Honda kills all the fun.

[565]

Boo

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/06/honda-kills-s2000-replacement-v8-program-rwd-acuras/

"Honda's attempt to right-size its development schedule and cope with the economic downturn apparently extends beyond the cancellation of the next NSX. According to Autocar, HoMoCo is right-sizing its plans for the next two years, and that includes rethinking the development of a range of rear-wheel-drive Acuras, a new V8, a convertible based on the CR-Z and the S2000's successor.

Acura seems to be carrying the weight of the bad news, with its RWD 7-series rival, originally due out in 2015, cancelled indefinitely, along with development of a V8 engine that would allow the brand to compete with the best and brightest from Germany. The Euro-market Legend could also be on the block and there's a chance that Honda will stop developing two separate Accord models for sale in the U.S. and abroad, instead opting for one mid-size sedan to be sold worldwide.

Unfortunately, the development cease-fire also extends to Honda's smaller offerings. Honda planned to release a drop-top version of its CR-Z after the hybrid goes on sale next year, but that model has been nixed. Even more disturbingly, 2009 will be the last year of production for the S2000, with no heir apparent waiting in the wings.

We're hoping to get more details on the cut-backs as the week progresses, but needless to say, there's more than enough disappointment to go around."

[2o6]

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!



One small loss, and the Japanese think the world is coming to an end.

[SVT666]

I think Honda is overreacting a little.

[NomisR]

I think Honda is overreacting a little.

Well, they're going along with all the markets.  If the banks won't lend money and are trying to get what they can back.  And you have consumers trying to save and hold on to their money.  Then you have people being laid off, etc.. all in all, outlook not so bright in the near future.  Development should pickup within a year or so but for now, good idea to keep your change in the pocket.

[the Teuton]

It's funny that all of the banks are being extended huge amounts of money to they can make loans, but instead they aren't.  They're buying up a bunch of little banks.

[NomisR]

It's funny that all of the banks are being extended huge amounts of money to they can make loans, but instead they aren't.  They're buying up a bunch of little banks.

Monopoly!

[SVT666]

Well, they're going along with all the markets.  If the banks won't lend money and are trying to get what they can back.  And you have consumers trying to save and hold on to their money.  Then you have people being laid off, etc.. all in all, outlook not so bright in the near future.  Development should pickup within a year or so but for now, good idea to keep your change in the pocket.

None of the projects that were canceled were going to be in production this year or not year.  These were for further down the line...about the time when the economy will be recovering.  It's good to have a new slate of product to offer people to entice them to buy when this is all over.

[NomisR]

None of the projects that were canceled were going to be in production this year or not year.  These were for further down the line...about the time when the economy will be recovering.  It's good to have a new slate of product to offer people to entice them to buy when this is all over.

Well, I'm sure a lot of R&D is done, it's just put on the back burner.  This way, they can better gauge the economy and resume R&D if necessary or postpone it indefinitely if necessary. 

I think they feel they might need to start going for alternative fuel and propulsion method because gas prices won't remain this low in the future.  Especially if there's going to be global cooling..

[Raza]

They can probably just keep making the S2000.  No one will complain (the more sold new, the better the used markets, too!) and they'll keep buying them.

I'm still confused as to what this CR-Z is.  I heard something about it a while ago, but I didn't know anything was concrete.

[SVT666]

Well, I'm sure a lot of R&D is done, it's just put on the back burner.  This way, they can better gauge the economy and resume R&D if necessary or postpone it indefinitely if necessary. 

I think they feel they might need to start going for alternative fuel and propulsion method because gas prices won't remain this low in the future.  Especially if there's going to be global cooling..

Oh noes!  Global Cooling.  Let's start driving more and more and more to heat this fucker back up.

[sportyaccordy]

Damn that actually REALLY sucks.

[Speed_Racer]

Bummer.

[nickdrinkwater]

Maybe Honda is doing worse than we all thought.  Or maybe they're overreacting.  No-one cares about the Legend in Europe anyway, I'm surprised they didn't axe it already since they only sell about 10 a year.  Sounds like Acura could be in big trouble, since they are already crying out to be given enough investment to be taken seriously as a luxury marque.

[Soup DeVille]

I think Honda is overreacting a little.

They're taking the cautious route, that's to be sure. Perhaps they are overreacting, but on a business level, its better than ignoring market changes like some of their competitors have.

[NomisR]

I thought about this a little more and it seems like they're going back to their roots of what made them successful.  Look at their lineup of when they became successful.. that's what they need to focus on because that's what makes money.  It's not fun.. but hey, it's better than filing Chapter 11.

[Laconian]

Best to make a big cut all at once and have time to recover from it than dominate the headlines with a million smaller cuts.

[Minpin]

The luxury automakers are having record sales here. 

[YO]

haven't heard this from corporate yet... think it's a PR stunt. Everybody else is struggling... "so are we"

[Cookie Monster]

Honda should axe Acura.

[2o6]

Honda should axe Acura.

Why? They're excelling here.

[Laconian]

Naw. Honda's down -7% in December, Acura -20%. And yet Acura just released two new major models!

[Cookie Monster]

Why? They're excelling here.

Well, they don't really sell anything that Honda can't sell, especially since the RL is doing so bad.

I don't see how the TSX would fit into Honda's lineup though. Too small to be a Camry/Fusion competitor so making it into an Accord wouldn't work here.

[Laconian]

Actually I hear they are planning on reconciling the two Accord lines into a single global car.

[the Teuton]

Naw. Honda's down -7% in December, Acura -20%. And yet Acura just released two new major models!

When you make the face of your cars look like this:



You're bound to lose sales.

BTW, I cannot find the original thread for the life of me.  I think that body building forum deleted it.

[Laconian]

Wait, is that Integra girl?

[the Teuton]

Why yes it is.

[Laconian]

[the Teuton]

[Laconian]

It looks like the guy that posted the Integra Girl pictures killed himself on webcam while a bunch of people watched.

O_O

edit: nevermind, unrelated

[Rich]

It looks like the guy that posted the Integra Girl pictures killed himself on webcam while a bunch of people watched.

O_O

Seriously?