Launch date of CR-Z MMC for ASEAN

With the recent launch of the MMC for the CR-Z, especially a more powerful 135-136ps engine, the most asked question now will have to be when it will make its debut here in Asia. My current understanding is that this MMC CR-Z will start showing up early next year, i.e. around the 1st quarter of 2013. Honda has already announced an 'around February' date for Indonesia and the rest of ASEAN date should be around that time as well.

Honda to collaborate with Proton in Malaysia

In a news that quite shocked long time Honda fans, Proton announced today that they have signed a partnership with Honda to jointly develop cars for the Malaysian market. Leaving aside the general sentiments, what I believe is happening is that both parties saw in each other the means to achieve their own objectives. 

Firstly, in his mid-year speech last month, Honda CEO Ito-san has announced that Honda plans to focus on the mini-car Brio for this region, developing multiple variants off it. The Brio sedan has already been sneaking out in the Honda Thailand website. Next to come is supposedly an SUV based on the Brio. However, having been eye-ing the Malaysian mini-car market for a long time now, Honda is well aware that policies from the relevant authorities are not conducive to any non-Malaysian manufacturers trying to enter into this lucrative market. The annual sales of mini-car in Malaysia is several hundred thousand and for foreign manufacturers like Honda, whose annual sales of 50,000 units is already considered an 'incredible achievement', the mini-car segment is attractive indeed, especially given Honda's recent heavy focus on just sales numbers. 

New Honda Brio sedan

Honda has put up a teaser page for a 'new sedan' in their HAT, Honda Automobile Thailand, website. This new sedan is recognizable as being based on the new mini-car 'Brio'. 

The only info so far for this new sedan is that it will be using a 1.2l engine, probably based on the LSeries. To watch the teaser video click the following link http://www.honda.co.th/new-sedan/. 

This follows the mid-year speech from Honda CEO Ito-san about the Brio's future here in Asia:

In Asia, in order to compete in and win in highly-competitive low-price markets and fulfill the diverse needs of customers, in addition to the all-new Fit Series, Honda will add sedan-type and utility-type models utilizing the platform of the BRIO, Honda's strategic model for Asia.

New Gen2 NSX to debut at the 2014 NAIAS ?

The U.K. publication has published yet another 'scoop', this time about the new Gen2 NSX that is scheduled to be launched in 3 years time. 

According to Auto-Express, during their attendance and coverage of the recent  Sao Paulo (Brazil) Motor Show, they were told that the new NSX will debut in a few months time in January 2013 at the Detroit Motor Show (also called the North American International Auto Show or NAIAS). According to their short article on their website at http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/60901/honda-nsx-detroit:

USDM 'revised' 9Gen Civic out on Nov 29th !!!

TOV has learned that the 'revised' or shall we say 'early MMC' for the 9Gen Civic for the U.S. market is scheduled to be released on the 29th of  next month (November). Word is there will be no mechanical or specification changes to the car but there will be significant changes or what is described/hoped to be improvements to the exterior and interior. There is even speculation that some of the exterior change, e.g. the rear taillight assembly will become like that of our, ASEAN/Asian Civic (the USDM Civic does not have the taillight extensions into the trunk/boot cover). For a little bit more details, go to our TOV news and rumours article at http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1105544.

High-Res Photos of WTCC Civic

We offer you two high resolution photos of the new WTCC 1.6l Turbocharged Honda Civic. They are provided by Honda of Europe's media service. These photos are in their original sizes and only differs in the small TOVA watermark added.

Civic WTCC finishes its first race

Civic WTCC finishes Races 1 and 2 in 9th and 10th respectively

in its first appearance

Today, Rounds 19 and 20 of the WTCC took place under a clear sky at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan.

HONDA MALAYSIA UNVEILS THE CR-V “LIMITED”

HONDA MALAYSIA UNVEILS THE CR-V “LIMITED”

Petaling Jaya, 18 October 2012 – Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. today unveiled the Honda CR-V “Limited” that sports an enhanced rugged exterior and a classy interior that aims to provide enhanced premium comfort to passengers. Having won numerous awards, the popular Honda CR-V retains its desired features of practicality, spaciousness, attractive design and fuel economy.

Visit us at Facebook

We have been on facebook for a couple of months now. Please visit us at https://www.facebook.com/TOVAsia. Support TOVA by liking our facebook page.

Excerpts from internal Honda townhall meeting

Someone provided some excerpts from an internal Honda 'townhall' meeting that he attended. The meeting was chaired by Iwamura-san. Items of interest includes a statement on the debut of the early MMC for the 9Gen Civic, launch of a new Acura RLX (Legend for rest of the world) next month at the Los Angeles Motor Show and finally the confirmation of a new variant of the Honda Fit/Jazz for a market which Honda 'never competed in before', to be launched soon. Read the excerpts after the jump.

Honda Jazz Hybrid reviews starting in TOVA

We have started to post our reviews on the Honda Jazz (Fit) IMA Hybrid at TOVA (http://asia.vtec.net). 

The first review in our series is the test drive. 

Next up would be the Genting Run, 0-60mph & 0-100kph acceleration test results, dyno run results and finally we will close by posting some of the videos we took during our review. 

Check back often and do tell us what you think.

Honda future sports car model plans

In our TOV/TOVA forums, one forumer talked about the current state of sporty models development by Honda. According to him, Honda stopped all Sports car designs and development in Dec 2008. It wasn't re-started until 2011 which is why we will not see any new sports cars until 2014 (in the form of the new Honda Beat). 

During those three 'dark' years (2008 - 2010) only unofficial side projects which Honda R&D engineers dabbled in on their own time was the mid-engine NSX and Beat.

New Civic Type-R to have 280hp and challenges the Renault Megane RS

The U.K. website 'autoblog.com' has published a 'scoop' derived from their conversation with the Honda U.K. M.D. Dave Hodgetts about the forthcoming new Civic Type-R. Autoblog.com quotes Hodgetts as saying amongst other thing:

"The new Civic Type R will be a total reflection of the fact it used to be an icon and will have really, really high performance,"

"There is an understanding at Honda that the last one wasn't up to the level expected. We really need an iconic halo car and the new one will be the genuine article."

Autoblog.com quotes Hodgetts as saying the new Civic Type R will hark back to the success of the Integra Type R models with high performance at its heart.

"Power output will be around 280bhp – it's a proper car,"

 and most interestingly,

"Honda want it to be the fastest front-wheel drive car around the Nurburgring so it will be up against the Megane RS. That's a challenge, but it will be a genuine sports product harking back to the good old days."

Looks to be interesting times three or even two years into the future as the new Civic Type-R starts testing in the Nurburgring and Honda fans can see if Honda will be able to back up this claim. 

the link to the autoblog.com 'scoop' is http://uk.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/exclusive-uk-built-civic-type-r-will-be-an-icon/

Tenaga Setia Resource, Honda's 4S dealer shifts to new premises

TENAGA SETIA RESOURCES SDN. BHD. INVESTS RM28.5 MILLION TO RELOCATE AND UPGRADE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO 4S CENTRE

Tenaga Setia has been a Honda 3S center for many years and was located along Jalan 222 Petaling Jaya. After investing RM28.5 million building a new premise, they shifted over last Friday (Sept 28th) and at the same time, also upgraded themselves into a 4S centre. The new premise is now located at section 51 which in actually just a short distance (less than 1km) from the original site. This new premise is a newly constructed building located on a prime piece of land which belongs to Tenaga Setia themselves.