Will the New Honda Accord Euro Succeed Where Other Hybrids Fail?

The new Honda Accord Euro 2015 is the latest generation of the popular Accord that has been with us for many years. However, this new version is bang up to date and bristling with new features. One of the most interesting things about this car is that it is actually available as a hybrid vehicle. Now, as you may know, hybrid cars have not been selling well in Australia. This has led other manufacturers to pull their hybrid vehicles out of Australia altogether. In fact, Honda has already removed the Civic Hybrid, Insight and CR-Z from their stable here. Even the ever popular Honda Jazz has a hybrid variant that will not be re-stocked when the current stock has been sold. So knowing this information it seems strange that Honda would introduce a new hybrid model. Is this a shrewd move on the part of Honda and what does the new Accord offer?

Firstly it’s interesting to note that hybrid cars do sell in Australia, it’s just that they don’t sell in large numbers. This can be very frustrating as manufacturers want to release their latest models and have to adhere to emissions legislation. Honda have decided to approach the market in a different way this time by using what they call “Hybrid Sport Technology”. This will be part of all Honda Accord Euro models that are expected to be available from mid-2015 onwards. This initiative is part of the “Earth Dreams Technology” umbrella. Now is this was any other car manufacturer it would probably be safe to bet that this was PR stunt dreamed up by hippies. However, there is another hybrid car that will be released alongside the new Honda Accord Euro and that is the NSX supercar. For most drivers and gearheads that fact alone should placate any criticism of what Honda is trying to achieve here.

If they are in the market to buy a hybrid Honda Accord Euro, Perth drivers may be interested in what they will get. Initially, it’s important to note that externally there is no physical difference between the hybrid models and the regular cars. The hybrid will have a 2.0 litre petrol engine which is smaller than its siblings and an electric motor with a Lithium-ion battery. This two motor system will make the Accord Euro hybrid very fuel efficient in use. Although there are no solid figures available the hybrid would have to perform better than the current best performer in the range. This is currently the 2.4 litre Accord which has a fuel consumption of 7.9L/100km and the Accord hybrid would definitely improve on this already impressive figure.

If you would like to know more information about the new Honda Accord Euro, contact us. We will be happy to arrange a test drive for you at your earliest convenience. If you have any further questions or queries don’t hesitate to ask and we will be happy to help.

If you’d like to know more, or know something you think we should hear, please do look us up on Google Plus and Facebook.

Get Ready for the Honda Civic Type-R Coming in 2016

It has been recently confirmed that Honda will launch the new Civic Type-R at the Geneva Motor Show in March. This is very exciting for gearheads that have been following its progress (and Honda’s boasting) over the last two years. However, before we get into the meat of what is going to be on offer in this new hot hatch it’s a good idea to mention car insurance. Perth motorists had better make sure that they have the best insurance that they can get. This is because the Civic Type-R is going to be a pocket rocket!

The first thing to realise is that Honda is stating that the Civic Type-R will be capable of 270km/h. This will make it the fastest hot hatch available outpacing even the VW Golf R. The secret behind this amazing speed is a turbocharged 2.0 liter VTEC variable valve timed power plant. This engine is brand new and the actual power output has not yet been formally confirmed. However, industry insiders have speculated that the figure will be over 220kW. This would make it’s acceleration very quick indeed and possibly the fastest in its class, but again this has not been officially confirmed.

However, all that power is next to useless if it is not harnessed or controlled correctly. Honda have created an aerodynamics package to increase stability at high speeds. This level of engineering is normally only seen in expensive sports cars. So the Honda Civic Type-R should offer the sports car driving experience without the hefty car insurance. Perth gearheads should note that underneath the car is virtually flat, there is a rear diffuser to create downforce. There are also front splitters and skirts to cut down on drag and turbulence. This has all been tested in wind tunnels to ensure that high-speed stability is maximised. This is the reason why Honda has been able to boast that the Civic Type-R will be the fastest front wheel drive car in production to lap the Nurburgring. In layman's terms, this means that they expect to beat the 7:54.36 lap time set by the Renault Megane Trophy R.

Another huge engineering task faced when designing these kinds of performance vehicles is how to make them stop! The Honda Civic Type-R has a set of drilled 350mm Brembos with four-piston callipers. These are hidden behind the 19” alloy wheels. All the braking at high speeds will require cooling and this is provided by a set of carved vents and grilles. These are located in the front wheel arches and on the front bumper. This will allow any heat to be dissipated quickly during braking.

When seeking car insurance, Perth motorists may be interested to learn that Honda can offer very competitive rates. If you would like to know more about the Honda Civic Type-R or Honda’s cheap car insurance, contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions or queries that you may have. We can also arrange a test drive for you when the car becomes available in 2016.

If you’d like to know more, or know something you think we should hear, please do look us up on Google Plus and Facebook.

