2008 Honda Pilot Value Package Sport Utility 4-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

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Sampling toys and tools in the Honda Dream Garage

I have two Hondas in my modest garage. One is a 1972 CB450 that I cherish but rarely ride, the other a 2014 HRR216 mower that my neighbors probably wish I'd use more often. Not quite dream garage material, but I like my trusty Hondas all the same. So I was pretty geeked to visit what Honda calls its Dream Garage. Spoiler alert: There was no actual garage. The various Honda products were spread out over a few acres of private land. And before you ask, no, the HondaJet wasn't in attendance. No confining garage meant I got to try a bunch of this stuff out. Honda makes such a wide variety of products, and so many of them, that it is the number one maker of engines in the world, having built 28 million in 2014. Highlights included a smattering of motorcycles, some rugged side-by-sides, the Uni-Cub assistive mobility device/powered stool, a few boats, Honda's latest cars, and snowblowers. Yep, in Southern California in July. They used damp sawdust for demonstrations, which meant I got to run a giant snowblower in a t-shirt. Watch the video above to see me ride, drive, walk behind, and be assisted by some of Honda's latest gear that isn't a car. Some of my favorites: The Grom. I've wanted to ride one since it came out a couple years back. This miniature motorcycle is hilarious and surprisingly rideable given its 125-cc single, which puts out about eight horsepower. It'll do 45 mph pretty easily, which feels fast on this baby bike. The only thing that takes getting used to is the time required to glance down at the instruments – they're way down there. Otherwise, it's a normal motorcycle with tiny wheels and a tinier engine. Riding the Uni-Cub was another dream experience of mine. It's much more intuitive than a Segway and makes you look slightly less goofy. I felt like I was in an OK Go video. It was neat. One item that didn't make the video is the NM4 you see here: crazy anime-inspired styling, a dual-clutch transmission, and then more crazy styling. The DCT means your left hand and foot get a rest. I still grabbed for the clutch every time I started the bike, though. Old habits and their hard deaths. Honda is also putting a dual-clutch transmission into one of its newest side-by-side offerings, but it was only on display and not available to pilot. I drove one with a traditional auto and another with an automated manual – and paddle shifters!

Honda Civic Wagon Concept to debut at Geneva

Honda is getting warmed up for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, with a sketch of some very Euro-flavored forbidden fruit. Seen above (click on the image to see an expanded view) is the Honda Civic Wagon Concept Model - a rather tentative name for a car that Honda claims "provides strong cues for the exterior design of the final mass produced version."
The sketch seen here is obviously very stylized, but we think that if Honda can stay true to its sleek rounded forms and aggressive silhouette, the final product could be quite fetching. Note that this is an image handed out by Honda of Europe, for a European auto show - we have every expectation that that any production-ready Civic wagon will be a Europe-only deal. Sorry, guys.
Find Honda's brief press release below, which also includes news of the European debut of the updated NSX Concept we saw at January's Detroit Auto Show, along with a diesel-powered CR-V.

Honda CR-Z gets much-needed supercharger

Honda has really taken its time in getting an aftermarket supercharger kit for the CR-Z to enthusiasts in the US. It's finally on sale, though, and it makes you wonder if the hybrid hatchback shouldn't have had it from the day it went on sale.
The supercharger kit developed by Honda Performance Development boosts output from the CR-Z's 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine to 197 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, according to Honda spokesperson Jessica Howell, an improvement of 67 hp and 36 lb-ft. It also adds an air-to-air intercooler, high-flow fuel injectors, a recalibrated ECU and new air filter for $5,495, before installation. However, the setup only works for six-speed manual transmission models from the 2013 and 2014 model years. If you want to take things even further, HPD is also offering an optional limited slip differential for $1,375 and sport clutch for $640, according to Howell.
Development of the supercharger kit has been ongoing for years. We first saw it on the CR-Z Mugen RZ in 2012 in Japan, in which it barely bumped power to 153 hp. Later at SEMA, Honda improved things to a more respectable 185 hp. Then in 2013, we actually got to drive an early version boasting 190 hp and found it a solid improvement over the stock powertrain. It appears Honda had some further tweaks to get things to the current 197 ponies. More good news: assuming you get the package installed at a dealer, the car maintains the balance of its 5 year/ 60,000 mile Honda limited powertrain warranty.