Honda Fuzo Hover Concept Car – Futuristic Design of the Future

A concept car from Honda which takes our imagination beyond the future

We have always heard and fantasized that we will have flying cars in future which will take us to the skies. Now, it appears that time is quite near. Designer John Mahieddine has build a concept design for Honda which is a hover car.

Named as ‘Honda Fuzo‘, the car is vertical take off and landing VTOL hover car which can speed upto 350 mph. It has four high powered wind turbines for fast speed and horizontal flight. It has two joystick controls for speed, thrust and steering.

The car is still concept design, just in the mind of designer and away from the production process. It has two joysticks on either side of the driver’s seat on the armrests. Left joystick functions to spin the car on its axis and right joysticks enables to mange tilt and direction. Power and brake controlling pedals are present on the floor.

It has two safety systems to keep it safe from any damage or accident. One, Fly-by-Wire system that functions via GPS and keeps cars from hitting each other. Two, Airbags that open inside and outside to protect the driver, the car and any person in front of the car in an air collision.

And if you don’t feel the whole hovering thing, then you can drive on the ground with the retractable wheels. It is made of carbon fibre, Kevlar, and carbon nano-tubes. The canopy give comfort to the driver and two passengers.

Overall, it is a dream car and I would definitely love to get my hands on it if it becomes a reality. It gives a nostalgia of futuristic cars from computer games and Oh yeah also resembles cars from star trek.

Check out pictures of this Futuristic Honda Fuzo Hover Concept Car:

 

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Honda CR-Z Hybrid

The new Honda CR-Z is crafted and designed based on Honda's eco-friendly attitude

The CR-Z's reference to the Honda CR-X compact sports coupe of years gone by is an obvious one. Standing for Compact Renaissance Zero, the CR-Z is designed as a lightweight, hybrid sports car. Honda says the CR-Z focuses on a return to fundamentals, while offering a sporting feel and a small environmental footprint. We feel that the existing powertrain in the Civic Hybrid could find a good home in the engine bay of the CR-Z -- much as the original CRX made use of the Civic's engine.

The CR-Z features a large front grille giving it a rather bold, aggressive look that keeps with the nature of the car. A steeply raked windscreen and profile furthers the CR-Z's sporting image, while the broad, high rear fenders also give an impression of purpose and power. Large, 19-inch wheels fill out the wheelwells nicely and the CR-Z's overall stance is low and somewhat menacing.

Inside, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and heavily bolstered seats again pay heed to performance-oriented driving, while the large glass sections including a vast moonroof give the cockpit an airy, spacious feel. Ultra-modern also seems to be a theme here, with an iridescent blue gauge cluster and center console trim. It has yet to be announced if the CR-Z is a mere design exercise or something to be taken more seriously, but we've been hearing rumors of the CRX's rebirth for some time and this concept could easily be viewed as a true homage to that car.

Honda Accord Coupe 2009

You'll simply love this car.

Drive an eye-catching Accord Coupe, and you’ll just have to get used to the extra attention.

Sculpted

With stylish lines and available 18-inch wheels, the Accord Coupe will attract more than a passing glance.

Inspiring

Eagle eyes inspired the shape of the new projector-beam headlights.

Detailed

Brilliantly finished exhaust, chrome door handles (V-6) jewel-like brakelights and an exquisite attention to fit and finish are proof that the Accord has left no stone unturned.

Driving an Accord, you’ll never forget that it’s a high-performance vehicle. But it’s so quick and agile, you might not always remember that it’s cleaner running and fuel-efficient,* too.

Options Abound

Accord Coupe offers three engines: a 2.4-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder, putting out 190 hp; and two versions of a 271-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 i-VTEC (automatic models) and the 6-speed manual transmission.

Ingenious

i-VTEC engines, which come standard in all Accord Coupes (except V-6 6MT), add more power and efficiency at all engine speeds. And the V-6 features the latest generation of Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology, which activates the engine’s cylinders as needed, providing both brisk acceleration and fuel savings.

Agile

Honda power meets razor-sharp handling, thanks to a low center of gravity and a multi-link rear suspension.

Transmissions

In the 4-cylinder models, choose a quick-shifting 5-speed manual transmission or an available 5-speed automatic. In the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe, go with the standard 5-speed automatic or opt for the close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission.

*Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Luxury, as imagined by the Honda Accord. Yeah, you could get used to this.

Sumptuous

Available leather-trimmed, deep-bolstered seats and a driver’s seat with eight-way power adjustment (EX-L) beg you to indulge.

Helpful

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition is a seemingly endless resource of information, including restaurant ratings and reviews from Zagat Survey®.

Convenient

Included with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® enables you to make hands-free calls with many Bluetooth-compatible phones. And steering wheel-mounted controls allow you to easily access cruise, audio, navigation and hands-free functions.

