1989 Honda Accord Lxi *36k Original Miles* Loaded Minty 4 Cylinder No Reserve on 2040-cars

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The Honda CR-Z is on the way out, at least in Japan

The poor CR-Z, misbegotten and subsequently ignored by both customers and critics. Sales have been a trickle for years, and despite a few half-hearted attempts to kick-start interest it's clear the CR-Z lacks the goods. We've been thinking about its imminent demise for years, and it's already dead in Europe and Australia. Now, the CR-Z's lackluster run is ending in Japan. Inexplicably, that'll make the US one of the last bastions of CR-Z sales in the world. The 1.5-liter engine and electric motor make a combined 130 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque in manual-transmission trim. Yes, a manual transmission hybrid. Quite a unicorn, but don't get too excited. It won't blow your socks off, as we found out in our first drive. And the CVT model, with less power, is predictably less thrilling. Like most final edition packages, the Japan-only CR-Z Final Label gets cosmetic changes, like special edition badging, unique alloy wheels, "Final Label" logos embroidered on the seats, and equipment from the higher trim levels. The attention makes sense in Japan, where collectible special edition cars are highly sought after. It seems unlikely that Honda will bother with anything more exciting than a fire-sale promotion in the US, although we've asked the company what its plans for CR-Z in North America are and will report on what they tell us. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Honda Japan Green Honda Coupe Hatchback Hybrid honda crz

Honda Civic Tourer reminds us why we love wagons

It was the early 1990s when the last Honda Civic Wagon graced our shores, looking more like a squat five-door hatchback with an extra dose of charm. Well, Honda debuted the newest Civic Wagon Tourer at the Frankfurt Motor Show today, but, as we reported last month, it's a European model that will go on sale there early next year. There's still no word of it coming to the US.
The Civic Tourer was designed by Honda's European studio, and its overall look comes across as more muscular, sporty and stylish than both the sedan and two-door coupe, with bulging fenders and revised windows. Adrian Killham, large project leader for the Civic Tourer, has commented on the styling, saying, "Recently launched cars have tended to follow a similar style. The Civic Tourer has a different balance and appeal." We appreciate the sentiment, and the Tourer's shape is a big reason why we like it.
But we also like the 22 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, which grows to a gargantuan 59 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The big Civic will be powered by either a 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with i-VTEC or a 1.6-liter Earth Dreams i-DTEC diesel engine. Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered.

2015 Australian Grand Prix all about grooves and trenches [spoilers]

We can't remember the last time 90 percent of the action in Formula One had nothing to do with cars setting timed laps. Yet that's was the situation at the Australian Grand Prix, continuing the antics from a scarcely believable off-season with blow-ups, driver and team absences, a lawsuit, and a clear need for some teams to get down and give us 50 pit stops. Nothing much has changed from a regulation standpoint, and at the front of the field nothing has changed at all. Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas claimed the first position on the grid like someone put a sign on it that read, "Reserved for Mr. Hamilton;" teammate Nico Rosberg was 0.6 behind in second, Felipe Massa in the Williams was 1.4 seconds back in third. Sebastian Vettel proved that Ferrari didn't do another Groundhog Day routine this off-season, slotting into fourth. His teammate Kimi Raikkonen was not even four-hundredths of a second behind, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the second Williams, Daniel Ricciardo in the first Infiniti Red Bull Racing, and rookie Carlos Sainz, Jr. in the first Toro Rosso. Lotus, now powered by Mercedes, got both cars into the top ten with Romain Grosjean in ninth, Pastor Maldonado in the final spot. However, even though the regulations are almost all carryover, in actual fact, everything has changed this year. Mercedes is even faster. Renault is even worse. Ferrari and Lotus are a lot better. Toro Rosso is looking like anything but a junior team. And McLaren is – well, let's not even get into that yet. Furthermore, this weekend was shambles: 15 cars started the race, the smallest naturally-occurring grid since 1963. Manor couldn't get its cars ready before qualifying. Bottas had to pull out after qualifying when he tore a disc in his back and couldn't pass the medical clearance tests. The gearbox in Daniil Kvyat's Red Bull gave out on the lap from the pit to the grid, and to give misery some company, the Honda in Kevin Magnussen's McLaren blew up on the same lap. When the lights went out, Hamilton ran away and was more than a second ahead of his teammate at the end of Lap 1. The advantage disappeared, though, because behind him, at the first corner, we got our first pile-up. As Raikkonen drove around the outside of Vettel at the right-hand Turn 1 it looked like Vettel, going over the kerbing, hopped to his left and bounced into Raikkonen.