Ultimele articole din presa straina referitoare la Honda

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  • Honda Takes Course For International Civics !


    http://www.greensburgdailynews.com/l...265123059.html

    Joe Hornaday
    Greensburg Daily News


    Greensburg’s Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) factory began mass production of Honda Civic Sedans in the city almost a year ago. On Monday, the Honda plant announced that the auto-maker would be producing the Honda Civic Sedans for sale in Mexico and exported to 22 Latin American and Caribbean nations and U.S. territories.

    The first Civics destined for export were shipped last week, according to Anita Sipes of Honda communications. Until now, the more than 50,000 Civics built at the Greensburg plant had been sold exclusively in the United States.
    “We designed our Greensburg plant to be world class, and thanks to the spirit and quality work of our Indiana associates, we will soon be proving it around the globe,” Yuzo Uenohara, the president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) LLC, explained.
    The Greensburg plant was dedicated in Nov. 2008. The company’s associates work on all aspects of vehicle production, including metal stamping, plastic injection molding, painting, subassembly and final assembly. Engines for the Greensburg Civics are produced at Honda’s engine plant in nearby Anna, Ohio.
    “The United States remains the primary market for our Indiana-built Civics,” Rick Schostek, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana vice president, said. “Manufacturing products for export broadens the experiences of our associates, contributes positively to America’s and Indiana’s international trade, and shows our commitment to the continued growth and evolution of our business in Indiana.”
    Honda’s very first American auto production for export occurred in 1987 when the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio built Honda Accords for shipment to Taiwan. Shipments to Japan followed the following year. Since the beginning of manufacturing operations in the United States 30 years ago, Honda has exported more than 3 million automobiles, light trucks, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and power products, according to the press release.
    “We are proud of our Indiana workforce,” Schostek noted. “Our Greensburg plant has ramped up to full single-shift production, and now we have embarked on production for export. This is another step in our growth.”
    In addition to Mexico, the Greensburg plant will build vehicles for sale throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan.
    Earlier this year, Honda announced that the Greensburg plant had become the sole production source of the near-zero emissions, natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX Sedan.

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    Honda Safety Institute Opens its Doors !

    Honda’s Safety Institute is an international model center unique in Europe. With this, Honda dispose of 36 similar facilities around the world, concentrated especially in Asia and South America. However, for its expansion to the old continent Honda has chosen Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, in Barcelona, for the implantation of its first European centre for the training of riders.

    The HIS disposes of modern facility that takes up a surface of 25,000m2, presided by a building equipped with different classrooms. For the practical lessons, there are three clearly differenced areas: an asphalted track for multiple uses, a section with different coefficients of friction for the braking practice, an off-road track and area for trial. In short, these facilities are designed to hold up to 15,000 attendants a year and have meant an inversion close to 4 million Euros.

    The HIS will offer a practical and theoretical formation through the experimented instructors of Honda’s Driving School, an entity with more than 17 years of experience that accounts for more than 144,000 participants.

    The established training program has a total of 7 courses to offer:

    • Special for kids: The best way to learn and have fun. The program of the course includes a strengthened theoretical and practical formation with the use of the Riding Simulator.
    • Road Safety: Basic initiation course for 50cc scooter riding and the development of responsible riding.
    • Validation of the B-A1 license: Course for car drivers that want to get initiated in 125cc scooter riding.
    • Basic Defensive Riding: Course for mid displacement motorcycle riders with little experience.
    • Medium Defensive Riding: Specialized course for medium to high displacement motorcycle riders with many years of experience that want to improve their riding technique.
    • Advanced Defensive Riding: Course designed for medium to high displacement motorcycle riders with many years experience that want to perfect their ability level through advanced riding techniques.
    • Professionals: Specific course for motorcycle professionals. The contents, as the duration of the course adapt to the necessities of each group.

    The facility of the HIS, as well as its variety of activities, guarantees quality formation to all attendants. Also, it’s worth highlighting the price of participation, from 70 to 100 Euros, including use of the motorcycle and the complete rider’s equipment necessary to participate in the course with the highest protection.

    In addition and as it has been since 1992, the HIS will continue to provide free formation in what regards Road Safety, as Montesa Honda S.A. subventions 100% of the cost of the participation of the students from High schools, including the transport to the HIS, and back to their high school.

    The educational program of the HIS includes various formulas for the control of the motorcycle, highlighting the different activities in the off-road area, the trial track and the use of the Riding Simulators. In addition, with the aim to provide more pedagogical orientation to every course, all participants receive as a gift a Manual of Basic Riding Techniques in book and DVD format.

    Honda Safety Program
    Starting in 2004 with the signing of the European Chart of Safety on the Road, the Japanese multinational devotes a good part of its resources to the three basic pillars of Safety: Preventive, Active and Passive.

    In the area of Preventive Safety, the manufacturer highlights the commercialization of the only motorcycle with a mass-produced airbag, the GL18000 Goldwing. In Active Safety, the 80% of the mass-produced motorcycles disposes of ABS Systems. In what concerns Preventive Safety, the manufacturer has developed its own Motorcycle Riding Simulator. And still it continues its investigation in intercommunication systems (ASV) and designed technologies to favour the visibility of vehicles.

    Riders training starts in 1970, when Honda Motor Co Ltd. created its own department of Road Safety promotion. In 1992, Montesa Honda started its own training program with the creation of Hondas Riding School (HEC), an entity that in the last years completes its activities with Honda by Zk School.

    The creation of the HIS reinforces all Montesa Honda’s effort in the area of Preventive Safety, specifically in the training area, representing an important social contribution to the riders collective.


    http://londonbikers.com/news/12379/h...pens-its-doors

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    Road Test: 2009 Honda Civic Coupe !

    Firm suspension and good ride quality

    Bob Mchugh, The Province

    Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009

    The eighth-generation Honda Civic has been a phenomenal success. Introduced as a 2006 model and built in Canada, it was the Canadian Car of the Year (2006) and has been the top-selling car both here and the US. Sold as both a four-door sedan and two-door coupe, it received a minor redesign and interior refit for the 2009 model year.

    More than 1.2 million have been sold in Canada since 1973, and many of those were undoubtedly repeat Civic owners.
    If Honda sticks to its normal five-year generation cycle, the current Civic is heading into its final year (2010) of production. And you can be sure that Honda is already doing final grooming a ninth-generation Civic somewhere, behind closed doors.
    In addition to a proven track record for great reliability and resale value retention, the forward-thinking contemporary styling of the current Civic still looks fresh and edgy. That's especially true for the Civic Coupe, the subject of this review.
    The fresh face of the '09 Civic Coupe was made possible with a new bumper, grille and headlights. The Coupe comes in six trim levels and the up-level models come with new alloy wheel designs.
    The base trim Coupe is the LX, with a great start price of just $17,190. Moving up the trim levels, there's DX-A ($18,490), DX-G ($19,780), LX ($21,580), my test coupe the EX-L ($23,780) and the top line Si ($26,680).
    All except the Si come with the same 1.8-litre, 16-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC engine. It can produce 140 horsepower and helps the Civic Coupe achieve ultra-low-emission vehicle status.
    Fuel economy is excellent -- with the manual transmission it achieves a 7.4/5.4 L/100km city/highway rating on regular fuel.
    Performance features of Civic Coupe Si include a two-litre i-VTEC, 197 horsepower engine, a sport-tuned suspension system, a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission (no auto option), a limited-slip differential, four-wheel-disc brakes and sport seats.
    My test EX-L came with the optional five-speed automatic transmission. A grade-logic feature in this transmission downshifts it on an incline to provide engine braking.
    The EX-L trim adds most of what you get in the Si, including leather upholstery, a 350-watt sound system, steering wheel controls, a power moon roof and (my favourite) electronic-stability control - without the performance upgrades.
    The Looks
    Not sure why a car with two doors almost always looks better than a car with four, but it does. Civic Coupe certainly follows that rule as it's an attractive aerodynamic design with a nice profile and rounded clean lines.
    It doesn't share any body panels with Civic Sedan. The Coupe's cab-forward design is lower and it has a more steeply raked windshield. Short front and rear body overhangs, a wide stance and a more radical slop on the trunk gives it a dramatically different look.
    The Inside
    There's a price to pay for that shapely coupe styling on the inside. The rear seat head and leg room is limited, if you're above average height.
    Getting in and out of the rear seat also involves some extra dexterity, but a single-lever release feature on the front passenger seat makes this task much easier.





    My test Civic Coupe came with a tilt and telescoping steering column, a manually adjustable-height seat cushion and an adjustable centre armrest.

    All this helped to make a comfortable driving position easy to find. The rear seats also had a 60/40 split fold-down feature.
    The two-tier instrument panel is a clever idea that places important gauges (fuel/engine temperature and speed) above the steering wheel and a little farther away, to make it easier for your eyes to scan back and forth from the road ahead. The speedometer is a digital readout that can be switched from kilometres to miles at the press of a switch, which is very handy when travelling in the U.S.
    Trunk space in the Civic Coupe (at 327 litres) is decent, yet less than the sedan, which offers 340.
    Safety
    The Civic Coupe comes with standard side-impact airbags and other good safety features, but it didn't do as well as the Civic sedan in side impact tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
    Vehicle Stability Assist, which is Honda's name for electronic-
    stability control, is standard on the EX-L and Si versions of the Coupe, but not on the other trim levels.
    The Drive
    A shorter wheelbase gives the Civic Coupe more agile handling characteristics than the sedan. It also benefits from a tight, rigid chassis and a double-wishbone rear suspension, which is unusual in a car at this price point.
    Cars in this class are built with a close eye on costs, but Honda is a master at injecting fun and performance into everything it builds. The 1.8-litre engine is a willing worker that revs freely and offers a nice blend of both performance and fuel economy. A driver's car with a firm suspension that still offers good ride quality, the Civic Coupe has a solid and planted feel on the highway, for a small car.
    Like all front-drive vehicles, there's a degree of under-steer when pushed into corners, but it's controlled better than most and the stability-control system helps out.
    Driver vision is particularly good and the extra large windshield has unique overlapping wipers with outboard pivots near the base to the A-pillars. They do a particularly good job of clearing water off almost all of the glass area -- a bonus in the rain capital of Canada.
    The Score
    Attractively styled and fun to drive, the Honda Civic Coupe also offers excellent fuel economy and great reliability at a reasonable price.
    2009 Honda Civic Coupe
    Trim levels: DX, DX-A, DX-G, LX, EX-L and Si.
    Sticker price: $17,190 to $26,680,
    Power: 1.8-litre, I4, 140-horsepower; two-litre, I4, 197-horsepower.
    Transmission: Five- and six-speed manuals and five-speed auto.
    Fuel consumption: 1.8L/manual, 7.4/5.4 L/100 km (city/highway); 1.8L/auto, 8.2/5.7 L/100 km (city/highway).
    Basic warranty: Three years/60,000 km.
    Powertrain warranty: Five years/100,000 km.
    Rust warranty: Five years/unlimited km.
    The Competition
    Chevrolet Cobalt: $15,495-$27,995.
    Ford Focus Coupe: $17,999-$20,199.
    Kia Koup: $18,495-$22,695.
    Mini Cooper: $22,800-$38,390.
    Volkswagen New Beetle: $24,175-$25,515.
    Volvo C30: $27,695-$42,195.
    On the web:
    Consumer site: www.honda.ca
    The Province: www.driving.ca




    http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=2024810&p=2


    tokyodream
    Senior Member
    Last edited by tokyodream; 25-09-09, 10:38.
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    • New Personal Mobility Device- HONDA Development!

