Integra fans were disappointed

.

Sadly, the chances are practically zero. Back in the day, Honda built a great front-wheel-drive model called the Integra. It was sold as an Acura in the US, and it managed to attract quite a loyal following. Powered by Honda's famous VTEC enignes, the Integra was affordable, fun to drive, and easy to tune. By the time the final generation appeared in the US, Acura renamedit the RSX, but it was dropped entirely in 2006. Honda felt that with its Civic Si, which was a bit cheaper, could easily fill in the high-performance coupe market slot. But still, Integra fans were disappointed.

Source;
http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2014/1/19/What-if-Honda-Built-a-New-Integra-7718167/

Honda reveals all-new 2014 Civic Si Coupe at the Montreal International Auto Show

Restyled, more aggressive Civic Si features next-gen technology for an unrivaled Civic driving experience

MONTREAL, Jan. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - During today's Montreal International Auto Show, Honda Canada debuted the all-new 2014 Civic Si Coupe, the sportiest version of Canada's top-selling car for the past 16 years, the Honda Civic. The 2014 Civic Si Coupe features bold new styling, improved performance and class-leading technology. 

Civic Si Coupe now boasts a redesigned front fascia, a distinctive grille and bumper, a new taillight design and 18-inch wheels. Aggressive styling advancements connect with a 6-speed manual, tightened suspension and tuned exhaust for greater power, sporty performance that is synonymous with Civic Si.

"The 2014 Civic Si Coupe is the most exciting Civic in our lineup and we're thrilled to unveil it to Canadians here in Montreal," said Dave Gardner, vice president of sales and marketing, Honda Canada Inc. "Civic Si Coupe is a fantastic blend of new technology, edgier style and performance enhancements, all of which make for a vehicle people can't help but love to drive."

The Civic Si Coupe has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $26,655.
 
Premium tech and style inside and out
Once behind the wheel, drivers will find premium interior updates and new technology and finishes that further enhance the Civic Si Coupe look and feel. The 2014 model marks the introduction of a 7-inch Display Audio infotainment touch-screen with tap, swipe and pinch capabilities. Honda has also included HondaLink^TM Next Generation connected-car technology - an application-based platform that seamlessly connects a driver's smartphone with their Civic, enabling access to information and content online and in the cloud.

Civic Si Coupe will also feature LaneWatch^TM, keyless entry and push-button start, as well as sportier seat materials and colours, all of which are complemented by standard features, including a rearview camera and USB/iPod connectivity.

"There's a reason Civic has been the country's top-selling car for 16 years," added Gardner.  "We never stop listening to our customers and challenge ourselves to meet and exceed their expectations. The 2014 Civic Si Coupe is a demonstration of Honda delivering on these promises."

Powertrain
The Civic Si is powered by an i-VTEC® 2.4-litre DOHC 16-valve engine mated to a close-ratio, 6-speed manual transmission. The Si also includes as standard equipment a helical limited-slip differential. The performance differential helps minimize front wheel slippage for enhanced steering precision when accelerating and cornering.

To increase the excitement level of the exhilarating Civic Si driving experience, refinements to the exhaust system increase engine performance to 205 peak horsepower¹ and 174 lb-ft of torque². This is an increase of 4 horsepower and 4 lb-ft of torque over the previous model.

Body
The Civic Coupe's youthful and sporty nature is amplified with fresh and aggressive styling changes for 2014. The dynamic capabilities of the coupe are portrayed by a bold new grille, headlights and taillights, and sculptured hood, front fenders, side mirrors and rear bumper. The coupe's sporty styling cues continue with premium, athletic looking, larger and redesigned 18-inch alloy wheels.

Chassis
For 2014, the Honda Civic Si Coupe receives a larger rear stabilizer bar and the front spring rates have been increased. These updates enhance steering response and roll feel. In 2013, the Civic lineup benefitted from substantial changes to enhance handling refinement and noise isolation. These included a reworked Electronic Power Steering (EPS), suspension spring changes and thicker stabilizer bars with new Teflon-lined mounting bushings. Other upgrades include larger diameter front brake rotors on some models for better stopping power, and a host of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures to reduce road, engine and wind noise.

Interior
Several refinements to the 2014 Civic interior further enhance its youthful and sporty, yet advanced and premium appearance. The Civic Si Coupe seats are changed to further enhance the sporty look with exclusive seat fabric and decoration in a dynamic black and red.

New Display Audio Interface for 2014, Civic Si Coupe includes the all-new 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen. The intuitive and easy-to-use Display Audio lets you swipe, tap and pinch - just like on a tablet computer or smartphone - to control the vehicle's audio system, display settings and other advanced features. The Si Coupe also includes Display Audio with a fully integrated and fully featured Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™.

