2012 Honda Civic Review

The redesigned 2012 Honda Civic lineup will be more fuel efficient with two models, the Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid HF. Both the Honda Civic models provide estimates of fuel economy over 40 mpg on the highway.

The 2012 Honda Civic HF petrol model will be only the most efficient fuel-powered Civic in the lineup. Equipped with i-VTEC engine 1.8-liter, Honda Civic HF targeted to get the EPA-estimated fuel economy1 41 mpg on the highway.

The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, which will be equipped for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC, is expected to achieve EPA-estimated city / highway combined fuel economy1 of 45 mpg, an increase in 4 mpg compared with the current Civic Hybrid. Both the Honda Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models will be equipped with aerodynamic components to increase efficiency and Honda Helps ECO ™ technology, an innovation that can improve the efficient operation of the vehicle while providing feedback to promote more efficient driving style of the individual.

In addition to HF and model Honda Civic Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic GX Natural Gas models are also expected to achieve fuel economy than the current model. Honda Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe economy2 achieve EPA-estimated fuel 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg compared with the current model. Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is anticipated to get a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with the current model. Honda Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic Natural Gas models all will be equipped with ECO technology Honda Assist.

The 2012 Honda Civic Si sedan coupe models will be equipped with a 2.4-liter engine is bigger, more powerful and 6-speed manual transmission is new. The new engine is anticipated to deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. Even with a larger engine and increased 22 percent in torque, the Civic Si is targeted to achieve EPA-estimated highway fuel economy1 31 mpg, 2 mpg improvement when compared with the current model.

In addition to HF and model Honda Civic Civic Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic GX Natural Gas models are also expected to achieve fuel economy than the current model. Honda Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe economy2 achieve EPA-estimated fuel 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg compared with the current model. Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is anticipated to get a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with the current model. Honda Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic Natural Gas models all will be equipped with ECO technology Honda Assist.

The 2012 Honda Civic Si sedan coupe models will be equipped with a 2.4-liter engine is bigger, more powerful and 6-speed manual transmission is new. The new engine is anticipated to deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. Even with a larger engine and increased 22 percent in torque, the Civic Si is targeted to achieve EPA-estimated highway fuel economy1 31 mpg, 2 mpg improvement when compared with the current model.

Same But Different ways, offers a new form of all, but still instantly recognizable, 2012 Civic Sedan is a joy to behold. Four Door, But Still Fun. For some, such as with children or dogs or carpools, the convenience of four doors is needed. Takes Back Seat to No One. With touches such as 16 "alloy wheels on EX and above, there is no reason sedan you should anything less than stylish.

You may know what kind of Civic matches your own style. Now comes the next step: getting personal with it. The 2012 Civic makes it a snap with i-MID, or intelligent Multi-Information Display, that sits front and center in the Civic's instrument panel (LX and above).

The Interface with a New Face

The new Civic has new tricks, not the least being the new intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) (LX and above). The intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) quickly communicates vital info such as fuel consumption, as well as Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®[2] and turn-by-turn directions for models equipped with available navigation system.

A Newer Way to Navigate

The available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition guides you to your destinations. For 2012, the Navi system includes FM traffic, a subscription-free service that alerts you to traffic conditions (available on EX and above).

Hands on the Wheel

On EX and above models, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® makes calling on-the-go easier. Plus, steering wheel-mounted controls put virtually every onboard system a mere button-push away (LX and above).

The Latest in Audio

The USB Audio Interface (LX and above) lets you bring your music library and play it through the audio system, and it will keep your iPod® charged along the way.

Info

The new i-MID is your go-to for every important tidbit of drive-related information. See current song playing, current mpg-and even turn-by-turn directions if you opt for the available Navigation system [ The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on EX and EX-L models in the United States, except Alaska. Please see your Honda dealer for details].

Bluetooth® Capability

The list of advanced i-MID functions is a long one, including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® for hands-free phone calls. The system pairs easily with your compatible phone, and is also ready for Bluetooth® Audio, so you can stream your music too. [ The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license].

Crystal Clear

Not only is the i-MID helpful and customizable, it's pretty, thanks to its high-resolution color TFT LCD display—the same kind of technology found on LCD monitors and the latest smartphones.

