2012 Honda CR-Z Mugen concept

Honda has released the first pictures of the CR-Z Mugen, ahead of its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

2012 Honda CR Z Mugen Rear View 495x355 2012 Honda CR Z Mugen
After a further 15 per cent increase in power over this ‘stage 1′ engine and with over 50 kg reduced from the chassis, overall performance is set to meet Mugen’s original targets.

That achieved 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds, and the team says the test version has already passed that, thanks to a hike in power to 200bhp and 245Nm of torque.

The regular 1.5 i-VTEC engine develops 113bhp, while Mugen's bolting on a supercharger and fettling the IMA hybrid system for nearer 200bhp and 181lb ft. And Mugen's dieticians have stripped out 50kg of unnecessary heft, to make the CR-Z more agile. The bonnet is made from carbonfibre while the wheels are lightweight Mugen alloys.

Mugen also has upgraded handling and performance, fitting adjustable shocks and large disc brakes, increasing track and reducing weight. Mugen GP 17-inch forged alloy wheels are part of an exterior package that includes front and rear airdams, side skirts and a rear wing.

Press Release

FIRST IMAGES OF CR-Z MUGEN REVEALED

Honda (UK) and MUGEN Euro have revealed the first official photographs of the CR-Z MUGEN - the higher-performance hybrid coupe.

Development of the supercharged Honda CR-Z is on track, with performance figures already looking promising.

Early tests with a prototype car based on a standard CR-Z and a mid-tune engine have given 0-60mph times around that of the Civic Type R.

After a further 15 per cent increase in power over this 'stage 1' engine and with over 50kg reduced from the chassis, overall performance is set to meet MUGEN's original targets.

"Early fuel consumption tests have also been encouraging," says Colin Whittamore from MUGEN Euro. "We've retained the three driving modes from the standard car and economy ranges from 50+mpg in 'eco' mode to mid-30 mpg when tapping into the supercharged power in a special 'MUGEN' mode."

2011 Mazda MX-5 GT Race Car

This is the new Mazda MX-5 GT, the fastest, lightest Mazda-produced MX-5 ever. Unfortunately, it's also the company's new entry for this year's Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship, so you won't be seeing it on the road anytime soon.

Designed to compete in this year’s Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship, the standard MX-5 has been completely reworked to FIA specifications. It features a modified version of Mazda’s 2.0-litre in-line four, developing 275bhp - up 117bhp on the road going version - and mated to a six-speed sequential paddle shift ’box.

The car is also fitted with FIA-spec gear such as roll cage, racing seats with harness, external electric cut-off and fire extinguisher, competition alloy wheels and steering wheel, and safety latches for the bonnet and boot lid.

Under the bonnet is seriously tuned and tweaked 2.0-litre engine. Rather than 158bhp the four-cylinder engine now produces 275bhp. It also sits lower in the racer, and drives the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox.

The Mazda MX-5 GT will compete in its first race at the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship three-hour endurance race at Silverstone, scheduled to start at 3:00pm on March 26.




Press Release

MAZDA MX-5 GT BREAKS COVER

• Mazda MX-5 GT entry into Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship 2011
• Lightweight Mazda MX-5 GT race car to challenge conventional thinking
• Mazda MX-5 GT remains true to its roots but with more power and performance

Mazda is set to challenge Aston Martin, Porsche, Lotus, and BMW on the race track with its lightweight Mazda MX-5 GT entry in the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship 2011.

Weighing in at just 850kg, the Mazda MX-5 GT race car will accelerate from 0-to-60mph in just three seconds and hit a top speed of 160mph. The build of the car has been an engineering challenge to get the weight as low as possible using Mazda's gram strategy as the inspiration. Jota Sport examined every nut and bolt to reduce component weight and then match the power to the weight to give the lightest and most powerful MX-5 ever built.

An important aspect of the build was to ensure the Mazda MX-5 still remains true to its roots: great handling, huge fun-to-drive and the ability to challenge bigger more powerful competition, but at an affordable cost. The Mazda GT car ticks all those boxes and is now set to demonstrate its challenger spirit on the track.

Jota Sport, the race engineering team that will run the cars in the 2011 series, took 400 hours to build the shell to a specification that ensured it was 17 times stronger than required by the FIA. During the development they faced a number of engineering challenges such as suspension adjustments, integrating the six speed sequential gearbox, and lowering the engine. Weight saving strategies such as, the removal of interior components, reducing component weight and dipping the shell in acid lost 15kg from the MX-5 race car.

