Here is an interesting matchup by the folks over at AutoCar – a hatchback vs. a supercar. As you can tell, it’s not just any hatchback or any supercar. AutoCar wanted to find out if the Honda Civic Type R Mugen would hold up to Ingolstadt’s Audi R8 V10 coupe. It’s a whole different kind of Japanese vs. German face-off right here.



Source: eGMCarTech

Yeah, most of us are gearheads. That doesn't mean that our daily driver can't save us some dough. Especially with the winter just around the corner!

Qualified buyers can get 1.9 percent financing for loans of 24 to 36 months on Civic models including the hybrid version, Honda says. The Civic model powered by natural gas does not qualify for the incentives. For loans of 37 to 60 months, qualified buyers can get 3.9 percent financing.

Honda's captive finance company, American Honda Finance Corp., is administering the incentive program. Qualifed customers can get a 36-month Civic lease for $189 a month with $1,999 down. Previously lease terms were $199 a month with $2,799down.

Source: Automotive news

Popular hybrids sold in the U.S. either no longer qualify for tax breaks or are about to see them cut very sharply. Starting today, the Honda Civic Hybrid will see a cut in tax credit from $1,050 to $525. Toyota Prius and the Camry Hybrid saw their $3,150 tax credits disappear last fall. The Prius and Civic rank first and second in terms of fuel-economy followed by the Camry Hybrid at no.3.

Why would the government make such a move when gas-prices are at an all time high? Well, according to the 2005 federal law that started the hybrid tax credits, the tax break begins to phase out after an automaker sells 60,000 qualifying vehicles.

For those of you who were unaware, Toyota felt this back in October of 2007, when there was a heavy demand for the Prius.

Honda hit the limit last year and the original tax break of $2,100 was cut to $1,050. It will be cut to $525 today.

Source: EGM Cartech

Circuit City caused $12,119 worth of damage to VTECnical's 2007 Honda Civic while trying to install a Pioneer AVIC Z2 navigation system. Honda later declared VTECnical's car a fire hazard and told him it was unsafe to drive. Despite destroying the car's heater ducts, stock wiring harness, and dashboard, Circuit City has refunded only $3,190, and insists that VTECnical speak exclusively to their third-party insurer.

Source: 8thCivic Forums via Consumerist

Mugen wants that Civic R to get more attention so they put a spin on it with showing off their Mugen Type-RR Experimental Spec Honda CIvic. And before you comment on the looks: Mugen left the carbon fiber unpainted to show that they have lightened the entire front end to improve weight distribution.

The new engine is based on the regular 2.0L Type-R unit but thanks to a stroker kit now displaces 2,157cc and an even higher redline. The 2.2L K20A engine is mated to a six-speed manual and produces 260 horsepower. You can expect shifts to happen in 80 milliseconds thanks to the help of the sequential gearbox.

The Experimental Spec also features the i-TCMS or Intelligent-Tire Condition Monitoring System which should prove very useful on the track. Interior-wise, the Mugen Civic RR is dominated by carbon-fiber and a pair of Mugen Recaro bucket seats.

Expect this thing to do some pretty impressive track runs.

Everyone has different hobbies. Some like going fast in a straight line, others rather rip it around the corners. This group of modders chose to do something completely different: reduce drag and save gas. By definition, I guess you could consider these people a bunch of tree-hugging liberal hippies. Nonetheless, you must give credit where credit is due - these guys are going to extreme measures to reduce drag and have a more efficient automobile.

As is the case with this 1992 Honda Civic CX. This ecomodder can careless about how he looks as he is really trying to prove a point about aerodynamics and how much of it plays a role in drag. With his off-the-wall modding, the owner experienced approximate mileage on a flat road at 85F: 95mpg at 30 to 65mph, 85mpg at 70mph, 65mpg at 80mph, 50mpg at 90mph. More info can be viewed at the source!

Source: EcoModder

Remember that guy we talked about from LS1Tech who had a donor motor from a Corvette and a Honda hatchback that needed an engine. Well, here's a clip of it showing the power of the LS1 in a not-so-appreciated platform. Enjoy!

By keeping your car for 15 years, or 225,000 miles of driving, you could save nearly $31,000, according to Consumer Reports magazine. That's compared to the cost of buying an identical model every five years, which is roughly the rate at which most car owners trade in their vehicles.

In its annual national auto survey, the magazine found 6,769 readers who had logged more than 200,000 miles on their cars. Their cars included a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 332,000 miles and a 1994 Ford Ranger pick-up that had gone 488,000 miles.