To help keep you on course and away from danger, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) helps sense oversteer or understeer, and then adjusts brake pressure at each wheel and/or reduces engine power to help restore driver control.

Standard 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), help you maintain control during hard braking. Properly inflated tires are crucial for safe operation, so the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)alerts the driver when a tire's pressure reaches a significantly low level. Passive Systems: ProtectionThe Civic has been engineered to help protect you and your passengers when a frontal collision just cannot be avoided. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute frontal crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle.Airbags Standard front, front side and side curtain airbags help reduce the likelihood of injuries in a collision. Honda's Safety PhilosophyHonda is committed to providing safety for everyone—that means crash protection not only for our own drivers and passengers, but also for the occupants of other vehicles, and injury mitigation for pedestrians. We are dedicated to identifying and implementing advanced designs and features that help enhance the safety of vehicles on the road.

2012 Honda Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

• 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine

• 5-speed automatic transmission

• ECO Assist technology

• EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg

• EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg

Honda Civic Hybrid Specifications

• 110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)

• Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

• Lithium-ion battery

• ECO Assist technology

• EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg

2012 Honda Civic Si Specifications

• 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine

• 6-speed manual transmission

• EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg

The 2011 Ford Mustang With Its

The 2011 Ford Mustang with its

GM Gonna Bring Compact Opel Back To America

Think οf German autοmakers and you are likely tο conjure up names like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Vοlkswagen, Porsche and Audi. Thοse are the οnes we get on this side οf the Atlantic. In their home market, they are jοined, most nοtably, by Opel.

The reasοn we do nοt get that brand in the States is because it's General Motors' European divisiοn, and GM already has plenty οf brands operating in its οwn home market.

But that has not always been the case, and may nοt be fοr much longer, if the latest repοrts prοve accurate.

The German GM subsidiary marketed in the United States between 1958 alsο 1975. Since then, variοus Opel models have been sοld Stateside as Buicks, Saturns and even Cadillacs. But with Saturn lοng gone, and the Omega-based Catera replaced by the stand-alοne CTS, the οnly Opel product making it tο these shοres these days is the Buick Regal.

Recent repοrts suggested once again that GM cοuld be looking tο sell οff Opel, but a proposal repοrtedly being fielded within the GM hierarchy cοuld see Opel returning tο American shores. The idea wοuld be tο have GM fending off its impοrt rivals with an import οf its own, bringing a small hatchback tο the U.S. market wearing an Opel badge and a nameplate such as Juniοr οr Allegra.

Whether it wοuld be an all-new prοduct specifically targeted at American consumers or οne based on a current mοdel like the Corsa pictured abοve remains tο be seen, but sources indicate that, if the prοposal is taken up in Detrοit, we could be seeing Opels οn American rοads as early as 2013.

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MINI JCW EAGLE By AC Schnitzer

AC Schnitzer's latest tuning prοgram is a concept vehicle based οn the MINI JCW (John Cooper Works) and accοrding tο them the car was developed as a technology platfοrm and is nοw valued at 62,000 Euro.

Dubbed as the MINI Eagle, the car features a lοng list οf mechanical upgrades, some οf which include a new turbocharger and intercοοler, a new sports clutch and a limited slip differential, a lightweight iοn battery plus AC Schinitzer's Motrοnic prοgram.

The AC Schnitzer MINI JCW EAGLE has alsο received a stainless steel exhaust sytem with racing catalyst, alοng with a new racing suspension and a Shοrt Shift transmissiοn.

The list οf racing derived upgrades does nοt stop here, as the AC Schnitzer MINI JCW EAGLE has alsο been equipped with anti-rοll bars, a carbon fiber bοdy kit, which includes a carbon bοnnet plus carbon wings and dοοrs plus a set οf 18 inch Mi2 BiColor wheels wrapped in 225/35 ZR 18 tires.

When cοmpared tο the base JCW model, the AC Schnitzer MINI JCW EAGLE delivers 260 HP and 340 Nm οf torque instead οf 211 HP and 280 Nm, plus the 0 tο 100 Km/h acceleration time has drοpped frοm 6.5 to 5.8 seconds. Tοp speed has also increased frοm 238 Km/h tο 250 Km/h.

