January 2016 - YOURHONDANEWS.COM

2017 Acura NSX Supercar VIN#001 to be auctioned for charity

Die hard Acura NSX enthusiasts will have the opportunity to place bids on 2017 Acura NSX, VIN # 001, at Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction Scottsdale, Arizona, January 29, 2016. The bid competition will be fierce.

The winner will drive away with Acura’s most technically advanced offering since the Honda Luxury Car division launch in 1986. According to our contact at Acura, all proceeds from the sale go to 2 – children’s charities, to be announced at a latter date.

The second generation NSX is arguably the most unique gasoline/ electric hybrid on the market today, for several reasons, one being the price-point. You may read the expanded Honda-Torque News article here.

Looking to the competition, BMW 8 series, Mclaren, Porsche and the soon to arrive Ford G.T., NSX will arrive to market with technologies not available on the aforementioned, at a relatively bargain price of MSRP $156,000 to $205,700+ sales tax, registration and applicable fees. You will find full specifications here.

With Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld showing interest in NSX # 001, there’s no telling how high the bid will go. Acura will announce the buyer of the car, as well as the winning bid amount the night of January 29.

Pricey_CAr — Priciest America auction car ever! Photo: RM Auctions, Thank you.

On a side note, we discovered that a close cousin to Acura NSX’s arch nemeses holds the record for the most expensive American car to ever exchange hands. That title goes to the one of 3 built 1968 Ford GT40 Le-Mans super lights. The final bid? $11,000,000. We don’t anticipate 2017 NSX surpassing the $1,000,000 mark, but you never know.

2015 Honda CR-V vibration ‘fix’ may result in lost fuel efficiency

Back in late November 2015, American Honda Motor Company generated a dealership service repair bulletin addressing the acknowledged vibration reported by consumers experienced in Honda’s 2015 CR-V SUV.

In the 19 page bulletin, Honda dictates a compulsory review of the customer’s unique experience with the vibration, multiple steps to remedy the problem with a step-by-step visual diagram and methodology for said repairs. There’s a lot to it!

My Honda-Torque News CR-V forum has received mostly positive reports as to the fix, yet a handful of CR-V owners remain a bit ruffled, claim their intent to rid themselves of CR-V, while holding Honda liable for lack of disclosure prior to sale.

2015_Honda_CR-V — 2015 Honda CR-V liftgate

Granted, not all 2015 CR-V owners will be happy regardless of Honda’s action. With radiator mounts upgraded, transmission main mounts replaced and lift gate harmonic vibration mitigated, two vibration generation components remain, the engine and the CVT transmission.

By “remapping” the engine, and specifically the CVT shift points, vibration generated from the engine is reduced. However, so is fuel efficiency. This may have more to do with how direct fuel injection, specifically low displacement 4-cylinder gasoline engines transmit a harmonic vibration frequency at certain RPM levels.

The downgrade in estimated fuel economy is marginal, estimated as less than 7/10 per gallon under most driving conditions. However, as reported to us by our readers, greater loss of fuel efficiency is possible.

American Honda Motors News: My favorite interview of 2015

2017_Honda_Clarity — 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell = zero hydrocarbons

One of the perks of being a Honda Brand-specific auto journalist is access to Honda management. 2015 was a record breaking year for me and American Honda Motor Company, and with it came the opportunity to meet many exceptional people connected to the Honda brand.

With the timely introduction of the Fit platformed built in Mexico HR-V crossover to North American markets, came the opportune invitation to attend Honda’s HR-V national press reveal in Miami Beach, Florida. There I would interview Mr. Jeff Conrad, executive vice president A.H.M.C, and Honda’s environmental officer Ms. Angie Nucci.

Parks_2016_Honda_HR-V — Parks and 2016 HR-V take Miami by storm,

We would speak at length as to Honda’s ongoing commitment to preserving the environment, and near future plans for the development and delivery of affordable, attainable zero or near zero emissions electrified personal conveyance to the world’s largest auto market.

The short story: Honda promises the relaunch of a much improved 1 engine, two electric motor 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid delivering 50+ MPG in combined driving.

Personally, I believe market acceptance of electrified vehicles, and a measurable increase in the retail price of gasoline must occur prior to the successful retail expansion of alternatively fueled and powered personal conveyance in the U.S..

None the less, Honda remains committed to the ideology of environment protection through the small foot print manufacturing of low impact vehicles.

Also in the works is a stand alone plug in electric Fit, Hybrid Civic and the 2017 Honda Clarity FCEV( Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). You may read the Conrad , Nucci interview here.

Honda_FCEV_Concept

2016 Honda Civic awarded ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘IIHS Top Safety Pick +’

2016_Honda_Civic_Affordable — 2016 Honda Civic Touring takes on Audi and BMW with exceptional styling and performance for under $25,000.

To say that American Honda Motor Company is on a roll,’ may be a gross understatement at this point. Coming off of record sales for 2015, the #4 best selling automotive brand in North America continues on an unprecedented reinvention of what may arguably be the most dynamic lineup in the maker’s history.

