Honda Blog
GM teaming up with NASA to build robots. Suck it, Asimo [w/video]Filed under: Etc., Technology, GM, Honda, Toyota 
Robonaut 2 by GM and NASA - Click above for high-res image gallery
Phase three of the robot invasion has begun. Not content to let Honda and Toyota have all the fun, General Motors has gotten into the robot game as well. Working with NASA - all of these planetary takeovers involve space invaders after all - The General has developed "the next generation of robots and related technologies for use in the automotive and aerospace industries." Dubbed Robonaut 2, or R2 (-D2?), this second-generation automaton is a "faster, more dexterous and more technologically advanced robot. This new generation robot can use its hands to do work beyond the scope of prior humanoid machines." Throttling humanoids eerily fits into that description.
GM's interest in the R2 unit is safer plants. "The partnership's vision is to explore advanced robots working together in harmony with people, building better, higher quality vehicles in a safer, more competitive manufacturing environment," according to Alan Taub, GM's vice president for global research and development. They've obviously gotten to him already. All hope is lost. Resistance is futile. Assimilate.
Seriously though, GM's Robonaut 2 differs slightly from Honda's Asimo and the Toyota elderly-helping robot in that it seems to be intended for private use rather than retail sales. We're not sure if it can play a trumpet or not, but follow the jump for a video of your how your new master works.
[Source: General Motors]Continue reading GM teaming up with NASA to build robots. Suck it, Asimo [w/video] GM teaming up with NASA to build robots. Suck it, Asimo [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsHonda: Insight "too small" and likely to miss sales targets, Fit Hybrid a 'struggle'Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda 
2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery
Honda Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo doesn't seem to think that the automaker will hit its worldwide sales goal of 200,000 Insight hybrids in its first year on the market. Why? In an interview with Bloomberg, Kondo is quoted as saying "I think we compromised too much on size in pursuing fuel efficiency" for the U.S. market, he said.
In total, Honda sold 130,445 units of its Insight worldwide in 2009. The car was first introduced in Japan in February and then in the U.S. in March. In the States, the car's second-largest market, Honda sold just 20,572 units in 2009 - a far cry from the 90,000 it hoped to sell here in the first year.
Further, in reference to the long-expected Honda Fit Hybrid, Kondo said:
There are plenty of people who think that the current Fit meets their needs already [when it comes to fuel efficiency]... a hybrid version might seem expensive. Our engineers are really struggling.
It remains to be seen whether the upcoming CR-Z can bolster Honda's sketchy hybrid positioning.
[Source: Bloomberg]Honda: Insight "too small" and likely to miss sales targets, Fit Hybrid a 'struggle' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsHonda recalls 646k Fits around the worldFiled under: Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Honda 
2009 Honda Fit - Click above for high-res image gallery
It certainly pales in comparison to some other recent recall notices we've seen lately, but Honda has announced that it will recall 646,000 Fit hatchbacks (also known as the Jazz or the City, depending on the market) to fix a defective master switch.
The recall includes 140,000 vehicles in the United States and also includes models sold in South America, Europe, South Africa and Asia. No cars sold in Japan are subject to this recall.
Apparently, water can enter into the power window switch mechanism, which in certain instances could cause a fire. So far, three such conflagrations have been reported, one in South Africa and two right here in the United States.
[Source: Reuters]Honda recalls 646k Fits around the world originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsHonda bringing Odyssey minivan concept to Chicago Auto ShowFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Tokyo Motor Show, Honda 
2009 Honda SkyDeck Concept - click above for high-res image gallery
With apologies to Get Shorty and the 1995 Oldsmobile Sillhouette, the Honda Odyssey may well be the Cadillac of minivans. Honda's big, luxurious people hauler has been the hottest-selling minivan in the U.S. over the past two years, besting Chrysler and Toyota for the minivan sales title. With the success of the Odyssey over the past couple of years, it's almost hard to believe that Honda is already looking forward to a redesign, but the present model has been on the market since 2005 with only nominal tweaking, and there's a bold new Sienna to contend with from its crosstown rivals, too.
