In May, we reported some spyshot over the Honda Civic Euro edition being spied. The hot hatch that is said to be rival VW’s Golf and Scirocco. Recently some fellas in Germany manage to caught the below spy shot video and upload it to Youtube outside Honda’s Germany Office. No one is sure about what is hidden beneath the heavily disguise vehicle. It could be a entirely new model from Honda, or it could be a version of Honda Civic Euro to replace the 5-door hatch since what we reported earlier was a 3 door version.

This also reminded me that it was awhile ago, in a Japanese magazine that illustrated what could be the next generation of Honda Civic. Looking at the illustration of the next generation of Honda Civic and the spyshot video, i’m suspected it this could apply to JDM Honda Civic as well. We’ll just have to wait for more spyshot or some official teaser till’ then. While this is rumored to be new Civic for us and it is some what like Proton Wira Aeroback type, i’m not too sure this version of Civic will be favorable in our market. Hopefully we will able to see some high performance ECO-friendly engine developed by Honda as a variant to replace the Civic Type R that has been continued in Euro as well as Japan as the K20A engine does not meet the emission standards. Honda also confirmed that there’s a new/updated gasoline-electric hybrid engine being developed for the Civic. Enjoy the Honda Civic Spyshot Video Below !

In last April 2010, Honda Japan announced on discontinuing the legendary Honda Civic FD2 Type-R due to the gas-guzzling sports car which is difficult to respond to the emission regulation in Japan. A couple of days later after Honda Japan announcement, Honda Malaysia announced the same thing to the local media since the local Type-R is fully-imported from Japan.

Yesterday, Honda Europe has announced that sales of the Civic FN2 Type-R throughout most of the Continent will cease by the end of 2010. The K20A engine that fitted on the FN2 Type-R doesn’t meet the new Euro-5 emissions standards which apply throughout the European Union.

The FN2 Type-R is only produced at Honda’s Swindon factory in the UK and production will continue for other markets including Japan. After discontinued the JDM FD2 Type-R in Japan, the FN2 Type-R went on sale earlier this year in Japan as replacement. Likely, the Type-R with K20A engine will be a legendary collection in near future.

In Australia, due to local lax emissions laws the Honda Civic Type R has been given the all clear to be sold in Australia as currently remained at the Euro-4 emissions standards.

 

Photo Gallery: Honda Civic FN2 Type R 

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Honda Malaysia has added features of the Civic 2.0S to the 1.8 line-up as 1.8S-L. The features includes cruise control, audio remote control on the steering wheel, door mirror with side turn indicators, metallic meter side panel, chrome outer handles and leather seats. Except the 17″ alloy wheels is not inherited.

 

The Civic 1.8S-L now market at RM 119,980.00 on the road (OTR) in Peninsular Malaysia. The colour option is still remained the same – Taffeta White, Crystal Black Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Sparkle Gray Pearl and Urban Titanium.

It is true that not all individuals fancy about the regular 2.0S K20Z3 engine. This is absolutely a brilliant option with all the features added paired with such efficient yet powerful 1.8 R18A engine. Thumbs-up for Honda Malaysia! 

Putting an Audi R8 5.2 FSI with 518hp against the 239hp FN2 Mugen Honda Civic Type R into review over a typical European country road, Autocar UK did the review right and sensible. Putting both cars into Malaysia road to test, I can’t imagine for now.

Do you think the Hatch FN2 Civic Type R Mugen able to keep up with the mid-engine V10 monster through the twists and down the straights? Do find out yourself with no surprise although I am one of the proud owners of Civic Type R. Check out the video, is cool!

 

The market demand for Small Passenger Car in Sedans are getting very popular in many emerging market especially in South East Asia market like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippine and etc… As a result of that, many automakers from Japan started to come out Small Passengers Car in Sedan that originate from Small Hatchback platform. Like the Honda Jazz to Honda City, Toyota Yaris to Toyota Vios and Mazda2 turn to be a Sedan from a Hatch.

Basically all those cars are entry-level sedan. Therefore, we try to explore the best out of it for your precious hard earn money to be invested into those rides. In this post, we are going to puts Honda City Grade E Versus Mazda2 Sedan R-Spec to our test and comparisons head-to-head.

Honda City Grade E

 

Value:

- Paddle Shifter for Grade E

- 16-inch alloy in 185/55R16

- Power Steering with Electric Power Assist

- 42 Litres fuel tank.

Inside: It’s slightly longer car than the Mazda with same width. Good passengers and big boot space. 

Engine: 1.5 SOHC i-VTEC engine with 5 Speed Automatic Transmission. Max 120PS @ 6,600rpm with 145Nm of Torque @ 4,800rpm

Safety:

- All wheel Disc Brakes (Front Ventilated, Rear Solid),

- ABS, EBD, BA

- 4-star crash rating

Drivability: Suspension more for comfort than sportiness compared to the Mazda.

