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2011 Honda AC-X Plug-In Hybrid Concept
Honda has prepared a number of concept vehicles that it will introduce at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Now that we’re in the middle of the press days for the event, the Japanese automaker has finally unveiled their concept vehicles, including the Advanced Cruiser-X Concept, or AC-X. A unique element of the AC-X is that it features two different drive modes. There’s the engine mode, which makes use of the installed internal combustion engine - 1.6-liter gasoline engine - and the electric drive system, drawing maximum performance out of the car. Then there’s the automatic mode, which pretty much lets the car do the engine mixing depending on the required load the car has at any point. Under its hood, the AC-X will be powered by a hybrid powertrain that includes a 1.6-liter petrol engine that produces 127 horsepower and an electric motor that contributes significantly in increasing the output of the AC-X to 161 horsepower. According to Honda, the AC-X Concept is capable of running on pure electricity for around 30 miles at a respectable speed of 62 mph. When it’s run on a full fuel and motor set-up, that range increases all the way up to 620 miles. Aesthetically, the four-door sedan concept comes with a futuristic front and rear set-up with the head and taillight configuration running the entire length of the front and the rear of the car, respectively. The concept also makes use of several aerodynamic components, including the front and rear bumpers, the side skirts, and the specially-designed alloy wheel configuration, all of which were put into place to provide low better handling and lower aerodynamic drag for the concept. Inside, the most noticeable feature of the AC-X is the absence of a traditional steering wheel. We’re not sure how a pair of joysticks will work in driving a car like this, but we’re definitely intrigued at the possibilities. 2011 Honda Micro Commuter Concept
This year’s Tokyo Motor Show has become a gathering for futuristic city car concepts that promote efficiency and sustainability. With that thought in mind, it was hardly a surprise to see Honda throwing their hat into the mix with the introduction of the Micro Commuter Concept. Essentially, the Micro Commuter Concept is tiny three-seater (1+2) electric city car that promotes ease of mobility in a world that’s fast becoming denser and denser. The Micro Commuter Concept comes with some futuristic features that defy today’s expectations, including customizable exterior panels that allow owners to insert graphic sheet on their car. There’s also an interior display where occupants can use for communication. Moreover, the concept also relies on the same driving mechanics as another Tokyo-bound Honda attendee, the AC-X Concept: the dual-joystick controller. As for the power train, the Micro Commuter Concept is powered by a 16.7 kW electric motor that produces 22 horsepower and is fueled by a 3.3 kWh lithium-ion battery. These numbers translate to a 0-60 km sprint time of 7.4 seconds with a pedestrian top speed of 37 mph and a range of 37 miles. Anytime the battery is low, charging of the Micro Commuter Concept will only take an hour and can be done on a 200V outlet. 2011 Honda CR-Z by Eibach Springs
Here’s another Honda CR-Z that made a SEMA comeback after its debut at the 2010 SEMA Auto Show. Courtesy of Eibach Springs, this 2011 CR-Z was retooled and modified to become the kind of car everybody has always known the CR-Z could become. The look of the CR-Z hybrid suggests the extensive work Eibach Springs did to make it look the way it does. Among the added elements on the exterior are a C-West aero kit, a Mugen spoiler, an elaborate paint scheme and graphics, a new suspension program courtesy of Eibach, and a big brake kit from Stoptech. Inside, the standard features of the CR-Z were taken out in favor of a complete racing set-up that includes Sparco seats and a full roll bar. But the most important order of business involving this project was taking out the original hybrid drivetrain of the CR-Z and replacing it with a 2.4-liter K24 four-cylinder engine from an Acura TSX. This new engine produces 280 horsepower and gets some extra help from K&N with a new intake system. Seeing as the CR-Z’s original IMA hybrid system is made up of a 1.5-liter engine combined with an electric motor that provides a total of 124 horsepower and 131 lb/ft of torque, we’re thinking that 280 ponies is a very significant upgrade. But there’s more. According to some folks from Eibach Springs, this particular CR-Z will still receive a supercharger after SEMA, which means that when all is said and done, it’s going to pack way more than just 280 horsepower. 2012 Honda Intelligent Horse: "High Noon"
Honda’s story for their concept vehicle, the IH (Intelligent Horse), takes us to futuristic world of the wild, wild west. We swear they make some sense out of this eventually. The setting is hundreds of years into the future in a world that has been disrupted by the impact of a gigantic comet. After the impact of Armageddon, the remaining survivors needed a vehicle that will not only serve as their companion, but also as their protector in an inhospitable environment. Drawing from history, they created a vehicle that was inspired from a now mythical creature - the horse. Take note that this is a future setting so we don’t sound ridiculous describing a horse as ’mythical.’ The Honda IH is a concept vehicle thatacts as a life-saver in a comet-ravaged world. Through the advent of technology, the IH uses three critical elements of the future: local production, artificial intelligence, and additive technology. The car is characterized as efficient, lightweight, and strong, and offers plenty of both A.I. technology and nanotechnology. It also carries additive technology, which is being described as a "revolutionary attempt to produce very small or especially very large parts in a more efficient way to save weight and resources while improving the strength and flexibility of the product." 2012 Honda Civic Si by Bisimoto Engineering
