Shiotsu Autotrade Japan - President’s Blog

Honda is now challenging Toyota’s hybrid crown with its new Insight, a five-passenger gasoline-electric hybrid that will get more than 17 Km per liter. That is little less than the 21 Km per liter Toyota’s new Prius can get. But Honda Insight is far cheaper than the new Prius.  In fact, you can get the joy of hybrid technology for under $20,000.

Last month Honda Motor Company launched its all-new Honda Insight Hybrid car at a price tag of 1,890,000  Japanese Yen (US$19,800).  And it ranked as the 10th best selling car in Japan last month – bagging over 15,000 orders, outselling Toyota Prius.  Honda was however able to deliver only 4,906 units. 

This move by Honda would force the market leader, Toyota, to bring down its prices, leading to a price war in hybrid cars. Toyota is planning to release the next-generation version of Prius this May, at a much lower price.  This will be a good sign for car buyers, as they will have more and more choices for fuel efficient hybrid vehicles at affordable prices. 

How Honda achieved this feat?  Honda Insight undercuts the Prius by several thousand dollars.  It is also around $4,000 cheaper than the Honda Civic Hybrid! First of all, the Insight shares parts with other Honda models. Secondly, the Insight’s main source of power is a lightweight gasoline engine that is assisted by smaller batteries, as opposed to the more complicated hybrid system used in the Prius.  This greatly reduces the manufacturing costs, but gives the Insight lower fuel efficiency than the Prius.

Technorati Tags: Honda, Toyota, Honda Insight, Hybrid car, Japan, Toyota Prius

Hybrid cars are a recent phenomena in the automobile industry.  Only few car manufacturers like Honda, Toyota, and General Motors had taken this matter very seriously.  Japan’s Honda is the top hybrid automobile maker and marketer as of now.  Two decades ago, Honda was nowhere in car building sector.  Now indeed, it is a brand name for futuristic hybrid cars among the Japanese cars.

The new generation is more passionate about Hybrid cars because they are environment friendly.  According to Honda reports, the hybrid car is zero-emission.  Reduction in fuel consumption contributes a lot to a green environment.  Even Hybrid cars have more fuel efficiency than any other ordinary brand new car.  A hybrid car whether new or used has no more mechanical problems like regular cars.   During the movement of the wheels, the hybrid car creates its own energy during a process of regenerative braking.  All these features in Honda Hybrid cars have made Honda the most striking and craved cars of the new generation. 

Honda has newly introduced its 2009 Civic Hybrids.  This Honda hybrid car is a combination of technical qualifications of the common Honda Civic motor cars and reduced fuel consumption as of hybrid cars. As well as it takes care of your pocket also.

Honda Accord hybrid car is among the most popular Honda hybrid cars.  Nowadays this vehicle is out in the automobile market and really enjoying giant and warm patrons from all who are crazy for hybrid car. This hybrid car by Honda is most nature friendly.  The owner of hybrid cars does not find cost as an obstruction because they are astronomical. If we compare some Japanese hybrid models, we find Honda Accord Hybrid at 69 miles per gallon very economical.  Honda is now directly competing to its fellow Toyota, which was the first Japanese company to come up with hybrid cars.

If you are looking for used hybrid cars by Honda or Toyota, please check our stock or get in touch with us with your requirements.

Technorati Tags: Honda, Toyota, hybrid cars, Japanese cars, Honda Civic, Honda Accord

The Wheels Magazine Car of the Year award for 2008 has gone to Japanese Car - Honda Accord Euro.

The Honda Accord Euro won this award which is recognized as one of the most prestigious global awards in motoring industry. The Japanese car outclassed an array of 35 other new cars introduced in 2008.  Eight expert judges from Wheels magazine tested 18 new car models over a period of 7 days, covering over 10,000 Kms.  The selection criteria was based on  five key areas; technology, function, environmental safety, value, and efficiency.

Honda Accord Euro is an exceptionally well–rounded car where the company has taken painstaking care to build quality and detail. It has an outstanding dynamics, great passenger comfort, and supreme driver satisfaction.

This is the fifth time Honda, has won the Wheels Car of the Year Award - first time it was the original Honda Accord in 1977, which also happened to be the first car from Japan to win this prestigious award.  Other Honda models which have won this award include Honda Odyssey in 1995, the Honda NSX in 1991, and  the Honda Prelude in 1987. Now, after 14 years, the Honda Accord Euro has triumphed, winning the 46th annual award of the world longest continuously running Car of the Year Award.

The award winning Honda Accord Euro is available in three models. We can also supply used car models of equivalent Japanese version of this car.

Technorati Tags: Wheels Magazine, Japanese Car, Honda Accord, Honda, used car, Japanese

Motor Trend Magazine has named Nissan’s new sports car, the Nissan GT-R as its 2009 car of the year.  As per the evaluation report - the 2009 Nissan GT-R supercar,  which is formerly known as Skyline -  delivers a world class level of performance, handling, and efficiency that rivals the world’s best-known supercars, at a much more affordable price.

The editor-in-chief of Motor Trend, Angus MacKenzie, mentioned that the Japanese car - Nissan GT-R rewrites the rule-book for high performance cars, and none of the other 2009 competitors could “crush” the magazine’s criteria like the GT-R did.

The 2009 GT-R is the sixth generation of Nissan’s flagship sports car.  The GT-R abbreviation stands for Gran Turismo Racer.  The GT-R extracts more than 450 horsepower from its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine while still meeting emissions laws, and also features GR6 six-speed twin-clutch transmission. 

If you compare the GT-R with Porsche 911,  both have about 480 hp; however, the GT-R costs half as much as the Porsche. 