      Ia vedeti ce jucarie pregatesc baietii de la Honda:
      YouTube - Honda Develops New Personal Mobility Device: U3-X
      HONDA Accord

      Comment


      • asta poate persoane handicapate ....
        restul cred ca stim sa mergem
        Honda Accord 2006 2.0 ES

        http://hondafan.etp.ro/gallery/v/aleksey/

        Comment


        • mutat aici !

          American Honda Recognizes RR Donnelley as a Top Supplier with Premier Partner Award !



          http://www.pr-inside.com/american-ho...s-r1499563.htm

          R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ:RRD) announced today that American Honda Motor Co., Inc. President and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura presented the company’s Premier Partner Award to RR Donnelley for excellence in providing American Honda with a wide variety of labels that are used in its production processes as well as the Monroney labels that are displayed on all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the United States. Monroney labels show consumers the manufacturer’s base price, standard equipment and other important information. RR Donnelley also supplies Monroney labels to the vehicle maker’s operations in Canada and Mexico. RR Donnelley was one of 15 award recipients selected from 46 suppliers nominated by American Honda associates nationwide.

          “We are very proud and deeply honored to be recognized with this elite award,” said John Paloian, RR Donnelley’s Chief Operating Officer.

          “American Honda has given us the opportunity to work collaboratively with them to provide important products and services for more than 15 years. Our sales, customer service, manufacturing and administrative teams work hard every day to continue earning American Honda’s trust.”


          The Premier Partner Awards were established in 1998 to recognize suppliers who embrace American Honda’s philosophy of exceeding customer expectations. This year’s award winners represent excellence in a variety of industries including logistics, printing, marketing, consulting, training and much more.

          “Today we acknowledge an outstanding group of suppliers who exemplify Honda’s philosophy of delivering the highest possible value to our customers through quality products and customer service,” said Gary Kessler, American Honda’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Administration and Corporate Affairs. “While our industry faces incredible challenges, we appreciate the commitment from these dedicated organizations and thank them for their contribution to Honda’s success.”


          About Honda

          This year marks the 50 th anniversary of the establishment in 1959 of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began U.S. motorcycle production in Ohio in 1979, and U.S. automobile production in 1982. The company has invested more than $10.6 billion in its North America operations, including 16 major manufacturing facilities employing more than 34,000 associates, to produce Honda and Acura automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, lawn mowers, general-purpose engines, and other power equipment products.


          About RR Donnelley

          RR Donnelley (NASDAQ: RRD) is a global provider of integrated communications. Founded more than 144 years ago, the company works collaboratively with more than 60,000 customers worldwide to develop custom communications solutions that reduce costs, enhance ROI and ensure compliance. Drawing on a range of proprietary and commercially available digital and conventional technologies deployed across four continents, the company employs a suite of leading Internet based capabilities and other resources to provide premedia, printing, logistics and business process outsourcing services to leading clients in virtually every private and public sector.

          For more information, and for RR Donnelley's Corporate Social Responsibility Report, visit the company's web site at www.rrdonnelley.com : .



          Use of Forward-Looking Statements

          This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements contained in RR Donnelley's filings with the SEC. RR Donnelley disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.



          R.R. Donnelley & Sons CompanyMedia Contactoug

          Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President CommunicationsTel:

          630-322-6830E-mail: doug.fitzgerald@rrd.com : mailto:doug.fitzgerald@rrd.com orInvestor
          Contactave Gardella, Vice President Investor RelationsTel:

          312-326-8155E-mail: david.a.gardella@rrd.com : mailto:david.a.gardella@rrd.com

          ================================================== ======


          Honda Insight + VW TDi = Insight 1G, With Video!

          http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/09...1g-with-video/

          As you know, here at Autopia, we’re big fans of the engine swaps. And the more high tech or the crazier, the better. We’re not sure if this is either the techiest or the nuttiest, but some really well-meaning folks decided to take a 3-cylinder Volkswagen TDi mill and drop it into an first–gen Honda Insight and still use the hybrid drivetrain. And the mileage numbers are very impressive.

          Putting a new Mercedes diesel into an old chassis, a Power-Stroke Ford into a Checker Marathon or a even giving a first-generation Rabbit a serious upgrade, we’ve always been interested in cool engine swaps. But doing an engine swap in an Insight and keeping the hybrid drive train just about pegged our nerd-meter.
          Honda’s first Insight was the first hybrid car sold in North America. Greenies were all over the thing, and to be sure it was, and even by today’s standards, still is a technological marvel. But any technology could be improved, even something as groundbreaking as the Insight.
          Or at least that’s what the folks at Red Light Racing started to ponder. So if you could improve the Insight, what would you do? Well, the most obvious answer is take out the gasoline-burning engine and drop in a more efficient diesel. For some reason, the Red Light folks thought that the best oil-burning mill to drop in would be Volkswagen’s TDi 3-cylinder from the Euro-only Lupo.
          This is a lot more complicated than swapping out a Civic motor for a new Integra mill.
          First on Red Light Racing’s to-do list was dump the old 1.0-liter, 70-hp gasoline engine and replace it with an oil-burning 1.2-liter PD TDi from a Volkswagen Lupo. Next on the list is to hook the TDi up to the hybrid drivetrain. Before they did that, they ran the Insight 1G on just the VW engine. Bottom line: 80 mpg, which is up considerably from the original’s 53 mpg. When then hybrid portion of things is hooked up and fully sorted, they are expecting further gains of around 15 to 20 percent.
          Just as easy as changing a light bulb? Far from it. Red Light Racing had to chase down issues from bracketry to emissions systems to ECU problems. The last time we saw someone hassling with a car this much, it was made by British Leyland in the mid-’70s.
          In a recent interview with AutoblogGreen, Red Light Racing’s lead engineer Jake Staub said, “The main idea was to take existing hardware, hack it, and make a vehicle that could be produced by major manufacturers or individuals that would deliver tremendous fuel economy without a tremendous leap in technology. I believe we succeeded.”
          Someone from a major manufacturer should hire every one of these people.

          Check out Red Light Racing’s video of the car:

          YouTube - VW 1.2L TDI Powered Honda Insight
          tokyodream
          Senior Member
          Last edited by tokyodream; 26-09-09, 08:55.
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          • Honda Wins 2009 Grove Medal !



            Honda Motor Co. has won the prestigious Grove Medal at the 11th annual Grove Fuel Cell Symposium in London for its FCX Clarity hydrogen powered car.
            “Honda’s commitment to fuel cells has been evident for a long time,” said the Grove Symposium Steering Committee which includes leading international fuel cell researchers,energy and climate change experts from the U.K. and U.S.
            “The FCX Clarity shows not only scientific breakthrough but also styling that has captured the public imagination, and Honda’s move to small-scale automated production marks a watershed in the introduction of fuel cell vehicles. The Grove Committee was unanimous in its choice and is delighted to present this year’s medal to Honda,” they added.
            The award was accepted by Yuji Kawaguchi, Managing Director of Honda R&D Ltd, who said, “We are honoured to accept this medal. At Honda we believe that the automobile holds the potential for limitless dreams and excitement in the future. The FCX Clarity represents the beginning of that future. We hope you will continue to look to Honda with anticipation and we will continue to strive to become a company that society wants to exist.”
            Earlier this year, the Honda FCX Clarity was named the 2009 World Green Car by 59 judges from 25 countries at the Jacob Javits Centre in New York.


            Honda’s FCX Clarity features an electric motor powered by hydrogen, making it emissions-free. It is currently available in both the U.S and Japan on a limited lease basis.
            Named after the inventor of the fuel cell, Sir William Grove, the Symposium is a major international conference focussing on the very latest developments, issues and business aspects of renewable energy. Core themes of the 2009 Symposium included ‘Hydrogen and Fuel Technology’, ‘Vehicles’ and ‘Electricity Generation and Transmission’.
            The 11th Grove Symposium is being held in London between 22 and 24 September 2009.


            http://autoweb.com.au/cms/A_111668/newsarticle.html

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            Honda Announces Overview of Display for the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 !


            http://www.inautonews.com/honda-anno...otor-show-2009

            Covering the largest floor area of any single brand at the show, Honda booth combines automobiles, motorcycles, power products and other highlights to present the distinctive world of Honda mobility.
            Honda’s automobile exhibit will present a variety of environmentally responsible approaches to mobility, including hybrid vehicles, a fuel cell electric vehicle and a battery electric vehicle. The display will also highlight models with innovative packaging and enhanced driving performance that communicate the enjoyment an automobile can provide.
            With the motorcycle display, Honda proposes products which are filled with creativity and dreams and create new value to further broaden the potential of motorcycles. The motorcycles on display range from large-displacement sports bikes that offer new riding pleasure to compact commuter models powered by electricity.
            Also on display are butane gas canister-powered power products, as well as a new personal mobility device which was developed based on the concept of “harmony with people.”
            The special display zone named “HELLO!” (Honda Electric mobility Loop) will feature a comprehensive display of electricity-based products, including products that supply electricity, vehicles that run on electricity and products with innovative electronic technologies.
            The HELLO!(Honda Electric mobility Loop)
            Zone will provide a comprehensive display of Honda’s electromotive technologies, including automobiles, motorcycles, power products, and more - everything from products that supply electricity to products that incorporate electronic technologies. By linking solar panels that supply electricity with battery electric vehicles that emit zero CO2 in use, Honda envisions the low-carbon society of the near future. In addition, each HELLO! vehicle features interactive communication technologies that showcase the fun ways in which mobility devices can interact with people and society. On display will be the FCX CLARITY, a fuel cell electric vehicle that runs on the electricity it produces from hydrogen; the EV-N battery electric vehicle; the EV-Cub electric motorcycle; the EV-MONPAL electric personal mobility device; the new U3-X, a one-wheel personal mobility device that uses balance control technology that was developed through the ASIMO bipedal humanoid robot; and LOOP, a portable communication tool that allows people and mobility devices to communicate with each other.
            The automobile display will focus on hybrid vehicles, which Honda believes offer one of the most practical means of addressing environmental concerns at the present time. Joining the Insight, which has been very well received since its release in Japan in February 2009, will be the CR-Z Concept 2009, a hybrid with a new sense and feel, making its world premiere, and the SKYDECK, an innovative six-passenger, multi-purpose hybrid vehicle. Other models on display are the all-new STEP WGN and STEP WGN SPADA (both scheduled for introduction in Japan in October 2009), which feature innovative packaging to expand the joy of using automobiles, and the all-new CIVIC TYPE R EURO (scheduled for introduction in Japan in November 2009), which captures the joy of driving, discovered and refined on European roads.

            .................................................. ...................................

            AVETI LISTA DE PREMIERE in articol !!!




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            Tdi Plc Launches Full Mugen Aftermarket Product Range For Honda Civic Type R FN2; Visual Enhancements First Release !



            THURROCK, UNITED KINGDOM - September 29, 2009: Principal Mugen stockist and leading Japanese tuning house Torque Developments International Plc is pleased to announce that the full range of Honda Civic Type R FN2 upgrades are now available for the performance aftermarket.
            Covering engine, chassis, braking and visual enhancements, the Mugen Civic Type R FN2 product range has been subject OEM style levels of arduous design, testing and quality control tests, ensuring that the Mugen FN2 product portfolio offers enthusiasts the ultimate in performance and reliability.
            First launch from the Mugen range are FN2 the front and visual enhancements seen adorning the critically acclaimed Civic Type R Mugen concept. Lightweight, high quality and distinctive, the Mugen FN2 body styling provides a unique look, designed for the Honda connoisseur.