To that end, Honda has announced that they will unveil a new concept version of the Honda Odyssey at next month's Chicago Auto Show, showing what the engineering-focused company's fourth-generation minivan will look like. Honda promises that the next Odyssey "will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency."
We may have already seen the first indication of what the next Odyssey will look like in the SkyDeck concept (above) from the Tokyo Motor Show last October. The six-seat MPV was all pimped out with a pie-in-the-sky interior, Lamborghini-style front doors and what is fast becoming standard-issue for concept vehicles, a hybrid drivetrain. Strip down the concept-ness and we're thinking the SkyDeck would make a very attractive Odyssey. However, we expect the Chicago showcar to significantly more toned-down than the JDM concept, and it will likely be a 'concept' in name only. Hit the jump to read Honda's very brief press release.
[Source: Honda]Continue reading Honda bringing Odyssey minivan concept to Chicago Auto Show Honda bringing Odyssey minivan concept to Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsHighest and lowest depreciating cars of 2009 in the UKFiled under: Car Buying, Budget, Honda, Maybach, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, UK, Luxury 
Car price guide Parker's has produced its latest depreciation lists for cars in the UK. It's probably of most use if you're shopping at the lower-priced end of the car spectrum, since a straight-up comparison would be pointless. Seven of the 10 cars with the least depreciation are Japanese, headed by the Honda Jazz, and all of them are small. Five of the 10 cars with the greatest depreciation, headed by the Maybach 57S, are English, and none of them are cheap.
Parker's doesn't break the list down into model trims, but the least expensive Honda Jazz on Honda's UK site goes for £11,058 on-the-road (OTR). With 10,000 miles on the odo it will lose £1,379 in value a year later, or 12.5 percent of its value. A Maybach 57S goes for £297,945 OTR, and Parker's says it drops by £127,526 a year later after 10K miles, or 43 percent. If, however, you've spent £400,000 on a car after adding special features, you probably have better things to think about than your fleet's depreciation.
At the other end of the least depreciating vehicles is the Mitsubishi i, which loses £2,271 after a year, a slightly whopping 25 percent. That is almost as bad as the Ferrari F430, which does the 'best' on the most depreciating list, losing 'just' £37,188, or 27 percent. Back to that Maybach 57S for a moment, though: a dealer in Surrey has a used one for sale, with 10,000 miles, for £249,990. Perhaps he doesn't read Parker's?
[Source: Parker's via Gizmag]Highest and lowest depreciating cars of 2009 in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: Honda engineer talks CR-Z, says Lotus Elise was an influenceFiled under: Hybrid, Videos, Hatchback, Honda 
Take a look at the specs and it's easy to dismiss the 2011 Honda CR-Z out of hand. Despite its hybrid drivetrain, the 1.5-liter four coupled with its electric motor churns out a lackluster 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque and only nets a combined 37 mpg. That's far from enough to set enthusiasts hearts aflutter or goad hypermilers out of their Prius and into what's essentially Insight 2.0 (ignoring Honda's four-door Toyota-fighter for the moment).
The only (cold) consolation for enthusiasts desperate for a CRX redux is a six-speed manual taking the place of the optional CVT. And we've yet to get an official curb weight for the NA-spec model. So...
What was Honda's mindset when it created the CR-Z? If you can believe the marketing frippery in the video after the jump, it's all about "fun-to-drive." According to Terukazu Torikai, the chief engineer for chassis dynamics on the CR-Z, Honda benchmarked several vehicles during the development of its new hatch, and not only was Mini mentioned a few times, Honda drove everything from the Volkswagen Scirocco to the Lotus Elise. Torikai goes on to say that "the performance of the Elise kept on inspiring us throughout the whole development process." That bodes well from both a handling and steering perspective, but we remain lukewarm on the prospects until we finally get a stint behind the wheel.
