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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.

Honda to power new Formula Lites open-wheel racing series

Open-wheel racing is almost always incredibly exciting to watch, whether it's the constant passing of the Indy 500 on an oval or the technological tour-de-force from Formula 1. However, both of those disciplines are essentially impossible for a normal person to enter. Of course, there are already cheaper, more amateur-friendly open-wheel competitions, like Formula Vee. A new SCCA Pro Racing series called Formula Lites aims to be a step in the ladder between those, offering a development opportunity to young drivers who want to be professionals.
The series already has some impressive backers. One of the biggest needs is now filled, as Honda has signed on as the engine supplier. All of the cars in Formula Lites will use the company's K24 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The automaker didn't specify power output for the competition engine, but in production models the K24 has made in the neighborhood of 190-200 horsepower in many applications. That should make the racers plenty potent.
All of the cars are using the new carbon fiber FL15 chassis from Crawford Composites, and Pirelli is the series' tire supplier. The organizers' goal for the cars is to keep racing costs down, while offering a reliable platform. Formula Lites plans to start racing with a few events later in 2014, and the full calendar begins in 2015. Scroll down to read the full announcement about Honda's involvement.

Honda and NHTSA report 11th death linked to Takata airbags

Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the 11th death due to a faulty Takata airbag today. A 50-year-old California woman died from injuries sustained after the recalled airbag inflator in her 2001 Honda Civic ruptured in a crash, Automotive News reports. The Civic in question was one of 313,000 Honda/ Acura vehicles built between 2001 and 2003 with a bad Takata airbag inflator. According to AN, Honda issued an initial airbag recall in 2008, eventually sending more than 20 notices to owners of affected vehicles. NHTSA issued a dire warning in June, suggesting owners stop driving cars with recalled inflators due to the "grave danger" they posed. In the case of the 2001-2003 Hondas and Acuras, NHTSA warned of as much as a 50 percent chance an airbag inflator would rupture if it wasn't replaced in a previous recall. Between now and 2019, NHTSA plans on recalling 70 million faulty Takata inflators. But as of October 7, only about 36 percent, or 11.4 million of the officially recalled inflators, have been pulled off the road. With 11 deaths and over 100 injuries linked to faulty Takata airbags, we implore owners of recalled vehicles (regardless of the make) to heed manufacturer recalls. Yes, it's annoying to stop by the dealership, but manufacturers issue recalls for your safety. Best to pay attention to them. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Newsome Melton / Reuters Government/Legal Recalls Honda Safety Economy Cars Sedan airbag Takata airbag recall