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            Comment


            • Acura partner Wirth working on new sports car !


              http://www.autoweek.com/article/20091001/ALMS/910019995


              The company behind Acura's successful Le Mans prototypes of the past three seasons is working on a next-generation sports car.
              British-based Wirth Research revealed that it is forging ahead with a new car built to the forthcoming 2011 rulebook, even though Acura still looks certain to call time on its factory LMP1 program at the end of the season. Company boss Nick Wirth explained that the new design could be an Acura or carry the badges of another manufacturer.
              “We are waiting to hear Acura's plans for next year, but we are not standing still,” he explained. “We want to be in sports-car racing and are already working on a project for 2011. We can't let all the knowledge we have gained over the past few years go to waste.”
              Wirth said he hopes to “remain with Acura and Honda,” but revealed that his company is “in dialogue with other manufacturers.” He said that Wirth Research is unlikely to focus on building customer cars.
              The company, based near Silverstone, England, has no fears about remaining in sports-car racing while at the same time having a technical partnership with the new Manor Grand Prix squad in Formula One.
              “Our engineering staff has doubled to 105 this year,” said Wirth. “We have the capacity to do sports cars as well as F1, and our F1 partner understands that.”

              Wirth Research expects that its Acura-badged ARX-01b LMP2 cars will race in the hands of customers next year. No date has been set for an announcement on the Acura LMP1 program's future. To read more visit the AutoWeek ALMS racing news and reports section.



              This article was last updated on: 10/01/09, 10:26 et



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              http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...hicles_in.html




              The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is a great resource for car buyers. This not-for-profit organization partners with law enforcement and insurers to prevent insurance fraud and crime. Each year the NICB releases reports that outline the vehicles stolen most often and the




              locations with the highest rate of stolen vehicles for the previous year. These reports, Hot Wheels and Hot Spots, are invaluable for consumers who may download them free of charge at the NICB website: www.nicb.org.


              According to the Hot Wheels report released in 2009, the most stolen vehicles in 2008 were:

              1. 1994 Honda Accord

              2. 1995 Honda Civic

              3. 1989 Toyota Camry

              4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup

              5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

              6. 2000 Dodge Caravan

              7. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

              8. 1994 Acura Integra

              9. 1999 Ford Taurus

              10. 2002 Ford Explorer

              Check the full report for a state-by-state look at the stolen vehicle statistics. The encouraging news is that 2008 was the fifth consecutive year in which thefts declined. In fact, the numbers indicate fewer than one million vehicles were stolen, a 20 year low.

              From the Hot Spots report released in 2009, consumers can find 2008 stolen vehicle rates for any area of the country.

              The 10 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) with the highest vehicle theft rates were:


              1. Modesto, CA

              2. Laredo, TX

              3. Yakima, WA

              4. San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, CA

              5. Bakersfield, CA

              6. Stockton, CA

              7. Las Vegas/Paradise, NV

              8. Albuquerque, NM

              9. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, CA

              10. Fresno, CA

              The 10 MSAs with the lowest vehicle theft rates were:

              1. Elmira, NY

              2. State College, PA

              3. Glens Falls, NY

              4. Logan, UT/ID

              5. Ithaca, NY

              6. Cumberland, MD/WV

              7. Johnstown, PA

              8. Madison, WI

              9. Holland/Grand Haven, MI

              10. Fond du Lac, WI

              California ranks number one in total thefts. In many areas that border Mexico, thefts rose as the stolen vehicles were used in illegal activities organized by drug cartels. The NCIB is working with US and Mexican authorities to recover these vehicles.

              To deter the theft of your vehicle, the NCIB recommends adopting the following approach:

              </U>Common Sense - including always removing the keys and securing the locks and windows. In addition, par in a well-lit area when possible.

              Warning Devices - including audible alarms, steering column/steering wheel/brake/tire locks, VIN etching

              Immobilizing Device - including smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches, and



              disablers

              Tracking Device - that sends a signal to police and/or the owner that allows the vehicle to be traced

              For more details on the NCIB, stolen vehicle statistics, or preventive measures, please visit the NCIB website.

              ================================================== =================================

              American Honda Reports September Sales!


              Date: October 01, 2009 14:28
              Submitted by: Jeff
              Source: Honda Press Release
              Credibility Rating: Not Specified

              10/01/2009 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

              American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted total September vehicle sales of 77,229, a decline of 23.3 percent compared to September 2008, based on the daily selling rate*. Honda Division posted September sales of 69,970, a decline of 22.5 percent versus September 2008.

              Honda total car sales decreased by 20.4 percent, to 41,982. Honda light-truck sales decreased 25.4 percent, to 27,988. Pilot sales increased 0.5 percent, to 5,438.

              The Acura Division posted sales of 7,259, a decline of 30.3 percent compared to September 2008. The MDX was the brand's best-selling vehicle with 2,220 units sold.

              *The daily selling rate is calculated with 25 days for September 2009 and 24 days for September 2008. The year-to-date daily selling rate is calculated with 229 days for 2009 and 230 days for 2008. All percentages reflect the daily selling rate.






              http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=855532


              ================================================== ========================

              Si in CANADA pe septembrie:

              http://www.desrosiers.ca/Monthly%20Updates/sales.pdf



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              Comment


              • Bayley House Sets Out on Odyssey !

                http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...05/480182.html

                MELBOURNE – October 5, 2009: The Honda Foundation and Robert Lane Honda in Melbourne, have delivered the residents of Bayley House’s Lubrano Street accommodation with a new set of wheels – a Honda Odyssey.
                The Odyssey will enable the residents at the supported accommodation home to travel in style to social activities, day programs, outings and other important appointments.
                Chairman of The Honda Foundation, Mr. Lindsay Smalley said, “The Foundation is very pleased to offer this Odyssey for use by Bayley House. It will provide the residents of Lubrano Street with a stylish and comfortable vehicle to take them where ever they need to be.”
                The Odyssey will be serviced by the fantastic staff at Robert Lane Honda, who are strong supporters of Bayley House. Sam Lane, General Manager of Robert Lane Honda said, “This is a fabulous program to be involved in. Bayley House does such a great job supporting people in our local area. It is wonderful for us to be able to give something back to the community and help Bayley House in this way.”
                Ann Parry, Manager of Residential Services received the keys to the new Honda Odyssey. “We are very grateful to The Honda Foundation for recognising the needs of our residents. Our Lubrano Street house has been without a dedicated vehicle for a while now. At times, one of our fleet buses is available but mostly the guys had to travel in a staff member’s car or make their way around the community on public transport or by bike. This car will make an enormous difference to their ability to participate more in community based activities and give us time to seek funding to purchase a vehicle.”
                Bayley House, based in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton, is a not-for-profit organisation that assists over 160 adults with an intellectual disability. Their services include day activity programs, prevocational workshop experience, after hours recreational and leisure activities as well as important accommodation services. Their focus is on teaching, developing and maintaining skills through participation in their great programs.
                The Honda Foundation aims to provide assistance to local communities and foster goodwill between Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. It draws funding from Honda Dealers and Honda Australia, who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.
                For more information on The Honda Foundation and the organisations it supports, please visit www.hondafoundation.org.au



                ================================================== ======================





                Vehicle thefts down sharply; Tucson still prime ground !


                http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/311864.php

                Auto theft continues to drop both nationally and in Arizona, recent FBI figures show.
                Arizona's vehicle theft rate fell 25 percent in 2008, more than twice the national decrease of 12.7 percent, according to the FBI's 2008 Uniform Crime Report.
                As significant as that is, though, Arizona still remains a hotbed of vehicle thefts, with 37,218 vehicles stolen in 2008, according to the report.
                Those thefts resulted in losses of more than $282 million last year, said the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority.

                Contact reporter Brian J. Pedersen at 573-4224 or bjp@azstarnet.com



                ================================================== =================

                Refining the Honda CR-V crossover !

                http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...crossover.html

                The best-selling compact crossover vehicle, the Honda CR-V, comes back for 2010 with some “refinements and upgrades,” the automaker says, including new features, more power and improved fuel economy.
                One of the vehicles that created the crossover segment, the CR-V was introduced for 1997 — in answer to Toyota's rollout a year earlier of the similar RAV4.
                Both were among the first wave of compact car-based utility vehicles, although not the first. Subaru came out with the Legacy Outback Wagon in 1995, which some contend was the first modern crossover utility vehicle.
                Whoever gets the credit, the CR-V remains one of the most-popular models the genre has produced, and they're on the road everywhere. They're quite resilient vehicles, too. We have a 1997 model in our family and it's still going strong at nearly 13 years old.
                For 2010, the CR-V gets a new front fascia, hood, grille and bumper, and a new rear bumper.
                Ten-spoke alloy wheels are now standard on the CR-V EX and EX-L models, replacing the 2009 model's seven-spoke wheels.
                Inside, some new technology is available, including a Bluetooth hands-free telephone link on models that have the navigation system.
                Also new are such convenience features as automatic headlights and wider center armrests, standard on all models, Honda says. The center armrests are an inch wider for both the driver and front passenger.
                The 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine now cranks out 180 horsepower, which is up 14 from the 2009 CR-V. Yet fuel economy has been slightly increased — up one mpg in both city and highway driving for all models.
                New EPA ratings are 21 city/28 highway on front-wheel-drive models, and 21/27 on those with Honda's Real Time 4WD system.
                The CR-V can seat up to five people rather comfortably, and there is a roomy 35.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats.
                No third seat is offered, however, which puts the CR-V at a competitive disadvantage to the comparably sized RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander, both of which are available with seven-passenger seating.
                The CR-V keeps the same exterior dimensions as before, with a 177.9 overall length and a 103.1-inch wheelbase.
                Passenger volume remains at 103.8 cubic feet, which, when combined with the cargo space, gives the vehicle more space than the typical large sedan, Honda says.
                Prices for 2010 range from $21,545 (plus $710 freight) for the base LX two-wheel-drive model to $29,745 for the EX-L model with navigation (the “L” stands for leather), which is the most fully equipped version. Honda does not have a separate list of options for its vehicles the way most other automakers do.
                The vehicle gets new seat fabrics, interior door handles, steering-wheel trim, and gear shifter, as well as darker brown carpet in models with the ivory interior.
                EX-L models with or without the navigation system now come with a USB connection for direct access to music from iPods, iPhones and other MP3 players.
                The background for the Multi-Information Display is now blue instead of black, and there is a compass included on EX and EX-L models without the navigation system. On models with navigation, the Bluetooth information shows up on the display screen.
                Cubbies abound in the car to help keep personal items out of sight when the vehicle is parked. A tray in the center console can keep cell phones and iPods accessible and secure when the vehicle is under way. The center console can hold even large handbags.
                The rear seat has a 60/40 split-folding design to allow for expansion of the cargo area to a total of 72.9 cubic feet. There are two child safety seat tethers.
                A dual rear cargo deck, included on uplevel models, can hold an item such as a stroller below, and can carry groceries above, keeping them separated and organized.
                Among standard safety features are Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure; electronic stability control; roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats, with a rollover sensor; front seat-mounted side air bags; active front head restraints; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
                Three trim levels are offered, and four-wheel drive is available at any level.
                LX models come air conditioning with air-filtration system, keyless entry, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, power windows with auto-up/down on the driver's side, power door and tailgate locks, AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, a fuel economy meter and 17-inch steel wheels.
                Midlevel EX models also get a one-touch tilt power moon roof, chrome grille and rear license plate trim, rear privacy glass, security system, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, the dual-deck cargo shelf, an audio system upgrade with six-disc in-dash CD changer and six speakers, exterior temperature indicator, vanity mirror lights, the digital compass, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
                The EX-L version comes with leather seats and armrests, heated front seats, body-colored side mirrors and door handles, XM satellite radio, the USB audio interface, and the automatic headlights.
                Optional is the Honda Navigation System with Voice Recognition and rearview camera, which also brings a premium audio system with seven speakers, including a subwoofer, the Bluetooth connection, and a six-disc CD changer in the center console replaces the one in the dash.
                For 2010, exterior color choices include Opal Sage Metallic, Royal Blue Pearl, Taffeta White, Glacier Blue Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Tango Red Pearl and Urban Titanium Metallic.
                Inside, the color choices include ivory, black and gray.
                The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III appear Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Drive. Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@express-news.net.
                [IMG]http://media.mysanantonio.com/images/215*140/20091004chambers2300.jpg[/IMG]

                ================================================== ==================


                Honda says U.S. sales of Pilot rise in September !


                http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2009...f_pilot_r.html

                By Jerry Underwood -- The Birmingham News

                October 01, 2009, 12:46PM

                U.S. sales of the Alabama-built Honda Pilot SUV rose 4.7 percent in September, while sales tumbled for the other models built at the Japanese automaker's Lincoln factory.