Continue reading Video: Honda engineer talks CR-Z, says Lotus Elise was an influence Video: Honda engineer talks CR-Z, says Lotus Elise was an influence originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOfficially Official: Honda releases photos and specs on HSV-010Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Racing
Honda HSV-010 - Click above for high-res image gallery
After a single teaser, a slew of spy shots and a handful of videos, Honda has finally released all the official details on its new GT500-bound HSV-010 racecar. Based on the discontinued NSX successor, five HSV-010s will hit the track at the SuperGT season opener this May, with 10 drivers, including Ralph Firman and Yuji Ide. While the road car was believed to have been powered by a new V10, the HSV-010 uses a 3.4-liter V8. The engine is likely a derivative of the powerplant used in the Acura ARX-01 LMP2 car in the American Le Mans Series over the last three years. With 496 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque propelling its 2,425 pound mass, Honda's new team of GT500 racers has the chance to take the Japanese series by storm. Make the jump for the official specs. [Source: Honda] Continue reading Officially Official: Honda releases photos and specs on HSV-010 Officially Official: Honda releases photos and specs on HSV-010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsPolk announces 2009 Loyalty Award winners, Toyota bumps GMFiled under: Car Buying, Etc., Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Land Rover, Lexus, Mini, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota  Key to the survival of any business are repeat customers, and automobiles are no different. The data miners at R.L. Polk & Company have announced the winners of their 2009 Automotive Loyalty Award after wading into facts and figures tracking customer loyalty to automotive nameplates. This is the 14th year Polk has presented the awards, and three new categories noting loyalty among specific ethnic groups were added this year.
Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer went to Toyota, unseating General Motors from its nine-year run. Toyota cleaned up two more categories - Mid/Full-Size Car for the Toyota Prius and Mid/Full-Size SUV for the Lexus RX - and also secured one of the new ethnic category awards, taking home the honors for Asian-American brand loyalty.
Honda took awards for Overall Loyalty to Make as well as picking up the new African-American and Hispanic loyalty awards. Most Improved Loyalty went to Audi for its 4.9 percent bump in customer retention. Ford's F-Series pickup and Mustang ponycar won their respective categories, while the Subaru Forester, Range Rover, and Chrysler Town & Country repeated wins in their segments. The BMW 3 Series, Mini Cooper, and Porsche 911 also took home hardware. More details are given in the press release posted after the jump.
[Source: R.L. Polk & Co.]Continue reading Polk announces 2009 Loyalty Award winners, Toyota bumps GM Polk announces 2009 Loyalty Award winners, Toyota bumps GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsAutoblog Podcast #161 - Detroit Auto Show recapFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Podcasts, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, GMC, Honda, Lincoln, Toyota, Volkswagen 
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
It's a North American International Auto Show recap for Episode #161 of the Autoblog Podcast. Chris, Sam and Dan mull the top five of the show before speaking more in depth about some unveilings. The new Chevrolet Aveo gets us started before we move on to another sharply styled General Motors concept, the GMC Granite. We touch briefly on the Honda CR-Z, and then Toyota's FT-CH comes up next before we call it a night with the Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept.
We'll be back again next week with more Autoblog Podcast goodness. Until then, fill in with Joystiq and Engadget. Let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #161 - Detroit Auto Show recap Autoblog Podcast #161 - Detroit Auto Show recap originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto salesFiled under: Car Buying, Japan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, South Korea
While it may come as no surprise that Asian car companies are constantly gaining market share in the U.S. market, the actual numbers are quite amazing. Ten years ago, companies like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and the rest accounted for a little more than one-quarter of total light-vehicle sales in the States. By 2005, that figure stood at 36.6 percent. By 2007? 41.9 percent. In 2009, Asian automakers sold a full 47.9 percent of the cars and light trucks we Americans bought.
