1998 Honda Civic Dx Coupe 2-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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2014 Honda Accord V6 Touring

America's midsize sedan segment is one of the most crowded and fiercely competitive in the business. The Toyota Camry has long been our nation's best seller, while the Honda Accord has dutifully come in second place, like some sort of codependent Cal Naughton Jr. riding Ricky Bobby's back bumper.
There was that one year, 2001, when the Accord briefly broke the Camry's streak, marring what would today have been a 17-year-long run of best-selling car titles. The Accord pulled the opposite move in 2011, letting sales slip far enough to let not only the Toyota by, but the Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion, as well. Aside from those anomalies, the Camry and Accord have been first and second in this segment since before many of you readers could even drive.
It's 2014, and these frenemies have never before faced a threat to their world order as strong as today's class of family sedans. The aforementioned Altima and Fusion are perhaps the most capable challengers, but the Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat and Mazda6 are all capable of convincing new buyers to walk their way.

Recharge Wrap-up: VW exec predicts EVs with 375-mile range

Volkswagen says EV ranges over 300 miles aren't too far in the future. Plug-in hybrids are merely a bridge to all-electric mobility becoming more practical for people who need to travel longer distances, according to Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen's head of powertrain development. Energy density is increasing rapidly in new batteries. Speaking about the e-Golf, Neusser says, "I expect the next generation in 2015-17 will increase to around 300 km [186 miles] and the following step will be around 500-600 km [310-372 miles]." Neusser also says he believes that charging infrastructure will improve to catch up with these more advanced batteries. Read more at Motoring. BMW is offering higher incentives for the all-electric i3 than the range-extended version. More buyers are opting for the i3 REx, with its 78 extra miles of range. So, to move the standard i3 (which is already cheaper), BMW is offering $2,000 in incentives for October - double what is offered for the i3 REx. The added incentives help close the price gap between the BMW and other EVs with similar ranges. The deals won't last long, though. According to New Jersey BMW salesman Manny Antunes, BMW's current incentives are "as aggressive as they're going to get" for a while. Read more at Green Car Reports. Honda is changing its research and development process for all cars after a series of Fit Hybrid recalls. The hybrid version, which makes up more than half of all Fit sales in Japan, was the subject of four recalls within nine months. In response, Honda will change the way it develops cars worldwide, with one extra "gate" to pass in the process. Honda will do prototype testing earlier in the research process to see how separately developed components work together before moving onto the car's development phase. It will add time and cost to making cars, but Honda hopes it will help prevent problems - like those that come with a flurry of recalls - down the road. Read more at Automotive News. Featured Gallery 2015 Honda Fit Hybrid View 16 Photos Related Gallery 2014 Volkswagen e-Golf: Frankfurt 2013 View 15 Photos Related Gallery 2014 BMW i3: First Drive View 33 Photos News Source: Motoring, Green Car Reports, Automotive NewsImage Credit: Honda Green Plants/Manufacturing BMW Honda Volkswagen Electric Hybrid recharge wrapup

2016 Honda Civic will debut on September 16

The press days for the Frankfurt Motor Show are September 15 and 16. On that second day when all the German hubbub has died down, on other side of the Atlantic, Honda will be unveiling the US-spec production Civic in Detroit and Los Angeles. We'll only get to see the interior and exterior of the standard sedan that day; the coupe, five-door hatchback, the Si, and the Type R won't say hello until later. While there could be information on the Civic's new platform, Honda doesn't plan to offer any details on the new engines and powertrains. The sedan will come with a 1.5-liter VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder mated to either a six-speed manual or a CVT. Speedier versions like the Type R will get the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Honda is aiming for a fuel economy rating of at least 40 miles per gallon with the base model. As for what's coming beyond that, we have an idea of what the body will look like from the leaked patent images and the concept shown off in New York earlier this year. Spy shots have shown a new console layout within today's basic instrument panel structure, there'll be a better touchscreen and new infotainment system, driver assistance features like Honda LaneWatch and Honda Sensing, and heated rear seats, while the exterior bodywork has some Accord and Acura ILX influences and available LED headlights. Vowing not to make the mistake of the 2012 Civic, Honda says we'll get "sporty driving dynamics, more daring styling, and significantly improved fit and finish." Related Video: