Automotive World

The brand new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel unit joins Honda's revised 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel, which delivers 150HP. The smaller unit is rated at 118HP (120PS) at 4,000 rpm and has a peak torque of 300Nm (221.3 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm.

The pure electric roadster model is very compact in size measuring just 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.). That makes it slightly bigger than the Beat, Honda's mid-engined, two-seat roadster kei car that was produced from 1991 to 1996.

And for those of you wondering, unfortunately, Honda has no plans to offer the car in other markets – at least for the time being.

The production model is named CR-Z iCF and it has been developed in partnership with Mugen's European arm. At the heart of the car lies a modified version of the CR-Z's 1.5-liter hybrid powertrain that gains a supercharger, a new induction system and a reprogrammed ECU.

The new CR-V, which we first saw at the Los Angeles Auto Show earlier this month, will be offered in Japan in two flavors, the 20G and the 24G.

Nevertheless, Honda’s U.S. sales boss John Mendel issued a memo to the brand’s dealers on November 22, in which he instructs them to move “full speed ahead” in terms of sales. Mendel’s memo pointed out that “our product availability is good, our arrivals are good and we will continue to have media presence throughout the month of December.”

Last weekend, German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reported that McLaren was in talks with Honda to rekindle their 1988-1992 collaboration, which yielded four constructor championships, from 2014 onwards, when the rules mandate the change to 1.6-liter turbocharged engines.

Today, we found two first test drive videos of the 2012 Honda CR-V from Motor Trend magazine and Consumer Reports, both of which, more or less state the same: that the crossover model has been refined in an evolutionary manner building on the qualities of its predecessor.

You can watch both tests along with Honda's first web-commercial on the new CR-V right after the break.

More than an evolution of the outgoing model than a revolution of the crossover theme, the new CR-V has been softly redesigned inside and out while it also sports a slightly more powerful and frugal version of Honda's 2.4-liter i-VTEC that produces 185-ponies and returns up to 31mpg (highway, FWD).

In this post, we bring you a new batch of photos from the L.A. Auto Show floors as well as three new official videos including the first driving footage and on a much less interesting note, a clip that shows several "Mommy Bloggers" and one "Daddy Blogger" talking about their experience driving Honda's new SUV – we know; you can't hide your excitement…

Honda said that the Fit EV's MSRP is $36,625 with an estimated lease priced at $399 a month. It will initially be offered for lease to customers in select California and Oregon markets next summer, followed by six East Coast markets in early 2013.

Honda had prepared us for the new CR-V's evolutionary looks through a thinly disguised concept model that was displayed at the Orange County International Auto Show in California in late September.

The transition from concept to production reality didn't bring many changes other than a less aggressive choice of wheels, a matte instead of a glossy finish for the plastic cladding on the body, and clear graphics on the headlamps and tail lamps.

The new 2012 CR-V looks sleeker than its predecessor and has a more aggressive stance thanks in part to the new roofline and the Volvo-esque rear end design.

At 178.5-in. long, 71.6-in. wide and 65.1-in. tall with a 103.1-in. wheelbase, the new model retains the same width and wheelbase measurements with the previous CR-V, but is 0.8-in. shorter in overall length and 1-in. in height.

Apparently, Honda managed to overcome the problem as the Japanese carmaker announced on Monday that mass production of its new crossover model in the States would begin on Tuesday, November 29 at the firm's East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.

Take a close look and you may discover some similarities in certain key design elements (note: not the shape of the car but the details) between the Honda concept car and BMW's i3 and i8 studies such as the multi-layered surfaces and the light-blue accent hues.

Then again, that's just us. You can look at the pictures after the break and decide for yourself if we're right or not.

Unlike Honda's Small EV Sports Car, which we only get to see through a handful of sketches for the time being, the Japanese automaker released plenty of real-life photos of the AC-X.

But once again, Honda has released very few details about the concept. Here's what the press blurb says: "A next generation plug-in hybrid vehicle offering a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience in urban and long-distance motoring. With the choices of an “engine drive mode” for more spirited driving or an “automatic drive mode” for more relaxed driving."

Honda dropped the first official sketches of the provisionally named Small Sports EV Concept before it makes its debut in person and in the flesh at the Tokyo Motor Show floors on November 30.

IHS Automotive analyst Tracy Handler said: “Both Toyota and Honda won’t be able to expand production as planned until the first quarter of 2012. They’ve been really unlucky this year.”

So how does it work? The all-new Honda HS1336i hybrid combines a gasoline engine that simultaneously drives the machine's fan apparatus for clearing and throwing the snow and charges the battery, with a pair of electric motors that control the treads upon which it moves.

For the 2012MY, Honda has made some mild changes to its unibody pickup truck that include visual tweaks, the introduction of a new Sport model and improved highway fuel economy.

"We are closely watching the supply chain situation," John Kingston, Honda Europe manager for corporate affairs told Autonews Europe during the press launch of the hatchback in Malaga, Spain. "Right now we fear the new Civic introduction will be delayed by three to four weeks."

For 2011, the motorshow organizers are asking six automotive design studios from around the world, including Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach to come up with Hollywood’s next hottest movie car.

Honda claims that its new Civic hatchback is a great leap forward not only for the company but for the European C-segment as well, something that is echoed in the latest statements from the car's project leader, Mitsuru Karita.