1997 Gray! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Bisimoto 2014 Honda Odyssey packs 1,029 hp plus the kids

You know, the last time I drove a Honda Odyssey, I thought, "Man, this thing could really use another 781 horsepower." Thank goodness for the folks at Bisimoto, then, who have brought this "Power-Van" to the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It's your standard seven-passenger Honda Odyssey with massive powertrain tuning to deliver a full 1,029 horsepower. Honda has not listed the torque output, but we imagine it's roughly eleventy billion foot-pounds.
That crazy power bump has been achieved through the use of - *deep breath* - an Infinity ECU, Arias pistons, ARP headstuds and bolts, Bisimoto's own 360-degree oil cap, a cat-back exhaust system, stainless mufflers, an improved fuel pump, new spark plugs, custom headwork, R&R custom steel rods, Turbonetics BTZ7265 twin turbochargers, a wastegate, blowoff valve, VP racing fuels and a whole lot more. Honda says the only chassis/suspension modifications come in the way of Fifteen52 wheels, 225/30-series Toyo T1 Sport tires and Young Guns performance exhaust coatings. So as far as we can tell, this thing still uses a front-wheel-drive setup. I bet it'll do somersaults.
Of course, this is SEMA, where we assume there's a four-modification minimum for any car that enters the Las Vegas Convention Center, so the Odyssey has been given added visual flair, as well. Outside, that means there's a Denmatic design theme, a whole mess of Honda accessories (check out that roof tub) and some new paint. Inside, upgraded upholstery has been fitted, as have Recaro seats.

Takata airbags linked to seventh death

A seventh fatality may be linked to Takata's faulty airbag inflators, based on a recently filed lawsuit in Louisiana. The case alleges that a 22-year-old woman there died in April following injuries from an accident while driving in a 2005 Honda Civic. She reportedly received the mailing about the airbag safety campaign two days after the crash, according to Bloomberg. The accident occurred on April 5 when the vehicle hit a utility pole. The driver's airbag deployed but allegedly sprayed metal shrapnel at the woman. "When she was in the hospital, they did exploratory surgery and found no other injuries," said Kenneth D. St. Pe, the lawyer for the driver's mother who filed the lawsuit, according to Bloomberg. "Her sole injury was that her throat was cut open." In a portion of a statement from Honda to Autoblog, the automaker says: "Honda is now in communication with representatives of the family in an effort to gather further information in order to better understand the situation." The Takata airbag inflator recall was expanded in May to cover 34 million vehicles in this country from 11 automakers. Up until now, the faulty parts have been potentially linked to six deaths, including five in the US and one in Malaysia, plus many injuries. Honda and Takata are facing at least two dozen lawsuits in Florida for claims related to the bad components. So far, the evidence suggests that exposure to moisture causes the propellant to ignite too quickly and cause these ruptures. However, many people aren't getting the problem fixed. Honda Statement: Honda was recently notified of the crash of a 2005 Honda Civic in Louisiana on April 5, 2015 that later resulted in the death of the driver. The crash may have resulted in the rupture of the Takata driver front airbag inflator. Honda is now in communication with representatives of the family in an effort to gather further information in order to better understand the situation. Related Video:

Honda Civic coupe concept gets Type R render

In presenting the Civic coupe concept at the New York Auto Show earlier this month, Honda confirmed that the Type R will eventually be coming to North America. Honda just didn't say when, and in what form. But given the announcement's coincidence with the coupe concept's unveiling, it stands to reason the Type R could look less like the current hatchback and more like the two-door that was unveiled. And if it is, it'd probably look something like this. At least, we hope. Created by Wild-Speed.com and posted on the enthusiast forums at CivicX.com, these renderings envision what a Type R version of the Civic concept would look like – with two doors and all the go-fast bits. It may not be bright green anymore, but it sure looks mean – from the aggressive aero kit to the performance rolling stock. It's even got quad exhaust tips like the Euro-market hot hatch, but mounted in the center like the concept's. So what do you think, is this the version Honda should be sending to its American dealers? Sound off in the Comments. Related Video: