honda

As a preview to the 2009 Los Angeles auto show, Honda sent out some tantalizing words--but no photos--of a new concept it will display. The Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept is described by Honda as an "ultra-compact, aggressively designed coupe". Given the word "personal" in the concept's name, though, we're assuming P-NUT will be less CRX and more Batcycle, probably with some electric drive technology thrown in.

When our coverage of the 2009 Los Angeles auto show starts on December 3, we will post photos and answer the question, what is P-NUT?

We caught sight of this car while out on a photo shoot. Some of it is a Honda S2000, normally a roadster but modified into coupe form. A little Web research told us that this body mod is from Mooncraft, a Japanese design firm long involved in motorsports. Many Web sites refer to the Mooncraft hardtop for the S2000 as "infamous," but it apparently increases the car's acceleration times due to its aerodynamics.

Wagon fans rejoice!

After the public's abysmal reception of the Accord Crosstour and the Acura ZDX, Honda has decided to bring the Accord Touring to North American shores. This is a proper wagon, not an odd genre-bending XUV. The model will wear a 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon badge and will be available in fall 2010.

If you remember, the Honda Accord Touring was listed among our Top 10 awesome wagons you can't have. As you'd expect, we're very excited to see it coming off of that list.

Although the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show just kicked open its doors for the public this last weekend, industry insiders got a head start on sampling the bevy of automobiles that are debuting. One of these lucky insiders included Alistair Weaver of Inside Line fame, courtesy of Edumunds.com. Here, Alistair gives us all a teaser on the many new vehicles presented at the Tokyo Motor Show, and this is merely the tip of the iceberg.

In this video clip, Inside Line cherry shows a few more cars worthy of Web airtime. While the show seems to be short on American … Read more

TOKYO--Honda Motor Co. plans to return to larger hybrid vehicles with a new electric-gasoline drivetrain after miserable sales of an earlier hybrid Accord forced it to quit the segment.

Honda's current hybrid system, in smaller cars such as the Civic and Insight, uses one motor. A hybrid system under development will use two.

"That is one major initiative we are working on," Tsuneo Tanai, COO of automobile operations at Honda, told Automotive News on the sidelines of the Tokyo Motor Show. "The motor will have higher output. There will be dual motors, with a larger battery that enables the car to be driven in all-electric mode."

Tanai declined to say what large models would get the new hybrid system or when. But Japan's Nikkei business daily reported last month that Honda plans to add a hybrid minivan in 2011.

Honda also is studying mating the system to a lithium ion battery, Tanai said. The company's current hybrids run on nickel-metal hydride power packs.

When the next-generation lithium batteries arrive, they will be more compact. That could allow them to be swapped with the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in smaller hybrids, he added.

"It still requires some development time to make the whole energy management system suitable for lithium batteries as opposed to nickel batteries," Tanai said. … Read more

Lexus is about to put the V-10 LFA into production; Ford puts batteries in the Focus; Nissan swears that goofy Land Glider is for real; we discuss why your cell phone may not work worth a damn in your next new car; and we take a ride in the luxury crossover that started it all.

• Lexus' first supercar is reality: The LFA

• Honda CR-Z coming to the U.S.

• California energy rules could hamper in-car cell phone reception

• CNET's take on the third generation Lexus RX350… Read more

Just as carmakers develop electric cars, motorcycle manufacturers also see the writing on the wall, showing off a collection of electric bikes at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Tokyo Motor Show has always played host to a substantial display of motorcycles, and this year is no different--except that the highlights of the show all have a green angle. Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki all brought concepts to the show that could spell the future of riding, and possibly a new way for future commuters to get to work.

Check out photos of electric scooters and motorcycles at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. … Read more

In an amusing little photo gallery over at the Top Gear site, the Stig, the famed tame racing driver, gets the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius off the ground. The feature promises a lot at the beginning (just like we are doing here), but proceeds with a fairly standard test between the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, mostly comparing them on fuel economy and drivability through London and at the Millbrook test track.

But they eventually come to the good stuff, describing what happens when Stiggy starts doing laps in the Prius and the Insight. Top Gear even reaches a … Read more

Honda unveiled the 2010 VFR1200F, the next generation of motorcycle technology, resulting in unsurpassed rider experience.

Just a few of the incredible features and benefits found in the VFR1200F include Honda MotoGP engine technology and architecture; a light and compact 1237cc liquid-cooled 76-degree V-4 that pumps out amazing levels of power; throttle by wire for next-generation throttle response; lightweight and compact Unicam valve train that allows for significantly smaller cylinder heads; optional dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual mode and automatic mode with two D/S modes and paddle-style shifters; Honda slipper clutch in the manual-shift VFR1200F; GP technology layer-concept aero … Read more