West County Honda News
Matthew's Day Off
Posted: January 31, 2012 | by: Blog Editor | source: Youtube
Check out the extended version of Matthew's Day Off.
The Accord is Charged Up
Posted: January 12, 2012 | by: Blog Editor | source: Fox News
"We're taking a great looking car, we're enhancing it, making it a little bit better, but we're packing it full of technology," Honda VP of Marketing Mike Accavitti.
In the face of stiff competition in the midsize segment, Honda unveiled the ninth generation of its popular Accord in concept form at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It will take on the all-new Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu and top-selling Toyota Camry when it goes on sale this fall. Shown in coupe form, the new Accord retains the basic shape of the current car, but with a more aggressive front fascia that features a trio of lighting elements in the headlight clusters and stronger character lines along the sides of the car including pronounced rear fenders. Honda concepts are typically nearly identical to the production versions that follow them. "We''re taking a great looking car, we're enhancing it, making it a little bit better, but we're packing it full of technology," Honda VP of Marketing Mike Accavitti told FoxNews.com at the show. The new Accord will be available for the first time as a plug-in hybrid boasting an all-electric range of between 10-15 miles per charge and a battery-powered top speed of 62 mph. Conventional four and six cylinder engines will also be offered, and all Accords will come standard with Pandora radio and a hands-free phone system that can read text messages aloud over the vehicle's audio system.
Happy Honda Days
Posted: December 20, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda Youtube
This is one present you can count on not breaking right out of the box.
Sneak Peek at the Fit EV
Posted: December 13, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda Youtube
Check out the Fit EV. With an estimated distance of 123 miles on a single charge, and can be charged in as a little as 3 hours with a 240 volt outlet.
Honda Has the Greenest Car of the Year.
Posted: November 29, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com
The Honda Civic Natural Gas was awarded 2012's Greenest Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The all-new 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas – the only factory-built, CNG-powered car produced in America – was named 2012 Green Car of the Year® at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. The award was presented to Honda by the editors of Green Car Journal representing a diverse panel of environmental experts and automotive enthusiasts who annually select a single vehicle for its outstanding environmental performance. "The Civic Natural Gas is not only a great vehicle, it also demonstrates Honda's commitment to provide a variety of alternatives to gasoline," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Civic Natural Gas and the all-new Fit EV that we introduced yesterday at the Los Angeles Auto Show are the latest additions to a rapidly expanding family of alternative energy Honda vehicles aimed at cutting petroleum use and reducing our carbon footprint." To support growing consumer interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, Honda is expanding its retail network of Civic Natural Gas retail outlets to 200 dealers in 36 states. The Civic Natural Gas engine produces almost zero smog-forming emissions and is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Featuring new styling, enhanced feature content and increased fuel economy, the redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas can now be equipped with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System featuring an exclusive database of publicly accessible Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refueling stations across the United States.
Joe Hits a Million Miles
Posted: November 08, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Youtube
Joe's 1990 Honda Accord is a true testament to Honda's durability.
Honda's Good Reasons
Posted: November 02, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com
“This year they sent a man to do a cartoon man’s job”. Patrick Warburton, better known as David Puddy from Seinfeld is the face of Honda's campaign "Good Reasons". The campaign covers a wide range of topics across numerous channels.
Patrick Warburton is the new face of Honda’s Good Reasons campaign. Warburton is known for a reoccurring character David Puddy in the hit sitcom Seinfeld. The campaign covers wide range topics from pesky disclaimers, wordy contracts to Honda’s top quality and high fuel efficiently delivered with Warburton’s famous deadpan humor. In addition to television spots Honda created an area on their website where Warburton gives you more information on fuel efficiency, quality, innovation, value, dependability, and safety; presented in a very humorous way. And Honda is getting social by letting you pick you’re favorite ending for their “sexy” ads on the Facebook page. For more information go to goodreasons.shophonda.com.
Honda Indiana Plant Starts Second Shift
Posted: October 28, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com
Honda's Indiana plant which assembles the Civic Sedan and Civic Natural Gas began running a second shift; upping the production to 200,000 units in a year.