Warranty: 3 Years Warranty, only come with 6 months or 10,000km of FREE Service

Price: RM87,982.50 OTR without Insurance or RM90,480 OTR with Insurance (Optional Honda Modulo Aero kit & Wheels)

 

 

Mazda2 Sedan R-Spec

Value:  

- 16-inch alloy in 195/45R16 (Odd size tyres)

- Power Steering with Electric Power Assist too

- 42.8 Litres fuel tank (larger by 0.8 litres)

 

Inside: It’s a shorter car than the Honda, and has a smaller 450L boot and slightly tighter cabin.

 

Engine: MZR 1.5 DOHC 16-Valves with 4-Speed Automatic Transmission. Max 103PS @ 6,000rpm with 135Nm of Torque @ 4,000rpm. Slightly higher fuel consumption than Honda City.

Safety:

- Front wheel Ventilated Disc Brakes (Rear Drums)

- ABS, EBD, BA

- 5-star crash rating

Drivability: Better steering and handling for R-Spec compare to the Honda.

Warranty: 3 Years Warranty, now entitled to 3 years or 60,000KM of FREE Maintenance

Price: RM83,122 OTR without Insurance (Optional Leather Seat & Aero kit)

Click here to read our verdict and view the gallery of Honda City and Mazda2 Sedan

You might heard of Honda and Toyota update their models every 5 years. The current Honda Civic in our land, or Honda Civic Euro still looks great after 5 years. Many wonders when will the next generation of Civic coming ? In fact, as reported the new generation of Honda Civic is in works! Both Civic Euro (hatchback) and Sedan of Civic was launched in 2005.

The Honda Civic Euro or FN2 has been spied doing some testing and prototyping. The photos here were edited by me to give you a closer look of an illustration version of the upcoming Civic Euro 2012 as compare to the spyshot taken. The illustration shows a more aggressive looking of Civic 2012 that gives a little bit like the VW Scirocco.

The spied Civic 2012 prototype is very much similar with the current Civic. However it looks like the chassis remain unchanged but it does look slighted wider. As speculated, there might be a hybrid engine for the Civic 2012 too.

This prototype Honda Civic Euro 2012 is disguised with fakely mounted front bumper of the current Civic. After we inspect the photos carefully the photo reveals that there’s actually another bumper behind of the existing bumper on what we saw. The current front bumper on 1st glance is to disguise the real design bumper for Civic 2012 behind.

The new upcoming Honda Civic 2012 Euro is expected to launch in mid of 2012. With this, Honda Fans can hope to see the JDM version or the predecessor of Honda Civic FD2 will be probably slight later after the Euro Civic.

Photos By AutoExpress UK

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From today onwards until Sunday. Toyota Malaysia and Honda Malaysia will have roadshows to show off their vehicle in 1utama shopping mall in Petaling Jaya. We expect they will certainly bring their newly launch vehicle. On the left with have Toyota Vios Facelift or rather know a.k.a Vios Desirable. On the right, we have the as what Honda Claimed, Premium Compact-MPV, the Honda Freed.

We have covered the Toyota Vios Facelift ( Vios Desirable) and of course the Honda Freed in detail. Do check out our post below. If you want to view the actual cars head to One Utama today or this weekend to see the flee of Toyota and Honda vehicles.

Toyota Roadshow – 1 Utama – 12-16 May 2010 – Ground Floor Highstreet

Honda Roadshow – 1 Utama – 14-16 May 2010 – Ground Floor

Our internal sources told us that, below are the other cars expect to turn up.

As for Toyota,

As for Honda,

Enjoy viewing the cars this weekend in 1utama. Click the below links to obtain more information on Toyota and Honda roadshow across Malaysia.

All Toyota Road Show Date and Venue

All Honda Road Show Date and Venue

As Honda Freed just recently launch in Malaysia. Mugen as a tuner  for nearly all Honda cars has actually tuned the Honda Freed with some visual-cosmetic upgrade and some of the performance accessories.

By equipping the full bodykit to the Honda Freed, with some Mugen badge all around – certainly the Honda Freed looks more sporty than standard.

The Mugen Freed is can be equipped with dual exhaust as an optional setup for the rear skirt. Something i didn’t expect from Mugen is that the one of the tailpipe  is actually a cosmetic one which is not connected to the exhaust system rather something just to look more sporty.

The Mugen Freed spoiler and sideskirt. Much like the Mugen Jazz.

The front grille which is similar from the one in Mugen Honda Odyssey and front skirt with air vents.

Click here to read-on the tuned Mugen Honda Freed

Honda Freed was initially unveiled in Tokyo back in 2008 as Japanese Domestic Model (JDM). The Freed is obviously a compact minivan and the car was built based on the latest Jazz /City platform. In Malaysia, Honda Malaysia brought in the 7 seaters version which features captain’s seats in the middle row. That’s why the car is driven heavily by the theme of 4 Seaters + Style before launching. While the Freed retains the same width as the Jazz at 1,695 mm, it’s longer (4,215 mm vs 3,900 mm), higher (1,735 mm vs 1,525 mm) and it also features an extended wheelbase measuring 2,740 mm in length (vs 2,500 mm).

