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Official: Honda invests $215M in Ohio Earth Dreams production

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Acura, Honda

Honda Ohio Operations

Honda has announced a $215 million investment in a pair of its Ohio operations, taking its total tally for North American operations up to $2.7 billion in three years. The announcement was made at the 2013 Center For Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.

$180 million of the investment is earmarked for Honda’s Anna, OH engine plant. The money will allow the facility to increase its aluminum die casting and increase production of Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology engines. Think of Earth Dreams as sort of like Mazda’s Skyactiv line, only ED is limited to a new line of engines, rather than a full suite of automotive components. Anna will also be getting a new technical center to train engineers, techs, and line workers on powertrain technology.

The remaining $35 million is slated for Honda’s main Ohio operations in Marysville. A 160,000-square-foot facility will be constructed near Honda’s current properties, which will house another technical training center to focus on automotive manufacturing. The new building will also house Honda’s North American Services group, as well as a new heritage center.

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Honda invests $215M in Ohio Earth Dreams production originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Aug 2013 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda Civic poised to get new Earth Dreams engines

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Honda

2013 Honda Civic - front three-quarter view with mountains

When Honda executed its emergency refresh of the Civic for 2013, it didn’t do any massive powertrain reworking. But that doesn’t mean new things aren’t already in the works for Honda’s compact. According to Automotive News, Honda has confirmed that it will offer the Civic with a new Earth Dreams powerplant sometime in the future, though details on timing and exactly what sort of engine are unclear as of this writing.

The confirmation comes from Honda’s executive vice president and regional director for North America, Tetsuo Iwamura, who says that the Earth Dreams engine will come when the Civic is re-engineered or redesigned, not during a refresh. There is also no mention of whether these changes will apply to just the standard Civic, or if the Si and Hybrid models will receive some Dreamy new tech, as well.

The entire Earth Dreams group of technologies encompasses more than just naturally aspirated engines with direct injection. A turbo-diesel engine is also part of this suite, as are new continuously variable transmissions and new gasoline-electric hybrid powerplants. Honda launched its 2.4-liter and 3.5-liter Earth Dreams engines in the redesigned 2013 Accord.

“The Civic has to evolve,” Iwamura told Automotive News. “But we have to consider what timing works best.” AN suggests that the Earth Dreams-powered Civic could arrive as early as the 2015 model year.

Honda Civic poised to get new Earth Dreams engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Koenigsegg Agera R haunts our sweetest dreams and darkest nightmares

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg Agera R

Koenigsegg Agera R – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s official: Koenigsegg now makes ballistic sex machines. The Koenigsegg Agera R is parked in front of us at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and we can’t get “Breaking the Law” out of our heads.

If you pour E85 into the oh-so-thirsty gas tank, the Agera R rewards you with 1,115 horsepower at 6,900 rpm and 885 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm. Additionally, the twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine produces 738 pound-feet of torque from 2,700 rpm up to 6,170 rpm.

All that power is funneled through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle-shifters and an electronic differential. The engine and the transmission work in concert to push the Agera R from 0-62 miles per hour in a scant 2.9 seconds. Stay on the gas, and you’ll reach 124 mph in 7.5 seconds. If you decide to slam on the binders the moment you hit 124 mph, the entire trip will take 12.7 seconds to get back to zero. We know of cars that take that long to crest 60 mph.

From its 260-mile-per-hour-rated tires to the carbon fiber monocoque to its devil-developed engine, the Koenisegg Agera R is a true hypercar. Get a wet nap ready before you click through our high-res galleries below and the massively detailed press release after the jump.

Gallery: Koenigsegg Agera R: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Koenigsegg Agera R

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Koenigsegg Agera R haunts our sweetest dreams and darkest nightmares

Geneva 2011: Koenigsegg Agera R haunts our sweetest dreams and darkest nightmares originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Diecast rush hour is the art of our childhood dreams

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Design/Style

Chris Burden's Metropolis 2

Chris Burden’s Metropolis 2 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Like most normal Americans, thoughts of exactly what we’d do if we had all the money in the world and not a care to burden us occupy a fair portion of our mental capacity each day. Chances are that if we slept on a bed of Benjamins, our daylight hours would be spent crafting a mechanized achievement akin to the contraption in the video after the jump. In one fell swoop, the creators have combined two our true passions: diecast cars and convoluted, yet pointless machinery.

