2011 Honda Civic Ex-l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Honda patents 11-speed, three-clutch transmission in the name of fuel economy

In an effort to improve fuel economy, automakers are stuffing transmissions with as many gears as possible. General Motors fitted the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with a 10-speed automatic, while the 2017 Ford F-150 will have a variation of the same transmission. Last year, Ford filed a patent for an 11-speed automatic transmission, and now Honda is following suit with its own 11-speed gearbox that will use three – three! – clutches instead of just two. Uncovered by AutoGuide, the patent describes a transmission with eleven gears that utilizes three clutches, with the third somehow reducing the drop in torque that occurs with a shift on a dual-clutch transmission. The result would be a two-fer of improved fuel economy and quicker gear changes. It's not clear how many shafts would be in the transmission – dual-clutches use a pair – or how exactly it is laid out. As it's just in the patent stage, we don't know what type of vehicle would use the 11-speed transmission, or even if Honda will end up making it. Honda could place the high-tech gearbox into a small, fuel-efficient car like the Fit to further improve fuel efficiency or into a larger vehicle like the Pilot that desperately needs a fuel-efficiency boost. The transmission would also have applications in sporty models since it The patent, which was published on May 27, is no longer available on the Japanese patent office's website. Related Video:

SEMA Honda Civic show cars prove the model's continuing tuner appeal

Anyone familiar with the import tuning scene knows that the Honda Civic has been a staple for decades, and Honda's display at the 2016 SEMA show shows its potential to continue the tuning legacy. The company tapped three outside companies to create custom Civic models, and also showed its own work. First up is a bright yellow Civic Coupe from perennial SEMA show builder, TJIN Edition. In addition to giving it a name that will give editors nightmares, TJIN gave the Civic modifications to its appearance and handling with the goal of making it the "ultimate street cruiser." Up front is a front lip spoiler from Apollo Top One Auto Part, and the side skirts and rear bumper are Honda Factory Performance accessories. The car is lowered on BC Racing BR Series coilover suspension, and sits atop Rotiform OZT wheels. For stopping, the Civic uses Baer brakes. The yellow color scheme is also carried inside with Katzkin leather and suede seats. MAD Industries took a similar tack to TJIN Edition in focusing on handling and appearance. The company gave it carbon fiber ground effects from Carbon 2 Carbon, along with some special touches such as a single, center-exit exhaust out the rear bumper. The car also features Eibach Pro Kit springs and Toyo T1R tires wrapped around Rotiform QLB wheels. Inside, black leather and suede seats get blue stitching, and various parts of the dashboard received a splash of blue as well. Meguiar's Civic X Concept was apparently inspired by '90s tuner cars. The company lowered its 2016 Civic sedan on a coilover suspension and gave it some classic SSR mesh wheels. The hood has been replaced with a carbon fiber version, and black accents on the mirrors and door handles complement it. The interior is finished in red and black Alcantara, and gets an upgraded sound system with multiple amplifiers and subwoofers. Some modifications by Greddy have been made under the hood as well, but no details were given. We do spot a front-mounted intercooler, so we imagine this Civic is a bit more potent than the standard turbo model. Honda also showed a race-prepped version of the Civic Coupe that will be eligible for racing in America and around the world. Among the modifications done to it are an FIA-certified roll cage and an absolutely enormous wing. The car will make its racing debut at this year's 25 Hours of Thunderhill in December.

MotorWeek checks out two sides of the '90s Japanese car scene

MotorWeek's Retro Reviews let you feel nostalgic about a huge range of classic cars, and the latest two releases offer a look at two very different sides of the Japanese car market in the 1990s. The video above shows off tuned examples of the Mazda RX-7 and Nissan 300ZX. Check out the clip below to remember the 1997 Honda CR-V, if you want to reminisce about something a little more utilitarian. The RX-7 and 300ZX were among the era's best Japanese sports cars, and these examples' suspension and engine overhauls gave them an extra boost. Peter Farrel Supercars tunes the Mazda, and the vibrant yellow paint and body kit make it look ready for an episode of Initial D. The updated powertrain stands up to the mean styling and gets the RX-7 to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. The Stillen 300ZX GTZ sports a giant wing, and new turbos take the output to 465 hp. It sprints to 60 in 4.9 seconds. The CR-V sits on the opposite end of the automotive spectrum as the tuned RX-7 and 300ZX, but it's even more important in a historical sense. The Honda (along with the Toyota RAV4 and others) was among the progenitors of today's mega-popular compact crossovers. These early examples set the foundation for offering buyers a utilitarian vehicle in a comfortable package with good fuel economy at an affordable price. The CR-V had some quirky charm, too, like the removable picnic table hidden in the cargo floor. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.