Civic Type R and NSX Supercar Lead Host of Premieres from Honda at 2015 Geneva Motor Show

January 28, 2015 - Signaling a new era for the Honda brand in Europe, every model in the range will be new or refreshed in 2015, with many being unveiled in production guise for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in (this coming) March (2015). Performance cars for road and track, family cars and a fuel cell concept will all feature on the Honda stand.

The return of two performance legends

Geneva will see the global premiere of the Honda Civic Type R production car. The ‘race car for the road‘ will be the most extreme Type R ever built, with blistering performance and thrilling dynamics that set new standards in the segment. A world-first application of Honda’s new 2.0 liter VTEC Turbo engine, aggressive function-led styling and pioneering new chassis technologies combine to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector.

For fans keenly anticipating the launch of Honda’s latest hot hatch icon, a dedicated Type R microsite goes live on 28 January. Here fans can explore and share Type R content, in order to gain access to exclusive snapshots of the performance hatchback ahead of its debut in Geneva: http://youtu.be/LJla-AlnlqY

Hot from its global debut in Detroit, the much-anticipated production Honda NSX will make its European debut in Switzerland, twenty-five years after the original. The hybrid supercar has been specifically created to deliver a ‘new sports experience,’ challenging conventional beliefs about the supercar segment.

New HR-V and Jazz

Production models of Honda’s all-new HR-V and Jazz will debut ahead of their market launches later in 2015.

The all-new HR-V blends the styling of a coupe with the toughness, space and utility of a SUV in a sporty, characterful and versatile B-segment crossover. Re-entering the segment that Honda pioneered with the original HR-V in 1998, the new 2015 model features eye-catching exterior styling, fun-to-drive performance, class-leading fuel economy and unmatched interior spaciousness.

With a sophisticated new look and an upgraded interior, the third-generation Jazz also makes its debut in Geneva. This car has been redesigned from the ground up, building on the strong reputation of its predecessors and featuring a brand new 1.3 liter petrol engine.

Looking to the future

The Honda FCV Concept demonstrates the exterior and interior styling evolution of the next-generation zero emissions Honda fuel-cell vehicle.

The FCV Concept is intended to provide significant gains in packaging, interior space, cost reduction and real-world performance, including an anticipated driving range in excess of 300 miles and a refuelling time of three to five minutes.

Iconic McLaren-Honda partnership returns

The 2015 McLaren-Honda Formula 1 racecar will also be on show at Geneva ahead of its competitive debut at the season opener in Melbourne, Australia on March 15. The new partnership aims to create a legacy to surpass that of the original, when four Constructors’ World Championships were won in four years between 1988 and 1991.

Honda can be found at stand 4250 in Hall 4 at the 85th Geneva Motor Show (March 3 - 15).

HONDA MALAYSIA TARGETS 85,000 SALES UNITS IN 2015

• Honda Malaysia achieved 77,485 sales units in 2014, 50% year-on-year growth 
• Total Industry Volume (TIV) is anticipated at 697,000 units for 2015 with a 4.5% year-on-year growth

Following a highly successful 2014, Honda Malaysia aims to increase its market share to more than 12% in 2015 with a sales target of 85,000 units. With an anticipated year-on-year growth of 4.5% to 697,000 units for the TIV in 2015, Honda Malaysia is confident of achieving its sales target by continuing to strengthen its mid-term strategy here in Malaysia



This challenging target for 2015 rides on the back of an outstanding year in 2014 where Honda Malaysia exceeded its sales target of 76,000 units to achieve 77,485 units. The success of 2014 translated to an increase in market share to an estimated 11.6% against the estimated 2014 TIV of 667,000 units. This was an increase of 3.7 points from the 7.9% that Honda Malaysia achieved in 2013. The strong sales in 2014 was a great achievement, and by doing so Honda Malaysia also took the No. 1 position in the Non-National Passenger Vehicle segment for the first time in its history.

Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yoichiro Ueno said, "This success was made possible with the support and trust in the brand from Malaysian customers."

"Three years ago, Honda Malaysia set a mid-term strategy to elevate our business to 100,000 units and started our preparation for enhancing the competitiveness of our products, increasing production capacity and expanding our dealer network," Mr. Ueno said.

