| The King Motorsports / Mugen Civic Si made its | | | | credit, and who doesn't like a break from the |
| debut at the Specialty Equipment Market Association | | | | government? |
| (SEMA) convention in Las Vegas. The car showed | | | | Honda's release of the CR-Z concept car pushes the |
| off its K20 DC5R engine which has a limited slip | | | | limits on the marriage of a true sports car to the |
| differential and a 6-speed transmission. The engine | | | | latest in technology. The new class of vehicle is |
| had been modified to produce 240hp. The K20 | | | | ready to move Honda even further from its |
| represents Honda's next generation engine. It does | | | | competition in the market for hybrid engines. Honda |
| not run on a timing rubber belt. It runs by a timing | | | | even calls the CR-Z its lightweight sports car; an |
| chain. The engine heads are reversed so that intake | | | | indication of Honda's confidence in the CR-Z's ability |
| and exhaust swap position. Three additional versions | | | | to match its performance to its sporty good looks. |
| of the K20 (K20A, K20B, K20C) engine are available; | | | | The look and feel of a Sporty Hi-Tech vehicle is all |
| each sporting subtle variations in their power train | | | | that can be said about the CR-Z interior design. |
| assembly. | | | | Finally, production of the stimulating "green" cars has |
| The new Honda Insight has improved immeasurably | | | | been confirmed by Honda. The hydrogen fuel cell |
| since it was first launched back in 1999. Today's | | | | based FCX car along with a low weight hybrid sports |
| difficult economic times makes the Insight the right | | | | car will both go into production. This now makes its |
| answer for the customer on a budget. There has | | | | debut in the near future a reality. Then, the FCX |
| been an obvious slowdown in car sales which is the | | | | concept will be used in the all new FCV being |
| first reason why the Insight could be the next big | | | | marketed to both retail and fleet customers in Japan |
| thing. The Insight's base sticker price is significantly | | | | and the U.S.A. The FCV provides the safety |
| lower than any competitor model with similar | | | | comforts which everyone expects from Honda |
| features. Even if a buyer splurges for a fully loaded | | | | vehicles. |
| Insight, it won't cost much more than a base model | | | | Specifications for the Honda V Flow fuel cell have not |
| competitor. | | | | yet been provided. However, Honda assures us that |
| Auto makers are making considerable improvements | | | | the fuel cell stack provides performance equal to |
| in hybrid engine technology. It now looks as though | | | | almost all current sedans. At the same time, zero |
| hybrid is the way of the future and more consumers | | | | emissions are produced except for heat and water. |
| are turning to these cars to help save them money. | | | | It's obvious; customers have a lot to look forward to |
| Hybrids not only save consumers money at the gas | | | | as Honda continues to look far into the future of |
| tank but at tax time as well. Depending on the | | | | hybrid vehicle engineering in support of an entirely |
| Hybrid, consumers could see up to a $3000 tax | | | | new generation. |