Friday, February 19, 2010

Odyssey



The Honda Odyssey is a minivan / large MPV produced by the Japanese automaker Honda since 1995. Since model year 1999, the name was used on two related but distinct vehicles, with the larger Odyssey sold in North America market, while the smaller Odyssey sold in Japan and other world markets.

The larger North American Odyssey was sold in Japan as Honda LaGreat between 1999 and 2004. However, Honda has no plan to sell the smaller Odyssey in North America, despite its popularity when it was first introduced in 2003 Tokyo Auto Show.

Legend



The Acura Legend, sold as the Honda Legend outside the U.S., Canada, and parts of China, was a sporty luxury vehicle sold from 1986 to 1995 as both a sedan and a coupe. It was one of the first vehicles sold under the Acura nameplate, and was the top-spec sedan under the Acura nameplate until being replaced in 1996 by the Acura RL (officially badged as the Acura 3.5RL). The 3.5RL was a rebadged version of the third generation Honda Legend.

Integra




The fourth generation Integra, produced from 2002 to 2006, was renamed the Acura RSX for the United States, Canada and Hong Kong in accordance with Acura's new alphabetical naming scheme. It also had an entirely new engine, the K-series. The RSX was still sold as a Honda Integra in Japan and Australia, markets where Acura did not exist.

2006 marked the final model year for the RSX, and in May 2006, Honda discontinued the RSX. As of May 2007, the Honda Integra is still offered for sale in Japan, but was discontinued for sale in Australia, its other market.

Inspire



The first Inspire debuted in 1990 as the Accord Inspire, a sister nameplate to the Honda Vigor, then exported to the US as the Acura Vigor. They were the same car headed for different retail channels in Japan. This Vigor was a departure in itself; whereas 1980s Vigors were badge-engineered Accords, from this generation on the Vigor moved upmarket and received its own platform, in which the engine sits longitudinally like the Generation II Acura Legend. In Japan there would be four sedans between the Civic and the Legend: the Honda Accord and Honda Ascot with 4-cylinder engines mounted transversely, and the Vigor and Inspire with 5-cylinder engines mounted longitudinally.

In 1995 the Inspire was replaced by a new model, exported to the US as the Acura TL, while the Vigor nameplate was dropped altogether. The longitudinal engine layout remained, but a 3.2-liter V6 became available for the first time.

In 1999 these cars were replaced by a new TL that was based on the Accord platform, and largely designed and engineered in the US by Honda R&D Americas, InC. in Raymond, Ohio. Manufactured in the US, these were imported into Japan as the new Inspire and Saber.

Fit/Jazz



On 17 July 2007, Honda CEO, Takeo Fukui, announced during a press event that the next-generation Honda Fit/Jazz would make its debut in the fall of 2007 in Japan. Events leading up to the introduction of the second-generation Honda Fit slowly unveiled more information about the vehicle. On 28 August, 2007, manufacturer brochures were leaked and indicated that the second generation Honda Fit may feature three trim levels; G, L and RS. It is speculated the G and L trim levels will feature a new 1.3 L (79.3 cu in) i-VTEC engine that makes 100 hp (70 kW), while the 1.5 L (91.5 cu in) i-VTEC will be reserved for the Fit RS and will feature 120 hp (89 kW). On 20 September, 2007, images that appeared to be official promotion photography were leaked onto the internet of the 2009 Honda Fit. The new model has a pronounced one-box shape with a sleeker look than the current model. The photos also showed a panoramic glass roof.

On 20 August, 2007, Honda released official pictures and specifications of the new Fit. The vehicle was wider, longer, and with a longer wheelbase. Height was unchanged due to mechanic parking in Japan. ULTR magic seats were retained in the second generation, rear headrests were redesigned for better convenience when folding down the seats which now only takes two steps to fold down the whole back row. Growth in dimensions brought more space to the cabin, boot capacity increased from 12.7 to 14.2 cubic feet. There is also a hidden box under the floor. Although there is no increase in the height of the body, the interior height gained another .3 in, being benefited by the new layout of the platform.

Two engines will be offered in the new Fit. A 1.3 L (79.3 cu in) i-VTEC will produce 100 hp (70 kW) at 6000 rpm and 98 ft·lbf (133 N·m) at 4500 rpm. This engine will be offered in both European and Asian markets. A 1.5 L (91.5 cu in) i-VTEC engine will also be offered and have a maximum output of 118 hp (88 kW) at 6000 rpm and 107 ft·lbf (145 N·m) at 4800 rpm. This will be the only engine available in the American market. A 5-speed manual and CVT transmission are both available.

FR-V



The Honda FR-V (Honda Edix in Japan) is a six-seater compact MPV introduced by Honda in 2004. Alongside the Fiat Multipla, it is currently the only compact minivan with a 3+3 seating configuration available on the European market.

Honda FCX Clarity



The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell automobil manufactured by Honda.

Currently there are more than twenty 2002 prototype-based, leased vehicles in the hands of customers in three different American states, including the state of New York, city of Las Vegas, Chula Vista, San Francisco and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Limited marketing of a latest fuel cell vehicle based on the 2007 concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the United States. Honda believes it could start mass producing vehicles based on the FCX concept by the year 2018.