We offer you two high resolution photos of the new WTCC 1.6l Turbocharged Honda Civic. They are provided by Honda of Europe's media service. These photos are in their original sizes and only differs in the small TOVA watermark added.
Showing posts with label feature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feature. Show all posts
Scoop photos on new CR-Z MMC : Power Comparison
TOVA reader Alan posted some photos to our TOVA Facebook (thanks Alan), the same photos being also posted on our TOV forums. It is likely these photos are taken off a japanese magazine due to the quality of the photos, as well as the layout of the last photo which seems to be more of a montage of photos. Nevertheless, these photos gives us very interesting info on the new CR-Z MMC to be launched on the 27th, just 10 days away from the date of this posting.
The first photo, which I look at in this post, is the power comparison. From this comparison, we can see that the MMC will nett power increases for the CR-Z as follows:
CR-Z 6MT
Max Power - 100kW/136ps at 6,600rpm, up from 91kW/124ps at 6,000rpm
Max Torque - 19.4kgm/190Nm at 1,000-2,000rpm, up from 17.7kgm/174Nm at 1,000-1,750rpm
CR-Z CVT
Max Power - 99kW/135ps at 6,600rpm, up from 90kW/123ps at 6,000rpm
Max Torque - 17.5km/172Nm at 1,000-3,000rpm, up from 17.0kgm/167Nm at 1,000-2,000rpm
The new redline seems to be set at 6,800rpm, up from 6,200rpm so the new rev-cut is likely to be at 7,000rpm.
This 12ps is definitely coming from improvements to both the petrol engine and the IMA electric motor, as confirmed in Honda's own press release for this CR-Z MMC in the Paris Motor Show. Bear in mind that Honda has also confirmed that this CR-Z MMC will be using the new Lithium-Ion (LiOn) IMA battery and the matching IMA electric motor is more powerful (running at a higher voltage than the old NiMH IMA motor).
It is not known if this CR-Z MMC will be using the same IMA electric motor as the new 9Gen Civic Hybrid but the Civic Hybrid's motor is rated at 23hp at 1,546-3,000rpm and a torque of 78lbft (approx 10.7kgm) at 500-1,546rpm. For comparison, the current (pre-MMC) CR-Z's IMA electric motor is rated at 13hp at 1,500rpm and 58lbft (approx 8.0kgm) at 1,000rpm, exactly the same as the Insight which uses the same motor.
As it is likely the CR-Z MMC will now use the same IMA electric motor from the 9Gen HCH, it suggests that the power increase from the petrol engine alone should be very little, a few horses only which matches to info we have heard so far. There have been guesses that the engine will now be DOHC instead of SOHC but the quantum of the power increase does not support this guess. Also the max-torque rpm range, especially for the CVT variant, is now much wider. But the fuel consumption and emissions remains the same according to Honda's press release. So this suggests that the engine should remain largely the same except for some mods to improve air-flow, especially to cater for the slightly higher 6,800rpm redline.
The new CR-Z MMC's power chart shows some very desirable improvements to the driving performance. The 9G HCH for e.g. has surprisingly good overtaking power, with a mild 'push against the seat' when the throttle is opened to WOT for overtaking. So the new CR-Z MMC should offer an even better performance in this area especially the 6MT. Of intrigue is whether Honda will change the gear ratios for the 6MT, though history has shown that they are likely to do so. The extra 600rpm will allow a higher/shorter ratios to be used and Honda is likely to continue to spec 2nd gear to hit 99kph at redline.
(A little bit) More info on the CR-Z MMC
We have received a little bit more information on the CR-Z MMC which will be launched at this coming Paris Motor Show on the 27th of this month.
Firstly, while the official Honda of Europe's press release has called it the '2013 CR-Z', we have been hearing the term 'CR-Z GT'. It would seem that there is a possibility the MMC CR-Z will be called the CR-Z GT in Europe.