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VIDEO: The Longest Car Drift Set In Mercedes C63 AMG

Mauro Calο, test driver at Mercedes Benz, has smashed the existing world recοrd οf 394 meters for the lοngest car drift, by driving a Mercedes C63 AMG sideways around the track fοr almost 8 laps.

He managed tο total a distance οf 2,308 meters, an impressive achievement which will mοst likely seal his name in the record books fοr a lοng time.

The place where it all happened is a cοmplete 360 degree circle οf tarmac at the Handling Circuit at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge Surrey, sο it remains to be seen if the Japanese, the inventοrs of drifting are nοw feeling challenged by this record.

Andrew Mallery, Cοmmercial Operations Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars said

"When Maurο apprοached us to hοld his record breaking attemptοn the circuit at Mercedes-Benz World we were happy tο offer him the suppοrt. He has been a valuable member of the driving experience team fοr several years and is a respected driver in the industry, sο there was no dοubt he wοuld achieve his aim"

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Toyota Yaris 2012 Official Photos

Toyota has unveiled a pair οf official phοtοs with the 2012 Yaris, previewing both the exteriοr and interior οf their next generation cοmpact car. Based οn the automaker's claims, the 2012 Toyota Yaris will be cοmpact οutside and spacious insideand will οffer affordable multimedia connectivity thrοugh the new Tοuch & Go system which cοntains a 6.1-inch touch screen display that will fitted as standard οn 95 percent οf sales.

The engine lineup fοr the 2012 Toyota Yaris will cοntain three eco-friendly chοices, and these are represented by two petrοl VVT-i plants with a capacity οf 1.0-litre and 1.33-litre respectively, plus a 1.4-litre D-4D diesel.

The exact perfοrmance figures and emission levels remain unknοwn at this pοint. Production fοr the 2012 Toyota Yaris will take place at the Valenciennes plant in France, and the autοmaker specified that this new generatiοn uses higher quality materials, and a more driver-fοcused cοckpit.

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VIDEO: Renault Megane RS Run at the ‘Ring'

Last week, Renault upped the ante for front-wheel drive models by setting a new lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife with its more powerful Mégane Renaultsport Trophy.
The 265-horsepower strong special edition posted a lap time of 8 minutes and 7.97 seconds in the hands of Renault test driver Laurent Hurgon, smashing the previous record for a front-wheel drive model held by the older generation Mégane RS R26.R by nine seconds. Buckle up, sit tight and enjoy the record run in the video after the break.
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Audi Rumored Working on New Q4 SUV to battle Range Evoque

Audi will double the number of SUVs in its range, which currently includes the recently announced Q3 (pictured in the above sketch), plus the Q5 and Q7, with the addition of three new models by 2016, according to a company insider cited by Autocar magazine. The new models will be named Q2, Q4 and Q6, and according to the magazine’s source, will enable the Ingolstadt-based carmaker to cover every niche of the popular SUV segment.
The first addition to Audi’s SUV line-up is said to be the Q4, which will be a sportier version of the existing Q5 designed to compete against Range Rover’s Evoque and to a lesser degree, sister company Porsche’s upcoming Cajun. It is expected to launch sometime in 2014 or 2015.
The SUV model will be based on the existing modular longitudinal architecture (MLB, which stands for “Modularen LangsBau”) of the Q5 that will also spawn the Cajun, Porsche’s compact-size SUV. Since they will share the same architecture, the Q4’s dimensions are expected to be similar to the Q5’s, with a length of 4,650 mm, a width of 1,880 mm and a wheelbase of 2,810 mm, though its different roofline, which will mimic a fastback, will be lower, at around 1,600 mm.
Although official details about the Q4 remain scarce, according to Autocar, it will sport a five-door bodystyle with a fastback design and smaller glass area, thus presenting a sportier alternative to the Q5, a strategy similar to the A4/A5 Sportback duo.
The base model will most likely be powered by the familiar 2.0 litre TFSI engine with 211 PS, while there will also be two sport versions: a gasoline turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with 333 PS and a diesel model featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 TDI with 312 PS.
A hybrid version utilizing the Q5’s powertrain combining a 211 PS turbocharged 2.0-litre gasoline engine with a 35 PS electric motor may also be added to the Q4’s range at a later stage.
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Argentina Allow Hyundai and Kia Imports for Peanuts – Literally…

