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Hydrogen deal between GM, Honda getting factory real

Honda and General Motors may take their cooperation on hydrogen fuel cell technology to the next level by opening a joint factory to produce the components. If the plan comes to fruition, the two automakers could open the plant by 2025 at the latest. "By cutting costs with General Motors, we hope to increase our FCV production capacity to help achieve the government's goal," and anonymous Honda official told The Asahi Shimbun. The Japanese newspaper didn't specify where the companies might build the factory, but the plant would allow the automakers to share the expensive costs of mass-producing fuel cells. Honda and GM would continue to independently develop the actual vehicles that would use these components. The automakers teamed up in 2013 to split the massive investment that's required to develop fuel cell components. Despite years of research focused on driving costs down, the amount of money required to build a hydrogen car can quickly add up for any company because of the expensive metals that the fuel cell stacks require, and there's the additional expense of creating technology in this still burgeoning field. By sharing common parts, Honda and GM can lower prices through economies of scale. Both automakers continue to move forward with hydrogen vehicles. For example, the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell (pictured above) launches in Japan this year, and it should help the country's goal to have as many FCVs on the road as possible in time for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Meanwhile, GM has a fleet of fuel-cell test vehicles that has driven over 3 million miles.

Is the Acura Legend coming back?

Great news for fans of the Acura Legend: Honda has applied for a trademark in Europe for the word "Legend," pertaining to "Vehicles; Apparatus for locomotion by land; Apparatus for locomotion by air; Apparatus for locomotion by water; Parts and fittings for land vehicles; Parts and fittings for air and space vehicles; Parts and fittings for water vehicles." This trademark was first spotted by AutoGuide.com, and gives more credence to our speculation from a couple months ago about the possibility of the Legend nameplate returning to the Acura lineup in the States. If you were reading closely before, you'll notice that it was actually Honda that applied for the trademark, not Acura. The Legend was sold with a Honda badge on it in Europe back in the day, so this trademark filing in Europe makes perfect sense. In our previous report, we put forth the idea that Acura could bring the Legend name back with a successor to the RLX flagship sedan. Specifically, we were thinking that Acura would use the four-door coupe form previewed by the Acura Precision concept. That story also suggested a new Legend flagship could debut during Monterey Car Week. The 1986 Legend sedan was one of Acura's first two vehicles when the brand launched (the other being the Integra). It had a smooth 2.5-liter V6 that made all of 151 horsepower at the time. A sweet-looking coupe soon followed the sedan. The name Legend would be applied to a second-generation, which is arguably the one best-remembered. The coupe in particular has lived up to its name. Much of that legendary status, though, is the result of what followed: the Legend name and coupe body style dying for 1996 in favor of the RL, a four-door sedan as bland as its name. Acura's flagship has never recovered. We'll be quite pleased if Acura ultimately decides to reveal a totally new Legend to blow us away in Monterey. The return to actual names for the lineup would also be lovely. It's certainly working for Lincoln. Now if they'd only trademark "Integra" ...

Honda Civic Tourer... now with bikes!

Honda is rolling in to the Frankfurt Motor Show this year with a version of its Civic Tourer wagon. Called the Active Life concept, the modified Euro-market estate is outfitted specifically for cyclists. To that end, the Japanese automaker has equipped the show wagon with a rack capable of holding a pair of full-size bicycles – not on the roof, where you'd expect them to be, but inside the vehicle. With the rear seats folded down, and thanks in no small part to innovative fuel tank placement, the Civic wagon can swallow nearly 60 cubic feet – several more than the Ford Focus estate, for example, albeit less than the VW Golf Variant. The Honda Civic Tourer Active Life Concept is also equipped with a retractable arm for bicycle maintenance, a built-in air pump, a retractable bench, and toolbox, water tank, and front wheel holder integrated into the side of the trunk. There's a sleek box on the roof for accessories, too. And it's all capped by a special blue paint job with metallic gradation, silver roof, custom rear bumper, 18-inch alloys, and a customized interior with blue stitching, black headliner, and suede and leather trim. It'll be displayed alongside the Civic Tourer that recently set a world record for fuel efficiency. The bigger news, however, will be the presentation of the all-new Civic sedan. In short, there'll be plenty of Civic action to check out at the Frankfurt Messe this year, and we'll be on hand to catch it all. But in the meantime you can scope out this concept right here.Related Video: HONDA TO SHOWCASE THE CIVIC TOURER ACTIVE LIFE CONCEPT AT 2015 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW - Civic Tourer Active Life Concept makes its debut - GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title-holding Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC on display on Honda stand Honda will reveal the Civic Tourer "Active Life Concept" at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, underlining the Tourer's class leading cargo space and versatility within the C-segment. The Concept study shows that style and space can work together; a custom paint colour further enhances the sleek and sporty exterior and an accessorised interior demonstrates the Concept's suitability for an active lifestyle and the needs of its customers. Utilising the unique centre fuel tank layout, the Civic Tourer Active Life Concept makes full use of its 1668 litres* trunk space and a low loading height.