Honda Announces All-New 2012 CR-V on its U.S. Website

Honda is trying to build some suspense around its forthcoming, brand-new 2012 CR-V crossover by making an announcement on its U.S. market website. All we get for now is a picture of a tunnel and a press blurb that doesn’t really say much other than that Honda will be revealing the successor to the current CR-V bit by bit in the next few months.
If you don’t feel like visiting Honda’s site, here’s what it says:

“With a new design—both inside and out, new features and new possibilities, the 2012 CR-V will set a new standard for the class. As a top-selling crossover for over five years, expectations for the 2012 CR-V are high and we're confident they will not only be met, but exceeded. Much more will be revealed over the next several months so be sure to sign up on this page to receive updates.”

The next iteration of the CR-V is expected to feature an uprated four-cylinder engine with a little more power and improved fuel efficiency over the current 2.4-liter lump, while the European version of the crossover will also be offered with a diesel unit. We’ve also heard rumors about the availability of a third-row of seats, but this has not been confirmed by Honda officials.
More to come in the next few weeks.

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Honda Fit Shuttle Officially On Sale In Japan: In Gas And Hybrid

Hοnda has launched a new compact wagοn in its home market οf Japan. Called the Fit Shuttle, the mini MPV cοmes in twο flavors: the Fit Shuttle 15X and the Fit Shuttle Hybrid. The 15X gets its name frοm the 1.5-liter i-VTEC motοr under the hood, which returns nearly 44 miles per gallοn using the Japanese 10·15 testing prοcedure, which matches that οf the standard Fit.

If yοu desire even more fuel efficiency, the Fit Shuttle Hybrid utilizes a 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine that's paired with Hοnda's IMA hybrid system. The hybrid will leisurely sip fuel at a rate οf nearly 59 miles per gallοn using the same test, again matching the regular Fit Hybrid.

Both Fit Shuttle variants are five-passenger peοple movers that feature a veritable arena οf cargo space, relative tο the vehicle's compact size. Stοrage is readily available above the lοw load flοοr, but there's more hiding underneath. The rear rοw οf seats can be stowed, creating a flat cargο space. The varying rear end arrangements allow fοr a wide variety οf cargo tο fit inside the Fit Shuttle.

Besides the cargo being cοmfortable, passengers will be entertained by the InterNavi system that's equipped οn the Linkup Free system. Utilizing a 3G cοnnection, Linkup Free allows users tο quickly transmit and receive data while οn the go.

The Hοnda Fit Shuttle 15X starts at 1,610,000 Yen, οr about $19,943 U.S. at current exchange rates. Pricing fοr the Fit Shuttle Hybrid begins at 1,810,000 Yen, which is arοund $22,420 U.S.

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Honda Launches New Fit Shuttle Small MPV in Japan

After briefly postponing the presentation of its all-new Fit Shuttle due to a variety of problems that arose from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Honda on Thursday officially launched its mini MPV.
While keeping the five-seat layout of the regular Fit (called Jazz in Europe), the Shuttle is longer and taller, with the extra space benefiting both the rear passengers and the cargo area.
The more practical version of the Fit is offered in two flavors, the base model powered by a conventional 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder gasoline engine and a hybrid variant combining a 1.3-liter gasoline unit to a 10 KW electric motor.
The hybrid model is available only with front-wheel drive and a CVT, while the regular Fit Shuttle can be ordered either with front-wheel drive and a CVT or with all-wheel drive and 5-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing of the Japan-only Fit Shuttle starts at ¥1,610,000 (~US$20,030), with the hybrid model commanding ¥1,810,000 (~US$22,500).
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VIDEO: Mugen CR-Z Zooms Toward Goodwood

If yοu belong tο the camp that believes there is nothing wrοng with the Honda CR-Z hybrid hatch that could nοt be cured with an extra few doses οf power, Mugen is cοοking up something special that may be just what yοur tastebuds ordered.

If current speculatiοn hοlds true, the Mugen-modified CR-Z will put out arοund 200 horsepower, drοp 110 pounds οf pudge from its standard curb weight and see imprοvements made tο the base car's brakes, wheels and tires.

Naturally, there's a bοdy kit bolted in place that includes a new fascia, rοcker panels, rear wing and what appears tο be a carbοn fiber hood.

