Is Japan trying to kill us or something? It seems Toyota is not alone with the rolling death-mobiles. Honda announced a recall of 378,000 cars in the US (437k globally.) The affected vehicles include Accords, Civics, Odysseys, and CR-V’s from the 2001 and 2002 model years. A few Acura vehicles are also affected.

The issues is with the airbags – and the fact that they may not deploy. So far, one person has died, and 11 more have been injured due to this defect. So, instead of being able to stand up tall and say “neener neener neener” to Toyota, Honda is going to have to deal with this nasty recall.

It’s a good time to be an American car company.

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This is no Toyota-level recall, but 646,000 Fits is not exactly minor.  About 141k of the affected Fits, from model years 2007 and 2008, are in the United States.  In some cases, water (probably from rain) can get into the driver’s window switch, possibly causing a fire.

No cases have been reported yet, and the recall is voluntary.  However, I prefer my window switches not on fire, so if you have a Fit, get it checked out.

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This is one of the lowest volume recalls I can remember seeing – though it’s not surprising, since we’re talking about a pretty low-volume vehicle.  Acura has issued a recall for a whopping 644 2010 MDX’s.  Only a select few of these vehicles are targeted, and the issue is a missing bolt.

The big deal is that the missing bolt may cause a part of the A-pillar to break off in the event of a severe crash, which isn’t exactly something you want happening.  Worried that your MDX may be affected?  Call the NTHSA to find out : 888-327-4236.

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There are plenty of hybrids on the road today, and there are plenty of sports coupes.  But not one has attempted to blend these two seemingly opposite types of vehicles.  Until now, that is.  The 2011 Honda CR-Z attempts to bring these two worlds together.  Honda calls the CR-Z a “sport hybrid coupe”: The intention is clear.  The question, of course, will they be successful?  Let’s take a look at the hardware.

2011 Honda CR-Z Specs

• 122 HP 1.5 liter SOHC 4 Cylinder engine ( Combined horsepower rating )
• Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) Hybrid system
• Six speed manual transmission
• Available Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
• 16″ Alloy wheels
• Curb weight: 2725 lbs (CVT)
• EPA Estimated ratings: 36 mpg city / 38 mpg highway / 37 MPG combined (CVT)

As for looks, well, I’m not sure Honda hit the mark this time.  The front end is very sharp – with an S2000 influence.  The rear end has some awkward angles to be sure, and looks *extremely* like the Insight on which it is based.  In fact, when you look at the CR-Z as a whole, it has an extreme family resemblance.  Maybe you like it, maybe you don’t. I’m not terribly impressed.

Moving to the interior, which Honda uses knocks out of the park, I’m almost at a loss for words.  It looks like a tacky button monster threw up on the dash.  There are far too many buttons to the left of the steering wheel, and they’re oddly laid out.  The HVAC controls are simply bizarre.  Even the navigation unit is all wrong – it’s far off center, on the passenger’s side of the dash.  The steering wheel is crowded with buttons, and the gauges have far too much going on.  Even if I loved the interior, and how the CR-Z drove, I’m pretty sure this interior would keep me away.

Honda, I think you forgot something?

Enough about the dash and gauges, how about the seats?  Oh boy.  See, there is room inside the CR-Z for a 2+2 layout.  That is, 2 regular size humans, and 2 very tiny humans could fit inside.  Well, they could, if Honda had seen fit to include the rear seats.  Instead of the rear seats, Honda put things that are the same size as seats, and almost look like seats, but aren’t quite seats.  If you’re shaking your head and wondering what they were thinking, don’t feel bad – I am too.

Now I’m not suggesting that I would *want* to sit in the back seatlet of a CR-Z – of course I wouldn’t.  No one would.  But making pseudo-seats?  Just give me two daggone little seats Honda; let me choose if I want to subject someone to the torture.  Instead, the CR-Z is a pure two-seater, which gives insurance companies another reason to raise rates.  Only “sports cars” have two seats, don’t ya know.

Efficiency and performance

An expected EPA rating of 37 combined MPG is nothing to sneeze at – but it’s also not really all that special.  Don’t forget, the CR-Z is a hybrid.  And it has a small 1.5 liter engine, which is already extremely efficient.  And there’s also the very light ~2700 lb curb weigh to consider.  I’m not sure why the CR-Z can’t make over 40 MPG?

