Honda: Development and Technology News
#2161
I don't know... Would be nice I suppose, but I'll believe it when I see it.
#2162
Senior Moderator
Good. ZF makes great trans. Better than any auto Honda could build. Hope its true. ![Wish](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/wish.gif)
And to add to it, I hope they put it in more than just1 model of car too and have it available across the line.
![Wish](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/wish.gif)
And to add to it, I hope they put it in more than just1 model of car too and have it available across the line.
#2163
AZ Community Team
ZF do build great gearboxes, very interesting if Honda does this.
BTW those dimensions with that 354 ftlb torque rating are very impressive, that is a very compact transverse AT for that that capability.
BTW those dimensions with that 354 ftlb torque rating are very impressive, that is a very compact transverse AT for that that capability.
#2165
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ I heard hell froze over this morning!!!
#2166
Senior Moderator
#2167
6G TLX-S
Hur--ray, hurray, hurray, hurray !
A 9AT from Honda, hurray.
It's good that Honda has finally awared of it's limitations, swallowed it's pride, and sought outside help for it's high-tech autobox; rather than to spent ages in trying to enforce developing everything inhouse, and as a result falling behind the auto industry in terms of latest technologies.
A 9AT from Honda, hurray.
It's good that Honda has finally awared of it's limitations, swallowed it's pride, and sought outside help for it's high-tech autobox; rather than to spent ages in trying to enforce developing everything inhouse, and as a result falling behind the auto industry in terms of latest technologies.
#2169
Senior Moderator
#2170
Team Owner
9 gears
might as well just have a CVT if it's going to shift that much?
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
#2172
Moderator
#2173
The sizzle in the Steak
Hur--ray, hurray, hurray, hurray !
A 9AT from Honda, hurray.
It's good that Honda has finally awared of it's limitations, swallowed it's pride, and sought outside help for it's high-tech autobox; rather than to spent ages in trying to enforce developing everything inhouse, and as a result falling behind the auto industry in terms of latest technologies.
A 9AT from Honda, hurray.
It's good that Honda has finally awared of it's limitations, swallowed it's pride, and sought outside help for it's high-tech autobox; rather than to spent ages in trying to enforce developing everything inhouse, and as a result falling behind the auto industry in terms of latest technologies.
![rofl](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
#2174
Senior Moderator
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
#2175
6G TLX-S
#2177
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
^ Maybe in 2013, but certainly not MY 2013.
#2179
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
![rofl](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
#2180
Safety Car
![Lightbulb](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon3.gif)
Honda let the cat officially out of the bag today, revealing details about its new HondaLink infotainment system that will be featured in the new 2013 Accord. The new midsize sedan doesn't launch until the fall, but the Japanese automaker is clearly eager to start building momentum for its long-awaited new model by addressing one of the company's long-running deficiencies: connectivity.
HondaLink will feature Aha Radio, a cloud-based digital content service that uses the driver's smart phone data connection for streaming through the vehicle's audio system. The interface uses a radio station model, with users creating content presets. Besides music, news, podcasts and other traditional audio content, Aha will allow drivers to listen to Facebook and Twitter feeds.
While the video Honda released today plays more like a commercial than a tutorial, we're looking forward to getting our hands on the system. The big question is whether it can vault Honda to the front of the mainstream infotainment pack, or merely put them where Ford was 3 years ago.
Scroll down to watch the video and read the full press release.
New Cloud-Based HondaLink™ Connected Car System Helps Drivers Put Away Their Phones While Maintaining Intuitive Access to Their Favorite Media
HondaLink™ provides first-ever OEM application of Aha™, delivering robust digital content via preset smartphone app
July 18, 2012
TORRANCE
Honda today unveiled HondaLink™, a new in-vehicle connectivity system that will debut this fall on the all-new, ninth-generation 2013 Honda Accord. Featuring the 1st automotive OEM application of Aha™ by Harman, HondaLink will provide a personalized experience connecting drivers to thousands of cloud-based news, information and entertainment feeds from around the world, using an intuitive, audio-system based interface.
"HondaLink will enable customers to put away their phone and still stay connected to the people, music and media they love," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda. "By creating an intuitive and customizable user interface, HondaLink allows drivers to access digital content as easily as choosing a radio station."
