Motortrend's Car of the Year, Class of 2009

Judging for 2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year -- our signature award -- is underway. We're in the midst of our exhaustive evaluation process, which features intensive performance testing and flogging at the Hyundai/Kia testing facility in Mojave, California, with each of this year's field of 17 contenders. The field is then whittled down to 10 finalists, and then we evaluate them further on a demanding road loop. From econoboxes like the Toyota Corolla to midsize sedans such as the Mazda6 and Audi A4, to the Nissan GT-R supercar, this year's field is one of the strongest in some time.

As with all of our OTY contests, Car of the Year is not a comparison test. It's open only to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from November 1, 2007. We do not revisit vehicles that have been on sale for the past five years.

Each COTY contender is being evaluated against three simple criteria:

1. Superiority. We look at engineering excellence, advancement in design, utilization of resources, and safety. Vehicle concept and execution are important, as are use of materials, packaging, dynamics, styling, and fuel consumption.

2. Significance. How well the vehicle does the job its maker intended and impacts its particular market segment, influences consumer perceptions, and transforms product-development trends.

3. Value. How each vehicle compares against its direct rivals. A vehicle with a low sticker price might not be as good a value as a more expensive vehicle that delivers outstanding performance, quality, and functionality.

Below is this year's field. What do you think? What's your pick as the early favorite? The folks in the MT.com forums are already having their say, and you can check out what they're thinking BY CLICKING HERE. Stay tuned to motortrend.com and check out the January 2009 issue of Motor Trend for the complete story and more on this year's field, our testing process, and the vehicle that will take home the Calipers.

THE CLASS OF 2009:
Acura TL
Acura TSX
Audi A4
BMW 1 Series
Dodge Challenger
Honda Fit
Hyundai Genesis
Jaguar XF
Lincoln MKS
Mazda6
Nissan GT-R
Nissan Maxima
Pontiac G8
Pontiac Vibe
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Matrix
Volkswagen CC

Source;
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6301350/car-of-the-year/2009-motor-trend-car-of-the-year-the-contenders-are-revealed-whats-your-pick/index.html

Rumour: Honda Working on Hybrid Motorcycles

The above pic is NOT the hybrid that they are working on.

We must admit, that this one caught us a bit off guard as well. After all when you reall compare motorcycles with cars, the bikes merely sip on the fuel while cars guzzle on it. So its not a surprise that most car manufacturers are concentrating on making 4 wheeled hybrids only.

But given that motorbikes require so much less energy, it would make sense to make hybrid versions of these - imagine having a bike with a potentially unlimited range. Things however are not so easy as you may think - once more due to the battery technology which effectively remains unchanged from the original concept a hundred years back.

However, Honda believes that it can shrink a hybrid engine enough to be mounted on a motorcycle frame. The hybrid motorbikes will be available in engine displacements between 200 and 1,000 cc, and, according to Honda, will be 50 percent more fuel-efficient. Production costs will be cut by using common components in both hybrid cars and motorcycles. Expect the hybrid bikes to be out as soon as 2010.

Source;
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20080927p2a00m0na020000c.html

Next Gen NSX may be Limited to Acura Markets Only

The last NSX, discontinued in 2005, was branded as both a Honda and an Acura, depending upon the market it was sold in. That could change for the next-generation NSX, however, as Acura may be seeking to protect the brand identity of the halo sports car, and thereby its ability to charge a premium price. An unfortunate side effect for much of the world, however, is that the car would not be sold in markets where Acura doesn't do business.Currently, the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, China and soon, Russia, are the only markets that get Acura-branded cars.

The company is planning on introducing the brand to Japan in 2010 or after, and the use of the NSX as a halo vehicle to lure buyers and establish its credibility as a real step up from Honda may be exactly what it needs.But that will still leave the majority of the world, including Australia, the UK, and all of the countries in Europe, without Acura or the NSX, according to latest reports. Speaking with GoAuto, Honda spokesman Fumihiko Ike ruled out bringing Acura to Australia, and along the way, he mentioned that the NSX would not be coming either, declaring that the two are inextricably linked.

“Internally we are trying to harmonize the policy because NSX is exclusively for Acura brand. But now we are not bringing Acura brand to Asia, maybe very strong resistance from U.S. people that we put the [Honda badge] on the NSX, that is going to dilute the image of Acura, so that is a big dilemma for us,” Ike said.“We initiated the Acura brand for the sake of the U.S. market and how to rebuild the Acura brand in the U.S. that is our priority, so maybe we have to sacrifice (NSX availability in other markets) but we have to be patient,” he added.Keeping the NSX out of so many markets may be the best thing for U.S. perception of the Acura brand, but the impact it could have on the NSX itself, not being available in the home of so many of the world's greatest sports cars - Europe - is a significant consideration - especially when the company is directly targeting those European greats.

Perhaps that is what Ike was speaking of when he mentioned patience, though only time will tell what strategy Honda adopts for its newest NSX, and the wait will likely require a great deal of patience, since the car isn't expected to arrive until 2010.The NSX has already had a very troubled birthing process, as designers deliberated over the car's appearance, which was at first expected to closely follow the Acura Advanced Sports Car concept, eventually scrapping their work and starting over part way through - though the spy shots and renderings indicate it won't stray far from the concept's lines. Brand issues delayed the car the year before, but now that several prototypes have been spotted testing on the Nurburgring, it is believed that final development is underway, and on schedule to meet the 2010 deadline.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/next-generation-nsx-may-be-limited-to-acura-only-markets.html