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN), which produces the popular Civic Sedan and alternative-fuel Civic Natural Gas, today began a second production shift for the first time, which increases production at the plant to its full 200,000-unit annual capacity and adds approximately 1,000 new associates to Honda's operations in Indiana. The addition of a second shift at HMIN follows the return to normal production levels at all seven of the Honda automobile plants in North America, following the disruption of parts supplies as a result of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami in Japan. HMIN was recognized earlier this year for its outstanding quality as one of only three automobile plants globally to earn a Platinum Award for quality based on the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Initial Quality Survey℠ (IQS). Earlier this month, the plant began production of the redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas, the only OEM-made natural gas vehicle available for retail purchase in America. "We are taking an important step forward in the realization of our dream," said HMIN President Jun Nishimoto. "Our associates have made this one of the highest quality plants in the world, and now we have the opportunity to share their commitment to excellence with even more Honda customers. It's a great day for Honda in Indiana." Hiring of new associates began in June, with specific training taking place over the past several months in virtually every major production process, including stamping, welding, painting, plastic injection molding, sub-assembly and final assembly operations. The production expansion at HMIN also has resulted in additional business growth and employment opportunities for numerous suppliers to the plant. Parts for Indiana-built Civics are supplied from 225 companies in the U.S. and Canada, including 20 suppliers in Indiana, 28 in Michigan, 18 in Kentucky, 13 in Texas, 10 in Tennessee and 74 in neighboring Ohio. In addition, Ohio is home to Honda's engine plant in Anna, which produces engines for Indiana-made Civics, and its plant in Russells Point, which manufactures automatic transmissions for Civic models. Honda has the capacity to build 1.63 million automobiles at its seven auto plants in North America, which combined have nine assembly lines. In 2010, more than 87 percent of the Honda and Acura products sold in the U.S. were built in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda opened its first auto plant in the U.S. in 1982, in Marysville, Ohio, meaning the company will mark its 30th anniversary of U.S. auto production next year.
Lookin' Like A Reinvented CR-V On the Way
Posted: September 23, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: My Daily News
The best-selling SUV, Honda's CR-V, is looking like the concept version is just about ready to be put into production.
By the looks of it, Honda is reinventing the best-selling CR-V SUV with its latest car concept, according to commentators and bloggers. The model, which is currently on show at the Orange County International Auto Show, is a near-production concept which gives the best glimpse consumers are likely to get of the fourth-generation CR-V before it's released later this year. The model introduced this week is slightly more aggressive, with a bolder front fascia and a lower front bumper, along with deeper sculpting of the body and large 5-spoke alloy wheels. Details about the new powertrains haven't been released, but they're expected to be more economical than the current model's offering. The CR-V is sold around the world and was America's best-selling SUV between 2007 and 2010, making it one of Honda's star products -- and a formula the brand clearly doesn't want to take any risks with. Commenting on the launch, CNet's Wayne Cunningham said that the concept "doesn't mess with success," but added that the model "fails to establish a recognizable Honda design language, a look that could establish a distinctive Honda identity across its model line-up." Automotive blog InsideLine disagreed, however, describing the concept as an "edgier design approach" and asking "Is Honda showing a more fearless design direction with the 2012 Honda CR-V Concept?" Autoblog's Jeff Glucker, meanwhile, described the move as a "serious style upgrade." The Orange County International Auto Show runs through September 25 in Anaheim, CA,
Tired of Being Hassled By Contracts?
Posted: September 20, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Youtube.com
Patrick Warburton walks you through the contract process, in Puddy style
The Pilot is Freshening Up
Posted: August 31, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: The Car Connection
Honda's hit mid-sized SUV, the Pilot, will be getting some new updates for 2012.
Honda’s mid-size Pilot SUV has been a hit for the automaker in terms of both sales and image. Now that it’s due for a refresh, the 2012 Honda Pilot has the chance to bring even more customers into Honda dealers. For the 2012 Honda Pilot, the automaker has apparently managed to fix what was broken without changing what wasn’t. We hear it will come with a new (and more pleasantly styled) grille, a new interior and better fuel economy, thanks to a six-speed automatic transmission replacing the current five-speed unit.