These combined efforts resulted in the successful launch of fresh, entry models to meet market demands - the All-New City and All-New Jazz, which received great response from the market and contributed nearly 70% of Honda's sales last year. Since its launch in March, and until December, the City became the best-selling model in the Non-National B-segment, whereas the Jazz, led the Non-National Hatchback segment. At the same time, the CR-V and Accord also continued to be the best-selling models in their respective segments.

In cementing its stronghold in the market and realising competitive pricing, Honda Malaysia increased its production capacity with the opening of the No. 2 Line in Malacca. This in turn allowed Honda Malaysia to meet the anticipated increase in sales with a shorter product-to-market time with the ability to produce 100,000 units per year.

Honda Malaysia plans to build on the momentum into 2015 by continuing to excite customers with quality products, exciting new models, efficient product-to-market time and excellent services.

Despite offering affordable value-for-money vehicles, safety has always been a priority for Honda. All Honda Malaysia models come fitted with advanced safety features that meet international standards. This emphasis on safety is attested by the numerous safety awards that Honda models has been recognised with.

Some of the safety awards under Honda Malaysia?s belt include an award for Safety Technology for its LaneWatch feature and five awards in Crash Worthiness Performance at the First ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix. Notable wins include the CR-V being named the safest SUV and the All-New City named the Overall Winner for the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP). All current models sold in Malaysia that have been tested by the ASEAN NCAP, have been awarded 5-star rating.

As it continues to grow its sales in Malaysia, Honda supports its customers with an expanding network of dealers nationwide. Currently, there are 77 dealers in Malaysia. Honda Malaysia is targeting to have 90 dealers by 2016 and also increase the number of Body and Paint Centres to 18.

Honda Malaysia believes that 2015 will be a year of tough competition and rapid market movements, and is ready to challenge itself to maintain the momentum from 2014.

Highlights of the 4G CR-V MMC

The 'refresh' or MMC of the 4th Gen CR-V sort of caught me by surprise as I was carried away with the launch of the 2G NSX as well as the excitement of the coming HR-V launch. Nevertheless, it is a very welcome update to the extremely successful CR-V model which should allow Honda to retain its leadership in this segment. 

Here, I cover very briefly the highlights of the CR-V MMC whilst working on a proper coverage article for for the near future.

Overall, this CR-V MMC can be considered a very straightforward face-lift, with minor changes to the styling of the front and the rear. There are also some minor changes to the cabin. All the main change has been for equipment and accessory, with the 2.4l variant being further enhanced with high-end equipment like Honda's Lane Change system, Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI input and others. 

Specifications and mechanical-wise, Honda Malaysia says the engines and gearbox remains the same as before. The engine choice remains between the 155ps R20A SOHC i-VTEC and the 190ps K20A DOHC i-VTEC. However, neither of these are Earth Dreams technology. Here, the most significant change is the addition of the 2WD option for the 2.0l variant, thus turning the CR-V line-up into a three variants line-up; 2.0l 2WD, 2.0l 4WD, and 2.4l 4WD. 

The CR-V has always been '4WD' since its first generation and this is the first time a 2WD CR-V has come to Malaysia. One disappointment is that all the variants continues to be equipped with the 5AT. The Thai 2.0l CR-V now comes with the CVT, so I was expecting the same for Malaysia as well. When asked during the press conference, the answer to 'why no CVT?' is 'we determined the 5AT to be most suitable for Malaysia'. 

The 2WD variant is supposed added because of continous inquiries from potential customers. This variant is very important because the generally dim economic outlook for most of ASEAN means price point will become more and more important in making or breaking a sale. So the 2WD variant allows Honda Malaysia to significantly lower the entry cost of CR-V ownership.

Exterior colour choices is now with 5 options - Modern Steel Metallic, Taffeta White (solid colour), Twilight Blue Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl. Interior colour remains only at Black. 

 

Video of the unveiling ceremony of the 4G CR-V MMC

Honda Malaysia says up to 15% of CR-V buyers in the past have also bought their accessory package especially the bodykit. So this time they offer up to 4 choices of accessories with package prices ranging from as low as RM2,650 to as high as RM6,000.

