1999 Honda Civic Dx Hatchback Red 3-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Honda demonstrates driverless valet parking system with special Fit EVs

There are many challenges that will need to be sorted out before full autonomous driving becomes a reality, but automakers are taking small steps toward this advancement with semi-autonomous technologies. Nissan, Toyota and Ford have already revealed various automated driving systems, and now Honda is getting into the game with an automatic valet parking system that was unveiled recently at the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) World Congress in Tokyo.
Unlike Ford's recently demonstrated self-parking Focus, which is fully operational on its own, Honda's new system requires input from the parking lot via cameras. Combining information provided by the car's rearview camera as well as cameras positioned around the parking lot, drivers are able to drop their car off at a central location, and using a touchscreen display, the car can park itself and return when the driver is ready to leave. The benefit of this is that multiple cars can be parked at the same time and no additional sensors (other than a backup camera) are needed for the car, but the downside is that it can only operate on properly equipped parking lots. According to Honda's demonstration, this system can be practical by 2020.
Honda also showed off some semi-autonomous driving and non-contact electric vehicle recharging technologies at the ITS World Congress, although information is limited and there are no demonstrations available. Scroll down to read more about Honda's latest tech, including a video demonstration of the automatic valet parking system.

Watch two Acura NSXs scorch the Nurburgring

Some intrepid spy shooter captured these two Acura NSXs blasting around the Nurburgring. Without being there in person with a decibel meter, it's hard to tell if they're necessarily louder than stock cars, but they sure seem quick. Why test the cars now, when they've been on sale for a while now? Rumors are swirling that this could be a hardcore variant. It's unclear if Honda would call it a Type R, but a midlife refresh with a bit more power or a special limited edition with some extra kick wouldn't be unprecedented. The original NSX had several such models, and recent sports cars like the S2000 had low-volume editions, like the Club Racer variant in the United States and the Type S in Japan. Watch the video and draw your own conclusions about what this is or isn't. One thing's for sure: It's not a pure-EV variant. In other things recent about the NSX, we learned last month that an NSX GT3 non-hybrid race car version will go on sale soon. And here's our first drive of the US Acura-badged NSX from back in 2015. And here's another video from inside the cockpit during an open track day back in June. Watch all the other cars get out of the way and get left behind: Motorsports Acura Honda Coupe Hybrid Racing Vehicles Performance Videos honda nsx

See the evolution of McLaren F1 cars in one GIF

If you dig racecars and history, you'll enjoy the .gif file on display below. It comes to us from the folks at automotive parts website PartCatalog.com, and it shows how McLaren's Formula 1 cars have changed from the very first one to this season's black and orange Honda-powered machine. And they have certainly changed. That very first car had scarcely an aerodynamic aid to the radically winged racer of today.It's also interesting to see how driver positioning has changed over the years. Through the '70s and '80s, the driver was pushed farther and farther to the front. Then in the '90s and '00s, the driver started to be pushed back to the middle, and longer noses became common. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This .gif file isn't just interesting for seeing how the cars have changed, though. It also features some of the most famous F1 cars of all time. Fans of vintage F1 racing and of the film Rush may recognize the McLaren M23 James Hunt piloted to a championship victory over rival Nicki Lauda in 1976. There's also the 1985 McLaren MP4/2B that was the last McLaren Nicki Lauda would drive, and the car that would take Alain Prost to a championship. Prost's rival Ayrton Senna also has a car in this .gif, and that's the 1988 Honda-powered car he drove to his first ever championship. There are many other cars in this .gif we don't have time to cover though, but you can learn more about them and the cars we mentioned by checking out McLaren's great history page. Each car there has a brief profile covering the stats, and lengthier articles with more background. It's a great way to spend a morning. Related Video: