Entries from September 2009 ↓

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced its lineup of production and concept-model automobiles, motorcycles, power products and other highlights for its display at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009. Organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the event will take place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, from October 24 to November 4.

Covering the largest floor area of any single brand at the show, Honda booth combines automobiles, motorcycles, power products and other highlights to present the distinctive world of Honda mobility. Driven by dreams and passion, and with the booth concept of “Creating the never before!” Honda strived to propose attractive products that please and amaze its customers.

Honda’s automobile exhibit will present a variety of environmentally responsible approaches to mobility, including hybrid vehicles, a fuel cell electric vehicle and a battery electric vehicle. The display will also highlight models with innovative packaging and enhanced driving performance that communicate the enjoyment an automobile can provide.

With the motorcycle display, Honda proposes products which are filled with creativity and dreams and create new value to further broaden the potential of motorcycles.The motorcycles on display range from large-displacement sports bikes that offer new riding pleasure to compact commuter models powered by electricity.

Also on display are butane gas canister-powered power products, as well as a new personal mobility device which was developed based on the concept of “harmony with people.”

The special display zone named “HELLO!” (Honda Electric mobility Loop) will feature a comprehensive display of electricity-based products, including products that supply electricity, vehicles that run on electricity and products with innovative electronic technologies.

♦ Outline of the exhibition at the Honda booth

The HELLO! (Honda Electric mobility Loop) Zone will provide a comprehensive display of Honda’s electromotive technologies, including automobiles, motorcycles, power products, and more-everything from products that supply electricity to products that incorporate electronic technologies. By linking solar panels that supply electricity with battery electric vehicles that emit zero CO2 in use, Honda envisions the low-carbon society of the near future. In addition, each HELLO! vehicle features interactive communication technologies that showcase the fun ways in which mobility devices can interact with people and society. On display will be the FCX CLARITY, a fuel cell electric vehicle that runs on the electricity it produces from hydrogen; the EV-N battery electric vehicle; the EV-Cub electric motorcycle; the EV-MONPAL electric personal mobility device; the new U3-X, a one-wheel personal mobility device that uses balance control technology that was developed through the ASIMO bipedal humanoid robot; and LOOP, a portable communication tool that allows people and mobility devices to communicate with each other.

The automobile display will focus on hybrid vehicles, which Honda believes offer one of the most practical means of addressing environmental concerns at the present time. Joining the Insight, which has been very well received since its release in Japan in February 2009, will be the CR-Z Concept 2009, a hybrid with a new sense and feel, making its world premiere.Underhood will be a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated up to Honda’s proprietary Integrated Motor Assist technology. Also on the menu will be a six-speed manual gearbox that will surely be a more entertaining partner for driving enthusiasts than the CVT automatic transmission used in the Insight hatchback.

While Honda is still calling the Tokyo-bound CR-Z a concept, don’t expect the attractive sheetmetal to be altered before the car hits the showroom floor. That’s fine by us – the car’s wedge-shaped lines are very attractive and call to mind the seminal CRX from the early 1980s, though with a modern flavor reminiscent of the current Insight. See for yourself in our gallery below.

, and the SKYDECK, an innovative six-passenger, multi-purpose hybrid vehicle. Other models on display are the all-new STEP WGN and STEP WGN SPADA (both scheduled for introduction in Japan in October 2009), which feature innovative packaging to expand the joy of using automobiles, and the all-new CIVIC TYPE R EURO (scheduled for introduction in Japan in November 2009), which captures the joy of driving, discovered and refined on European roads.

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Nissan North America’s top official says the company’s new electric vehicle doesn’t have a range problem. Carlos Tavaresdefended Franklin-based Nissan’s focus on fully electric cars to business leaders Tuesday morning.

Tavares says more than 90% of U.S. drivers commute less than 100 miles a day and three in four households have more than one car. Nissan’s executive vice president for the Americas says 60% of homes also have a garage or carport for overnight charging.

“We think all of that shows that LEAF, with its 100 mile range, will be an ideal commuter car for a majority of Americans.”

Nissan has stayed out of the gas/electric hybrid market, for the most part. Tavares says that’s because the future of cars is in no-emission vehicles, not low emissions. To help kick-start electric vehicle sales to a wider market, Tavares asks business owners to install charging stations at their workplaces.