Calculating the costs involved in buying a new Honda Civic EX every five years for 15 years - including depreciation, taxes, fees and insurance - the magazine estimated it would cost $20,500 more than it would have cost to simply maintain one car for the same period.

Added to that, the magazine factored in $10,300 in interest that could have been earned on that money, assuming a five percent interest rate and a three percent inflation rate, over that time.

To have much hope of making it to 200,000 miles, a car has to be well maintained, of course. The magazine recommends several steps to help your car see it through.

Follow the maintenance guide in your owner's manual and make needed repairs promptly. Use only the recommended types of fluids, including oil and transmission fluids. Check under the hood regularly. Listen for strange sounds, sniff for odd smells and look for fraying or bulges in pipes or belts. Also, get a vehicle service manual. They're available at most auto parts stores or your dealership. Clean the car carefully inside and out. This not only helps the car's appearance but can prevent premature rust. Vacuuming the inside also prevents premature carpet wear from sand and grit.

Buy a safe, reliable car. Buying a car with the latest safety equipment makes it more likely you'll feel as safe in your aging car as a newer model.

The magazine recommends several cars that have the best shot at reaching the 200,000 mile mark and a few that, according to its data, aren't likely to make it.

All the cars in the magazine's "Good bets" list are manufactured by Honda and Toyota. (One extreme example was not enough to get the Ford Ranger onto the list.) The "Bad bets" are a mixture of European models and two Nissans.

Consumer Reports' "Good bets" for making 200,000 miles: Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Lexus ES, Lexus LS, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4

Consumer Reports' "Bad bets" for making 200,000 miles: BMW 7-series, Infiniti QX56, Jaguar X-type, V8-powered Mercedes-Benz M-class, Mercedes-Benz SL, Nissan Armada, Nissan Titan, Volkswagen Touareg, V6-powered Volvo XC90.

Why don't all Honda Civics come with a V8 from the factory?

The United States will get its first taste of the Honda tuner Mugen this October. If you don't care for a history lesson go to the next paragraph. Mugen was established by the son of the man who founded Honda Motors and has enhanced and raced Hondas since the 1973. Though the Mugen tuned Honda cars have been sold for years in Japan, this is the first time a Mugen will be sold in the US.

The new Civic Mugen Si sedan will be equipped with a sports exhaust, full bodykit, lowered suspension and forged aluminum wheels. The US version will receive massive suspension upgrades and the standard 197hp 2.0L four-cylinder with a six-speed manual transmission. Japan still reserves bragging rights as their Civic Mugen RR has 240 HP. Only 1,000 cars will be produced for just less than $30,000 compared to $21,290 of the base Civic Si Sedan. [url=http://www.fquick.com/blog/Sleeper_of_the_Century:_LS1_Honda_Civic_Hatchback/364]Or if you'd like even more than 240 HP...(click)[/url]

Most would question, "why?" I say, why not!

Almost everything has been done with the LS1 motor, so why not make some wacky concoction that will shock and scare the crap out of people. Enter a member on LS1tech who had a both a LS1 engine out of a wrecked C5 Corvette laying around along with a Honda Hatchback that needed some type of transplant. Well, there you go. Meet the mutt. He's only a month in, so we'll be sure to follow this project and see if it comes to completion.

I can already see the parking lot conversation already. "Dude, what mods do you have done to your civic to make it sound like that?!"

[LS1tech: LS1 Honda Hatchback]

Gasoline, biofuel, and hybrids - eat your hearts out. I can power my car with compressed air!

The factory motor was removed and replaced with a reciprocating piston engine powered on compressed air. It does worry me that they did fail to spell "reciprocating" correctly, but we'll give them the benefit of a doubt that they were too much of a hurry to get the ad up.

Want to see under the engine? Nu-uh. Due to security reasons, they cannot show pictures of the engine compartment or the undercarriage of the vehicle, nor will design features be discussed without a non-disclosure and non-circumvention agreement. Sounds official!

Let me cut that $20,000,000 check right now!

[eBay Link: Air Driven Honda Civic]

Those who complain that the state-side Civic has no balls compared to it's Japan sibling may be happy to find out that an unofficial mention that the Type R could make its way to the US.

Winding Road's European editor Matt Davis spoke with an unnamed engineer behind the Civic, who hinted that by as soon as 2010 the Civic may be getting a bit more tuned to attract those who want more power. As to what exactly would be different is only left to speculation, but one could imagine it will see a boost in horsepower, a limited-slip, and a more aggressive look like it's Japanese counterpart (pictured).

Tuners may be rejoicing soon if this holds true.