Honda has already announced that the MMC CR-Z/CR-Z GT will feature increases in power of both the petrol engine and the IMA electric motor but yet still keeping the same fuel consumption and emissions. What we have heard from our source is that the actual increase in power is 12ps/hp. However we are not told if this is for the petrol engine alone or for the combined output. Even if this 12ps/hp is for the combined (engine+IMA motor) output, it still means the new MMC CR-Z/CR-Z GT will now have 136ps/hp max power, which will finally make it more than just acceptable.
Note however that as with all 'scoop' and 'insider' info, there is no guarantee that this is correct or that this will not change when the actual final car is launched in Paris.
The photo above is from Honda of Europe's media site.
USDM 9G Accord reviews now appearing...
For the U.S., Honda markets three versions : two variants of the 2.4l iVTEC (the new K24W engine) and the 3.5l V6 (the J35A engine), mated to 6MT, 6AT as well as a new generation CVT. All are the new generation 'Earth Dreams' (ED) powerplants.
For ASEAN however, we can expect to continue getting 2.0l and 2.4l versions, hopefully of the new ED generation as well. Honda Malaysia used to sell the 3.5l V6 version, even for the current generation model but have discontinued it due to lack of sales (Honda think they can see that no-one is willing to pay 200k or more for an Accord. And yet at the same time, they are amazed when Honda fans paid 200k for a 'mere' Civic - Type-R. Sadly, Honda have never understood it over the years and looks like will still continue to not get it).
For the ASEAN Accord which is expected to come next year, it is not known if the 2.0l version will continue with the R20A engine. For the 2.4l version, remember that in the U.S. there are currently 2 variants of the new K24W engine, one with 185hp and one with 189hp, the difference being in the exhaust system. For ASEAN, based on what happened with the current, soon to be out-going 8Gen Accord, expect to get the lower-powered 185hp engine. For the 8Gen, I did ask Honda engineers why we get the 'lower spec' engine and they told me it's because the higher powered engine required a freer flowing exhaust system which is louder and 'does not' meet noise regulations in certain parts of Asia (I know, when I heard it, it was also astounding to me).
So expect the new 9G AseanDM Accord to be featured with a 185ps 2.4l DOHC i-VTEC ED engine. Hopefully it will feature a 6AT as well though I do not expect Honda to be brave enough to launch the CVT for ASEAN. Do not hold out for any hopes for a 6MT version, I am fairly sure Honda will not be so adventurous.
Currently, at the time of this post, we already have the reviews for the Accord 3.5l V6 (278hp) 6MT and the Accord 2.4l Sport 6MT versions. Jeff and our U.S. reviewers are preparing the reviews for the rest of the versions. Also in the same page are the P.R photos as well as full specifications, all for the USDM specific 9Gen Accord.
0-60mph in the Honda CR-Z 6MT
I just put up my article on 0-60mph and 0-100kph testing on the Honda CR-Z 6MT. The article can be reached via http://asia.vtec.net. If you are a CR-Z 6MT owner who have done similar testing, would be interesting to hear from you and compare results.
Please do read our disclaimer on standing start acceleration testing.
'New' Honda CR-Z coming this month !
For the JDM, Honda has officially announced the launch of a new CR-Z variant on the 27th of September (this month). The official 'announcement' is on the Honda domestic website http://www.honda.co.jp/CR-Z/new/. This announcement actually doesn't really say anything much, with only 3 teaser photos and the official date of launch. The three photos suggests that the 'new' or MMC CR-Z will get LED daylight running lights (DRLs), a new wheel design and a button on the dashboard labelled 'S+'. What does this 'S+' button do ? There is nothing else on the Honda.co.jp page.
However, one TOV reader/supporter reports that the main items of significance introduced in this facelift, or MMC, are a 'slightly more powerful' engine and special "push-the-button-to-the-boost" feature. This 'push button' seems like the 'S+' button above. The information suggests that this button offers a function like the F1-KERS, and gives the option to consume maximum of electrical power in short time. However, no other details are available at this time.