                A Pilot SUV rolls off the assembly line in Lincoln.
                Honda said today that it sold 5,438 Pilots last month, up from 5,192 in September 2008.

                Sales of the Odyssey minivan were 5,735 last month, a 46.8 percent drop from a year ago, while sales of the Ridgeline pickup fell 39.8 percent to 1,430.




                ================================================== =========================

                New Honda boss Takanobu Ito takes to his monocycle to put joy into Honda!

                http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle6859990.ece#

                It’s a tough time to take charge of a car company. The industry has yet to get back on its feet yet Takanobu Ito, who has taken the top job at Honda, doesn’t do doom and gloom.
                He wants to talk about running the company according to the philosophy of joy, or rather three “joys” — the joy of buying, the joy of selling and the joy of creating.
                It would sound crass in the mouth of most company executives, but Ito’s mantra — or rather that of the company founder, Soichiro Honda, who came up with the guiding principles 50 years ago — doesn’t seem out of place.
                Honda has always had a maverick streak, itching to use its technical prowess to do more than make cars.






                Just before talking to The Sunday Times — his first big interview since taking over in June — he launched a bizarre product, the U3-X monocycle. Ito beamed as he rode the U3-X round for the TV cameras. “We invented it so we just wanted to show it.”
                It’s not all sweetness and light at Honda, though. Its UK car plant at Swindon highlighted the recession when the company took the bold — and early — decision to close for four months. While it was idle, engineers rejigged the lines so it could make a smaller model, the Jazz, the first of which rolls off the assembly line on Wednesday.
                Apart from making 3.5m cars, 14.5m motorcycles and 5m power products ranging from outboard motors to hedge cutters, Honda has a Fundamental Technology Research Centre, where 700 boffins work on everything from robots to jet aircraft.
                Other companies wonder how Honda can justify the investment in blue-sky research. Ito said it is indispensable. “It is vital to encourage out-of-the-box thinking, to develop breakthrough ideas and to take a long-sighted view.”
                While it is not clear that Asimo, Honda’s delightful humanoid robot, will find a place in the average household, Ito points to other long-term research projects that are now coming into use.
                It has been working on aircraft for 20 years and in 2011 expects to have the six-passenger HondaJet in production in America, selling at a lower price and using less fuel than comparable executive jets.
                It has also set up Honda Soltec to produce solar panels using a thin-film technology developed by its research department.
                Although Honda has no intention of getting out of the car or motorcycle business, it believes that it should broaden its product offering to reflect changes in personal transportation.
                Ito said: “Currently, carbon dioxide emissions are a critical global issue and our challenge is to meet ever-tightening CO2 regulations while enhancing the joy of personal mobility.
                “Increasingly, the general public is supporting the public transport system and that is totally different from the personal mobility that we cherish. So there is a risk to our activities.”
                Ito returns to Soichiro Honda’s guiding principles: “Our original corporate objective was to promote individual freedom.”
                On the car side, it is extending hybrid technology throughout its range. The second-generation petrol-electric Insight, launched this year, has proved a great success and in its first month was the best-selling car in Japan.
                Next will be the hybrid CR-Z sports coupé, to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in three weeks time, followed by a hybrid version of the Jazz.
                Hybrids, however, do not qualify as the “zero emission” vehicles that will be required by law in California and elsewhere. Honda’s answer to that is the FCX Clarity, a futuristic car with a fuel cell system that combines hydrogen fuel with oxygen from the air to make electricity.
                The manufacturing cost of the Clarity, though, is very high — Honda has made only 20 — and the infrastructure to provide the hydrogen is not well enough developed to make this a near-term proposition for the everyday motorist.
                One of the lessons that Ito has learnt from what the Japanese call the “Lehman Shock” is that to stay competitive each individual product must be profitable.
                At Honda it used to be that the engineers at R&D designed the products and gave them to the sales department to sell. The result was a proliferation of models, only some of which were successful.
                Now, like its rivals, Honda is rationalising its range, cutting the number of variants and making sure that new models are suitable for all markets.
                Two years ago Honda had a plan to make 4.5m cars a year but growth is not top of Ito’s agenda. “For us, 3.5m is sufficient,” he said.
                “We are very keen on the quality, performance and uniqueness of our products and if another company can share this vision and we have a good match we could be open to a joint venture.”
                Since its co-operation with Rover 30 years ago, some engine swapping with General Motors in the 1990s and the joint ventures required to build cars in China, Honda has not made significant agreements with other car companies. The implication is clear. Nobody else does it the Honda Way.

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                • Brandul HONDA a urcat 2 locuri, pe 18:

                  http://www.interbrand.com/best_global_brands.aspx#


                  ================================================== =================


                  American Honda President/CEO to receive SCMBDC's Leadership Award !


                  http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...d,984156.shtml

                  LOS ANGELES - (Business Wire) Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will receive Southern California Minority Business Development Council’s 2009 Leadership Award at its 25th Annual Leadership Award dinner on Friday, October 16.

                  The event will be held at The Beverly Hills Hotel, located at 9641 Sunset Blvd. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.
                  The Leadership Award is given to an individual and/or corporation whose achievements and leadership in the business community have resulted in positive results for small and minority-owned businesses.
                  "American Honda has not only been a major supporter of supplier diversity through its programs and initiatives mentoring and sustaining the growth of minority- , women-owned and small businesses, but a long-time supporter of this council," according to SCMBDC President John W. Murray, Jr. "We greatly appreciate and value the company's 20-plus-year partnership, their leadership and guidance, and their many years of service on our board.
                  "Their commitment to supplier diversity and to the council has been nothing short of extraordinary. We are so pleased to honor Tetsuo Iwamura and American Honda in 2009 as the company commemorates its first 50 years in America," he adds.
                  “Our goal is to build a supply base that is representative of the people where we do business,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The key to success is not only awarding a contract to an outstanding minority supplier, but forming a true and respectful relationship for the long term.”
                  Mr. Iwamura has operational responsibility for all American Honda businesses, is the chief operating officer for the North American region, and serves as a managing director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. He began his career with Honda in 1978 and joined American Honda as the president and CEO in April 2007.

                  Starting in 1959, with the fuel-efficient Honda 50 motorcycle, to the newly launched 2010 Honda Insight gas-electric hybrid vehicle, Honda has introduced new technologies and business strategies that have shaped the industry and the growth of Honda, including:
                  • First automaker to meet U.S. Clean Air Act without a catalytic converter - Civic CVCC (1974)
                  • First vehicle to top U.S. EPA list of most fuel efficient cars - Civic (1977)
                  • First Japanese automaker to build motorcycles (1979) and automobiles (1982) in America - Marysville, Ohio, using domestic and globally sourced parts
                  • First Japanese automaker to establish a luxury automobile brand -- Acura (1986)
                  • First mass produced gas electric hybrid car introduced in America -- Insight (1999)
                  • First government-certified hydrogen fuel cell vehicle -- FCX (2002)
                  Honda has steadily expanded its U.S. presence to encompass a broad range of products and operations. Today, Honda employs more than 25,000 U.S. associates engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, sale and servicing of Honda and Acura products including automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, personal water craft, power equipment, and an advanced light jet.


                  Honda operates 10 U.S. manufacturing plants with two new plants under construction, along with 14 R&D facilities and more than 12 regional sales, parts and service, and finance offices around the country. The company's network of U.S. parts suppliers comprises 545 companies in 34 states with annual purchases exceeding $17.5 billion in 2008. In May 2009, Honda reached the 15 million unit milestone in U.S. automobile production.
                  Leadership Award dinner sponsors to date include: ADT Security Services; American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; APR Consulting, Inc.; BP; Chevron Corporation; Diverse Staffing Solutions; Hilton Hotels Corporation; Icon Blue; Insight Investments; Kaiser Permanente; Los Angeles Department Water & Power; Martin Brinkerhoff Associates Inc; Metropolitan Water District; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Net Serve Systems, Inc.; Rubin Postaer & Associates; Southern California Edison Co.; Southern California Gas Co.; Support Services of America; The Walt Disney Company, and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

                  For information and sponsorship opportunities regarding the 2009 Leadership Award dinner, contact Shawn Smith at (213) 689-6940, or ssmith@scmbdc.org.

                  About SCMBDC :


                  Southern California Minority Business Development Council, the region’s leading minority business advocacy organization, represents the interests of more than 600,000 minority businesses in its 13-county service area in Southern California. In addition to serving certified minority businesses, the council provides its nearly 200 corporate members access to qualified minority suppliers representing highly diverse businesses, both in ethnicity and in products and services. Headquartered in Los Angeles and one of 38 regional councils in the National Minority Supplier Development Council network, its mission is "to support and develop minority business enterprises to compete and succeed in the open market." SCMBDC has made a positive impact in the minority business community since its founding in 1975. For more information, visit www.scmbdc.org.

                  Cho Estrada Communications
                  Vicki Cho Estrada
                  (661) 255-8024
                  choestrada@earthlink.net
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                  • Hybrids less costly at pump, not shop !

                    Automakers try to ease sticker shock

                    http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll...60332/0/NEWS04




                    Toyota lowered the price of its 2010 Prius hybrid, above, to about $21,000 after Honda dropped its Insight to less than $20,000.
                    ( ASSOCIATED PRESS )

                    By LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE
                    BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

                    It has been a decade since the 2000 Honda Insight and later the 2001 Toyota Prius began quietly traversing America's roadways, endearing themselves and their groundbreaking technology to environmentalists everywhere.

                    But even though sales of hybrids peaked, along with gas prices, more than a year ago, automakers keep bringing hybrid models to market - even as owners find that their vehicles can incur costs away from the gas pump.

                    If there have been two knocks holding back hybrid ownership, they have been the vehicles' repair issues and their premium price tags.

                    Fixing hybrids can be different, said Jim Raber, service manager at Rouen Toyota on Conant Street in Maumee.

                    "With some things, it's like a normal car, but with some things it's not," he said. "When you get into diagnosing it and doing any kind of repair, if you don't know exactly what you're doing, that's when you get into trouble."

                    Pricewise, some hybridized vehicles cost as much as $5,000 more than their gas-powered counterparts.

                    "What a lot of car companies are realizing is they have to get hybrids to where the costs are about the same" as their internal-combustion-powered equivalents, Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com, which tracks the automotive industry, said.
                    Honda has made some progress, lowering its entry-level 2010 Insight to less than $20,000, thereby forcing Toyota to lower its 2010 Prius to about $21,000.

