Ultimele articole din presa straina referitoare la Honda

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Honda marks 10 years in Alabama, looks ahead



NEWS STAFF/BERNARD TRONCALE

Nobu Sanui, president of Honda's Alabama plant, and Gov. Bob Riley lift a time capsule that was buried at the groundbreaking for the facility 10 years ago.It's been 10 years since the first spade of dirt was ceremoniously turned to kick off construction at Honda's Alabama auto assembly plant, an event that transformed this tiny town into a global manufacturing hub.

But company officials and lawmakers who gathered here Tuesday to mark the successes of the past decade also used the time to look ahead, saying the Japanese automaker is just getting started with its plans for Lincoln.

"I believe Honda has many more dreams that have yet to be filled in Alabama," said Nobu Sanui, president of Honda's $1.4 billion plant, which employs more than 4,000 workers who build four models: the Odyssey minivan, Pilot SUV, Ridgeline pickup and Accord V-6 sedan.

One key goal that's coming up soon is the launch of a redesigned Odyssey, expected this fall. Workers have completed equipment trials on the updated minivan and are building test models.

Another goal is complete recovery from an industry sales slump that hurt automakers around the world. For Honda's Alabama operations, the downturn meant slashed output, lost production time, buyouts and pay cuts.

But as the U.S. industry recovers, demand for Honda's Alabama-built lineup is returning. As a result, production is ramping up to match the trend.

The plant is currently producing 1,050 vehicles a day, up from a low of 900 and closer to its capacity of 1,300. Workers also are being called in for overtime an average of one Saturday a month.

Later this year, the plant is expected to produce its 2 millionth vehicle. Production started in November 2001.

Before the slump, there had been talk that Honda would add a third assembly line in Lincoln, a project that Gov. Bob Riley referred to during his remarks at Tuesday's anniversary event.

Chuck Ernst, senior vice president at the plant, said he's taking a shorter-term view on future production plans.

"We need to work on our capacity and get back to full and then worry about what the market will bear at that time," he said.

As for the coming decade, Ernst said there will be continued advancements in safety, technology and fuel economy for all of the plant's products.

Riley credited the plant's workers for being the state's best salespeople when it comes to economic development.

When recruiters talk to prospects about what the state's workers can do, they bring them to Honda, he said.

"Because of what you've done here, it's opened a world of opportunities for people across the state of Alabama," he said.

The governor said he would like to see the third assembly line project happen to provide additional job opportunities for state students.

In the crowd at Tuesday's event were economic developers from around the state. Bill Taylor, the longtime head of the state's Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance and current president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, sported a red Honda cap that was given out to guests.

He called the global industry slump a "reset" that has brought a new batch of opportunities to Alabama's auto sector.

In Honda's case, two new models -- the Ridgeline and Accord -- were added to the Lincoln plant's lineup last year to boost output among the slower-selling Odysseys and Pilots.

"There's certainly a lot of potential for continued growth," Taylor said.

Others in the crowd included those who were a part of the project team that helped woo Honda to Alabama. Ted vonCannon, former president of Birmingham's Metropolitan Development Board, and Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office, recalled the drawn-out recruitment of the auto giant.

"We would never have imagined it could be this good," Wade said.

Also on Tuesday, Riley and Sanui raised a time capsule that was presented to Honda by Lincoln students at the groundbreaking and then buried.

Items inside included newspaper clippings about Honda's plans, school yearbooks, a Honda hardhat and dirt from the groundbreaking.

Two students who participated in the groundbreaking returned on Tuesday to talk about the changes in their community.

Jessica Meek Popham, now a pharmacist in Anniston, was a senior at Lincoln High School back then. She cited an "almost unrecognizable" landscape in Lincoln, including new subdivisions, retailers and recreation facilities -- even four traffic lights.

Darrick English, now a Lincoln High senior, was a second grader when he participated in the groundbreaking.

"Thank you Honda of Alabama for improving the small town of Lincoln and literally putting us on the map," he said.


http://blog.al.com/assembly-lines/20...in_alabam.html

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Honda To Exhibit Walking Legs at the Smithsonian in New York





Rather goofy-looking at first glance, Honda's new legs (aka Bodyweight Support Assist Device) makes walking and stair-climbing easier for the elderly and folks on rehab.