High Tech

Accord LX features a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with 6 speakers and a 6-disc in-dash changer. Step up to the EX, and enjoy a 270-watt AM/FM/6-disc in-dash premium audio system and XM® Radio†. And all Accord audio systems feature an auxiliary input jack for MP3 players.

Spanish Grand Prix

Most of the F1 teams are looking forward to the races in Europe this May 2009.

The Formula 1 season is nearly a quarter over but this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix will be like a new beginning.

After four races in the long-haul destinations of Australia, Malaysia, China and Bahrain, the sport hits Europe for the first time this year and all the leading teams will be fielding modified cars.

The developments introduced in Spain are likely to define the order for much of the rest of the season - and they could also change the balance of competitiveness between the teams.

The Brawn team, who have emerged from the ashes of Honda to lead the drivers' and constructors' championships this season, started the season with a performance advantage of nearly a second over the rest of the field, but this has been clawed back in recent weeks.

After Jenson Button's win in Bahrain - his third in four races - the Englishman admitted the team's cupboard was bare and that they needed the upgrade package they are introducing in Barcelona if they wanted to stay ahead of the pack.

Brawn's chief rivals on pace so far this season, Red Bull and Toyota, will also have upgrades to their cars in Barcelona.

Of these three, Red Bull are the only outfit without the controversial 'double-decker' diffuser that dominated paddock discussion at the first three races of the year.

The device makes a big difference to the performance of a car fitted with it - as much as 0.5 seconds per lap, according to most F1 designers - so the fact that Red Bull are so quick without it speaks volumes for the quality of their car.

But it is also likely to mean that they still have another big step forward in pace to come compared to their rivals - which, if they remain competitive in Spain, could be an alarming thought for Button, among others.

For the three teams that dominated F1 last year, though, this race could define their season.

McLaren, Ferrari and BMW Sauber have all struggled to one degree or another this year - and all have upgrades for their cars in Barcelona.

McLaren and Ferrari will both have their first version of a double-decker diffuser - so it will be fascinating to see where that puts them over the weekend.

BMW, meanwhile, have admitted that while they do have an aerodynamic upgrade for this track which makes such a heavy call on a car's efficiency through the air, they will not have one of the trick floors.

They have also taken the decision to abandon the Kers power-boost and energy-storage system for the next two races. Which, given that Kers only escaped being canned this year because of BMW's support for the device, has raised a few eyebrows.

BMW drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld finished at the back in a dispiriting outing in Bahrain.

Only a fool would write BMW off but, right now, the Mole finds it hard to see much of a chance of them returning to their winning form of 2008.

Honda Targets To Sell 6,000 New Civic Units This Year

An update from Bernama

PETALING JAYA (PNA/Bernama) — Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd is targeting to sell 6,000 units of its new Honda Civic this year, its chief executive officer and managing director Atsushi Fujimoto said Thursday.

“Sales of the new Honda Civic will contribute to our initial total sales target of 35,000 units of vehicles this year,” he told reporters after the launch of new Civic which has undergone a facelift here.

The total sales target is a 14-percent increase compared to last year’s volume, and will be around nine percent of the total industry volume this year.

“Despite the gloomy economic outlook, Honda Malaysia is still in a good position to achieve our total sales target this year,” said Fujimoto.

The company has sold more than 6,500 units of cars for the first two months of this year, up by 50 percent compared to the same period in 2008.

Honda Malaysia also expects to sell 300 units of its Civic Hybrid this year, having already received 50 bookings before the launch.

Fujimoto also said that Honda Malaysia would see a change of management later this year with his transfer to Honda Thailand as managing director. Toru Takahashi will succeed him.

Featuring a redesigned grille and bumper, the new facelifted 8th generation Honda Civic comes with a sportier appearance and better air ventilation.

The 1.8L variant is priced at RM114, 980 (on the road) while the Civic 2.0L and Civic Hybrid will be sold at RM129, 980 each.

Ecclestone: twilight races here to stay

 

It seems that F1 is attracting all the media hype this season.

Ecclestone dismisses speculation that construction of the Abu Dhabi circuit is not on track for its inaugural race in November.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says the later start times for races in the Far East and Australia have boosted television audiences threefold. Despite widespread criticism from drivers due to fading light levels, Ecclestone says twilight starts in F1 are here to stay.

This year was the first time the Grands Prix in Australia and Malaysia began at 5pm local time, three hours after their usual start time. This was done so the races could be broadcast live in Europe in the early morning, rather than the middle of the night, and it served its purpose. "All our TV up to now has been up 300 per cent," says Ecclestone, adding: "We have been getting more than 50 per cent of the market share."

The later start time was a compromise after the Australian organisers objected to following the example set by Singapore last year and hosting a night race. The sticking point was the cost of floodlighting the circuit and Ecclestone says that although this will cost the Malaysian circuit $16 million (£10.8m), it will be the next night race on F1's calendar.

