Now this isn’t exactly exotica but the anything that runs on batteries is seen as “cool” nowadays, thanks to the all the “greenwashing” that’s happening.

And since Honda is trying to be the world’s greenest automaker, they decided to make a fuss about the Honda EV-neo – an all-electric scooter aimed to be the de facto Japanese delivery vehicle.

The EV-neo is designed to a robust green monster to withstand the rigors of business use such as deliveries.

The scooter’s brushless electric motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery. No power figures were made available but Honda claims that the scooter packs the same punch as 50cc gasoline motorcycles.

Honda took the honorable route in all this Toyota mess. When Ford, GM, and Hyundai all offered trade-in bonuses for Toyota owners who wanted to unload their vehicles, Toyota’s biggest Japanese rival just kept their course steady.

If they didn’t, what a big bunch of hypocrites they’d be. Especially with a new round of recalls in effect. Honda’s calling back 378,758 US vehicles for a fault airbag inflator. They’ve already issued a recall for 2001-2002 Accords and Civics due to this problem but they’ve decided to add the 2001-2002 Odyssey and CR-V to the list.

Honda’s not alien to faults requiring recalls. Just a while back, Honda recalled 646,000 units of the Fit/Jazz and City models due to a faulty window switch.

Concerned owners can go to this Honda site for recalls or they can call (800) 999-1009.

So the Honda Insight failed to give the Prius a run for its money in the hybrid market. Honda positioned the Insight to be the Prius killer with its cheaper price tag. But the Prius name seems to be more than enough to offset the price. What’s Honda got to do?

Honda CEO Takanoby Ito’s at it again, challenging his R&D team to build a new Prius killer. Their goal now is to get better fuel economy figures than the Toyota hybrid. It might not be slotted in as a next generation Insight and might be a new hybrid model to expand their lineup.

Honda is keen on being the world’s greenest automaker, ditching gas guzzling efforts such as top-tier motorsports and focusing on hybrids and other non-petroleum-based fuels like hydrogen.

With Toyota intent on creating a Prius sub-brand, Honda will have their work cut for them to try and beat Toyota in that department. I’m a Toyota fan but I just wish Honda makes a breakthrough with hydrogen technology. I think if they crack it, it will indeed be game, set and match for Honda.

Source: Automotive News (subs required)

So Honda decided to end the NSX production a while back. They also announced that they’d be making a replacement but even that was scrapped.

Now Honda is vying for the title of “greenest automaker” and building speedy sports cars and motorsport seem to be at the bottom of their list of things to do.

It’s a good thing though that they still show signs of life in those areas. They might have pulled out of Formula One but they will still be participating in Japan’s SuperGT series. And they also decided to work with what they had with the NSX replacement and turn it into their race horse.

Here’s what the car looks like. The car scraps the planned V10 for the road car in favor of a 3.4L V8 tuned to dish out 500 bhp. The car weighs a mere 1100 kg and packs a flappy-paddle gearbox.

Don’t get your hopes up on a road-going version, Honda isn’t really into it these days.

Here it is, folks. The Honda CR-Z in its production form.

For those who were wishing that it’d carry on the stylings of the concepts, you might be disappoint since the styling has been toned down a bit with most of the sharp edges sleeked out. But it still looks good as a 2 + 2 coupe.

It sure is a sporty looking thing. Too bad it will be a hybrid. It sports a 1.5L engine dishing out 102 bhp and an electic motor dishing out 20 bhp.

122 bhp might not enable it to go faster than the consumer family sedans but we’re pegging this to be quick off the line though with 128-lb-ft of max torque available at just 1500 rpm.

Now we want to see what the Mugen version has to offer on top of this.

If Toyota isn’t willing to make serious moves to take on the Nano, it’s Japanese rival Honda might just.

Seen in the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi is the New Small Concept – a small sive-door car that’s set to take on the Nano in terms of size.

No details have been given on what will power the car though Honda has been kind enough to show us what their “Effecient Energetic Exterior” would look like. It looks aggressive as is common in Honda’s recent designs.

Honda plans to have the car out as a 2011 model and will be marketed to “ermeging markets.” But this being a Honda, we’re not really expecting it to drop its price to Nano levels.

Who knows? This car might just take on the Etios and the Swift as well.

10. Toyota Prius

While die-hard gear- and petrolheads aren’t throwing in the towel yet in this econmentalist revolution that has affected the motoring industry, we have to admit the the impact of the hybrid. It might be slow to drive and you might look like a smug and sanctimonious bastard who likes the smell of his own farts owning one. But it did challenge the status quo regarding cars and saving the planet. And quite frankly, whether we like it or not, that’s where motoring is headed.

9. Ariel Atom

It might not be the car you can live with everyday but it’s a track day car that any middle-aged middle-class person can consider gifting himself with while contending with mid-life crisis. It melts your face and ruptures your spleen. The car redefined power-to-weight ratios. It offers more excitement than six-figure supercars.