Warantty is now 5-years of unlimited mileage with service intervals of 10,000km and 6 free labour service if alternated with paid service (i.e. for a total of 100,000km service). 

Prices are 169,800 for the top 2.4l variant, 150,800 for the regular 2.0l 4WD variant and a very attractive 139,800 for the 2.0l 2WD variant. The price point for the 2.0 2WD brings it down to almost Civic 2.0 level and will make it competitive with the new generation of SUVs from Mazda, Peugeot, etc in addition to the traditional Nissan X-Trail. For a change, Toyota actually does not have a viable offering in this segment as their Rush is simply too low-end and the Harrier too high-end. This is good news as with this MMC, the CR-V should continue its winning ways and dominate the market segment.

Honda to Introduce World's First Predictive Safety Cruise Control System

Honda is to introduce the world’s first predictive cruise control system known as Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC), capable of foreseeing and automatically reacting to other vehicles ‘cutting-in’ to the equipped vehicle’s lane.　

Based on extensive real-world research of typical European driving styles, Honda’s Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC) uses a camera and radar to sense the position of other vehicles on the road. It then applies an algorithm to predict the likelihood of vehicles in neighbouring lanes cutting-in by evaluating relations between multiple vehicles, enabling the equipped vehicle to react quickly, safely and comfortably.

i-ACC will make its debut this year on the new European CR-V*, building upon the traditional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system. Traditional ACC systems keep a preselected longitudinal velocity, which is only reduced for maintaining a safe distance to a car in front. However, if a vehicle cuts-in from a neighboring lane, the traditional ACC system reacts later thus requiring stronger braking.

The new i-ACC system is able to compute the likelihood of a cut-in up to five seconds before it occurs, and is therefore designed to react very smoothly so as not to startle the driver, who might not yet be aware of the imminent cut-in. In this case the system applies just a mild brake initially, with an icon appearing on the driver display , informing the driver why a slow-down occurs.. It then proceeds to apply a stronger brake to adapt the velocity to keep a safe distance. Dr. Kleinehagenbrock, responsible for i-ACC at Honda R&D Europe (Deutschland) GmbH says, ‘i-ACC takes cruise control systems to a whole new level, offering what we call ‘predictive safety’.

i-ACC recognises the side of the road you are driving on whether in the UK or on the continent and automatically detects which neighbouring vehicle is the most critical to be aware of at any given moment. 

i-ACC is the result of an in-house Research & Development project undertaken by an international Honda team in Europe and Japan, specifically designed for European roads. Research into driver behaviour to develop the algorithm was carried out across Europe.

Dr. Schmuedderich, responsible for i-ACC at Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH comments: “i-ACC is a significant breakthrough and a considerable further step towards a new generation of driver assistance systems that anticipate the behavior of other traffic participants.”

*i-ACC will be available on the 2015 European CR-V, Executive grade only.

HONDA'S BRAND NEW HR-V TO EXCITE MALAYSIANS!

Petaling Jaya, 6th January 2015 - The All-New HR-V which has been making waves in every country it has been launched, will be hitting Malaysian shores in February 2015.  The All-New HR-V (Hip & Smart Runabout Vehicle) is a new generation vehicle that fuses together the dynamic qualities and secure feelings of an SUV, the excitement and personal feel of a Coupe and the functionality and comfort of a Minivan. In essence, the All-New HR-V is a perfect marriage of individuality and usability.



The All-New HR-V is a new segment in vehicle offerings and this Dynamic New Generation Compact SUV is set to be well received in Malaysia as it incorporates spaciousness,      user-friendliness and functional in its features. With smart interface features and advanced technology adoptions, this new generation compact SUV is set to deliver dynamic performance that combines elegance and fun while providing top safety.

Under the hood, the All-New HR-V features a 1.8L i-VTEC SOHC engine built on a new Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology that enhances both driving performance and fuel economy. The new compact and lightweight CVT features high-efficiency electric oil pump and high strength belt, which improves fuel economy and ensures smooth rapid acceleration.

