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Honda Accord Hybrid falls well short of 47 mpg, says Consumer Reports [w/video]

Do not poke Consumer Reports with the hybrid fuel economy stick. That seems to be the lesson illustrated here yet again. The Honda Accord Hybrid is the latest to arouse the ratings bear, returning "just" 40 combined mpg in CR testing. Even so, that makes it "a class leader for fuel economy among midsized sedans," besting even the Civic Hybrid in CR testing, but that's still a lucky roll of the dice short of its EPA rating of 47 mpg. Remember, it was back in December 2012 that CR knocked the Ford Fusion and C-Max hybrid models for the exact same failing: certified with an EPA-rated 47 mpg but delivering "just" 40 mpg.
Beyond that, while the Accord Hybrid earned a lower overall score than the traditional gasoline Accord because of its ride, handling and refinement issues, it gets unqualified applause from the institute for its "very impressive hybrid system."
It will be interesting to see if CR's findings will negatively impact the model's sales, which to this point have been impressive enough that demand is outstripping supply. In the meantime, you can check out CR's brief video review of the Accord Hybrid below, and check out the magazine's press release chiding its mpg rating.

Honda Civic Si spotted looking sporty but mature

Our spy shooters have captured the next-generation Honda Civic Si Coupe. Judging by these photos, the introduction of the Civic Type R in the United States will allow the Si to carry its performance torch with a more subdued look than its boy-racer sibling. Up front, we see a fascia that's more aggressive than the standard Civic Coupe, with large, angular depressions flanking a central air intake. We're wondering what exactly all that tape is hiding on its face. There's a cooling element behind the lower intake, which is probably an intercooler for the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Rumors suggest a power output of around 230 horsepower. One unique styling element that's plainly visible on this Si mule is a single large exhaust opening sprouting from under the rear bumper. Its central location is similar to that of the Type R that we've seen in spy shots, but instead of three outlets, there's just one. It's a pretty cool look, and we're excited to hear how it sounds. There's no spoiler on this mule, but we wouldn't be surprised to see an optional unit on the production model. Inside, there's a six-speed manual transmission and red stitching on the seats and steering wheel. Those seats look to have pretty substantial bolsters. There's carbon fiber trim on the dash and alcantara fabric on the doors. We've got 28 images of this Si mule, showing it from just about every angle. Scroll through our high-res gallery above and let us know what you think. The next Civic Si will probably go on sale in 2017, which means it'll make a debut either late this year in LA or early next year in Detroit. Stay tuned. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery Honda Civic Si: Spy Shots View 28 Photos Design/Style Spy Photos Honda Coupe Performance honda civic si

NHTSA probing 400,000 Infiniti, Honda vehicles over steering faults

As many as 391,000 vehicles from Infiniti and Honda may eventually need to be recalled as a result of two, separately announced Preliminary Evaluations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ascertain the scope of the potential safety hazards.
The larger investigation has NHTSA looking into the 2013 Honda Accord because of 24 reports from drivers alleging total loss of power steering or a sudden increase in necessary effort to turn the vehicle. In four cases, the problem is reportedly linked to crashes, with all of them occurring at less than 30 miles per hour. According to the claims, 13 people also reported seeing a warning message during the failure. Turning off the car and restarting it would fix the issue in some cases. If a recall is necessary, it could affect an estimated 374,000 Accords.
The second investigation is much smaller in scope. The safety agency is investigating the 2008 Infiniti EX35 after two complaints of the steering wheel shaft separating, and the vehicle losing the ability to steer. Both reports allege that the steering became loose when driving and then completely failed once the vehicle was stopped. A recall for the problem would affect an estimated 17,000 vehicles. Scroll down to read NHTSA's reports on both Preliminary Evaluations.