Honda Confirms UK Pricing for Updated and Slightly More Powerful 2013 CR-Z

The revised Honda CR-Z, which was seen in Europe for the first time at the Paris auto show in September, will arrive in UK dealerships in January with on-the-road prices starting from £20,550 for the Sport variant and £23,050 for the range-topping GT.



While the 2013 model does receive a light exterior makeover with a new front bumper design, a different grille and rear diffuser, along with subtle updates to the interior including changes to the colour scheme and improvements to the cabin storage, the most important upgrades are to be found under the hood.

Honda's engineers made changes to the car's 1.5 litre petrol engine ECU unit and variable valve timing system, boosting output by 7hp from 112hp (114PS) to 119hp (121PS).

At the same time, the IMA hybrid system features a new Lithium Ion battery that replaces the previous Nickel-metal hybrid version, and an increase in power from 14hp to 20hp.

These upgrades result in an overall combined output of 135hp (137PS) at 6,600 rpm (+13hp) and 190Nm of torque (+16Nm), with the CR-Z's 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint time dropping from 10.0 seconds to 9.1 seconds on the Sport model and from 10.1 seconds to 9.5 seconds on the GT.

There's also a new Sport Plus (S+) boost system activated by a button that offers an electric boost for up to 10 seconds.

The 2013 CR-Z retains the same fuel economy numbers as its predecessor at 56.5mpg UK on the combined cycle and 116 g/km (Sport) and 54.3 mpg UK and 122 g/km (GT).

 

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New Photos and Videos of Redesigned 2013 Kia K7 Sedan

When Kia first announced the facelifted 2013 K7 sedan (named Cadenza in markets outside Korea) at the end of October, we only got a pair of pictures showing the front- and rear-quarters of the mid-size model.

We don't know if the K7 piqued your curiosity, but if it did, we may be able to help as we have a new set of pictures, which this time, include the interior, along with several videos.

Besides incorporating Kia's evolving design DNA on the exterior and in particular, in the front and rear ends of the car, the new images reveal that the Koreans also updated the K7 / Cadenza's cabin that gains a restyled center console with new controls and a…sic…analogue watch positioned in the middle, as well as new instrument gauges.

In its home market of South Korea, the front-wheel drive K7 is offered with a choice of three gasoline units, including a 198hp (201PS) 2.4-liter inline-four, a 266hp (270PS) 3.0-liter V6 and a 290hp (294PS) 3.3-liter V6.

Kia officials have said that the K7 will make it to North America as the Cadenza sometime next year, where it will be positioned above the Optima and in due time, below the Quoris / K9.

 

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Honda Reveals Refreshed Civic

After the latest Civic received negative reviews, Honda went back to the drawing board, and has just given us the first glimpse at the product of its efforts.

This couldn't have come sooner for Honda. In case anyone was unaware, the ninth-generation Honda Civic, launched for 2012, has been a huge letdown in nearly every single category. Its styling - inside and out - is bland, the interior is composed of cheap materials and the handling, well, let's just say it's far from what we'd normally expect from Honda. Consumer Reports marked the Civic for death when it was denied the coveted spot on the "Recommended List". But Honda aims to regain its honor with an updated version of the compact sedan.

Arriving just one year after the MkIX Civic debuted, the 2013 model has just popped up online ahead of its live debut at the LA Auto Show later this month. As you can see from this pair of images, the new Civic's front end has been restyled with a wide-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a black honeycomb mesh grille. The rear end has also been resculpted for a more upscale appearance. Honda hasn't detailed all the updates, but says that it has included "safety, feature, comfort, chassis and interior styling enhancements". Deliveries of the new model are set to begin November 29.

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Mercedes, Jaguar to Present New Debuts

We already know to expect the new Subaru Forester and Honda Civic, the production version of Acura's new RLX flagship sedan, the new Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, to name just a few. But then there are a few wildcards. Rifling through the press release, the show organizers have revealed that both Mercedes and Jaguar will be showcasing as-yet undisclosed new vehicles in the City of Angels. These will be in addition to the aforementioned SLS Black and the North American debut of the F-Type roadster, respectively.

If recent spy shots are anything to go by, Mercedes could be ready to show off a facelifted E-Class or possibly the new CLA four-door coupe. The GLA crossover, however, doesn't look quite ready yet. As for the Jaguar, previous reports indicated that we could see a coupe version of the F-Type in LA, but Coventry has also been gearing up to unveil a new XFR-S performance sedan. Meanwhile Porsche recently announced that it would unveil a new compact sportscar in LA. While details remain sketchy, industry insiders expect we'll be seeing the new Cayman when the show opens its doors at the end of the month.

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Honda's Micro Commuter EV Edges Closer Towards Production

Carmakers from Europe and Japan seem to be pushing for the development of diminutive city cars powered by batteries for one or two adult passengers. Renault essentially ignited the trend with the launch of its quirky looking Twizy, which in all fairness, is more quadricycle than car.Honda wants some piece of the action with the introduction of the new Micro Commuter Prototype that is loosely based on last year's concept of the same name displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The micro-sized four-wheel model measures just 2,500mm (98.4-in.) long, 1,250mm (49.2-in.) wide and 1,445mm (56.9-in.) tall and can fit an adult driver plus two children, or alternatively if the rear seat is changed, one adult passenger.

The Micro Commuter Prototype's electric powertrain components such as the 15kW lithium-ion battery, motor and control unit are all placed under the floor and in the rear space.

Honda says the battery can be charged in less than 3 hours, in which case, it offers a maximum driving range of around 60km or 37 miles, and a top speed of up to 80km/h or 50mph.

Other features highlighted by the Japanese company include the use of the owner's tablet device for the application of functions such as meter display, navigation, audio and back-up camera display, as well as the ability to charge the battery of the tablet using solar cells mounted on the micro car's roof.

Honda said that it has designed the Micro Commuter Prototype to conform to regulations for both Japan and Europe's L7 category.

The automaker will begin trial runs of prototypes in Japan in 2013, with the intent to present a production version in the near future.

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Facelifted 2013 Honda Civic Sedan Bows Ahead of LA Auto Show Debut

 



Even for a Japanese company, the redesign of a brand new model just 18 months after its launchonto the market is a surprising move and it suggests that there was something wrong with the car to begin with.

It all started with a hammering of the (North American market) ninth generation of the Honda Civic by Consumer Reports, which dropped the car from its "Recommended List" and continued with an admission from Honda Motor CEO Takanobu Ito that the compact model wasn't what it should have been.

Surprisingly, despite all the pounding from the press, the Civic increased its sales this year by 40 percent through September, to 234,029 units…

Nevertheless, Honda wants to rectify all problems noted by motoring journalists and buyers alike, and which include the Civic's mundane looks inside and out, and the quality of the interior, with a redesign for the 2013 model year.

The revamped 2013 Civic sedan was introduced today in advance of its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November, with U.S. sales to start on the same day.

Honda said in a statement that the latest Civic "will encompass a host of safety, feature, comfort, chassis and interior styling enhancements that will further define the top-selling Civic as the best car in the compact class."

We only get two pictures of the exterior that reveal a redesigned face that borrows the more sculpted lines of the new Accord and a revised rear end with new combination lamps that extend into the boot, and a different bumper with new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent.

"The 2013 Honda Civic exterior refinements infuse Civic with a more youthful, premium style. Coupling these with additional changes beneath will ensure that Civic maintains its top-ranked status," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda.

For more details including a look into what has changed in the interior and underneath the skin, we will have to wait until the unveiling of the car in LA at the end of the month.

 

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