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Honda will discontinue its Clarity EV in 2020
Honda is discounting the pure-electric version of its lease-only Clarity, Autoblog reports. It appears that Honda will continue to produce the plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell Clarity models, at least in 2020.
Honda’s latest app helps Civic Type R drivers become better racers
Honda has launched a new data-logging app designed to give drivers a ton of information about their skills on the track. Exclusive to the new 2020 Civic Type R, LogR provides information on 15 data points, including lap times, acceleration, braking and steering, to generate an overall "driver smoothness" score.
DOJ reportedly ends antitrust investigation over reducing car pollution
Last year the Trump Administration sought to roll back the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan that pushed for higher fuel efficiency standards. It has also tried to stop states from like California from setting their own standards that exceed those of the federal government. Despite that, several automakers, including Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda, voluntarily reached an agreement with the state of California on a slightly lower target. That was quickly followed by word of a Department of Justice antitrust investigation into the move, however today the New York Times reports it has come to an end, finding that the companies didn't break any laws by voluntarily agreeing to try to reduce the pollution created by their vehicles.
Honda E first drive: Futuristic and incredibly fun to drive
It's a miracle the Honda E is even here, considering how much Honda seemed to hate electric cars. And yet, here I am in Valencia, Spain, ready to drive this adorable EV, which is slated to go on sale in summer 2020 in Europe and Japan only. Until recently, Honda (along with Toyota) has focused on hybrid and hydrogen cars, while ceding the EV market to Tesla and others. However, a maverick gang of Honda engineers convinced management to build the Honda E. They even kept the design pretty close to the Urban E concept it's based on, right down to the wild futuristic interior. And it paid off. The compact EV's retro-cute je ne sais quoi has grabbed the attention of car buyers and EV fans of all stripes. Now, all that remains is to see if it's as fun to be in and drive as it looks.
Cruise's self-driving electric shuttle is made for ridesharing
Cruise still isn't ready to say when its autonomous vehicle will be available, but now it's shown off the Origin, a GM-built electric shuttle van that doesn't have a steering wheel or pedals. Instead it's fully self-driving, intended to be a shareable, modular vehicle that can handle being on the road all the time. It's basically a minibus, with three seats at each end that face each other and split sliding doors that open up like a subway car. Cruise hasn't revealed details like the battery capacity or cost, but claims that "the average San Franciscan household driving themselves or using ridesharing" will see savings of $5,000 per year thanks to the vehicle. According to execs, more information on manufacturing for this "production" vehicle will be coming soon. Also, because of its modular design, they think it will be better suited for use as a robotaxi than regular passenger cars, and that its sensors will have "superhuman" ability to spot pedestrians and navigate in bad weather. They claim it's "what you'd build if there were no cars." Lofty promises -- hopefully we'll find out soon how the company plans to fulfill them. Others, including Ford, Waymo, Uber and Tesla, just to name a few, are also chasing the autonomous-cars-as-a-service model in different ways, and it's still unclear who may get their first.
Honda's new steering wheel is built for cars that can drive themselves
Honda plans to showcase a bunch of concepts and prototypes at CES 2020 next month, including an augmented driving concept that brings back memories of Hasbro's wheel-like Bop It toy. See, the technology puts all the vehicle's controls on the steering wheel: pat it twice to start the vehicle, pull it to slow the car down and push it to accelerate.
Honda will show off its in-car AI assistant at CES
At CES 2020, Honda says it will finally show off its long-promised in-car personal assistant. The automaker has been working on its own digital helper since 2018 when it announced a partnership with SoundHound. Aside from the usual claims of "unprecedented" speed and accuracy, the company doesn't say too much about how the tool compares to AI like Google Assistant and Siri. It does note you'll be able to wake it by saying "OK Honda," and that it'll be able to infer context about a question based on your current location, as well as any previous queries.
The 2020 Honda Fit will use the automaker's new hybrid system
Honda has debuted the 2020 Fit at the Tokyo Motor Show, where the automaker has also revealed that it will have a hybrid option. In fact, it will be the first compact car to use its new two-motor hybrid system called the e:HEV. The company has developed the new hybrid system to become its core electrification technology going forward. Honda didn't reveal a lot of details about it, though it says that all e:HEV models will be "driven mostly with an electric motor."
Honda's Accord Hybrid is a value-packed sedan
Honda has a well-deserved reputation as an automaker that produces well-engineered, long-lasting vehicles. So it should be no surprise that the 2020 Accord Hybrid is those things and more. Will it impress your car-nerd friends? Probably not. Will it impress your bank account and family? Yes, yes it will.
Honda aims to phase out diesel vehicles in Europe by 2021
The backlash against diesel following the Dieselgate scandal continues, especially in Europe. With a ruling in a German court that cities have the right to ban diesel motors all together, and Germany's federal council calling for a ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030, manufacturers are scrambling to drop diesel and sell EVs instead.