Honda's intuitive new HondaLink smartphone application allows owners to preset content on their phone. Once in the car, consumers can enjoy personalized content accessible via voice recognition, steering-wheel mounted controls and in-dash audio system controls. With a tethered smartphone serving as a conduit to a wealth of cloud-based media, HondaLink creates a unique, connected driving experience.
"Honda's strategy is about leveraging the cloud to bring a wealth of new information and services to Honda owners," said Charles Koch, American Honda manager of new business development. "This is the next evolution of the connected car and the connected customer."
Through the Aha service, for example, HondaLink users can listen to Facebook and Twitter audio newsfeeds, podcasts from NPR, location-based personalized restaurant listings from Yelp!, and access internet music services such as Slacker. The service is free and instantly accessible from the cloud.
Aha delivers a user-friendly experience requiring infrequent smartphone software updates, with in-vehicle content and channel access updating simply and automatically throughout the vehicle life. And content available from HondaLink will grow as the system continues to expand its services for Honda owners. HondaLink will also incorporate Pandora internet radio and voice-to-text SMS text services with pre-programmed responses, which Honda introduced on the 2012 CR-V.
HondaLink EV
The HondaLink family also includes HondaLink EV, specifically designed for the all-new Fit EV all-electric vehicle and the upcoming Accord Plug-In Hybrid. Owners of these electric vehicles will have access to unique applications designed specifically to maintain connectivity to their vehicle. The HondaLink EV application will allow the user to remotely view the state of charge, initiate charging, and activate the air conditioning and heater to pre-condition the vehicle while connected to the grid to maximize battery range on start-up. HondaLink EV will launch with the Fit EV, which will be available for lease in California and Oregon beginning on July 20, 2012.
HondaLink™ provides first-ever OEM application of Aha™, delivering robust digital content via preset smartphone app
July 18, 2012
TORRANCE
Honda today unveiled HondaLink™, a new in-vehicle connectivity system that will debut this fall on the all-new, ninth-generation 2013 Honda Accord. Featuring the 1st automotive OEM application of Aha™ by Harman, HondaLink will provide a personalized experience connecting drivers to thousands of cloud-based news, information and entertainment feeds from around the world, using an intuitive, audio-system based interface.
"HondaLink will enable customers to put away their phone and still stay connected to the people, music and media they love," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda. "By creating an intuitive and customizable user interface, HondaLink allows drivers to access digital content as easily as choosing a radio station."
Honda's intuitive new HondaLink smartphone application allows owners to preset content on their phone. Once in the car, consumers can enjoy personalized content accessible via voice recognition, steering-wheel mounted controls and in-dash audio system controls. With a tethered smartphone serving as a conduit to a wealth of cloud-based media, HondaLink creates a unique, connected driving experience.
"Honda's strategy is about leveraging the cloud to bring a wealth of new information and services to Honda owners," said Charles Koch, American Honda manager of new business development. "This is the next evolution of the connected car and the connected customer."
Through the Aha service, for example, HondaLink users can listen to Facebook and Twitter audio newsfeeds, podcasts from NPR, location-based personalized restaurant listings from Yelp!, and access internet music services such as Slacker. The service is free and instantly accessible from the cloud.
Aha delivers a user-friendly experience requiring infrequent smartphone software updates, with in-vehicle content and channel access updating simply and automatically throughout the vehicle life. And content available from HondaLink will grow as the system continues to expand its services for Honda owners. HondaLink will also incorporate Pandora internet radio and voice-to-text SMS text services with pre-programmed responses, which Honda introduced on the 2012 CR-V.
HondaLink EV
The HondaLink family also includes HondaLink EV, specifically designed for the all-new Fit EV all-electric vehicle and the upcoming Accord Plug-In Hybrid. Owners of these electric vehicles will have access to unique applications designed specifically to maintain connectivity to their vehicle. The HondaLink EV application will allow the user to remotely view the state of charge, initiate charging, and activate the air conditioning and heater to pre-condition the vehicle while connected to the grid to maximize battery range on start-up. HondaLink EV will launch with the Fit EV, which will be available for lease in California and Oregon beginning on July 20, 2012.
#2181
Safety Car
![Lightbulb](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon3.gif)
Honda's new Earth Dreams engine family will debut in the redesigned Accord this fall and then trickle through the rest of the lineup.
The new engines have direct injection and double-overhead cams. They will produce at least a 10 percent fuel economy advantage over Honda's current 4-cylinders.
