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New fuel-cell sedan leads Honda's Tokyo lineup

It's time to talk Tokyo Motor Show friends, and as is so often the case, there's going to be some weird stuff arriving at this year's event. From Honda, we have a few important pieces of news. Arguably the most exciting is a new fuel-cell vehicle, called the FCV. Don't worry, Honda calls that remarkably unimaginative name "tentative." Looking like a mix of the new Civic sedan, a Nissan Maxima (that roofline!), and a Tesla Model S, this four-door coupe offers room for five, a 434-mile driving range, and motivation from at least two electric motors. Details are remarkably scarce, but all signs point to this being a vehicle worth getting excited about. That's not the only big news, though, as Honda will also show off the new production version of the Odyssey hybrid. Honda didn't provide any images of the fuel-sipping minivan, but did let slip that it uses a Sport Hybrid-iMMD system. Again, there isn't a lot of information, but the iMMD, short for "intelligent Multi-Mode Drive," has been used on other Honda products before. While Honda is also bringing out vehicles we're familiar with – both the new Civic Type-R and NSX will make appearances in Tokyo – the company's motorcycle arm is bringing a trio of interesting concepts. First, and perhaps most exciting, is the EV-Cub Concept. If that names sounds familiar, it's because Honda showed a bike with the same name in 2009. Drawing inspiration from the original (and legendary) Super Cub, the EV-Cub situates a battery and electric motor low and in the center of the body for optimum weight distribution and in turn, easy riding dynamics. Next, we have the Neowing. Featuring a three-wheel layout with a four-cylinder boxer engine and a hybrid powertrain, there's a lot to like about this concept's mechanicals. Unfortunately, there aren't any images of the Neowing yet. That's also the case with the Light Weight Super Sports Concept, although unlike the trike, mechanical details are wholly absent, too. So for this one, you'll have to wait until we're actually on the ground in Tokyo. What is pictured, though, are a pair of new concepts – the Wander Stand and Wander Walker. Again, details are scarce – if you're sensing a theme, you're not alone – but based on the images, the Wander Stand looks like a waiting room on wheels and the Wander Walker is a mobility scooter. Here's hoping more info is released before press days on October 28 and 29.

Honda Civic Hatchback Luggage Test: How it compares with sedan and Integra

Well, we have a first here at Autoblog Luggage Test HQ: the first time I've done the next-generation of a make/model that's already been luggage tested. I know, right, very exciting. So, for the first time, I'll be able to report how a vehicle compares with its immediate predecessor. As this is the Honda Civic hatchback, I can also show you how it compares with the Honda Civic sedan and the mechanically related Acura Integra. So. Many. Comparisons! In short, the Civic is a definitive example of why you can't really compare the cargo volume figures of a sedan and a hatchback (or wagon, SUV or other hatchbacked vehicle). The specs say the hatchback has 24.8 cubic-feet of space whereas the Civic sedan has 14.8, yet as I'm about to show you, the sedan actually has more space for holding bags or whatever. This is already a phenomena I covered with the Integra and its 24.3-cubic-foot trunk. Apparently, that half a cube makes a difference as it was indeed easier to load bags into the Civic hatch.  Top Civic hatchback, bottom left Civic sedan, bottom right Integra Some key observations here with this trio. The Civic sedan is 4 inches longer than the Civic hatchback, almost all of which is behind the rear axle. This lends its trunk greater length than the hatchback, which is more useful for stuffing in luggage. The Civic hatchback (and Integra) have more height, which balloons the cubic-foot number, but doesn't really provide much help in this test since I don't pack to the roof for safety, visibility and consistency reasons. If you lower the back seats, it's a whole different ballgame, but I'll get to that later. Now, to the bags. As in every luggage test I do, I use two midsize roller suitcases that would need to be checked in at the airport (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that just barely fit in the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits easily (23L x 15W x 10D). I also include my wife's fancy overnight bag just to spruce things up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D). You can really see the difference in trunk length here. In the sedan (above right), you can fit the small roller bag behind the four biggest bags lined up. Definitely can't do that in the hatchback above left. In short, all the bags fit in all the cars (with some asterisks). It was a much easier fit in the sedan, though, and you can see that there's some extra space on either side of the egg-crusher hinges.

Profit at Honda doubles on strong global sales of cars and motorcycles

TOKYO — Honda reported Wednesday that its April-June profit more than doubled on healthy sales of its motorcycles and cars, as the Japanese company also received a perk from favorable exchange rates. Honda Motor Co. said its fiscal first quarter profit totaled 363 billion yen ($2.5 billion), up from 149 billion yen. Quarterly sales jumped 21% to 4.6 trillion yen ($32 billion). HondaÂ’s financial service division also reported growing sales. Honda said its profitability improved, especially in North America, where production recovered. Automakers around the world were slammed by supply shortages because of production delays related to social restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But such restrictions have eased, allowing production to pick up again. Auto sales were about the same in Japan in the latest quarter as in the previous year, while dropping significantly in China because of intense competition from makers of battery electric vehicles, Honda said. Honda is banking on growth in EVs in the U.S. market, where it recently announced it is joining six other companies in the creation of a high-powered charging network across North America. Worries about climate change have helped set off a dramatic shift in the auto industry toward battery electric vehicles, allowing for relative newcomers like Tesla and BYD to prosper, while catching some Japanese makers off guard with their hybrids and regular gasoline-powered models. Honda said a computer chip shortage crimped its motorcycle sales in India, while sales rebounded in Indonesia as production recovered. Honda said it sold 901,000 vehicles in the latest quarter, up from 815,000 a year earlier. It also sold more motorcycles worldwide at nearly 4.5 million, up from 4.2 million. Honda added 23 billion yen ($160 million) to its quarterly operating profit because of the impact of currency exchange rates. A weaker yen, trading lately at about 143 yen to the U.S. dollar, is a boon for Japanese exporters by boosting the amount of its overseas earnings when converted into yen. Honda stuck to its full year projection of an 800 billion yen ($5.6 billion) profit, up from 651 billion yen a year earlier. Honda shares slipped 0.9% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Related video: Earnings/Financials Acura Honda