Honda's Next-Gen Fuel Concept to Debut in LA, Along With Civic Updates

by: Brandon Turkus

Honda is bringing a new concept to the this month's Los Angeles Auto Show called the FCEV Concept. "FCEV" stands for something, and no, it's not "funky chicken earns victory" or other such nonsense - it's short for fuel-cell electric vehicle, a market that Honda has played in, most recently, with its hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity.

The FCEV is nothing more than a styling exercise (click above to enlarge the sketch) for an eventual production fuel-cell vehicle set to hit US and Japanese dealers in 2015 (sorry Europe, you're stuck waiting). It's not heading to LA to tell us anything about the wider application of the technology used in the FCX Clarity, so fans of hydrogen power shouldn't get too excited. Still, the news that Honda is still pondering a wider-spread for its fuel-cell technology is quite exciting.

"The Honda FCEV Concept demonstrates the company's vision for the future of personal mobility and our commitment to developing advanced alternative fuel vehicles. As we work toward the introduction of our next-generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, our long-term experience with fuel-cell technologies will help us pave a way towards a zero-emissions future," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda.

Besides the world debut of the FCEV, Honda will also be showing more updates for the 2014 Civic. Following the showing of an enhanced Civic Coupe at SEMA last week, Honda doesn't make it clear if we'll be seeing tweaks for the coupe and sedan or if it will just be a reshowing of the models we saw in Las Vegas. Take a look below for the official press release from Honda, and then check back here on November 20 when we have a full recap of everything that happened on the Honda stand at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Honda FCEV Concept sketch hints at futuristic and aerodynamic design of next-generation fuel-cell electric vehicle launching in 2015
Honda also will announce further upgrades to the 2014 Civic, the best-selling compact car in the U.S.

Today a sketch was released of the Honda FCEV Concept in advance of its debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20. The concept model expresses a potential styling direction for Honda's next-generation fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) launching in the U.S and Japan in 2015 and later in Europe.

"The Honda FCEV Concept demonstrates the company's vision for the future of personal mobility and our commitment to developing advanced alternative fuel vehicles," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "As we work toward the introduction of our next-generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, our long-term experience with fuel-cell technologies will help us pave a way towards a zero-emissions future."

Honda has led the industry in the development and deployment of fuel-cell electric vehicles. In 2002, Honda was the first automaker to begin a retail initiative with the leasing of its fuel-cell electric vehicles to fleet customers. Honda also was the first automaker to put a fuel-cell electric vehicle in the hands of an individual retail consumer in 2005. Today, about two dozen customers are driving the FCX Clarity – enjoying the benefits of driving this advanced technology vehicle, while also contributing valuable experience, helping Honda to advance fuel-cell technology for the future.

Further details about the Honda FCEV Concept and the enhanced 2014 Civic, America's best-selling compact car, will be revealed on Nov. 20 at 1:35 p.m. PST at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For photos showing the styling direction of the Honda FCEV Concept, please visit www.hondanews.com.

Honda Environmental Leadership
In addition to producing the FCX Clarity, Honda has deployed numerous technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, including those incorporated in the Accord Hybrid, Accord Plug-In Sedan, Honda Fit EV and the Civic Natural Gas. Honda has also led the Union of Concerned Scientists' (UCS) rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since 2000, and numerous Honda vehicles have been awarded top green accolades from the America Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), appearing on the ACEEE's list of America's greenest vehicles for 16 consecutive years. The FCX Clarity was also named the 2009 World Green Car.

Source: Autoblog

Honda #StartSomething Special: Edythe

Honda Start Something Special -- "Thank You"

Honda Odyssey Lauded for 1999 Redesign

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,” insinuating that people who stubbornly stick to the status quo are doomed to live pretty unrewarding and uninteresting lives.

Automakers like Honda understand this all too well, which is why they put their best and most dynamic minds to work every year to update the cars, trucks, and SUVs most in need of major changes. Honda pours millions of dollars into these redesigns, so when a publication like Cars.com calls out the Honda Odyssey as one of the most improved automobiles of the last fifteen years, we can’t help but feel a little proud.

Honda flaunts freshened 2014 Civic Coupe at SEMA

by: Michael Harley

Honda took the wraps off its 2014 Civic Coupe (red car pictured above) and 2014 Civic Si  at SEMA today, revealing a mid-cycle refresh for each model. The standard Civic coupe benefits from several cosmetic enhancements, while the Civic Si gets the bulk of its improvements under the hood – precisely where the enthusiasts want them.

The best-selling Civic Coupe sports a new front fascia that is "fun and sporty," says the automaker. The more aggressive snout is a step in the proper direction, as its new shape and exclusive grille design gives the two-door a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from its sedan sibling. The rear end follows the same design language, as the lower portion of the urethane bumper gains some character – its smooth surface has been re-sculpted and re-contoured. Newly available 18-inch wheels complete the exterior transformation.

