Honda Performance Development, Inc. announces an amicable and successful conclusion to the agreement under which de Ferran Motorsports served as the primary testing and development team for the Acura sports-car program.

The de Ferran team spent the past two motorsports seasons testing and developing Acura’s ARX-01b and ARX-02a prototypes for American Le Mans Series competition. In 2009, de Ferran Motorsports played an integral role in helping Acura become the first manufacturer to win ALMS LMP1 and LMP2 prototype championships in the same season.

Beyond its testing and developmental work, the de Ferran team contributed to Acura’s success by winning five of 10 ALMS LMP1 events during the 2009 season, and finishing second in the LMP1 team championship.

“Economic pressures have required us to change our plans, so we must regretfully conclude our testing and development agreement with the de Ferran Motorsports team,” explained Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development, Inc., the racing arm of American Honda. “Since beginning competition in the fifth round of the 2008 ALMS championship, de Ferran Motorsports has contended regularly for race victories, and waged a spirited battle in pursuit of the 2009 LMP1 championship.

“We would like to express our deep gratitude to the members of the de Ferran team for the countless contributions they made to our success in sports-car racing during the past two seasons,” Berkman added. “We could never have accomplished our historic dual championships without the dedication and focus that every member of the de Ferran team brought to the program. We thank de Ferran Motorsports for its professionalism and commitment, and wish [team owner] Gil [de Ferran] and his team every success imaginable in its motorsports future.”

Said Gil de Ferran, “I have a long standing and successful relationship with Honda, spanning over a decade in different guises. I was delighted that we were able to serve Honda’s needs during the 2008 and 2009 Acura sports-car campaigns and it is unfortunate that our relationship could not continue under the current economic restrictions. Nevertheless, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Honda for its support and its part in making de Ferran Motorsports a reality and a successful team.”

BMW HAS TODAY REVEALED new details for its Vision EfficientDynamics concept ahead of the car’s official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

Showcasing a blend of the German carmaker’s current and future technologies, BMW describes the Vision concept as a “symbol for the future of sheer driving pleasure”.

The technology-laden Vision concept is powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system, featuring a conventional 1.5 litre 3-cylinder turbo-diesel mated to a pair of electric motors.

The combination achieves a total output of 265kW and a startling 800Nm of torque.

The mid-mounted diesel engine, developing 122kW and 290Nm of torque, is joined by electric motors positioned at the front and rear axles, improving weight distribution and effectively making the Vision concept all-wheel-drive.

The rear electric motor, positioned between the diesel engine and the double-clutch transmission, produces 25kW and 291Nm of torque, but can deliver short bursts of power up to 38kW.

Japan’s House Foods Corp. (TSE:2810) is taking steps to expand its overseas business operations. The plans include bolstering its tofu business in the U.S. and franchising curry shops in China.

House Foods’ business in the U.S. generated sales of 4.7 billion yen (US$51.26 million) in the year ended March 2009. Some 70 per cent of that came from tofu sales, and the rest from the operation of curry restaurants and exports of curry mixes.

The company already has a large share of the U.S. market for tofu, but up until now has focused most of its energies on the West Coast.