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Honda Rebel, cult beginner bike and urban cruiser, reborn for 2017

Back in 1985, Honda rolled out the original Rebel, which housed the Nighthawk 250's workaday parallel twin in a seriously '80s-style "factory custom" cruiser. It was a hit, being simultaneously cheap, extremely economical, and very easy to ride. With an exceptionally low step-over height, it was popular with younger and shorter riders too. And still is ... a full generation later, you can buy a brand-new Rebel 250 for $4,510. If that's simply too retro for you, there's a much more compelling option on the way: the all-new Rebel 300 and 500, just unveiled and going on sale next year. The 300 will use the water-cooled single found in the lower-end CB and CBR models, and the 500 will use a water-cooled parallel twin from the mid-sized CB and CBRs. It's a smart plan: a full range of smaller bikes in several different body styles, so there's something that should appeal to every entry-level rider (or any experienced rider who just wants a bang-around bike). The new Rebels look pretty cool, too. The radiator isn't all that prominent in profile. The wheels look like classic motorcycle alloys, but lean and modernized. The trellis-style frame supports an upright and shapely tank, and the solo saddle blends well with the pre-bobbed rear fender. The overall look is surprisingly upscale, and should also be a great basis on which to build inexpensive custom bikes of every shape and style you can think of. If you are a new rider, or just like little bikes, this is a great new option from Honda. Both bikes will have safety features riders want right now, like optional ABS. The colors at launch will be silver, yellow, black, and red – unless you want ABS, in which case black is the only choice. The 300 is expected to start at $4,399 and the 500 at $5,999, and both of these prices likely don't include an expected delivery charge of around $300. We'll get more exact pricing in December, and the bikes will hit dealers in April of 2017. Related Video:

2015 Honda Civic Type-R benchmarks the cream of the hot hatch crop

Honda has something wicked up its sleeve, based on the latest batch of spy photos we've received. This is purportedly the next Honda Civic Type-R, out testing in Germany and on the Nürburgring. The last generation of the Type-R went out of production in Europe in 2010, and while we admired it from afar, it's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder produced similar figures to the American-market Honda Civic Si.
From the looks of both it and the cars Honda engineers are benchmarking, the next Type-R will be much more powerful. In the spy photos, we can see four meaty exhaust pipes along with what is quite clearly an intercooler hiding behind the rear bumper. That's right, the next Type-R will be turbocharged. It'll need to be, though, if it's meant to tackle cars like the Opel Astra OPC, Ford Focus RS500 and Renault Megane RS Trophy (not pictured, but there according to our spies).
300 horsepower from a 2.0-liter engine should be on offer, and would match the competition quite well. Other obvious tweaks from the ho-hum five-door Civic are mainly aerodynamic. It sports an aggressive body kit with a meaty chin spoiler, rocker panels and a big rear wing. Red Brembo brake calipers can also be seen behind the sporty wheels and low-profile tires.

Car and Driver 10Best list cracked by Tesla Model S, BMW 3 Series left off

Car and Driver is keeping new blood pumping into its annual 10Best cars list with three new entries making it on for 2015 and a perennial favorite falling off. Among the biggest shocks this year is that the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series are no longer named, despite years of some portion of that lineup earning a mention. In another surprise, the Tesla Model S (specifically in S 60 trim to fit under the $80,000 cost cap) makes it to the 2015 roster and is the only electrically motivated member of the group. Despite the loss of the 3 Series, BMW isn't entirely shut out this year, because the M235i gets its name on the list. Car and Driver argues that the little coupe feels like a welcome throwback to the E46 chassis M3 of the early 2000s. In addition to the Model S, the final newbie to the annual group is the 2015 Ford Mustang GT. The inclusion of these new members knocks the Audi A6/A7 family and Ford Fiesta ST out from the 2014 rundown. The other seven models carry over from last year, including the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Honda Accord, Mazda3, Mazda6, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Volkswagen Golf/GTI. The 2015 10Best cars list certainly seems to have something for everyone from the hot hatch fan to the family man and even the green car driver, thanks to the addition of the Tesla. Head over to Car and Driver to read its detailed explanations for each vehicle's inclusion, but if you've got a difference of opinion or just really like the list, let us know in Comments. Featured Gallery Car and Driver 2015 10Best Cars List View 10 Photos News Source: Car and DriverImage Credit: Car and Driver, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Porsche, Tesla, Volkswagen Auto News BMW Cadillac Chevrolet Ford Honda Mazda Porsche Tesla Volkswagen Convertible Coupe Hatchback Performance Sedan 10Best