Nissan plans to begin taking orders of its upcoming Leaf electric vehicle. By the time the first car is ready to be delivered to a paying customer in the fall, the Japanese automaker expects to have taken some 20,000 initial reservations – well over the 5,000 Leafs Nissan has committed to lease in 2010. In other words, if you really want one, you may want to consider getting your order in early.

The LEAF launches in select markets, including Nashville, December of next year. Nissan will produce the electric vehicles and their batteries in Japan at first, then expand production to Smyrna in 2012. Construction at Nissan’s Smyrna plant is expected to start in January.

Toyota Motor Corp., the largest automaker in China, will develop a mini family car targeted at China, one of the biggest auto markets worldwide, said sources.

Compared with various models that Toyota Motor is selling in China, the new car will be fixed at a low price range. The automaker expects the car to attract customers that are seeking their first cars and drive up its sales in the inland areas of the country.

The new car is predicted to have displacement of 1.2 liters and hold about four persons. The automaker is scheduled to start to produce the car before 2015.

Toyota Motor will make a thorough survey to the need of customers with the help of its outlets in China, so as to decide the shape, configuration, and the price of the new product.

For the moment, the Japanese auto titan has about 500 franchise stores in the country. It will greatly lift the number of outlets in inland areas as well as small and medium cities.

Honda Develops New Personal Mobility Device With the Goal of Co-existing in Harmony with People — World’s first drive system that enables movement in all directions –

TOKYO, Japan, September 24, 2009 – Pursuing the concept of “harmony with people” Honda has developed a new personal mobility technology and unveiled U3-X, a compact experimental device that fits comfortably between the rider’s legs, to provide free movement in all directions just as in human walking – forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. Honda will continue research and development of the device including experiments in a real-world environment to verify the practicality of the device.

This new personal mobility device makes it possible to adjust speed and move, turn and stop in all directions when the rider leans the upper body to shift body weight. This was achieved through application of advanced technologies including Honda’s balance control technology, which was developed through the robotics research of ASIMO, Honda’s bipedal humanoid robot, and the world’s first* omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System, or HOT Drive System), which enables movement in all directions, including not only forward and backward, but also directly to the right and left and diagonally. In addition, this compact size and one-wheel-drive personal mobility device was designed to be friendly to the user and people around it by making it easier for the rider to reach the ground from the footrest and placing the rider on roughly the same eye level as other people or pedestrians.

Honda is planning to showcase the U3-X at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 (sponsored by JAMA) which will begin on October 24, 2009 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Striving to propose the next-generation mobility which expands the joy and fun of mobility, Honda has been conducting robotics research since 1986, including ASIMO, walking assist devices and U3-X, at the Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Fundamental Technology Research Center in Wako, Saitama, Japan.

* Based on Honda’s internal research

Key features of U3-X

1. Device control featuring application of balance control technology cultivated through ASIMO research:
The incline sensor detects the incline of the device based on the weight shift of the rider and determines the rider’s intention in terms of the direction and speed. Based on the data, precise control is applied to return the device to an upright position, which achieves smooth and agile movements and simple operation by weight shift only.

2. HOT Drive System (Omni-directional driving wheel system):
Honda developed the world’s first wheel structure which enables movement in all directions including forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally. Multiple small-diameter motor-controlled wheels were connected in-line to form one large-diameter wheel. By moving the large-diameter wheel, the device moves forward and backward, and by moving small-diameter wheels, the device moves side-to-side. By combining these movements the device moves diagonally.

3. Compact and innovative package:
The combination of the balance control technology and the HOT Drive System enabled the one-wheel style compact and innovative package of the device. In addition, the device adopts a light-weight monocoque body in which the foldable seat, footrests and body cover that also function as the frame are stored in the body of the device, achieving highly portable convenience.

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* Ford Motor Company President and CEO Alan Mulally today revealed the much-anticipated new car to be produced in India. Called the new Ford Figo, the car was unveiled at a press event in Delhi as a major addition to the Ford India brand portfolio.
* Mulally’s visit underscores the strategic importance of India in Ford’s future plans. He stated the new Ford Figo is designed and engineered to compete in the heart of the domestic India car market.
* The new Ford Figo will be manufactured at Ford’s expanded integrated manufacturing facility near Chennai, which is undergoing a $500 million transformation to become a regional centre of excellence for Ford small car production.
* The importance of Ford Figo extends beyond India’s borders. Ford’s investment in its Chennai plant gears it for eco-friendly volume production and positions Ford India to become a major export producer.

