Car News Articles

The Honda CR-Z, a lightweight sports hybrid concept vehicle, and the FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle set to begin limited retail marketing in summer 2008, are bringing some of the most advanced environmental technologies from Honda to the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

CR-Z

Making its North American debut, the CR-Z is a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda’s original gas-electric hybrid system that achieves both clean performance and a high level of torque. The CR-Z stands for “Compact Renaissance Zero” - an expression intended to capture the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars that begins anew from fundamentals. The design research model of a lightweight hybrid sports car features advanced technologies that deliver elevated driving performance while reducing the vehicle’s environmental footprint.

Designed to be futuristic and dynamic, the CR-Z combines powerful performance in a compact form with a futuristic image. For its frontal view, an over-sized grill with a high-performance look is offset by openings on each side that lighten the overall feel. In the rear, tube-shaped rear combination lamps create a powerful presence.

Design details emphasizing the CR-Z’s advanced image include door mirrors that provide high visibility in a stylish form, LED headlights that convey a sharp impression, and jaunty fin-shaped sub-lights. Large 19-inch wheels suggest dynamic driving performance.

The key words for the CR-Z’s interior design are “Hi-tech and Sporty.” The goal was to create an all-new sporty interior that fuses the liberating feel of airy spaciousness with an advanced interface that brings out the fun of driving. Mesh material on a simple framework construction is used throughout the interior to convey a light, sophisticated image. In the cockpit, the meter unit conveys the image of advanced technology ensconced in a piece of glass artwork, offering quick recognition and a futuristic and exhilarating appearance. The CR-Z concept vehicle made its world debut at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in November and indicates the styling direction for a second, new hybrid vehicle to be introduced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. The other future hybrid vehicle, designed to meet the needs of a family and priced below the Civic Hybrid, is planned for introduction in 2009.

FCX Clarity

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on the entirely new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. Featuring tremendous improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency - and boasting a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance, previously unachievable in a fuel cell vehicle - the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

American Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California with the first deliveries taking place in summer 2008. Full details of the lease program will be set closer to launch, but current plans call for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month.

American Honda is also developing a service infrastructure that provides customers with the best balance of convenience and the highest quality of service. When the FCX Clarity requires periodic maintenance, customers will simply schedule a visit with their local Honda dealer. American Honda will transport the vehicle to its fuel cell service facility, located in the greater Los Angeles area, where all required work will be performed. At the completion of the work, the customer will pick up their car from the dealer.

The FCX Clarity utilizes Honda’s V Flow stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle’s electric drive motor. The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle’s main power source. Hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where chemical energy from the reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle. Additional energy captured through regenerative braking and deceleration is stored in the lithium ion battery pack, and used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle’s only emission is water. The FCX Clarity’s revolutionary new V Flow platform packages the ultra-compact, lightweight and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack (65 percent smaller than the previous Honda FC stack) in the vehicle’s center tunnel, between the two front seats. Taking advantage of a completely new cell configuration, the vertically-oriented stack achieves an output of 100 kilowatts¹ (kW) (versus 86kW in the current Honda FC stack) with a 50 percent increase in output density by volume (67 percent by mass). Its compact size allows for a more spacious interior and more efficient packaging of other powertrain components, which would otherwise be unattainable in a sleek, low-slung sedan. Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, including advanced gasoline engines, gasoline-electric hybrids, natural gas-powered engines, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Founded in Japan in 1948, Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda’s first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. production² of motorcycles in 1979 and automobiles in 1982. The company has invested more than $9 billion in its North American operations with 14 major manufacturing facilities, employment of more than 35,000 associates, and annual purchases of more than $17.6 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America.

1 Specifications may change prior to the certification and sales of production units.

2 Using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Additional consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

The new Alfa Romeo 149 was caught in camo. The 149 will be based on the Fiat Bravo platform. That corresponds to a bigger 149 than the 147 it replaces.

The 149 is long, measuring some 4.3 metres, which is not far off the old 156. The range of powerplants will include the new 1.4 T-Jet and M-jet family of engines producing 120BHP/89kW and 265BHP/198kW for the GTA version, which should sport a V6 under the hood. A six-speed manual and automatic will be choice gearboxes for customers.

European pricing will be around ?20 000 for the base model.

If you’ve been looking at photographs of the latest-generation Ford Falcon, there’s a good chance you’re thinking it just looks like a facelift.

There’s certainly an element of evolution about the new FG Falcon, perhaps a consequence of Ford’s painful memories of the reception to its last new-generation Falcon, the AU in 1998.

See the new FG Falcon in the flesh, however, and there’s no doubting Ford’s claim that the sheetmetal is all new.

The side profile is noticeably different, with a more steeply raked windscreen and a flatter roof than the outgoing BF Falcon. Then there’s the scalloped flanks that are one of the most obvious examples of some well executed styling details.

The side windows extend further towards the rear and the use of black gives the impression that the Falcon has frameless doors.

A waistline that rises more noticeably towards the rear also helps to give the FG Falcon a more purposeful stance.

Three different front ends - all with upper and lower grilles - are employed through the regular Falcon range, with the base model XT looking the most evolutionary. The G-series range borrows heavily from the new Ford Mondeo mid-size car that first introduced Ford’s ‘kinetic design’ language to Australia.

The XR models are differentiated up front by honeycombe mesh grilles and round foglights. The XR8 takes the muscle theme even further with a bulging bonnet.

Overall, Ford Australia’s exterior designers have achieved what Holden did with the VE Commodore - they’ve succeeded in making the Falcon look smaller than it actually is.

From a rear-three-quarter view, there’s even a similarity to the VE Commodore in the FG Falcon’s deep flanks and hunkered down appearance. Early impressions, however, are that the VE has an edge over the FG in terms of overall proportions.

Exterior styling is crucial to any new car. A good-looking car can sell in big numbers even if it masks - literally - average mechanicals underneath.

Motoring journalists can offer their subjective views on styling, but ultimately it’s down to the Australian public to determine whether the new FG Falcon’s looks are a winner or not.

So what are you waiting for? What do you think of the new FG Falcon’s styling?

Jez Spinks

Designed by Pininfarina, the handsome coupe is not a full four-seater but there is room in back for two kids or two flexible and tolerant adults. While it’s beautiful to look at, the GranTurismo is not just show and no go. Powered by the Maserati 4.2-liter V8, it delivers 405 horsepower and a widely spread 339 lb-ft of torque. Top speed is reported to be 178 mph with 0-62 mph expected in 5.2 seconds.

The GranTurismo borrows the new ZF 6-speed automatic transmission first introduced in the Quattroporte. The transmission adapts to driving style and driving conditions; however, drivers can also choose from four different operating modes: Auto Normal, Auto Sport, Low Grip/Auto Ice, and Manual.

With exterior styling influenced by the 75th Anniversary Birdcage concept car, the GranTurismo features a powerful stance with a large, concave grille; swept-back headlights; and bold fenders that carry the powerful image into the hood. A V-shaped power bulge sweeps back from the large Maserati trident at the center of the grille.

The interior is awash in Poltrona Frau leather, both on the seats as well as the door and dash trim, and is available in ten different colors. Poltrona Frau (an Italian company, of course) earned its reputation producing high-quality leather furniture. The cabin can be further customized with a number of wood trims, including walnut, rosewood or tanganyka. Wood trim can also be varnished to a piano-like finish.

With so many different color and trim combinations, Maserati officials expect 30 percent of the GranTurismos bound for the U.S. will be custom orders. Company PR says the anticipated wait time for a custom order is about four months.

Respected World Rally Championship competitor Alister McRae and Rick Bates will spearhead Mazda’s 2008 Targa Tasmania campaign.

McRae’s motor racing pedigree is world-class; he has contested more than 75 World Rally Championship (WRC) events and is a former British Rally Champion. McRae is the third WRC competitor to test his mettle against the 17-year-old tarmac endurance rally, which this year will be held from April 15 to 20.

McRae and Bates will each be equipped with the latest performance car from Mazda, the Mazda3 MPS. The hot hatch is based on Mazda’s best-selling model in Australia and comes with a turbocharged engine which belts out 190kW and 360Nm.

Mazda Motorsport’s eighth entry into Targa Tasmania follows the company’s stunning result in 2007 in which Rick Bates finished a brilliant 10th outright in a near-standard Mazda3 MPS.

Mazda’s two-car team will be competing in the event’s new Showroom competition, which is designed to put near-standard vehicles on an equal billing with highly-modified racing and rally cars.

Perth-based McRae is charged about his first Targa drive, and is under no illusion of the challenge that lies ahead.

“It’s great to have a new challenge, and doing it with Mazda will be great fun,” says McRae.

“Competing in an endurance event is completely new for me.”

“My strategy will be to ensure a finish, but I am competitive by nature, so I want to finish as high up the leader board as possible.”

McRae believes his biggest challenge will come from seasoned Targa competitors with numerous events under their belts.

One such Mazda regular is team-mate Bates who has five Targas to his name.

Bates says he’s looking forward to some spirited competition with McRae.

“We got a great result last year, but to go one better is the aim; having Alister on the team will make for some good, healthy competition and I am sure we’ll egg each other on.”

A professional rally driver, Bates’ motorsport portfolio is loaded with circuit and rally accolades, including a win at the Panama-to-Alaska marathon rally, third at the London-to-Sydney and two top-10 finishes at the Bathurst 1000.

Bates thinks the Mazda3 MPS is the ideal machine for Targa’s notoriously tricky roads and unpredictable weather.

“The Mazda3 MPS is an easy car to drive; its sure-footed handling inspires confidence, especially when you’re pressing on. The car always feels strong, from the first competitive kilometre right to the last grueling day.”

Mazda Motorsport chief Allan Horsley believes this year’s Targa has the potential to be Mazda’s best.

“I could not be more pleased with our driver line-up; we really do have two top-class drivers. Last year’s 10th outright is the goal I think we can beat, and I am also confident that both Rick and Alister will earn themselves a place on the Showroom podium.”

The 2008 Targa Tasmania comprises around 1800 kilometres, 450 of those are competitive and spread across 39 challenging closed-road stages. The prologue is on April 15, with competition starting April 16.

- The Mercury