Safety
At Honda, safety is always a top priority and the 2014 Civic Si Coupe is a prime example of that focus. Civic safety begins with the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure that was redesigned in 2013 to provide increased protection to vehicle occupants in a frontal collision, including front end structures to help disperse crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes. The 2014 Civic's safety technologies also include standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®)³ with traction control, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle. The 2013 Civic was the first small car to earn a GOOD rating in the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) stringent small overlap front crash test.

Awards
In addition to receiving numerous awards for the completely redesigned 2012 Honda Civic, the refreshed 2013 model was also awarded and recognized with accolades. It was named "Best Buy Compact Car" by Consumer Guide and "Top Family Car of 2013" by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine. In addition, KBB awarded the Civic "Best Resale Value: Top 10" status and the Civic Si "Best Retail Value: Sporty Compact Car." Civic was also recognized with a "Polk Automotive Loyalty" award in the compact car segment, Edmunds.com named the Civic "Best Retained Value" and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy included the Civic Hybrid amongst the "Greenest Vehicles of 2013."

Consumer information is available at www.honda.ca. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/HondaCanada. Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe is available at www.hondanews.ca.


¹205 hp @ 7000 rpm (SAE net)
²174 lb-ft of torque @ 4400 rpm (SAE net)
³VSA is not a substitute for safe driving. It cannot correct the vehicle's course in every situation or compensate for reckless driving. Control of the vehicle always remains with the driver.

Third-party trademarks:The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license; iPod is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. All rights reserved. iPod not included; Kelley Blue Book is a registered trademark of Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. 

SOURCE Honda Canada Inc.

Autoblog.com: Toyota fires bullets into hydrogen fuel tanks, shoots down EV supporters

by Danny King of www.autoblog.com

Many gearheads will remember that the 1970s-era Dodge Dart's claim to fame was that its motor was so durable (though not necessarily powerful) that one could shoot bullets into the engine block. Decades later, Toyota has taken a page out of that testing process.

"Personally, I don't care what Elon [Musk] says about fuel cells" - Toyota's Bob Carter

With some industry members and analysts questioning both the viability and durability of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles, Toyota executive Bob Carter, speaking at the Automotive News World Congress this week, says the Japanese automaker went all Clint Eastwood on the fuel tanks of a fuel-cell prototype. Carter says that bullets from a small-caliber gun bounced off the carbon-fiber tanks, and that .50-caliber bullets barely made dents. The shoot-out motif kept going when Carter name-checked executives from Tesla, Nissan and Volkswagen in saying that he didn't care if other automakers question the future of fuel-cell vehicles. As you can see in the prepared text of Carter's speech below, he said, "Personally, I don't care what Elon [Musk], Carlos [Ghosn] or Jonathan [Browning] say about fuel cells. If they want to 'plug in and tune out' other technologies, that's fine."

After debuting it in Tokyo late last year, Toyota showed off its FCV fuel-cell concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show this week as it get ready to start sales "around 2015." The car has a 300-mile range and should be priced somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000. Autoblog drove Toyota's fuel-cell prototypes last year, and you can read our impressions here.

PRESS RELEASE

2014 Automotive News World Congress- Bob Carter

January 14, 2014

As prepared for:
Automotive News World Congress
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Automotive Operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
_________________

Thanks, Keith and good afternoon everyone.

You know, I've been in the car business for more than 30 years, but I'm more excited about it now than EVER before

Why?

Because for the first time in Toyota's history, we did something here we've NEVER done before.

We shocked people by unveiling two great looking, fun-to-drive cars that blow a hole

in the theory that Toyota only builds "appliances".

Just yesterday, we unveiled Toyota's newest concept, the FT-1 sports car. I'm already getting people asking me when they can get their hands on one.

The FT-1 represents the latest in our heritage of sports cars like the 2000GT, Celica, Supra and most recently, the FR-S.

Then, this morning, the all-new RC-F coupe from Lexus made its world debut.

It offers true racecar performance with a high revving 450+ horsepower, 5-Liter V8. In fact, it's the fastest V8 from Lexus EVER.

I know we have a hit on our hands because my 22 year-old son keeps asking me when he can lease one, and I keep telling him, "not in my lifetime!"

The Lexus RC-F and Toyota FT-1 are tangible evidence of our commitment to create products that are not only safe, dependable and reliable--our stock in trade--but are also BEAUTIFULLY styled and FUN to drive.

It's an unwavering commitment our Global President Akio Toyoda made five years ago that's paying off today in the products we're now bringing to market.