Honda will offset 60 percent of its US electricity use with wind and solar
Honda plans to cover 60 percent of the electricity used at its North American manufacturing plants with renewable energy. Beginning next fall, Honda will purchase 530,000 MWh per year from the Boiling Spring Wind Farm in Oklahoma. In fall 2021, it will begin receiving 482,000 MWh per year from a Texas solar facility. According to Honda, this deal is the largest single purchase of solar and wind power by any automaker.
Honda's first hybrid SUV for the US is the 2020 CR-V
Honda hasn't exactly been quick to electrify (the Honda E won't even reach Europe until mid-2020), but it is making up for lost time in a significant way. The automaker is finally bringing a hybrid SUV to the US in the form of the 2020 CR-V. The new variant (pictured on the right) gets only a slight bump in total power to 212HP versus the gas-only model's 190HP. However, fuel economy is really the star of this show. The CR-V Hybrid's city fuel economy should be about 50 percent higher than its regular counterpart, although official ratings aren't available yet.
The uphill battle to build Honda’s first modern EV
Honda, like Toyota, has a troubled history with EVs. After pioneering them with the EV Plus in 1997 then releasing a very limited edition Fit EV, it's been radio silence from the company ever since. Now at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Honda has finally built a modern electric car that it plans to sell: the Honda E. This Europe-only EV won't be sold in the US, but it sure has attracted a lot of attention. Honda fans are eating up the retro-adorable styling, and the interior will be impressively high tech for a production vehicle. On the other hand, it's expensive and can't go nearly as far on a charge as rivals. These decisions might seem at odds with other automakers, but as the design team explained to me, Honda hopes that urbanites will love the technology and sportiness enough to forgive the lower range.
Honda reveals pricing for its lovable E electric car
Honda's E electric car is officially here and the production model has kept nearly all the charm and gadgets of the original concept. At the same time, Honda has unveiled pricing and specs for the urban EV, and that's where things get interesting.
DOJ launches probe of automakers that agreed to California emissions rules
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an antitrust investigation into BMW, Ford, Honda and Volkswagen, the four automakers that came to a voluntary agreement with California to follow stricter fuel efficiency standards. After The Wall Street Journal broke the news, Ford and Honda confirmed they plan to cooperate with the investigation.
IndyCar will switch to 900-horsepower hybrid race cars in 2022
IndyCar just announced plans to get a little greener. Beginning in 2022, its race cars will be hybrids. They'll use a combination of internal combustion engines from Honda and Chevrolet and a hybrid system to produce somewhere in the ballpark of 900 horsepower. In comparison, current IndyCars race at between 500 and 700 horsepower.
Honda E video shows off the EV's dual-touchscreen dash
Need another look at Honda's adorable electric vehicle? Some new images and a teaser video take you inside the Honda E prototype to check out its dual 12.3-inch touchscreens. The menu has a similar style to Honda's current touch UI, but with two screens it's designed for easy use by both driver and passenger -- even if they're in separate apps. It's very customizable, with a quick swipe to add or remove shortcut items. Honda seems intent on making its software live up to the experience people expect from their smartphones, and allows for swiping or browsing through both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The idea is that if the EV is parked, then those inside can even watch video on the large screens. Naturally, it also has its own voice-controlled Honda Personal Assistant, while a smartphone app can monitor its charging, start the car with a digital key or send navigation details to the dual-screens. It's still a prototype and this is just a video demo, but it certainly doesn't make things easier for anyone in the US who knows Honda's strategy will keep the E away from here.
Ford, Honda and others agree to California's voluntary emission rules
The state of California and a quartet of auto manufacturers have agreed on a fuel efficiency deal in the wake of rollbacks at the federal level. Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda have all signed up to a pledge to make their engines more efficient -- to the tune of 3.7 mpg -- every year until 2026. That's better than the rolled back standards as proposed by the EPA, but not as strict as those in the Clean Power Plan.
Amazon will now deliver to the trunk of your Honda
Amazon keeps on expanding its delivery options, perhaps to ensure that you won't have an excuse not to buy that thing you've just carted. In 2018, it launched an in-car delivery service for GM and Volvo owners, which it also eventually offered to Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Now, the e-commerce giant is giving select Honda models access to Key by Amazon In-Car delivery, as well, so you can have your package dropped right inside your car wherever it is you've parked.
Honda has a modular EV plan for the US
Honda might have delighted the European market with details of its cute and compact electric Honda E, but that's no use to American drivers -- the Honda E isn't destined for US soil and even if it was, its top range of 125 miles is pretty useless for such a vast country. But the company is reportedly working on something new and exclusive for the States: a modular EV platform that puts affordability, performance and -- crucially -- a long cruising range at the top of the agenda.
