2022 Honda Cr-v Ex on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Honda: We won't be able to sell ICE cars in China by 2025

China's push to clean up the country's woeful air pollution levels could mean the end of the traditional internal combustion engine there. In an interview with WardsAuto, Keiji Ohtsu, Honda's chief technology strategy officer at the company's automobile R&D center, predicts a lineup only of models with electric assistance in the country within a decade. He also discusses the Japanese automaker's green car goals worldwide. Ohtsu foresees China adopting some of the strictest fuel economy standards in the world in the coming years. "In 2025, we don't expect to be able to sell conventional internal-combustion engines [there], meaning we will be selling mostly hybrids including plug-in types," he said to WardsAuto. China's push to clean up its air comes as major cities continue to struggle with massive levels of pollution. For example, Beijing recently banned half of the cars from the road due to dire levels of smog. To fight back, the government has pushed automakers to launch more plug-ins, and the strategy has shown some success. China's BYD has already become the world's largest producer of plug-in vehicles in 2015. Even outside of China, Honda intends to become a far greener automaker in the coming years. In the near term, the company expects 20 percent of its global volume could be hybrids by 2020. According to Ohtsu, as much as 80 percent of Japanese deliveries could have some form or electrification by that time, but the US would be closer to 20 percent. However, the company sees hybrids more as a stepping stone than as the future of motoring, and the mass adoption of hydrogen is the real goal. "We think that fuel-cell vehicles will come into the mainstream in 2030, along with battery-powered electric cars. We also feel that going forward hydrogen will be the best fuel alternative," Ohtsu said to WardsAuto. Honda's experimental FCEV (pictured above) already hints at the brand's future direction.

Honda goes big for bikes: Concept CB, Super Cub [w/video]

Unlike similar many major automobile shows around the world, the Tokyo includes a significant number of motorcycles in addition to the new, four-wheeled vehicles on display. Showing its standing as a major player in the two-wheeled world, Honda has quite of slate of intriguing concept bikes at the show this year. With its futuristic, razor-sharp styling, the Neowing concept wouldn't look too out of place in a sci-fi anime. However, the bike's layout lets it lean into turns, while still offering riders three-wheeled stability. Power comes from a flat-four engine with hybrid assistance. Honda also takes its little Grom 50 motorcycle and adds some dirt bike aesthetics. The Scrambler Concept-One does that with vintage-inspired details like the pads on the tank and holes in the muffler guard. Meanwhile, the Scrambler Concept-Two goes for a more modern look and some military-inspired green paint. For another retro look, the company also imagines two new versions of the classic Cub. The EV-Cub Concept replaces the engine with an electric motor for short-distance commuting. Alternatively, the blue Super Cub Concept sticks with gasoline for fuel but tries to get the best economy possible for longer rides. Finally, the CB Concept updates the already classically inspired CB1100. Up front, the headlight now uses an LED, and the air-cooled inline-four gets a new, two-chamber exhaust to replace the current three-chamber design. As the photos above show, the chrome trim really makes the bike pop on stage. Check out the videos below for a closer look at the Grom 50 and Cub concepts. Honda Announces Overview of Exhibit for the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 - Exhibiting Original Honda Mobility Products Under the Concept of "The Power of Dreams" - TOKYO, Japan, September 30, 2015 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced its lineup of production and concept-model automobiles and motorcycles as well as other highlights for its exhibit at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015, which will take place at Tokyo Big Sight. (Press days: October 28-29, 2015, Public days: October 30 - November 8, 2015). Using its global brand slogan - The Power of Dreams - as the booth concept, Honda will exhibit a broad range of items including innovative mobility products that are useful in people's daily lives as well as a lineup of mobility products topped by racing machines that pursue excellence in driving performance.

Honda says it's 'not lost' in F1, but McLaren is losing patience

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Honda has responded to criticism from Formula One partners McLaren by saying it was going in the right direction despite the team having failed to score a point so far this season. "It is unfortunate I can't convince them we are going in the right direction. But I am confident we are not lost," Honda's Formula One chief Yusuke Hasegawa told motorsport.com at the Canadian Grand Prix. "We still need some more time but we are doing the right thing. We are doing many things to speed up our development but I don't disclose what." Former champions McLaren, the second most successful team in the sport in terms of race wins, are last in the championship and the only outfit yet to score after six races. The British-based team's executive director Zak Brown told Reuters on Wednesday that the Japanese manufacturer seemed "a bit lost" and indicated the partnership was reaching break point. The American's comments were widely reported and provided a major talking-point in the Montreal paddock. "I was not surprised," said Hasegawa of Brown's comments. "It's no wonder he has complained and he is frustrated. I'm frustrated, I'm disappointed, the team is disappointed. This is a very difficult, tough situation." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ed Osmond) Image Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Motorsports Honda McLaren Racing Vehicles F1