Earth Dreams engines will be added as each vehicle is redesigned, and in some cases will be available for mid-cycle revisions. Even the base 4-cylinder will have a twin-cam profile setup, variable valve timing and direct injection. And there also is talk of bringing a 1.6-liter diesel with 220 pounds-feet of torque to the United States.
Honda also is putting heavy emphasis on continuously variable transmissions. While performance models and off-road vehicles will retain geared transmissions, mainstream cars will have CVTs.
With the introduction of Honda's large-car hybrid powertrain system next year, more vehicles in the lineup will have a hybrid option.
Here's a look at Honda's product plans:
Fit: Europe gets a hybrid version, but Honda has canceled plans for a Fit hybrid in North America.
A redesign of the Fit comes in summer of 2014. Because Honda will have a dedicated plant in Mexico to handle Fit production for the United States, expect some local market design cues and features that won't appear in the Japanese or European models. But Honda might not wait until then to install the Earth Dreams 1.5-liter inline-4 with 127 hp and 111 pounds-feet of torque, as well as a CVT.
Fit EV: The electric version of the Fit went on sale this summer with an EPA-rated equivalent of 118 mpg. But its range is just 82 miles. Packaging the battery pack was difficult, so expect the next Fit to have a different suspension module for the hybrid and EV versions.
Insight: No word on whether the nickel-metal hydride battery pack will swap out for lithium ion before the 2015-model redesign.
Civic: Terrible reviews of the Civic's interior plastics have prompted a major freshening for this fall, just 18 months after launch. Expect a big improvement in the tactile feel of the instrument panel. A 1.8-liter inline-4 Earth Dreams engine with 148 hp and 133 pounds-feet of torque, mated to a CVT, could be installed in the spring 2014 midcycle change.
CR-Z: A higher-performance CR-Z supposedly was on the way. But with the punishing yen exchange rate jacking up the price, that version may not reach the United States.
S2000: Honda hasn't had a proper sports car since the S2000 went away in 2009. The early success of the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ have American Honda product planners angling for a competitive model. But it is not a priority in Japan.
Accord: A redesign for the sedan and coupe comes this fall. The current Accord was considered too large, so expect a slightly narrower version that's about 2 or 3 inches shorter. The wheelbase may stay the same.
This will be the 1st Honda model with Earth Dreams engines. The base engine is a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder with 181 hp, 177 pounds-feet of torque and much-improved fuel economy. The Accord will have a CVT as its only 4-cylinder automatic offering. The V-6 Accord will have a choice of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.
Honda is placing a major emphasis on crash safety, as well as such devices as a lane-departure warning system. The Accord also will be the 1st vehicle with Honda's new large-car hybrid system. Engineers say the 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid will have a 2.0-liter engine teamed with a lithium ion battery pack and will easily beat the Toyota Camry Hybrid's 41 mpg.
Crosstour: A midcycle change in the 2013 model year will bring a 6-speed automatic transmission but not an Earth Dreams engine.
FCX Clarity: Honda's hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle is trickling into Southern California garages as part of a test for an eventual launch in 2018.
CR-V: Redesigned for the 2013 model year.
Fit Crossover: According to Japanese press reports, Honda is studying a compact crossover that would slot below the CR-V. Honda's top U.S. manufacturing executive has said the plant in Mexico that will produce the Fit will have flexibility to build multiple variants for the North American market when it opens in 2014. Given Honda's typical factory ramp-up timing, that probably means a smaller, entry-level crossover will arrive in the United States in the spring of 2015 as a 2016 model.
Pilot: A full redesign on the shared Odyssey platform comes in fall of 2014, and sheet metal will move away from the "angry robot" look. It likely will get a 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V-6 with around 310 hp and 265 pounds-feet of torque. Expect the front-wheel-drive version to have a CVT and the all-wheel-drive version to get a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Odyssey: The minivan was redesigned in fall 2010 on a 6-year cycle. That means the 3.5-liter Earth Dreams V-6 probably will be incorporated during the 2014 model year.
Ridgeline: Honda's pickup will keep the Ridgeline name but won't look or feel the same when it is redesigned in 2014. Honda wants to keep the handling dynamics and packaging, but the styling, fuel economy and sticker price are weaknesses.
The following users liked this post:
Legend2TL (08-09-2012)
#2182
Senior Moderator
The Accord sounds very promising. As much as I respect my Accord's K24Z3, I'd gladly give up 9hp in favor of gaining 15 lb-ft....which is what the new EDT 2.4L does. But, CVT FTL.
