'Scoop' info on new 3rd Generation Honda Fit/Jazz

Japan's Best Car magazine has published 'super scoop' info on the new 3rd generation Honda Fit/Jazz which is widely expected to debut this year around the Tokyo Motor Show time frame. 

According to one credible person with Honda 'connections', scoop info such as these but coming at so late a time are likely to be quite accurate.

New JDM Honda Accord Hybrid rumours

Magazines in Japan are currently going a bit crazy with rumours and supposed 'scoop info' on new models to be launched in Japan in the near future, including new Honda models. One of the Honda models in focus is the new Accord, in the form of a 'proper' Accord Hybrid rather than the full electric plug in. TOV/TOVA contributor DanielGr put up a scan of japanese magazine Holiday Auto's article with some details on the new Accord Hybrid (image on the left).

News of Brio-based MPV shared by Indian car blog

Mr Shrawan Raja, managing editor of http;//indianautosblog.com wrote to our Jeff Palmer to share some interesting news of a future Honda Brio-based MPV that will be launched for the Asian market. Mr Shrawan wrote ;

I'm writing to inform you that Honda is working on an MPV for the emerging market based on the Brio platform. As you may know, the Brio is a car smaller than the Jazz for Asian markets. A sedan on the same platform, dubbed Brio Amaze, has been launched in Thailand and India and is following suit to other such high-growth countries.

The third derivative on this platform, a small family MPV with three rows of seats is also on the anvil. Honda has confirmed that it will make this MPV in Indonesia next year and feasibility studies for this product is being carried out in places like India and Thailand. Its main competitors would be the Suzuki Ertiga and the Toyota Avanza.
 
The full article is at http://indianautosblog.com/2013/05/honda-brio-mpv-rendering-75986.

Our thanks to Mr Shrawan for sharing this information with us. 

Honda to Participate in the FIA Formula One World Championship with McLaren

The news is official. They are rumors no more. It is real. I am very excited.

Recalling TV footages I watched as a 8-year-old, the white and red McLaren Honda MP4/4 winning 15 out of 16 Grand Prix. That feeling was, well, simply exhilarating! That sound of the 1.5 V6 turbo was, intoxicating to say the least. The association of that successes with the Senna-developed NSX, the DOHC VTEC technology, the double wishbones suspension and the B16A in the top of the line 1990 Civic SiR was firmly entrenched. Honda's challenging spirit to win in racing was THE source that ignited and inspired my passion and love for Honda that would eventually change my life forever. As what Honda said, "Racing is in my blood", Honda is in my blood and so is the challenging spirit. 

New 4G CR-V First Drive Impressions

Our new 4G CR-V 'First Drive' impressions article from the Honda Malaysia media drive event is now up in TOVA. Please go to http://asia.vtec.net/Reviews/4GCRVFirst/index.html#.UZMjEkoYQs4 to read the article. Feel free to give us your feedback and thoughts here.

Summary of Results for Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team

Castrol Honda WTCC Civic

On March 20, 2013, Honda announced that Castrol, the  high-performance lubricant brand, would be the title sponsor of its factory team in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship. 

Along with the sponsorship deal, the team adopted a new name - Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team – as well as an exciting green, white and red livery for the Civic WTCC. This brought back fond memories of Honda's previous relationship with Castrol with the Castrol Mugen Accord in 1994 and Castrol NSX JGTC in 2000. Both of the cars are exhibited in the Honda Collection Centre at Twin Ring Motegi.

Honda CR-V 2.4

In the CR-V media drive event, Honda Malaysia confirms that the 4G CR-V 2.4 is on-time for a June launch this year. It is packaged as an upmarket, luxury oriented CR-V and also targeted at those who wants more performance from the CR-V which the current 2.0l version is unable to deliver. Expect full leather interior with hopefully more control over the powerplant to better make use of its greater power, e.g. either a 'Sport' mode or the addition of a sequential shifting option via paddle shifters on the steering wheel. It should be using the same K24 engine that will be put into the new 9G 2.4 Accord when that is launched in the next quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, the current 2.0l variant has delighted Honda Malaysia by far exceeding its sales forecast, almost hitting 3,000 orders within a month of its launch. It also set a new record for highest number of bookings received in a month for any new model launch. This confirms the excellence of this world standard setting SUV and the 2.4l variant should improve it.