Honda Continues to Smash the Milestones.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 By KON

The first half of 2009 ended on a positive note for Honda. As of 30 June, their sales for the year stands at 20,479 units, accounting for 8.2% of the total industry volume. This is achieved on the back of an astonishing 22% year-on-year growth which saw them also expand their share in the non-national car market segment from 25.2% to 36.4%

“It is indeed another exciting moment for Honda to wrap up the first half of 2009 with flying results although the market was reported to have shrunk by 9.7%. As the market is having mixed sentiments about the overall economic recovery, customers are still cautious in making their choices. They are constantly on the look out for products that are value for money. With that in mind, our products are always relevant to the market as we strive to provide products and services of highest quality at reasonable prices,” Mr. Toru Takahashi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer was quoted as saying.

Leading Honda's surge up the sales charts is the new City, which has sold 11,857 units as of 23 July, and has an order backlog of 4,000 units. Also doing well is the Civic, with 3,989 units sold and a further 1,200 customers waiting for their cars.









In another development, Honda's plant in Melaka recently rolled out its 2,000,000th constant velocity joint set. A celebratory event was held at the plant, graced by General Manager of Honda Motor Co. Ltd Tochigi Plant, Mr. Masafumi Suzuki and Takahashi.

While speaking at the momentous occasion, Takahashi paid tribute of the historical milestone to all Honda's valued associates. He said “This remarkable achievement of CVJ is by abiding to our company principle in supplying products and services of the highest quality at reasonable prices. This helps us to ensure worldwide customer satisfaction”.

Honda started manufacturing CVJs at the Pegoh plant in 2002, and it has since become the biggest CVJ exporter in the region. It is also Honda's 4th CVJ production base in the world after Japan, US and China. When they started, the plant's capacity was at 20,000 sets a year, a figure which has since grown to 540,000 sets per year, with 90% of them exported.

Models receiving CVJs from Pegoh include the City, CR-V, Jazz, Accord, Civic and a model not available in Malaysia, the Freed. Pegoh's CVJs are now being exported to the UK, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. The milestone CVJ was signed-off for a shipment to Thailand.

Honda Civic Hybrid - Tests from the Road

Honda Civic Hybrid - Tests from the Road

What to drive until the perpetual-motion machine arrives.

Hybrids seem to be having the same impact the Volkswagen Beetle had on our society back in the ’60s and ’70s. Hybrids are seen as anti-establishment symbols, the anti-status status symbol. But there has been some discontent with these feel-good cars as owners have found they’re not getting the advertised mileage. So if you’re on the verge of being overcome by the environmentally correct need to get behind the wheel of a hybrid, be advised that they don’t all work in the same way. You’ll need to curb some of your speedy habits and learn some new driving skills to achieve their fuel-economy claims.

In a hybrid, the trick is to drive like a grandmother. You have to accelerate away from a stop slowly enough to minimize the role of the gasoline engine and maximize the role of the electric motor. Very simply, hybrids use an electric motor as a supporting source of power that doesn’t require gasoline, and that’s the whole point. Indeed, a Toyota Prius can pull away from a stop using only its electric motor, although the Civic hybrid shown here cannot.

There are two major reasons why the Civic can’t do that. First, it has a weakling 20-hp electric motor, whereas the Prius’s makes a robust 67 horses, so it’s better able to move almost 3000 pounds off a dime. Second, the Honda’s engine and electric motor are sandwiched together and then connected to the transmission, so if one is running, so is the other. The Prius’s electric motor and gas engine, on the other hand, are hooked up at separate points to the transmission, and therefore, one power source can be driven while the other is shut off. The Toyota system makes electric-only driving easy and is the primary advantage of that configuration. Honda’s hybrid system is more simple and compact and is more easily adaptable than the Toyota system to different vehicles.