And believe me, the "boss", Akio, drives EVERY product to make sure they're right for our customers.

Along with great looking cars, Toyota and pretty much every automaker agrees, 2014 will be even better than last year.

Our industry is on a roll folks.

Now, those of you who know me probably aren't surprised that I'm bullish on our business.

But my sense of optimism isn't purely emotional, it's also fueled by facts. Three facts, in particular:

We already talked about one: Consumers are demanding great looking cars that are

fun-to-drive and reliable.

Here's fact two: Customer demographics are undergoing a fundamental sea change, and Toyota is ready to navigate the new waters.

And, fact three: The demand for environmental sustainability is achieving critical mass, and Toyota is ready on that front, too.

Let's start with demographics.

We're in the midst of a fundamental shift. The evidence is everywhere.

Consider these two pie charts, compliments of the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2012, 64 percent of the U.S. population was white, with the balance-36 percent-split among Hispanic, African Americans and Asian Americans.

Fast-forward 30 years to 2050 and the pie will look like this.

Today's minorities will comprise tomorrow's majority.

And the biggest jump will be among Hispanics, from 16.5 percent in 2012 to 30.2 percent in 2050.

Now, if you're thinking, "These are just forecasts. There's no guarantee that's how it's going to play out," think again.

More than half of the babies born in America today are non-white. And 40 percent of the 18-to-24-year-olds today are multicultural.

The wheels are already in motion.

Trends in pop culture reflect these shifts. Think about TV sitcoms.

We've come a long way since the days of "Leave it to Beaver," when all of the characters were white.

Today's model?

It's the wildly popular "Modern Family," that mixes characters of different ethnicities, sexual orientation, and age.

It checks all of the boxes.

The shift is also reflected in the foods we eat.

This chart shows the growth of avocado sales since 1989. Holy guacamole!

Maybe we've been in the wrong business all this time.

Even our vocabulary is changing.

More than 30 percent of the new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary between 2000 and 2010 had multicultural roots.

Clearly, the ethnicity of the customer base is changing.

These customers will have different needs for vehicles. They'll have different expectations about the purchase experience.

Such change might strike fear into the heart of some companies. But those of us at Toyota say, "Bring it on!"

I'm proud to say that we're already the most popular automotive brand among Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and African Americans.

And on the retail front, ownership of our dealerships by ethnically diverse individuals

has increased 54 percent since 2002.

We're committed to adding 4 to 6 diverse dealers each year, and we met that goal in 2013.

So, increasingly, the face of our dealers will reflect that of our customers.

Even our Marketing department is undergoing a fundamental restructuring, in large part to ensure our resources are properly aligned with these emerging customer realities.

Another key component of this demographic shift is generational, specifically the transition from the Baby Boomers to the Millennials.

That being said, as a card-carrying member of the Older Folks generation, I can assure you we're not quite ready to hand off the baton. Not just yet.

Consider this: In 1960, the average lifespan was 70. Today it stands at 79. Or, to put it another way, 80 is the new 70!

The median age of the U.S. population is also on the rise. That's good news for Toyota, too.

It means that older customers, who have been our bread and butter, will remain extremely important to us for some time.

After all, right now, the Boomers are much more likely than the Millennials to have the discretionary income to buy cars.

Still, younger buyers are our future. So fine-tuning our interaction with multicultural audiences will help us better meet their needs, too.

But the expectations of today's 20somethings don't turn solely on ethnicity. That's where Scion has been so helpful to us.

As you can see here, Scion's customers are the youngest in the industry. And 64 percent of Scion's customers are new to Toyota.

That suggests they wouldn't have found their way to our dealerships' showrooms if not for Scion.

In short, the market is becoming more diverse, complex and, if you ask me, more fun.

And a new more vibrant and innovative Toyota is rising up to meet it.

Our brand's advertising tagline-"Let's Go Places"-encapsulates this mindset. It sends a clear message to our customers that when it comes moving down the path of life, we're all in this together.

---

Now, let's shift gears and talk about that third fact I mentioned at the outset: environmental sustainability. All automakers must respond to long-term needs of our customers, our society, and our environment.

Did you happen to see the headline the other day that said:

"China Vehicle Sales Beat 20 Million as Smog Chokes Cities"?

It really brings home the harsh reality that if we want to continue to grow as an industry, we must find ways so cars will work in harmony with our environment.

At Toyota, we're building on our hybrid leadership and developing pioneer technology

to continue being an environmental leader.

In fact, a week ago, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I unveiled our new hydrogen fuel cell sedan in North America.

We plan to bring a production version of this vehicle to market NEXT year.

