2015 Honda Civic Ex on 2040-cars

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Junkyard Gem: 2001 Acura MDX

The point of the Junkyard Gems series is to share automotive history, and the period of the middle 1990s through early 2000s is a very interesting one for U.S.-market new vehicles. The SUV revolution went into high gear with the introduction of the 1991 Ford Explorer and 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and sales of sedans, hatchbacks, and minivans began their steady decline. The Detroit companies were in good shape to cash in on the commuter-truck craze, with plenty of additional models ready for a quick slathering of luxury features. Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Isuzu were ready as well … but Honda was completely unprepared for the Next Big Thing at that point. With American sales absolutely critical to Honda (which has never held much market share for four-wheeled vehicles in its home country), a deal was made to rebadge the Isuzu Trooper as the Acura SLX and the Isuzu Rodeo as the Honda Passport while an all-Honda big SUV could be developed. That SUV was the Acura MDX, which debuted for the 2001 model year. Here's one of those first-year MDXs, a huge turning point in Honda history, found in a Denver-area self-service boneyard recently. Oh, sure, Honda began selling the CR-V over here in 1997 and so wasn't completely out of the SUV game during the 1990s, but that little Civic-based machine was never going to lure away many Explorer or even Montero shoppers. The MDX was a proper three-row crossover SUV, despite being based on the same platform as the not-so-imposing Accord, and a Honda-badged version (the Pilot) followed two years later. Here's that third row, which looks quite cramped, but so what? MDX sales started out respectable and stayed that way. Every 2001-2013 MDX ever sold here came with a VTEC-equipped V6, automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive (some later MDXs could be bought with front-wheel-drive). This engine is a 3.5-liter DOHC plant rated at 240 horsepower and 245 pound-feet, decent enough for a truck that tipped the scales at well beyond two tons. The MSRP on this truck was $34,370, which amounts to around $58,260 in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars. The base '01 Ford Explorer started at just $25,210, but the swankified Eddie Bauer Edition was better-suited to the Acura-shopper demographic and listed at $32,025. You could buy a new Montero XLS and do some serious off-roading for $31,397 that year, but it had warlord-grade ride to go with its warlord-grade abilities in the bundoks.

Remembering the glory days of the Honda Civic Si

In addition to watching host John Davis slowly age over his decades on the show, MotorWeek's Retro Review series on YouTube allows us to look back on some of the favorite models of yesteryear to see their evolution toward present day. Take the 1989 Honda Civic Si for example, which is newly featured. The name is still on the market, and the current model boasts 205 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque from its 2.4-liter four-cylinder. However, the current Si is being left behind in power by other performance compacts like the latest Volkswagen GTI, Subaru WRX and Ford Focus ST. Back in 1989, the Civic Si was still something of an upstart in the hot hatch ranks and definitely had something to prove. Remember, this was a about decade before the tuner boom of the late '90s gave these Hondas massive popularity. Though, the writing was on the wall for eventual success, based on the MotorWeek review. The show called it "stylish" and was attracted to vehicle's sharp handing, even with no power steering. Like today, power was lacking compared to major competitors like he VW GTI, but Honda's 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 108 hp and 100 lb-ft still received some praise. As always, it's fascinating to see how these now beloved models stack up when looking back. The high-performance Civic might be due for another surge in popularity too, if the forthcoming Type R from Europe ever makes to the US. News Source: MotorWeek via YouTube Honda Hatchback Performance Classics Videos honda civic si

Honda reveals Concept D crossover in China

Honda has, as promised, rolled in to the Shanghai Motor Show with the Concept D. Looking like a cross between an HR-V and a Decepticon, the Concept D previews a future crossover to be offered exclusively as the Japanese automaker's flagship model in China. The styling is certainly not for the faint of heart, with more angles than a geometry set, more vents than an air conditioner, a proliferation of LED lighting, gold spokes to match the bodywork and a sharply raked rear window with a giant wing at its peak. Details released with the trio of images remain scarce, but the production version of the concept you see here is slated to be offered in China through two of the company's local joint ventures, Guangqi Honda and Dongfeng Honda – albeit sure to be toned down some on the road from show stand to showroom. Honda Exhibits World Premiere of Concept D at Auto Shanghai 2015 BEIJING, China, April 20, 2015 – Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (HMCI), a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, today exhibited at Auto Shanghai 2015* the world premiere of the Concept D, a concept model for a new SUV model under development. *The 16th International Automobile & Manufacturing Technology Exhibition, Venue: National (Shanghai) Center for Exhibition and Convention Press days: April 20-21, 2015, public days: April 22-29, 2015 The Concept D shows the direction of a mass-production SUV model which is currently being developed exclusively for the China domestic market as a top-end SUV model that offers high-quality driving and a spacious cabin. Equipped with advanced safety technologies and other advanced features, a Concept D-based SUV model will go on sale from both Guangqi Honda and Dongfeng Honda, positioned as a new flagship model of Honda in China. ?Comment by Seiji Kuraishi, President of HMCI "Including this Concept D, which is a proposal for a new value that only Honda can provide as the pioneer of the SUV market in China. We would like to continue providing attractive products equipped with our advanced technologies to our customers in China. Toward this end, we will accelerate the localization of our business in China."