Automatic transmissions in motorcycles are not new, with Ridley being one manufacturer currently producing them. In fact, back in the 1970s, Honda and Moto Guzzi both produced motorcycles with automatic transmissions, each with two forward gears. Honda called its system “Hondamatic” and the bikes are still in demand today because of their shiftless nature. That older machine used an automatic transmission quite similar to the one that came with the Civic, complete with a torque converter. Continue reading Tokyo 2007 Preview: Honda DN-01 motorcycle features automatic transmission
Categories:Honda
Honda’s Insight was great and all, but nobody wants a two seat car these days. So while the hybrid Accord is certainly an exciting addition, what’s more awesome is Honda competing where we expect them to: with cheap cars for younger people. 
The 2008 Honda Accord sedan has been out and about fairly regularly in the past few weeks with several lightly covered examples having been photographed. Until now, none of these were accompanied by the coupe version, but that too has changed. Comparing the production coupe to the concept that Honda unveiled in January at the Detroit Auto Show shows how much of the concept was production ready. 
The Accord is Honda’s best-selling vehicle. Last month it outsold the Civic (22,488 vs. 20,143 units) and to date this year 324,555 units have been sold. The Accord and Accord Coupe are Honda’s bread-and-butter cars, so it is with great interest that we view the sketch above, which is the Honda Accord Coupe Concept that will be unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in early January. 
With its four siblings getting a 5-star crash rating, and perfect scores for the past two years, we imagine there were few of you worrying about the safety of the new CR-V from Honda. The NHTSA awarded the little sport ute 5 stars across the board on crash ratings and gave it a little smiley-face sticker too. Passengers in the new Honda are surrounded by a full range of standard air bags and held upright by standard stability control. 
Honda has increased its stake in Yachiyo Industry — the manufacturer of its Life and Zest kei cars — to 51.14%. Previously, they held a 34.5% share. Higher fuel prices have resulted in a greatly increased demand for mincars, which receive special tax considerations from the government and combine fuel-efficiency, excellent use of space, and fairly surprising levels of equipment in remarkably compact packages at competitive prices. 
Considering Honda has not made any significant internal changes to the new Honda CR-V… could a hybrid be in future consideration? This would put Honda above Toyota, ’cause not everyone wants a V6 in a compact SUV. This could act as an entry level to the compact hybrid SUV market. Honda could use parts from the current Civic hybrid.This would not only add to increased fuel economy, but it would give Honda more publicity. 
You’ll find Honda most often on or near the bull’s-eye, what with the Accord, the Odyssey, the Civic, and the CR-V all nailing their targets through the crosshairs. From the center, Honda believes, there’s no direction to go but off the mark, which is why the 2007 CR-V remains pretty much what a CR-V has always been: an inexpensive five-seat duffel bag on wheels. 
Sedan no longer means big Aussie, nor even medium Japanese. Smaller cars can haul big butt, though not all rate well.