1995 Honda Civic Ex Coupe 2-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Honda Tourer BTCC car lavished with photographic love

Back in December, Honda Yuasa Racing gave us one image of the Civic Tourer entrant it's fielding in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship. Thanks to media days at Brands Hatch and a few photos from Oulton Park, we've got a whole photo album of the elongated Civic that will attempt to continue Honda's BTCC winning ways and shots of drivers Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal.
This is the first wagon to race in the BTCC since 1994, when Jan Lammers and Rickard Rydel had just one year to throw the Volvo 850 Estate BTCC between the kerbing. The following year, the rules were changed so that rear wings couldn't extend above the roofline or beyond the rear bumper, which meant the end of Volvo's blue and white "pizza delivery wagon."
The season begins on March 30 at Brands Hatch, when Shedden and Neal will begin trying to wrest the driver's championship crown from Pirtek Racing. We don't know anything more about the manufacturer entry go-fast Civic Tourer, however, which means this is just an easy feast for the eyes. Because racing wagon.

Honda shines the spotlight on Project Drive-In success

Project Drive-In, a Honda-sponsored campaign to save drive-in theaters across the country, is beginning to bear fruit, as the first theaters have been informed that they'll be getting free digital projectors. Many theaters still use 35-millimeter film, which is being phased out rather aggressively in the movie industry. The move to digital, meanwhile, requires nearly a six-figure investment, forcing many drive-ins to close up shop for good.
The first phase of the campaign saw the public vote for their favorite drive-in, with the top five getting a free digital projector, courtesy of Honda. There's some touching reaction videos of the owners being informed that they'd won down below. The next phase in the program takes place on Indiegogo, where Project Drive-In is trying to raise $100,000 for the drive-in that's gotten the next highest number of votes. If the Indiegogo campaign reaches that figure before its expiration on October 7, it'll make the donation and reset the meter to save another theater.
Take a look down below for the video from Honda on Project Drive-In, and then do yourselves a favor, and head over to the Project Drive-In Indiegogo campaign, and make a donation.

How new car shortages may impact your buying experience

If you want further proof that the auto industry is bouncing back, look no further than the empty lots and forecourts of your local dealership. According to a story by The Wall Street Journal, continued high demand for mainstream cars is overtaxing automakers' ability to produce enough models. Several dealers interviewed for the story are reporting two-week supplies as opposed to the typical two-month allocations.
With sales expected to hit 1.4 million units when August numbers arrive shortly and incentive spending down to its lowest amount since January, these limited supplies are pushing prices even higher. For example, according to the WSJ, the average price of a Ford Fusion is up past $26,000. Unfortunately, it's difficult for manufacturers to increase production quickly. If it invests in its facilities, as many manufacturers have done, it risks wasting cash if growth suddenly slows. At the same time, the momentum gained over the past several years could be short lived if vehicle supplies continue to dwindle. "Manufacturers are in a precarious situation," notes Karl Brauer, a senior director at Kelley Blue Book.
Low interest rates and a wealth of desirable features are also allowing customers to purchase more expensive vehicles while justifying their higher overall price tags, a situation that is compounding supply shortages. Even now, during the annual end-of-summer clearance season, deals on new vehicles are remarkably difficult to come by. According to the report, the Toyota Corolla is in a self-inflicted state of shortage, as Toyota clears out inventory in anticipation of the new 2014 generation arriving in dealers. Ford's supplies should rebound as Fusion production comes on line at its Flat Rock, Michigan factory. The Chevrolet Impala, Honda Odyssey, Civic, and Accord and Subaru Forester are also facing shortages.