Interestingly, although the Civic can’t move away from a stop using only the electric motor, Honda says there is one situation where its hybrid can run on just electricity—at about 15 to 20 mph when cruising on a flat surface at a steady speed with a fully charged, or nearly so, battery pack. Since the electric motor and the gas engine rotate inseparably, the Civic must cut off fuel to the engine and use its variable-valve-timing system to close the engine’s valves and make it easier for the electric motor to do its job. The Civic’s only giveaway that it’s running on electricity alone is the digital bar graph that lights up suddenly when juice is being sent to the motor. So it might not have the beans to get the Civic going from a stop, but the 20-hp electric motor does have enough gusto to keep the car moving at low speeds—all by itself, if only briefly. However, it’s such a short span of time under such specific and not-often-encountered conditions that the fuel savings are likely minuscule. Honda probably makes the claim to equal those of its major rival hybrid, the Prius.

The second big trick that hybrids can do is recharge their own batteries. The recharging occurs when you lift off the throttle, when you hit the brakes, or when cruising if the computer determines that the battery needs charging. When you get off the gas in a hybrid, the primary source of deceleration is the electric motor, not the gas engine as in a conventional car. Moreover, the hybrid uses a special electric motor that can also operate as a generator. Send this electric motor electricity, and it will produce power; rotate it using external forces, and it will produce electricity. Using the car’s momentum to spin this motor, therefore, creates electricity, which is sent back to the battery pack. That’s called regenerative braking. Hitting the brakes lightly will cause the electric motor to resist motion further, and in doing so, even more electricity is produced to send to the batteries.

The Civic has a digital display that shows how much electricity you’re sending to the battery or how much you’re using up. Brake moderately hard, and you’ll light up the maximum number of green LEDs. Hit the brake pedal harder, and you’ll activate the conventional brakes, just as you would in any other car. It’s a challenge to send the maximum amount of charge without employing the traditional brakes.

The final benefit of a hybrid is that the gas engine shuts off when you come to a full stop, thereby saving fuel. In the first Civic hybrid, if the air conditioning was on and the econ button was not engaged, the engine wouldn’t shut down. This latest hybrid solves that problem by adding an electric-motor-driven portion to the A/C compressor. So, at a stop, the electric compressor keeps the cabin cool. As soon as you lift your foot off the brake, the gas engine whirs to life again.

The EPA testifies that the Civic hybrid gets 49 mpg in city driving and 51 on the highway. But those numbers are rarely achieved. To get mileage in the high-40-mpg range requires gradual acceleration, timid cruising speeds, and cautious use of the throttle. Suffer a short lapse in concentration or accelerate immoderately, and fuel economy will suffer. Fact is, to do this right, you will drive more slowly than you ever have.

Posted by Fly

New 2009 Honda Civic Launched

Thursday, March 19, 2009 By YS Khong
Honda Malaysia unveiled its 2009 model today at a mobile showroom that is going to have the full model range, including the new Civic on show for the next three days, until the 22 March 2009 at the Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

The 8th generation Honda Civic has undergone some subtle changes for 2009, which include a newly designed front grille, and bumper, fog lights and diamond cluster rear lights. The 2.0 litre model gets a new set of 17-inch wheels.

The Honda Civic continues to be sold in two variants, namely the 1.8 litre SOHC, which promises outstanding fuel economy whilst delivering 140 Ps of power and 174Nm of torque. The 2.0 litre model features a DOHC engine, with 155 PS of power and 188Nm of torque. A recent addition is the Honda Civic Hybrid which will appeal to people who subscribe to the green movement, as it features an energy regeneration system, and a hybrid system that really stretches your petro-dollar. Both engines feature Honda’s innovative i-Vtec management system which provides variable valve and ignition timing.

Steering system for the 1.8 litre model is hydraulic while the 2.0 litre model features electrical power steering. Elsewhere, the suspension remains independent all round, with MacPherson struts in the front, and double wishbones at the rear. Brakes are ventilated discs at the front, and solid discs at the rear.

Since the introduction of the very first generation Honda civic in 1972, the Civic has sold more than 19 million units in 160 countries. In Malaysia, Honda Malaysia has sold close to 35,000 units since 2002, of which 26,000 units were of the 8th generation Civic. The Civic also has the honour of being the top non-national mid-sized sedan for three consecutive years, capturing 40 percent of this segment in 2008.

The new Civic retails at RM114, 980 for the 1.8S model, and RM129, 980 for the 2.0s model. Both prices are on-the-road with insurance.

