Thoroughbred & Classic Cars / Alfa Romeo Sud / Lotus Europa / Aston Martin Db4gt on 2040-parts.com

We sample Honda's car technology of the future

Ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show 2013 we’ve been to Honda’s research and development facility in Tochigi to see and experience some of the Japanese firm’s new and upcoming products and technology. We’ve covered the new Honda Civic Type R in some detail separately, but among the other cars driven here is the next generation Honda Jazz (known as the Fit in Japan), no less than three different types of Honda hybrid system, including one similar to that fitted in the forthcoming NSX supercar, and an all-carbonfibre CR-Z prototype. On top of which, we’ve also experienced a self-driving car, watched a crazy automatic-parking demonstration and sampled the latest version of the all-electric Micro-Commuter, Honda’s equivalent of the Renault Twizy.

Hyundai to launch battery electric car in 2016

The Hyundai BlueOn EV (pictured) was Hyundai’s last electric car Back in 2011 it seemed that Hyundai was to concentrate on building hydrogen powered and hybrid cars as it looked to the future, but that seems to have changed. Back then, Hyundai Motors head of R&D - Yang Woong-Chul – said he believed BEVs (battery electric vehicles) had zero chance of replacing ICE cars because of their poor range, poor battery technology and high costs. But it seems Hyundai has had a rethink.

Inside the Mini compound

Visitors surrender their passports upon entering Mini headquarters in Germany. It's for security reasons mainly, and obviously the passports are returned on the way out. But the symbolism is obvious: Mini is a world a way from parent BMW.