2003 Honda S2000 Base Convertible 2-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Honda Civic losing ground to Toyota Corolla, sales crown threatened

Oh, what a difference a year has made. When the numbers were tallied for 2013, the Honda Civic was riding high by claiming its segment's sales crown in the US despite being challenged by the latest generation of the Toyota Corolla for part of the year. However, with just a month to go in the battle for C-segment supremacy in 2014, it looks like Toyota gets to hoist the trophy this time. Looking at November sales numbers, Honda moved 300,644 Civics through the first 11 months of the year, down 2.1 percent in volume. Furthermore, for the month alone, the company sold 23,060 Civics, a 12.3 percent drop. Meanwhile, on Toyota's side, business has been booming comparatively. Through the first 11 months it sold 309,373 Corollas, a 10.6 percent jump, and for November alone it moved 25,609 examples, a 14.2 percent improvement. With fewer than 10,000 cars between them, it would take quite a December slump for the Corolla to lose this fight. According to The Truth About Cars, the Civic actually started out the 2014 somewhat positively with 5 percent growth over the previous year, though still behind the Corolla's figures. However, the Honda has seen a slide since then with five consecutive months of sales drops. Meanwhile, the Toyota has generally kept showing growth. Being the newer model of the two, the Corolla comes to this fight with an advantage. Honda hasn't let the Civic languish; it gave the model a CVT in 2014 to boost fuel economy. That's nothing like the Toyota's thorough recent rethink, though. According to TTAC, Honda does have reason to crow about the Civic, just not necessarily in the US. The model is on track to be the bestselling vehicle in Canada for the 17th consecutive year and have its best sales since 2008 there.

Acura NSX prototype gets back on track

Developing a new vehicle is not without its complications, we're sure, but usually things follow a fairly predictable progression: you develop a prototype, you test it, test it and test it again, then you put it into production. What you don't expect is that your prototype will burn to the ground, but that's what famously happened to the NSX which Honda engineers were testing a few months ago.
Fortunately, the Acura NSX prototype is back on track, both literally and figuratively, as you can see from this latest batch of spy shots snapped at the Nürburgring. This camouflaged prototype looks pretty much the same as the last one, only, you know... less crispy. Which is to say, it looks pretty much ready to hit showrooms.
The naysayers may point out that Honda chose colder and damper weather to put the NSX back into testing - thereby mitigating the risk of another fire - but we're sure the Japanese automaker has been working hard to fix the flammability issues, whatever may have caused them, over the past few months. At least, we hope they have.

Honda worker dies in forklift accident at Ohio R&D complex

Ghouse Gulam, a contract worker at the Honda R&D Americas complex in Raymond, OH, died January 4 after being hit by a forklift and suffering a skull fracture. Union County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Michael Justice tells Autoblog that this is still an open investigation, but there are no pending charges. He said it could be about three months for the authorities to make a final determination until the coroner's report is complete. According to Automotive News, the accident happened between two buildings on the site's campus, and the forklift was carrying an empty trash bin when it struck Gulam. A media release (as a PDF) from the Union County Sheriff's Office showed that police responded at 6:01 AM. Justice would not reveal the name of the driver, but said that the person had retained legal council. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration also opened an investigation, according to AN. In a statement (in full below), Honda expressed sympathy to Gulam's family. "Associates of Honda R&D Americas are deeply saddened and extend heartfelt sympathy and condolences to family members, friends and colleagues." On Monday, January 4, 2016, at approximately 6:00 a.m. Ghouse Gulam, a contract worker at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio, was injured in an accident involving a forklift driven by another contract worker. On-site emergency personnel responded immediately to the incident, followed by emergency responders from the Raymond, Ohio based Liberty Township Fire Department. Mr. Gulam was transported by Liberty Township Fire to Memorial Hospital of Union County where he later passed away. Mr. Gulam, 61, was a resident of Livonia, Michigan. Local law enforcement officials were notified of the incident. With respect for the privacy of Mr. Gulam and his family, no additional details will be provided. Associates of Honda R&D Americas are deeply saddened and extend heartfelt sympathy and condolences to family members, friends and colleagues.