2001 Honda Cr-v on 2040-cars

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Alonso and Button try out Honda's Uni-Cub mobility scooter

As two of the best racing drivers in the world, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have some pretty serious wheels at their disposal. They'll both be driving the latest McLaren-Honda MP4-30 on the track this year, will likely have access to supercars like the new Acura NSX or McLaren 650S for toying around with when they're not working, and probably each have an enviable motor pool of their own at home. This, then, must have been quite a change of pace for them both. As you can see from this video tweeted by McLaren, the two highly accomplished F1 drivers hopped on a very different set of wheels recently: namely, Honda's Uni-Cub "personal mobility device." The experimental electric motorized bar stool is controlled by shifting your weight to and fro (like a Segway), but stands just two feet tall and tops out at less than four miles per hour. At that rate, it would take them almost an hour to take one lap around the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, where the 2015 United States Grand Prix will be held in October. In that same time span, for perspective's sake, they'd be lapped more than 30 times by their rivals... so they'd better stick to the racing machinery once the championship gets under way. What happened when @alo_oficial and @JensonButton got hold of a UNI-CUBAcA?A¦ https://t.co/YP8r9z1OsG - McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 10, 2015

Honda Civic Si spotted looking sporty but mature

Our spy shooters have captured the next-generation Honda Civic Si Coupe. Judging by these photos, the introduction of the Civic Type R in the United States will allow the Si to carry its performance torch with a more subdued look than its boy-racer sibling. Up front, we see a fascia that's more aggressive than the standard Civic Coupe, with large, angular depressions flanking a central air intake. We're wondering what exactly all that tape is hiding on its face. There's a cooling element behind the lower intake, which is probably an intercooler for the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Rumors suggest a power output of around 230 horsepower. One unique styling element that's plainly visible on this Si mule is a single large exhaust opening sprouting from under the rear bumper. Its central location is similar to that of the Type R that we've seen in spy shots, but instead of three outlets, there's just one. It's a pretty cool look, and we're excited to hear how it sounds. There's no spoiler on this mule, but we wouldn't be surprised to see an optional unit on the production model. Inside, there's a six-speed manual transmission and red stitching on the seats and steering wheel. Those seats look to have pretty substantial bolsters. There's carbon fiber trim on the dash and alcantara fabric on the doors. We've got 28 images of this Si mule, showing it from just about every angle. Scroll through our high-res gallery above and let us know what you think. The next Civic Si will probably go on sale in 2017, which means it'll make a debut either late this year in LA or early next year in Detroit. Stay tuned. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery Honda Civic Si: Spy Shots View 28 Photos Design/Style Spy Photos Honda Coupe Performance honda civic si

Recharge Wrap-up: Charging in Iceland, Smart "For" campaign, Honda open sources Smart Home

Iceland's EV charging network is expanding by 200 units. A subsidiary of Northern Lights Energy called EVEN is providing and installing the rapid chargers, which it hopes to have installed by the end of the year. EVEN's Gisli Gislasson says, "We couldn't wait for the government and decided to do our part in this." Iceland's government hopes to have 10 percent of the cars on its road powered by sustainable fuels by 2020. Read more at Iceland Review. Argonne National Laboratory is working to create universal charging for electric vehicles. Through its new Electric Vehicle Interoperability Center, the group is studying ways to standardize charging so any type of electric vehicle in any country can charge at any charging station. Additionally, the research is working on ways to better integrate electric cars to a smart grid, to the point where EVs could even act as part of the grid, charging when they need it and providing electricity during peak hours. Go to Phys.org for more details. Smart has launched its "For" campaign in Europe. The maker of the tiny city cars is reaching out to the public through updated branding, ads through various channels and social media engagement to get people thinking about Smart in fresh ways. The campaign emphasizes the "For" idea, as in "For challenging the status quo," "For loving the city," etc. Also as part of the campaign, Smart will be embarking on a Europe-wide roadshow to 15 different cities, where the public can learn more about the cars – particularly the Fortwo and Forfour models – and even arrange a test drive. Read more in the press release below. Honda is publicly sharing plans associated with its Smart Home project. The project, which goes beyond cars and into the home to look for ways to live efficiently and reduce CO2 emissions, involves sustainable energy and heating and cooling methods, smart lighting, sustainable building materials and waste management, passive design and, of course, vehicle charging. Now, technical details such as architectural plans, mechanical drawings, furniture specs and CAD data will be open-source and publicly available for any interested parties. Check out the Honda Smart Home website to learn more, or to start downloading the plans yourself. "FOR" brand campaign: smart: More than just a car Functionality, innovation and joie de vivre – these are the brand values that make smart so unique. smart sees itself as a future-oriented, visionary brand that stands for a great idea.