Now, I realize there is no shortage of naysayers regarding the viability of this technology and the infrastructure to support it.

Personally, I don't care what Elon, Carlos or Jonathan say about fuel cells. If they want to "plug in and tune out" other technologies, that's fine.

It reminds me of all the head scratching when Toyota made a commitment to hybrid technology back when gasoline was a buck a gallon.

The Prius was dismissed as a PR gimmick and a science experiment.

Well, we've since sold over 2.2 million hybrids in the U.S., and nearly 6 million sales worldwide.

Although hybrids and other alternative powertrain vehicles are still a small part of the overall market, they are growing rapidly and totaled nearly 600,000 units last year

In fact, if you counted gas/electric hybrids...pure electrics...and the trickle of fuel cell vehicles as a segment in 2013, it would be the 7th largest segment out of 21.

Even better, it would have been the second-fastest growing segment in 2013...jumping more than 17% ... better than the hot-selling full-size pickup segment.

That ain't smoke and mirrors, folks.

Ten years from now, I have a hunch our fuel cell vehicle will be viewed in similar terms. We truly believe it has the same potential as the first Prius.

We've been working on this technology since 1992.

Trust me, Toyota would not have continued on this path for this long if it didn't make good business sense.

Fuel cell vehicles offer several advantages.

They drive like electric cars but can be refueled like gasoline cars.

They're safe. In testing, we fired small-caliber bullets at the hydrogen tank and they just bounced off it. It took a 50-caliber armor-piercing bullet to penetrate the shell.

And, even then, it just left a hole and the hydrogen simply leaked out.

This is no Hindenburg.

They're also viable in real-life conditions.

We've battle-tested our fuel cell vehicle in the deep freeze of Yellowknife, Canada,

the stifling heat of Death Valley, the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains, even the steep hills of San Francisco.

And fuel cell vehicles will be cost-effective.

With economies of scale, we're confident a fuel cell vehicle's MSRP will eventually be on par with today's plug-in hybrids.

Meanwhile, the main feedstock for producing hydrogen will be natural gas, which is in abundant supply in this country.

We're even exploring alternative hydrogen sources, including methane emitted from

trash dumps, landfills, waste-treatment plants, farms, and ranches.

Some experts even believe the cost of hydrogen could eventually fall below that of gasoline.

And since a fuel cell is more efficient to operate than a gasoline engine, it requires less fuel to travel the same distance with zero emissions.

The hydrogen refueling station infrastructure will grow, through public-private initiatives such as the California Fuel Cell Partnership.

The issue of infrastructure is not so much about how many, but rather, location, location, location.

Toyota and the University of California Irvine's Advanced Power and Energy Program collaborated on a model that maps-out a specific distribution of hydrogen fueling stations.

And guess what we found?

In California where we'll initially market our sedan, it will only take about 68 station sites to regularly re-fuel about 10,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Another way to look at it... if every vehicle in California ran on hydrogen, we could meet refueling logistics with only 15 percent of the nearly 10,000 gasoline stations currently operating in the state.

So, unlike gas stations, you won't need fuel cell stations on every corner.

Yes there are many challenges ahead. And it will take a lot of collaboration between government regulators, universities, automakers and energy providers. But stay tuned because this infrastructure thing is going to happen.

By the way, we're finding there's tremendous interest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

We set up a fuel cell mini site on our toyota.com website, and in just one week, we've already had more than 56,000 site visits.

And they spent an average of about 4 minutes there, an eternity for web reading.

The real beauty of hydrogen fuel cells is that they have a range of 300 miles and can be re-fueled in 3-5 minutes, similar to today's gas cars.

So you don't have to stop every hundred miles or so, and spend 3 to 5 hours recharging like an electric vehicle.

And they only emit water vapor.

Now, that's not to say EVs won't have an important role in the future of transportation. They will. Hey, we have EVs, too.

The fact is, we believe consumers will be able to find BOTH electric outlets AND hydrogen stations without too much trouble in the future.

The bottom line... fuel cells will be in our future sooner than many people believe, and in much greater numbers than anyone expected.

So competitors who dismiss fuel cells out of hand do so at their own peril.

My point is this: No matter how the move to new fuels and technologies plays out,

Toyota will be there with vehicle options and I'm confident we'll continue to thrive.

---

Well by now, I hope you will agree, our industry is in a great place today.

I have no doubt that we're going to be in an even better place tomorrow no matter what the future has in store for us.

So this is more than just a great time to be in the auto business.

It's an INCREDIBLY EXCITING time to be in this industry and we're all lucky to be a part of it.

So together, let's go forth and do some great things in 2014!

