New Honda New cars review 2009

I’m from Bristol a city with a proud heritage albeit with the notable exception of the slave trade. One of the things we Bristolians do possess is a bit of a mischievous sense of humour which often involves taking the mickey out of surrounding towns. Unfortunately Swindon has long been the recipient of a lot of remarks although in fairness they have often been made by people who are actually from the town, most notably Mark Lamarr.I guess its a bit like when you are running down a member of your family and if your partner joins in you rush to the family member’s defence arguing that its ok for you to criticise them but no-one else. Having said that I have been to Swindon on a number of occasions and I have to agree with the sentiments expressed by Andy Partridge the former lead singer of Swindon band XTC. You’ll have to look these up for yourself.

Despite the amount of criticism Swindon has received, a fair amount of celebrities and stars including the late actress Diana Dors were born there. Who can forget the likes of Melinda Messenger who proved she had hidden talents whilst working at a local Direct Mail company before going on to more dubious fame.

Swindon has a strong railway tradition and was chosen by Isambard Brunel as the location for his Great Western Railway (GWR) works. Part of the site still remains and is the home of the steam railway museum.

Since the demise of the railways and the overall decline in British manufacturing industry Swindon became a centre of commerce with a lot of financial companies relocating from London to provincial towns and cities in order to reduce costs. As a result Swindon became a boom town in the eighties and nineties and even attempted to boost its importance by applying for City status. Unfortunately this proved to be unsuccessful but Swindon did succeed in drawing manufacturing back in the form of Honda.

This was a real coup for the area and for Britain as a whole which didn’t have the best reputation when it came to car manufacturing. We seem to be able to build some of the best cars in the world when it comes to hand crafting luxury or sports models for the rich and famous. When it comes to knocking out utilitarian vehicles for the masses you could guarantee production would last for about half an hour before some kind of industrial dispute would develop.

Honda took a big risk then and entrusted the manufacture of its successful Civic model which had been selling well since 1973 believe it or not. Honda had a brief encounter with Triumph who were part of British Leyland and some pretty ropey cars briefly appeared badged as Triumph and then Rover. Since then two million cars have rolled off the production line at Swindon including about a million Civics.

I must admit that personally I wasn’t a big fan of the Civic especially since the time I arrived back to a car park to find a collection of intellectually challenged young men attempting to remove the spoiler from the roof of my Mitsubishi Colt. They were then proposing to attach it somehow to their Honda Civic although as the spoiler was bolted to the roof they just succeeded in causing about £500 worth of damage to my car.

I have since recovered from this and must say that the latest version of the Civic and come to think of it the one before are very stylish cars.

I do still find it intriguing that the appeal of the Civic seems to be divided between those in their twenties and people above retirement age. Honda is no doubt aware of this but even the retro triangular designs of the latest Civic seem to work for young and old. The Civic shows no sign of losing its appeal though and long may it continue. There is no doubt that the Honda plant in Swindon has contributed significantly to the prosperity of the town.

• Nissan Altima Hybrid: Getting fired up by the Hybrid rush, Nissan also choose to unleash its dragon- the Altima Hybrid. This 4 door family sedan has a capability of seating 5 people and does not have any variants. Equipped with 2.5 litre I4 hybrid engine that gives a mileage of 33-35 mpg with 158 Hp, Altima comes with a variable speed automatic transmission as standard.

• BMW 5 series: An already powerful, sophisticated and technologically advanced vehicle got a face lift in the year 2008. The major changes in the BMW 5 series happened in the exterior design and engine power area. BMW 5 series is available in six variants and caters to everything from super luxury sedan, luxury sports sedan to luxury wagon. The basic variant of this car starts with 528i sedan and has a 3.0 litre 16 valve engine that gives 230 Hp with 18-28 mpg in city and highway; this has a 6 speed manual transmission. The 550i sedan is the top end model of the 5 series line-up and comes in 4.8 litres, V8 engine which churns a 380 Hp with 15-22 mpg in city and highway; this variant also has a 6 speed manual transmission as standard and an optional 6 speed automatic transmission.

• Audi A4: 2008 came with another striking performer - the Audi A4. Sharing the visual appeal of the Audi A5, the Audi A4 is a visual masterpiece created to work wonders both inside and out. One of the major features of the Audi A4 is the presence of Daytime running lights and Drive select which make it distinct from the tough competition form BMW 3 series and the Mercedes C-class. With the press of just one button, the drive select feature can adjust the suspension, steering ratio and related knick knacks for a comfortable or sporty ride. Available with 10 variants, the Audi A4 2.0 litre 2.0T SE Avant Quattro Tiptronic gives a mileage of 19-27 with 200Hp and comes with 6 speed automatic transmission as standard.