Can the New Honda Odyssey 2015 Spark a Sales Revolution?

The Honda Odyssey has been a popular car in Australia for many years now. This 7 seater people mover has won many awards and praise from both the public and the automotive press. However, it’s no secret that car sales in Australia and around the world have decreased in recent years. This has resulted in a loss of fortunes for Honda, in part due to the economy, but also because of other factors. One of the main culprits has been fierce competition from other car manufacturers in recent years. Now Honda have made an announcement that they plan to increase their sales in Australia to 60,000 units per annum by 2018. This is a bold statement to make in the current economic climate and a feat that was only previously achieved in 2007. However, the latest Honda Odyssey will be a huge part of Honda’s resurgence in the Australian market.

When considering which people mover to buy, Honda Odyssey 2015 models may prove to be too tempting to resist. The new Honda Odyssey models are being touted as a “sexy people mover” and it’s hard to argue with that statement. The lines are clean and sleek with a friendly front grill and swept back headlamps. The interior is well appointed with plenty of room and comfortable seats with arm and foot rests. There is a smart entry system installed and the engine has a push button start. There is a 7” touch-screen installed which will give you access to the rear-mounted camera. This camera is fitted as standard on all models, but the VTi-L actually has four cameras which give a 360-degree view around the vehicle.

On the road, the Honda Odyssey is very agile indeed, especially when you consider that you’re driving a people mover. The turning circle is only slightly more than a standard Honda Civic! The ride is very smooth and stable thanks to a double-wishbone suspension system and a well-balanced chassis. As well as improving handling this also reduces the cabin noise produced by road vibration to a whisper. On the economy side, the combined test results show an impressive average fuel consumption of 8.9 litres per 100km.

It’s clear to see that Honda are out to impress and the new Honda Odyssey for sale should be a strong seller. However, Honda has also recently announced a drop in prices across their range as an additional incentive. These price drops have become possible due to the advantageous currency rate, an improvement in manufacturing efficiency and the Fair Trade Agreement which is not legislated. Another recent announcement has been the introduction of the new Honda HRV 2015 crossover and it’s hoped that this vehicle will also drive sales figure up over the coming years.

If you would like to know more about the new Honda Odyssey, contact us. We will be happy to arrange a test drive for you or to answer any questions or queries that you may have.

If you’d like to know more, or know something you think we should hear, please do look us up on Google Plus and Facebook.

Is The New Honda HRV the Key to Future Australian Sales Dominance?

Honda has always been bold in both the design of their cars and their overall business strategy. However, even industry insiders were surprised to hear that Honda plans to hit 60,000 sales per annum by 2018. This would represent a virtual doubling of their market share and their key to success is set to be the Honda HRV. Now those in the know would tell you that Honda have already reached 60,000 sales back in 2007. This is true, but in recent years sales have dropped due to increased competition, currency exchange issues and supply problems. Australia has embraced the HRV in recent years, but the new Honda HRV 2015 edition should set a new benchmark.

In fact, the first part of Honda’s plans is already nearing completion, with the addressing of recent problems. Customer confidence is now much improved as Honda has begun their "build back" strategy. This has culminated in estimated sales of just under 40,000 units in 2015 and the announcement of the new Honda HRV crossover. Honda expects that this new vehicle will drive many of their new sales over the next three years to regain their former market dominance.

So what exactly is the new Honda HRV 2015? Australia is already familiar with the previous models so what does the term “Crossover” actually mean? Essentially Honda are positioning the HRV as a mid-sized family car that has everything that you would expect to see in a modern SUV. The engineers at Honda have designed this vehicle without compromises in both styling and engineering.

The new HRV has an emphasis on versatility and the technical aspects are very well thought out. The interior space feels enormous with a panoramic sunroof providing plenty of natural light. The “Magic Seats” are designed to fold in 18 different combinations to suit a wide variety of uses. The City Brake system will sense if a collision at low speeds is about to happen and apply the brakes automatically. There is also a 7” touch-screen display with loads of connectivity and a rearview multi-angled camera fitted as standard in all models. The Honda HRV price will start at $27,990 driveaway for the basic model.

So the final question to be answered is whether or not Honda’s gambit will pay off.  It is expected in the next few years that an element of downsizing will occur. This is a continuing trend that is in direct response to the change in the economic climate. As a direct result of this, many people will choose to go down a car size. Honda is anticipating that owners of large SUV vehicles may want to downsize to a more affordable mid-sized car. If that happens (as industry experts expect it will), the Honda HRV crossover will be perfectly placed to pick up a significant number of sales. If you would like to know more about the Honda HRV, contact us. We will be happy to arrange a test drive for you and answer any questions or queries that you may have.

If you’d like to know more, or know something you think we should hear, please do look us up on Google Plus and Facebook.