2013 Honda Cr-v Ex-l.....leather, Sunroof, Back-up Camera on 2040-cars

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Honda Civic poised to get new Earth Dreams engines

When Honda executed its emergency refresh of the Civic for 2013, it didn't do any massive powertrain reworking. But that doesn't mean new things aren't already in the works for Honda's compact. According to Automotive News, Honda has confirmed that it will offer the Civic with a new Earth Dreams powerplant sometime in the future, though details on timing and exactly what sort of engine are unclear as of this writing.
The confirmation comes from Honda's executive vice president and regional director for North America, Tetsuo Iwamura, who says that the Earth Dreams engine will come when the Civic is re-engineered or redesigned, not during a refresh. There is also no mention of whether these changes will apply to just the standard Civic, or if the Si and Hybrid models will receive some Dreamy new tech, as well.
The entire Earth Dreams group of technologies encompasses more than just naturally aspirated engines with direct injection. A turbo-diesel engine is also part of this suite, as are new continuously variable transmissions and new gasoline-electric hybrid powerplants. Honda launched its 2.4-liter and 3.5-liter Earth Dreams engines in the redesigned 2013 Accord.

Honda Civic Hatchback production design pops up in patent shots

Here's a surprise (not!) – the production Honda Civic Hatchback is going to look almost exactly like the concept Honda Civic Hatchback. We can make this judgment based not on common sense, but on a round of patent images uncovered by the Hondaphiles over at the CivicX forums. Notice we said "almost exactly like the concept." There are some obvious changes on this new five-door hatch compared to the Geneva Motor Show showcar, particularly on the front and rear fascias. In back, the twin center-exit exhausts are gone (boo – though those might come back for hotter Si or Type R models), with no visible outlets on these images. In front, the overall look of the fascia is the same, but we're betting it will be toned down – expect less gloss black trim and a smaller chin spoiler. While it goes without saying, the new Civic Hatch will also ditch the more traditional concept car trimmings. Those big wheels, aggressive side sills, and neon-green accents also won't make production. But the good thing here is how true the production model will stay to the concept. The rear spoiler is still there, and the overall look of that shapely rear end is unchanged. And of course, from the B-pillar forward, this is the same Civic we've enjoyed in both Coupe and Sedan varieties. While it's a safe bet that these images are legit, we couldn't find anything in the US Patent and Trademark Office's website. We've reached out to Honda to get confirmation on these pics. Stay tuned. Related Video:

Why Toyota's fuel cell play is one big green gamble

Imagine going to the ballet on Saturday evening for an 8 pm performance. The orchestra begins warming up shortly before the show, but it turns out the star performer isn't ready at the appointed time. The orchestra keeps playing, doing its best to keep the audience engaged and, most importantly, in the building. It keeps this up until the star finally shows and is ready to dance ... which turns out to be ten years later. That's a Samuel Beckett play. It's also how many observers, analysts, alt-fuel fans and alt-fuel intenders feel about the arrival of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) – the few of them who are still in the building, that is. Toyota's hydrogen development timeline rivals that of the US space program. In fact, within the halls of Toyota alone, research on FCVs has been going on for nearly 22 years, meaning that one company's development timeline for FCVs rivals that of the US space program – it was 1945 when Werner von Braun's team began re-assembling Germany's World War II V2 rockets and figuring out how to launch them into space and it wasn't until 1969 when a man set landing gear down on that sunlit lunar quarry. The development of the atom bomb only took half as long, and that's if we go all the way back to when Leo Szilard patented the mere idea of it, in 1934. Carmakers didn't give up on hydrogen in spite of the public having given up on carmakers ever making something of it, so there was a good chance that hydrogen criers announcing the mass-market adoption of periodic chart element number two one would eventually be right. Now is that time. And Toyota, not alone in researching FCVs but arguably having done the most to keep FCVs in the news, isn't even going to be first to market. That honor will go to Hyundai, surprising just about everyone at the LA Auto Show with news of a hydrogen fuel cell Tucson going on sale in the spring. The other bit of thunder stolen: while Toyota's talking about trying to get the price of its offering down to something between $50,000 and $100,000, Hyundai is pitching its date with the future at a lease price of $499 per month ($250 more than the lease price of a conventional Tucson), free hydrogen and maintenance, and availability at Enterprise Rent-A-Car if you just want to try it out. We've seen and driven Toyota's offering and we all know its success doesn't depend on cross-shopping, showroom dealing and lease sweeteners.