• Honda Accord Coupe: Being one of the flagship models of the Honda brand, it was necessary to upgrade the Honda Accord Coupe to meet the likes of Nissan Altima. Honda Accord Coupe is a 2 door family coupe which has a 5 passenger seating capability. It is also available as a sports coupe. With a 5 speed manual transmission as standard, the basic LX-S 5-Spd MT has a 2.4 Litre I4 engine that gives 190 Hp and has a mileage of 22-31 mpg in city and highway. The top-end EX-L V-6 5-Spd AT w/ Navigation System comes with a 3.5 Litre V6 engine that can cruise with 268 Hp while achieving a mileage of 19mpg on city roads and 28mpg on highways, it has a 5 speed automatic transmission as standard.

Overall car production in 2008 has remained on expected lines however some companies did experience a slowdown in demand owing to the economic slowdown in many countries.

What Makes a Car a Hybrid?

Essentially, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that runs on two different fuel sources. A great example would be a sailboat that runs on rowing as well as electric power. Hybrid cars on the other hand run on both fuel and electricity. It then allows the car to run longer on lesser fuel. That makes the hybrid car an environmentally and wallet friendly vehicle.

Hybrid Cars and the Environment

Other than consuming lesser fuel, hybrid cars also generates lesser amounts of harmful car emissions compared to other vehicles. Here are a few ways that Hybrid cars save on fuel.

SUFFICIENT BATTERIES - The secondary power source of Hybrid cars are the batteries. Hybrid car batteries are capable of saving and reusing energy. It works similarly to electric cars, sans the plug, making it more convenient.

GASOLINE/ DIESEL CHOKE - regular cars use up a lot of gasoline when the engines continue running even when the car is at a standstill. Hybrid cars supplement that. They are designed to shut off the gasoline or diesel engine when it is not moving. During this time, the car relies on the power provided by the battery. A decrease in fuel use also means a decrease in car emissions.

Top Hybrid Cars in the Market Today

Hybrid cars are all the rage today because not only are they fuel efficient, they do the environment good too. The top three hybrid cars available today are as follows.

TOYOTA PRIUS - The Prius has been in the market for nearly a decade. Such longevity can only attest to the quality of the vehicle. It is the best car if you want to save money. This little beauty can run for miles and miles and still have a gallon or two to spare. The great thing about the Prius is that its manufacturers have made it functional as well. Unlike other hybrid models, the Prius comes with a spacious cargo hatch. It is also one of the most affordable hybrids in the market today.

SATURN VUE GREEN LINE - It may not be considered as a full hybrid, but the Saturn Vue Green Line can certainly hold off on fuel use. And, if you are looking for an SUV and save money on fuel at the same time, then this is the hybrid car for you. The only problem with this SUV hybrid is that it’s doesn’t have a 4-wheel drive option.

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - The Honda Civic is one most recognizable car in the world. That is why it’s such a treat that the company has come up with a hybrid version. The Civic Hybrid can run up to 54% longer on a full tank of gas compared to a regular car. Not bad. As an added bonus, the Civic Hybrid is also a great car to drive.

Based on their functionality, style, and reliability, Honda Motorbikes are without a doubt some of the best motorcycles available today. The great thing about these bikes is that their functionality are matched by practicality and design which make them a perfect starter bike or one for advanced riders.For example there is the attractive Honda CBR1000, the amazing Honda 599, and the gorgeous Honda CBR250 are among the best product lines ever designed by Honda Motors Co. All these wonderful machines combine style and efficiency to create super motorcycles for every type of rider there is.

Since the start of its motorcycling business in 1949, Honda Motors Co. has maintained the beauty and efficiency of its extensive line of Honda Motorbikes. Year after year, it continuously improves its wide array of product offerings, featuring excellent innovations and other technological advances as the years go by. Aside from the company’s never ending quest to enhance its service, the high quality and efficiency of its products never fail to amaze all the motorcycle lovers out there.

The amazing Honda 599 is one of the finest motorbikes available today, with special features such as a six-notch transmission, computerized ignition controls, and 4-cylinder engine. With all these exciting capacities and features, the price for this super speed Honda Motorbike is set at $7399. In the meantime, the gorgeous Honda CBR 250 is a very appealing sports motorcycle available in seven exciting variants. Despite being the most powerful 4-stroke motorbike available these days, it requires very low maintenance from the customers.