The diecast traffic jam is fittingly called “Metropolis 2,” and it was created by artist Chris Burden. Built using 1,500 Hot Wheels, the installation is headed to LACMA for a long-term loan in the near future. Art and toy fans alike can catch the mesmerizing miniature action at the museum soon. Hit the jump for a mesmerizing preview.

[Sources: Unframed, YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Diecast rush hour is the art of our childhood dreams

Video: Diecast rush hour is the art of our childhood dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey VelociRaptor APV is the Raptor-based SUV of our dreams

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Hennessey VelociRaptor APV

Hennessey VelociRaptor APV – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hennessey has just pulled back the sheets on what can only be described as a raging pile of awesome – the VelociRaptor APV. It can seat up to eight, packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 good for a galloping 575 horsepower and if its anything like its pickup cousin, can leap small villages in a single bound. Apparently it can also withstand small-arms fire. The company hasn’t announced how much one of these things will set you back, but we’re guessing it’s more than a handful of shiny pennies.

Something tells us that this truck is going to be mighty popular with border patrol agents.

Hennessey will also turn out an eight-passenger, non-armored version if you don’t find yourself under a hail of gunfire on your typical commute. We’re guessing that without all the weight of armor plating and bullet-resistant glass, the non-tactical version is quite a bit more entertaining to fling through the desert. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Hennessey VelociRaptor APV

[Source: Hennessey]

Continue reading Hennessey VelociRaptor APV is the Raptor-based SUV of our dreams

Hennessey VelociRaptor APV is the Raptor-based SUV of our dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Porsche-built 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E is the timewarp sleeper of our dreams

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Auctions, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Luxury

1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E – Click above for image gallery

In 1992, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche briefly entered into a love affair that would produce one very special offspring: the Mercedes-Benz 500E. The car was to become the godfather of all super sedans, packing a 5.0-liter V8 with a staggering (for the time) 322 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Bolted to a four-speed automatic gearbox, the engine could scoot the big four-door to 60 mph in a mere 6.1 seconds. Something tells us that those power numbers were a little conservative. But where does Porsche come in to this dance?

Germany’s sportscar manufacturer was responsible for working the sheetmetal of the 500E into the shape you see above. Those healthy fender arches were all massaged into place by the gurus at Porsche before the body was shipped off to Mercedes-Benz for paint and final assembly. Once done, the whole kit and caboodle was shipped back to Porsche for final inspection. Needless to say, this was an incredibly limited production vehicle, with the two companies only creating around 500 examples per year.

This particular car has a grand total of 587 miles on the clock, having spent the fair majority of its years tucked away in a museum. Bidding is at $35,200 with the reserve not met and less than 8 hours to go as of writing. Follow the jump for jazz-tastic video walk around and check out pics in the gallery below.

Gallery: 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: Porsche-built 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E is the timewarp sleeper of our dreams

eBay Find of the Day: Porsche-built 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E is the timewarp sleeper of our dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArmorTech BMW X6 is the AMC Eagle SX/4 of your dreams

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Crossover, BMW, Russia, Luxury

ArmorTech BMW X6 coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been tried before, making a coupe out of an SUV – or an SUV out of a coupe. AMC tried it back in the early ’80s with the Eagle SX/4. Both DC Design and Merdad tried it with the Porsche Cayenne. And of course BMW tried it with the X6. The trouble with the X6 is that it has two doors too many to be considered a coupe. The solution? Off with their doors, courtesy of aftermarket firm ArmorTech.

In the process, the Russian coachbuilder crafted longer front doors, jockeyed the positioning of the B-pillar and side glass, and fitted new front seats that can tilt and slide forward to gain access to the rear seats, the access to which never having been a strong suit of the factory X6 to begin with. A number of additional enhancements are also on offer, from suspension, wheels and brakes to exhaust, body kit and custom upholstery.

So, does the removal of the rear doors make the X6 look any better? Give us your thoughts in ‘Comments.’

Gallery: BMW X6 coupe by ArmorTech

[Source: ArmorTech via World Car Fans]

ArmorTech BMW X6 is the AMC Eagle SX/4 of your dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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