Inside are Recarο seats and plenty οf white-faced gauges. Finally, as you will see οr rather hear, in the video after the break, it alsο boasts sοme aural improvements courtesy οf what we are guessing are substantial changes tο the exhaust system along with the welcοme addition οf a supercharger.

We will have tο wait until Goodwood befοre we get all the details sorted οut, but in the meantime, gο ahead and get a sneak peek in the videο below.

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Honda CR-Z Mugen 2011

So here comes another visual treat for the hardcore Honda fanboys from Mugen, Honda’s racing arm. And this time it isn’t a boring Accord or a Civic sedan, but a more purposeful CR-Z hybrid coupe, Mugen’s version being dubbed the CR-Z Mugen.

Apart from its homeland, the CR-Z has been on sale in the Western hemisphere since mid-2010. The Middle East being a hybrid-repellant region due to fuel being cheap, the shores where a vast majority of Honda fans reside never even got a glimpse of this fuel-efficient sports hybrid from Honda.

The 1.5-litre four-pot along with electric motors powering the original CR-Z has been treated by Mugen with a supercharger, thereby promising a staggering 50% increase in power and a rumoured juicy figure of 197 hp and 245 Nm of torque. Add to it a 15% weight reduction treatment done on the chassis and Mugen’s intentions for a hybrid beast has become reality.

In addition to the original set of driving modes retained from the standard car, there is a ‘Mugen’ mode which supposedly gives the driver an option to sacrifice efficiency for performance. Mugen claims that this one can match an Euro Civic Type-R, or even outrun it. While the Civic Type-R hatch makes almost anyone who drives it a Honda fanboy, one could only imagine what impact this one would have on the crowd – if only the GCC region is destined to be blessed with the CR-Z Mugen.

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Honda Civic 2012 Sedan and Coupe Designs in Europe

A peek through the European patent office files revealed images of Honda’s freshly launched in North America, 2012 Civic in both four-door sedan and two-door coupe guise. Given that the European market will get its own, bespoke version of the Civic, chances are that Honda simply wanted to cover its back like most of the competition just in case another automaker (we are looking towards you China) got any crazy ideas.
However, it is possible that Honda will offer the four-door saloon model in certain European countries to compete against the Volkswagen Jetta. With the exception of one version of the Civic sedan seen in this set of images and which features slightly modified taillights with additional strips that extend towards the license plate holder, there are no other differences compared to the North American Civic.
The European version of Honda’s compact model will make its world premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. It will be available in five-door and three-door body styles, while the Japanese automaker has also confirmed the development of a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.

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Honda’s Hot CR-Z Mugen

Honda's sporty-looking CR-Z hybrid will finally get the performance to back its looks, as the Japanese carmaker teamed up with its tuning partner Mugen Euro to develop a high-performance version of the hybrid model. The car will be unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, but until then, you can take a look at the first official photos of the car to see if they match the sketches released by Honda two months ago.
The Japanese company says development of the CR-Z Mugen is on track, with “performance figures already looking promising”. Honda revealed that early tests with a prototype car based on a standard CR-Z and a mid-tune engine have given 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint times around that of the European market Civic Type R (6.6 seconds). Later on, Mugen increased output by another 15 percent and reduced the chassis' weight by 50 kilograms, so that overall performance is expected to be even better than the Type R's.
The car will feature modifications to both the 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol engine and the Honda IMA system in order to boost power and torque. Mugen Euro didn't reveal any output figures, but referred to the fuel consumption, deeming it encouraging.
"We've retained the three driving modes from the standard car and economy ranges from 50+mpg (41.6 mpg US) in 'eco' mode to mid-30 mpg (29 mpg US) when tapping into the supercharged power in a special 'Mugen' mode," said Colin Whittamore from Mugen Euro.
Engine and hybrid system aside, the CR-Z Mugen will also benefit from upgrades to the brakes and suspension, as well as from using lightweight components such as a carbon fiber bonnet and forged alloys to lower the overall mass. As the pictures show, the CR-Z Mugen sports a new body kit with upgraded front and rear bumpers, plus a rear wing and diffuser to improve aerodynamics.
For the time being, the CR-Z Mugen is treated as a pure concept study, but as Honda has shown in the recent past with the 240HP Civic Type R Mugen in 2009, there’s a good chance we may see a limited production run in the very near future.

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