Paris Motor Show

The Paris motor show will be held on the 27th of September (i.e., this month at the time of this post). The show promises the debut of a few cars of interest to Honda enthusiasts. Top of the list will be the CR-Z MMC, also called the '2013 CR-Z'. This MMC promises some minor, yet very important updates to the CR-Z which has been getting some very good, yet also some negative reception. The new 4Gen CR-V which has already been launched to great success in the U.S. will debut in this show as well. And finally, but not least, the new diesel Civic with a 1.6l i-DTEC engine will also debut in this show. The official press release from Honda of Europe follows.

We also have a little bit of extra details on the CR-Z MMC and the Civic which we will be publishing on different posts afterwards.

USDM 9G Accord reviews now appearing...

A week after its official launch, U.S. reviews of the USDM 9Gen Accord are now appearing on print and around the internet. Unlike the 9Gen Civic, reviews of this new Accord are generally very good to excellent, underlining the fact that Honda have made another great effort for this perennial best seller. 

0-60mph in the Honda CR-Z 6MT

I just put up my article on 0-60mph and 0-100kph testing on the Honda CR-Z 6MT. The article can be reached via http://asia.vtec.net. If you are a CR-Z 6MT owner who have done similar testing, would be interesting to hear from you and compare results. 

Please do read our disclaimer on standing start acceleration testing.

Honda CR-Z scores first result podium in Super GT

The Honda CR-Z has scored its first podium in the Super GT championship, with a P3 in this weekend's race at the Fuji circuit.

Racing under 'Team Mugen' as car number 16 in the GT300 class, the Honda CR-Z is now in position 15 in the team's ranking table and position 13 in the driver's ranking table. 

Note that the CR-Z only entered this year's season from round 4 onwards on July at the Sugo circuit. Currently the drivers are Hideki Mutoh and Daisuke Nakajima and the car is officially the Mugen CR-Z GT.

For those who are wondering, this CR-Z does not use the 1.5l LEA IMA hybrid engine. According to information on supergt.net, it is powered by a J35A 3.5l V6 engine delivering circa 300ps.

'New' Honda CR-Z coming this month !

For the JDM, Honda has officially announced the launch of a new CR-Z variant on the 27th of September (this month). The official 'announcement' is on the Honda domestic website http://www.honda.co.jp/CR-Z/new/. This announcement actually doesn't really say anything much, with only 3 teaser photos and the official date of launch. The three photos suggests that the 'new' or MMC CR-Z will get LED daylight running lights (DRLs), a new wheel design and a button on the dashboard labelled 'S+'. What does this 'S+' button do ? There is nothing else on the Honda.co.jp page.

However, one TOV reader/supporter reports that the main items of significance introduced in this facelift, or MMC, are a 'slightly more powerful' engine and special "push-the-button-to-the-boost" feature. This 'push button' seems like the 'S+' button above. The information suggests that this button offers a function like the F1-KERS, and gives the option to consume maximum of electrical power in short time. However, no other details are available at this time. 

It is not known if or when CR-Z's sold outside of Japan will get this facelift.

UPDATE :
There is a suggestion from another TOV forumer who has 'credentials', that this MMC will introduce the new '2nd generation' IMA powerplant for the CR-Z. This is the new 'Earth Dreams' or ED engine with uprated IMA motor and the Lithium Ion battery pack. The ED engine have just been debuted with the launch of the new 9Gen Accord in the U.S. and it would make sense that ED will now start making its way to the other models. 

It is also noted that on the same date (Sept 27th), the CR-Z MMC will also be launched in Europe. According to the European press, the same day will also see the launch of the new 9G Civic Type-R for Europe, which they are guessing will have the new ED 1.6l turbo-charged engine from the HPD (Honda Performance Division) racing Civic. 

Finally, do bear in mind that there have been rumours of a turbocharged CR-Z in the works, a rumour which I was able to confirm as real with one Honda insider I had contact with at one time. So there was also a suggestion that perhaps the European press have made a mistake or was misled, and the MMC CR-Z will see the introduction of the much talked about 'hot' CR-Z that the CR-Z LPL told me in person, that will be launched by Honda. I.e. this MMC will see a 1.6l turbocharged CR-Z which some rumours claims will have a max power of 180hp.

Sept 27th is but 3 weeks away from today. I will be trying to get more info so stay tuned and check back this post often, or go to TOVA facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TOVAsia for notifications of updates to this post.

New 9Gen Accord announced in the U.S.

AHM or American Honda Motors has announced the launch of the new 9th generation Accord for the USDM. This new 9Gen is significant in that it is the first Honda model to feature Honda's new 'Earth Dreams' or ED powerplant comprising a new generation of direct-injection engines and new transmissions including a CVT featuring Honda's Grades Logic Control (GLC).

The U.S. continues to get a three variant petrol engined line-up comprising two versions of the new ED 2.4l direct-injection 4-cylinder engine delivering 185 and 189hp, 5hp higher and 1hp lower than the equivalent variants on the outgoing 8th generation. However, fuel economy is significantly improved with the 2.4l ED engines delivering an EPA of up to 36mpg (highway). The USDM 3.5l V6 ED engine now delivers 278hp and delivers an EPA of up to 34mpg (highway). New 6 speed manual and 6 speed automatic transmissions complement the new CVT.

Other significant change involves the replacement of the double-wishbone front suspension with a MacPherson strut suspension though the rear suspension remains the independent multi-link. Like the new 9Gen Civic, the 9Gen Accord comes loaded with features in line with the demands of the new modern generation of car buyers, with features like blind spot mitigation camera (for the passenger side of the car), Bluetooth, USB connectivity, smart (keyless) entry and engine start/stop, and so forth.

The complete AHM press release is available on TOV at http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1091517.

For the ASEAN market, the 9Gen Accord is expected to hit our shores next year. Our version will be very similar to this USDM version though it is not known at this moment if our Accords will also receive the new generation Earth Dreams engines and transmissions.

Next Review : Honda CR-Z 6MT

I just put up a follow-up report on my taking the Honda CR-Z 6MT on the 'Genting Run', an drive up to the hilltop resort of 'Genting Highlands' that offers a series of tight hairpins. This is a very nice and interesting drive and puts a premium on the performance of a car, made the more exciting by two 'encounters' on the way up and down respectively.

The review is up at Temple of VTEC Asia.