Currently Browsing: Honda
Honda to reduce CR-V imports from Japan (U.S)
Honda has said that the ever-stronger Japanese Yen is forcing the firm to cut CR-V exports to the U.S. However, Honda is looking to spike North American production. Yoichi Hojo, Honda CFO said: “Our profit structure has improved mainly thanks to robust overseas operations, and the toughest...
Don’t Call It NSX: Acura Confirms Sports-Car Plan
Honda’s president recently told a Japanese business newspaper that the company continues work on a new sports car, and the project has now been confirmed to us by an American Acura executive. The company line is that this new car will not follow up the NSX, of course—Acura told us...
Name That Shifter, No. 11
Click for a larger view It’s Monday, and here’s your mystery shifter. As usual, you have until mid-day Wednesday to submit your guess identifying the vehicle its in. The first commenter to respond correctly will win a  Save the Manuals sticker and magnet. Check back later this week for...
2011 World Green Car of the Year finalists announced
2011 World Green Car of the Year finalists announced
The committee behind the 2011 World Car of the Year Award releases the names of the six candidates competing for the most green car in the world. As expected, the most hyped vehicles in 2010, Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt are included in the list. The two highly-efficient cars are joined by the Hyundai...
2011 Honda CR-Z Named NADAguides 2011 February Car of the Month
Proof that Opposites Attract – Honda’s CR-Z Offers Performance and Efficiency in a Sport Hybrid News Highlights NADAguides, the leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, names the all-new 2011 gasoline-electric “sport-hybrid” Honda CR-Z the NADAguides Car of the Month...
Name That Shifter, No. 10
It’s that time again. Time to identify the vehicle that houses the shifter seen here. Leave your answer in the Backfires comment section by mid-day Wednesday. The first person to correctly guess this week’s shifter will win a Save the Manuals sticker and magnet. Related posts: Name That...
The Continental: Ford’s Three-Cylinder, Notes From the Focus Launch, Ghia is Put to Sleep, and a New Gumpert
Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental. Last week, I wrote about BMW’s possible three-cylinder engine strategy...
New Car: 2012 Honda Accord facelift (EU)
Honda has revised its popular Accord mid-sized family car for the 2012 model year. The facelift includes minor exterior and interior changes, reworked engines, and chassis alterations. The 2.2 i-DTEC engine now emits 138g/km for the manual sedan, down by 9g/km from 147g/km, 11g/km drop from 170g/km...
Refreshed 2012 Acura TL to Debut at Chicago Auto Show
Acura will show a refreshed version of the TL at the upcoming Chicago auto show, the first major update for the car since the fourth-generation model debuted for the 2009 model year. Details are thin for now, with the company simply describing the TL as “newly refined” for 2012. As with the 2011...
Name That Shifter, No. 9
It’s Monday, and it’s time for you to identify another shifter of unknown origin (unknown to you, anyway). By now, you should know the drill: tell us the correct make and model of the vehicle in which this shifter was originally found. The first person to leave a Backfires comment with the...
Rendering: BMW Compact – The Front-Wheel Drive Vehicle
Rendering: BMW Compact – The Front-Wheel Drive Vehicle
German magazine AutoBild places on their latest cover a rendering of the new BMW Compact model. The front-wheel drive vehicle is said to launch in 2013 and according to some BMW sources, the rendering is fairly close to the final design. The Compact is BMW’s interpretation of a front-wheel drive city...
Honda Accelerates CR-Z Turbo Production
Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept, as displayed at SEMA. Image: Honda Motors America It’s probably no secret that Honda Motors America didn’t buy into the “hybrid sports car” concept of the CR-Z. Give the enormous shoes the car had to fill, HMA predicted early on that the car would be a sales flop....
2011 Detroit Auto Show’s Top Concept: Ford Vertrek
2011 Detroit Auto Show’s Top Concept: Ford Vertrek
Since Alan Mulally took the helm of Ford Motor Company, the United States-based automaker’s commitment to improving their car business has been the chief objective for business revitalization. Highlighted by continuing strong 2010 sales of the Ford Fusion and Taurus as well as the eagerly awaited...
Ariel reveals limited edition Atom 3 Mugen
Filed under: Special/Limited Editions , Sports/GTs , Motorsport , Tuners , Racing cars , News , Autosport International Ariel has launched a limited edition Atom Mugen to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the stripped-out trackday car. Last month the British manufacturer revealed its collaboration...
The Enigma Of Ayrton Senna’s Nephew Bruno [Video]
A few months before his death, Ayrton Senna remarked the now-famous line about his sister Viviane’s 10-year-old son: “If you think I’m fast, just wait until you see my nephew Bruno.” We’ve now seen him race. But have we really? More » View original here: The...