Tag: commits

Honda shutters motorcycle production in wake of earthquake, commits to recovery

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Motorcycle

Honda Motorcycles Honda has announced that it will temporarily suspend operations at both its Hamamatsu and Kumamato facilities this week. Both plants are responsible for producing the company’s stable of motorcycles. The Hamamatsu plant, which builds the CBR600RR and CBR1000RR, has closed its doors today, March 14, while the Kumamato factory will be shuttered tomorrow. The latter facility is responsible for the Goldwing.

Both plants were far from the worst areas of earthquake and tsunami damage, but with massive power and parts shortages and a huge human toll, there’s little sense in operating the plants at this time. The Kumamato facility is set to reopen on March 20th, but so far there’s no word on when operations at Hamamatsu will resume.

Honda has committed to helping with the Japanese recovery effort by donating $3.9 million, 1,000 generators and 5,000 fuel canisters. Hit the jump for a look at the company’s release on the disaster.

[Sources: Hell For Leather – sub. req, Visordown, Honda]

Continue reading Honda shutters motorcycle production in wake of earthquake, commits to recovery

Honda shutters motorcycle production in wake of earthquake, commits to recovery originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Honda shutters motorcycle production in wake of earthquake, commits to recovery”

Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Porsche

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fuel efficiency is a big deal for small sports car manufacturers. Boutique automakers and sports car specialists like Porsche figure to have a particularly hard time meeting rising efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions regulations all around the world because they don’t manufacture vehicles that play in more fuel-efficient segments of the market.

With that in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Porsche is keenly interested in hybrid technology. Starting with the 2011 Cayenne and following with a similar hybrid system for the Panamera, Porsche plans to roll out fuel-saving technology across its entire model range.

That transition won’t be an easy one. Both the Cayenne and Panamera use a front-engine layout and automatic transmission with an electric motor sandwiched in between, and such a system wouldn’t work on the company’s mid- and rear-engined models.

That’s where the upcoming 918 Spyder comes in. According to Porsche development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer, “We want to learn how we can electrify all our sports cars in the future with the help of this short production run” of the hybrid 918 Spyder. In fact, all of Porsche’s models are slated to be hybridized, says Duerheimer.

Other efficiency-raising efforts will include a 10-percent reduction in weight, increased use of carbon fiber bodywork and possibly even the return of four-cylinder engines, likely with forced induction and direct injection.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req’d]

Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line”

BMW commits to Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with M3 GT2

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW, Racing

BMW M3 GT2

BMW M3 GT2 – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has decided to officially compete for the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with the M3 GT2. This year’s initial iteration will include three races at England’s Silverstone, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and Zuhai in China. Peugeot has already committed to run the LMP1 class 908 and Audi is considering running the R15+ TDI.

The M3 GT2 debuted in the American Le Mans Series in 2009 with Rahal Letterman Racing and BMW added Team Schnitzer in Europe for 2010. Schnitzer will campaign the cars in the cup runs at Silverstone and Zuhai, while Rahal will be responsible for the American race. In 2011, the Intercontinental cup will expand to six races, including Sebring and Le Mans.

Gallery: 2010 Rahal-Letterman Racing ALMS BMW M3

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW commits to Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with M3 GT2

BMW commits to Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with M3 GT2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “BMW commits to Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with M3 GT2”