The completed MX-5 GT features a modified Mazda engine to produce 275bhp, a six speed sequential paddle shift gearbox, carbon doors and Polycarbonate windows. On the exterior, the Mazda MX-5 GT boasts a Spirited Green metallic body colour - a first on the MX-5 for Mazda UK - complimented by Jota Sport corporate coloured liveries in orange and grey.

Mazda is renowned for challenging conventions so the motivation to develop a MX-5 GT car comes naturally. It also comes at a time when Mazda has recently celebrated a number of milestones for MX-5 including its 21st anniversary and producing 900,000 MX-5 units globally since its introduction in 1989, with over 10 percent of global MX-5 sales from Britain. Meanwhile, the Mazda MX-5 continues to hold the Guinness World Record as the world's best?selling roadster - testament to its continued popularity with British open top sports car fans.

The Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship is contested over nine races from March to November including a race at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. The first race is a three hour endurance race at Silverstone next weekend, Saturday 26 March 2011, starting at 3.00pm.

This is the fourth time that Mazda has entered Britcar and this year the Mazda MX-5 GT car will be driven by two Mazda works drivers including experienced Mazda racing driver Mark Ticehurst, 39 from Hassocks, West Sussex and Auto Express journalist and racing driver Owen Mildenhall.

"The MX-5 production race car's modest power output, bullet proof reliability and nimble handling demonstrated last year how the MX-5 can be competitive against some of the purpose-built Lotus, VW and BMW race cars. With a higher power output combined with the durability, reliability and handling attributes that the MX-5 is renowned for; the MX-5 GT race car will be strong contender against the more powerful race cars in its class," comments Graeme Fudge, PR Director, Mazda UK.

The Mazda MX-5 GT car, prepared by Tunbridge Wells-based Jota Sport features the mandatory FIA approved safety equipment including a roll cage, race seats and harness, external electric cut-off and fire extinguisher, safety catches on the bonnet and boot lids, competition steering wheel and alloy wheels, while the running gear, rear axle, gearbox and engine have been modified to enhance performance.

Honda Brio launches in Thailand

The Honda Brio will be launched in Bangkok. The latest innovation from Honda is expected to raise the bar and set a new standard for eco-cars in terms of design, packaging, cabin comfort and fuel-efficiency in Thailand. The starting price will be 399,900 baht, with an annual sales plan of 40,000 units. (1 baht = approximately 2.7 yen)

The 1.2 liter motor develops 90 Bhp of peak power at 6000 rpm whereas the peak torque of 11.21 kgm is generated at 4800 rpm. It is very likely that for India, this figures may come down and the Brio would develop close to 10 Bhp less.

It was revealed then that the A-segment Brio is 3,610 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,475 mm tall. That’s 45 mm longer, 85 mm wider, but 65 mm lower than a Hyundai i10. These profile side-by-side pics show no difference between the concept and the white mule (except for body coloured B pillars), which pics appeared on a Thai website.




Press Release

The new small car in Thailand BRIO was released

Honda's Thai subsidiary, Honda Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bangkok, President: Atsushi Fujimoto), so announced the following day, March 17, 2011, will guide the content.

Honda has developed a new compact car for the Asian market "BRIO (Brio)," announced today, the government's eco-car certification model 1 ? on sale in late May as Thailand.

"Brio" is a newly developed small car market for Entorika expanding in Asia, Thailand and India. Honda's M · M (Man Maximum / Minimum Mechanical) Thought 2 ? evolved, compact body size of any city easy 3 ? , the realized design and spacious interior presence to assert.

Thailand specification car, 1.2L i-VTEC engine that is the government's eco-car certification standards 5L/100Km ? four or more fuel efficiency, Euro4 Emissions 5 ? corresponding environmental performance. In addition, while standard equipment on all grades airbags passenger and driver seat, 390,000 price 9,900 baht (1.07 million to about 9,730 yen 6 ? ) and setting from the affordable prices and performance required in the Thai market This model has both.

Honda Automobile Production (Thailand) Company Limited has made, has sold 40,000 units a year from release. Also, in the future also plans to export to neighboring countries.
"Brio" is followed by production and sales in Thailand are also plans to export to neighboring countries from the production and sale in India later this year.

1 ? Engine emissions, fuel consumption, and vehicle requirements such as clearing the emissions regulations and standards, the 17% reduction in excise duty
2 ? M · M and Honda's philosophy is "to maximize space for people, minimum space for mechanisms" that "people centered" concept of working in Honda's car manufacturing is the basic idea
3 ? Takeshi Tamotsu width 3,610 mm × 1,680 mm × 1,485 mm Tamotsu Takashi
4 ? ECE R101-mode measurement
5 ? Emissions regulations are enforced in Europe
6 ? Rate of about 1 baht = 2.7 yen

2011 Geneva Preview: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

Lexus just releases new photos and details for the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package ,which will debut at the Geneva auto show next week.

The package celebrates Lexus’ class victories at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring last May. Lexus isn’t actually adding to LFA production; instead, the automaker says that 50 of the 500 cars set to be built will be equipped with the package.

Available in Matte Black, Black, White or Orange, the interior can be had in Black and Red, Black and Pur­ple or all Black. Plus, all Nurburgring editions get added carbon  fiber interior bits, plus carbon racing seats.

Power is also on the up. From the standard 4.8-litre V10 with 560 PS (412 kW / 553 bhp) comes a new power figure of 570 PS (419 kW / 562 bhp) and reduced gearshift times. Performance times are also down; 0 - 62mph flashes by in 3.7 seconds and top speed is 325 km/h (202 mph).

The automated manual six-speed transmission’s shift regime has been recalibrated too, swopping gears in only 15 miliseconds, thereby enabling the LFA Nürburgring package to sprint from 0-100km/h in only 3.7 seconds.




Press Release

LEXUS PRESENTS LFA NÜRBURGRING PACKAGE

• Lexus reveals special performance package for its LFA supercar at the Geneva motor show
• Nürburgring Package offered as an option on a maximum of 50 cars - just 10 per cent of the total LFA production run
• Designed for more track-focused performance through additional aerodynamic elements, lowered suspension and engine revisions
• 10bhp increase in power from V10 engine to 562bhp ensures LFA's 0-62mph acceleration time of 3.7 seconds is maintained
• LFA production underway since December, with one hand-crafted car completed per day
• Use of advanced, automated Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) production processes serves as a test bed for future models

To celebrate the LFA's hat-trick of class wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, Lexus has created the Nürburgring Package, an array of aerodynamic features, suspension adjustments and revisions to the 4.8-litre V10 engine that give the supercar a more track-focused profile. Shown in public for the first time at the Geneva motor show, the performance option is available on just 50 of the 500 cars that will be built. These versions will be crafted during 2012, the second full year of LFA production.

To sharpen the car's circuit driving performance even further by increasing downforce at high speed, the Nürburgring Package introduces modifications and additions to several key carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components. These include a larger front spoiler, fin-type side spoilers, a canard fin and a fixed rear wing.

To ensure the LFA maintains its 3.7-second acceleration time from nought to 62mph, in spite of the increased drag, the V10 engine has been revised to increase maximum power by 10bhp to 562bhp. Shift times in the six-speed sequential transmission are just 0.15 seconds.

In terms of handling modifications, the package features suspension tuning and a 10mm reduction in the ride height. Exclusive mesh-type wheels are introduced, fitted with dedicated high-grip tyres.

Exterior colour choices are restricted to matte black, black, white or orange, with interiors finished in black and red, black and purple and all-black. Cars delivered in Europe will feature a carbon fibre centre console and door trims, with carbon fibre sports seats finished in Alcantara.

Customers who specify the package will also be offered one-to-one driving tuition from a Nürburgring chief instructor and a year's pass to enjoy their car on the famous Nordschleife circuit.

CFRP parts manufacturing

LFA production began in December with just one hand-crafted car completed per day. A team of 175 people are involved in CFRP parts manufacturing, vehicle assembly and painting.

CFRP is exceptionally strong, rigid and lightweight, and accounts for about 65 per cent of the LFA's body structure weight. This amounts to a saving of about 100kg, compared an equivalent all-aluminium body.

Lexus is producing and assembling the CFRP components in-house, with a view to future development of the technology. It is a time-consuming process, compared to working with steel or aluminium, but the LFA project provides a valuable test bed for new, automated processes which will be used in the manufacture of future Lexus and Toyota models.

Different manufacturing technologies are used according the shape, role and required properties of each component.