If you are interested in importing Nissan Skyline GTR models, we can help you find the right model matching your requirements.  So far, we have exported hundreds of Nissan GT-Rs to satisfied customers worldwide.

Technorati Tags: Nissan, Nissan GT-R, Skyline, supercar, Japanese car, sports car

As per recent news article by BBC, Cars made by Japanese Car manufacturers are the most reliable, according to a survey by Which? Car magazine in UK.  Japanese car manufacturers have once again strengthened their already formidable reputation for first class engineering by leading a reliability testing done by one of the UK’s most detailed motoring surveys.

Cars manufactured by Japanese Auto makers comfortably outperformed British models when it came to dependability and reliability, as per the survey carried out by Which? Car magazine.  Japanese Car makers took the top seven places for reliability in a table compiled after a study of 89,768 cars of 38 brands.  Honda was the winning car manufacturer from Japan, followed by Toyota, Daihatsu, Lexus, Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki.

Statistical analysis based on readers’ reports of total breakdowns, faults that required a vehicle to be taken to a garage and minor niggles - was used to calculate a Brand Reliability Index used in scoring. 

Eight of the top ten most reliable brands were from Japan. The seven manufacturers in the “very good” category were all Japanese.  Only Hyundai and Porsche from Germany were the only non-Japanese car makers which made it into the “good” category.

Technorati Tags: Japanese Car, Japanese, car, Auto, British, Honda, Japan, Toyota

Last week I visited Mumbai in India on a business cum pleasure trip just for 3 days. I was happy that my friend Raj showed me few landmarks of Mumbai city during my busy schedule there.

I was impressed by the hectic life in Mumbai city with heavy traffic of cars. Though I could see many modern types of  cars from Suzuki, Toyota, Tata, and Hyundai in Mumbai, I was particularly happy to see the famous Ambassador car from Hindustan Motors, India.

There are not many Ambassador cars in Mumbai these days - the only few Ambassadors are used for taxi or by top political leaders. However, it still remains one of the most popular cars of India.

Ambassador was the first car to be manufactured in India, and it has been ruling the Indian roads for over five decades, ever since its inception in 1948. The car has been undergoing a series of changes, adapting to customer expectations. but it has retained its classic shape. It is the grand old car of the Indian automotive industry.

Its tough body is suited to Indian roads, and it is spacious enough for big Indian families. With a sturdy body, easy technology and low maintenance costs, the car has made it to the most preferred car for generations of Indians.

In India, taxis are found in two colors. The blue ones are airconditioned and are little expensive. The normal taxis are yellow and black.

Among the standard taxis in Mumbai, the Premier Padmini model is a favorite.  Premier Padmini was based on 1963 Fiat 1100 design and has been manufactured in India since 1968 to 2000.  This car too has ruled the Indian roads for over four decades and it is also a tough car on the roads.

Technorati Tags: Mumbai, India, Suzuki, Toyota, Ambassador, car

According to consumer reports recently rated six sedans in the upscale segment. Three Japanese cars , Infinity G35 from Nissan, Lexus ES 350 from Toyota and Nissan mixima found their way among the top. At the top of the list,comes the Infinity G35 ,with a combination of sporty performance, best luxury and handling.
INFINITY G35: The rear-wheel-drive journey version,it has got a 3.5 liter V6 engine which delivers 306 horse power, it comes with optional sunroof and power adjustable steering wheel. The quick ,agile and sporty sedan delivered 19 mpg in mixed highway and city driving on premium fuel. The all wheel drive G35X costs about $2000 more than the version tested which costed $35,140.Though a slight loss of fuel economy was reported in the G35X version.

LEXUS ES350: The lexus ES350 is lavish in contrast with the sporty infinity.The ES350 provides a big luxury car feel and refinement in a trim package.The 3.5 liter ,272 horse power V6 version tested was smooth,delivered quick acceration and a good 23 mpg overall on premium fuel. The few negatives for this sedan are limited rear-seat head-room and rearward visibility;the handling is sound ,not sporty.The ES350 tested cost $41289 and come with optional navigational system,cooled seats and power -adjustable steering column.

NISSAN MAXIMA; The 3.5 liter v6 255 horse powered 3.5SL version tested has a roomy interior,logical quick acceleration. However,the ride is not all that great;steering wheel pulls hard under acceleration and handling is not agile.The tested maxima 3.5SL has optional stability control, sunroof ,memory seats,and power-adjustable steering column,and cost $ 33,715.

LINCOLN MKZ,BUICK LUCERNA CXS and SAAB 9-5 were the other cars that ranked below the japanese cars in the upscale sedan segment.
The Buick lucerna cxs is a full-size car sold by the buick division of general motors that repalced the park avenue and the lesabre in 2006.
If you don`t need sportiness or opulence in your car,consider high-end V6 versions of Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. These family sedans are equally good in performance and amenities while costing much less.

Technorati Tags: Japanese cars, Infinity G35, Lexus ES 350, Nissan mixima, sedan, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry

Kelley Blue Book Co. - a US company providing information on new and used cars has picked the Honda Acura passenger car 2007 model as the potentially most valuable used car five years ahead in the US auto market. Used car prices quoted by Kelley Blue Book serve as key benchmarks in the US market for secondhand vehicles.

Honda Acura is a dream car for drivers looking for comfort, driving performance and quality fuel economy. It is the first time a Japanese car has made the top of Kelley Blue Book Co’s list on the value of used passenger vehicles five years from now since the company began compiling the list for 2005 vehicles.

Japanese car models, including the Toyota Prius hybrid sedan, filled five slots of the top 10 list, whereas only one US brand made its way onto the list. German automaker BMW topped the lists of 2005 and 2006 models.

Technorati Tags: Kelley Blue Book, used cars, Honda Acura, Honda, Japanese car, Toyota, Prius