These numbers come from the latest report by Ward's Auto. Perhaps predictably, that same dispatch tells us that American automakers were hurt the most by those Asian gains. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler were once part of an American auto industry that accounted for nearly 70 percent of sales in 1999. The Detroit Three had just a 44.8 percent market share a decade later. The European automakers have also gained a bit in the U.S. over the past decade. Still, they only account for 7.3 percent of the market right now.
If the Japanese and Korean manufacturers post gains for 2010 that are similar to the 2009 increases, they will pass the 50 percent mark for the first time in history. Individually, companies like Toyota have fared the best, nearly doubling their slice of the American pie, going from 8.7 to 17 percent since 1999. While Ford shared the biggest gain last year compared to 2008, they were also one of the decade's biggest losers, dropping 8.3 percent. Maybe last year's gain is a sign of recovery for the domestic automakers, but the troubles at GM and Chrysler don't bode well for the group. Check out the full breakdown by clicking the Ward's source link below.
[Source: Ward's Automotive]Report: Asian automakers closing in on 50% share of U.S. auto sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsHonda to show Insight Sports Modulo Concept, more at Tokyo Auto SalonFiled under: Aftermarket, Honda, Tokyo Auto Salon 
Honda Insight Sports Modulo Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
For the aftermarket scene, SEMA isn't the only show in town. Well, in that particular town - Las Vegas, that is - maybe, but not in the world. Europe's got Essen, and Japan's got the Tokyo Auto Salon. With the latter fast approaching, Honda has revealed what they've got up their sleeves for this year.
First is the Insight Sports Modulo Concept you see above. Based on the Insight hybrid, the concept demonstrates what Honda's Modulo customization range can do for the company's Toyota Prius rival. And if the idea of tricking out a hybrid seems strange to you, remember that this is the automaker that just gave us the CR-Z.
Alongside the Insight show car, Honda Access Corporation (the accessorizing division of the motor company) will also showcase tricked-out versions of its Freed minivan and Life kei car, and a handful of other customized vehicles Honda offers in the Japanese Domestic Market. Considering how popular Hondas are with the tuner crowd, that should come as no great surprise, but you can read about them in the press release after the jump and view them in the high-res image gallery below.
[Source: Honda]Continue reading Honda to show Insight Sports Modulo Concept, more at Tokyo Auto Salon Honda to show Insight Sports Modulo Concept, more at Tokyo Auto Salon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsHonda recalls 2006-2007 Ridgeline because your passenger might have a dangerous kick?Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Honda 
Honda is recalling up to 7,600 Ridgeline pickups from the 2006 and 2007 model years over possible HVAC issues. According to Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a harness connector above the passenger-side footwell is susceptible to being kicked by exuberant passengers. The blows can cause the connector terminal to overheat, which in turn can cause all sorts of other issues, like a short-circuit and/or fire.
If you own one of these unibody pickups, your local Honda dealer will remedy the issue free of charge by inspecting the wiring, replacing it if necessary, and fitting a protective cover to deflect the possibility of future passenger kicks. More info on the recall in the notice after the jump.
[Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]Continue reading Honda recalls 2006-2007 Ridgeline because your passenger might have a dangerous kick? Honda recalls 2006-2007 Ridgeline because your passenger might have a dangerous kick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsDetroit 2010: Honda CR-Z promises to bring driving joy to the hybrid equationFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda 
2011 Honda CR-Z - Click above for high-res image gallery
After a few weeks worth of leaked images and brochure fluff, Honda has finally pulled the covers off its next new production hybrid hatchback. The Japanese automaker claims the CR-Z will bring back the kind of driving joy that hasn't been felt since the CRX last left dealer lots in 1991, saying that owners will embrace this new mild hybrid with both their hearts and minds. We certainly hope they're right.
While we're really digging the looks of the CR-Z and the way it hearkens back to the classic CRX and even the original Insight hybrid, we've gotta admit that we're a tad bit disappointed with the specifications. With 122 horsepower on tap and just 128 lb-ft of torque from the 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder with Integrated Motor Assist, shouldn't we expect more than 36 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway from the CR-Z?