Size-wise, the All-New HR-V measures 4,294 mm in length, 1,772 mm in width and 1,605 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,610 mm. The wide viewing angle was secured through optimization of the width and angle of the front pillars in order to provide good visibility for the driver. With perfect eye point level, drivers have better viewpoint and a greater sense of security. Driving comfort is further enhanced with low centre of gravity. Keeping to its sporty and bold style, the car is fitted with 16” alloy wheels.

This multi-dimensional compact SUV has increased body rigidity and stability with its super high tensile steel including hot-stamped materials installed at appropriate spots. In addition, the front and rear parts of the body were effectively reinforced to realise the lightweight and highly rigid body that generates sportiness and linear driving performance. Driving pleasure is enhanced with reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), by adopting high-performance sound absorbing and insulating materials installed in the rear area and front inner fenders, floor carpets and floor undercover.

The front face is designed to look bold and tough with unified stylish front grille that's created under the 'Solid Wing Face' concept. The strong distinctive character lines on the sides fuse together the sleek cabin of a coupe and the dynamic lower body exudes toughness. Combining the character lines and rear door handles which are integrated into the side windows, the feeling of an elegant and sporty two-door coupe was created.

The interior design of the High-deck Centre Console is made possible for the first time by adopting the Electric Parking Brake, replacing the hand/foot brake. The new design allows drivers to have their own personal space without infringing into the passenger space. Along with the High-deck Centre Console, a new kind of Multi-utility Drink Holder is developed to not only hold drinks but also to store personal items.

In order to enhance the All-New HR-V's amazing cabin space for driver and passengers, the length of the seat bottom was increased creating ample legroom, while the seatback angle was optimised for better seating posture. This provides optimum comfort and reduces strain to drivers when driving for long hours. The All-New HR-V features high quality material as fabric and soft pad were used for most occupant touch points.

Honda's original centre-tank layout enabled the realisation of a large cargo space and minivan-like rear seats with ample elbowroom. The All-New HR-V is further supported with the Multi-utility cargo space that allows various configurations of seating. The seat dimensions are set for easy manoeuverability and can be arranged into 3 modes - Utility Mode, Tall Mode, and Long Mode. The tailgate opening is as wide as 1,180 mm while the ground height of the tailgate opening is 650 mm, one of the lowest within the class, providing convenience for easy loading and unloading.

Its smart interface features include a 7-inch Display Audio, One Touch Turn Signal and Touch Panel Air Conditioning for a smooth, at-your-fingertip operation. This innovation supports the smart drive concept that is evident in the All-New HR-V. The speedometer also features an illumination ring, which changes colour based on the driving mode to indicate economical driving.

In effort to provide enhanced protection for vehicle occupants and other road users, Honda has embraced a comprehensive approach to vehicle safety that seeks to provide a high level of active and passive occupant protection along with features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Daytime Running Light (DRL), ISOFIX and 6 Airbags (Dual Front SRS Airbags, Side Curtain Airbags and Side Airbags).

The All-New HR-V comes with the new Automatic Brake Hold feature that can be easily activated with a push of the switch. Once it's activated, whenever the driver stops the vehicle by braking, the system automatically holds the vehicle in position without the driver stepping on the brake. This provides convenience to the driver when in a temporary stationary mode. Another new feature introduced in the All-New HR-V is the Electric Parking Brake. It is an advanced parking brake which can be operated by a switch lever. When the conditions (seatbelt and shift position) are fulfilled, the system automatically releases the parking brake with the step of the accelerator pedal.

The All-New HR-V will be available for booking at all 77 dealers nationwide from 6 January 2015 onwards. In conjunction with the upcoming All New HR-V launch, Honda is also organising roadshows at the following locations:

6-11 January 2015
Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur
West Lobby (Starbucks)

9-11 January 2015
Sunway Carnival, Penang
Sub Court

12-14 January 2015
Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur
Sub Court

16-18 January 2015
Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya
Walkway

16-18 January 2015
KSL Mall, Johor Bahru
Sub Court

23-25 January 2015
Village Mall, Sungai Petani
Entrance

For more information, please call Honda's Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or log onto www.honda.com.my.