Honda has lifted the veil off of a small, two-seater electric vehicle called MC-β ahead of its public debut at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Designed as a short-distance commuter, the oddly-named MC-β boasts a pipe frame body built jointly by Honda’s motorcycle division and a plastic body that keeps the vehicle’s overall weight to a minimum.  The front end is loosely inspired by Honda’s latest design language.

Inside, the MC-β offers space for two adults sitting in a tandem configuration and a Spartan dashboard with a minimalist instrument cluster and several storage bins. �

The MC-β is powered by a 15-horsepower electric motor that gets power from a lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor.  It has a range of nearly 50 miles and a top speed of about 43 mph.  The battery pack can be recharged in three hours when plugged into a 200-volt charger.

The MC-β will participate in a pilot program in the Japanese cities of Kumamoto, Saitama and Miyakojima.  The vehicle will enter regular production to rival the Nissan’s Renault-based New Mobility Concept and the Toyota i-Road if it generates a positive response among potential buyers.

One of the most hotly anticipated new models in recent times, the redesigned 2015 Ford Mustang will soon be making its offical debut.

Ford has confirmed that it will unveil the new-generation Mustang at 12:01 am on December 5, with the debut taking place simultaneously in six cities on four continents – Dearborn, Los Angeles, New York, Barcelona, Shanghai and Sydney.

Don’t know what to expect from the reborn ‘Stang? We have all of the latest intelligence and spy shots available for your perusal.

Spy Shots

Although Ford’s engineers have done a particularly good job covering up the Mustang before it debuts, our spies have managed to sneak the most revealing peek yet into the new coupe’s cabin.

Not only can we see the deeply-scalloped three-spoke steering wheel and heavily-bolster seats, we can now see how the automaker’s MyFord Touch infotainment system will be integrated. Also, we have confirmation that ventilated seats will accompany a power driver’s seat backrest as new-to-Mustang features.

 A start/stop button and toggle switches also help liven up the ‘Stang’s dashboard, which looks to be a giant leap forward compared to its rather dull predecessor. One question that remains is whether the Mustang will have a launch control system; the traction control switch shown here could do double duty.

Speaking of switches and knobs, we’re pleasantly surprised to see that the new Mustang won’t feature the controversial capacitive touch switches seen in some other recent Ford products. That said, the Mustang doesn’t include the radio preset buttons that made a comeback in the Ford F-Series recently. 

We also can’t tell if this test car is an automatic or a manual gearbox model, although we’re leaning toward the former. The gear lever shown is a big departure from the current automatic, but it looks like the top of it is a toggle-style shift interlock switch.

Outside the Beast

Just weeks ago, our spies sent us the most revealing photos yet of the next-generation 2015 Ford Mustang, which is expected to be smaller and as much as 400 lbs. lighter than the current model.

Snapped during high-performance testing at a race course, the new images reveal a front end that clearly draws influence from the Evos concept, although the details have been massaged for a slightly more muscular look. In place of the concept’s narrowed headlights are larger units that invite comparison to the Fusion sedan, while the grille is an aggressive rendition of Ford’s latest hexagonal design.

The interior photos also show off just what the coupe’s C-pillar will look like, which gives us a hint as to the car’s overall proportions.

This latest round of photos also included some shots of an especially aggressive brake and tire combination, which really makes us wonder what’s going on with this particular test car. 

V8 Soundtrack Caught on Video

A video recently surfaced online showing the new Mustang in action. Crank up your speakers because you can hear the new Mustang’s V8 for the first time.

 

The video was posted to Mustang6g.com.

 
What We Know So Far

Stricter fuel economy regulations are looming in the not-to-distant future, and rumors have suggested that Ford will respond by putting the 2015 Mustang on a diet with the goal of dropping 400 lbs. from the current car’s curb weight. More compact dimensions are also likely in store, with one source claiming that the new model will be about 15 inches shorter and 6.5 inches narrower than before.

 

On the powertrain front, base model 2015 Mustangs will likely continue to use the existing 3.7-liter V6, but a turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost with around 350 horsepower could join the range as a step-up option. Ford’s 5.0L Coyote V8 will remain under the hood of the new Mustang GT, but power should grow from today’s 420 horsepower to 450 horsepower.