![Damn](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/damn.gif)
#2184
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
If they come out with an FR-S/BRZ competitor theres a good chance I'd switch back to Honda. I just love their engines.
Oh and I guess the whole ED engines is kinda cool
Oh and I guess the whole ED engines is kinda cool
![Tomato](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tomato.gif)
The following users liked this post:
pdjosey (01-08-2013)
#2186
Safety Car
![Post](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Honda America will take the lead in a growing list of global vehicle development projects to help the automaker fend off competitive challenges in North America and hedge against a strong yen.
The U.S. organization will engineer and develop the new-generation Acura NSX sports car, the redesign of the current Civic at the end of this year, the next-generation Accord wagon and Accord coupe and "a few Acura models," says Erik Berkman, the new president of Honda R&D Americas.
Berkman says he was appointed to the position in April in part because he likes to play “offense.”
The Japanese automaker has been nurturing its North American engineering for the past 2 decades. But new pressures on Honda and other Japanese manufacturers -- including rising yen values -- is putting new responsibilities on the U.S. group.
Honda is also under growing pressure from smaller U.S. market players, including Nissan and Hyundai. Last year for the 1st time, Nissan’s mid-sized Altima sedan outsold Honda’s Accord. Honda is also seeing new competition to its Civic.
“Our U.S. r&d team is taking the next step in our growth toward an even larger responsibility for meeting the needs of our customers in North America,” Berkman told an audience here at the 2012 Management Briefing Seminars here today.
Berkman said Honda’s Raymond, Ohio, r&d center employs about 2,000 people and could expand in the next few years to accommodate the increased responsibility. He also hinted that the U.S. group would engineer the next-generation Civic.
“I’m not saying the scope of our activities is on a par with R&D operations in Japan that were established more than 50 years ago,” said Berkman. “But as an organization, our U.S. facilities and the skill level of our engineers have achieved full citizenship in r&d."
"We’re now a big company. The question is do you play it safe, or do you swing for the fences. I like to swing."
You can reach Lindsay Chappell at lchappell@crain.com.
#2187
The sizzle in the Steak
The question is do you play it safe, or do you swing for the fences. I like to swing."
The following 2 users liked this post by Moog-Type-S:
CarbonGray Earl (08-09-2012),
civicdrivr (08-09-2012)
#2188
The Third Ball
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Age: 45
Posts: 49,283
Received 4,953 Likes
on
2,637 Posts
#2189
Race Director
The U.S. organization will engineer and develop the new-generation Acura NSX sports car, the redesign of the current Civic at the end of this year, the next-generation Accord wagon and Accord coupe
![Too Cool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/toocool.gif)
#2190
"We’re now a big company. The question is do you play it safe, or do you swing for the fences. I like to swing."
Current Civic = Safe
9th gen Accord = Safe
"redesign of the current Civic at the end of this year"... likely to be safe too.
I'm thinking they're referring to the Crosstour because to say "next-generation Accord wagon" would imply that there is a current Accord wagon and there hasn't been one in 15 years.
Last edited by AZuser; 08-09-2012 at 11:41 AM.
#2192
Safety Car
![Talking](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif)
Plenty of people think Honda Motor Co is not the kind of daring, risk-taking company it once was. One of them is Takanobu Ito, who just happens to be the Japanese automaker's chief executive.
His solution? A simple, gasoline-electric hybrid technology which he believes will set a new standard for fuel efficiency and recapture the success of the CVCC engine 40 years ago, which helped transform Honda from a small company into a global leader.
Carmakers, battling to stand out in an industry hammered by over-capacity and weak demand, are looking for an optimum balance of gasoline and electricity to propel cars after Toyota Motor Corp's triumph with the Prius hybrid.
Initially tentative in embracing the technology, Honda believes it has found the right formula with a revamped version of its "1 motor" hybrid system.
"We believe we have reached a point with hybrid technology ... where we can provide game-changing technology and products," Ito told Reuters on Wednesday.
"We believe that rivals will definitely follow us."
Honda's new hybrid system will power the next generation of its cars and could be introduced in the remodelled Fit subcompact car by late 2013 in Japan, according to people close to the company.
