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Andretti Autosport switches to Honda power

The IndyCar grid was split pretty evenly this season between Honda and Chevy power. Thing is, most of the front-running teams have been running Chevrolet engines. Except for Chip Ganassi Racing, the team that fields the likes of Ryan Briscoe, Scott Fixon and Dario Franchitti - but earlier this month Chip Ganassi announced it was switching to Chevy engines too, just like most of the other pack-leading teams.
Honda insisted it didn't need a flagship team to replace Ganassi, but that's exactly what it announced this weekend with the signing of Andetti Autosport. The team run by Michael Andretti won a few IndyCar Series titles under Honda power (in 2004, 2005 and 2007), and two Indy 500 wins (in 2005 and 2007), but switched to the Bowtie two seasons ago, winning the championship last season. But the vast majority of the team's victories - 39 out of 48 race wins - have been powered by Honda, and the two outfits undoubtedly hope they'll return to the winner's circle again with their new multi-year partnership that takes effect next season.

Honda has finally killed the unloved CR-Z hybrid hatch

Last week we told you that the CR-Z would bow out in Japan with a Final Edition, a typical limited-run job with some badging and unique cosmetic elements. Now Honda has announced that the CR-Z is going away in the US, according to Car and Driver. But there won't be any fond farewell for the two-seat hybrid hatch here. It won't return for the 2017 model year. We expected this – a long time ago, frankly. It's not so much that the CR-Z was a bad idea, or that the car itself wasn't fun to drive on some level. It's more about the promise it failed to fulfill. The car's predecessor, the first-generation Insight hybrid, was more fun to drive in spite of having no pretension of sportiness. And although Honda tried to claim a spiritual connection, the CR-Z had very little to do with the pulse-raising CRXs of yore, which in sportier trims were a flat-out riot to drive. Instead, the CR-Z paired lukewarm driving dynamics with some appalling styling and ergonomic choices. It was heavy and not terribly powerful or efficient. Its only real enthusiast calling card was an available manual transmission, something no other hybrid offers, sporty or otherwise. Given that it was unloved by Americans from the start, the most surprising thing about the CR-Z is how long it lingered on the market. Not every car works; that's the nature of things. Whatever was wrong with the CR-Z could have been addressed with the sort of emergency refresh that the last-generation Civic got in response to being widely panned by critics and consumers. Instead, the CR-Z rotted on the vine rather than getting an investment to fulfill its original promise. In the meantime, the highest-zoot supercars and Honda's own Acura NSX have made hybridization cool again. There's no reason a small hatch couldn't benefit from some on-demand electric torque. In many respects, the CR-Z's time is now. It wasn't quite the right thing and arrived at definitely the wrong time. That's a shame, but don't cry over the CR-Z. It's gone to a better place. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Car and Driver Green Honda Coupe Hatchback Hybrid Performance

22,000 Honda Shadow 750 motorcycles recalled [UPDATE]

Update: Honda's statement on the recall is now embedded below. The Basics: Honda will recall 22,142 examples of its 2010-2016 VT750 Shadow motorcycles, including the 2012-2014 VT750CA, VT750C2 and VT750C2F; 2011-2016 VT750C; 2013-2016 VT750CS; 2010-2016 VT750C2B; and 2013-2014 VT750C2S. The Problem: Engine vibration can cause a wire for the bank angle sensor to rub against the joint connector on the wire harness. This can eventually cause a loss of the signal, and the engine could stall. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the bank angle sensor and move the joint connector. If You Own One: Honda expects the recall to begin February 19. More Information: Documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (as a PDF) report Honda received five warranty claims and five field reports about this issue as of December 14, 2015. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Engine Stall from Loss of Sensor Signal Report Receipt Date: DEC 23, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V874000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 22,142 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) HONDA VT750 2010-2016 Details Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) SUMMARY: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 VT750CA, VT750C2 and VT750C2F, 2011-2016 VT750C, 2013-2016 VT750CS, 2010-2016 VT750C2B and 2013-2014 VT750C2S motorcycles. Engine vibration may cause the bank angle sensor wire to rub on the wire harness joint connector, resulting in a loss of the sensor signal. CONSEQUENCE: Without the bank angle sensor signal, the engine may stall while riding, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the joint connector and replace the bank angle sensor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Honda Motorcycle customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JW7. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. American Honda Statement on VT750 Recall Honda has issued a Safety Recall of some 2010-2016 model-year VT750 motorcycles. It is possible that long term exposure to engine vibrations may cause the bank angle sensor wiring to break, or be damaged, which could cause the engine to stall and increase the risk of a crash.