• Pre-preg: this is an industry-standard composite sheet material made of carbon fibre, pre-impregnated with epoxy resin. It is used for the LFA's main structural elements, such as the dash, side and cross-members and panels.

• Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM): this is dry sheet fabrication, with epoxy resin injected into the mould. It is mainly employed in the LFA's secondary main frames, such as the crash boxes, roof side rails and vehicle floor.

• Carbon fibre - Sheet Moulding Compound (C-SMC): this is used for fabricating the upper body components and frames that have complex geometries.

Adhesive bonding

The LFA assembly line moves through five consecutive processes, each of which has been digitally validated. For the first four - sub-assembly, underbody, small aluminium parts and main body - adhesive bonding is used. Final assembly of the aluminium parts is by mechanical fastening.

This is the first time Lexus has used adhesive bonding for main body assembly, a process that has required new quality control measures to be implemented to ensure each of the five stages involved in the bonding meets the required criteria.

Mazda MX-5 production hits 900,000 units

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has sold 900,000 units across the world since first being introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, which starts Feb. 11, back in 1989. Since its inception, it has sold 389,000 units in the United States.

The first-generation MX-5 Miata (1990-1997 model years) was equipped with a 1.6-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that produced 116 horsepower and 100 lb-ft (135 Nm) of torque. A removable hardtop was optional and initial color choices were red, white and blue. The starting price back then was of $14,000.

A redesigned second-generation model was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1997 (model years 1999-2005 – there was no 1998 model-year car) and the third generation model was introduced at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2005 (model years 2006-present).

The current-generation MX-5 Miata is equipped with an MZR-series 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine, producing 167 horsepower (158 for automatic transmission) and delivers 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) of torque. The soft-topped Sport model starts at $23,110 with top-level, Power Retractable Hard Top Grand Touring models starting at $28,550.





Press Release

900,000th Mazda MX-5 to Set New Guinness World Record

- MX-5 reaffirms its position as the world's favorite lightweight, open-top, two-seat sports car -


HIROSHIMA, Japan-Total production of Mazda Motor Corporation's MX-5 sports car (known as the Mazda Roadster in Japan) reached 900,000 units on February 4, 2011. This significant milestone was achieved 21 years and 10 months after mass production of the first-generation MX-5 commenced in April 1989. The MX-5 was initially certified by Guinness World Records as the world's "Best selling two-seat sports car" when production reached 531,890 units in May 2000. Guinness updated the record when production passed 700,000 and, later, 800,000 units. Currently, Mazda is reapplying to Guinness World Records to have the record updated to 900,000 units.

During the 1960s and 1970s, numerous lightweight and fun-to-drive sports cars offered nimble handling and free-spirited open-air motoring. In the 1980s, Mazda decided to resurrect this spirit with a new roadster for the modern age. Using the latest engineering techniques, Mazda developed the MX-5 and announced it in February 1989 as a reminder that driving could still be fun despite ever-stricter safety and quality standards. To this day, the MX-5 remains the longest enduring nameplate in Mazda's global lineup.

Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager of the current MX-5, said, "Since Mazda launched the original MX-5, it has undergone two complete product redesigns and a series of upgrades. Its enduring success is due to the strong support it enjoys from MX-5 fans around the world. Going forward, I will strive to keep the MX-5's spirit alive while evolving it into a car that will be loved by even more people."

Mazda's senior managing executive officer in charge of development, Seita Kanai, said, "More than 20 years have passed since the first-generation Mazda MX-5 was born. During this time, society and vehicles themselves have changed significantly. Responding to environmental issues and the depletion of the Earth's natural resources has become increasingly important for all automakers. As part of its environmental efforts, Mazda announced its new SKYACTIV technologies last year. Currently, we are pushing forward with development of future products that will incorporate these technologies. Many of the elements that go into our SKYACTIV technologies, such as comprehensive weight reduction, grew from the long years of development work that have gone into the MX-5. Indeed, the guiding principle behind the SKYACTIV technologies - to build cars that are fun to drive - is perfectly embodied by the MX-5."

"As we head toward the next production milestone of one million units," Kanai continued, "Mazda is committed to further evolving the MX-5. We will refine its fun-to-drive character and further enhance its environmental and safety capabilities. As Mazda passes its 91st birthday, we are turning our sights toward our 100th anniversary. In the years ahead, we will continue to cherish the MX-5, alongside its loyal fan base, as the symbol of the Mazda brand."