2012 Honda Civic Lx 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.

Honda nav concept replaces head unit with Android phone

The desire for better in-car tech without compromising safety is what led Drivemode co-founders Yo Koga and HK Ueda to create their auto-centric Android app. It presents a clutter-free UI specifically meant for driving. The single-button, no-look interface uses display-wide swipes and taps and presents audio cues to help keep your eyes on the road -- and not the glowing rectangle you have mounted to your dash. With over 400,000 downloads, the app has gotten the attention of not just drivers, but also major automakers, including Honda. The carmaker has partnered with Drivemode to create a concept vehicle that completely replaces the head unit with a phone. It's not just shoving an Android device into the dash either; the head unit is completely integrated with the car's controls. For instance, the buttons on the wheel that usually control the radio now control the app. Additionally, the backup and right-side blindspot cameras are now displayed on the phone too. Honda and Drivemode say this is still just a concept and potentially years away from actually happening. But it's part of a larger plan to build an app for automakers; a way to offer its software replacement for the traditional in-dash system. In the meantime, though, Drivemode is looking for other ways to make a bit safer. For instance, Ueda says the app will eventually support aftermarket Bluetooth backup and blindspot cameras. So, drivers can buy the cameras and mount them to their cars, allowing them to have an additional safety feature, even if their vehicle didn't have that option when purchased new. In particular, the Drivemode team sees an opportunity in lower-end vehicles that are less likely to come pre-installed with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The app replicates many of the features found in those systems which tend to be found in medium to high-end cars. For drivers who can't afford the trim levels that offer those smartphone-integrating options (or are are not looking to upgrade their whip), they can still enjoy a more integrated driving experience without weaving all over the road trying to launch Spotify. Unfortunately, the app is for Android only right now, but Drivemode is looking for additional funding to build an iOS version. Related Video: This piece by Roberto Baldwin originally appeared on Engadget, the definitive guide to this connected life. Auto News Honda android android auto nav

Acura NSX will use Cosworth block, plus other neat tidbits

The blue NSX you see here was built just two weeks ago. Prototype number six, it rolled off Acura's newest assembly line in Ohio and was rushed out to the Monterey peninsula for various car week activities. We had a chance to sit down with several members of the NSX team to discuss the car, the long road from concept to production, and some interesting details. Below are some choice bits from our conversations. Acura is pretty proud of the fact that NSX version 2.0 was designed and is being built in the US. The new assembly line, called the Performance Manufacturing Center, is in Honda's hometown of Marysville, Ohio. While the line is brand new, the building has seen many uses over its lifetime, most recently as a warehouse facility. PMC staff numbers about 100, with 60 technical and 40 non-technical associates. The car uses parts sourced globally, and one of those sources is Cosworth. The engine blocks and heads come from the English firm and get assembled into twin-turbo powerhouses at Honda's nearby Anna, Ohio, engine plant. The Cosworth name is rarely associated with a bad engine, so we were geeked to hear the NSX's 550-plus-horsepower hybrid powertrain has good genes. Acura hasn't decided how many cars will come to the US each year, but supplies will be limited. We're told there is a total figure for global sales – basically anywhere Honda and Acura vehicles are sold – but they're not ready to divulge that number. Dealer allocation is also yet to be sorted out, although we're told that any dealer that has the necessary tools and equipment to service the new NSX will be able to sell them. Acura currently has 272 US dealers. The switch from the transverse engine originally planned to a longitudinal twin-turbo engine threw everyone involved for a loop. The designers had to lengthen their nearly finalized design, and the engineers working on the production process had to revise or redo much of their work. Though we've been waiting a while for the car since the concept first surfaced in 2012, it's pretty amazing to think that the car was engineered one and a half times and a new factory was built in about three years. But yeah, it's delayed, with series production now set to commence in the spring of 2016. One result of the switch to a longitudinal engine is a transmission hump in the cargo area aft of the engine. The hold is still sized to fit a bag of golf clubs, though it will be a tight fit.