J.D. Power & Associates Most Awarded Manufacturer
Posted: August 19, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Youtube.com
Honda has received more awards than any other manufacturer in 2011
Check Out the All New 2012 CR-V
Posted: July 25, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Forbes
The CR-V is one of Honda's best sellers. The lightweight, aerodynamic sport utility vehicle will have better fuel economy and be roomier. While still having great cargo space.
Honda has revealed the exterior styling for the 2012 CR-V small-size sport utility vehicle, promising improved aerodynamics, a more fuel-efficient engine and a lighter reduced body weight. The design introduced Monday by American Honda Motor Co. ( HMC - news - people ) Inc. features deeper sculpting, fender flares, a horizontal three-bar grille and five-spoke alloy wheels. Honda says the interior will be more accommodating and have a lower cargo floor. The CR-V, built in East Liberty, Ohio, is an important vehicle for Honda as the market continues to move toward small cars and crossovers. It's Honda's third-largest selling vehicle, with 110,916 sold from January through June, a 28 percent increase over the same period last year. Honda's overall sales were up 2.3 percent for same period this year.
Honda Is No Garbage
Posted: July 14, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com
10 of 14 Honda plants in N. America have achieved zero-waste-to-landfill. A huge accomplishment to the company's longstanding "Green Factory" initiative. While the other 4 have virtually zero waste levels.
Honda announced today that it has achieved one of the most important targets in the company's longstanding "Green Factory" initiative in North America: zero-waste-to-landfill. Ten of 14 Honda manufacturing plants in North America are now operating with zero waste to landfill, while the remaining four plants are functioning with "virtually zero" waste to landfill. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, in Lincoln, Ala., became the first zero-waste-to-landfill auto plant in North America at the outset of production in 2001, setting off an industry-leading trend within the company. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, in Greensburg, Ind., also started production as a zero-waste-to-landfill plant in 2008. Waste sent to landfills has been dramatically reduced at Honda auto plants throughout North America—from 62.8 pounds of industrial waste to landfills for every automobile produced in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001(FY2001), to an estimated 1.8 pounds per automobile in the current fiscal year 2012. Among all of its 14 plants in North America, Honda now sends less than one-half of 1 percent of all operating waste to landfills. Remaining waste product is either recycled or used for energy recovery. "This is an important achievement and a tremendous reflection on the commitment and continuous effort of Honda associates throughout our company over the past 10 years to reduce waste from Honda's production operations," said Karen Heyob, manager at Honda of America, Mfg, Inc., who is responsible for Honda's green factory initiatives in North America. "This is an even more significant achievement when you consider that we also produce in North America the engines and transmissions that power our products." Since the establishment of zero-waste-to-landfill production in its Alabama plant in 2001, Honda has undertaken a major initiative at plants throughout the region to eliminate landfill waste. To understand what comprised each plant's landfill waste, Honda associates went "Dumpster diving," looking at the composition of the waste material resulting from all of its production activities. On the basis of these findings and subsequent investigations, Honda associates at all 14 plants in North America have identified and implemented hundreds of waste-reduction and waste-recycling initiatives. As a result of these efforts over the past 10 years, the company has prevented an estimated 4.4 billion pounds of waste material from being sent to landfills.
Big Things Come in Compact Packages
Posted: June 16, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Mercury News
Months after the 2011 CR-V's debut the reviews are still coming in. Honda's packed the best of the best features into their compact SUV making it a top seller.
