2022 Honda Pilot Awd Special Edition on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Honda's I Like Sports ad will have you reaching for your pom-poms

Autoblog editor Greg Migliore recently wrote a great piece looking at the burgeoning re-emergence of Honda as the performance brand. Now, the company is showing some reasons why that really might be the case, with a short ad from Japan titled I Like Sports. The commercial acts as a showcase for Honda's performance prowess on the street and around the track from the recent past, present, and the near future. The spot gives the company's models a chance to show why they are worth getting excited about. There are glimpses of vehicles like the Japan-only S660, upcoming Civic Type R, S2000, the preceding and forthcoming NSX, the MotoGP bike, and Formula 1 car. Despite being just a minute long, the ad does a great job at hinting at a brand that can appeal to people who want a little excitement during a drive.

Marchionne now considering 'Plan B' partners for FCA merger

Okay Sergio, just stop. With the sting of rejection from General Motors CEO Mary Barra still fresh, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne is moving on and trying to find another automaker to merge with. FCA may not be giving up hope on a merger with GM, but that doesn't mean it isn't at least considering alternatives. Sergio's so-called "Plan Bs" include the Volkswagen Group, as well as smaller Asian outfits, like Mazda, Honda, Suzuki, and Hyundai. Bloomberg reports that France's beleaguered PSA Peugeot Citroen could as a sort of "fallback" option due to its relative lack of volume, an unidentified source claimed. There are, of course, problems with each option. According to Bloomberg, Volkswagen expects complete control of a company, but the Agnelli family, which holds a large portion of FCA stock, is loathe to relinquish its stake in the company. On top of that, VAG just isn't looking to make a deal right now. Mazda, meanwhile, is enjoying a new partnership with Toyota and Suzuki is partially owned by VW. Honda and Hyundai have never expressed any interest in a partnership with a western automaker. That kind of just leaves the French then, but even that remains a long shot. As Bloomberg tells it, PSA boss Carlos Tavares is still working on a turn-around plan, and would want at least another six months to execute before even considering a deal with FCA. And even then, Tavares hasn't given any indication that he's considering a pairing. News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Paul Sancya / AP Chrysler Fiat GM Honda Hyundai Mazda Suzuki Citroen Peugeot Sergio Marchionne FCA Mary Barra psa peugeot citroen

Honda gives itself room to delay FCV hydrogen car until June 2017

In a new press release issued to discuss vehicles on display at the Geneva Motor Show, Honda said something a bit curious about its upcoming hydrogen car. The release reads: "The FCV Concept previews an all-new fuel cell road car that is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in the first half of 2016, and subsequently in the USA and Europe within the following 12 months." The last official word was that Honda said the car would arrive in Japan in March 2016, with US and European roll-out some time after that. The new announcement gives the company some wiggle room to adjust that timeline, since 12 months after the first half of 2016 could, theoretically, be at late as June 30, 2017. So, we asked Honda North America's senior environment and safety specialist Angie Nucci if this means that the FCV will be delayed at all. She said she doesn't have additional details for the next-gen FCV availability, "other than March 2016 in Japan and then the US and Europe after. It's the same timing that we discussed in LA." In other words, we might be reading too much into this. But it's worth noting in case the timeline does slip (again). Related Video: Featured Gallery Honda FCV Concept: Detroit 2015 View 17 Photos News Source: HondaImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Sebastian Blanco / AOL Green Honda Hydrogen Cars delay fcv