Honda Announces MUGEN Accessories for U.S.-Spec Accord Sedan at SEMA

Today at the SEMA Show, Honda previewed its new line of MUGEN accessories for the U.S. market 2010 Accord sedan that will be available on an a la carte basis through the firm's authorized dealers starting on November 11. The Japanese firm displayed an Accord sedan fitted with various goodies from its in-house tuner such as 18-inch alloy wheels, front sports grille, front under-spoiler, side skirts, rear apron, sports floor mats, machined aluminum oil filler cap and a unique front emblem.

Honda said that all of the painted Mugen parts will come color-matched to one of five popular colors for the Accord that include: Polished Metal Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, White Diamond Pearl and Taffeta White.

In addition to the Mugen-ized Accord sedan, Honda also displayed several other accessorized models including the Fit with MUGEN accessories, a Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Civic Si Sedan and a HFP Accord Coupe.

Honda Begins European Production of Jazz at Swindon Plant

No more "Made in Japan" Jazz models -at least for most European consumers- as the first British-built examples of the five-door hatchback have rolled off the production line at Honda's factory in Swindon. Up until now, all European market versions of the new Jazz were imported from Japan. Honda said that it aims to build around 20,000 units of the Jazz at its Swindon plant until the end of March 2010, with 75 per cent of these to be sold in the UK and the other 25 per cent planned for export to 55 countries across mainland Europe and other regions, including South Africa.

The Jazz will be built alongside the European-spec CR-V and the Civic models. The addition of Jazz brings the planned total production level for the Swindon factory in the current financial year that ends on March 31, 2010, to 100,600 units which is still well below the plant's full capacity according to Honda.

"We see this third model as a wonderful opportunity in the current climate and we're extremely proud to be building the Jazz here in Swindon," said David Hodgetts, Director at Honda of UK Manufacturing in Swindon.

"Shifting production to the UK is a real vote of confidence in all our Associates here in Swindon, and recognition of the high standards which we have been able to achieve at the plant," he added.

Honda Restarts Production at UK's Swindon Plant

After a four-month long shutdown due to a sharp drop in demand that was caused by the economic downturn, Honda reopened its Swindon car plant in the UK this week. Following the latest job cuts, the plant employs around 3,400 workers now. At the Swindon plant, Honda produces the European, African, Australian and Middle Eastern market CR-V SUV and the three- and five-door versions of the new Civic hatchback while this autumn, the Japanese automaker is also planning to start production of the new Jazz (Fit in the U.S. and other markets).

Euro NCAP: Q5, Jazz, i20, Soul and 3008 Achieve 5-Star Rating, Suzuki Alto gets only 3-Stars

European car safety testing body Euro-NCAP has announced its latest batch of results for six new cars. Five of these models, the Audi Q5, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20, Kia Soul and Peugeot 3008 received Euro NCAP's maximum five star award while Suzuki's made-in-India Alto scored only three stars, its rating limited by its performance in adult occupant protection, child protection and safety assistance technologies. Euro NCAP made a special note on the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 as both cars managed to achieve a high score in pedestrian safety.

"We would like to commend the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 for their impressive pedestrian scores that not only meet current requirements, but also meet Euro NCAP's future requirements," Euro NCAP said in a statement.

All six vehicles were tested with Euro NCAP's new overall rating scheme that was introduced in 2009 and covers Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment, Safety Assist. Under the new testing regime, vehicles are awarded a single overall score from one to five stars with the overall rating being based on the car's performance in each of the four main areas and the scores are weighted with respect to each other.

Honda Insight Hybrid Tops the Charts in Japan in April, Fit Comes in Second

Only three months after its market debut in Japan and Honda's Insight mild-hybrid managed to become the best-selling vehicle (excluding the so-called kei cars with engines under 660cc) in the country in the month of April with sales of 10,481 units. This is the first time in Japan's history that a hybrid model has topped the tables for any monthly sales period. In the previous two months, the Insight sold 4,906 and 4,088 units in February and March respectively.

The Insight took the crown from the Fit, also known as the Jazz in Europe, which was the best selling car in Japan in the month of March, its fourth consecutive month at the top since December 2008. In April, the Fit finished second behind the Insight with sales of 9,443 units. According to the automaker, this is the first time ever that Honda has occupied the top two best-selling car positions in Japan for any monthly sales period.

SEMA Preview: 2009 Honda Fit Tjin Edition

We don't know why but Honda has been somewhat quiet about its 2008 SEMA show offerings. One of the vehicles that will make their first appearance at the company's show booth is the 2009 Fit Tjin Edition designed by Gene Tjin. Key features of the 2009 Fit Tjin Edition include the blue-grey paint job, the subtle bodykit, the addition of a Webasto sunroof and a set of old-school BBS alloy wheels.

Honda City Concept Premieres in Sydney

Don't ask why, but Honda performed the world debut of a concept version of the new generation City sedan at the at this week's 2008 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The City sedan that has already been introduced in production form (see here) is based on the mechanicals of the recently launched Jazz hatchback and is offered with a choice of two engines, a 100HP 1.4-liter and a 120HP 1.5-liter unit. -Continued

The concept version of the City sedan was festooned with decorative carbon-fiber trim on the grille, the door sills and the new aerodynamically shaped exterior mirrors that house a set of rear-view cameras. Other mods include the futuristic LED headlights and tail lamps, the new alloy wheel designs and the side skirts.

Honda City to make European Debut at Turkish Motor Show

The all-new Honda City sedan will make its European debut at this October's Istanbul Motor Show in Turkey. Honda’s new subcompact sedan, which shares several design elements with the upcoming Insight Hybrid (see here), is based on the platform of the new Jazz / Fit. Depending on the market, the City will be offered with a 120 HP 1.5-liter i-VTEC or/and a 100 HP 1.4-liter i-VTEC matted to a 5-speed manual or an automatic gearbox with the option of steering wheel mounted paddles. -Continued

With the smaller displacement engine the new City completes the benchmark 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 11.8 seconds for the manual version while the automatic version hits 100 km/h in 14.7 seconds, almost three seconds slower. In Turkey, sales of the City will be begin in January 2009 where it will be offered exclusively with the 1.4-liter engine.