The five-seat Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle is well-mannered and easy to drive, comfortable to get into and attractive without being flashy. Best of all, it keeps earning awards. Three months ago, for example, the CR-V was named top crossover/compact SUV in dependability by J.D. Power and Associates. The dependability study surveyed recent owner-reported problems with 3-year-old vehicles. The CR-V is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine, where its predicted reliability is "better" than average. For 2011, the CR-V formula remains the same and relatively simple. There's one engine—a four cylinder—and one transmission—an automatic. There are just a handful of trim levels and few options because many features, including all safety items, are standard. In comparison, the base 2011 Chevrolet Equinox comes with 182-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission and two-wheel drive starts at $23,805. The lowest starting retail price for a 2011 Equinox with four-wheel drive is $25,555. The 2011 Toyota RAV4, starts at $23,285. A base RAV4 has a 179-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission and two-wheel drive. A 2011 four-wheel drive RAV4 has an MSRP, including destination charge, of $24,685 Entering via one of the four passenger doors is not cumbersome, with passengers tending to set themselves on the seat cushions without having to climb up or lower themselves. Rear-seat passengers get decent views out because rear seat cushions are up a bit, theater-style, from the front seats. Rear seats go fore and aft on tracks, too, and the rear floor is nicely flat. The driver has a tilt and telescoping steering wheel plus seat controls to get comfortable, and the high ride height gives good views out over cars and through other SUVs' windows. And on flat roads and in city traffic, the CR-V performed admirably. Controls were within easy reach inside the CR-V, and fit and finish inside and out on the test vehicle was excellent. The CR-V still has a retractable middle tray between the front seats, but the top-of-the-line EX-L comes with a more regular center console that still offers good room for purses. Flat cargo space measures 35.7 cubic feet with the back seats in use and grows to 72.9 cubic feet with the rear seats moved out of the way. These are larger than the cargo space in the Ford Escape. Both two- and four-wheel drive models of the 2011 CR-V are rated four out of five stars in overall crash testing by the federal government after earning four out of five stars in frontal and side crash protection. This is better than the three out of five stars in overall crash testing that the 2011 Toyota RAV4 received.
No Emissions, No Problem
Posted: May 03, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Youtube.com
Honda's zero emissions vehicle, The Clarity, gets an unbiased test-drive by Associated Press reporter Kent Thomas.
CR-V is Still in a League of its Own
Posted: April 26, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Suwannee Democrat
Back when your choices were a bulky SUV, or your typical sedan/coupe, Honda decided to combine the two. Now every car-maker has a Crossover, but no one has the CR-V.
The Honda CR-V spawned a revolution when it was released back in the Jurassic period. It was a time when SUV dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Big, heavy vehicles like the Ford Explorer were the dominant species, shaking the ground and guzzling fuel with their massive, aging, body-on-frame designs. Along came the CR-V as a Darwinian milestone - a mammal in a land of giant reptiles. Crossovers now dot the landscape - the CR-V isn't the only mammal out there anymore - but the 2011 model shows the CR-V stays true to its origins and remains competitive. Unlike true SUVs, the original CR-V was built on a lightweight car chassis but still looked vaguely like the bulky Explorer. The result was a vehicle that gave you the best of both worlds - and a sales hit for Honda. Since the CR-V was built like a car, it drove like a car. It had a zippy, precise feeling that SUVs couldn't match. And its efficient, four-cylinder engine got far better gas mileage. It also retained the best parts of SUVs: their spacious cargo area, high ride height to give drivers a better view of the road, and some styling machismo that plain ol' family cars lacked. It was such a success, in fact, that many of today's most popular vehicles can trace their DNA to the first CR-V. Countless copycats are a great thing for buyers, who have a long list of excellent crossovers to pick from today. So why should anyone still consider the CR-V in a modern automotive ecosystem that's overpopulated with crossovers? The first reason should be obvious. It's a Honda. Honda is really the only mainstream company left with a long-term reputation for building bulletproof cars. Toyota has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons since 2008. American and Korean brands have made huge leaps in the last five years - in some ways they feel like they're built to a more luxurious standard than Honda's - but that's a recent development. The world is still waiting to see if they can keep it up. The second reason is the CR-V remains true to its roots. Thanks to the competition the CR-V helped create, crossovers come in all sorts of flavors today. You can buy high-performance crossovers, luxury crossovers, efficient crossovers and stripped-down, cheap crossovers. Honda easily could have made its crossover compete for one of those niches when redesigning the latest CR-V. Instead, Honda preserved the CR-V's everyman personality, which made it a hit from the beginning. The latest CR-V has a smooth ride, precise steering and great, grabby brakes. The suspension feeling is almost a carbon copy of the Accord, which is a perfect benchmark. And it's just sporty enough to be fun without being uncomfortable. The engine is an excellent match for this car. Some crossovers have more power; others give you better mileage. But few hit the sweet spot as perfectly as the CR-V's 2.4-liter engine, which makes 180 horsepower and is rated for 24 mpg on the highway. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if scientists a million years from now will discover a CR-V encrusted in amber that looks just like their futuristic CR-Vs. Like the mosquito, some designs are so well-suited that they can thrive for eons with minimal evolutionary changes.
