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Honda rolls out new N-Box Slash kei car in Japan

Honda may not compete with the likes of the expanding Fiat 500 and contracting Mini families in the North American or European markets, but back home in Japan it has a whole series of retro hatchbacks, grouped together as part of its N series. And now there is one more. Called the N-Box Slash (or N/ for short), the boxy but stylish new hatch is built to fit into Japan's rigid Kei car class, which means a tiny footprint no longer than 11 feet long and five feet wide. That makes it even smaller than the already-diminutive Smart Forfour or Renault Twingo, but into that compact form, Honda has fit five doors and four seats under a tall roof. In fact those front seats even fold flat and flush with the rear ones to make for as big a bed as you could possibly fit inside its compact dimensions. Technical details remain scarce, but power likely comes from the same 600cc three-cylinder engine - turbocharged or not, driving the front wheels or all four - as the rest of the N series, which already includes the N-One, N-Box, N-Box+ and N-WGN. Feel free to read the original Japanese or Google-translated press releases below, just don't expect it or any of its stablemates to show up in a North American showroom any time soon. 2014.11.27 ???????N-BOX SLASH(?????? ?????)????????????? Honda??12?22?(?)???????????N??????1?5?????????N-BOX SLASH(?????? ?????)?????????11?27?(?)?Honda????????????????? N-BOX SLASH?????????????N??????????????????????????????????????????????"???????"?"??????"??????????????????????????????????????????5???????????????Honda?????????? ???????????????N???????????????????? ?????????????????????? http://www.honda.co.jp/Nboxslash/new/ ?1 ?N??????????????????????????????????????Honda??????????????M?M(????????/???????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????N??????1?????N-BOX(??????)???2?????N-BOX +(?????????)???3?????N-ONE(????)???4?????N-WGN(?????)? ?????????????? ?????????? 0120-112010(???????)?????????? ### (translated) 2014.11.27 Preceding publish new mini passenger car "N-BOX SLASH (NTT box slash)" in the home page Honda is, December 22 (Monday) to have plans to release "N" series ? 1 information about the fifth installment of the new mini-car "N-BOX SLASH (NTT box slash)", November 27 ( I was preceded published in Honda's home page on the tree).

Honda Civic Hatchback prototype unmasked

The US hasn't had a Honda Civic hatchback since the seventh-generation model on sale from 2001 to 2005, and over the past 11 years we've watched from afar as Honda cut and polished the Euro-market Civic hatch into a gem of lusty beauty. We will get our turn in 2017 with the tenth-generation model, about to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show as a "prototype" that is a thinly-disguised production model. Compared to the ninth generation currently on sale over The Atlantic, this concept is stronger, sharper, and more sculpted throughout, but especially up front. The curving hoodline on the current car that falls in an undisturbed arc down to the bottom of the front bumper gets straightened out, sitting atop a bluff face packed with jutting features. Sheetmetal peaks and troughs carve up the sides, and the rear hatch emphasizes the angular and distinctions between features like the tailgate and arching boomerang containing the C-shaped lights. Production features on a base model will undoubtedly be toned down, but we could see this concept making for a fine Si or Type R trim, if we're being especially hopeful. View 15 Photos Proportions increase a smidge, the new car 5.1 inches longer, 1.8 inches wider, and sitting .7 inches lower. That puts it about 1.2 inches shorter than the Civic Coupe on sale in the US. The European launch goes down early next year, the US to follow after that. You'll find a little more info in the press release below, we'll have live shots from the show floor as soon as we can. Related Video: CIVIC HATCHBACK PROTOTYPE REDEFINES HONDA'S CORE MODEL FOR EUROPE • Prototype of the next-generation Civic hatchback makes its global premiere at the 85th Geneva International Motor Show • Assertive stance and distinctive new design establishes 10th generation as the sportiest Civic ever • Low, wide proportions and long wheelbase promise engaging driving dynamics while maximising interior space • New Civic hatchback will be available in Europe early in 2017 and will be built at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) Geneva, March 1, 2016 - The next-generation Civic hatchback makes its global debut in prototype form at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The design of the prototype heralds a significant step-change from previous versions of Honda's core European model, focusing on provocative design and rewarding driving dynamics. The all-new Civic hatchback will be 30 mm wider, 20 mm lower and 130 mm longer than the current generation.

8 automakers, 15 utilities collaborate on open smart-charging for EVs

We're going to lead with General Motors here. GM is one of eight automakers working with 15 utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) at developing a "smart" plug-in vehicle charging system. Why did we start with GM? Because it's the first automaker whose press release we read that mentioned the other seven automakers. Points for sharing. For the record, the collaboration also includes BMW, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Ford. The utilities include DTE Energy, Duke Energy, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric. The idea is to develop a so-called "demand charging" system in which an integrated system lets the plug-ins and utilities communicate with each other so that vehicle charging is cut back at peak hours, when energy is most expensive, and ramped up when the rates drop. Such entities say there's a sense of urgency to develop such a system because the number of plug-in vehicles on US roads totals more than 225,000 today and is climbing steadily. There's a lot of technology involved, obviously, but the goal is to have an open platform that's compatible with virtually any automaker's plug-in vehicle. No timeframe was disclosed for when such a system could go live but you can find a press release from EPRI below. EPRI, Utilities, Auto Manufacturers to Create an Open Grid Integration Platform for Plug-in Electric Vehicles PALO ALTO, Calif. (July 29, 2014) – The Electric Power Research Institute, 8 automakers and 15 utilities are working to develop and demonstrate an open platform that would integrate plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) with smart grid technologies enabling utilities to support PEV charging regardless of location. The platform will allow manufacturers to offer a customer-friendly interface through which PEV drivers can more easily participate in utility PEV programs, such as rates for off-peak or nighttime charging. The portal for the system would be a utility's communications system and an electric vehicle's telematics system. As the electric grid evolves with smarter functionality, electric vehicles can serve as a distributed energy resource to support grid reliability, stability and efficiency. With more than 225,000 plug-in vehicles on U.S. roads -- and their numbers growing -- they are likely to play a significant role in electricity demand side management.