Filed under: Motorsports, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Dodge, Honda

We’ve driven the Honda Civic Si, and have found it to be an entertaining vehicle to attack some twisties. A drag racer, though, it is most assuredly not. Sure, offering just shy of two-hundred horsepower from such a small engine is impressive, but the distinct lack of torque and the stratospheric rev-ceiling required to extract those ponies will surely limit the straight-line drag numbers. The new Dodge Challenger SRT8, on the other hand, does not require high-rev shenanigans in order to scorch the 1320, and this point is proven in the video posted after the break. Although only covering an eighth mile, the Challenger has no problem keeping the Si at bay. We’re not knocking the Si, as this type of activity is clearly not its proper playground, but listen closely when playing the video and you’ll hear that the Challenger’s pilot was toying with the Civic driver. It’s not until the last few hundred feet that the Hemi driver dips into the throttle, leading to a few chuckles from the crowd.

[Source: Youtube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading VIDEO: Mismatched much? Challenger SRT8 vs. Civic Si

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Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, Japan, Honda

Click above for high-res gallery of the Honda Freed

Honda revealed its new compact minivan today in Japan called the Freed. On sale today as well, the Freed can carry up to eight passengers within its diminutive dimensions thanks to a low, completely flat floor and some clever packaging. Opt for captains chairs in the second row and you can still ferry seven people between Kyoto and Tokyo in relative comfort. The Freed will also be offered in three versions that accommodate people in wheelchairs with ramps and lift-up seats. Honda’s JDM mini-minivan will be offered in front-wheel and all-wheel-drive models powered by a 1.5L VTEC four-cylinder engine mated to either a 5-speed automatic or CVT transmission. It looks like a promising vehicle that Japanese buyers will snap up like 10-cent sushi, and we bet Honda would find a market for the Freed here in the U.S. as well considering the current popularity of fuel-efficient vehicles packing tons of practicality.

[Source: Honda]

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Honda

Click above to view commercial after the jump

We told you earlier in the week that this particular commercial would be the successor to Honda’s famous “Cog” commercial. Dozens of world-class sky divers have been practicing for the commercial in California, and yesterday they pulled of a portion of it live on camera high above Spain. What did they do exactly? Five separate aerial formations were formed to spell out the word “H-O-N-D-A” in sequence. Back in the early years of television, commercials were done live all the time, but those were shot in a studio, not 40,000 feet above the earth’s surface.

In light of Honda’s belief that the process of doing something difficult is often more interesting than the end result, the live commercial that aired isn’t the final product at all. The actual final commercial using footage from this jump and probably others will air sometime in June. We’ll see then if it’s as good as “Cog”. Check them both out after the jump. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Honda airs live TV commercial for new Accord

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