Honda could halve its US lineup without crimping its sales much [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Honda

Taking a detailed look at the Honda lineup in the US, it isn’t hard to see the strength of some models and the weaknesses of others. A recent report on Autoline Daily points out that its five core models – the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot – make up a full 93 percent of Honda’s sales in the US. Through April, Honda has sold 419,798 vehicles, and 389,474 of them were from these core models; not to mention the fact that the Accord was the top-selling car in the US last month.

This means that Honda could technically cut six of its 11 models and only lose about 5,000 sales per month. Of course, this is just some data crunching and there is no reason to believe that Honda is planning to kill off any of its models in the near future. In fact, it seems to be committed to the Ridgeline, while Japanese-made models that may actually lose money for Honda still fill unique voids. Scroll down for the video report – fast-forward to the 1:43 mark for the Honda info.

Continue reading Honda could halve its US lineup without crimping its sales much [w/video]

Honda could halve its US lineup without crimping its sales much [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 May 2013 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why BMWs are cheaper than Hyundais in Korea

Filed under: Car Buying, Hyundai, Kia, Earnings/Financials, Luxury, South Korea

Bloomberg reports shifting tariff regulations have upended the traditional automotive pecking order in Korea. Thanks to cheaper import taxes, foreign brands have seen market share jump from 28 percent to 41 percent over the last two years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have all capitalized on the shift, with domestics like Hyundai and Kia suffering at the hands of their German rivals.

Taxes on European imports have fallen from 8 percent in 2011 to just 3.2 percent today. Over the next few years, tariffs will all but be eliminated for most imports, and taxes on US-made vehicles are expected to fall to just 4 percent in 2014. By 2016, that number will be zero. Needless to say, Hyundai and Kia are concerned about the shift.

Hyundai has seen profit fall by 15 percent last quarter, and the company says it is on pace to see the slowest sales growth since 2007. The company’s shares have fallen by 12 percent. In order to stem the losses, Hyundai has discounted its midsize sedans and started working on diesel engine options.

Why BMWs are cheaper than Hyundais in Korea originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 May 2013 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Details On The BMW-Toyota Sports Car

In 2012, BMW and Toyota corporations announced a new partnership to expand their existing cooperation on EV battery R&D. The joint efforts will also include a future cooperation on fuel cells, powertrain electrification, CFRP production, and BMW-Toyota Sports Car.

First rumors mentioned a possible successor to the popular Supra model. But MotorTrend joins the rumormill today with new information around a stand-alone coupe that will be positioned differently than the Z4 or even the i8 hybrids sportscar. A source close to Toyota told MotorTrend that by the time of the official announcement in January, the two companies had already conducted feasibility studies and development was well underway.

Apparently the green-light came directly from Toyota boss Akio Toyoda, the same exec responsible for green-lighting the Lexus LFA and Toyota GT86. Tada is said to have already visited BMW multiple times in the past year or so.

“I am hoping for a synergy effect with BMW that will result in a product that none of us could have imagined; something more than anyone expects. I would like that to be something like a sports car,” Tada said in the interview. “I would even go so far as to say that for the collaboration to work we have to bring a product which exceeds all these expectations.”

So where is the hybrid’s power going to come from? The rumormill mentions that naturally aspirated, supercharged, and turbocharged versions are reportedly being considered paired with electric motors. A source tells the same magazine Toyota has been working on an all-wheel-drive GT86 equipped with front in-wheel motors and that this setup could make it into the new BMW-Toyota sports car. Additionally, the source says that BMW and Toyota products will have significantly different sheetmetal, unlike the 86/FR-S/BRZ.

The BMW-Toyota concept car is expected to be shown later this year at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.

[Source: MotorTrend]

2014 Nissan 370Z Nismo Shows Off Its New Colors

2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO The Nissan 370Z Nismo undergoes a few changes for the 2014 model year, most of them cosmetic.

On the outside, Nissan’s tuning arm adds a new shade of dark gray. Nismo drops Magma Red from the available exterior colors and replaces it with Solid Red. The new paint choices now are Gun Metallic, Magnetic Black, Pearl White, as well as the previously mentioned Solid Red. Nismo adds an exclusive pinstripe accent design to the sports car’s spoiler, side mirrors, lower side sills, front grille, and front and rear bumpers.