He dismisses speculation that construction of the Abu Dhabi circuit is not on track for its inaugural race in November. "It will be done on time," says Ecclestone, adding that although F1 is increasingly moving eastwards, he cannot envisage a time without races in Europe since "it is a world championship".

Ecclestone is in negotiations about bringing F1 back to the United States, where it has been absent since 2007, and he reveals "we'd like to do something in New York or California". But if this race is added, then another may have to go. When South Korea joins the calendar next year, there will be 18 Grands Prix and Ecclestone says that in the past the teams "just about lived with 18".

Another dispute between Ecclestone and the teams is over the £20m prize money earned by Honda which left F1 at the end of last year. They are now leading the F1 championship under the Brawn GP name but lost their entitlement to the money after being classed as a new team by F1's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

The Concorde Agreement, the contract committing the teams to race in F1, says prize money earned by outfits which have left the sport should be split between those remaining in the sport. However, the contract is not in force and although the teams initially agreed to give the money to Brawn, there are now objections to this given Brawn's success. Ecclestone reveals that the money will not be paid to Brawn and he adds it will not be paid out at all if there is not unanimous agreement on who should receive it. "We can keep it," he says.

Despite Brawn's success, Ecclestone says it would have been better for the team to have retained their former name. "I opposed the name Brawn," he says, claiming it is "not a good name, doesn't mean anything to the public, better being Honda than Brawn".

If the Honda prize money goes to Brawn, the teams can make up for it by running under a £40m budget cap next year. Critics have claimed that it will be impossible to police in the notoriously secretive world of F1 but Ecclestone says that this will be quite a straightforward process.

He explains that every three months the teams will have to sign a commitment that they are running under the limit and, as with everything in F1, the punishment they will face if found in breach will be financial: a $100m fine.

Honda Jazz- Review

 

The Second Generation of Honda Jazz has been launched to replace its old predecessor.

• Rating:

Let's hear it for the Jazz! A new version of the Honda which put Japan back on the map as a world leader in the art of building small cars is set to hit the road – and we have driven it first and exclusively.

The newcomer, badged Fit in its homeland, has a lot to live up to. In only six years, its predecessor racked up two million sales in 115 countries. Not surprisingly, Honda has played safe with the design of the replacement. But it certainly looks sharper, and gets the family face that debuted with the new Accord at the Frankfurt Motor Show, as well as a sleeker profile.
Under the skin, the five-seat hatchback is based on a development of the chassis which underpins the current model, and it retains that car’s centrally located fuel tank. This helps to free up interior space.
What is new is the promise of an improved ride. Much of this is down to the fact that the new Jazz is bigger than before. The wheelbase is 50mm longer, up to 2,500mm, while the car gains 55mm in length, at 3,900mm. By bringing the windscreen forward 120mm, stylists have not only altered the Jazz’s profile, but created a roomier cabin that is a match for some family cars. Finally, clever triangular windows have been sculpted into the front doors, improving visibility – a sore point with many current owners.
The fit and finish of the cabin has been refined, too, with better quality plastics, more supportive seats and rake and reach-adjustable steering that gives a better driving position. A new dashboard is easier on the eye, while passengers in the back seats will appreciate the increased length, which gives 40mm more legroom.
However, in their quest for a larger interior and increased load capacity, Honda’s designers have decided to drop the spare tyre in favour of a repair kit. This frees up an extra 43 litres of boot space, up to 427 litres.
Under the bonnet, modifications are more dramatic. While the current Jazz has 1.2 or 1.4-litre petrol power, the newcomer will get a choice of a 1.3-litre unit generating 99bhp, or a 1.5-litre engine producing 118bhp.
Both engines feature Honda’s latest i-VTEC variable valve timing technology, and manual or CVT auto gearboxes are available with both. Honda claims that the 1.3-litre will return 68mpg, while the 1.5 will deliver 55mpg. The company refuses to confirm whether an oil-burner is in the pipeline, but our sources insist one will be added to the range.
Performance from our test car’s 1.5-litre powerplant was impressive, propelling the Jazz from 0-60mph in just under nine seconds. Push it hard, however, and the high-pitched whine above 5,000rpm becomes rather unpleasant, as the CVT gearbox fights to keep up with top-end revs.
On winding roads, the Honda feels more sure-footed than before, and it’s stable under heavy braking, too. At cruising speeds, a stiffer chassis means refinement is improved. That will please a lot of owners, who think the current car is a little lacking in this area. The only significant question mark we have over the new Jazz is with the steering. Honda has employed electric assistance and revised the rack to reduce the amount of effort required when trying to manoeuvre in tight spaces. But we found it too light and lacking feel, particularly around town.
However, this was really the only questionable ingredient of a superbly conceived supermini. From this early drive, it seems that Honda has hit the right notes all over again.