The 2014 Civic Si benefits from a larger spoiler and new wheels, but the big news is in the powertrain. Honda has massaged the 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine and opened up the exhaust system. As a result, output climbs to 205 horsepower (up from 201) and torque increases to 174 pound-feet (up from 170). The power gains aren't extraordinary, but they should allow the coupe to hit 60 miles per hour from a standstill in about six seconds flat and still return over 30 mpg on the open road.

- 2014 Civic Coupe features sportier exterior styling
- 2014 Civic Si boosts fun-to-drive performance with more horsepower
- Launch of Honda Performance Development Street Performance Accessory lineup beginning with CR-Z
- 133-mph Honda "Mean Mower" joins stock and modified cars and motorcycles on display

A significantly updated 2014 Honda Civic Coupe (http://automobiles.honda.com/2014-civic/) made its world debut today at the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, offering a first look at new exterior styling updates to America's best-selling1 compact car. Honda also announced that the performance-oriented Civic Si will benefit from increased power and larger wheels and tires, making both the two- and four-door varieties even more fun to drive.

Honda also surprised performance enthusiasts by announcing plans to begin sales of street-oriented performance parts developed by Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), Honda's U.S.-based race engineering company, starting with a full range of performance accessories for the CR-Z sport hybrid coupe (http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-z/hpd.aspx) that go on-sale at Honda dealerships today. A power-boosting CR-Z supercharger package will follow in the spring of 2014. In the longer term, HPD engineers are also investigating other models and platforms in order to expand Honda's street performance product line.

"With the further advancement of the 2014 Civic Coupe and Si models and an exciting path forward for performance parts drawing on our racing experience we are making a statement about our commitment to the fun to drive character of the Honda brand", said John Mendel, executive vice president auto sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The 2014 Civic Coupe and Coupe Si

Following a major refresh of Civic Sedan styling for 2013, Honda turns its attention to the Civic Coupe and Coupe Si, implementing a host of exterior design changes that include a more aggressive grille, hood, front fenders and headlight design. Additional Coupe exterior changes include new taillight lenses, sportier front and rear bumpers, new side mirrors and new wheel designs.

The Civic Si Coupe benefits from the same styling enhancements as the standard Civic Coupe but adds Si-exclusive design cues, including a unique lower front bumper garnish, larger rear decklid spoiler, a distinctive front spoiler and sporty rear air diffuser. The Civic Si Sedan picks up on these same cues, and both the Si Coupe and Si Sedan get larger, 18-inch (+1 inch) wheels and tires with new wheel designs.

The performance-tuned Civic Si Coupe and Si Sedan also get a retuned exhaust system that helps boost peak output to 205 horsepower2 (+4 horsepower) and 174 lb-ft of torque3 (+4 ft-lb).

More details about the full 2014 Civic lineup will be made available at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show.

Source: Autoblog

Start Something Special: Mairead & Kevin's Wedding

Rise on Record CR-V and Strong Civic Sales

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported October 2013 U.S. total sales of 114,538 units, an increase of 7.1 percent compared with October 2012 (up 3.1 percent based on the Daily Selling Rate, or DSR*). Year-to-date sales reached 1,273,550, an increase of 8.5 percent. Honda Division October sales reached 100,242, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to last October. Acura Division posted sales of 14,296, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to October 2012.
Honda

• CR-V surpasses the previous October record set in 2006, with sales of 22,554 up 11.6 percent from October 2012
• Civic sales for October were the best since 2001 and up substantially over the previous year with an impressive 32.1 percent rise, posting sales of 27,328
• Accord posted October sales of 25,162, with America's best-selling retail model handily passing the 300,000-unit mark for year-to-date, up 11.2 percent for the year versus 2012

"Despite consumer uneasiness early in the month, real demand remains strong across the Honda brand and we remain on track to achieve number one retail sales this year for our core models: Civic, Accord, CR-V and Odyssey," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda. "With the all-new Accord Hybrid arriving at dealerships this week and a significantly updated Civic coming later in the year, we anticipate sales will continue to be hot even as the weather cools down heading into winter."
Acura

• Acura posted October sales of 14,296, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to last October with Acura light trucks recording their best October ever
• MDX sales set an October monthly record with 5,608 units, up 48.7 percent compared to last October
• RDX also set an October record with sales of  3,333, up 25.3 percent compared to last year
• RLX posted its best sales month since its release in March

"The poise and power of Acura's line of light trucks continues to win over an ever-increasing number of discerning SUV customers," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura sales. "With MDX recording its best October since 2004 and RDX continuing to set sales records month over month, Acura has the strongest one two punch in the industry."
*The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 27 days for October 2013 and 26 days for October 2012. Year-to-date, the DSR is calculated with 256 days for 2013 and 255 days for 2012. All other percentages in release are unadjusted; see table for adjusted DSR figures.

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