Honda CBR1000 is a very attractive Honda Motorbike complete with excellent original features like a computer-operated valve, a Unit Pro-Link rear suspension, and a Dual Stage Fuel Injection System. Because of its 998cc engine, this Honda Motorbike is a really efficient, lightweight, and fast machine. Meanwhile, the travel-friendly Honda ST1100 is an outstanding motorbike specifically designed for longer distances of travel. An optional anti-lock brake system, 40 amp air-cooled alternator, and 7.4-U.S. gallon capacity fuel tank are among its very impressive features.

Another exciting Honda Motorbike available today is the easy-to-handle Honda RVF400, which is nicely designed with exciting features like upside-down front forks, colorful designs, and superior handling. This specific product line includes two of the most important changes from its predecessors, namely the exhaust valves and carburetors. Meanwhile, the company has its best 400cc machine in the form of the stunning Honda VFR400. According to many motorbike enthusiasts, they love this product for three main reasons, namely the air system, upside-down forks, as well as its stunning appearance.

Moreover, Honda XR600 is a hybrid motorbike that combines some of the best engine features of RFVC and XR500 product lines. Many observers easily notice the reliability and flexibility of this machine’s engine, which easily translates into better output. Lastly, Honda CBR60 completes the company’s latest roster of super outstanding Honda Motorbikes. After years of fruitful and successful designs, the vast developments and improvements in all of Honda’s product offerings are very much evident.

It’s funny what you remember about your childhood. Ask me what I had for my eighth birthday or where I went on holiday when I was eleven and I honestly cannot remember. Despite forgetting the large, important milestones in my life however, I can still remember the night I closed my eyes and thought I’d opened them two seconds later only to have slept for ten hours, or when I scored a dipping volley off the crossbar playing football up the park.Another useless memory is accompanying my dad around every conceivable car showroom on his quest to find the latest family car. I remember getting very excited about a Volvo with pop up headlights, a Chrysler Neon because it accelerated far quicker than it had any right to and a Honda NSX which the dealer informed me I could have if I worked hard at school. Well Mr Honda dealer I did and it appears you’ve forgotten my NSX because my driveway is looking sparse.

The Honda dealer must’ve impressed my dad though, because once we’d clambered out of the NSX my dad bought the next best thing to a Ferrari rivalling super car - a Honda Civic. I must admit that despite this drastic step down the car ladder I was over the moon. The Civic in question had leather seats, electric everything, alloy wheels, air conditioning, CD player and Pearle sent paint that glowed green, purple, blue and everything in-between.

As we left the Honda dealer I’m sure you can picture the scene, my dad sitting tall and proud behind the wheel with me looking up at the great man, swinging my legs as I teetered on the edge of the leather upholstery, straining to peer over the dashboard. And then it happened. The drive to see my grandparents yielded approximately fifteen Hondas, mostly Civics, that were all driven by post retirement folk.

“Dad, why is everyone in a Honda grey?” came my cry to which my dad could only twiddle some electric buttons to cheer me up but it was too late. Honda was soiled, Honda was un cool and Honda was not a boyhood dream anymore.

It takes a lot to win back my faith and trust but a few years ago I was watching television and saw every single part that makes up a Honda Accord clunk and clatter into one another in a domino/crazy inventor’s laboratory way and was blown away. Another advert had a diesel engine being smashed to smithereens by cartoon rabbits and then there was Jacques Villeneuve, my favourite formula one driver. His car was a Honda and he was really cool, the adverts were cool and at the age of eighteen my love of the Honda brand was restored.

The power of the brand is one thing, having the cars to match is quite another. Happily your local Honda dealer can oblige with the simply stunning Honda Civic Type R. Originally a Japanese edition, the Civic Type R (that’ll be Type Racing) finally made it to our shores in 2001 and became one of the biggest selling and best performance hatchbacks not only in the noughties, but in the history of motoring. A bold statement yes, but a truthful one. A 2.0 litre VTEC engine gave 197bhp and 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, all for £16,000 and things have just gone space age with the latest offering.

The only criticism with the older model was that if you looked past the 17 inch alloy wheels it essentially looked like the standard car. The new Civic Type R however cannot be missed. It’s still all triangles like the base model, but features deep front and rear bumpers, huge 18 inch alloys, and a growling bonnet bulge. Racing seats hold you in place and there’s plenty of ‘Type R’ badges dotted around in case you forget you’re in a special car. A high roof spoiler does just that to your rear view but looks fantastic and the car also features twin triangular exhaust that gracefully emerge from the rear bumper.

My favourite feature has to be the speedometer which changes colour the higher the revs go, and boy does it rev, all the way onto 8,000rpm. The exceptional VTEC engine remains the same 197bhp as before, which means that the only grey haired people you’ll see driving one were turned that colour with the whiplash inducing acceleration.