DELHI, India, Sept. 23, 2009 – India’s role as an important player in the future of Ford Motor Company’s international strategy was underscored today when the company’s President and CEO, Alan Mulally, unveiled an all-new car targeting the heart of the Indian car market – the new Ford Figo.

Small cars – with an engine capacity of 0.8 liters to 1.6 liters – comprised 73% of the 1.22 million cars sold in India in the year ended March 31. With annual sales forecast to grow to 3.0 million units by 2016, global automakers are moving to introduce small cars to the country.

General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Co. already sell small cars in India or plan to do so from next year.

Suzuki Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. currently dominate India’s car market because they sell several small car models.

Automakers are also using India as a global hub for small cars to utilize India’s low-cost manufacturing capabilities. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the nation’s biggest carmaker by sales, exports the A-Star and Alto to several countries, while Hyundai produces the i20 hatchback solely in India for export worldwide.

The Ford Figo, a new nameplate and a fresh face on the Indian market, signals Ford’s intention to compete in India’s largest and most important small car market segment.

Ford Figo is the result of a significant Ford investment commitment to expand its plant near Chennai for volume production as a small-car centre of excellence regionally. Ford’s $500 million investment has doubled the plant’s production capacity to 200,000 units per year and introduces major advances in high-quality automation and innovative, eco-friendly production techniques.

“Our exciting new Ford Figo shows how serious we are about India,” Mulally said. “It reflects our commitment to compete with great products in all segments of this car market. We are confident the Ford Figo will be a product that Indian consumers really want and value.”

Ford Figo is designed and engineered to compete in India’s small car segment, which accounts for more than 70 percent of the new vehicle market. It leverages Ford’s small-car platform architecture, sharing underlying technology with the Ford Fiesta, already familiar to Indian drivers.

New Shape, Solid Foundation
Today’s press conference in Delhi was the first public preview of the exterior design of the new Ford Figo. Ford is reserving further details about the vehicle until closer to its production launch early in 2010.

Design-conscious Italy inspired the new Ford Figo’s name. Figo is colloquial Italian for “cool.”

Sharing key elements of Ford’s kinetic design language with vehicles like the globally renowned Ford Focus, Ford Mondeo and the Ford Fiesta, Ford Figo features a fresh, contemporary shape that will be a distinctive alternative to traditional brands in this segment. The design language conveys a dynamic spirit of energy in motion.

Quality, substance and generous proportions are clearly evident in the design of the new Ford Figo, which features a solid stance, an invitingly large interior and a vibrant, youthful character. Its package is right-sized for the market, which is predominated by congested urban driving conditions.

From its modern headlamps, grille shapes and sculpted bonnet of its distinctive face to the subtle integrated spoiler and chamfered window shape at the rear, Ford Figo is filled with kinetic design touches. These also include sculpted shapes to the body side – chiseled front fenders, a “comet tail” undercut in the doors and additional light-catching sculpting in the lower bodyside – which combine to communicate the solidity, substance and protective safety of its design.

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- Hyundai’s sixth-generation Sonata encompasses new `fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy

- Features 2.0 Theta II MPi engine, 6-speed automatic transmission

(Note: All specifications and details in this release are based on the Korean domestic model)

(Seoul, Korea) Hyundai Motor Company’s all-new Sonata, being introduced today, is expected to shake up the world’s mid-size sedan market with its daring design.

The 2010 Sonata adopts Hyundais new “fluidic sculpture” design language, boasts outstanding performance with the segment-leading safety features and fuel efficiency. Incorporating state-of-the-art technologies, the new Sonata will further elevate the Hyundai brand.

“The Sonata will set a new standard for world class mid-size sedans with state-of-the-art technology, superior build quality and emotional design,” Euisun Chung, Hyundai’s Vice Chairman said at the launching ceremony for the car today in Seoul. “The new Sonata will raise Hyundai’s brand values.”

The ceremony, held at a trendy riverside cafe, was attended by more than 200 VIPs, company executives and media members.

Sonata has been the perennial best-seller in Korea since the first generation model was launched in 1985. The sixth-generation Sonata will continue this successful tradition with impeccable quality seen today in other Hyundai premium models, such as the Genesis and EQUUS.