                    Lately, some insurance firms have begun to discount policies for hybrid vehicles. Although hybrids can be more expensive to fix, studies indicate hybrid vehicle owners are less likely to be in collisions.

                    In Ohio and Michigan, Farmers Insurance, Travelers Insurance, and GEICO all offer some form of discount to their customers who own hybrid vehicles. The discount can be as much as 10 percent.

                    Hybrid vehicles do present a specific danger when involved in accidents. Their high-voltage drive systems can result in a potentially fatal discharge to emergency workers if the systems aren't disabled properly.

                    Emergency responders undergo special training in how to safely handle accidents involving hybrid vehicles, but recognizing vehicles with an electrified powertrain can be difficult. Unlike the distinctive Prius, hybrid versions of the Ford Escape sport utility vehicle and Honda Civic don't look much different than their gas-powered counterparts.

                    This fall, as 2010 vehicles begin showing up at dealerships, there will be nearly two dozen vehicles featuring hybrid technology. Though varying widely in size and in features and ranging from $19,800 to more than $106,000, the vehicles all use stored electricity to drive the wheels.

                    "Hybrids have gone mainstream in terms of the knowledge of them among potential customers," Mr. Brauer said.

                    Although sales have fallen for hybrids - as they have for almost all other vehicles over the last two years, "Manufacturers feel we're only one serious energy shortage away from massive demand [for hybrids]. And they want to be ready with something in the marketplace," Mr. Brauer said.

                    More than 1.5 million hybrid vehicles have been sold in the United States since 1999, when the first Insight was sold. More than 1.1 million of the hybrids sold in the United States were manufactured by Toyota Motor Co., whose Prius continued to evolve even as other manufacturers dropped - or never began - hybrid efforts. Nearly 253,000 other hybrids sold in the United States were manufactured by American Honda Motor Corp., including the Ohio-made Civic hybrid.

                    Ford Motor Corp. leads domestic manufacturers in hybrid sales with more than 112,000 vehicles, including hybrid versions of its Escape SUV and Fusion sedan. General Motors Co. has the most hybridized vehicles on the market with eight, but so far has sold only about 23,000 of the vehicles.

                    Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:
                    lvellequette@theblade.com
                    or 419-724-6091.

                    ================================================== =================


                    New Acura on Honda production lines soon !

                    http://www.simcoe.com/article/146848





                    Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston is navigating the economic downturn the best it can, according to senior management.
                    "We've managed to get through this without closing any plants in North America," said Joe Sperduti, administration general manager and vice president.
                    In September, Honda Canada Inc. sold 12,399 units, in both its Honda and Acura divisions, a 17 per cent decrease in sales over September 2008 figures.
                    Honda division sales were down 12 per cent over last September, with 11,272 units sold.
                    Acura sold 1,127 units, with sales decreasing 45 per cent over last year.
                    Because of the sales, production at the two Alliston plants is still not at full capacity. Last winter production at Plant 2 was cut back to one shift.
                    "Until this market recovers I don't see us going back to two shifts," said Sperduti.
                    Plant 1, which is producing the Civic, is at full capacity producing 800 vehicles per day, with Plant 2, where the new Acura ZDX is scheduled to be built, putting out 400 vehicles a day.
                    Having to cut back a shift is a first in Sperduti's experience.
                    "We've had some blips over the last 20 years, but nothing like this," he said.
                    Honda is moving forward with producing new model vehicles.
                    In the coming weeks, Plant 2 will start producing the Acura ZDX.
                    HCM unveiled the crossover utility vehicle last winter. It was scheduled to be on sale this fall, but the date was pushed back in July.
                    Producing the vehicle won't create any new jobs at the Alliston plants, the vehicle will be scheduled into an existing line and be built by current employees.
                    This has been a milestone year for Honda, which is celebrating its 40th year in Canada. January marked the five-millionth vehicle driving off the Alliston production lines and shortly after that Honda produced its 20 millionth vehicle in North America.
                    Honda opened its Alliston production plant in 1986, representing an investment of $2.6 billion. With about 4,400 workers, the Honda Civic sedan and coupe and the Acura CSX sedan and MDX luxury utility vehicle are built locally, as well as fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines.
                    Nearly half of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2008 were made in Canada.


                    ================================================== ===========================
                    tokyodream
                    Senior Member
                    Last edited by tokyodream; 09-10-09, 07:56.
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                    • New Car’s 2010 Awards Issue on the Shelves Now !


                      http://www.pr-inside.com/new-car-s-2...n-r1518835.htm

                      The current issue of new car, Ireland’s leading motoring title from the publishers of Car Buyers Guide (www.cbg.ie), announces the winners of its prestigious New Car of the Year Awards for 2010. The winner, runner-up and third-placed vehicle in each of the 21 categories are the subject of insightful comment from respected Irish motoring journalist Conor Twomey, and four new


                      categories have been added for this year: the Green Car, Best Engine, Brand Commitment to Safety and Overall Safety Awards. The four new awards for 2010 are intended to laud those vehicles that best address the main concerns of modern car buyers. The environmental impact of your vehicle has taken on even greater importance since the introduction of the emissions-based VRT and Road Tax regime in July 2008, and the new Toyota Prius is a worthy winner of the magazine’s inaugural Green Car Award. Better looking, roomier, faster, better handling and cleaner than ever before, the third-generation Prius has finally achieved the perfect balance between performance and economy. The Best Engine Award, meanwhile, was scooped up by BMW’s 2.0-litre ‘EfficientDynamics’ turbo-diesel unit, which, with CO2 emissions of just 109g/km but the ability to deliver a sprightly 0–100km/h time of 8.2 seconds, impressed as a clean option that doesn’t require the driver to compromise on performance or fun. The two new safety awards, which were presented in association with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), were won by the same manufacturer, as Honda garnered both the Brand Commitment to Safety Award and the Overall Safety Award for the Insight. Presenting the Brand Commitment to Safety Award to Honda Marketing Manager Neil Dalton, RSA Chief Executive Noel Brett commented, “Honda’s unswerving devotion to safety in its vehicles is illustrated by the impressive NCAP safety ratings across its entire range, and all its models boast commendable occupant and child-protection ratings, too.”
                      Notable results among the returning categories include the Kia Soul’s eyebrow-raising second place, after the VW Golf, in the Family Car category. Seen in the past as a budget option, the Korean manufacturer has created a funky alternative to the traditional family car that has edged out previous segment mainstays Toyota and Ford. In the Crossover category, Peugeot hit the ground running as its 3008, the French marque’s first foray into this segment, pushed the formerly all-conquering Nissan Qashqai into second place, while a glimpse of things to come is offered in the SUV category, where the Lexus RX450H, a hybrid no less, beat the Range Rover Sport and BMW X1, perhaps heralding a sea change in what has been seen, traditionally, as the least environmentally friendly segment.
                      And change was also in the air as new car announced its overall winner for 2010. In what is, perhaps, a reflection of these more austere times, Toyota’s quirky city car, the iQ, couldn’t be more removed from last year’s overall winner, the opulent BMW 7-Series, but its elegantly simple concept, brilliant execution and impressively low running costs make it worthy of this year’s top spot.


                      New Car’s 2010 Awards – Full List of This Year’s Winners:

                      City Car: Toyota iQ

                      Supermini: Ford Fiesta

                      Family Car: VW Golf

                      Large Family Car: Opel Insignia

                      People Carrier: Ford S-Max/Galaxy

                      Crossover: Peugeot 3008

                      Compact Executive Car: Audi A5 Sportback

                      Large Executive Car: BMW 5-Series

                      Luxury Car: Porsche Panamera

                      Luxury Crossover/SUV: Lexus RX450H

                      Executive Convertible: Audi A5 Convertible

                      Convertible/Cabriolet: Fiat 500C

                      Roadster: Mazda MX-5

                      Coupé/Sportscar: VW Scirocco

                      Hot Hatch: Ford Focus RS

                      Performance Car: Porsche 911 GT3

                      Green Car: Toyota Prius

                      Best Engine: BMW 2.0-litre ‘EfficientDynamics’ turbo diesel

                      Brand Commitment to Safety: Honda

                      Overall Safety: Honda Insight

                      Overall Winner: Toyota iQ

                      About CBG.ie:


                      CBG.ie is the premier website for car dealers and private sellers to advertise their cars for sale. The site is also an authoritative resource for Irish motoring news, with continually updated reviews, features, news and views. As Ireland’s No. 1 motoring website, CBG.ie provides an excellent and hugely cost-effective platform from which to find buyers for your cars. With over 50,000 vehicles advertised by 700 dealers and over 10,000 private advertisers at any one time, CBG.ie is the only motoring website to have exclusive partnerships with the leading national newspaper websites (The Irish Times and Independent Newspapers), and it also provides motoring channels to Yahoo.ie and MSN.ie. CBG.ie is visited by buyers over 525,000 times per month, and users view over 18.5 million pages on the website per month. Visit us online at www.cbg.ie.

                      ================================================== =================================


                      Hybrid Sales Plummet After Cash-For-Clunkers Credits Quit !


                      http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/...s-credits-quit

                      We knew all along that the Cash-For-Clunkers program induced July and August car buyers to go for vehicles they might not otherwise have chosen, specifically smaller cars with higher gas mileage. Especially hybrid-electric vehicles from Toyota, Honda, Ford, and others.
                      But now comes the hybrid hangover: September sales of hybrids plummeted against August totals inflated by those $3,500 and $4,500 clunker credits.

                      Even worse than overall sales
                      Total U.S. car sales in September fell 41 percent, roughly back to levels from before the Clunkers program. But hybrids fell even more. They were down 48 percent versus August, though only 4 percent lower than last September, just as the car market entered full meltdown.
                      Year to date, however, hybrids have done better than vehicle sales in general when 2009 is compared to 2008. Hybrids are down 14.5 percent over last year, whereas total vehicle sales fell 22.5 percent.
                      The 2010 Toyota Prius, which is in short supply globally, fell from 20,000 August sales to 11,000 in September, though the market fell so much that still kept it the ninth best-selling vehicle in the U.S.
                      Altima Hybrid: 90 percent decline
                      Other hybrids fared much worse. The low-volume Nissan Altima Hybrid sold a mere 345 units in September, a tenth of its August sales. And the Honda Civic Hybrid fell to just 152 dales, down 79 percent.
                      So who was the hybrid winner for September? That had to be Ford, whose 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan sold 1,120 copies. Added to 790 Escape Hybrid crossovers, that let Ford barely squeak past Honda's 1,900 into the silver position for hybrid sales.
                      Insight in trouble?
                      The 2010 Honda Insight sold just 1,750 units in September, though that still made it the second best-selling hybrid in the U.S. after the long-time champion Toyota Prius. But with just 15,800 sales since it hit showrooms in February, the 2010 Insight is so far lagging against Honda's goal of 80,000 sales in its first year.
                      [HybridCars.com]



                      2010 Toyota Prius
                      Enlarge Photo


                      2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
                      Enlarge Photo


                      2010 Honda Insight
                      Enlarge Photo


                      2010 Ford Escape Hybrid
                      Enlarge Photo


                      2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
                      Enlarge Photo


                      2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid


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                      Honda Repeats Goal to Raise Japan Sales 13 Percent !

                      http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=8787244

                      TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co <7267.T> on Friday repeated its target to increase its sales in Japan by 13 percent to 655,000 vehicles, thanks to brisk sales of its fuel-efficient models.
                      "At the beginning of the year, we were targeting about 600,000 units with our dealers," said Hiroshi Kobayashi, head of the No.2 Japanese automaker's domestic operations.
                      "But sales have been robust since April, and we're now aiming for 655,000 units," he told a news conference to unveil the remodeled Step Wgn minivan.

