2005 Honda Civic Ex Coupe on 2040-cars

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Google's new Android Autos OS unveiled, will be in cars this year [w/video]

Connected cars are coming en-masse. We know this much. How, though, remains something of an open question, especially as two of the world's largest tech companies are preparing to battle for control of your car's dashboard. On the one hand, we have Apple and its CarPlay system. And now, we know what Google has been working on with Auto Link.
Its new name is Android Auto, and yes, it's based off the Android architecture that is the primary challenger to Apple's iOS mobile operating system. Announced at Google's I/O conference today, Android Auto functions similarly to CarPlay - owners will need to plug their smartphones into their cars to access the full breadth of capability.
In Android Auto's case, that means a wealth of voice controls to limit distracted driving. Google's marquee apps will be available when the interface arrives in production models later this year, including Google Play Music, Google Maps and voice-activated texting and text playback. Meanwhile, developers will be able to begin designing custom apps for the new system via an upcoming software development kit.

2016 Honda Civic pricing leaks, starts at $18,680 [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Alright, we made a mistake. Turns out this "leak" was actually just a mockup done by a CivicX forum member, and we totally went along with it. Sorry, folks. You'll have to wait a little longer for your hot Civic pricing news. The tenth-generation Honda Civic ranks among the most anticipated new models on the way this year, especially after seeing the concept for the design at the New York Auto Show. Now, we might be getting an idea of what the compact actually offers from two leaked spec sheets. According to info posted on 10th Civic Forum, the 2016 Civic Sedan LX starts at $18,680, which is just $190 more than the same trim for the 2015 model. For that, buyers reportedly get standard features like LED running lights, LED taillights and a five-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SE (Sport) trim upgrades the suspension for $19,995. The EX includes full LED headlights for $21,200, and the EX-L adds leather upholstery for $22,885. A separate sheet purportedly details the coupe, which comes standard with the sport suspension. The base price is the same as the sedan. The EX starts at $20,145, and the EX-L is $22,870. Oddly, both of these sheets only mention the CVT, rather than the previously announced six-speed manual, but they do detail two engines. There's a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 165 horsepower and 145 pound-feet that can reportedly get to 60 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds. Fuel economy is listed here as 40 mpg highway, 34 mpg city, and 35.5 mpg combined. There's also the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and this document suggests that it has 167 hp and 191 lb-ft and can get to 60 in 7.6 seconds. Mileage is shown as 41 mpg highway, 35 mpg city, and 37.5 mpg combined. Both mills are pretty good upgrades over the 143 hp and 129 lb-ft from the current 1.8-liter four-cylinder in the Civic. As leaked documents, we can't be entirely sure how valid any of these numbers are, so take them with a grain of salt for now. In any case, the 10th-gen Civic is supposed to hit dealers this fall, and you can read the full specs in the gallery below.

Fernando Alonso tries out fast motorcycles and Senna's McLaren

Honda closed out its racing year yesterday with its annual Thanks Day at Motegi. The event brought out an array of competition machinery and the drivers and riders who race them. That included Fernando Alonso, but rather than bring his Honda-powered McLaren, the two-time world champ took the opportunity to try out some different equipment. While MotoGP rider Marc Marquez slipped behind the wheel of the NSX Concept GT, his countryman Alonso hopped on his RC213V motorcycle for a couple of laps. Fernando isn't the first racer to swap between F1 and motorcycles: Michael Schumacher tried his hand and motorcycle racing from time to time, Valentino Rossi tested Ferrari grand prix cars on numerous occasions, and of course John Surtees won championships in both spheres – but he remains the only one to have done so. Fernando also had the chance to drive a McLaren-Honda MP4/6, just like the one with which Ayrton Senna successfully defended his title in the 1991 Formula One World Championship. That was the first time McLaren ran a Honda V12, but the last time a V12 – or a manual transmission – won the championship. After the following season, Honda and McLaren parted ways – only to be reunited this year with Alonso and Button behind the wheel. While Alonso was toying around with Senna's car, Takuma Sato – who drove Hondas in Formula One and now in Indy – tried his hand at the 1968 Honda RA301. That machine was also powered by a Honda V12, but at 440 horsepower, was far less potent than the 735+hp version that would later power Senna's. John Surtees drove one just like this in the '68 world championship, retiring from most of the races on the calendar but scoring two podiums from the three that he did finish. Marquez and his teammate Dani Pedrosa also competed in the CBR250 spec race, rode the mid-80s-era NSR500 bikes. They drove in four-wheel spec race as well in modified Honda N-One kei cars. The event served to cap a full year of racing for the Japanese automaker, which competes in a range of racing disciplines including F1, Indy, Super GT, the World Touring Car Championship, and numerous classes of motorcycle racing. Featured Gallery Fernando Alonso at Honda Thanks Day 2015 View 11 Photos News Source: Honda via Autosport Motorsports Honda motogp