If you want to talk about taking a mild-mannered 2012 Honda Civic Si and tuning it up to a whole new level, you might have found the car that will serve as inspiration for your over-the-top fantasies. Bisimoto Engineering, an aftermarket company based in Ontario, California and run by Bisi Ezerioha, has prepared a completely modified Civic Si for the 2011 SEMA Auto Show. You know how there are always those cars in SEMA that just blow you away because of the sheer audacity and lunacy behind its program? This is one of them, and for all the right, albeit crazy, reasons. Bisimoto designed this car to be the ultimate-do-everything racer. It can drag race, it can hit the touring scene, and it can even do a little time-attack. So how is it capable of all that considering that the stock version of the Civic Si "only" carries a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 201 horsepower? To address that, Bisimoto Engineering dropped a huge Turbonetics turbocharger to the Civic SI’s powertrain, resulting in a complete shattering of minds horsepower output to the tune of 1,004 ponies. On top of that, the car also received a fancy exterior graphics design, a comprehensive body kit program, and a retooled interior that includes a full body roll cage. Check out the man himself, Bisi Ezerioha, talk about his prized creation by clicking on the photo above. 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe Compass 360 Racing HPD
With the recent unveiling of the ninth generation Civic in early 2011, there’s was no doubt in our minds that Honda would make the coupe its SEMA star. Among the many other cool packages Honda displayed in Vegas, the Compass360 Racing HPD Civic Si Coupe Racecar sat gleaming in its tri-color scheme. The work on the Compass360 Racing HPD started earlier this year with the Civic bodies-in-white, a program that offers a significant cost and labor savings to race teams. This program offers teams a bare bones chassis to eliminate the time and money spent on breaking down production models for racing. Sales of the body-in-white shells began in July 2011, and HPD has delivered a number of them to licensed race teams thus far, each priced at $3,500. Since the program began, the company has been busy working on this Compass360 Racing prototype that provides details on the company’s new racing performance parts program specifically designed for the 2012 Civic. These racing parts are tailored for use in the SCCA World Challenge and Grand Am’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. They will be available early in 2012, and full details and pricing will be released at that time. 2012 Honda Accord Coupe V6 Concept
We have seen plenty of customized Camaros and Mustangs at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show, but it’s high time to take a look at other cars displayed in Las Vegas. For example, Honda Factory Performance has brought a very cool Accord Coupe V6 Concept. The concept was built to demonstrate the performance potential of the Accord V6 coupe, as well as to keep customers interested in the model. The bad news is that Honda has no current production plans for the concept. The Accord Coupe V6 HFP Concept is built on a stock 3.5-liter V6 engine model painted in a very cool white exterior color. The only difference is that this model gets a supercharger, a performance air intake, and a new exhaust system. All of these updates will increase the engine output to an impressive 335 HP and 285 lb-ft of torque (up 64 HP and 34 lb-ft versus the stock car). 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe by Honda Factory Performance
Honda isn’t leaving any stones unturned with their Honda Civic Si line-up at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show where they’re presenting a steady diet of custom-modded Civics ranging from the mildly customized all the way to the purely insane. The Civic Si Coupe by Honda Factory Performance falls in the in-between. The model, which has been fitted with a limited edition HFP package, will be limited to only 500 kits that are now on sale at Honda dealers across the country. Anybody who’s interested in the program will receive a program that includes a full HFP aerodynamic body kit; high-performance springs that reduce the car’s overall ride height by 15 mm; high-performance dampers tuned for enhanced road handling and decreased body roll; and, a set of 18" HFP alloy wheels. Inside the Civic Si Coupe, HFP outfitted the interior with red ambient interior illumination, HFP carpet floor mats, and HFP emblems. The car that’s currently on display at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show will give you a pretty good idea on all the custom parts available on the Civic Si Coupe HFP. Be sure to check it out, and if you’re interested, scoop up one of the 500 kits available before they sell out. 2012 Honda Civic Sedan by Honda Factory Performance
By far the tamest of all the Honda Civics being displayed at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show is the Civic Sedan by Honda Factory Performance. It doesn’t come with any unique graphics and doesn’t have a monster under its hood, but what it does is prove that you can have your cake and eat it too. Short of saying, performance and style can still be had, even if you’re driving a sedan. Among the modifications given to this Civic, include a rear spoiler, splash guards, a cargo net, cargo hooks, a trunk tray, all-season floor mats, and a set of 18" Honda Factory Performance alloy wheels. The program, which comprises mostly of Honda Genuine Accessories and built by the boys of HFP, will come with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty - just like the car itself - if the program is purchased and installed at the same time of new vehicle purchase. Chances are, this particular program will translate to a lot of orders real soon, especially after it was proudly displayed at an event the stature of SEMA. 2012 Honda Civic SI Tjin Edition
It seems that this year’s SEMA Auto Show has kept Tjin Edition pretty busy the past couple of months. Next to a special Ford Mustang GT 5.0 and a Ford Explorer, the tuner has also displayed in Las Vegas a Honda Civic SI developed in cooperation with Honda North America. According to the tuner, this particular Civic SI was developed with form, function and family in mind. The first thing you will notice about the car is a special Wraptivo wrap done by the guys at Daley Visual. Apparently, this wrap was the last roll in existence making the Civic SI even more impressive. Next to it there will also be a set of 19″ Rotiform Concave BLQ wheels. The Civic’s center of gravity is brought down via Function and Form fully adjustable coilovers, and tucked away behind the concave wheels are a set of Baer brakes. After its debut in SEMA, the car will tour the country via the 2012 Tjin Edition RoadShow. UPDATE: 11/01/11: This review has been updated with official photos UPDATE 11/07/2011: We have added live images from the SEMA Show. Find them in the picture gallery. | featured reviews:
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