Honda introduced its "1 motor" hybrid system in 1999. It is currently used in models including the CR-Z compact sports car and the Fit subcompact, also known as the Jazz.
RECAPTURING FORMER GLORIES
Since becoming chief executive in 2009, the 59-year-old Ito has pushed Honda to come up with its own hybrid technology and repeat the successes of its hard-driving founder.
Soichiro Honda championed advances such as fuel-efficient CVCC engines with cleaner tailpipe emissions in the 1970s, and saw them adopted by carmakers including Toyota, Ford and Chrysler.
Honda needs that kind of a booster again.
Hit in 2011 by a Japanese earthquake and tsunami and floods in Thailand that wrecked its production network, the company also suffered a lackluster launch for the 2012 Civic, which some criticized for an uninspired design and a bumpy ride.
It is now counting on the new Accord mid-sized car, its core model for the U.S. market which was launched there this month. Ito said the car's engine, transmission and platform have all undergone improvements, though it still lags behind Nissan's Altima in fuel efficiency.
Ito also sees the next Fit series as key to improving the company's performance. For the North American market, the Fit will be built in Mexico and will go on sale in the spring of 2014, sources close to the firm said.
Developing new technologies is costly and Honda, which spends about 500 billion yen ($6.4 billion) in R&D annually, does not rule out alliances.
"We absolutely won't reject an alliance if we can work together with another company in a way that leads to our customers being more impressed with Honda's products," Ito said.
"But if we are just going to put onto our product an advanced technology that another company has developed, then Honda engineers will be deprived of the joy of involvement, so that is not the way to go."
#2193
Wasn't sure where to put this, but since this is sorta the general Honda discussion thread....
![Too Cool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/toocool.gif)
![Too Cool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/toocool.gif)
#2194
A video they filmed in their Honda
#2195
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
Thats pretty cool.
#2196
Honda's string of recalls to tarnish maker’s quality reputation?
It was a busy week for Honda, the maker announcing three separate recalls impacting 1.7 million vehicles – even as federal safety regulators revealed a new investigation that could eventually lead to the recall of yet another 600,000 Honda minivans and SUVs.
The latest developments put Honda firmly on track towards repeating last year’s dubious achievement as the maker to recall the most vehicles in the U.S. market. Of a total 15.5 million vehicles recalled in 2011, 3.8 million of them carried badges for Honda or its luxury brand Acura. This past week’s recalls alone accounted for nearly 45% of last year’s total.
Even before the latest series of recalls was announced, George Peterson, chief analyst with AutoPacific, Inc., warned that Honda “needs to be worried” about the impact the ongoing series of recalls could have on its traditional reputation for building some of the market’s highest-quality products.
The latest service action involves 266,000 Honda CR-V crossovers produced during the 2002 to 2006 model-years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that a switch in the driver’s door could melt if it comes into contact with rain or other liquid, leading to an electrical fire.
The problem could occur even if the vehicle is parked – leading the government safety agency to suggest owners should not use the affected vehicles until repairs are made. Honda, however, disputed that warning, claiming a fire is likely only if a large amount of liquid somehow enters the door and comes into contact with the switch.
The maker says it knows of four fires caused by the problem, though it has no reports of crashes or injuries.
Honda says customers can inspect their vehicles and the maker says in most cases it will only need to install a cover to prevent liquids from coming into contact with the switch. Official notice of the recall will go out next month, Honda saying inspections and repairs will be made at no charge to consumers. But the question is what cost the ongoing recalls might have for Honda – beyond the actual price tag for making repairs.
Last week began with word of a recall involving 573,417 Honda Accord and Acura TL sedans due to a potential fire risk. The maker had previously recalled 52,613 vehicles for the same problem.
Several days later, Honda announced it would recall 820,000 Civic compacts and Pilot SUVs due to a problem that could cause their headlights to unexpectedly fail. The maker had already recalled 550,000 vehicles for that same problem earlier in 2012.
Then, on Friday, NHTSA announced it had begun a probe of 577,000 older Honda Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs because a shift interlock may fail, allowing a motorist to remove the vehicles’ keys without being shifted into Park. If that happens it may be possible for the vehicles to unexpectedly roll, especially if parked on an incline. At least two injuries have been linked to the problem, one involving a motorist whose leg was crushed.