2014 Nissan Nismo 370Z interior Inside, Nismo adds red accents and Alcantara (artificial suede) elements to the steering wheel. A new tachometer completes the update. Says Pierre Loing, vice president, Product and Advanced Planning and Strategy of Nissan Americas: “The 370Z Nismo, since its introduction as part of the original Nissan 350Z lineup, has embodied the spirit of Nismo—race-proven engineering that is attainable. With the enhancements for the 2014 model year and the addition of the new Juke Nismo, we’re unifying the look and feel of these distinctive Nismo models and paving the way for additional Nismo vehicles to follow.”

The 2014 Nissan Nismo 370Z goes on sale this summer. A potent 3.7-liter V-6 continues to be the only power plant. A sports car through and through, the 370Z Nismo comes with a six-speed manual transmission. Together, this combo gushes 350 horsepower and 276 lb.-ft. of torque.

Written by Joel Arellano.

Corporate: Honda Accord, Odyssey and CR-V Named to KBB.com’s 10 Best Family Cars of 2013

The 2013 Honda Accord, Odyssey and CR-V were all named to KBB.com’s list of the 10 Best Family Cars of 2013. The three family-friendly Honda models were recognized for their leadership in the key areas of safety, roominess, comfort and value.

“Honda prides itself in designing vehicles around the needs of our customers,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. “There’s no better validation for this effort than being recognized for having vehicles that excel in the areas critical to the family buyer.”

All-new for 2013, the Honda Accord was the top ranked sedan on KBB.com’s list of family vehicles and had the lowest 5-Year Cost to Own¹ among the ten recognized vehicles. KBB.com editors applauded the new Accord for its stylish exterior, fuel-efficient powertrains and available features like the LaneWatch™ blind spot display. The Accord also earns industry-leading safety scores, having been rated as a TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.²

The 2013 Honda Odyssey was the top rated minivan on the list, continuing to lead its class in fuel economy and safety ratings, while providing spacious accommodations for up to eight passengers. The Odyssey Touring is rated at a remarkable 28 mpg³, the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating of any eight-passenger minivan. The Odyssey is rated as an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK, and the Odyssey has earned the best possible overall safety rating from NHTSA with a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score.²

Rounding out the selection of Honda vehicles recognized was the 2013 Honda CR-V, which achieved the highest KBB.com 60-Month Residual Value⁴ among the ten recognized vehicles. The CR-V is rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a TOP SAFETY PICK and is distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.² Compact on the outside and roomy inside, the CR-V represents an unparalleled balance of size and capability ideal for families.

For more information about KBB.com’s 10 Best Family Cars of 2013, please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/best-family-cars-2013.

Connect with Honda:
Media Newsroom (for journalists) http://www.hondanews.com
For consumers: www.automobiles.honda.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/honda
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/honda
Instagram: http://instagram.com/honda
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+honda

¹ Kelley Blue Book® 5-Year Cost to Own sourced by KBB.com on April 25, 2013.
² Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). Model tested with standard side airbags (SABs). Vehicles tested under the new program cannot be compared to MY10 and earlier vehicles.
³ Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
⁴ Kelley Blue Book® Residual Values sourced from KBB.com’s May/June 2013 book.

Honda Gets ‘Inside the Indy Challenge’ With Social Media Program

Honda Inside the Indy Challenge Honda wants you to race. Or at least follow its race cars.

This month, the automaker launched, “Inside the Indy Challenge,” a social-media marketing program showcasing IndyCar teams Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports. Through a series of online video vignettes, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look as both groups compete in three distinctly different races: the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Sao Paulo Indy 300 and the Indianapolis 500. Drivers Simon Pagenaud and Tristan Vautier will be featured in the series.

Honda Inside the Indy Challenge Says Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of Automotive Operations for American Honda, Inc., “We knew that we were in a position to offer an interesting, first-hand perspective on the IndyCar Series and share what racing means to Honda. Through the ‘Inside the Indy Challenge,’ we are able to join the Honda racing conversation and interact with fans in a meaningful way through an engaging social media experience.”

Viewers can share the videos through the American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda Performance Development and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports social-media channels, programs and websites. Links can be found at the Inside the Indy Challenge page.

Written by Joel Arellano.