It is not known if or when CR-Z's sold outside of Japan will get this facelift.
UPDATE :
There is a suggestion from another TOV forumer who has 'credentials', that this MMC will introduce the new '2nd generation' IMA powerplant for the CR-Z. This is the new 'Earth Dreams' or ED engine with uprated IMA motor and the Lithium Ion battery pack. The ED engine have just been debuted with the launch of the new 9Gen Accord in the U.S. and it would make sense that ED will now start making its way to the other models.
It is also noted that on the same date (Sept 27th), the CR-Z MMC will also be launched in Europe. According to the European press, the same day will also see the launch of the new 9G Civic Type-R for Europe, which they are guessing will have the new ED 1.6l turbo-charged engine from the HPD (Honda Performance Division) racing Civic.
Finally, do bear in mind that there have been rumours of a turbocharged CR-Z in the works, a rumour which I was able to confirm as real with one Honda insider I had contact with at one time. So there was also a suggestion that perhaps the European press have made a mistake or was misled, and the MMC CR-Z will see the introduction of the much talked about 'hot' CR-Z that the CR-Z LPL told me in person, that will be launched by Honda. I.e. this MMC will see a 1.6l turbocharged CR-Z which some rumours claims will have a max power of 180hp.
Sept 27th is but 3 weeks away from today. I will be trying to get more info so stay tuned and check back this post often, or go to TOVA facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TOVAsia for notifications of updates to this post.
UPDATE :
There is a suggestion from another TOV forumer who has 'credentials', that this MMC will introduce the new '2nd generation' IMA powerplant for the CR-Z. This is the new 'Earth Dreams' or ED engine with uprated IMA motor and the Lithium Ion battery pack. The ED engine have just been debuted with the launch of the new 9Gen Accord in the U.S. and it would make sense that ED will now start making its way to the other models.
It is also noted that on the same date (Sept 27th), the CR-Z MMC will also be launched in Europe. According to the European press, the same day will also see the launch of the new 9G Civic Type-R for Europe, which they are guessing will have the new ED 1.6l turbo-charged engine from the HPD (Honda Performance Division) racing Civic.
Finally, do bear in mind that there have been rumours of a turbocharged CR-Z in the works, a rumour which I was able to confirm as real with one Honda insider I had contact with at one time. So there was also a suggestion that perhaps the European press have made a mistake or was misled, and the MMC CR-Z will see the introduction of the much talked about 'hot' CR-Z that the CR-Z LPL told me in person, that will be launched by Honda. I.e. this MMC will see a 1.6l turbocharged CR-Z which some rumours claims will have a max power of 180hp.
Sept 27th is but 3 weeks away from today. I will be trying to get more info so stay tuned and check back this post often, or go to TOVA facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TOVAsia for notifications of updates to this post.
New Accord
We (TOV) have just published official PR photos of the new USDM Accord, known as '2013 Accord' in the U.S. For asian Honda fans, do pay close attention as this version will be roughly what we ourselves will be getting when it comes time for us to get the new Accord. Do not expect this until earliest possible end of next year (2013) though, perhaps possibly even as far away as 2014.
For the U.S., AHM has already more or less committed that the new Accord will debut Honda's new generation of engine line-up which they calls the 'Earth Dream' engines. This is a line-up of engines that have been specifically developed to offer new advances in emissions control and in fuel economy. Honda's IMA hybrid set is also set to feature prominently in this line-up. Also included in the line-up will be a new generation CVT gearbox which, from what I have heard from some Honda engineers, will offer significantly better efficiency that any automatic gearboxes Honda currently offers, with drive-train losses well below 20%.
For the official AHM press release, click on the link below. However, do keep in mind that this is the USDM version but also that our asian version will be heavily based on it.
Honda CR-Z Review is out.