Let's just hope that the car's driving dynamics live up to the lofty standards to which Honda is eluding - at least there's an optional six-speed manual transmission to go along with the expected CVT automatic. We'll know soon enough know how it goes down the road, as the 2011 CR-Z is slated to hit the ground running in the summer. In the meantime, check out our live images below and click past the break for the press release.
Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Follow our coverage of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show live all day on Twitter at http://twitter.com/therealautoblogContinue reading Detroit 2010: Honda CR-Z promises to bring driving joy to the hybrid equation Detroit 2010: Honda CR-Z promises to bring driving joy to the hybrid equation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsTop 20 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2009Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Etc., Crossover, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota 
Mouse over the clock in the lower right-hand corner of your PC. Alternatively, if you're a Mac user, look at the little iCal widget down at the bottom of your screen. Whoa, look at that! It's 2010. January 6th, to be exact. And that means the final sales tallies of all automakers for the year-that-was are in. As you may have noticed yesterday, none but Subaru, Kia and Hyundai are likely to be entirely pleased with their YTD performances, falling as they did compared to sales in 2008.
Wouldn't you know, though, that not one of those three upwardly trending automakers earned a single spot on the Top 10 Best Selling Vehicles chart? To see a Korean automobile on the list, you need to expand the search to the Top 17. This fact reminds us yet again that by and large the American population tends to be a rather predictable bunch.
Think you can guess what the best-selling vehicle of 2009 was? We won't lie... you probably can. In fact, it's been the same vehicle for the past 28 years straight. Want to know what it is? Find out, along with the rest of the Top 20, after the jump.
[Source: Examiner.com]Continue reading Top 20 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2009 Top 20 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsAuto Expo 2010: Honda New Small Concept unveiled at New Delhi showFiled under: Concept Cars, Budget, Hatchback, Honda, Misc. Auto Shows, India 
Honda New Small Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
India's Auto Expo 2010 kicked off this week and the first major concept to come out of New Delhi is this: the Honda New Small Concept.
Befitting its name, the New Small Concept is both compact and rather bland - particularly when compared to Honda's recent stylistic endeavors - but the five-door hatch is sure to find budget-minded buyers when it arrives in both India and Thailand in 2011.
Unfortunately, details on the proposed powertrain and interior are all but nonexistent, with Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. (Honda's Indian arm) simply stating that the HSC can fit five people and benefits from an "Efficient Energetic Exterior." For an inexpensive runabout, the HSC has potential to be a hit in emerging markets, but don't expect it to hit U.S. or European shores anytime soon. Make a break for the brief press release after the jump.
UPDATE: Live pics added to the gallery below thanks to Indianautosblog.com.
UPDATE 2: Reports indicate (Automotive News - Sub. Req.) that Honda will sell the compact hatch for around 500,000 rupees (a little over $10,000) and power will be provided by a range of engines, maxing out at 1.2-liters.
Continue reading Auto Expo 2010: Honda New Small Concept unveiled at New Delhi show Auto Expo 2010: Honda New Small Concept unveiled at New Delhi show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsMean Green: Tommy Kaira slams Toyota Prius and Honda InsightFiled under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda, Toyota, Design/Style 
Tommy Kaira Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Hybrids aren't exactly known for being the sportiest vehicles on the road, but that doesn't mean their owners don't want to look as good as possible behind the wheel. As such, perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising that Japanese tuning companies are jumping on the gas-electric bandwagon almost as quickly as the automakers themselves.
Chief among those hybrid tuners is Tommy Kaira, which has released a slew of new bodykit bits, suspension upgrades and wheel options for both the 2010 Toyota Prius (which we saw teasers of previously) and Honda Insight. We'll leave it up to you to decide if the add-ons add up to an improvement in the wedge-shaped hybrid hatchbacks. In any case, click here to see the whole kit and caboodle for the Prius and here for the Insight.