Leveraging walking technology from full-body ASIMO robot, the leggy device provides natural walking and crouching support with its combined saddle, motorized leg frame and force-sensing shoes. With a control computer and battery pack neatly tucked away under the femur of the frame, the legs sense and guide motion while walking, going up and down stairs and in a semi-crouching position. An assisting force is directed towards the user's center of gravity and in sync with movement to support one's bodyweight and reduce the load on the user's leg muscles and joints.
The legs are on display at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution in New York starting May 14th.
The prototype, as of Nov. 2008, weighs 14.3 lbs including shoes and batteries, operates for 2 hours on a single charge of a lithium ion battery, and comes in three sizes for users of roughly 5'2", 5'6" and 6' in height. More than 130 patents have been applied by Honda to its walking assist devices, which are currently being tested in real-world conditions to evaluate their effectiveness. Honda's other walking assist device will not be on exhibit.


http://www.medgadget.com/archives/20...at_museum.html


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2010 Honda Civic Sedan Review


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

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Toyota yields U.S. loyalty crown to Honda after recalls, survey says

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Toyota's safety recall crisis has helped topple the automaker as the U.S. champion of customer loyalty, allowing Honda and Ford to leapfrog to the top spots, Consumer Reports said.

An April survey by the nonprofit publication showed that 57 percent of current Toyota owners would "most likely" buy another new vehicle from Toyota Motor Corp., down from 70 percent in a December survey.

The result suggests Toyota may face pressure to extend costly sales incentives to win back U.S. consumers and prevent its market share from slipping.

More than half of consumers surveyed said the "overall reputation" of an auto brand was the leading factor in their choice of a new car, the magazine said.

Consumer Reports said Honda Motor Co. was tops in owner loyalty in April, with 68 percent of its owners saying they would return to Honda, up from 67 percent five months earlier.

Ford Motor Co. also has a higher percentage of customers who would return to the brand -- 61 percent in April versus 58 percent in December, the survey said.

The Chevrolet brand, which accounted for almost two-thirds of General Motors Co.'s U.S. sales last year, fell to 49 percent in terms of customer loyalty from 57 percent in December, the survey showed.

Rounding out the top five top-selling brands in the U.S. market, Chrysler's Dodge polled at 24 percent customer loyalty, down from 32 percent in December.

Chrysler is under the management of Fiat S.p.A.

Toyota's sales fell in January and February while their competitors showed increases. By March, Toyota began offering the largest sales incentives in its history and largely extended those discount offers through the end of May.

Toyota sales rebounded in March and April as customers took advantage of the incentives, which include zero-percent financing and up to $1,500 cash back for its top-selling Camry sedan. The cash rebate on a Tundra pickup truck is $4,000 in some regions, and there are low leasing rates for many models.

Consumer Reports said the results were based on a telephone survey of 1,704 U.S. adult vehicle owners conducted in April.

Contact Automotive News

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...100519922/1018

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Honda Losing Out Market Share In Indian Auto Industry

BANGALORE, INDIA

Honda Siel Cars India Pvt. Ltd has been losing out on important Indian market share while the other car makers are making the most of the robust demand for new cars.
Industry analysts blame it on Honda’s ageing product portfolio. In the four months of the current year, Honda sales has declined by 2.7 per cent to 21,746 units, while the total sales of new car in India has gone up 30.8 per cent over the same period. Sales of most Honda models including Jazz, Civic, Accord and CR-V were affected badly, the only exception being the City which continued its good performance. Honda sold just 188 units of the Civic in April, which is down by 69 per cent over April 2009.
Jnaneshwar Sen, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, said, “The strengthening of the yen against the rupee has inflated the import bill on parts such as airbags, thus preventing competitive pricing.” The CR-V, a premium sports utility vehicle, is imported as CBU.
Honda had increased prices of its entire car range from Rs30,000 to Rs3.5 lakh in March 2009 where the CR-V saw the steepest price hike.
While its Civic model, the second largest by volumes after the City, has been facing stiff competition from newer models such as Chevrolet Cruze and Volkswagen Jetta, its compact car Jazz, has been badly affected by the price cuts in Hyundai i20 model.
Honda will, however, focus on expanding its product inventory. “Our top priority now is the small car,” said Sen. Honda plans to increase the number of dealerships from the to support the new launch.

http://www.officialwire.com/main.php...ews&rid=143721

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Honda Said to Plan China Capacity Boost on Auto Sales (Update1)

By Makiko Kitamura and Yuki Hagiwara

May 13 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s second- largest carmaker, will expand capacity at a venture in China by as much as 200,000 vehicles a year, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The partnership with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. will increase annual capacity from 360,000 vehicles, according to the people, who declined to be identified as the plans are private. Honda Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito will hold a press conference in China on May 25, they said.
Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. have also begun work on boosting China capacity as economic growth spurs demand in the world’s largest auto market. Nationwide sales may grow more than 10 percent this year, Honda’s Ito said last month.
Honda has three car factories in China and is preparing to open another with Dongfeng Motor Group Co. in Wuhan in the second half of 2012. Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., the venture with Guangzhou Auto, builds Accord sedans, Odyssey minivans, Fit compacts and City compacts.
The Japanese carmaker may increase China sales 9 percent this year to 630,000 vehicles, Ito said last month. It plans to introduce the Accord Crosstour wagon in China this year and models under the new Li Nian brand by early next year.
Honda gained 1.5 percent to 3,075 yen in Tokyo trading today. The automaker has lost 1.1 percent this year.
Nissan plans to boost capacity in China to 900,000 vehicles a year by 2012 and to expand further after that, CEO Carlos Ghosn said last month. Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, will start building Corolla cars at a factory in Changchun in the first half of 2012, it said on April 28.
--With assistance from Tian Ying in Beijing. Editors: Kae Inoue, Neil Denslow

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...-update1-.html

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The Everyman's Car Review: 2010 Honda CR-V

America's Best Selling SUV of 2009 Undergoes the Everyman's Test

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...da.html?cat=27

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17 fantastic concept cars (photos)


http://www.zdnet.com/photos/17-fanta...-photos/423572




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Hyundai beats Toyota and Honda in customer loyalty



56.3% of Hyundai owners looking to buy Korean brand again




Ask anyone who owns a business what the best sign is that they’re going about it right, and they’ll tell you it’s customer loyalty. Repeat sales are more cost effective too, thanks to less marketing money than needed to pull in that first time customer. And which automaker is best at keeping its customers happily coming back for more? Hyundai!

What keeps new car buyers coming back? Appealing products, first and foremost, and reliability. It scored above average in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), and Hyundai placed fourth on the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), and was the leading non-luxury brand, ahead of Toyota and Honda.

Now it’s Kelley Blue Book (KBB) reporting that Hyundai has risen to first place in brand loyalty, with 56.3% of owners looking within the Korean brand for new car purchases. Honda maintains a strong second place with 55.8%, and Toyota dropped 4.4% to 53.3% for third place.

Hyundai no doubt was happy to hear that its Sonata midsize sedan is KBB’s fifth most popular new vehicle search, likely because of strong media attention that’s backed up by the sleek lines of the 2011 model.
Just the same, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry beat the Sonata in search popularity, as do Honda’s Civic and CR-V.

http://www.canada.com/cars/Hyundai+b...435/story.html

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Toyota yields U.S. loyalty crown to Honda after recalls, survey says

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Toyota's safety recall crisis has helped topple the automaker as the U.S. champion of customer loyalty, allowing Honda and Ford to leapfrog to the top spots, Consumer Reports said.

An April survey by the nonprofit publication showed that 57 percent of current Toyota owners would "most likely" buy another new vehicle from Toyota Motor Corp., down from 70 percent in a December survey.

The result suggests Toyota may face pressure to extend costly sales incentives to win back U.S. consumers and prevent its market share from slipping.

More than half of consumers surveyed said the "overall reputation" of an auto brand was the leading factor in their choice of a new car, the magazine said.

Consumer Reports said Honda Motor Co. was tops in owner loyalty in April, with 68 percent of its owners saying they would return to Honda, up from 67 percent five months earlier.

Ford Motor Co. also has a higher percentage of customers who would return to the brand -- 61 percent in April versus 58 percent in December, the survey said.

The Chevrolet brand, which accounted for almost two-thirds of General Motors Co.'s U.S. sales last year, fell to 49 percent in terms of customer loyalty from 57 percent in December, the survey showed.

Rounding out the top five top-selling brands in the U.S. market, Chrysler's Dodge polled at 24 percent customer loyalty, down from 32 percent in December.

Chrysler is under the management of Fiat S.p.A.

Toyota's sales fell in January and February while their competitors showed increases. By March, Toyota began offering the largest sales incentives in its history and largely extended those discount offers through the end of May.

Toyota sales rebounded in March and April as customers took advantage of the incentives, which include zero-percent financing and up to $1,500 cash back for its top-selling Camry sedan. The cash rebate on a Tundra pickup truck is $4,000 in some regions, and there are low leasing rates for many models.

Consumer Reports said the results were based on a telephone survey of 1,704 U.S. adult vehicle owners conducted in April.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...100519922/1018

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Honda's Bodyweight Support Assist selected for NY innovation exhibition

Some of you may recall our piece on Honda's Body Support Assist prototype last month. As a quick update to that story, those of you in the New York area will get a chance to see it in person as a part of the "Why Design Now?" exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Honda's unique device lightens the load on the user's legs and helps maintain a center of gravity via special mechanisms developed by the company. Walking, crouching, climbing stairs - all become easier with help from Body Support Assist. Needless to say, there are plenty of use cases for such a product, not the least of which would be helping people afflicted with mobility issues or leg problems. Honda has a promo video (included below) demonstrating how the device is worn and operated.
The exhibition will feature a variety of innovations and designs intended to have a positive impact on our world, spanning the fields of engineering, energy, and conservation to name a few. If you can't make it to New York in person, stay tuned to Cooper Hewitt's YouTube channel for updated videos clips featuring smart design.

'Why Design Now?' Event Details:

The show will run from May 14, 2010 to January 9, 2011 at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum on 2 East 91st Street, Manhattan. More information is available via their website, cooperhewitt.org.
Source: Honda

http://www.gizmag.com/hondas-bodywei...ibition/15102/

YouTube - What if? Helping people achieve greater mobility.[/URL]

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Honda Mileage Marathon winner beats official mpg figure

The winner of Honda’s Mileage Marathon challenge for fleet drivers recorded an average of 63.6mpg in a Honda Insight, beating the official economy figure of 61.4 mpg (combined).

The challenge involved six high mileage company car drivers swapping their existing cars for a Honda Insight for a month, to see if the hybrid could reduce their fuel costs.

E-ON company car driver, Ray Hadlington, usually drives a Vauxhall Zafira Diesel. He improved his typical fuel economy by over 10mpg, which saved nearly £50 in fuel bills over the month.

“Fuel prices are likely to rise again due to the weaker pound, and with the recent increase in duty, fleets will be looking at how they can reduce their fuel costs,” says Graham Avent, Manager – Corporate Sales at Honda (UK). “The results of this challenge show how switching the average company car driver into a Honda hybrid could save around £600 in fuel annually, or £1,800 over a 3-year contract.” *

As the CO2 emissions of the Insight are just 101g/km it sits in the lowest 10% Benefit in Kind (BIK) band. This means that company car tax starts from just £28 a month.

“Driving the Honda Insight was really no different from driving my Zafira, but the dashboard graphics reminded me to ease off the accelerator a little more than usual,” said winner Ray Hadlington. “The Benefit in Kind cost saving is probably the hardest element for me to ignore.”

Fleets taking on the Honda Insight also stand to benefit from low whole life costs due to a combination of solid residual values, low SMR and low fuel costs. In addition, Insight has low Class 1A National Insurance contributions and is exempt from the London congestion charge.

http://www.automotoportal.com/articl...oPortal.com%29

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Introducing the Civic Type R Mugen

In a world where speed is of the essence, whether that is in the communication industry or in the motor industry, almost every product is viewed in terms of the speeds it can achieve and how quickly the task that you want it to perform can be completed.

When looking at buying a car most customers will check the car’s power statistics, including the amount of horse power that the car has, the top speed that the car can achieve and the how long the car takes to go from 0-60 mph. One car that performs admirably in all of these criteria is the Civic Type R Mugen, a new car to the UK market that will leave a select few of its customers speechless.

The Honda Civic Type R Mugen has been developed especially for the roads of the UK and will glide around them like a dream. From the hilly roads of Scotland to the Welsh valleys and the country lanes of the south west of England, the Mugen has been tested on British roads and is firmly at home on them.

The quality of the drive behind the wheel of a Type R Mugen will leave you stunned into silence, as you just sit back in awe and enjoy the unique driving experience that this special car has to offer.

No stone was left unturned in fine-tuning the car for the demands that British roads will provide, as to ensure that the car was road ready it was tested on more than 2,000 km of road within the UK. Added to this the engineers carried out 36 hours of suspension testing to perfect that aspect of the car, and further to this they also improved the feel of the breaks and the throttle response.

British Type R enthusiasts themselves even got the opportunity to test the car and give Honda their feedback alongside people from the British media, and this acted to wrap up the development process.

The Civic Type R has been transformed with a higher power to weight ratio and a 10% increase in torque that helps take the original Type R to a new level. The Mugen engineers are experts in their field and are usually more accustomed to tuning engines track-side at top level races around the world rather than fine-tuning road cars in the UK, and this level of expertise in racing cars is reflected in the Mugen.

They have used their experience as masters of the track to help them produce a car that would perform well on the track, but is equally at home on the road, which is where you want it to perform well.

As with many good things in life, there are a limited amount of Civic Type R Mugens to go around and only a select few customers will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of this tuned up car. The Type R Mugen is custom-built for each of its customers, and as the name of the Civic Type R Mugen 200 suggests, there are only 200 of these models that will be made in the UK so demand for them is likely to be high.

There will be an even bigger demand for the exclusive Championship White Mugens, the classic colour that is steeped in tradition as the colour of Honda racing cars in the past, and there are only 20 of these to go around.

Like the Championship White Honda racing cars, Mugen similarly has had a history and tradition in racing ever since it was founded in 1973. Founded by the son of the founder of Honda, Hirotishi Honda, Mugen has been at and still is at the forefront of developing engines for motor racing. Mugen has a history in preparing Formula One engines for teams in the most extravagant and world-renowned form of motor racing, and has also delved into the world of rallying, the Super GT Championship and many more prestigious races.

This history in high-class motor racing has been used to create the Type R Mugen and give the road car that racing edge that will set it apart from other rivals in its class. The UK division of the Japanese car company are known for their advanced technical solutions, including both hybrid cars and fuel cell powered cars.

But it is their racing pedigree that is being shown through the Mugen that gives Honda a powerful and sporty car to be proud of and a benchmark for its competitors to aim towards.

The Honda Civic Type R is not as powerful as the Mugen but still offers its drivers a thrilling ride, and whilst the Civic Type S doesn’t offer the same power and speed of the two sportier models, it itself is still a sporty car with plenty of oomph.

The Type S has been designed using the same experience in Formula One and aeronautics that went into building the Mugen, and the vehicle helps to ensure that the driver and car are as one with an instant connection between man and vehicle established.

The Type S has impressive performance figures of its own that are not to be sniffed at, with both the 1.8 litre i-VTEC and lightweight 2.2 litre turbo diesel engines giving drivers solid performance when they put the pedal to the floor.

Honda have pushed their world leading engine technology right to the edge to produce two engines that are both powerful and economic, giving drivers a good fuel economy that so many customers look for now for both economic and environmental reasons.

The Honda Civic Type R Mugen is a powerful car and although it costs more than its less exclusive fellow Civic models, it is a case of getting what you pay for. The Mugen has plenty of racing credentials that set it apart from similar sports cars, and the tuned up car offers drivers a truly unique experience that they will not forget in a hurry.

http://www.brmb.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1783574

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Ford and Honda Win Big with Vincentric's 2010 Best Value in America Awards