8. Nissan GT-R

Forget about Porsches, Lambos, Koenigseggs and Paganis, as far as supercars are concerned, we’re giving it to Nissan. Why? It’s because Nissan has proven that it can shame every self-respecting supercar maker by making a car that’s arguably better at half the price. And if there’s a digital technological showcase, this is it. Makes you forget that it’s a Datsun.

7. Ford Focus Mk2

The Focus might have started its life in the late 90s but the Mark 2 made it one of the better cars of the decade. It looks good, performs well, practical, and wouldn’t make you destitute trying to own one. As a hatchback, it has got the best-ever EuroNCAP ratings for its class trumping rivals like the Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf. The ST and RS variants made the ordinary man think that a decent fast car isn’t only for thoser who can buy supercars. And it’s available in more markets than most of its US rivals.

6. Aston Martin DB9

Being Aston fans, we know there should be an Aston somewhere in the list. We were really going for the DBS but realized that the DB9 was the car that Aston Martin got right. Without their achievement with the DB9, the DBS would’ve been horrible. The DB9 showed that Aston can make a great-looking great car.

5. Audi R8

Out of almost nowhere, Audi decided to join the supercar fray with the R8. And that’s really something especially since the Volkswagen Group already has Lamborghini to make insane supercars. The thing is, apart from the LED headlamps and that silver thing running down its the side, the R8 isn’t really insane. Sort of a sensible man’s supercar but better in almost (if not all) respects than a Porsche 911. The R8 is one of the best-driving supercars (performance and ease of driving it) our there in the market.

4. Ferrari F430 Scuderia

I know what you’re thinking. If there’s a Ferrari to make this list, it should be the flagship Enzo. But no. The Scuderia is probably the best example of the stripped-down super car by far – proof that you can make a car better by subtracting and not adding. Just take note of the fact that this car is faster than the Enzo around Ferrari’s own track. At less than half the Enzo’s price. And yes, it’s a Ferrari.

3. Fiat 500 Abarth

In a decade that saw people lose jobs and money, Fiat has given us the best cheap and cheerful vehicle – the 500 Abarth. You can now forget the Mini when thinking of small zippy cars because the 500 Abarth is definitely “it.” The real driver’s alternative for owning and driving a great performing car without requiring you to acutally rob a bank. Too bad there’s a long waiting list before you can get one if you decide to.

2. Honda FCX Clarity

We’re really putting it all on black with this one. Notice there’s not one pure electric vehicle in the list? That’s because we think that waiting hours for a car to get back on the road again has sent motoring back into… oh we don’t know. Not even horse-drawn carriages needed 8 hours to get going again. Sure, hydrogen tech has yet to be perfected but the car really is fit for the future. As James May said, “The reason it’s the car of the future is because it’s just like the car of today.

1. Bugatti Veyron

The essence of engineering – taking Newton’s laws of physics and throwing them out the window. Oh sure, Shelby Supercars decided they can build the faster Utimate Aero but nothing trumps the pantomime-effect of the Veyron. It’s fast all right. But you know you’re looking at something different. Something majestic.

It’s raining leaked brochure images for the Honda CR-Z!

Temple of VTec, a site dedicated to Hondas, posted leaked pictures of the brochure for the Japan market. The CR-Z is set to hit the North American market during the second half of 2010.

And remember when Mugen announced that it will be tuning the Honda CR-Z hybrid? Temple of VTec’s got hold of brochures for that car too.

Seems like Mugen’s set to sell the tuned version already. You don’t create publicity materials and marketing collaterals if you don’t have any intention of selling it. Check out the Mugen styling.

Just a refresher, the JDM CR-Z is powered by a 1.5L engine mated to a hybrid motor to dish out a total of 128 hp. The Mugen is expected to dish out more aside from some body and aero bits.

Branding genius or just plain Japanese eccentricity? Honda’s not too concerned labelleing their concept car the P-NUT – short for Personal -Neo Urban Transport.

Showcased, in the LA motor show, the car is a 1+2 compact vehicle designed for urban mobility. The driver’s even situated in the middle just like the McLaren F1 but all the comparison stops there.

The car is 3.4m long, 1.75 m wide and 1.439 m tall. That’s not exactly sizable even in city car terms but there’s room for people (leg room will be an issue, we suspect) and for solo driving, the back seats fold up for extra boot space.

No details on the definite power train yet but ity coould either carry an internal-combustion engine, a hybrid, or an EV system.

But forget about the power details since you can’t expect much from a car this small. Jjust take a look at it and you’d know that it’d take guts for a non-Japanese to actually ride the car.

It’s nuts all right.

Honda might still have a bit of fight in them when it comes to racing. They might have pulled out of F1 and have previously announced that the old NSX warhorse will be pulling out in several motorsport competition.

With their new vision of being the world’s greenest automaker and the financial crisis, the planned NSX replacement was canned.

However, rule changes in the Japanese Super GT series have now given Honda a good reason to bring out the plans again. Super GT rules will be banning mid-engined cars.

The planned NSX replacement will be front-engined and RWD making it quite perfect for the new rules. It was initially slated to get a 5.5L V10 that dishes out 600 hp until Honda decided to go green with the car.