Missing the mark

I don’t think the CR-Z is going to be a hit.  With just 122 HP on tap, performance won’t be blistering.  At 37 MPG for a subcompact, you’re not going to set any efficiency records.  So I get a slow sports car combined with a non-efficient hybrid, presumably at a premium price.  I ask just one question – why in the world wouldn’t you just buy a Honda Fit?

2011 Honda CR-Z Gallery

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Want to own one of the ugliest vehicles ever built? The price of entry for a 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour comes in at a whopping $29,670. That’s assuming you don’t want AWD, leather, or navigation. Add those neat little features in there, and you might get a little sticker shock – $36,220 is the asking price.

There are so many better options out there, that offer more for less money, and don’t have the stigma of being designed by a blind monkey with no hands.

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You may or may not be looking at inspiration for the next generation Honda Odyssey when you look at the Skydeck Concept vehicle. I say may or may not because, well, it’s a little out there. Compared to the minivans of today, the Skydeck is downright sexy. It’s bold and stylish when compared to the Odysseys and Siennas of 2009. But bold is a tough sell in the minivan world, where boring and reliable sell.

Honda Skydeck killer feature
Hidden inside the center console that runs between the seats is a series of batteries. That’s right, the Skydeck is a hybrid, with a full Honda IMA ( Integrated Motor Assist ) setup. Minivan buyers would eat this up – they already chose the minivan instead of a gas-guzzling SUV, so up-selling them to a hybrid should be a no-brainer.

Some of the features that surely won’t make it to production in any way are: the cool scissor front doors, adn the magic floating seats. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but the front two rows of seats are actually mounted to the center console. The second row can easily fold and slide under the first row, creating an absolutely ridiculous amount of cargo area. There is also the potential problem that the Skydeck seats “just” six, when a traditional minivan seats 7. Granted, not everyone who buys a minivan has 5 kids, but it needs to be pointed out.

I think with minor modifications, the Skydeck could be a viable vehicle. Perhaps not as a direct Odyssey replacement, but maybe even as a Pilot replacement. More room, better fuel economy, better styling, etc etc. Honda – we’re interested.

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Honda’s best-selling CR-V gets a mild update for the 2010 model year. Beyond the new grille & bumper, the big news is under the hood. Finally attempting to appease all the naysayers who think the CR-V is underpowered ( I disagree ), Honda managed to squeeze 180 HP out of the 2.4 liter engine. That’s up from 166 in the 2009 model.

In addition to the power bump, Honda worked some sort of wizardry, and increased the 2010 CR-V MPG by 1. That’s right, the FWD model is now rated at 21 MPG city / 28 MPG highway. Extensive experience tells me that those numbers are extraordinarily conservative.

There are a few small updates inside, but nothing significant. Overall, a pretty minor update to a vehicle that Honda sells an absolute ton of. If I was in charge of the CR-V project, I probably wouldn’t have done a thing differently.

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The official pictures are out, released by Honda. The verdict is in. The internet says: UGLY. Not mediocre, bland, or provocative. Just plain ugly. Ugly, ugly, ugly. You know the saying “he has a face only a mother could love?” That doesn’t apply here, because surely the Accord Crosstour’s mother would have tossed it out in the street to die.

I’m sure I’m not doing a good job of conveying just how ugly the 2010 Crosstour is. It may even be uglier than the Acura ZDX – the other fresh new creation from Honda.

Why anyone would buy this thing, I have absolutely no idea. Bad Honda.

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There’s a report from a Japanese business publication that Honda will release a Fit Hybrid in late 2010.  That might sound like strange news when you consider the recent release of the 2010 Honda Insight, which is based on the Fit platform.  And indeed, I would have to agree.  Two hybrid hatchbacks based on the same platform? 

I like the Fit, for what it is.  A reasonably affordable subcompact, reasonably fun to drive, and absolutely cavernous interior space.  Couple that with Honda’s reliability and solid gas mileage – it’s a winner.  Adding a hybrid option could only make things better.  But I simply don’t see what consumer this could serve, that wouldn’t be served just as well with an Insight.  Anyone have any thoughts here?

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This is a spy shot of what could be the 2010 Honda CR-V.  I say could be, because it is absolutely 100% unconfirmed, and unverified.  

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