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Honda teases racing motorcycle-powered concept for Frankfurt

With upcoming models like the next-gen Civic and NSX, Honda is working to return to its performance glory days. We'll see one more manifestation of that desire at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show with the Project 2&4 concept. The single teaser image leaves the styling to anyone's guess, but the vehicle is powered by the potent 1.0-liter V4 from the RC213V MotoGP race bike. Stuffing the high-strung motorcycle engine into the car should at least make a great noise. Unfortunately, Honda is keeping the details very scant in the teaser. The Project 2&4 has no cabin and is meant to combine "the freedom of a motorcycle and the maneuverability of a car." That suggests a low-slung, minimalist body with an emphasis on handling, and the image appears to show open wheels at the front and rear. The company also doesn't say whether it has the race bike's full competition engine with over 235 horsepower or the new street version with 157 hp to over 212 hp, depending on the spec. The Project 2&4's shape is the result of a global competition among the brand's studios. The winning design is the result of cooperation from the motorcycle stylists in Asaka, Japan, and the automotive team in Wako, Japan. We're curious to see what it actually looks like in Frankfurt. Honda to Showcase Re-energized Model Range at 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show Honda 2015 model range of entirely all-new and refreshed cars Global premiere of Honda Project 2&4 powered by RC213V, modified for public road use, showcasing Honda's uniquely creative engineering Honda UNI-CUB ? to make its German debut August 26, 2015 - The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show underlines an important year for Honda and will see the brand presenting its new model range of entirely refreshed and all-new cars displayed together. Alongside the new line-up, Honda will also showcase design concepts and advanced technologies, all demonstrating Honda's unique creativity in meeting the personal mobility challenges of today and the future. Honda Project 2&4 Powered by RC213V – embodiment of creativity and craftsmanship The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show will witness the global premiere of 'Honda Project 2&4'. A winner of the global design competition run by Honda between its global design studios, Honda Project 2&4 represents the company's drive to inspire and reward creative thinking.

Honda HR-V could spawn Acura variant

We've been saying it for months now, but the compact CUV is the next big thing. Everyone, and we mean everyone, is at least considering getting in on the action, if they aren't already actively designing or selling, and that's true whether they're a premium or mainstream automaker. That, of course, includes Acura, whose parent company, Honda, has a compact CUV of its own coming to market very, very soon. With the arrival of the Fit-based HR-V, that begs the question of whether the near-premium marque will join this burgeoning segment. The idea of building a car below the company's entry level CUV, the RDX, is an appealing one to Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel, who called it "potentially the only place you could go," and would occupy the "white space" the company is looking to fill. While we might chuckle about the idea of a luxurious, Fit-based CUV, it's fair to say it could do well for Acura. It could certainly provide a foil to the very hot selling Buick Encore, and may even capture some sales from the luxuriously outfitted Jeep Renegade Limited/Fiat 500X Lounge. It remains to be seen, though, if Acura could build an HR-V capable of tangling with the new entries from Lexus, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

How new car shortages may impact your buying experience

If you want further proof that the auto industry is bouncing back, look no further than the empty lots and forecourts of your local dealership. According to a story by The Wall Street Journal, continued high demand for mainstream cars is overtaxing automakers' ability to produce enough models. Several dealers interviewed for the story are reporting two-week supplies as opposed to the typical two-month allocations.
With sales expected to hit 1.4 million units when August numbers arrive shortly and incentive spending down to its lowest amount since January, these limited supplies are pushing prices even higher. For example, according to the WSJ, the average price of a Ford Fusion is up past $26,000. Unfortunately, it's difficult for manufacturers to increase production quickly. If it invests in its facilities, as many manufacturers have done, it risks wasting cash if growth suddenly slows. At the same time, the momentum gained over the past several years could be short lived if vehicle supplies continue to dwindle. "Manufacturers are in a precarious situation," notes Karl Brauer, a senior director at Kelley Blue Book.
Low interest rates and a wealth of desirable features are also allowing customers to purchase more expensive vehicles while justifying their higher overall price tags, a situation that is compounding supply shortages. Even now, during the annual end-of-summer clearance season, deals on new vehicles are remarkably difficult to come by. According to the report, the Toyota Corolla is in a self-inflicted state of shortage, as Toyota clears out inventory in anticipation of the new 2014 generation arriving in dealers. Ford's supplies should rebound as Fusion production comes on line at its Flat Rock, Michigan factory. The Chevrolet Impala, Honda Odyssey, Civic, and Accord and Subaru Forester are also facing shortages.