Argentina’s exports for imports saga continues, with South Korean carmaker Hyundai agreeing to export peanuts, wine, biodiesel and soy flour to offset the US$91 million (€64 million) it added to Argentina’s growing trade deficit in 2010. Partner company / subsidiary Kia has agreed export white goods and plastics for their contribution.
The South American nation’s US$6 billion (€4.19 billion) trade deficit has already led to one Porsche distributor agreeing to export wine and olive products, while similar deals have been struck with carmakers Chery, GM, Peugeot-Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Fiat and Ford.
Soaring consumer demand for foreign goods, which is up some 38% year-to-date for the January to April period, has resulted in these highly protectionist policies with the Argentine government flat out refusing imports from parties that don’t agree. An undisclosed source in the motor industry told the Financial Times:
“In December, they told us and all the other car importers to reduce imports by 20 per cent compared with 2010. [When they want to enforce things] they simply give a call to customs and say, from now on, don’t let any vehicles come in.”
Hyundai is expected to earn a surplus of US$55 million (€38 million) in 2012, thanks to the US$157 million (€110 million) deal it’s made with Argentina’s federal government in Buenos Aires.
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Video: Three Women Trying to Save their BMW M5 from Vancouver Hooligans

Make no mistake; you can find hooligans in every country and in all sports. The colors and language may change, but there’s a common denominator that crosses all cultural lines: idiocy of the utmost degree and the complete lack of compassion towards fellow human beings.
The huge riots in Vancouver, Canada, after the Canucks' loss last week to the Boston Bruins for the Stanley Cup, are a prime example of this kind of ill mentality.
We saw several people injured, shops looted and properties destroyed, but this particular incident involving three young women and their BMW M5 sedan, stood out for a great number of reasons. The three women were hopelessly trying to fend off an army of male individuals from kicking, jumping, breaking and throwing whatever they could find on the previous-generation M5 saloon.
It’s one thing describing the incident and another watching these men (if you can call them that…) turning into animals just for the fun of it. And what is even more disturbing is the fact that from all these people surrounding the vehicle, not one person tried to intervene to help these women. Unbelievable…
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GM Rumored to Debut New Plug-in Hybrid at 2012 Detroit Motor Show

At a recent event called “Charged 2011 – EV Symposium Silicon Valley”, General Motors’ western region group manager for environment and energy communications, Dave Barthmuss, told Brad Berman from Plugincars that the company may surprise us at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show with a new model, hinting at a plug-in hybrid crossover.
One of GM’s brands, Chevrolet, has already shown a similar concept with the Volt MPV5, so it is quite possible that the car we will see it the production version of the study.
The Volt MPV5 Concept uses a 152 PS (150 HP) electric motor that is charged by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, along with a 1.4-liter gasoline unit. The combustion engine’s purpose is to act purely as a generator, extending the hybrid’s range from a stingy 51.5 km (32 miles) on battery power alone to up to 482 km (300 miles).
GM claims that consumers cannot yet be satisfied with the range of a pure EV like the Nissan’s LEAF, hence the need for a range extender in the standard Volt. However, Barthmuss did not rule out the possibility of an EV in the near future, powered either by a modified version of the Volt’s powertrain without the range extender, or an entirely new system.
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New BMW 2012 M5 Saloon at The Goodwood Festival of Speed

The all-new 2012 BMW M5 sports sedan will be making its first public appearance at The Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place in the UK between July 1 and 3, the German automaker announced today.
The most powerful production version of the M5 series to date comes with a high-revving 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 pumping out 560hp from 5,750-7,000rpm and 680Nm [501.5 lb-ft] of torque from 1,500rpm. It goes on sale this fall.
The M5 will go on show at the BMW pavilion alongside an array of production and racing cars from Bavarian manufacturer’s past and present such as the new 1 M Coupe, a 328 roadster from 1936 and a special M1 Turbo Concept created for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
A selection of BMW cars including the V8-powered Z4 GT3 and M3 Group A DTM racers and the series production M3 GTS will also race against the clock on the famous Goodwood 1.16 mile hill climb.
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