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Honda's first production jet takes off from North Carolina

Plenty of automakers have backgrounds in aircraft manufacturing. BMW, Bristol, Mitsubishi, Saab and Spyker all started out in the airplane business. But Honda is going the opposite direction, expanding its automotive (not to mention motorcycle, ATV, marine engine and power equipment) business with the launch of the HondaJet. And that project has just taken a big step forward.
After starting production a year and a half ago, the Japanese industrial giant recently completed its first customer HondaJet, and has now taken that initial production aircraft to the skies for its landmark first flight. The aircraft left the production facility in Greensboro and took off on Friday morning from Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina - the same state where the Wright Brothers undertook their first flight over a century ago.
The HondaJet undertook an 84-minute test flight, climbing to 15,500 feet and reaching a speed of 348 knots. That works out to 400 miles per hour - assuredly faster than any Honda (save for maybe a prototype for the same aircraft) has traveled before. The aircraft is designed to cruise at a maximum of 420 knots (483 mph) and reach a maximum altitude of 43,000 feet.

Is the original Acura NSX a perfect supercar?

The long-awaited arrival of the second coming of the Acura NSX has naturally brought with it many deep retrospectives on the first Acura NSX. Xcar is the latest with a stint in the time capsule, lining up three NSXs to sample at a track in the UK. There's the red wonder that started it all, the standard aluminum-bodied car that went on sale in 1990, so simple and easy-to-drive, extracting more joy than many thought possible from a 3.0-liter V6 with 'just' 270 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. The 25-year-old exotic shows its years, but mostly because of an automatic transmission that dampens throttle response and doesn't like changing gears. The praises it earned in the day, however, still remain, namely excellent steering, handling, and feedback. After that comes laps in the first NSX Type R, the model that lost more than 250 pounds by having no air conditioning, sound deadening, or stereo, and lightweight tweaks like carbon seats and thinner glass. Although it the tuning makes it much harder, the presenter wants to know, "Why isn't Honda making a car like this today?" Then there's the 2002 model, the one that would only last three years before closing the door on a fifteen-year run. It got better at the same time as it got softer, but by then the NSX had nothing left to prove; it hit every one of its targets, it realigned the segment in ways we're still benefiting from, and for at least half of its run nothing else could touch it. Based on the reviews so far, that might include the brand new, very good and very complicated NSX. Check out the video above for Xcar's take. Related Video: News Source: Xcar via YouTube Acura Honda Coupe Luxury Performance Videos xcar honda nsx

Honda to reveal production Civic Type R in Geneva

Honda has been working on its new Civic Type R for some time now. We drove a prototype over a year ago, and have since seen the Japanese hot hatch as a pre-production concept twice now – once in Geneva last year, and again in Paris. But at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March, the Japanese automaker will finally present the production version. Previewed in the teaser video above, the new Civic Type R promises to be among the kings of the hot hatchdom, packing a new 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC engine and extreme styling. Unfortunately this version won't be coming to the US, but according to recent reports, another version will. Alongside the production pocket rocket, Honda will mark the European debuts of the NSX, Jazz (known to us as the Fit) and the new HR-V subcompact crossover at the Swiss expo, where it will also showcase its new McLaren-Honda F1 racer and the FCV concept. 28.01.2015 Civic Type R and NSX Supercar Lead Host of Premieres From Honda at 2015 Geneva Motor Show - Honda to unveil flagship performance models with world premiere of production Civic Type R and European premiere of NSX - Production models of all-new Jazz and HR-V to be unveiled, as well as first showing in Europe of FCV Concept fuel cell vehicle - 2015 McLaren-Honda F1 racer showcased ahead of season opener Signalling a new era for the Honda brand in Europe, every model in the range will be new or refreshed in 2015, with many being unveiled in production guise for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Performance cars for road and track, family cars and a fuel cell concept will all feature on the Honda stand. The return of two performance legends Geneva will see the global premiere of the Honda Civic Type R production car. The 'race car for the road' will be the most extreme Type R ever built, with blistering performance and thrilling dynamics that set new standards in the segment. A world-first application of Honda's new 2.0 litre VTEC Turbo engine, aggressive function-led styling and pioneering new chassis technologies combine to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector. For fans keenly anticipating the launch of Honda's latest hot hatch icon, a dedicated Type R microsite goes live on 28 January.