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Honda renders three-row MPV for Jakarta reveal

In preparation for the Indonesia International Motor Show coming up in September, Honda has released a teaser sketch (click to enlarge) of a new three-row MPV - specifically designed for this region - set to debut at the show. Honda says this yet-to-be-named people mover will be positioned in the entry-level MPV segment, which it says is a crucial part of the Indonesian auto market.
While there is no way to tell the size of the vehicle based off this rendering, it does appear to be far more stylish than the Honda CR-V, although the stepped-down beltline and the pinched shape of the rear quarter window have us thinking that Honda designers have been staring at the BMW i3 a little bit too much. The New Honda MPV will be powered by a 1.5-liter gas engine, and it goes on sale (and production) in Indonesia early next year. Honda has released a short press release for the new model, which is posted below.

Honda's new City hints in India at US-bound Fit sedan [w/videos]

While car buyers on these shores may think of the Civic or Accord as the prototypical Honda sedan, in the Asia and Oceania regions, it all comes down to the City. Based on the Honda Fit, the City is a compact sedan that's currently sold in 55 countries around the world, and now Honda has revealed the newest version.
Standing essentially as a Fit sedan (much as the Vezel debuted as a Fit crossover), the new fourth-generation Honda City is as wide as the hatchback on which it's based, but stretches longer on a lengthened wheelbase and sits lower. Power comes from a 1.5-liter inline four in either gasoline or diesel form, mated to an unspecified transmission that we'd have to assume is either a manual or a CVT.
Styling looks familiarly Honda, and while it may be hard to tell from the few stock, detail and live reveal images the Japanese automaker has provided us with thus far, it appears slicker form than other compact hatchback-based sedans like the Ford Fiesta or Mazda2. Fortunately IndianAutosBlog has uploaded a couple of videos from the reveal, which we've included below along with the press release.

J.D. Power study sees new car dependability problems increase for first time since 1998

For the first time since 1998, J.D. Power and Associates says its data shows that the average number of problems per 100 cars has increased. The finding is the result of the firm's much-touted annual Vehicle Dependability Study, which charts incidents of problems in new vehicle purchases over three years from 41,000 respondents.
Looking at first-owner cars from the 2011 model year, the study found an average of 133 problems per 100 cars (PP100, for short), up 6 percent from 126 PP100 in last year's study, which covered 2010 model-year vehicles. Disturbingly, the bulk of the increase is being attributed to engine and transmission problems, with a 6 PP100 boost.
Interestingly, JDP notes that "the decline in quality is particularly acute for vehicles with four-cylinder engines, where problem levels increase by nearly 10 PP100." Its findings also noticed that large diesel engines also tended to be more problematic than most five- and six-cylinder engines.