Honda celebrates building its 400 millionth motorcycle

1969 Honda CB750.Honda Four hundred million! Thats how many motorcycles and scooters the Honda Motor Company has produced since 1948. Founded, of course, by Soichiro Honda, as a purveyor of piston rings he supplied Toyota, which was just starting to produce cars Honda quickly determined that post-war Japan needed cheap transportation and thus was the Dream Model D born, powered by 98-cc two-stoke motor.Since then, there have been many milestones. There was the construction of the original superbike (the CB750) and the original touring motorcycle (Gold Wing), not to mention stalwarts like the Africa Twin 650 and the industrys first dual-clutch transmission motorcycle (VFR1200).But, by far the most important motorcycle in Hondas repertoire accounting for more than a quarter of that 400 million total, making it the most popular vehicle of all time is the venerable Super Cub. Originally conceived as a 50-cc runabout in 1956, it is the Super Cub that spawned a decade of You meet the nicest people on a Honda, the trend that swept the USA during the 60s.Without the Super Cub propelling upstart Honda ahead of traditional giants like Harley-Davidson and Triumph, there would have been no CB750 or Gold Wing 1000. The Super Cub is quite literally the motorcycle that made Honda. That said, while North America remains a prime market for Hondas large touring motorcycles, it merits barely a mention in the companys overall sales. Honda, for instance, celebrated its 300 millionth motorcycle just five years ago, which means its been selling 20 million yes, 20 million units a year every year since. And India and Indonesia account for half 10 million of that number. All of Europe and North America, meanwhile, accounts for just 620,000 bike sales combined.Honda also celebrated 50 years in Canada this year. Vancouvers Trev Deeley (the first Honda motorcycle distributor in the English-speaking world, by the way) and New Brunswicks Northrup family started importing scooters during the 50s before Honda established its official distribution chain in 1969, concentrating on motorcycles until the 1973 arrival of the original
Origin: Honda celebrates building its 400 millionth motorcycle

Limited-run Bentley Continental GT celebrates Pikes Peak win

Bentley has revealed a special edition of the Continental GT W12 in celebration of its record-breaking run at the Pikes Peak hillclimb earlier this year. The Continental GT became the fastest production car to ever tackle the 12.42-mile course, with American racer Rhys Millen setting a record time of 10min 18.4sec. Limited to just 15 examples, the commemorative Continental GT wears a similar ‘Radium’ green-and-black livery to the record-breaking car, applied by Bentley’s in-house bespoke division, Mulliner. Buyers can also have the number 100 painted across the car’s front grille in recognition of Bentley’s centenary in 2019. Also featured are a carbonfibre bodykit, contrasting black trim elements, bright green brake callipers and matching sidewall markings on the tyres. The 22in alloy wheels are taken from the Mulliner line of vehicle options and finished in gloss black. The ‘Radium’ theme continues inside, where the seats are trimmed in black Alcantara with green stitching. A map of the Pikes Peak course has been applied to the carbonfibre dashboard, while the steering wheel features the same honeycomb stitching pattern and centre stripe as the race car. Additionally, the treadplates and headrests feature a Pikes Peak logo, while the speaker grilles have been replaced with bespoke green items. The powertrain is unmodified, with the twin-turbocharged W12 petrol engine producing the same 626bhp and 664lb ft. It can push the car from 0-62mph in 3.7sec and on to a top speed of 207mph. Chris Craft, member of the board for sales, marketing and aftersales at Bentley, said the new limited edition “reflects Bentley’s spirit of endeavour, one that has been a constant throughout the last 100 years and remains at the beating heart of the company”. Prices for the special edition have not been confirmed, but the Pikes Peak edition can be expected to command a significant premium over the standard Continental GT’s £159,100 starting price. Bentley has launched several limited-run models to celebrate its 100th birthday, paying tribute to historic motorsport successes, iconic models and company founder Walter Owen
Origin: Limited-run Bentley Continental GT celebrates Pikes Peak win

