Though we aren't interested in playing the "Holiday Angle", we never said anything about the "Cute Angle".

Trying out Honda's cutting-edge electric SH-AWD system

For decades, Honda successfully cultivated a hard-earned reputation for technological innovation and thoughtful engineering, but the Japanese automaker has seemingly grown content to let other automakers lead the way with new technologies in recent years. To this point, Honda has stubbornly resisted the engine-downsizing movement, direct injection, as well as more sophisticated gearboxes and hybrids, instead focusing on refining existing technologies and relying on its lighter weight vehicles to keep their models' performance metrics in the hunt.

Honda is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system.

No more, says CEO Takanobu Ito. Honda has embarked on a multi-tier technology binge that Ito says will have Honda at the forefront of fuel economy metrics worldwide within three years. On the table? More advanced everything, from the aforementioned powertrain technologies including a new small-displacement diesel and a new CVT, to direct injection and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Of course, we've seen similar products brought to market from other automakers already, so excellence in execution will need to be Honda's differentiator. But we tend to expect more innovative thinking from an automaker with such a rich history of elegant engineering, so we were pleased to learn that Soichiro's crew is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive serving in vehicles like the Acura TL, RDX and MDX.

In addition to the torque-vectoring rear axle already in production, Honda is incubating a new three-motor hybrid AWD architecture that it says will offer V8 power and a more nimble driving experience than typical all-wheel-drive systems, all while delivering four-cylinder fuel economy.

Just ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda bussed us to its Twin-Ring Motegi racetrack to sample its radical new SH-AWD system in an Accord mule.

Despite the plebeian bodywork of this evaluation model, make no mistake, hardware this costly will not debut in something with a Honda badge out front – it will be a technological linchpin for Acura's revival.

As shown here, this SH-AWD system relies on a direct-injected variant of Honda's 3.5-liter V6, tuned here to deliver 310 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque (for comparison's sake, the 3.5-liter six-cylinder in the 2012 Accord manages 271 hp and 254 lb-ft). Internal combustion is joined under the hood by a single 40-hp, 96-lb-ft electric motor mated directly to a Honda-developed seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Out back, a pair of 27-horsepower, 52-lb-ft electric motors power the rear wheels, providing through-the-road all-wheel drive (read: there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels). By independently controlling the two motors, either positive or negative torque can be applied to an individual rear wheel, providing torque vectoring in corners while funneling power back into the lithium-ion battery. Because the system can simultaneously flow positive torque to the outside wheel and negative torque to the inside wheel in a corner, significantly improved cornering over Honda's current mechanical SH-AWD setup is possible.

The larger front-mounted motor can also drive the car independently during low-speed maneuvers when the engine is shut off by the start-stop system, as you might want while inching through rush-hour traffic or pulling away from a stoplight. Honda says the car can reach 25 mph running solely on electrons, but as this is a mule, all performance parameters remain subject to change.

So how well does it all work? Our time behind the wheel was extremely brief, consisting of little more than one lap of a handling course. Thus, we'll have to withhold judgment, but we will say that the system shows genuine promise. Whirring away from the pits under electric power and having the V6 seamlessly come to life was an encouraging start, but we didn't really get a feel for the SH-AWD until we started negotiating the corners and slalom. While carving through the orange pylons, the sedan felt significantly – and predictably – nimbler than a standard front-drive Accord, displaying genuine eagerness to change direction. In fact, with such brief exposure, it initially felt like the Honda's tail was drifting out a bit, so willing was its rump to rotate. Thankfully, the liveliness was wholly under control, with no drama or tire squealing, just quicker-than-expected turn-in and faithful tracking. While certainly swift, claims of V8 acceleration feel a bit inflated, but given excellent traction and further tuning, such assertions seem possible.

We'd love to give you the full report on how well the Honda's new dual-clutch gearbox works, how heavy the system is, and how fuel efficient the car is out in the real world, but we'll need more wheel time in a production car to do so, and for the moment, officials remain tight-lipped on when this technology will debut. Regardless, it's encouraging to see Honda pushing to regain its powertrain innovation reputation... and to see it investing in Acura.

Courtesy of AutoBlog

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White Plains Honda - (5) Stare Review on DealerRater

• My experience at White plains Honda was a great one. Matt, Alex, and Brandi were extremely professional. They were very well organized, they new there information regarding the vehicle and, for once, I did not feel that any bogus deal was being offered. One thing I dread most going into any car dealership is the long wait. Going into White plains honda, I was in and out with no long wait. My overall experience was the greatest. I was treated very nicely and I definitely look forward to doing business with these individuals again. Thank you SO much guys! -joshshan12

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Don't miss these great Holiday specials during our Red Tag Sales Event!

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White Plains Honda - (5) Star Review on GoogleMaps

• This was my 3rd car purchased from WPHonda. Leased a loaded 2012 Pilot EX-L and the experience was fantastic. If you are looking for a Honda this should be your first stop no question .My wife said it was best car buying experience of many she has ever had. They were upfront, timely, and very helpful in negotiating and actually delivering on their promises. Not pushy at all. Like everyone else who struggles with the notion that all car dealers are crooks, my experience was the total opposite. They offered the best price in town and the sales manager Paul and salesman James in particular did an unbelievable job. The entire staff was extremely friendly and patient.. I have referred them to friends and family and will definitely go back in April when my next lease is up. GREAT JOB WHITE PLAINS HONDA TEAM!!! -Kevin

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White Plains Honda - Two (5) Star Reviews on DealerRater

• Keith changed our impression of used car sales people. Friendly, honest, helpful, hard working and no nonsense. Can't say enough good things about our experience. -jjmtrm
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Honda’s New EV-STER Concept is the Beat of the Future

While not the NSX or S2000 replacements that enthusiasts have long been waiting to see, the Japanese firm's EV-STER concept shows that Honda still has some faint traces of sporty genes left in its DNA.

The pure electric roadster model is very compact in size measuring just 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.). That makes it slightly bigger than the Beat, Honda's mid-engined, two-seat roadster kei car that was produced from 1991 to 1996.

But unlike Beat's conventional 0.66-liter gasoline engine, the EV-STER is motivated by a an unspecified electric motor that draws energy from a 10kWh lithium-ion battery powering the rear wheels (nope, that's not a typo) and allowing for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of just 5 seconds and a top speed of 160km/h (100mph).

The battery can be charged in under 3 hours using a 200V source and in less than 6 hours with a 100V source, offering a maximum driving range of 160 kilometers (100 miles).

Honda says that the EV-STER makes liberal use of carbon fiber materials to reduce the two-seater's weight, while other highlights include a twin-lever steering system, multi-information instrument panels and a system that allows the driver to make his or her own adjustments to certain vehicle characteristics such as motor output and suspension settings.

 

Courtesy of CarScoop