Thank you.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/01/16/toyota-fires-bullets-hydrogen-fuel-tanks-shoots-ev-supporter/

Official – Global unveil of Honda’s Vision XS-1 crossover concept at 2014 Auto Expo

The Honda XS-1 is very likely to be a SUV top-hat on the Mobilio platform.

by Karthik H of www.indianautosblog.com 

Honda has announced that it will conduct yet another global unveil in India. A creative study model called the “Honda Vision XS-1″ will be revealed at the 2014 Auto Expo in February.

The Vision XS-1 is a new crossover based on the packaging technology of Honda with both surprising space and sporty styling, the company says.

There will also be the Mobilio MPV, the third-generation Jazz hatchback, the four-generation City sedan and the Amaze compact sedan on display making it the biggest ever Auto Expo for Honda, who had nothing new to show at the previous edition.

The new Honda Jazz receives its Indian premiere at the Auto Expo.

As for the Vision XS-1 crossover concept, going by its description, it seems to be a made-for-Asia concept as it talks about packaging technology and surprising space, and not about performance or looks.

The previous made-for-Asia cars that Honda launched (and shared this introduction) were the Brio hatchback and Amaze sedan, which have had good success streaks in India and other Asian markets like Thailand and Indonesia. Moreover Honda have the Vezel earmarked for global countries, and a second crossover is not warranted.

Honda would also put the new Accord Hybrid on display, as a study.

Honda even recently inaugurated a facility in Indonesia this week that became the first to manufacture the Mobilio MPV. Honda India has already confirmed to IAB that the Mobilio will be launched in the coming fiscal.

There will also be a new scooter from Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India at the Auto Expo, the release mentioned.

Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2014/01/honda-vision-xs-1-crossover-concept-auto-expo-2014-113344

Acura TLX Concept: Using the Term "Concept" Loosely

BY JUSTIN BERKOWITZ of www.caranddriver.com

One has to wonder whether Acura deliberately follows a Soviet policy of purging charismatic nameplates from its lineup every few years, or the loss of well-known models is just the result of fickle market planners. How many non-car fanatics do you know who could still identify “Integra” and “Legend” as Acuras, even though it’s been 15 years since the company summarily executed them. If the Legend had any spiritual successor, it’s the TL sedan, which has for four generations been the brand’s top-selling car since its introduction. Acura’s introduction of the smaller TSX 10 years ago restored our faith in the company’s ability to engineer sharp-handling lightweight sports sedans. If you haven’t guessed yet where this is going, meet the TLX, which will replace both the TSX and TL when it goes on sale later this year. 

Beneath the thin veneer of the “concept car” moniker, the TLX introduced at the 2014 Detroit auto show very much is the mid-size sedan Acura will put into production. Acura has kept the exact same wheelbase from the current TL—it raises questions about how new the underpinnings of this car really are—but has shaved 3.8 inches of total length. Not only should that reduce the impression of giant front and rear overhangs so prominent on the TL, but it will help reduce the impression that Acura’s middle sedan is oversized for the 3-series-and-friends class in which it’s meant to reside. 

Styling can’t be described as anything but predictable, with the TLX carrying over elements from other recently introduced Acura models—especially the ILX and bigger RLX. That means blocky wheel arches, headlights that look stippled by LEDs, and even very sculpted door handles. 

To better position the TLX in that mid-size-luxury category, Acura is offering it with two engines and drivetrain configurations. Base TLX models will come with a 2.4-liter inline-four that’s used throughout the Honda lineup, with power likely to match the 189-hp, 182-lb-ft-of-torque rating of the Accord Sport. It’ll be offered only with a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

More cylinders and gears are available to those with more money, who can outfit their TLXs with Honda’s delightful 3.5-liter V-6 and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Although Acura hasn’t released specs for this engine, either, you can expect it to make the same 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque as it does in six-cylinder Accords. Front-wheel drive is the standard configuration with both engines, but all-wheel drive will be optional with the V-6. All TLXs will come with Acura’s excellent four-wheel-steering system. 
If you hadn’t noticed yet, this means that the TLX won’t come with a manual transmission, as did the TSX and TL it replaces. That winnows Acura’s stick availability to a single model, the ILX, and leaves us despondent that one of the best builders of manual gearboxes is offering so few of them. The de rigueur suite of driver assistance/annoyance equipment will be on the TLX’s options sheet, including collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go-traffic setting. 

If we’re lucky, the TLX will only be around for one or two generations. That’s not because we have anything against the car, mind you, but because a premature retirement would mean Acura has built something really great.
Source;

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/acura-tlx-concept-photos-and-info-news