5 Star Safety Rating Goes to the Odyssey
Posted: March 31, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com
Safety regulations for 2011 toughened up, and the Odyssey rose to the challenge. With safety features that do everything from reduce crash impact, to preventing an accident in the first place. The Odyssey gives its passengers a 5 star peace of mind.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) toughened up its crash-safety tests for 2011, and the Odyssey passed with flying colors. In fact, the Odyssey earned 5-stars in each seating position of all three crash-safety tests, as well as earning a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score. Standard active safety features include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), which helps the driver retain steering control when braking hard, and Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, which helps to detect and correct oversteer and understeer. Active front head restraints help reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries in the event of a rear impact. The head restraints are designed to tilt forward in a fraction of a second to decrease the space between the back of the occupant's head and the head restraint. To help you avoid accidents in the first place, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) uses a warning icon that will illuminate within the gauge cluster, notifying the driver that significantly low pressure has been detected in one or more of the tires. Also for 2011, the Odyssey features up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) seating positions, making the Odyssey an excellent baby mover. If the unthinkable happens, the Odyssey helps protect its passengers with the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, which is designed to absorb impacts of vehicles of various sizes in the event of front-end collisions. Front 3-point seat belts with automatic tensioning system, and front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) all help to protect you and your passengers in sufficient impacts. Honda is committed to providing safety for everyone—that means crash protection not only for our own drivers and passengers, but also for the occupants of other vehicles, and injury mitigation for pedestrians. We are dedicated to identifying and implementing advanced designs and features that help enhance the safety of vehicles on the road.
Get the Most Out of Your Insight with Eco Assist
Posted: March 31, 2011 | by: Blog Editor | source: Altenergymag.com
The 2011 Honda Insight hybrid electric’s Eco Assist provides you with real-time feedback. Helping you boost your driving efficiency, giving you an amazing 41 MPG.
The 2011 Honda Insight hybrid electric vehicle is a five-passenger, five-door dedicated hybrid vehicle. It is powered by the Honda Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA™) system comprised of a 1.3-liter i VTEC® gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor that together contribute to an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 40/43/41 miles per gallon2. The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™), an innovation that can enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles. The electric motor, positioned in-line between the engine and the transmission, adds power during acceleration and in certain cruising situations, and recaptures energy from the vehicle's forward momentum during braking (regenerative braking). The Insight's IMA system has the capability to operate exclusively on electric power in certain low- to mid-speed cruising conditions. It can also provide cylinder deactivation during deceleration and an idle-stop feature when the vehicle is stationary. The Insight uses Eco Assist to help drivers improve fuel efficiency, both by altering vehicle functionality and providing driver feedback, with fuel-economy dependent on their given set of driving conditions. Pressing the ECON button can further enhance the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems. Eco Assist also provides feedback about driving style via a 3D-appearing background within the speedometer. The background changes colors from green to blue to reflect how efficiently or inefficiently the driver is accelerating or braking (green = efficient). The driver's results are continuously tracked as fuel efficiency ratings are shown per drive cycle and on a lifetime basis in the form of plant-leaf graphics that appear in the Multi-Information Display (MID). Up to five leaves can be 'earned' as the driver demonstrates a fuel-efficient driving style. A real-time score is shown in the Eco Guide MID screen.
Honda Double Play Give-Away
Posted: March 29, 2011 | by: Zoom Administrator | source: honda.com
Enter to win a family trip to the Little League World Series during the Honda Double Play Giveaway.
Honda is once again a proud sponsor of the Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Enter to win a family trip to this special event during the Honda Double Play Giveaway. You can win one of two ways: enter the design contest by submitting a pin idea or enter the sweepstakes by rating your favorite pin design. No purchase necessary. See Official Rules.