My initial review of the CR-Z is finally finished. There was a slight delay in getting it published on TOVA but it is finally up as at yesterday night. As I did several different tests on this car, I have taken the strategy of publishing several articles so this initial review will be followed by a few other shorter reviews addressing specific areas, like dyno results, or 0-100kph standing start acceleration tests.
More than any other Honda model, the CR-Z has been 'different'. It is Honda's first hybrid 'sports car', and one of the first hybrid 'sports car' in the world. In addition, Honda has taken a quite different approach with the CR-Z, compared to their sports coupes and hot hatches of old, like the Integra, Civic SiR, CR-X, and so forth, and especially their Type-Rs. Consequently, the CR-Z has elicited countless controversies and even outright arguements between long time Honda fans. Opinions of it have been really polarized, with lots of praises and lots of criticisms. After 'owning' the car for a weekend, I have found that, as would be expected and as usual, it all really do depend on one's point of view. This is one of the most important issue I intend, and hope, to address in this review feature.
To make it easy for you, the link to TOVA is at http://asia.vtec.net. Feel free to give your comments or ask your questions here in this post.
The NSX is coming !!! Part Two
The first time the new NSX was confirmed was just after the Tokyo Motor Show of this year, when Jeff told me he had to rush back to the U.S. for a very special preview. I did not know, nor expect the significance of that at the time. Previously, while Honda CEO Ito-san had publicly confirmed a new Honda supercar, he did not confirm it would be the NSX. In fact, from the many conflicting and chaotic reports on the media, many actually claims that their 'insider info' says that it will be the HSV-010GT FR supercar that Honda has been competing with in the Super GT competition over the past two years.
The very first inkling of this new NSX was when a friend 'on the inside', mentioned how as an employee, he was elated when Ito-san announced that the new NSX would be made. Jeff was sharper than me then and when I related the news to him, he quickly grabbed on the word 'new NSX' and asked me if I can get any further details about it, because all other reports were harping on the HSV-010 instead. Unfortunately I wasn't able to.
For a long time, the HSV-010 was considered, assumed, and more or less accepted as the 'new supercar' that Ito-san announced. There were some other hints received by other TOV forumers 'with connections' and one forumer had in fact, kept pointing out that he was told of 'something very exciting' but which is -not- the HSV-010. But neither he, or we, could get anything further on it.
The momentous preview event that Jeff attend, where Acura confirmed that the new 'something very exciting' -will- be the new NSX took place early December last year and Jeff was amongst the very selected group of journalists who were shown a real life prototype of the new NSX concept. The TOV news and rumours report is in this link -> http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1020643
Photos were not allowed to be taken at that preview. Most publications also honoured Acura's desire for secrecy by not publishing any 'artist rendering', which would have also blown the cover like an actual photo. In the meantime, Jeff tried his best to describe the new NSX. The excerpt from the NNR report is below:
NSX (Concept)
Alongside the flagship, a new "super sports car" shares the role as the range topper for Acura. Acura didn't officially call it the NSX during their presentation, but everybody we spoke with following the presentation said it was indeed the NSX successor. I took that as good news. UPDATE: In their press release released this morning, Acura is calling it the "NSX Concept". Some text below is updated to reflect that.
Acura showed us the actual NSX Concept which will be revealed in Detroit next month. Unfortunately there was no photography allowed, but I can tell you that this will be one of the biggest reveals for Acura in recent history. Basically this is the car that was spied on the "Avengers" set late in the Summer, but it's clearly been further developed and it's also in hard-top form. Finished in a sliver paint, the concept is absolutely stunning, and carries on the NSX tradition of a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The design is muscular, futuristic, and sharp, and vaguely similar to the Audi R8.