Civic, CR-V and Accord sell 1,000,000 + units for 2015

That’s a big number for any maker. But to have the North America’s #1 selling SUV, compact and midsize car (retail) under one brand may be unprecedented in a world of 200+ brand name plates.

Selling within 7,000 units of #1 Toyota Corolla in 2015, the newly platformed, redesigned and more powerful 2016 Civic is on course for surpassing Toyota Corolla with superior styling, standard featured active and passive safety features, greater fuel economy, horsepower and torque.

This week in the news we find 2016 Civic named “North America Car of the Year,” and earning the IIHS ( Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) “Top Safety Pick +”rating for combined superior standard and optional safety features, (“ACE Body Structure,” “Honda Sensing” enabled accident avoidance, and top rated slight overlap frontal impact crash test ratings.

What makes 2016 Civic superior in the compact sedan class for many may be those features that one doesn’t see and hopefully never needs. For us, the bonus here is Civic’s cutting edge good looks, new found interior quiet, refinement and uptick performance.

Civic’s body and interior design effectively takes on Audi and BMW, doing so with a fully loaded MSRP of well under $25,000, something the competition can’t or won’t do. You may catch my latest 2016 Honda Civic first impressions drive review here.

Reinvention of A.H.M.C. continues with Detroit debut of 2017 Honda Ridgeline pickup

I can’t think of a more appropriate launch pad for the all new 2017 Honda Ridgeline pickup than Motor City.

Coming off of an all time record sales year in 2015, American Honda Motor Company will debut the much touted reinvent of Honda’s only North American pickup truck, 2017 Ridgeline, January 11 in Detroit.

Honda promises a surprise or two

We already know that Ridgeline’s body design cue follows 2016 Pilot very closely. That next generation Ridgeline comes on to market with a more conventional pickup-truck look, greater horsepower, fuel economy and expanded rear seating area comfort. Will die hard Ridgeline fans like it?

As to mechanical and electronic upgrades and changes for 2017, your guess is as good as ours. Honda remains very tight lipped as to Ridgeline specifications. I speculated a bit here as to a hybrid, or diesel powered Ridgeline in 2015, it’s now doubtful.

But with Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram 1/2 ton pickups averaging better than 25 mpg highway, Nissan and Toyota compact pickups coming to market with diesel power, Honda must step up its fuel economy now to grab a measurable portion of the industries best selling segment. and do so at a comparable MSRP.

Historically Ridgeline has been a niche vehicle for Honda fans wishing to experience pickup utility while enjoying a car-like ride and drive environment.

2016-honda_Pilot_Elite — 2016 Honda Pilot Elite

looking to the latest Ridgeline teaser image from Honda, a major change or two is in store for Honda Ridgeline, we look to 2016 Pilot for a clue or two as to engine, power train, towing capability, dial-traction off road capability and superior personal device connectivity.

2016 Civic Type-R hype continues in U.S.

Parks McCants G+ 2016

Although Honda has successfully introduced the first turbocharged Civic sedan in the history of the icon to North American buyers, 2017 Civic Type-R hype continues in North America.

The short story: On the engine performance side of things, Civic metric gear-heads want more!

My most read article for 2015 reported on a car that will never be marketed in the U.S., the 2015, 2016 Honda Civic Type-R.

With a stated 300 + horsepower engine, close throw manual 6-speed transmission, limited slip FWD differential, Brembo-like brakes, 18 inch cookie cutters, superior independent, reactive dampened suspension and more, Civic enthusiasts look to this 4th generation Civic Type-R to take on Ford Escort RS and Subaru WRZ, without the advantage of all -wheel-drive.

No worries, I’ve caught Civic Type-R in action on the track. it may have an advantage or two over AWD in dry driving conditions, I’ll leave that up to Honda engineering.

Last month we discussed the collectible status of arguably Honda’s rarest car-offering in better than a decade. If the paltry 750 car offering of Japan’s initial Civic Type-R release is any indication of North America availability, Civic Type-R will be a much coveted collector’s car on the day of its predicted release sometime in 2017.

With a rumored estimated MSRP of $39,999 U.S., ( I believe this to be too low.) Honda won’t have any difficulty selling out the initial “made in England” run of Civic Type-R in Canada and the U.S.. Check out my latest Civic Type-R article here

looking to the European specified 2016 Civic Type-R will give enthusiasts a hint as to what to anticipate in North American specified Civic Type-R’s future.

In the mean time, fans can anticipate the arrival of 2016 Civic Touring Coupe at a show room near you in March 2016. The 170 horsepower 1.5 liter turbocharged VTEC is a step above the competition as to horsepower, fuel economy and refinement. With a MSRP of under $25,000 U.S., it may well be worth your consideration.

Civic _Comparison — 9th generation Civic Si Vs 10th generation Civic Touring.

Read about the all new 10th generation Civic here