BINGHAM FARMS, Michigan May 14, 2010; Ford and Honda continued to show strength in the resurgent automotive industry as they earned top honors in the 6th annual Vincentric Best Value in America™ awards announced earlier today. Both companies garnered 6 awards, with Ford’s high-end Lincoln MKS and MKT vehicles complementing the strong showing from Ford’s heavy duty pickups. Honda’s six awards were led by two five-time winners, the Accord and the Civic, and the CR-V which won its fourth Vincentric award. BMW, General Motors, and Toyota also did well, with each organization having four award winning vehicles.
“Vincentric’s 2010 Best Value in America awards clearly demonstrate how improvement in factors that positively impact consumer value translates into sales success.” commented David Wurster , President of Vincentric. “We’ve seen this in the past with Honda and Toyota. The new story for 2010 is how Ford, Hyundai and Kia have been able to apply this formula. All three of these brands are growing sales while providing class leading value.” he added.
Vincentric measures cost-of-ownership using eight different cost factors: depreciation, fuel, insurance, opportunity cost, financing, maintenance, taxes and state fees, and repairs. Using a statistical model, the company identified the Best Value in America by measuring which vehicles had a lower than expected ownership cost given their market segment and price. Each vehicle was evaluated in all 50 states plus DC using a range of annual mileage intervals and insurance profiles.
The categories and the winners of Vincentric’s Best Value in America™ for the 2010 model are available at www.vincentric.com, with Vincentric awards for Advanced Fuel Technology vehicles to be announced later this month.
ABOUT VINCENTRIC Vincentric provides data, knowledge, and insight to the automotive industry by identifying and applying the many aspects of automotive value. Vincentric data is used by organizations such as TheAutoChannel.com; Yahoo! Autos, AOL, Cars.com, Chevrolet, Toyota, Kiplinger.com, AutoTrader, Business Fleet Magazine, Volvo, NADA Guides, and Fleet-Central.com as a means of providing automotive insight to their clientele. Vincentric, LLC is a privately held automotive data compilation and analysis firm headquartered in Bingham Farms, Michigan.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...14/477558.html

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Turbo Tips: Because The Whistle Tip Is Such Old News

These


"Turbo Tips" are screw-on, eBay-marketed widgets for Honda Accords designed to change your exhaust note from four-banger to four-banger-with-some-crap-in-the-pipe. It won't fool anyone. Heinous before-and-after videos below.

Before Moron Modifications


YouTube - 92 Civic stock muffler sound[/URL]





Product: Sold to Accord owners. Car in video: Honda Civic. Sense-making: not a lot.

After Moron Modifications


YouTube - X-Tune Muffler Turbo Whistle[/URL]




Yes, ladies and gentlemen, farts are sexy. Run away. Run far, far away.




http://jalopnik.com/5539157/turbo-ti...-such-old-news

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Honda delays Civic redesign

A redesigned Honda Civic won't arrive before 2011, later than the car's typical five-year product cycle. A current Civic is shown.

Honda's redesigned Civic will not arrive until 2011, well past the typical five-year product cadence that would have landed the next-generation subcompact in dealer showrooms this fall.
Changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations affected the development of the upcoming Civic, John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co.'s executive vice president, said in an interview.
Mendel said the next Civic would come next year, although he declined to give a specific month. The current Civic debuted in September 2005.
"In general, we are not changing cycles," he said. "We change vehicles as need be. The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change [based on] what you see happening in the marketplace."
At the Tokyo auto show last October, Honda Motor Co. COO Tsuneo Tanai said the redesign had been altered midstream. The next Civic was planned to be larger than the current model. But its exterior has been resized closer to the current one, Tanai said.
The Civic sells about 1 million cars a year globally, with the United States accounting for about one-third of that.
Despite the delay, the Civic-based CR-V crossover is expected to stick to a five-year cycle. The current CR-V debuted in the fall of 2006; the redesign will arrive next year, Mendel said.
This would not be the first time a major Japanese carmaker has extended the life cycle of a core model. Toyota delayed the scheduled 2007 redesign of its U.S.-edition Corolla compact by a year because engineering resources were spread too thin. Although incentive spending increased in that final year, Corolla sales remained strong, and Toyota judged the decision to have been a good one.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...NEWS/100519893

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Honda Civic to live past five years, new model in 2011?

It has been five years since the current Honda Civic made its debut. So based on the standard 5 year product plan, a new model should be unveiled later this year. Not so, says Honda, which cites changing market conditions and emissions regulations as the reasons behind the pushed back release to 2011.
“In general, we are not changing cycles. We change vehicles as need be. The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change (based on) what you see happening in the marketplace,” explained John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co’s Executive VP.
The next Civic was supposed to grow in size over the FD2, but Honda COO Tsuneo Tanai said at last year’s Tokyo show that the design had been altered midstream and resized closer to the current car.
Five years already? The current Civic doesn’t feel very dated in our books, and is still very competitive against younger rivals, if not better. Good to hear that it won’t be further enlarged though; those who want a bigger car can get the Accord or an MPV.

http://paultan.org/2010/05/18/honda-...model-in-2011/

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Survey: Car buyers most likely to purchase EVs from Toyota, Honda and Ford; Nissan trails substantially

The graphical representation above really tells the whole story here, but we'll try to offer up a little extra insight anyway. Deloitte Consulting conducted a widespread survey covering several aspects of the automotive industry, and you can read the whole report here. The graph above illustrates just one finding, but it really paints a picture of the overall results of the survey.

What the image shows is really quite simple: buyers trust brands that they are familiar with. When Deloitte asked, "From whom would you be most likely to purchase an EV?" respondents placed Toyota, Honda and Ford on top whereas automakers such as Chevy, Nissan and Tesla scored far lower, despite the fact that each company has or will have an electric vehicle on the market soon.

Now this is certainly goods news for the big names like Toyota and Ford, but does not bode well for smaller players in the market. The results of the survey suggest that smaller companies may be well-served by merging with some of those big names and that might just happen as automakers move into the unpredictable EV market. With Fisker pulling in a goose egg and Tesla at a paltry two percent, something has to be done, right?

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/17...m-toyota-hond/

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Rusting, Crumbling Vehicles Outrage Owners

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --

• Honda Passport Damaged By Rust

The federal government is investigating the safety of thousands of SUVs driven every day on America's roads.

Many drivers said their cars are literally crumbling, breaking apart while they are driving. The investigation looks at the frames on the Honda Passport and the Isuzu Rodeo.




WLKY Investigates spoke with drivers with who said the frames rusted so badly that the cars were unable to be driven.

"I was driving and it completely fell off," Isuzu Rodeo owner Heather Briggs said.

"The metal is just flaking off," Honda Passport owner Marina Leavitt said. "It's peeling off in layers."

"It is a very big safety issue," said mechanic Marlone Fedele.

"The potential problem is that you are going to suddenly lose control of your car," automobile analyst Rebecca Lindland said.

In June 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the safety of Honda Passports and Isuzu Rodeos, model years 1998- 2002, after a series of documented complaints that the frames were rusting.

Lindland said Honda Passports and Isuzu Rodeos are almost identical cars. They have the same frame, they were made at the same factory and have the same suppliers.

Leavitt said her frame fell apart in east Louisville in January 2009.

She said she nearly lost control of the vehicle.

"I got out, walked around and found the rear wheel stabilizer bar on the driver's side laying on the road. It was attached by the wheel. But the part that goes into the frame was rusted off and laying on the road," Leavitt said.

WLKY's investigation found drivers in Pittsburgh and Boston with similar stories.

"It looked very bad. Actually, we could push our fingers through it," said Pittsburgh driver Bacco.

"Here we go," Briggs said as she tore rusted metal from her 2001 Isuzu Rodeo. "The frame to my car."

Since the cars are now, for the most part, more than a decade old, the warranties have expired. Isuzu and Honda no longer make either model.

All of the drivers said when it came to getting any kind of help from Honda or Isuzu, they were road blocked every step of the way.

"They never really listened to me. They never got back to me. They never gave me any resolution to anything. I think they just wanted me to go away," Leavitt said.

"They said they had no complaints and were not aware of any problems," Bacco said.

WLKY Investigates found documented complaints reported since 2004.

In a statement, Isuzu acknowledged the rust problem saying, "we are cooperating fully with the NHTSA and will continue to do so."

Honda said it "will cooperate fully with the NHTSA investigation."

That offers little solace for many who are left with no way to get around.

"I'm never driving this again. You can't. It's not fixable," Briggs said.