                      Honda has enjoyed robust sales of the Insight hybrid, Fit subcompact and Freed compact minivan in Japan thanks to the government's tax incentives to purchase less-polluting cars.
                      Kobayashi said he hoped the new Step Wgn would further lift domestic sales, adding Honda was targeting monthly sales of 6,000 units for the model.

                      (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Chris Gallagher)

                      Copyright 2009 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
                      tokyodream
                      Senior Member
                      Last edited by tokyodream; 09-10-09, 13:06.
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                      Comment


                      • The Green Car of the Year Finalists Are…

                        http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10...car-finalists/



                        Green Car Journal has named the the finalists for its 2010 Green Car of the Year award, and it’s a sweet list that includes two diesels and three hybrids. Some of the cars are obvious, but one or two might surprise you.
                        Green Car Journal focuses on the intersection of automobiles, energy and the environment, and it has been covering the green car and alt-fuel movement almost from the beginning. Only those cars you can actually buy here in America are considered for the award. What’s more, the judges include environmentalists to ensure the cars are eco-friendly and certified gearheads to ensure they’re rides you’d actually want to buy. The panel that named the Volkswagen Jetta TDI as last year’s winner (that’s it being revealed in the pic) included Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, and car fanatics Jay Leno and Carroll Shelby.
                        The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This year’s finalists, in alphabetical order, are…
                        1. Audi A3 TDI
                        2. Honda Insight
                        3. Mercury Milan Hybrid
                        4. Toyota Prius
                        5. Volkswagen Golf TDI
                        “We’re seeing the trend for ‘green’ cars emerging at all levels, from entry-level cars to luxury models, and even performance cars and SUVs/crossovers,” said Ron Cogan, editor of Green Car Journal. “Plus, an array of technologies and fuels as well as strategies like lightweighting and reducing rolling resistance are being applied to the challenge. Greater choice provides buyers a personal stake in lessening environmental impact, and that’s important.”
                        The five finalists are a varied group. This is the first time Audi has made it in with its sporty and clean diesel A3 TDI, a car too long kept from America’s shores. Defending champ Volkswagen is back its new Golf TDI. Honda’s new hybrid, the Insight, goes toe-to-toe with its arch-rival, the Toyota Prius. The sole representative of American manufacturers is the Milan Hybrid, an upscale mid-size sedan.
                        Take a gander at the finalists and use the poll below to place your vote. You vote won’t count in the Green Car Journal tally, but it’ll be cool to see how your vote stacks up against the judges.


                        2010 Audi A3 TDI.
                        Photo: Audi



                        2010 Honda Insight. Check out our review of the Insight.
                        Photo: Honda



                        2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid. Check out our review of its sister, the Fusion Hybrid.
                        Photo: Ford



                        2010 Toyota Prius. Check out our review of the Prius.
                        Photo: Toyota



                        Volkswagen Golf TDI. This is actually the European-spec Golf BlueMotion diesel, but VW’s press site didn’t have any pics of the 2010 Golf TDI. But you get the idea.
                        Photo: Volkswagen


                        Main photo: Jim Merithew / Wired.com

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                        The Top 10 List of Ugly Cars !


                        http://www.huliq.com/8059/87405/top-10-list-ugly-cars

                        There have been some amazing advances in technology in the auto industry. From the ability to have a bluetooth connection or the production of hybrid cars, things have certainly progressed from the old Model T. However, there have been many cars that stand out over the years because they are just plain ugly. Here 10 ugly cars that really take the prize.

                        AMC Pacer
                        If you recall the AMC Pacer back in the late 1970's? It was more than just ugly, it was obviously made for those who had peripheral vision issues. It was designed to let everyone see what was going on inside your car.
                        AMC Gremlin
                        American Motor Cars knew how to produce cars that had absolutely no appeal. They sold, yes. However, this triangular-shaped car was offered in some hip colors, like orange. This was an ugly car that certainly was embarrassing to show up in on a first date.
                        Yugo
                        In the late 1980's there was the Yugo. It never got rave reviews and it apparently would fall apart if it hit a bump in the road. Wasn't very appealing to look at either. Just plain ugly.
                        Ford Pinto
                        With a gas tank in the rear that exploded on impact, this was a winner from the get-go. Although the wood side panel option did jazz it up a bit, this was definitely not a car known for safety.
                        Pontiac Aztek
                        Was there anyone who actually bought this car and liked it? Not exactly a well put together car as far as visuals go. Supposedly it was a great car for tailgating but it truly looked like a design engineer had a bit too much to drink the night it was created.
                        Chevy Vega
                        Apparently this wasn't just ugly, it rusted instantly. Some suspected that the Vega was rusty before it left the showroom.
                        VW Thing
                        This was likely to be the biggest catastrophe on wheels. Similar to a rolling storage shed, VW wasn't quite on the ball when they put this out on the lot.
                        Honda Element
                        Honda usually keeps things simple but this was a major error in judgment. It had the look of a bread box on wheels and the interior was just about as exciting as watching paint dry.
                        AMC Matador
                        Back to American Motor Cars again. The name "matador" conjures up visions of a strong, beautiful automobile. There are no words even close to that that describes the AMC Matador. It's almost makes the ugly Pacer look do-able.
                        Dodge Omni
                        Surprisingly, these are still on the road. Mostly in a lovely shade of light blue. They are almost always clean and void of rust. This is because they are only driven by older women with tightly permed gray hair. Many have faux sherpa or plaid seat covers and a new car scent air freshener inside.
                        Over the years there have been many cars that make it into the ugly cars category. No doubt there will be more to come as we enter into the age where everything has to look like it will drive us into the future.

                        Written by Cheryl Phillips
                        Exclusive to HULIQ.com

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                        Comment


                        • NC State Selected to Participate in the 2010 Honda Insight Marketing Competition!


                          http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/pres...ion-119927.php


                          RALEIGH, NC, October 11, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- North Carolina State University has been selected as one of the 21 schools throughout the nation to participate in the 2010 Honda Insight Marketing Competition. The students in Professor Claudia Kimbrough's Integrated Marketing Communications class have created a working marketing agency, Red and White Concepts, responsible for researching, implementing and evaluating an integrated marketing campaign around the NC State campus and surrounding area. This year's campaign is aimed at increasing awareness of and interest in the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid among the Generation Y market. At the end of the semester, all 21 campuses will be competing to present their creative ideas to a panel of Honda executives.

                          Red and White Concept's will begin by conducting research to learn more about their target market, Generation Y. After analyzing the research findings, they will design a campaign aimed at reaching Generation Y and boosting excitement for the Insight. The campaign will be brought to life with a $2,500 budget provided by Honda. At the end of the semester, post-campaign research will be collected to determine the effectiveness of the campaign. Red and White Concepts will conclude the semester with a formal presentation to Honda executives summarizing the campaign's results and successes.

                          "This campaign teaches students what it's like to run a real life marketing agency and campaign for a highly publicized product. Not only does it teach everyone how to implement all of the marketing techniques that are learned in classes, but it gives them experience in all areas of business, from entrepreneurship to basic budgeting and finance. This is one of the best opportunities that these students have to gain real life experience in any NC State class," Professor Kimbrough, Marketing Professor, stated. Neighboring schools include Meredith College, Duke University, Wake Forest University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With so many schools in proximity to one another around the Raleigh/Durham area, there is a plethora of the Generation Y market available for Red and White Concepts to research and analyze.

                          The distinctively styled, five-passenger, five-door Insight is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist (IMA ) system comprised of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor. The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist ) an innovation that can further enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles. A sleek exterior blends design elements from the original 2000 Insight's highly aerodynamic side profile with a front-end design similar to the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity, a marquee environmental product for Honda. The interior offers a roomy passenger environment with a configurable rear seating and cargo area that benefits from 60/40 split fold-down seats.

                          Please watch for more about the Honda Insight Marketing Competition at NC State throughout this fall semester. For further inquires regarding the competition, please contact Lyndsey Warhurst at 571-205-9538.

                          About Honda: Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to reduce CO2 emissions, including advanced gasoline engines, gasoline-electric hybrids, natural gas-powered engines, and hydrogen fuel cells. Founded in Japan in 1948, Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. The company, which marks its 50th year of U.S. operations in 2009, has invested more than $10.6 billion in its North American operations with 16 major manufacturing facilities, employment of more than 35,000 associates, and annual purchases of more than $18.8 billion in parts and materials from suppliers in North America.

                          About EdVenture Partners: EdVenture Partners is an organization dedicated to developing innovative industry-education partnership programs. The objective of such programs is to provide hands-on, real-world experience to students in tandem with providing marketing solutions and recruiting access at colleges and universities to clients. EdVenture Partners has designed and managed programs at over 600 campuses in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Morocco. Find out more at http://www.edventurepartners.com.

                          About RAW Concepts

                          RAW Concepts is a student run marketing agency where members apply what they have learned in class to a real marketing problem.

                          ================================================== ================


                          New Acura on Honda production lines soon !


                          http://www.simcoe.com/article/146848

                          Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston is navigating the economic downturn the best it can, according to senior management.
                          "We've managed to get through this without closing any plants in North America," said Joe Sperduti, administration general manager and vice president.
                          In September, Honda Canada Inc. sold 12,399 units, in both its Honda and Acura divisions, a 17 per cent decrease in sales over September 2008 figures.
                          Honda division sales were down 12 per cent over last September, with 11,272 units sold.
                          Acura sold 1,127 units, with sales decreasing 45 per cent over last year.
                          Because of the sales, production at the two Alliston plants is still not at full capacity. Last winter production at Plant 2 was cut back to one shift.
                          "Until this market recovers I don't see us going back to two shifts," said Sperduti.
                          Plant 1, which is producing the Civic, is at full capacity producing 800 vehicles per day, with Plant 2, where the new Acura ZDX is scheduled to be built, putting out 400 vehicles a day.
                          Having to cut back a shift is a first in Sperduti's experience.
                          "We've had some blips over the last 20 years, but nothing like this," he said.
                          Honda is moving forward with producing new model vehicles.
                          In the coming weeks, Plant 2 will start producing the Acura ZDX.
                          HCM unveiled the crossover utility vehicle last winter. It was scheduled to be on sale this fall, but the date was pushed back in July.
                          Producing the vehicle won't create any new jobs at the Alliston plants, the vehicle will be scheduled into an existing line and be built by current employees.
                          This has been a milestone year for Honda, which is celebrating its 40th year in Canada. January marked the five-millionth vehicle driving off the Alliston production lines and shortly after that Honda produced its 20 millionth vehicle in North America.
                          Honda opened its Alliston production plant in 1986, representing an investment of $2.6 billion. With about 4,400 workers, the Honda Civic sedan and coupe and the Acura CSX sedan and MDX luxury utility vehicle are built locally, as well as fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines.
                          Nearly half of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2008 were made in Canada.



                          Submitted
                          New Honda Civics roll of the production line at one of two production plants for Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston.

                          ================================================== =================

                          Jazz key to exports !


                          http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/c...ports/?ref=rss

                          THE first British-built Jazz was driven off the production line at Honda’s factory in Swindon this week – promising another boost to Southampton docks as well as the Wiltshire manufacturing centre.
                          Southampton already handles exports for Honda’s Swindon-built Civics and CR-Vs, alongside Jaguars, Range Rovers, Minis and Ford Transits, as well as imports for Renault.
                          The five-door Jazz family supermini is one of Honda’s most successful cars in Europe, with over 70,000 sold in the region every year.
                          Production of Jazz for Europe is shifting from Japan to the UK as Honda has a policy of building its most popular cars in the markets in which they are sold.
                          In the current financial year Honda of the UK Manufacturing in Swindon (HUM) will build 20,000 units of Jazz.
                          Although 75 per cent of these will be for the UK market, the other 25 per cent are planned for export to 55 countries across mainland Europe and other regions, including South Africa.
                          The addition of Jazz to the lines producing the Civic and CR-V – exported to 60 countries – brings the planned total production level for the Swindon plant in this financial year to 100,600 – still well below the plant’s full capacity.
                          Volumes are expected to increase next year due to the new three-model production line-up.
                          The start of Jazz production comes just 12 months after the decision to make a third model at the Wiltshire manufacturing facility.
                          The demand for cars like the Jazz is increasing as car buyers look to downsize from big, gas-guzzling models into smaller, fuel efficient, but practical vehicles.
                          In the UK, the Government’s scrappage scheme has given Jazz sales a significant boost, with the practical little car making up 70 per cent of all of Honda’s scrappage deals.
                          Other incentives across Europe have resulted in similar increases in demand.
                          David Hodgetts, director at HUM, said: “We see this third model as a wonderful opportunity in the current climate and we’re extremely proud to be building the Jazz here in Swindon.
                          “The car is incredibly popular with customers, and it has won countless awards for quality and reliability.
                          “Shifting production to the UK is a real vote of confidence in all our 3,400 associates [employees] here in Swindon, and recognition of the high standards which we have been able to achieve at the plant.”



                          ================================================== ========================

                          2010 Honda Odyssey Still Waiting to Be Defeated...!


                          http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...aiting_to.html

                          Starting at $26,805 - (17 city/25 highway) Early in life no one plans to ever own a minivan. No one is ever voted Most Likely to Drive a Minivan by their Senior High School Graduating Class and takes that as a complement. But as the years pass we inevitably manage to accumulate more and



                          more stuff. And if we are lucky enough to have children? Well, the stuff pile then grows exponentially larger hence the need for a minivan like the 2010 Honda Odyssey.

                          While I may not own a Honda Odyssey minivan myself I do realize that if I did have children I would definitely park one in my garage. It is, without question, the best minivan on the market today. Can it really be that bad when it shares engines, transmissions and a platform with the Acura MDX?

                          The Odyssey is motivated by a spunky 3.5 liter V6 (which has served dutifully in the Accord and various Acura models) with 244 horsepower that also has a cylinder de-activation system that runs the engine with only 3 cylinders under light loads. It is important, especially for parents, to be green nowadays since so many are aware of the environmental problems they are leaving behind for their kids.

                          Inside the Odyssey there are so many little cubbies and storage compartments that it will take years for you to find all of the old candy bars and toys that your children will no doubt hide. The plastics, leathers and cloth fabrics used in the Odyssey are also all first rate and can easily withstand years of baby spew and juice splatters. One word of advice: it might be a good idea to invest in the scotch-guarding offered by the dealership. It really helps come clean-up time. My friend Katrina learned that the hard way when she accidentally left spilled milk in her hot minivan over a weekend.

                          There really is a 2010 Honda Odyssey minivan for any family with any budget. The entry level LX has all the creature comforts people have come to expect like air, power everything and even a nice 120-watt stereo. But if your tastes are a bit more refined then perhaps you would be better served by purchasing the $40,775 Odyssey Touring model which comes with navigation, 360-watt audio with subwoofer, Bluetooth, parking sensors and a rear seat DVD entertainment unit. The kids should have absolutely no reason to complain when riding around in the back of that one.

                          Even though the 2010 Honda Odyssey has been on the market for a while now relatively unchanged it still remains the king of the minivan mountain. Somehow the simple and coherent styling inside and out have managed to look fresh even as designs from Dodge and Toyota have withered on the vine.


                          tokyodream
                          Senior Member
                          Last edited by tokyodream; 13-10-09, 07:49.
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                          • Honda Contesting for Green Car Dominance!

                            http://www.buzzle.com/articles/honda...dominance.html

                            Honda has an appropriate plan for green cars and it kicks off with the launch of cheap hybrid models.
                            Honda has constantly maintained a values system of conserving invaluable resources and is considered a fabricator of fuel-efficient vehicles and motorbikes of many years. Its well-known Civic Hybrid has long been a contestant of the top hybrid vehicle Prius by Toyota, the biggest car manufacturer across the world. In a recent initiative to take advantage of the existing favorability of eco friendly cars and to control the hybrid industry, Honda has brought in a brand new five-door hybrid. With hybrids responsible for fewer than five percent of overall car sales, Honda has made the new car low-priced as it feels that affordability is a vital element in the hybrid’s failure to get considerable market share.

                            Aside from cost, Honda is additionally focusing on widening its line of hybrid vehicles by the year 2012. These include the Civic, the sports CR-Z, Fit and Insight. In fact, because of the unexpected upsurge in demand for fuel-efficient automobiles, Honda has decided to launch the hybrid Fit nearly eighteen months before schedule, in an effort to profit from this situation. Honda has already been witness to substantial development with its hybrid brands in their local market, with the Insight to be the initial hybrid vehicle to achieve top position as the best selling vehicle in Japan.

                            Honda's strategy to drop rates was a precisely timed one, with Toyota struggling to negate its move due to mediocre financial results in the previous financial year. Despite the fact that Toyota has retaliated to some point with the declaration of an innovative and reasonably priced gas-electric vehicle based on the Yaris and Vitz, the latter being sold in Japan, it still stands to lose ground with its primary hybrid the Prius. Honda’s hybrid, the Insight, will retail for a couple of thousand dollars less than the Prius and that’s a carrot tough for any automobile buyer to decline irrespective of how staunch they maybe to a special vehicle producer. A likely price war possibly will prove useful to both the customer and the automotive business.

                            Another significant strategy being displayed by Honda is changing the customer’s impression of hybrid automobiles by promoting the application of hybrid technology in smaller and mid sized automobiles versus SUVs and bigger sized vehicles, a technique being followed by different car producers. The technology works finest for a stop and go drive and Honda believes that the real value of this technology is conceived by utilizing it for practical as opposed to recreational functions. With the capacity to drive 60 miles per gallon, the new Honda hybrid promises to be an instantaneous winner with commuters struggling to decrease fuel expenses.

                            In terms of research Honda is examining different technologies to ascertain lasting success and leadership in the overall hybrid business. Honda is one of the principal automotive producers to introduce fuel-cell vehicles and has carried on its promotion of this concept. Fuel cells are believed by many as the ultimate answer for a clean and endless supply of energy for automobiles, without forfeiting performance. Honda is also searching for methods to deliver more economical engines, a fundamental element in the achievement of every hybrid vehicle.

                            In spite of Honda’s need for more momentum it has been able to remain ahead in the rather important hybrid automobile segment. As one of the biggest and cutting edge developers of equipment linked to clean and fuel-efficient vehicles, Honda has embraced a well-rounded approach to entrench its status in the automotive industry. A beneficial adjustment in customer perception by building smaller sized and reasonable hybrid brands, while constantly improving performance will definitely earn it the desired top spot.

                            Acquiring a second-hand Honda Civic is exceptionally simple if you search free classifieds like Good Deal Hunting.

                            By Ali Faizan
                            Published: 10/10/2009

                            ================================================== ===

                            Confident consumers boosting Canadian SUV sales !

                            http://www.canada.com/news/national/...354/story.html#

                            Vehicle sales may still be moribund in the United States, but they are moving in the right direction in Canada. In fact, in terms of entry-level SUV sales, some automakers are enjoying their best sales ever.
                            That may be in part because Canadian consumers are more confident about the economy than their American cousins. Canadians also tend to buy smaller SUVs than they do south of the border, helping to boost those compact sales.

                            Following are some of the top entry-level SUVs in Canada:

                            FORD ESCAPE:
                            One of the best-selling compact SUVs in Canada is Ford's Escape.
                            In September, Escape sales rose seven per cent, marking its best September ever, according to the automaker. Ford sold a total of 2,155 Escapes in Canada last month, 2,052 regular models and 103 hybrid versions, compared with a total of 2,017 sold in the same period last year (1,957 Escapes and 60 Escape Hybrids).
                            For 2010, the Escape is available with a new 3.0-litre V6 engine with 240 horsepower, along with the base 2.5L four-cylinder with 171 hp and the hybrid with a 2.5L four-cylinder 155-hp engine and 94-hp electric motor.
                            The base model comes with a five-speed manual transmission. All other models come with a six-speed automatic transmission.
                            Base price: $24,499.

                            TOYOTA RAV4:
                            Another popular compact SUV in Canada is Toyota's RAV4.
                            The built-in-Canada cute-ute had its best September ever last month with sales of 1,881, up 1.1 per cent over last year. According to Toyota, the RAV4 has set new monthly records each month since January 2008.
                            For 2010, the base 2.5L four-cylinder 179-hp model is paired with a four- speed automatic transmission, while the 3.5L V6 with 269 hp comes with a five- speed automatic.
                            Base price: $24,345.

                            NISSAN ROGUE:

                            Nissan sold 781 Rogues in September, a 21 per cent drop from the 995 units sold a year earlier. Nissan had a better month in August, when it sold 1,280 Rogues, up 37 per cent from the 934 units it sold in the same period in 2008.
                            For 2010, the Rogue is available in four models: the S FWD, the S AWD, the SL FWD and SL AWD. All are powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder 170-hp engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
                            Base price: $24,698.

                            CHEVY EQUINOX:

                            Sales of the Chevy Equinox have been so good, General Motors has had to add another shift to keep up with demand.
                            GM sold 1,114 Equinox units last month, compared with 1,006 in September of 2008.
                            ``While sales of the 2010 model-year Equinox have increased over last year's numbers - as hoped and expected - customer demand has exceeded production volume, resulting in regular overtime and the implementation of a third shift in order to keep up with this increased demand,'' says Dustin Woods, GM's product communications representative.
                            The Equinox has been completely redesigned for 2010, featuring direct injection and Variable Valve Timing (VVT) on both the standard 182-hp 2.4L four- cylinder engine and the available 264-hp 3.0L V6. Both come with a six-speed automatic transmission.
                            Base price: $25,995 (front-wheel drive).

                            SUBARU FORESTER:


                            Subaru also had one of its best Septembers ever this year, with its Forester helping the cause. The automaker sold 776 Foresters last month, compared with 604 sold in September of last year.
                            For 2010, Subaru adds the new PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) to the Forester lineup. It comes with a 2.5L, four-cylinder, 170-hp engine with a four- speed automatic transmission, costing $28,095. It joins the 2.5L, four- cylinder, 170-hp Forester 2.5X, which comes with a five-speed manual transmission and sells for $25,995, and the 2.5 XT, which has a 2.5L, four- cylinder turbocharged engine outputting 224 hp and costing $35,295.
                            Base price: $25,995.

                            HONDA CR-V:

                            Honda's CR-V also makes the list of top sellers in Canada.
                            The automaker sold 744 CR-Vs in September, a sharp drop from the 1,933 it sold in the same period a year earlier. According to Honda Canada PR co- ordinator Laura Heasman, the decline is due to a shortage of units available for purchase, as the 2009 models had cleared out before the 2010s were ready to fill the gap.
                            For 2010, the base model comes with a 2.4L, 166-hp five-speed automatic.
                            Base price: $27,790 (front-wheel drive).

