Beijing 2010: Honda Introduces Li Nian Everus Concept Sedan

For starters, there's nothing wrong with your eyes, the screen or the picture; the twin set of horizontal headlamps flanking either side of the Li Nian Everus concept's chrome-happy grille are the real deal.

Li Nian is a newly formed brand from Honda's China branch, Guangqi Honda, formerly known as Guangzhou Honda. The brand has showed two other concept models in the past, a compact-sized crossover and a sporty roadster.

Honda said that a production version of the Li Nian concept will be introduced at China's Guangzhou Motor Show, scheduled at the end of this year, but did not release any more details on the car. However, we suspect that it is closely based on the City, a small sedan itself based on the Jazz platform.

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Honda Launches (Supposedly) Sporty-Looking Jazz Si Grade

A new set of shiny 16-inch alloy wheels along with a chrome sports front grille and rear spoiler, embroidered carpet mats and Si branding on the boot lid and glove box is what makes the new "Si" grade sporty and "appealing to young drivers who want their car to stand out from the crowd" in Honda UK's eyes.

We beg to differ but if the Jazz Si makes you heart swing, the new trim level is priced at an additional £870 over the 1.2 SE and 1.4 ES models offering (always according to Honda) nearly £2,000 worth of extra equipment.

On-the-road prices in the United Kingdom are set at £12,835 and £13,510 for the 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter Jazz respectively with sales starting from April 1 - no joke.

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Euro NCAP: Q5, Jazz, i20, Soul and 3008 Achieve 5-Star Rating, Suzuki Alto gets only 3-Stars

European car safety testing body Euro-NCAP has announced its latest batch of results for six new cars. Five of these models, the Audi Q5, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20, Kia Soul and Peugeot 3008 received Euro NCAP's maximum five star award while Suzuki's made-in-India Alto scored only three stars, its rating limited by its performance in adult occupant protection, child protection and safety assistance technologies. Euro NCAP made a special note on the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 as both cars managed to achieve a high score in pedestrian safety.

"We would like to commend the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 for their impressive pedestrian scores that not only meet current requirements, but also meet Euro NCAP's future requirements," Euro NCAP said in a statement.

All six vehicles were tested with Euro NCAP's new overall rating scheme that was introduced in 2009 and covers Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment, Safety Assist. Under the new testing regime, vehicles are awarded a single overall score from one to five stars with the overall rating being based on the car's performance in each of the four main areas and the scores are weighted with respect to each other.

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