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Honda Micro-Commuter Prototype Takes a Step Towards Reality

A year after Honda revealed its Micro-Commuter car as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, the automaker is moving towards the machine’s production with a prototype model that’s significantly more real-world ready.

 

With the original model looking straight out of a sci-fi movie, this latest version trades its covered wheels for exposed tiny rollers, while the shape more closely resembles a mini-car. At 98.4-inches in length its roughly half-a-foot shorter than a Smart fortwo.

Inside the cabin now more closely resembles a production vehicle, trading a steering wheel that operated like a joystick for a traditional two-spoke unit.

If there is one future-forward aspect, it’s that the car’s dash is actually a tablet, displaying information like vehicle speed and the range left in the batteries, while also doubling as a back-up camera.

Based on what Honda calls a “Variable Design Platform” the concept uses a basic structure and battery pack design, which allows for the body to be modified for different needs. Shown here is a three-seat layout, with space for one adult driver and two children behind, while Honda also says a small van-style body could be fitted, or even a convertible.

Powered by a 15 kW electric motor, the Micro-Commuter concept has a range of 60 km (37 miles) and a charge time of 3 hours, with a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).

An urban mobility solution, Honda is pushing ahead with the Micro-Commuter for use on Japanese and European roads in a unique class of vehicle that sits between motorcycles and the smallest cars currently available.

***Courtesy of autoguide.com

Receive a $200.00 Visa gift card with any new or pre-owned vehicle purchase!

Right now at Richfield-Bloomington Honda we are celebrating Cyber Monday! That means with every purchase of a new or pre-owned vehicle you will receive a $200.00 Visa gift card! Don’t miss out on this amazing deal and stop in today!

The 2013 Honda Crosstour: now you can have it all!

Honda Showcases Three New Hybrid Systems

Hybrid technology will play a large part in Honda’s future plans, and the Japanese automaker has rolled out a preview of three new hybrid systems with different goals. There’s one for small cars, one with options, and one all about performance.

This is a step in the right direction. Honda seems to be the first automaker to realize that hybrid technology can serve a multitude of uses in different cars; it doesn’t have to be all about efficiency. That said, two of Honda’s three hybrid systems do stress fuel economy over performance, and with over a million Honda hybrids sold so far, it’s a good idea to stay the course…but to add in some variety too.

First up is the Intelligent Mode Hybrid system, which will debut on the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In. The engine and transmission have been designed to operate with the hybrid system in either EV, Engine, or Hybrid modes. EV mode allows the driver to make the most of the limited battery, up to 15 miles. Hybrid mode uses the gas engine to charge the batteries and use the electric motors to drive the car, while Engine mode is dedicated to highway speeds and uses the engine itself to drive the car forward.

Honda is also developing the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, with an eye towards performance. This system first appeared on the Acura NSX Concept, but will debut on the Acura RLX next year The Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will use three electric motors, combined with a 3.5 liter V6 engine to deliver what Honda claims is V8-like performance with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. With power going to all four-wheels, a V6 engine, and three electric motors, Honda claims the Sport Hybrid system will produce in the area of 370 horsepower, while returning combined gas mileage of 30 mpg.

 Finally there is the intelligent dual-clutch drive, which will use a 7-speed transmission mated to a 1.5 liter Atkinson-cycle engine and a single high-output electric motor focused exclusively on efficiency. Honda is aiming for a low weight, and a 30% improvement in efficiency over the current one-motor hybrid systems. Look for this system to debut on one of Honda’s small cars, possibly the Fit, or the next-generation CR-Z.

With all these hybrid options, Honda has a little something for everyone.

Courtesy of Gas 2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honda Develops New Lightweight and Compact Hybrid System Named “SPORT HYBRID Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive”

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has developed a new SPORTS HYBRID Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive system, a lightweight and compact one-motor hybrid system optimized for small-sized vehicles. This new hybrid system will be the latest addition to the Earth Dreams Technology series of next generation powertrain technology that realizes both excellent driving performance and high fuel efficiency.

Together with the SPORT HYBRID Intelligent Multi Mode Drive, the world's most efficient¹ two-motor hybrid system optimized for mid-sized vehicles, and the SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD® (Super Handling - All Wheel Drive), the three-motor hybrid system optimized for large-sized vehicles enabling independent control of torque distribution to both right and left rear wheels, the newly developed SPORT HYBRID Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive will constitute the lineup of three different Honda SPORT HYBRID systems that accommodate different vehicle characteristics. Honda will continue expanding the application of these hybrid systems based on vehicle characteristics.

SPORT HYBRID Systems Lineup

One-motor SPORT HYBRID Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive
In addition to top-level fuel efficiency in its class², the fun of driving is realized with acceleration g-force more powerful than that of existing models as well as a rhythmic and linear acceleration feeling. This drive unit combines a newly developed inline 4-cylinder 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine with a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) system with a built-in high-output motor and a Lithium-Ion battery to improve efficiency by more than 30 percent compared to a conventional one-motor hybrid system.  

• The combination of the one-motor hybrid system and the engine realizes sporty driving during acceleration and high-speed cruising by using the clutches to engage the engine  
• Highly efficient electric vehicle (EV) driving is realized during startup and low- to medium-speed cruising by using the clutches to disengage the engine
• This system contributes to the improvement of fuel efficiency by increasing energy regeneration using the clutches to disengage the engine during deceleration  

Two-motor SPORT HYBRID Intelligent Multi Mode Drive / Plug-in:
Through the adoption of high-efficiency/high-output motors, both brisk acceleration with an EV-like driving feel and high fuel efficiency are realized at the same time. This hybrid system realizes the world's highest efficiency¹ by combining a newly-developed engine dedicated to hybrid vehicles coupled with two built-in motors and a lock-up clutch, along with a Lithium-Ion battery, and by optimally switching the driving mode among three different profiles depending on the driving situation. This hybrid system, which is also suitable as a plug-in hybrid system, will be available in the North American version of the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in, scheduled to be introduced to the market in January 2013. The system switches the operation among the following three driving modes depending on driving conditions and the battery charge level:

• "EV Drive" for driving by the electric motor only, using electricity from the battery and regeneration during deceleration
• "Engine Drive" for medium-to high-speed cruising with the engine and axle directly connected by a lock-up clutch, with engine power mechanically transferred to the wheels
• "Hybrid Drive" for urban driving and powerful acceleration using the motor with electricity generated by the engine

Three-motor SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD ® (Super Handling - All Wheel Drive):
The combination of a V-6 engine and this high-output three-motor system realizes acceleration performance equivalent to that of a V-8 engine with fuel efficiency better than that of an inline 4-cylinder engine. A new direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 engine is installed in the front of the vehicle and combined with a newly-developed 7-speed DCT system with a built-in motor. This unique Honda technology uses two electric motors installed in the rear to control torque distribution to the right and left rear wheels.

• Using independent motors for the right and left rear wheels, positive torque is applied to the outside wheel and negative torque is applied to the inside wheel, making independent control of torque distribution to the rear wheels possible without relying on engine output
• Depending on the radius of the curve, the energy generated by the inside wheel is recovered electrically and applied to the outside wheel to self-generate torque necessary for the vehicle to make the turn

***Courtesy of Hondanews.com