Hyundai began developing the new Sonata in 2005 under the codename YF (Note: The car may be launched under a different name in some regions). The project took 4 years and 450 billion won (US$ 372 million*) to go from concept to customer.

Although it is a completely new vehicle, Hyundai is retaining the Sonata name as the mid-size car has been Korea’s most popular sedan. Applying a new design aesthetic of “fluidic sculpture,” the 2010 Sonata pursues a younger and sensuous image in its interior and exterior profiles. Inspired by nature, the “fluidic sculpture” tries to reflect sophistication and dynamism in the shape of the vehicle and will serve as the core of Hyundai’s future design identity.

The outer design of the new Sonata exudes a voluminous look that creates character through the refined and harmonized lines. The interior has a dynamic look that matches the exterior while not compromising comfort or convenience. The Sonata is available in nine exterior colors, from Remington Red to Blue Black to Espresso, satisfying the diverse tastes of younger customers.

The new Sonata delivers powerful performance through its 2-liter Theta II MPi gasoline engine (Max output 165ps, Max torque of 20.2?·m). Delivering the highest fuel economy in its segment at 12.8 kilometers per liter, fuel economy is more than 11% improved compared with today’s Sonata. Furthermore, all engines are offered with a new six-speed automatic transmission for heightened performance.

To meet the most stringent automotive safety and crash requirements, the Sonata is built with hot-stamped ultra high-strength steel while featuring six standard airbags.

In addition, safety has been upgraded with standard Vehicle Dynamic Control including Hill-start Assist Control and Brake Assist System functions?an industry first in this competitive segment.

The new Sonata comes with a three-piece panoramic sunroof, giving a sense of openness and freedom as well as a stylish look. The Parking Guide System (PGS) allows drivers to avoid obstacles during parallel parking or when driving in reverse. The Dimension premium sound system offers high-quality sound in three types of modes to satisfy customers’ wide-ranging musical tastes.

The Mozen system, a telematics service that debuted in 2003 in Korea, has evolved to become more sophisticated, offering more diverse and upgraded multi-media and IT functions. The newly applied Mozen Premium Wide Navigation system provides drivers with a faster communication service through the third-generation WCDMA wireless network. For two years, it also offers free safety services such as an SOS and anti-theft tracking service. The audio-visual functions have been upgraded with the 8-inch wide screen and JBL Premium Sound system.

In the new Sonata, Hyundai offers a wireless vehicle monitoring service?another industry first– through the Mozen Autocare service, linking the vehicle’s electronic control systems to a monitoring center. The center checks various components for errors, informs the driver of the analysis, and provides directions to nearby service centers, saving time for drivers.

Hyundai revealed it aims to sell 60.000 units of the 2011 Sonata sedan in its home, Korean market by the end of this year, while next year, Hyundai plans to double that number.

Hyundai will continue to produce Sonata at both of its overseas manufacturing plants, located in Alabama, US and China. Production of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata for the US market will begin early next year, while production in China will commence in the beginning of 2011. From that year, combined Korean and overseas production of new Sonata is expected to reach 450.000 units annually!

Pricing for the US-market Sonata will be revealed closer to its official US debut, scheduled for NAIAS 2010. In Korea, Sonata will be priced from 21.3 million Won (US$17.600) for a base 2.0L model and top out at 25.95 million Won (US$21,450) for a fully-loaded 2.0L model.

The new Land Cruiser Prado, a mid-size, authentic four-wheel drive vehicle, continues the tradition of the Land Cruiser brand that is esteemed in more than 170 countries and regions around the world. The fourth generation maintains the outstanding drivability, reliability and basic functionality of the earlier generations—even under the harshest driving conditions—while improving on the on-road and off-road performance that is the Prado’s claim to fame. Enhanced utility results in a vehicle that offers comfort and peace of mind—anytime and anywhere.

Specific improvements include a roomier cabin through increased space between the front and second-row seats, while enhancements to the time-tested full frame structure and higher body rigidity make the ride even more comfortable. In addition, the adoption of a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) allows for driving stability at city and highway speeds, and a “crawl control” feature enhances rough-road compatibility. Other off-road driver-support features include a Multi-terrain Select switch to control drive power and braking in line with the off-road environment and the world’s first1 Multi-terrain Monitor, which displays the road conditions around the vehicle taken by four onboard cameras.

Monthly sales target for Japan:1,000 units

Assembly Plant: Hamura Plant, Hino Motors, Ltd.

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