Dodge’s latest Special Edition celebrates 50 years of Challenger

50th Anniversary Edition Challenger celebrates golden anniversary with new exterior paint color, body-color Shaker hood on HEMI® V-8 models, unique badging and heritage style available on four Challenger models. Never one to turn down a chance to market yet another special edition of its wares, Dodge pulled the wraps off a 50th Anniversary Edition Challenger today at the L.A. Auto Show this week.Available in Canada on the Scat Pack 392 Shaker trim, this rear-drive brute earns a body-colour Shaker hood in addition to a raft of unique badging.On this side of the border, 70 numbered units of Scat Pack 392 Shakers painted in eye-popping Go Mango will mark Challengers original 1970 model-year introduction.Check Out All Our Auto Show CoverageThat Shaker hood puts the fun in functional, by the way, and comes with a Mopar cold-air intake that deploys a conical air filter and matching air box for improved airflow. Be sure to make like Brian OConnor and pop the hood, as youll also find a SHAKER underhood decal thats reminiscent of the original 1970 Challengers.Each 50th Anniversary Edition car will also wear a Satin Black painted hood and black-wrapped roof and decklid. Its interesting to your author that Dodge paints one panel but wraps the others.Challenger 50th Anniversary logo badges will show up on the grille and spoiler in a new Gold School finish (Dodges retro marketing team strikes again). Fender badges are also finished in this colour, while the standard Satin Black fuel-filler door with jumbo FUEL lettering adds a touch of nostalgia. From the steering wheel to the instrument panel, startup screens, gauge faces, seat backs, door bolsters and floor mats, the 50th Anniversary theme extends into the Challenger’s athletic interior. Future bidders at Barrett-Jackson, take note: All 2020 model-year Challenger SRT Hellcat and SRT Hellcat Redeye models will feature the 50th Anniversary badge. Dont let em fake you out in Scottsdale in twenty years time.Elsewhere in the FCA-in-LA booth, the Fiat brand showed off a refreshed 500X Sport, a machine that will need to take up much sales slack now the 500 has gone to the great scrap heap in the sky. The cousins of Giulia and Stelvio also got some tweaks for 2020, including a revised interior and some flashy new
Origin: Dodge’s latest Special Edition celebrates 50 years of Challenger

Plugged In: YouTube show celebrates EV facts, not fiction

Ken Bokors EV Revolution Show on YouTube is required viewing for those interested in electric vehicles, battery technology and public policy surrounding the implementation of an EV network in CanadaHis show offers current and prospective EV owners not only excellent, and up-to-date information on new and coming soon vehicles, but honest reporting on the technology.Fake news abounds not only in the electric vehicle space but in most every aspect of society today so voices like Kens need not only be listened to, but celebrated.Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.
Origin: Plugged In: YouTube show celebrates EV facts, not fiction

Bentley celebrates 100th birthday with this massive EXP 100 GT Concept

Bentley is celebrating its birthday in the most extravagant way with a massive grand touring concept to preview the future of motoring.Its calld the EXP 100 GT, and its quite imposing. The vehicle spans an incredible 19 feet, and is almost 8 feet wide. The wheelbase measures 120 inches, which means you can almost fit a Nissan Micra between the tires.Under the extremely long hood of the EX 100 GT is not much, but on each of the wheels is a big electric motor that has active torque vectoring, and a combined system output of 1,100 lb.-ft. of torque. The massive torque figure helps the 4,188-lb car reach highway speeds in just 2.5 seconds, before pressing on to a quite respectable top speed of 295 km/h.The range is also quite respectable, at some 700 km, pulled off thanks to a new type of battery Bentleys developed thats reportedly five times more energy-dense than competitors. The battery can be charged up to 80 per cent in just 15 minutes. As it is with most cars in the Bentley stable, the real show is on the inside. Scissor doors bring you into a world of wool and leather-like material, with accents of 5,000-year-old copper-infused riverwood, according to the Crewe brand.On top of it all, the EXP 100 GT is ready to accept a fuel-cell hybrid powertrain, one which should make over 670 emission-free horsepower.Bentley rarely gets to make pure show cars, so its great to see the brand really pouring its heart and soul into this one. If this is what 2035 looks like, were so
Origin: Bentley celebrates 100th birthday with this massive EXP 100 GT Concept