 

If industry whisperings are to be believed, the most potent form of the pony car – which could be badged as the Shelby GT350 – will use a naturally-aspirated V8 in place of the current Shelby GT500’s supercharged bent-eight.

 

The 2015 Mustang will initially debut with six-speed transmissions, but a 10-speed automatic co-developed with GM will eventually be offered. 

 

The underside of the ‘Stang is in line for a major overhaul - the car will make the switch from a solid rear axle to an independent setup for 2015, which should net a more compliant ride.

 

Of course, the 2015 Mustang won’t be the first version of the pony car to employ an independent rear suspension, as the 1999-2002-era SVT Cobra also used an IRS.

 

Look for the next-generation Ford Mustang to make its first public debut sometime in 2014, probably at the Detroit auto show in January.

Honda has published six new images that preview the next Civic Type R ahead of its official unveiling in Tokyo this week.

Not expected to land in showrooms until early 2015, the third-gen Type R will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder VTEC engine that will send 280 horsepower to the front wheels, an increase of about 80 ponies over the last Type R.  Performance figures are not available but Honda says the engine is fully compliant with the strict Euro 6 norms that will come into effect across the European Union in September of next year.

Brembo brakes all around, low-profile tires and a lowered, track-tuned suspension will work together in keeping the cavalry in check.

Visually, the Type R will gain an aggressive body kit consisting of a front splitter, fender flares over all four wheel arches, side skirts, quad exhaust pipes and a large rear spoiler.  The interior will undoubtedly gain race-inspired bits such as extra gauges, Type R-specific trim and bucket seats.

A full set of details about the 2015 Civic Type R will emerge in the coming days.  The car is based on the Europe-spec Civic and it will not be sold in the United States, where the range-topping offering will remain the 201-horsepower Civic Si.

Lexus may be trailing its German rivals in the United States sales race, but the Japanese automaker announced on Monday that it expects to set a new global sales record this year.

Speaking at a lead up event to the Tokyo Motor Show, Mark Templin, executive vice president of Lexus International, said Toyota’s luxury division would finish 2013 “on the north side of 520,000” units. Lexus’ current high watermark, set in 2007, stands at 518,300 deliveries.

Templin added that sales should continue to grow in 2014 and beyond as Lexus adds new products like the recently introduced RC and a compact crossover based on the LF-NX concept.

“We’ve already come to surpass our 2007 number, even though the U.S. market hasn’t grown back yet,” Templin told Automotive News. “The biggest growth in sheer volume over the next few years is going to come from the U.S., just because the market is still growing back.”

Lexus expects to sell about 270,000 units in the U.S. this year, down from a high of 329,177 in 2007.

Lexus currently trails Mercedes-Benz and BMW in U.S. deliveries, but the automaker’s sale have increased by 12 percent to 213,479 vehicles through October.

Photo by Mark Elias.

 

Official specs and photos of Nissan’s high-performance GT-R Nismo model have leaked online ahead of the car’s worldwide debut at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.

The GT-R Nismo wasn’t scheduled to make its first public showing until the start of the Tokyo show on Tuesday, but Car and Driver has spilled the beans on the most capable version of Godzilla to date.

The GT-R Nismo is powered by the same general 3.8L V6 as the standard version of the car, but horsepower has been lifted from 545 to 595 courtesy of a new intake, revised exhaust, tweaked ignition timing and bigger turbos. Torque has also grown from 463 lb-ft to “more than” 480 lb-ft.

Of note, Nissan says the GT-R’s motor has more to give, but that engineers were limited by the capabilities of the car’s dual-clutch transmission.

The GT-R Nismo also boasts an upgraded suspension, stickier tires mounted on wider wheels and a body kit that increases high-speed downforce. Most of the Nismo’s new bits are made of carbon fiber, reducing the car’s overall weight by 143 pounds.

The results of those improvements were realized in September when former FIA GT1 champion Michael Krumm secretly piloted the GT-R Nismo around the Nurburgring in just 7:08.69, making the GT-R Nismo one of the fastest road cars ever produced.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo is expected to arrive in showrooms next year with an MSRP under $200,000.