[Source: Tommy Kaira]Mean Green: Tommy Kaira slams Toyota Prius and Honda Insight originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsYes, There's More: 2011 Honda CR-Z video captures leak outFiled under: Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Honda 
2011 Honda CR-Z video stills - Click above for image gallery
As the 2011 Honda CR-Z gets prepares its assault on your heart and pocketbook, it is showing its face in more and more places.
This time, the 126-combined-horsepower hybrid eco-runner has been spotted in a video, from which a number of stills have been taken. While there aren't any additional specs to come with it, you can at least see what you'll look like driving down the road while you get somewhere above 50 miles per gallon. We note that while we still look forward to its tidy packaging and (hopefully) nimble dynamics, the front-end looks rather unfortunate with a U.S.-sized number plate.
The car is expected to bow for the first time in Japan sometime next month, but we hear it could show up earlier at the Detroit Auto Show. In the meantime, find all the images below in the gallery.
[Source: Gazoo via Carscoop]Yes, There's More: 2011 Honda CR-Z video captures leak out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVIDEO: More Honda HSV-010 track action from SuzukaFiled under: Motorsports, Japan, Acura, Honda, Racing 
Honda HSV-010 testing at Suzuka - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you didn't get enough of last night's video and image onslaught of the Honda HSV-010 testing at Suzuka, we've got 20 more minutes of high-revving, carbon fiber cloaked SuperGT hotness below the fold.
Although Honda hasn't released any more details on its new GT500-bound racer, last week's open testing session had its fair share of lens-wielding onlookers, so we've included two more videos and a handful of high-res images to the gallery below. Make the jump to get another earful of the awesome 3.4-liter V8 shrieking down the straights and exploding out of the corners, but save your pleas to Honda to bring the HSV as the next NSX... it's ain't happening.
Continue reading VIDEO: More Honda HSV-010 track action from Suzuka VIDEO: More Honda HSV-010 track action from Suzuka originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsPickupTrucks.com calls out decade's 10 most significant trucksFiled under: Truck, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota 
2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery
We love ourselves a good top 10 list, and when talk turns from cars to trucks, there's nobody who's opinion we respect more than the brain-trust behind PickupTrucks.com. That said, we now present the Top 10 Significant Pickup Trucks of the Decade as chosen by the aforementioned truck nuts (no, not that kind) and AutoPacific.com.
Every major automaker that sells pickup trucks here in the United States is represented on this particular list, which only seems fitting in today's competitive landscape. Further, there's a truck for just about every need - no matter what size, towing power, seating capability or fuel mileage you are looking for, you'll find it offered here in the States... except perhaps for something really small.
Though it just hit the market at the very tail end of the allowable date range, we'll happily throw a vote in the direction of the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. It's truly unlike anything else ever offered for sale from a major automaker, and we're happy Ford had the guts to build it. That said, click here to read the complete list, then come back and let us know what you think.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]PickupTrucks.com calls out decade's 10 most significant trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsCharting the Top 10 Best-Selling Cars and Trucks of 2009Filed under: Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Toyota 
Top 10 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2009 - Click above to view the list
The most tumultuous year in the history of the auto industry draws to a close this week with two-of-three U.S.-based automakers having gone through bankruptcy, all all three have been battered by a down market. Through the first half of the year, annualized sales hovered at around the 9 million level, the lowest in more than two decades. That's a tough threshold for any company to make money at, and almost no one did - including the mighty Toyota.
Heading into the second half of the year, the prospect of a government funded "Cash for Clunkers" program helped spur auto sales, although the benefits were certainly not spread evenly among all segments. The final numbers for the year are expected to hit somewhere in the 10.5-million region, but the 16 million sales mark of just a few years ago isn't likely to return for several more years, if ever.
The top 10 best-selling vehicles for 2009 contain mostly familiar nameplates, although a few positions have been juggled. Click here for the full list.Charting the Top 10 Best-Selling Cars and Trucks of 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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