Honda officials have repeatedly said that quality is a key to maintaining their competitiveness in a crowded American market. And the maker scored the top spot among mainstream brands in the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey which measures “out-of-the-box” quality of vehicles in the market for 60 to 90 days. Nonetheless, company officials have also acknowledged that the steady stream of recalls could be a problem for their reputation. While senior officials were not available to comment on the latest string of safety related actions, Honda’s top American official John Mendel recently told TheDetroitBureau.com that last year’s recall of 3.8 million vehicles “was an incredible challenge.”
That’s all the more so, industry experts warn, as the quality gap between manufacturers closes. While Honda might have been the leading mainstream maker in the 2012 IQS, noted J.D. Power analyst Dave Sargent, key import and domestic players were not far behind.
What’s made the problem worse for Honda has been the poor reception many of its recent products have received – notably the latest-generation Civic, as well as more niche models like the CR-Z and Insight. Honda is counting heavily on the current launch of its all-new Accord to rebuild its image and momentum. The brand’s sales have been on a sharp upswing, however, in part driven by Honda’s overall recovery from the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami that left it short of product for most of the rest of last year.
But having safety related recalls land in the headlines at such an aggressive pace could give some buyers pause to consider other options, analysts like Peterson warn.
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/honda-s-...putation-.html
The latest developments put Honda firmly on track towards repeating last year’s dubious achievement as the maker to recall the most vehicles in the U.S. market. Of a total 15.5 million vehicles recalled in 2011, 3.8 million of them carried badges for Honda or its luxury brand Acura. This past week’s recalls alone accounted for nearly 45% of last year’s total.
Even before the latest series of recalls was announced, George Peterson, chief analyst with AutoPacific, Inc., warned that Honda “needs to be worried” about the impact the ongoing series of recalls could have on its traditional reputation for building some of the market’s highest-quality products.
The latest service action involves 266,000 Honda CR-V crossovers produced during the 2002 to 2006 model-years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that a switch in the driver’s door could melt if it comes into contact with rain or other liquid, leading to an electrical fire.
The problem could occur even if the vehicle is parked – leading the government safety agency to suggest owners should not use the affected vehicles until repairs are made. Honda, however, disputed that warning, claiming a fire is likely only if a large amount of liquid somehow enters the door and comes into contact with the switch.
The maker says it knows of four fires caused by the problem, though it has no reports of crashes or injuries.
Honda says customers can inspect their vehicles and the maker says in most cases it will only need to install a cover to prevent liquids from coming into contact with the switch. Official notice of the recall will go out next month, Honda saying inspections and repairs will be made at no charge to consumers. But the question is what cost the ongoing recalls might have for Honda – beyond the actual price tag for making repairs.
Last week began with word of a recall involving 573,417 Honda Accord and Acura TL sedans due to a potential fire risk. The maker had previously recalled 52,613 vehicles for the same problem.
Several days later, Honda announced it would recall 820,000 Civic compacts and Pilot SUVs due to a problem that could cause their headlights to unexpectedly fail. The maker had already recalled 550,000 vehicles for that same problem earlier in 2012.
Then, on Friday, NHTSA announced it had begun a probe of 577,000 older Honda Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs because a shift interlock may fail, allowing a motorist to remove the vehicles’ keys without being shifted into Park. If that happens it may be possible for the vehicles to unexpectedly roll, especially if parked on an incline. At least two injuries have been linked to the problem, one involving a motorist whose leg was crushed.
Honda officials have repeatedly said that quality is a key to maintaining their competitiveness in a crowded American market. And the maker scored the top spot among mainstream brands in the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey which measures “out-of-the-box” quality of vehicles in the market for 60 to 90 days. Nonetheless, company officials have also acknowledged that the steady stream of recalls could be a problem for their reputation. While senior officials were not available to comment on the latest string of safety related actions, Honda’s top American official John Mendel recently told TheDetroitBureau.com that last year’s recall of 3.8 million vehicles “was an incredible challenge.”
That’s all the more so, industry experts warn, as the quality gap between manufacturers closes. While Honda might have been the leading mainstream maker in the 2012 IQS, noted J.D. Power analyst Dave Sargent, key import and domestic players were not far behind.
What’s made the problem worse for Honda has been the poor reception many of its recent products have received – notably the latest-generation Civic, as well as more niche models like the CR-Z and Insight. Honda is counting heavily on the current launch of its all-new Accord to rebuild its image and momentum. The brand’s sales have been on a sharp upswing, however, in part driven by Honda’s overall recovery from the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami that left it short of product for most of the rest of last year.