Compared to the "Avengers" car, the front end on this concept actually has working LED headlights - there are 5 "squircle" projectors embedded within each headlight housing. The rear bumper is also virtually identical to the "Avengers" car but with a real roof and backlight and more "production-looking" taillights, the overall visage is considerably different. Like the "flagship", the exhaust finishers are integrated into the bumper. A really cool (but not necessarily original) styling element is the "flying buttress" C-pillars. The C-pillars feature a "pass-through" which appears to be designed to channel air smoothly around the cockpit and over the rear of the vehicle. It's like an elongated version of the flying buttress seen on the Ferrari 599 - the NSX has a much faster angle on the backlight, which naturally lengthens the C-pillar. The gap between the C-pillar and the glass is fairly narrow, however. For the record, this concept wore Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires in 255/35ZR19 size up front, and 275/30ZR20s in the rear.
Acura wouldn't tell us anything about the engine or powertrain, but off the record they were quick to tell us that the announced Electric SH-AWD system with 3.5L DI V6 was clearly not potent enough for this car. It should be noted that THAT powertrain, with its 7-speed dual clutch gearbox and 3 electric motors, develops a peak output in the neighborhood of 400hp. Obviously with the MR layout, Honda has to engineer a very specific setup for this car, and we're assuming it will essentially be a reversed layout compared to the FF-oriented design which was revealed previously.
We are hopeful that it will receive a very special high output, high revving gasoline engine that is fitting of the NSX heritage, while leveraging the electric motors and onboard battery to deliver on the "smart luxury" promise of excellent fuel economy. Acura told us that they would be releasing more information and details about this car at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.
Alongside the flagship, a new "super sports car" shares the role as the range topper for Acura. Acura didn't officially call it the NSX during their presentation, but everybody we spoke with following the presentation said it was indeed the NSX successor. I took that as good news. UPDATE: In their press release released this morning, Acura is calling it the "NSX Concept". Some text below is updated to reflect that.
Acura showed us the actual NSX Concept which will be revealed in Detroit next month. Unfortunately there was no photography allowed, but I can tell you that this will be one of the biggest reveals for Acura in recent history. Basically this is the car that was spied on the "Avengers" set late in the Summer, but it's clearly been further developed and it's also in hard-top form. Finished in a sliver paint, the concept is absolutely stunning, and carries on the NSX tradition of a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The design is muscular, futuristic, and sharp, and vaguely similar to the Audi R8.
Compared to the "Avengers" car, the front end on this concept actually has working LED headlights - there are 5 "squircle" projectors embedded within each headlight housing. The rear bumper is also virtually identical to the "Avengers" car but with a real roof and backlight and more "production-looking" taillights, the overall visage is considerably different. Like the "flagship", the exhaust finishers are integrated into the bumper. A really cool (but not necessarily original) styling element is the "flying buttress" C-pillars. The C-pillars feature a "pass-through" which appears to be designed to channel air smoothly around the cockpit and over the rear of the vehicle. It's like an elongated version of the flying buttress seen on the Ferrari 599 - the NSX has a much faster angle on the backlight, which naturally lengthens the C-pillar. The gap between the C-pillar and the glass is fairly narrow, however. For the record, this concept wore Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires in 255/35ZR19 size up front, and 275/30ZR20s in the rear.
Acura wouldn't tell us anything about the engine or powertrain, but off the record they were quick to tell us that the announced Electric SH-AWD system with 3.5L DI V6 was clearly not potent enough for this car. It should be noted that THAT powertrain, with its 7-speed dual clutch gearbox and 3 electric motors, develops a peak output in the neighborhood of 400hp. Obviously with the MR layout, Honda has to engineer a very specific setup for this car, and we're assuming it will essentially be a reversed layout compared to the FF-oriented design which was revealed previously.
We are hopeful that it will receive a very special high output, high revving gasoline engine that is fitting of the NSX heritage, while leveraging the electric motors and onboard battery to deliver on the "smart luxury" promise of excellent fuel economy. Acura told us that they would be releasing more information and details about this car at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.
In the next couple of posts, I will take a look at some of the artist renderings of the new NSX and our (TOV) take on how accurate they are. Then readers will have a chance to check out the new NSX first-hand when we report direct from the floors of the NAIAS 'Detroit Motor Show' media preview session which will start this coming Monday.
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