Honda Recalling More than 50,000 2012MY Civics Over Faulty Driveshafts

A potential problem with a driveshaft assembly has prompted Honda to issue a voluntary recall of 50,190 Civics from the 2012 model year in the States.

The Japanese carmaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] that the left driveshaft in certain 2012MY Civics may not have been properly assembled, and as a result, it could separate.

"If separation occurs, the engine will no longer propel the vehicle in any gear, and the vehicle may roll away if the parking brake has not been set when the gear selector has been placed in the Park position, increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury," Honda said in a statement.

The company added, however, that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this issue.

As is usually the case, Honda will notify owners via mail to have them visit their local dealer in order to inspect the driver’s side driveshaft and if necessary, install a new driveshaft free of charge. 

Via: carscoop

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Cool Cars: Honda Now Makes Flying Car

Honda with its motto the Power of Dream, is making another revolution in concept car design. Honda air is a new vehicle concept designed by Honda’s advanced design studio in Pasadena, California. The concept was created for the 1000 pound car design challenge put on by the Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle takes its lightweight inspiration from skydiving and roller coasters, using compressed air to powered its pneumatic regulator system.

This system utilizes turbo vacuums and external air-flow to regenerate tank pressure for extended range and increased boost for an estimated 100 miles. To keep the car lightweight, all components are mounted directly to the chassis, eliminating unnecessary structures. The exterior is made from vegetable based plastic wrapped around the body with an open-air style. the concept is estimated to weigh only 800 pounds.

New Honda Civic - Unveiled at Frankfurt Motorshow

This short video showcases the grand unveiling of the Honda Civic at the Frankfurt Motorshow. In order to progress, it's necessary to venture into the great unknown. After all, treading along a common path will never lead to something new or innovative. That’s why when pursuing a new, improved, Civic the Honda, engineers had to embark on a journey into ‘the unknown’. The campaign tells this story and uses interactive experiences to teach the lessons that they learnt along the way to developing the car. 

Creating the new Civic demanded new ways of doing things. So Honda's engineers ventured into the unknown, trying new ideas, learning new lessons and uncovering new ways of solving problems. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was a great one. And after four years of experimenting and 20 thousand miles of on-road testing, they finally realised their dream: the quietest, smoothest and strongest performing Civic yet.

Check it out for more information: www.honda.co.uk

China Auto Show: Honda Concept S to Form the Base for a New Production Minivan

Joining the Concept C sedan at Honda's 2012 Beijing Motor Show booth is the Concept S minivan. According to the Japanese carmaker, the 'S' in the design study's name stands for "Stylish," "Smart" and "Surprise".
Honda tells us that the Concept S is motivated by an unspecified hybrid powertrain and that it features a spacious cabin without providing any information on the number of passengers that it can accommodate.
"This concept model realizes both the "fun of driving" and excellent environmental performance at the same time," said Honda in a statement.
The company added that the Concept S previews a production model that is scheduled for introduction in the Chinese market through its Dongfeng Honda Automobile joint venture next year, followed by a global release shortly after.

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Tokyo Motor Show : Honda EV-STER Concept to Spawn a Production Model

Tokyo Motor Show

It looks like the retro-styled N Concept 4 city car won't be the only Honda study displayed at this month's Tokyo Motor Show that will end up going into production as the Japanese carmaker's CEO Takanobu Ito told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that the open-top EV-STER has also received the green light. The Honda boss revealed that the battery-powered, rear-wheel drive roadster could arrive in the market as early as 2012, adding that the company may also introduce more conventional version with a classic gasoline engine, without offering any more details.
However, it's only reasonable to assume that the gasoline model would be a hybrid matching an internal combustion engine with an electric motor.
At 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.), the tiny concept is marginally larger than Honda's 1990s mid-engined kei car, the Beat.
In conceptual form, the two-seater features an electric motor that draws energy from a 10kWh lithium-ion battery and powers the rear wheels. Honda said that the EV-STER could complete the zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5 seconds flat and reach a maximum speed of 160km/h (100mph).
The Japanese automaker also claims a driving range of around 160 kilometers (100 miles) and a charging time of under 3 hours using a 200V source and in less than 6 hours with a 100V source.

VIDEO: Tokyo Motor Show 2011: Honda EV-STER, World Premiere