10/26 Paul Tan's Raves and Rants on the Automotive Industry

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. Paul Tan's Raves and Rants on the Automotive Industry Honda's HELLO! Zone at the Tokyo Motorshow October 25, 2009 at 11:20 pm For those who weren’t there live at the 2009 Tokyo Motorshow, you can still have a glimpse at what an international motorshow is like. Because of the high costs of travel, alot of us will probably only get to visit the KL motorshow or perhaps the ones up north in Thailand or down south in Singapore (which was really bad last year). Honda has recorded some videos of their HELLO! Zone exhibition launch, including their President’s opening speech. The HELLO! (Honda Electric mobility Loop) Zone features electricity-based products, including products that supply electricity, vehicles that run on electricity and other electricity-related products. Basically the HELLO! Zone covered the main stage of the Honda booth, but the rest of the area was filled with other models, like the Honda Freed. On the overall, the entire motorshow was really downsized this year. There were only Japanese manufacturers and a handful of 3 to 4 overseas brands, but even then they weren’t big players. The organisers had to fill the spaces up with various other displays such as an awards showcase and a gallery of paintings. It was much more massive two years ago, with the displays covering two different halls. The bikes, buses and trucks were in a separate hall which you had to walk a good distance to reach – and it was quite tiring when you have to lug around all the press kits and your heavy bag. This year, everything is in one hall and just over half a working day was enough to cover everything complete with photos. GALLERY: Honda ENEPO GALLERY: Honda EV-MONPAL GALLERY: Honda EV-Cub GALLERY: Honda EVE-Neo © 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved. This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 26 Oct 09 11:31:47 +0800. Tokyo 2009 Live: Honda CR-Z Concept Hybrid October 25, 2009 at 11:02 pm The Honda CR-Z Concept you see here is very, very near to production. In fact, the production car probably already exists somewhere in Honda R&D, since it’s supposed to go into production in February 2010. That’s just a few months away. Honda has been talking about this car for a few years now, and a design concept study was already shown at the motorshow back in 2007. Since then it has evolved and the result is this concept, with even a proper close-to-production interior. I don’t particularly like its gaping mouthed looks (another manufacturer to go Audi-ized?) but things start to get better towards the rear. I hope they don’t settle on this front end for its next generation of cars – that would ruin the next generation Civic. Under the hood is a 1.5 liter version of Honda’s IMA system (currently available as a 1.3 liter in the Civic Hybrid and Insight), so we don’t really have any power output numbers yet. What’s interesting is that it will be paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. I can’t recall any other hybrid car with a manual. The motor assist will probably kick in according to road incline, etc as well as a data feed from the throttle position sensor. Look after the jump for live photos and live videos of the CR-Z. © 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved. This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 26 Oct 09 11:31:47 +0800. Japanese market Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X receives minor changes October 25, 2009 at 2:08 pm Mitsubishi has announced some changes for the 2010 model year of the Lancer Evolution X. At the moment these changes only affect the Evolution X sold in Japan and it is unclear if the updated Evolution X will reach our shores. Exterior wise, the ‘Evo’ has received thicker side skirts while the plastic parts up front (around the front bumper) are now collectively lighter by 1.5 kg. This should improve power to weight ratio but Mitsubishi did not reveal performance figures for the 2010 model. On the inside, the trim has been tweaked and there is a new colour LCD screen that is nestled between the speedometer and tachometer. The screen features better readability and offers more functions. Under the hood, the only update is the engine cover that is now made of resin, although the auto maker did not reveal the benefits offered by the material – perhaps weight reduction (like the bumpers, etc)? Other updates includes a windshield with noise reduction properties, an improved cruise control function, “welcome lights” and “coming home lights” features that turn on headlights when entering and leaving the car at night as well as a one-touch window washer function with improved water atomization. Chrome rings have also been added to the air conditioning control knobs. The 5-speed manual for the range-topping GSR Premium Edition model has been dropped. Instead, it only comes with a 6-speed dual clutch SST transmission. The 5-speed manual is now only offered with GSR and RS trim levels. Pricing in Japan starts from 3,150,000 yen (about RM 116,000) for the RS and tops out at 5,071,500 yen (about RM 186,000) for the GSR Premium Edition. Look for more images after the jump. © 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved. This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 26 Oct 09 02:40:46 +0800. Honda Collection Hall at Twin Ring Motegi October 25, 2009 at 1:55 pm The Twin Ring Motegi is a racetrack in Motegi, Japan built by Honda to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan. So naturally you’d find a number of Honda-centric features at the track, such as the Honda Collection Hall. Way before the Ridgeline, Honda already made trucks. Not a common thing in the present though. The Honda Collection Hall features historic racing cars, production cars and motorcycles, mostly Hondas but not necessarily. There are a total of approximately 350 completely restored items in the hall. The main display of the ground floor lobby It is divided into three floors including the ground floor. At the ground floor there is not much – a few special key exhibits, a cafe, shop and reading room. The Honda N360 is likely the design inspiration for the new EV-N Go up one floor and you get to see the production stuff. There are bikes, cars and even power products, since Honda also makes generators and etc. Finally on the top floor, there are exhibits of racing cars and racing motorcycles. There are even “modern classics”, such as the Honda NSX At the facility itself there is a restoration room where the restoration is done. You can even watch the restoration process through a window if there is one that happens to be going on during the time that you are visiting the hall. Look after the jump for a total of over 100 photos I snapped of the displays. © 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved. This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 26 Oct 09 02:40:46 +0800.   This email was sent to mechanicaljob@gmail.com.  Create Your Account Don't want to receive this feed any longer? Unsubscribe here.