2014 Honda Civic Ex-l on 2040-cars

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Honda protective of Type R name; NSX Type R not in the works

During a roundtable during a recent event hosted by Honda, we joined in on a roundtable interview with Honda Technical Consultant Ko Yamamoto and Honda Civic Type R Project Leader Hideki Kakinuma. Questions were asked about the Type R brand broadly, as well as the potential for some new projects. The answers were both good news and disappointing news for Honda fans. The good news is that Honda takes the Type R name and brand very seriously. Yamamoto and Kakinuma explained that the name and its associated red "H" badge are only for vehicles with a racing connection, such as the Honda Civic Type R that has a couple of racing variants. As such, you won't be seeing a CR-V, Odyssey or Insight with the Type R name. Furthermore, the Type R name is only for Honda-badged vehicles, despite the existence of the Acura Integra Type R a couple decades ago. We also asked about the potential of an NSX Type R, which certainly meets the performance and racing credentials mentioned, but is much more of an Acura product and is badged as such in the U.S. Kakinuma and Yamamoto couldn't go into deep detail, but they said that there aren't plans for one at the moment, and the chances of one for the U.S. are unlikely. They noted that the previous NSX Type R was a Japanese-market exclusive, and if such a car did come to fruition, that might be the case yet again. Kakinuma did say that if he was the one in charge of NSX, he would have already had it in the works. So it's not impossible that there could be an NSX Type R in the future, but don't look for one anytime soon. Related Video:

Wagon Attack's crappy Civic Wagon meets its end in Iceland

Several years ago, we posted a video on a dumpy, all-wheel-drive, turbocharged Honda Civic Wagon that starred in a film called Wagon Attack II. The video showed the rusty, red five-door tackling terrain that no Civic has any business driving on, and doing it with flair and style.
Now, the team that produced the original video are back, with Wagon Attack III. The latest video is packed full of goodness for wagon lovers of any stripe. Where the last video saw the turbocharged wagon in Michigan, though, this time it's been shipped to Iceland, where it's flung about on the beaches and dirt roads of the volcanic island.
The video has a bit of a sad ending, though. You'll need to watch it and see what we mean. We've got the entire video down below. Take a look.

Honda Baja race truck previews 2017 Ridgeline at SEMA [w/video]

Honda is heading to this year's SCORE Baja 1000 with a mean-looking, race-prepped Ridgeline Baja Race Truck in the unlimited class. The tube-framed pickup makes a grand debut at the 2015 SEMA Show, but take a good look at the styling on display here. While it's a lot more aggressive than the real thing, it previews the production model that arrives in the first half of 2016. The race truck looks seriously tough with huge fenders, chunky off-road tires, and tons of LED lighting. According to Honda, "the front fascia, hood, roof, bed, and side profile" all feature elements that are inspired by the upcoming production version. Based on the version here and earlier teases, those cues suggest a more traditional, pickup-like appearance than the previous Ridgeline. Of course, any Baja truck needs serious power, and for this Ridgeline that comes from Honda Performance Development's HR35TT racing engine. The twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V6 makes around 550 horsepower in this application. Look closely at the front to find a hidden hood scoop that sends cool air to a custom intake plenum. Check out the gallery above for a look at the Baja Ridgeline at the SEMA Show. The video below shows off the tube-frame chassis underneath, and offers a great look at the engine, too. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Honda Announces Return to Baja at 2015 SEMA Show, Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Hints at Styling Direction for All-New 2017 Ridgeline Pickup Nov 3, 2015 - LAS VEGAS Today at the 2015 SEMA Show, Honda revealed its Ridgeline Baja Race Truck, a purpose-built racing machine that marks Honda's return to off-road truck racing, while also providing an early glimpse at the styling direction for the all-new 2017 Honda Ridgeline pickup that will hit dealer showrooms in the first half of next year. The Honda exhibit also showcased a multifaceted display of personalized Honda cars, SUVs, powersports products and two- and four-wheeled racing machines. The Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck, in red, white and black Honda Racing livery, will compete in this year's running of the SCORE Baja 1000. The tube-frame unlimited class off-road truck is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 developed by Honda's U.S.