But having safety related recalls land in the headlines at such an aggressive pace could give some buyers pause to consider other options, analysts like Peterson warn.
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/honda-s-...putation-.html
#2197
Safety Car
![Post](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Looks like Toyota does not want Honda to have all the recall glory: Toyota to Recall 7.4 Million
#2198
Race Director
The dedicated threads are closed so I thought I'd throw this in here........
http://www.gizmag.com/hondajet-production/24813/
http://www.gizmag.com/hondajet-production/24813/
The Honda Aircraft Company has announced that its HA-420 HondaJet business jet is entering production. At a press conference at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting and convention in Orlando, Florida, Honda announced that the “world’s most advanced light jet” had passed key testing milestones and is on its way to certification and delivery.
“An assembly line for HondaJet production is in place, major aircraft components including the fuselage and wing have been produced, and we have started assembly of the first customer aircraft,” said Honda Aircraft President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Commencing production is the most important milestone in the HondaJet program to date, with only the future Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification and first customer delivery ranking greater in significance.”
HondaJet is Honda’s first commercial aircraft. With a lightweight composite fuselage and reinforced aluminum wings, its distinctive profile comes from its over-the-wing engine-mount configuration for its two GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines. This is designed to improve performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag.
Carrying up to six passengers, the HondaJet has a 12.15-meter (39-ft, 10-in) wingspan and overall length of 12.71 meters (41 ft, 8 in). Its cruising speed is 778 km/h (483 mph, 420 kn) and it has a range of 2,593 km (1,611 mi, 1,400 nmi). Its airframe design reduces cabin noise and ground-detected noise as well as providing more cabin space and greater cargo capacity. In the cockpit, there is a Honda-customized Garmin G3000 next-generation all-glass avionics system with three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers.
The HondaJet has completed crew-seat crash tests, speedbrake testing, ultimate load tests, EASA windshield bird-strike testing, wind tunnel icing tests, night lighting testing, as well as extreme weather tests. Next year, Honda will provide the United States FAA with the latest two in a series of six HondaJets for flight testing.
The HondaJet also sees the introduction of new manufacturing processes for Honda that include making assembly floor instructions available on tablets, an on-site paint mixing system for thinner paint and the ability to paint several planes, and an Automatic Guided Cart (AGC) – a robot cart to pick up and deliver parts. In addition, Honda has begun construction of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility capable of simultaneously servicing 12 HondaJets, and the installation of HondaJet flight simulators at the Honda Aircraft world headquarters campus in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“An assembly line for HondaJet production is in place, major aircraft components including the fuselage and wing have been produced, and we have started assembly of the first customer aircraft,” said Honda Aircraft President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Commencing production is the most important milestone in the HondaJet program to date, with only the future Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification and first customer delivery ranking greater in significance.”
HondaJet is Honda’s first commercial aircraft. With a lightweight composite fuselage and reinforced aluminum wings, its distinctive profile comes from its over-the-wing engine-mount configuration for its two GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines. This is designed to improve performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag.
Carrying up to six passengers, the HondaJet has a 12.15-meter (39-ft, 10-in) wingspan and overall length of 12.71 meters (41 ft, 8 in). Its cruising speed is 778 km/h (483 mph, 420 kn) and it has a range of 2,593 km (1,611 mi, 1,400 nmi). Its airframe design reduces cabin noise and ground-detected noise as well as providing more cabin space and greater cargo capacity. In the cockpit, there is a Honda-customized Garmin G3000 next-generation all-glass avionics system with three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers.
The HondaJet has completed crew-seat crash tests, speedbrake testing, ultimate load tests, EASA windshield bird-strike testing, wind tunnel icing tests, night lighting testing, as well as extreme weather tests. Next year, Honda will provide the United States FAA with the latest two in a series of six HondaJets for flight testing.
The HondaJet also sees the introduction of new manufacturing processes for Honda that include making assembly floor instructions available on tablets, an on-site paint mixing system for thinner paint and the ability to paint several planes, and an Automatic Guided Cart (AGC) – a robot cart to pick up and deliver parts. In addition, Honda has begun construction of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility capable of simultaneously servicing 12 HondaJets, and the installation of HondaJet flight simulators at the Honda Aircraft world headquarters campus in Greensboro, North Carolina.