1996 Honda Accord Lx Coupe 2-door 2.2l on 2040-cars

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Honda and Mugen take tuned rides to Tokyo Auto Salon

The Makuhari Messe will open its doors in a couple of weeks for the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon, featuring all manner of custom creations from Japan's automakers. And Honda will be out in force with an array of roadsters, hatchbacks, minivans, and crossovers. Included among them will be some modified with parts from the company's Modulo customization catalog, but the ones we're most interested are being prepared by its longtime performance partner Mugen. Mugen was founded decades ago by Hirotashi Honda, son of Soichiro Honda, the man who started the motor company for which his name is best known. Over the years Mugen has prepared Honda engines and vehicles for motorsport competition, but also customizes the company's road cars for higher levels of performance. At the Tokyo salon, Honda and Mugen will display two amped-up takes on the S660 roadster, along with a Civic Type R featuring even more extreme aero appendages, plus a modified Step WGN Spada minivan and a customized HR-V crossover. Alongside the Mugen show cars, Honda will also display an array of Modulo custom concepts. The lineup includes accessorized versions of the S660, Civic Type R, and Step WGN, but also customized takes on the Fit, N-One, and N-Box. While it's at it, Honda will also showcase some of its racing machinery and motorcycles, including the McLaren-Honda MP4-30, NSX Concept-GT, and the Concept CB cafe racer it displayed at the main Tokyo Motor Show a few months ago. Scope out all the modified automobiles in the Mugen gallery above and the Modulo gallery below for a closer look. Related Video:

2016 Honda HR-V officially finds its fit in Los Angeles

Honda's extended tease for the 2016 HR-V compact crossover is finally over. The CUV debuted in Japan late, last year, and the company has trotted various versions to shows around the world since then. The time has finally come for all of the details about the US version to be revealed at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.
Honda has been keeping the HR-V's powertrain a closely guarded secret - until now. All of them get a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that makes 138 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque with the choice of either a six-speed manual or CVT. Either front- or all-wheel drive is available, but the six-speed is only available on front-driving models.
Based on the same platform as the Fit, the HR-V actually doesn't seem to share much with its smaller sibling in terms of looks and instead borrows more cues from its big brother - the latest 2015 CR-V. Bits of Honda's larger crossover peek out in the grille and roof shape, but the HR-V reinterprets the design in its own funky way. Hiding the rear door handles near the rear pillar is an especially clever touch. The compact's wheelbase is 102.8 inches, just 0.3 inches shorter than its larger sibling. However, overall length for the new model is 169.1 inches, about 10 inches shorter than the CR-V.

McLaren pondering Honda-powered 911 killer?

As one of the premier sports cars in the world, the Porsche 911 is always driving around with a target on its rear-engined backside. If a new report is to be believed, the latest automaker with plans to build a 911-fighting sports coupe could be McLaren. Motor Trend is reporting that the recent news that Honda and McLaren are teaming up to build Formula One racecars could bear road-going fruit as well.
According to the article, the unnamed entry-level McLaren coupe may be powered by a Honda-sourced engine, but a detuned version of the 3.8-liter V8 from the MP4-12C is said to be more likely. All in, though, there is no solid information on the car just yet. As a reminder, M/T points out that the last time McLaren partnered up with a mainstream automaker, the world was introduced to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.