                            VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN:
                            Tiguan sales in Canada for September 2009 soared to 529 units, compared with 214 sold in September 2008, a 147 per cent increase.
                            For 2010, the Tiguan comes in three trim levels: the 2.0 TSI Trendline, the Comfortline 4Motion and the Highline 4Motion.
                            All are powered by a 2.0L, 200-hp four-cylinder turbocharged engine.
                            Base price: $27,875.

                            KIA SPORTAGE:
                            Kia sold 433 of its Sportage SUVs in September, just short of the 463 it sold in the same period a year earlier.
                            For 2010, the base LX model comes with a 2.0L four-cylinder five-speed manual transmission outputting 140 hp. There's also an LX-V6 Sportage with a 2. 7L 173-hp engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.
                            Base price: $21,745.

                            MAZDA TRIBUTE:
                            The Escape sibling, the Mazda Tribute, sold 357 units last month, a 116.4 per cent increase over the 165 units sold in September 2008.
                            The base GX model comes with a 171-hp 2.5L four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. There are also GS and GT models that come with a 3.0L V6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.
                            Base price: $23,450 (front-wheel drive).

                            © Copyright (c) Canwest News Service


                            ================================================== ========

                            Disparity between car surcharges in U.S., Canada ‘inexplicable:’ CAA!



                            Canadian consumers pay up to 60 per cent more than Americans on transport-and-preparation charges on 2008 vehicles, even when the car is assembled in Canada, a CAA-Quebec analysis has found.



                            http://www.canada.com/theprovince/st...3-94970c7fcb7f

                            MONTREAL - Canadian consumers pay up to 60 per cent more than Americans on transport-and-preparation charges on 2008 vehicles, even when the car is assembled in Canada, a CAA-Quebec analysis has found.

                            The consumer advocacy group - which continues to decry the difference between suggested retail prices for new cars in the U.S. and Canada - sent a letter to car manufactures earlier this month seeking an explanation for the disparity.

                            "It seems inexplicable to us," spokesman Philippe St-Pierre said Thursday.

                            This year, Canadian consumers will pay between 31 per cent and 61 per cent more in those non-negotiable charges - a difference as high as $1,000, CAA-Quebec found.

                            "We understand that transport and preparation charges can vary depending on the assembly site," senior director Sophie Gagnon, said.

                            "Given the current economic context . . . and the fact that the Canadian dollar has been pretty much at par with the U.S. currency for several months now, it is time that the industry reviewed these charges and resolved this unfair situation."

                            Particularly striking were the differences in charges found for vehicles assembled in Canada. Canadians will spent $1,855 in transport and prep charges for a made-in-Canada Acura MDX while their U.S. counterparts pay $715, or 61 per cent less, the analysis found.

                            And a made-in-Japan Subaru Outback will cost Canadians $1,495 extra, while the U.S. charges are $645, a 57 per cent difference.

                            For a Chrysler Town & Country, which is assembled in Canada, the charges amount to $1,350 in this country compared to $770 south of the border, for a difference of 43 per cent.

                            Several of the automakers operating in Canada also increased their transportation and preparation charges this year, in some cases by as much as 10 per cent. Only Toyota lowered the charges in 2008, the analysis found.

                            The Canadian headquarters for Honda - which makes Acura - Subaru and Chrysler were contacted to comment on the findings of the CAA-Quebec analysis. Only Chrysler provided a response.

                            "The difference in price from one market to another can be attributed to various factors such as different regulatory requirements, varying tax structures, incentive levels, and other charges related to transportation and preparation," Chrysler’s written statement concluded.

                            © (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.
                            tokyodream
                            Senior Member
                            Last edited by tokyodream; 15-10-09, 09:14.
                            Iubesc masinile japoneze. Ele nu mint, nu inseala !
                            ACURA & HONDA SUV FAN CLUB ROMANIA - http://daimyo.ro/index.php?action=forum

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                            • Hybrid cars dominate EPA list of top 10 fuel sippers:

                              More automakers are joining the trend. Nine of the top 10 vehicles in the Environmental Protection Agency's fuel economy rankings for the 2010 model year are hybrids, made by six companies.

                              http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,6717957.story


                              Love 'em or hate 'em, hybrids have gone mainstream.

                              Nine of the top 10 vehicles in the government's fuel economy rankings for the 2010 model year are hybrids. And they come from six automakers and carry nine nameplates.

                              "There's now a hybrid for everyone," the government said in releasing the latest findings. "It's not either a [Toyota] Prius or a [Honda] Insight anymore."

                              The Prius hybrid was once again the leader, with its fuel economy of 51 miles per gallon in city driving and 48 mpg on the highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's testing methodology. Other vehicles in the top 10 include the Ford Fusion hybrid and its Mercury Milan twin, the Civic and Insight hybrids from Honda, and the Nissan Altima.

                              The only non-hybrid at the top of the list was the tiny Smart For Two from Daimler, which clocked in at 33 mpg city/41 highway.

                              One car you won't find on the list is the Tesla Roadster -- or any of the electric cars silently plying the nation's roads in growing numbers. The EPA is still trying to figure out how to measure fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions in electric cars and plug-in hybrids in a way that would provide meaningful comparisons with traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered cars.

                              The bottom of the rankings was populated by expensive gas-burners from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Bentley and the like -- cars whose owners presumably can pay the extra cost at the pump without blinking.

                              The award for worst fuel economy goes to the Lamborghini Murcielago, which has a base manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP, of $392,400 and burns 34.3 barrels of oil a year, or $4,230 worth of gas, according to the EPA. The Prius, which carries a base sticker of $22,000, burns 6.9 barrels of oil annually, or $774 worth of gas.

                              To see the full top 10, as well as lists of the most fuel-efficient vehicles by category and the 10 biggest gas guzzlers, check out the Up to Speed blog post on latimes.com.

                              Check out your vehicle's fuel economy stats and compare them with other makes and models at fueleconomy.gov.

                              martin.zimmerman

                              @latimes.com



                              Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times

                              ================================================== ==============

                              US Honda may update models sooner!

                              http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/...060?source=rss

                              By The Associated Press
                              Posted: 10/16/2009 10:30:02 AM PDT





                              NOVI, Mich. - Honda Motor Co.'s top U.S. auto executive says the company may have to update its models faster because the competition is getting so tough in segments where the Japanese automaker has strong sales.
                              Executive Vice President John Mendel said Friday that the normal two-year update and five-year redesign cycles may not be valid any more in some segments.
                              Honda is scheduled to update its top-selling midsize Accord next year and redesign the car by 2013. But Mendel says the redesign could take place before then as Honda introduces new technologies to raise fuel economy. He spoke at an event in suburban Detroit held to introduce the new Accord Crosstour. Honda says the five-door crossover drives like a car but can haul things like a sport utility vehicle.



                              ================================================== =================

                              Strong Yen Could Push Honda Fit Production To U.S. !

                              2010 Honda Fit Sport
                              Enlarge Photo


                              2010 Honda Fit Sport
                              Enlarge Photo


                              2010 Honda Fit Sport
                              Enlarge Photo


                              2010 Honda Fit Sport
                              Enlarge Photo


                              http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/ma...duction-to-u-s


                              Few subjects are as snooze-inducing as macroeconomics, especially when talking about transnational manufacturing decisions, but oddly enough, the lively little Honda Fit has the ability to breathe life into the topic. A report breaking today reveals the strong yen against the relatively weak dollar could bring production of the cute-as-a-button Fit to the U.S.
                              The move is under consideration according to Honda president Takanobu Ito. Building the Fit in Japan with the tough exchange rate is making it almost impossible to clear the profits they need from the small car. Sales are down, too, but the Fit is doing better than the rest of Honda's lineup in the U.S., so maintaining the bottom line on the little hatchback is key to Honda's plans.
                              Profit margins are narrow enough on small cars as it is, so the 8% rise of the yen against the U.S. dollar has made it worth looking into adding the Fit to the rest of the Hondas already built in the U.S. Building locally is a core part of the company's American operations, and fitting the Fit into the lineup of home-built cars could open the door to sourcing more high-tech vehicles from Japan.
                              Some of the cars Honda likely has in store for its high-tech import plans include the CR-Z hybrid, FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle and 2010 Insight hybrid. Honda already builds about 80% of the cars it sells in the U.S. locally. It's not yet clear if the upcoming Fit Hybrid would also be built in the U.S., though it would be a logical follow-up to moving conventional Fit production to America.
                              [Auto News - sub. req.]
                              2010 Honda Fit SportEnlarge Photo 2010 Honda Fit SportEnlarge Photo 2010 Honda Fit SportEnlarge Photo 2010 Honda Fit SportEnlarge Photo Few subjects are as snooze-inducing as macroeconomics, especially when talking about transnational manufacturing decisions, but oddly enough, the lively little Honda Fit has the ability to breathe life into the topic. A report breaking today reveals the strong yen against the relatively weak dollar could bring production of the cute-as-a-button Fit to the U.S. The move is under consideration according to Honda president Takanobu Ito. Building the Fit in Japan with the tough exchange rate is making it almost impossible to clear the profits they need from the small car. Sales are down, too, but the Fit is doing better than the rest of Honda's lineup in the U.S., so maintaining the bottom line on the little hatchback is key to Honda's plans. Profit margins are narrow enough on small cars as it is, so the 8% rise of the yen against the U.S. dollar has made it worth looking into adding the Fit to the rest of the Hondas already built in the U.S. Building locally is a core part of the company's American operations, and fitting the Fit into the lineup of home-built cars could open the door to sourcing more high-tech vehicles from Japan. Some of the cars Honda likely has in store for its high-tech import plans include the CR-Z hybrid, FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle and 2010 Insight hybrid. Honda already builds about 80% of the cars it sells in the U.S. locally. It's not yet clear if the upcoming Fit Hybrid would also be built in the U.S., though it would be a logical follow-up to moving conventional Fit production to America.
                              [Auto News - sub. req.]
                              tokyodream
                              Senior Member
                              Last edited by tokyodream; 20-10-09, 09:47.
                              Iubesc masinile japoneze. Ele nu mint, nu inseala !
                              ACURA & HONDA SUV FAN CLUB ROMANIA - http://daimyo.ro/index.php?action=forum

                              Comment


                              • Tokyo 2009: Honda CR-Z coming to America next fall with six-speed manual!

                                Tokyo 2009: Honda CR-Z coming to America next fall with six-speed manual!
                                by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Oct 21st 2009 at 1:50AM


                                Honda CR-Z concept 2009 - Click above for high-res image gallery

                                Honda fans of all sorts have cause to celebrate today with the reveal of the 2009 iteration of the CR-Z coupe. In typical Honda fashion, this CR-Z remains a concept in name and detail only. What you see here is essentially the production coupe that will go on sale in Japan next February and then arrive in North America in the Fall.

                                The cool scoop-like grille from the original 2007 concept has been largely carried over, with the biggest changes being a somewhat taller roof and a more upright windshield with blacked out A-pillars – concessions to the fact that real people will have to fit into the production car. On the exterior, the only elements likely to change once it hits the assembly line are the side mirrors, which will probably be a bit larger, along with the internals of the light clusters.

                                The good news for fans of the much-loved 1983-1991 Civic CR-X is that the CR-Z should have significantly better performance than the disappointing new Insight, a car that is geared more toward fuel economy than performance. In any case, the CR-Z coupe gets a bump in displacement up to 1.5-liter and – wait for it – a six-speed manual gearbox! This will be the first hybrid with a row-it-yourself six-speed.

                                Unfortunately, we probably won't hear any official numbers on the drivetrain's output or its mileage until closer to the Japanese launch, but color us excited – and you can share some of our joy by checking out the high-res image gallery below.

                                http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/t...with-six-spee/
                                07 Honda Accord 2.0 MT Black

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