Aston Martin celebrates 50-year anniversary of Bond film

There’s a lot of hype going around these days when it comes to the world’s favourite super-spy: 007. Bond 25 is currently in production, and Aston Martin themselves are building replicas of the DB5 featured in Goldfinger, machine guns and all. Now Aston has decided to add another special model to the lineup to commemorate a lesser-known Bond car. 1969 was the year that saw Sean Connery take a break from being Bond, and male model George Lazenby step in, and lucky for Lazenby, he got one of the coolest Bond cars ever: a 1969 Aston Martin DBS. Aston Martin is celebrating 50 years of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by creating the OHMSS special edition of its current DBS Superleggera. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Aston Martin is synonymous with James Bond and the DBS from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service has provided great inspiration to the team tasked with creating this very special edition. This new DBS Superleggera will be an extremely distinguished ‘brute in a suit’, designed to capture the essence of the iconic DBS from the 1969 film but with a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, 715-bhp engine!” The OHMSS edition features more carbon fibre, along with a new front splitter, aeroblade, and diamond turned and forged wheels. The exterior colour has been matched to the same olive green of the original 1969 DBS, and the horizontal lines in the grill have been accentuated to mimic the original as well. Deliveries of the 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera OHMSS will take place in the fourth quarter of 2019. Only 50 will be built, at a price of 300,007 pounds. Really. If you plan on getting married soon, we recommend that you leave the DBS in Q
Origin: Aston Martin celebrates 50-year anniversary of Bond film

Lotus celebrates motorsport success with Evora GT4 concept

Lotus has unveiled a GT4-spec race variant of its Evora GT430 hardcore sports car at the Shanghai motor show. Developed and built at Lotus’ headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, the track-prepped Evora GT4 concept is finished in a distinctive two-flag livery that celebrates its British heritage and Chinese launch location. The 1200kg model’s 3.5-litre petrol V6 has been tuned to produce 444bhp and 376lb ft at 4000rpm, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 370bhp per tonne and a claimed top speed of 170mph. Sitting on race-spec centre-lock wheels shod with slick tyres, the Evora GT4 sports an adjustable rear wing, a roof-mounted carbonfibre air intake and aerodynamics-enhancing louvres on the front wings. The carbonfibre front bumper has been adapted to feature removable canards and brake cooling vents, while a four-vein diffuser and large ducts at the rear enhance downforce and aerodynamic efficiency. Further weight-saving measures include plexiglass for the side windows, a carbonfibre bootlid and 12-spoke aluminium wheels. In line with motorsport regulations, driver safety features include an eight-point roll cage, a six-point race harnesses, an emergency engine kill switch and a fire extinguisher. Speaking at the concept’s unveiling in Shanghai, Lotus CEO Phil Popham said: “All of our cars retain motorsport within their DNA, and almost every road car in the company’s history has raced successfully at some point. “It’s the philosophy that Colin Chapman founded Lotus on and that we proudly continue to this day.” Also announced at Shanghai was the launch of Lotus’s new Chinese driving academy, where newly appointed factory race drivers Cui Yue and Gaoxiang Fan will host track training days and hot lap sessions. The Evora GT4’s unveiling comes on the same day as confirmation that Lotus will reveal the Type 130 electric hypercar, its first all-new model since 2008, in London later this year. The 1000bhp-plus rival to the Pininfarina Battista is set to have a range of more than 250 miles. Fewer than 50 examples will be
Origin: Lotus celebrates motorsport success with Evora GT4 concept