Thursday, September 22, 2011

2011 Honda Jazz Hybrid gets 52 mpg, still not coming to U.S.

2011 honda jazz hybrid
2011 honda jazz hybrid
Honda has dropped some more pictures and details of the new Jazz Hybrid, which will be making its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show later this week… but first – let’s review what we already knew.
A hybrid version of the Honda Fit (that’s what we call it on the stateside), the Honda Jazz Hybrid is powered by the same 1.3L i-VTEC gasoline engine mated to the company”s IMA hybrid system and a CVT gearbox that is found in the Insight and the CR-Z.
Honda now tells us that the Jazz Hybrid:
  • Retains the flexible Magic Seats.
  • Gets 104 g/km of CO2 emissions.
  • Gets an improved fuel economy offers up to 64.2 mpg (52 mpg in U.S. terms).
The Honda Jazz hybrid will go on sale in some European markets in the early part of 2011. Honda has no plans to offer the car in the United States or Canada.

2011 honda jazz hybrid
HONDA JAZZ WITH HYBRID TECH: AS PRACTICAL AS EVER – WITH LOWER EMISSIONS
Making its debut at the Paris Motor Show this week, the hybrid version of the Jazz features Honda’s innovative petrol-electric IMA system and retains the practical characteristics found in the supermini, while lowering emissions and improving fuel economy.
“¢ World”s first B-segment car with hybrid technology
“¢ No compromise ““ features all the practicality of the standard Jazz
“¢ Retains the flexible Magic Seats
“¢ Up to 831 litres of boot space
“¢ 104 g/km of CO2 emissions*
“¢ Improved fuel economy offers up to 64.2 miles per gallon*
The Jazz will feature the same 1.3 litre i-VTEC as the Insight hybrid and despite its taller body shape, the new car has similar CO2 emissions of 104 g/km* – 21g/km less than the current lowest-emitting 1.2-litre petrol Jazz. As well as the environmental benefits, the cleaner emissions bring more affordable driving too: road tax exempt for the first year and just £20 a year after, the hybrid version of the Jazz will also be free from the London congestion charge.
“We think that a cleaner, more economical version of the Jazz will be a big hit with customers,” said John Kingston, Government Affairs and Environment Manager, Honda (UK). “The IMA hybrid technology is incredibly easy to use, owners don”˜t need to worry about plugging anything in to charge. It”˜s simply a case of filling up with petrol and driving on as normal.”
Like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models, the hybrid version of the Jazz will be capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions and this contributes to a combined fuel consumption figure of 64.2 mpg* – a 23 per cent improvement over the best-selling 1.4 ES model.
Honda has added this cleaner hybrid technology to the supermini while retaining the flexibility of its unique folding Magic Seats. The IMA battery pack and power control unit have been integrated in the area under the boot floor, keeping the normal boot area of 300 litres and allowing the Magic Seats to fold in the same manner as non-hybrid versions. This means that the seats still fold entirely flat to provide a surprising large boot space of 831 litres, or the seat bases can be folded to sit vertically to accommodate tall items within the car.
The Jazz with hybrid technology will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and will go on sale in the UK in early 2011. Prices, homologated emissions levels and full specifications will be announced at a later date.

2011 honda jazz hybrid
2011 honda jazz hybrid

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

2011 Honda Accord Coupe

The Accord Coupe has style to match its performance, and sports a refreshed look for 2011

2011 Honda Accord Coupe
2011 Honda Accord Coupe
Interior upgrades concern the repositioning of the atmosphere control catches on the alternate side of the control stack, closer to the driver for convenience, with less as often as possible utilized binds now located on the right side. In augmentation, all poses get unique seat fabrics and an amended instrument panel outline.
2011 Honda Accord Coupe
The Accord should carry on to be offered with a 2. 4 liter motor ready with 177HP and 190HP, and a 3. 5 liter V6 with 271HP, but the Japanese automaker states that upgrades to vehicle air motion, motor contact and transmission gear ratios help increment fuel economy.
2011 Honda Accord Coupe
2011 Honda Accord Coupe
2011 Honda Accord Coupe

2012 Honda Accord

2012 Honda Accord
2012 Honda Accord
This year’s Geneva Auto Show had a special treat for auto fans as Honda unveiled it’s much awaited 2012 Honda Accord. Building on past success, Honda has proven that the 2012 Accord line will pose serious competition in the auto market.  Boasting refinements to both the exterior and interior design, Honda has also increased fuel efficiency and decreased CO2 output without jeopardizing the performance that Honda lovers have come to expect. The 2012 Honda Accord models are beautiful at first glance but a closer inspection reveals even more great additions.
2012 Honda Accord
Honda has proven, once again that beauty and functionality can work together to create a vehicle that will really turn heads.  The 2012 Honda Accord sports a reworked front grill which, while adding a certain element of class, also contains a reworked cooling system to make sure to the powerful engine is always running at peak efficiency.  The bumpers have been reworked to include improved front and tail lights and the premium models include bi-Xenon headlights with active cornering technology. These refinements continue to prove that the Honda Accord 2012 models haven’t sacrificed design for safety.
The 4.95 metre mid size sedan is almost full size by measure of its interior space and can easily  seat 5 occupants in spatial comfort. Boot space is large but hindered by the gooseneck hinges. The chassis set-up is dictated by a conventional double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. It also gets a variable gear ratio steering system that should aid in-city manoeuvrability and high-speed stability. All four wheels feature disc brakes, be it 16-inch steel wheels or the optional 17 alloy wheels.
The Sedan earned a 5-star safety rating in each of NHTSA’s combined safety rating categories. Tagged safety features include 6 airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Active front restraints. The Accord also gets Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure that helps diffuse impact force in the event of a front collision, especially when SUVs are countered.
All models get steering mounted controls for audio and cruise control and a tilt and telescopic steering column. Other options include Bluetooth, 8-way full power driver’s seat adjustment, Active Noise Cancellation (V6 only), dual zone automatic air-conditioning, leather interiors, 6CD premium sound system with USB jack, auto dimming rear-view mirror and a smoked glass sunroof. The available Navigation system and rear view camera visuals are displayed on 8-inch screen that uses a jog dial for control. The very innovative i-Dual Zone Automatic Air-conditioner utilizes GPS sensors to adjust zone temperature according to the position of vehicle relative to the sun.
Honda hasn’t limited their design improvements to the exterior alone. When taking a look at the interior, auto fans will notice a stylish and modern new design that promises to make the 2012 Honda Accord a pleasurable ride for the driver as well.  The new Accord 2012 models have added beautiful dark silver door panels to the interior and have accented them with bright silver door handles.  The handbrake has received special attention from the Honda designers as well and now sports a beautiful bright silver finish.  Honda didn’t stop there as the gearshift, instrument panel and even the steering wheel have received special attention with a design upgrade.  The new Accord 2012 Type S models also boast a further refined interior with a luxurious new leather finish for the seating and door liners.

2012 Honda Accord
2012 Honda Accord