It is dull to compare this with the JDM breed like Toyota Alphard, Toyota Estima, Nissan Elgrand, Honda Stepwagon or even Honda Elysion. It is more dim-witted to compare it with Nissan Grand Livina or Toyota Innova. Let her be alone and give Honda Freed a space of her own. Personally, I can feel that Honda is creating its own segment and filling this vehicle into a position for young family that wants a balance from stylish, affordability and a zippy compact MPV that you can found it in the Japanese Catalogue.

Furthermore, some may say MPV is built from an ugly box shape design. But I felt that MPV looks so good with its aero-kit and bigger diameter wheels. I would say that the market trends have changed over time comparing to the last decade. Peoples want practical and usability instead of style without practicability.

The revolution for Asean market starts on 21st March 2009, PT Honda Prospect Motor have begun production and launched the Freed in Indonesia as second country after introduced to Japan. Not to be surprise, the Honda Freed that built for Asean market is higher by 20mm compare the JDM model. The reason behind probably due to the road condition at the emerging countries.

The Freed that assembled in Honda’s Karawang Plant are equipped with L15A 1.5 Litre Engine that churn-out a solid 118ps @ 6,600rpm and torque of 146Nm @ 4,800rpm.

It is a similar engine compare to Honda Jazz/City but retuned for lower octane fuel to suits the emerging countries fuel grades. Comparing to the JDM, the Indonesian Freed is mated with 5-speed Automatic Transmission instead of 7-speed CVT like the Jazz/City. Before I forget to mentioned, one of our readers wanted to find out tyre size of the Honda Freed. For your info, the mini-van is fitted with 185/65 R15 wheels.

There is only 1 standard model for Honda Freed in Malaysia. The mini-van comes with Power Sliding Door & Dual SRS Airbags. Both model having Front Ventilated Disc Brake and Rear Drum Brake with 15 inch alloy wheels (185/65R15). Don’t turn down by the rear drum brake system. I realise in local market, there are a lot of motorists are very particular on this. If you realise, the previous model of Honda Jazz 1.5 VTEC for the local market is fitted with rear discs while the JDM is maintained with drum. The reason behind for such a small vehicle, the rear drum is able to deliver what it suppose for the rear braking system and overall the mini-van braking power is agreeable too.

To bring you further with the experience of Honda Freed, we have put the Honda Freed on the road test…
Overall, the mini-van is a car that is easy to drive in town. Thanks to the Electric Power Steering System! The car is zippy and the steering wheel is so light which makes turning effortless. The 5.2m small turning radius makes it easy for the Freed to maneuver on narrow roads and easy to park.

Don’t expect too much power from a 1.5 engine when it pulling a 1,355kg mini-van. I would say the engine performance is average and delivering what it supposes. To prove this well, we put in a stand-still test.

The car takes 0-100km/h in 14 seconds with 3 passengers + a driver on-board. That could be a bad part as I think it is a bit slow and it could be better off with the 1.8 i-VTEC (R18A) engine instead. But the good part is about the fuel efficiency, I was advised by Honda Malaysia that the car is even more fuel efficient than Honda City.  The engine is tuned efficiently particularly for this purpose as mini-van.

Click here to Read More about Honda Freed Test Drive

The Honda CR-Z is a compact hybrid electric automobile marketed by Honda as a “sporty hybrid coupe”. The CR-Z combines a hybrid gasoline-electric power train with traditional sports car elements. The CR-Z is regarded as the spiritual successor to the second generation Honda CR-X in both name and exterior design. Sales of the CR-Z began in Japan in February 2010, and became Honda’s third hybrid electric car in the market, along with the Civic Hybrid and the Insight.

Essentially, we speculate on partial of the reason behind of discontinuing the Civic Type R line-up as their sport range might relate to the CR-Z. Potentially, Honda is doing it by giving way to the sporty hybrid coupe while maintaining a greener environment.

The project leader, Norio Tomobe, worked previously as chief engineer on Mobilio Spike and Elysion. The basic concept of CR-Z is said to create a fun-to-drive sports car driving characteristics Honda aspired from that of the Elise, as well as the Mini and Volkswagen Scirocco.

The CR-Z is powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC inline-4 engine with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system mated with a six-speed manual transmission is standard equipment. The system delivers a combined peak output of 122 bhp at 6000 rpm and 174 Nm at 1000 to 1500 rpm. The gasoline motor itself contributes only 111 bhp at 6000 rpm and 144 Nm at 4800 rpm.

Back to the topic, Fifth Gear has published their own video review of the CR-Z with road tests. Check out the video on the below.

Gallery: 2011 Honda CR-Z

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