Honda introduces the NSX Concept-GT that will race the 2014 SUPER GT Series GT500 Class


Earlier this morning, Honda has announced the introduction of the NSX CONCEPT-GT, a racing machine designated for entry in the GT500 class of the 2014 SUPER GT Series at Round 5 of the "2013 AUTOBACS SUPER GT" at Suzuka Circuit.

zoomLogo of NSX CONCEPT-GT


The NSX CONCEPT-GT is a race-only machine built from the NSX Concept which debuted in January 2012 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
This vehicle adheres to the Japan Automobile Federation's GT500 regulations for 2014. This means a different engine from the NSX Concept, a mid-mounted 2.0 L inline direct-injection 4-cylinder turbo engine and a racing hybrid system.

A prototype NSX at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has already been showcased on August 4, the race day of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

Unfortunately, the 2014 Super GT series will miss Sepang for Thailand and Korea.

Do you think the NSX GT will outshine the HSV-GT010?

A link to the video of the test run of the NSX Concept GT is attached below.

More photographs courtesy of Honda Japan.









New 3G Fit/Jazz specifications

With the launch of the new 3rd generation Fit/Jazz in Japan just around the corner, now is a good time to consolidate what is known and what is expected of the all important specifications of the car, based on what has been leaked and also info feeding in from insiders.

For the 3rd generation, the Fit/Jazz continues to come with three main engines - 1.3l, 1.5l and a hybrid IMA engine which is now offered in 1.5l form only. Below is a leaked photo from a dealer's training manual that has been published on the internet. A TOVer posted it on our TOV forums but did not disclose the source.




According to another TOVer, when translated the following informations are pertinent:
- 1.3L DOHC, atkinson cycle but no DI (direct injection) mention
- 1.5L DOHC, Di but no atkinson mention
- 1.5L DOHC, atkinson cycle but no DI mention



Note that the information may not be complete and is contradicting to other sources, e.g. Best Car. For e.g. according to Best Car, the 1.3l is SOHC in format but the information above says it is DOHC VTEC with VTC (i.e. DOHC i-VTEC). However, the information above should be more accurate.

Also, the hybrid engine is 1.5l DOHC VTEC with VTC and according to past press releases, it is expected to operate using the Atkinson cycle for 'low-cams' and the normal Otto cycle for 'high-cams'.

As far as expected/leaked power info are concerned, the following is generally accepted:

1.3L : 98 ps, 88 lb-ft torque, 28 km/l fuel economy, i-DCD and 5MT
1.5L : 130 ps, 15.7kgm torque, 23 km/l fuel economy, i-DCD and 6MT 
1.5L IMA : 118 hp, 30ps from the IMA motor alone, 36 km/l fuel economy, most probably only i-DCD option only

Other details additional pages of the the leaked document provide additional details such as:
- Pre-safe tech (a new safety feature) would brake down to about 30kmph
- Orders for the JDM will be taken from 8/1. On sale date is 9/5
- LED headlights will be available in some trims
- 4WD models won't reach the dealers until December.
- A/C control through the touch-panel in some trims (like in the SUV concept)

On the new FIT SUV:
- On sale end of November
- Engine lineup same as Fit
- Both 2WD & 4WD available at launch, 4WD system similar to CR-V (i.e. RT-4WD)
- It says there will be a hybrid 4WD version, as well as 2WD.

TOV chief editor Jeff Palmer had a chance to drive the new generation IMA hybrid engines, in prototype form, late last year when he was part of the contingent to Japan courtesy of AHM and has this to say of his experence:
The one prototype I drove was pretty revvy - better than I thought. As mentioned, it leverages VTEC to operate in Atkinson mode on the low cam lobes, and at higher rpms it switches to a normal otto cycle, and it feels reasonably sporty. From a dead stop, the electric motor lurches you forward and you're halfway through first gear before the gasoline engine even gets the chance to fire up. In my notes I wrote that it felt like you finally got max power in 3rd gear. I also noted it got a little buzzy at high rpms (but not unreasonably so) but hell, even the new K24Ws are a little buzzy when wound all the way out (especially on the CVT), and this was still an engineering prototype (i.e. probably very little sound deadening). I also noted that the trans+motor assembly is really small and that the motor is considerably larger than the 7DCT.



 

Photos of the new 3G Fit RS.

For fans of Honda's wondercar the Fit/Jazz, with its impending launch for Japan just around the corner, there are now videos of the car on youtube. Earlier we pointed out a preview documentary on the new 3G Fit/Jazz Hybrid. But several other videos are also available on youtube, though most of them being of still shots of the car. Of great interest to Honda enthusiasts would be the new JDM-only Fit RS, of which still shots of what seems to be the actual car are featured in the video below.


At the end of the video, make sure to check out the recommendations by youtube as there are quite a few other videos/still shot montages of the new 3G Fit/Jazz.

Documentary on new 3G Honda Fit/Jazz Hybrid


With the launch of the new 3rd generation Fit/Jazz just around the corner, previews of the car from japanese media are already available. For fans of the car, below is a TV program feature a preview of the new 3G Honda Fit/Jazz Hybrid.