Toyota and Honda Hold Back as the Rest of Japan’s Automakers Go Electric

The electric vehicle market in Japan is now burgeoning. Once the mainstay of small independents building low speed, short range Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), major manufacturers including Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru are now hopping on the EV train in the hopes of raking in some greenie revenue.

With its U.S. launch mere weeks away, Nissan already has 6,000 orders in Japan and a further 20,000 in the United States for its lithium-ion powered Leaf EV. The automaker has so many orders, in fact, that they won’t be taking any more.

As you would expect, Nissan Chief Operating Office Toshiyuki Shiga is one happy man: "We believe this will be the beginning of the new era for the world's automobile industry, as well as a sustainable low-carbon society.”


The Leaf follows the 2009 launch of the Subaru plug-in electric Stella and Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV EVs. Heavyweights Toyota and Honda are also planning similar vehicles for 2012.
Shigeru Matsumura, an automotive analyst for Japan’s SMBC Friend Research Center believes that the high price of EVs and the lack of recharging infrastructure are the biggest hurdles to profitability the major automakers face. Lengthy recharge times and limited range are also an continuing issue for many consumers and automakers alike.
Toyota and Honda appear to agree, with both companies keeping their focus on hybrids and fuel cell vehicles until EVs have a greater presence on the market.
Matsumura, however, believes the market is unlikely to flourish unless Toyota and Honda get in on the party:

"Japan's big three all need to join to develop the market. This is the likely scenario which will bring down high EV prices and help EVs become more common.”
Toyota’s Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, however, is standing his ground:
"EVs will spread first for short-range runs. We do not expect a fast spread of EVs."

The Nissan Leaf, which will be unleashed onto the U.S. market on the 11th of December, has an effective EPA fuel economy rating of 99 mpg and a range of 117 km. It will go head to head with GM’s locally produced Volt, which launches nine days later on the 20th of the month.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: The Japan Times

2011 Honda Insight with Subtle Revisions and Special Price Offer goes on Sale in the UK

The modestly improved for the 2011 model year Honda Insight hybrid with chassis and trim level changes has arrived at Honda's UK showrooms. Normal pricing starts at £16,325 for the SE model, however, the Japanese automaker is running a special deal until the end of December offering the hybrid model at £14,995 OTR.


For the 2011 model year, Honda also added a new, top-of-the-range, EX model that's priced at £20,215 OTR and comes equipped with black leather upholstery, DVD Sat Nav and hands-free telephone as standard.
According to the automaker, most of the changes on the Insight were made to address negative feedback from the media as well as customers on the car's ride and comfort levels. The chassis improvements include adjusting the recoil rate of the springs, changing the rear camber angles, plus altering the V-shape rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts. 

The latest model also benefits from the addition of new paint options with the introduction of Dynamic Blue Pearl and Carnelian Red Pearl.

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Honda to Terminate Element Crossover Next Year, No Direct Successor Planned

The quirky-looking Honda Element will soon cease to be as the Japanese automaker has decided to retire the boxy crossover model with the funky rear suicide-style doors after the 2011MY, due to declining sales. There's no direct successor planned, though Honda may develop a new derivative of the CR-V to fill the gap in the near future.

First introduced in concept form as the Honda Model X at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Element made its production debut at the end of 2002. Providing a multi-functional cargo area, versatile seating and a dirt-friendly interior with washable floors, the Element received several upgrades though the years, the most recent being a subtle facelift in late 2008.

"The Element proved that ultimate functionality can often come from thinking inside the box," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "It made boxy vehicle designs cool, and Element owners continue to enjoy its unique styling and unmatched versatility."
Sales of the Element peaked in its first full year of production in 2003 when Honda sold close to 70,000 units, but dropped to under 15,000 last year. Overall, more than 325,000 Elements have been sold in the United States since its introduction in December 2002.

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Honda Brio Prototype Previews New City Car for Asian Markets

As a follow up to the New Small Concept model showcased this past January at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi, India, Honda revealed the pre-production version of its new small city car called the Brio at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo (press day: November 30, public days: December 1-12.).
Developed for Asian markets and scheduled to be introduced in Thailand and India in 2011, the Brio has a small footprint measuring just 3,610mm in length, 1,680mm in width and 1,475 mm in height. Even though the Brio keeps the basic styling theme of the concept car, the pre-production prototype's design has been watered down with the new grille looking like a last minute addition and a not very attractive one at that. 


The mass-production model, which will be an entry-level car in newly emerging markets, Honda will develop unique versions for Thailand and India to reflect different customer needs in those markets.
Honda said that the Thai model is scheduled to be introduced in March 2011 with a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht or about US$13,300. It will be powered by a more fuel efficient engine returning a combined consumption of less than 5 lt/100km [47.0 mpg US].
For the Indian model that is planned to be introduced within 2011, the Japanese automaker said the engine choice will reflect the need for "a good balance between vehicle performance and price."
“Honda would like to expand the joy of mobility to more customers in Thailand, India and other Asian countries through the introduction of a new small vehicle with compact and highly efficient packaging by utilizing our own experiences cultivated by motorcycle business here in Asia,” said Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor.

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Wimmer RS Brings a Surplus of Ponies to the Ariel Atom 3

Combine a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged Honda engine at the rear pushing out up to 300-horsepower with a lightweight construction that tips the scales at just 469 kg (1,034 pounds), and you don't need to be an expert to know that even in completely stock form, the Ariel Atom 3 is a one helluva pocket rocket.
Nevertheless, the tuning industry is always eager to push the limits on any type of vehicle. This time the culprit is Germany tuning house Wimmer RS, which has introduced a new power kit for the Atom 3 300.

The mods made to the four-cylinder engine by Wimmer RS include ECU optimization software, a compressor overhaul, a fuel pump conversion and a new sport exhaust system together with Rennkat.
The result is a whopping -remember, it's a 2.0-liter engine- 340 hp and 282 Nm (208 lb-ft). According to the German tuning firm, the power-upgrade helps this 469kg punk rocker of a sports car accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a blink of an eye -2.8 seconds - while the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark comes after a mere 7.1 seconds.
For pricing details and availability you'll have to contact Wimmer RS.

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