Malaise Era All-Stars

Filed under: Classics, Audi, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche

1976-1979 Porsche 930 - front three-quarter view, blue

A few weeks ago, we bid a fond happy 40th anniversary to the automotive dark ages of 1973-84 that have come to be known as “The Malaise Era” – the performance ice-age when 160 horsepower was a lot and a 0-60 time of under 10 seconds was remarkable. Like music in the 1980s, everything in automobiledom didn’t suck, however. There were a few bright spots. Here are five of our favorites:

1976-79 Porsche 930, aka 911 Turbo Carrera (above)
Photo Credit: Dorotheum

While Chevrolet beat them by a decade with the turbocharged Corvair Corsa, the Germans more fully developed turbocharging through racing where General Motors couldn’t. Early Porsche 930s (known technically as 911 Turbo Carreras) were a bit crude, with turbo lag that could be measured with an egg timer. They lacked an intercooler as well as brakes that were up to the task, but performance was sensational, with the buff books reporting 0-60 times of anywhere from 4.9 to 5.8 seconds and quarter-mile times of under 14 seconds. This was ’60s muscle car performance at the height of the Malaise Era. Sadly, the 930 cost about six times as much as your average muscle car did.

Rob Sass is the Publisher of Hagerty Classic Cars magazine. He is a regular contributor to the automotive section of the New York Times and is the author of “Ran When Parked, Advice and Adventures from the Affordable Underbelly of Car Collecting.”

Continue reading Malaise Era All-Stars

Malaise Era All-Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda to Rejoin Formula One

Backed by a record of success that saw the company supply engines for five consecutive driving champions—from 1987-1991—Honda will return to the world of Formula One racing for the 2015 season. Notably, it will do so in partnership with the same chassis developer behind prior title-winning efforts: McLaren.

“The names of McLaren and Honda are synonymous with success in Formula One, and, for everyone who works for both companies, the weight of our past achievements together lies heavily on our shoulders,” admitted Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of McLaren. “But it’s a mark of the ambition and resolve we both share that we want once again to take McLaren Honda to the very pinnacle of Formula One success. Together we have a great legacy—and we’re utterly committed to maintaining it.”

Honda will again provide engines for the team, hinting at the primary reason the company is eager to get back into the premier class of automobile racing. The series will soon mandate the use of new, technologically advanced powertrains, and the Japanese automaker does not want to miss out on any of the action.

“The new F1 regulations, with their significant environmental focus, will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our participation in F1,” according to Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda. “We have the greatest respect for the FIA’s decision to introduce these new regulations that are both highly challenging but also attractive to manufacturers that pursue environmental technologies and to the Formula One Group, which has developed F1 into a high-value, top car-racing category supported by enthusiastic fans.”

What Ford Atlas Concept Reveals of Truck’s Future

Ford Atlas When Ford unveiled its Atlas concept at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, auto fans collectively gasped in genuine surprise. We didn’t cover the show this year, so we jumped at the chance to check out the Atlas when it rolled out at the local Cars and Coffee meet.

Our first impression of the concept was that it’s wide. As we later learned, the Atlas has nearly nine inches of extra width than the regular F-Series. Thus, you don’t fully realize that it’s also slightly longer than a standard SuperCab.

Mike Levine, truck communications manager for Ford, acted as our guide on all things Atlas. First, he pointed out the features that made the concept a Ford: the drop-down beltline, wraparound front bumper, round-wheel arches, and–of course–the chrome-clad, twin-nostril, two-bar front grille. After our eyes recovered from the sunlight hitting all the cladding, he covered the Atlas’ purpose and explained why the automaker built it in the first place.

The Ford Atlas concept is a design study, a hint where the company might be heading with its future vehicles. Many of the features, which Levine called “Active Air Dynamic” elements, aimed at improving fuel economy for trucks while maintaining their utility and even looks. These elements include:

Grille shutters that pop open and close to direct airflow around the truck
A front chin spoiler that drops during highway driving to smooth airflow
Wheel rims that, like the grille shutters, open and close to direct airflow

Levine said the elements increase fuel economy by 2-3 mpg, a significant improvement.

Other notable features included side-view mirrors with LED floodlights, a birds-eye view camera system, trailer hitch and backup assist, and hidden cargo ramps located below the truck bed, allowing owners to load, for example, an ATV. Levine also said the truck concept came equipped with Ford’s next-gen EcoBoost powertrain with stop/start engine technology. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to peek under the hood, or get inside the cab, to verify this.

Overall, we found the visit to be worthwhile. Like the rest of the autosphere, we don’t know which features will ultimately make the cut and show up in future F-Series trucks. Personally, the wheel shutters, which were closed on the front tires of the concept and open on the back pair of wheels, are our favorite feature. They were faves for the Cars and Coffee crowd as well: Levine constantly had to stop curious bystanders from touching or poking them.

Ford Atlas

Written by Joel Arellano.

Corporate: 2014 Honda Grom

2014 Honda Grom