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Luxist Takes the Honda CR-Z to the Camelback Inn

There's a desert to the west of Los Angeles, the dusty, scrubby kind riven by arroyos and snow-capped ranges. The city is protected from that barren terror by a kind of East Wall, a monumentally wide buffer of concrete that are actually cities and towns everyone knows about but few ever visit on purpose – places like Monrovia, Cerritos, Montebello, Pomona.

Occasionally, though, there comes a reason to cross that desert, and you want a good camel when such time comes. We found a proper mount in the Honda CR-Z, a two-seat hybrid to play miniature steel dromedary for our Bedouin sallies.

The destination was an oasis 380 miles due east tucked behind Scottsdale's Camelback Mountain, in Paradise Valley, and aptly named The Camelback Inn. Once there, having braved, well, nothing really, we would quench our thirst with some of the finest drinks ever sipped by any traveler, weary or otherwise...

Tags: arizona, camelback inn, cr-z, honda, honda cr-z, hybrid, marriott, phoenix, resort, scottsdale

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HondaJet Hits 489 MPH as First Deliveries Approach

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Aviation enthusiasts have been closely following the development of the HondaJet. Designed and engineered by the same Japanese motor company that builds everything from cars and motorcycles to lawnmowers and robots, the HondaJet is a thorough re-think of a private jet.

It's been a long time in the making, having started with research as far back as the 1980s and making its first flight in late 2003. Now the HondaJet has made its first FAA-certified test flight, achieving a top speed of 489 miles per hour at 30,000 feet -- by far surpassing the CBR sport bike, the Acura NSX sportscar and Honda F1 cars as the fastest thing the company has ever produced.

The jet is configured to carry five passengers in addition to the pilot and co-pilot. Powered by General Electric jet engines, the aircraft designated HA-420 will be built in Greensboro, North Carolina. Orders are being taken now at around $3.65 million, with production planned for 70 units per year and deliveries targeted for late 2012.

Tags: honda, honda jet, hondajet, jet, private jet

BMW X6 and Honda Crosstour: The Efficient Shape of Things to Come?

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Wired, a trend is emerging from the design studios of some of the world's top automakers, and it may be spreading like wildfire as you read this. We're talking about cars like the recently-unveiled BMW X6, Honda Crosstour and Audi A5 Sportback. Squint a bit and its not too hard to look at the overall shape of these three cars and see the outline of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.

Of course, there's a big difference between the three aforementioned crossover/wagon thingies and hybrids like the Prius and Insight. While the big wagons are shaped to attract the attention of higher-end luxury buyers, the Prius and the Insight – itself accused of copying the shape of its rival from Toyota on numerous occasions – were styled in the wind tunnel to promote good fuel efficiency at highway speeds.

Regardless of the reason behind their being and whether or not you find them ugly or beautiful, it would seem that we should start getting ourselves accustomed to the sloping rear hatchback look – its now officially a trend.

Gallery: BMW X6 ActiveHybrid

[Source: Wired]

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Tags: Audi S5 Sportback, AudiS5Sportback, blogactionday, bmw, BMW X6, BmwX6, fastback, honda, honda crosstour, honda insight, HondaCrosstour, HondaInsight, inthenews, prius, sportback, toyota prius, ToyotaPrius

Honda Unleashes the Goods on 2010 VFR 1200F

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2010 Honda VFR 1200F - Click above for high-res image gallery

Finally, after what seems like years of rumor, innuendo, spy shots and speculation, Honda has unleashed the goods on its new 2010 VFR 1200F. And, it's pretty much as we've been expecting. Buried beneath the dual-pane bodywork and vacuum-molded cast aluminum chassis lies a 1,237 cc V4 engine that reportedly puts out 172 hp at 10,000 rpm and 95 lb-ft of torque at a high 8,750 rpm.

Up front sits a 43-millimeter upside-down fork that's adjustable for preload; at the rear is a single shock with Honda's Pro-Link system that's also adjustable for preload in 25 positions. With a claimed weight of nearly 600 pounds, the new VFR is certainly no lightweight, and the highly anticipated dual-clutch gearbox and cylinder deactivation technologies appear to be additional-cost options.

On the positive side, we like the fact that the bike has its own unique look, and the single-sided swingarm sports a shaft drive. Expect the while kit-n-kaboodle to be released at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, hopefully including the bike's retail price and official sale date.

Gallery: 2010 Honda VFR 1200F

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Acura launches independent Financial Services

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Luxury Cars & Autos

Imagine going to buy a new luxury automobile and signing the same forms as you'd fill out if you were buying a lawn mower or an outboard motor? Doesn't seem right. And Honda agrees. Its luxury brand Acura may have been around a few years longer than either Lexus or Infiniti, starting the Japanese luxury revolution in the late 80's, but until now the financing of its automobiles has been handled by the same American Honda Finance Corporation. But no more, as the automaker has announced the formation of Acura Financial Services. The new subsidiary will be responsible for the financing of all new Acuras, and forms just the latest in a series of steps which Honda is taking to turn Acura into a luxury marque on the same level as Mercedes-Benz or Audi, to say nothing of Lexus or Infiniti.

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Tags: acura, acura financial services, AcuraFinancialServices, american honda, american honda finance corporation, american honda motor co, AmericanHonda, AmericanHondaFinanceCorporation, AmericanHondaMotorCo, honda

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Honda Gold Wing With Airbag

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

I saw this at the motorcycle show a few weeks ago but it took a post on Book of Joe to remind me to post a picture of the 2006 Honda Gold Wing which comes with an airbag. This Gold Wing motorcycle is scheduled for release in late spring of 2006 in the US. Other details on this luxury bike include 80-watt per channel premium audio, a cold-weather comfort package and a fully integrated navigation system with color screen. The pricing for the Gold Wing models starts at $18,999.

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Tags: airbag, gold wing, honda, motorcycle, motorcycle safety