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The most toxic cars on the road

Hundreds of chemicals, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFR), are used in automotive interiors. These chemicals are used to make plastics flexible, make fabrics fire-resistant, and contribute to that "new car smell." But they're also associated with birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer.

To find out what chemicals and their amounts are used in cars, researchers at Ecology Center, which publishes the consumer awareness site Healthystuff.org, tested 11 components in more than 200 vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 model years using an x-ray fluorescence analyzer. The test scans a … Read more

Google and Stanford early adopters of Honda Fit EV

Honda's first all-electric vehicle is hitting the streets a little early.

The Honda Fit EV debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2011, and it's expected to be available for lease this summer. However, Honda announced that Google and Stanford University got a special early delivery of the tiny EV this week. … Read more

Judge rules Honda overstated hybrid fuel economy

A judge in California awarded $9,867 to a woman who sued Honda in small claims court, with the complaint that her Civic Hybrid did not achieve the fuel economy advertised by Honda.

A class action lawsuit against Honda is currently being argued over the Civic Hybrid's fuel economy advertising. But Heather Peters decided to bring her own suit over the issue in small claims court.

Honda based its advertising on the EPA test figure, which estimated 50 mpg for the Civic Hybrid in the city. Peters argued that her 2006 Civic Hybrid achieved much less than the advertised … Read more

Automakers spoof movies in Super Bowl ads, and employ many dogs

You won't have to wait until Sunday to enjoy the latest crop of Super Bowl commercials. And from the looks of it there will be a bumper crop of automaker ads.

Wedged between the notoriously racy GoDaddy ad and various commercials for beverages and yogurt, will be more vehicle ads than ever.

Last week, Audi took a stab at trendy creatures of the night. This week Jerry Seinfeld revives his old shtick--complete with Soup Nazi and other characters--for an ad for the new Acura NSX. Jay Leno and other familiar faces appear in the extended version of the ad.… Read more

'Ferris Bueller' Super Bowl teaser just a Honda CR-V commercial

A teaser video showing actor Matthew Broderick seemingly reprising his role as the iconic "Ferris Bueller" became an Internet sensation last week. But it appears now that all the excitement surrounding it might be short-lived.

Honda today confirmed that the teaser video, which was viewed over 4 million times after going viral, was part of a two-and-a-half-minute commercial it plans to air during the Super Bowl on Sunday to promote its 2012 CR-V automobile.

"To celebrate the launch of the all-new 2012 CR-V, Honda brought 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' back in a big game commercial," … Read more

Aha Radio partners with Honda and Subaru, streams tunes to the BRZ

LAS VEGAS--Remember when Aha Radio's claim to fame was robotic text-to-speech reading of Facebook status updates? You've come a long way, baby.

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, Aha by Harman announced a handful of new content and hardware partners, the ranks of which include Subaru, Honda, and Kenwood.

The two automotive partners, Subaru and Honda, will be building Aha Radio connectivity into their vehicle's infotainment systems for the 2013 model year--which means we should start seeing the fruits of this union as early as this fall. After pairing a smartphone running the Aha Radio app, drivers … Read more

Acura NSX supercar reborn as hybrid concept

DETROIT--Honda unveiled a revamped version of its storied NSX supercar at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show today, taking the wraps off a greener, sleeker, and likely fiercer sports car that already has Hollywood bragging rights.

The NSX Hybrid Concept is powered by Acura's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) technology, a direct-injection, mid-mounted V-6 engine, and dual-clutch transmission.

The all-wheel drive system can deliver instant negative or positive torque to the front wheels when rounding corners, according to the company.

Honda did not release many details of the concept, and it's unclear which motor powers which wheel set. It only promised that the NSX will create handling performance unmatched in AWD cars. … Read more

Car Tech Live 245: We kick in the VTEC on the 2012 Honda Civic Si (podcast)

What technology can make an in-car cell phone ban workable? Morgan Stanley takes a dim view of electric cars. Acura's first hybrid is on the way. Renault is first with a dash system based on Android. And we drive the 2012 Honda Civic Si and get the VTEC to kick in.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 245 SHOW NOTES

Please, Acura, don't ruin the NSX

If Acura thinks that its announcement that a new NSX concept will make a bow at the 2012 Detroit auto show is going to whip me into a fanboy frenzy, well, then it's absolutely correct.

However, if anything, today's announcement has raised more questions and concern than excitement and anticipation.

This can't be right... Let's take a quick look at the rumored specs. We're starting with 3.5-liter V-6 (308-horsepower est.) that is hybridized by the integration of an approximately 40-horsepower (30kW) electric motor with its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There are also a pair of … Read more

Acura announces new NSX concept for Detroit

On the heels of the Earth Dreams Technology announcement at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda says it will unveil a concept version of a new Acura NSX at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.… Read more