Fall in love at first sight

Everything from the sleek exterior to the futuristic and well-designed interior, the Honda Civic will have you fall head over heels in love with its smart design. It's easy to take command of your driving when everything is designed to help you do so – the expansive all-round visibility, responsive controls at your fingertips, optimal locations for switches and buttons.

• 

  Sleek, aerodynamic form

  Mono Form Body

  The sleek forward shifted 'A' pillar maximises cabin space and lends a futuristic look to the car.

• Snarling looks

  

  An aggressive bumper that houses the oval fog lights underlines the sporty grille and smoked head lights.

• 

  Diamond cluster tail lights

  Sharper features with new diamond cluster tail lights that highlight the stylish curves of the car.

• 

  17" multi-spoke* alloy wheels

  17" multi-spoke* alloy wheels wrapped with low-profile tyres for a sportier look.

• 

  Multiplex meter

  Get a clear view of essential driving information on the two-tier multiplex meter. Placed close together for quick reading and to reduce instances of eye fatigue and strain, the multiplex meter is designed for quick 'scan-overs' while driving.

• 

  Oval 3-spoke steering wheel and Paddle Shift*

  Specially designed to complete the sporty look of the Honda Civic and to provide exceptional grip. The 2.0S model also comes with Paddle Shift for manual driving enjoyment.

• 

  The sound of music

  Enjoy the soothing sound of your favourite tunes with the integrated audio instrument panel that includes a 6-disc CD player* with AM/FM radio and LCD display that also functions as a digital clock. And if you want a change in controls, simply press the audio button on the steering wheel* and get audio control at your fingertips.

• 

  Gratifying your need for comfort

  The driver's seat offers manual height adjustment, and both front seats are designed for ideal comfort. Leather seats are available for the 2.0S model.

• *2.0S model only.
• Actual model may vary in detail from images shown.

An exhilarating driving experience

Feel the thrill of sporty, high performance with the Honda Civic. Rev the smart Civic 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC and the new 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engines to hear the powerful growl of untamed spirit, matched by gutsy efficiency. With Paddle Shift*, maneuvering road twists and turns can be done effortlessly.

• 

  The 2.0 i-VTEC & 1.8 i-VTEC engines

  Newly developed, our engine strikes a balance between superb performance, low fuel consumption and clean operation.
  
  2.0L i-VTEC
  Max Power: 155PS (114kW) @ 6,500rpm
  Fuel Efficiency: 11.63km/litre**

  1.8L i-VTEC
  Max Power: 140PS (103kW) @ 6,300rpm
  Fuel Efficiency: 14.09km/litre**

• 

  Go from zero to hero at just a press of a button

  Enjoy the excitement of a sporty vehicle with Paddle Shift* Control. This sophisticated manual-control feature lets you shift gears by simply pressing the (+) button or the (-) button for smoother acceleration right at your finger tips.

• 

  A smooth exhilarating ride

  Honda strikes an ideal balance of riding comfort and sporty handling by utilising rigid body construction and optimised suspension geometry. The Honda Civic's acclaimed double wishbone rear suspension enhances riding comfort, while an advanced MacPherson strut front suspension enhances the stability and contributes to steering response that is extremely stable, yet nimble around corners.

Honda Civic Passion For Life.

Passion is reawakened the moment you catch a glimpse of the new snarling Honda Civic. Observe closer and you'll notice that passion is stirred by more than looks. Come and rediscover your passion. And perhaps more.

The Civic Type R needs no introduction. Type R represents the heritage and the dreams of Honda. It is deeply rooted in Honda's racing heritage, a product of Honda's Challenging Spirit.

The Civic Hybrid is a result of Honda's "Environmentology" philosophy. The results include world-changing advances in fuel economy, low emissions and alternate sources for the future.

The moment you set your eyes on the new 2009 Honda Civic, you'll admire its snarling looks. Observe closer and you'll notice that the bold exterior is matched by the sophisticated interior, ergonomically designed with comfort in mind. And at the heart of the new Civic is the innovative i-VTEC powertrain, giving you power on demand for exhilarating performance and fuel-efficiency.