"The only thing holding everything together is the frame. Once the frame is rotted out, there's really nothing there," Fedele said.

Fedele advises all Passport and Rodeo drivers have their cars checked immediately.

"It's not going to fall off. It's going to twist. Once it twists, it's going to throw the car into an oncoming car, into a guard rail. It could roll over. A lot of things can happen," Fedele said.

Some drivers are demanding a recall, and said they want it fast.

"When I see these vehicles, all I can think about is, 'Are you driving your children around in these vehicles?'" Leavitt said.

Owners of Isuzu Rodeos and Honda Passport who notice rust problems need to file a complaint with the NHTSA.

http://www.wlky.com/news/23582277/detail.html

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Honda Delays Next Civic One Year for Upcoming Economy Regulations

Yesterday 08:58 AM by andrew.peterson

Honda usually abides by a five-year product cycle, putting the next-generation Civic in dealerships sometime this fall. Because of upcoming fuel economy and emissions regulations, as well as market conditions, Honda delayed launching its redesigned Civic by one year in order to redesign the redesign.

“In general, we are not changing cycles. We change vehicles as need be,” John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor, told Automotive News in an interview. “The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change [based on] what you see happening.”

Originally, the next-generation Civic was supposed to grow in every dimension. Due to upcoming government regulations and changing consumer preferences though, Honda decided to change the redesign during the development process. The change in the redesign delayed Honda’s introduction of the car by one year. Tsuneo Tanai, Honda Motor COO, confirmed the change in the Civic’s redesign at the Tokyo motor show last year. He said that the car’s dimensions have been resized and made closer to those of the current Civic’s.

Although the redesigned Civic has been delayed a year, its crossover counterpart, the CR-V, is still on track for a five year product cycle. This puts its redesigned model launch sometime in 2011 like the Civic’s.

Mendel confirmed both the redesigned Civic and CR-V will launch next year, but declined to give a specific month.

Source: Automotive News

http://wot.motortrend.com/6646663/au...ons/index.html

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Toyota Camry loses top spot to Accord

Toyota's troubles may cause it to lose perennial position as top-selling car in U.S. market

With four months of 2010 in the rearview mirror, the Toyota Camry, long the top-selling car in the United States, might be in danger of falling out of the lead.
The Camry, which is made at Toyota's plant in Georgetown, was one of several models that the automaker stopped selling earlier this year as part of its series of widespread recalls over issues including faulty gas pedals.
At the end of April, the Camry trailed the Honda Accord in year-to-date sales by 7,592 units. The Accord and its family of models including the Accord Crosstour sold 104,101 units to the 96,509 sold of the Camry and its family including Camry Hybrid.

• 2010 so far

• 
  
• 
  
  The 10 top-selling vehicles in the United States through the end of April and their year-to-date sales at this point in 2009:
  1. Ford F-Series: 143,985, up from 110,336
  2. Honda Accord: 104,101, up from 84,491
  3. Chevrolet Silverado: 102,098 up from 93,720
  4. Toyota Camry: 96,509, up from 92,523
  5. Toyota Corolla: 91,672, up from 78,132
  6. Honda Civic: 78,669, up from 76,782
  7. Nissan Altima: 74,245, up from 61,670
  8. Ford Fusion: 70,382 up from 46,799
  9. Chevrolet Malibu: 65,875, up from 50,265
  10. Ford Escape: 64,237, up from 44,6262009

The 10 top-selling vehicles in the United States in 2009 with total sales:

• 
  
  1. Ford F-Series: 413,625
  2. Toyota Camry: 356,824
  3. Chevrolet Silverado: 316,544
  4. Toyota Corolla: 296,874
  5. Honda Accord: 290,056
  6. Honda Civic: 259,722
  7. Nissan Altima: 203,568
  8. Honda CR-V: 191,214
  9. Ford Fusion: 180,671
  10. Dodge Ram: 177,268

Sources: Company news releases

• Top-selling vehicles of the past

• 
  
  How the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have fared in overall vehicle sales since Camry first took the title of best-selling car, in 1997. The Camry grabbed it away from the Ford Taurus, which was the best-selling car from 1992 to 1996.

2009: 1. Ford F-Series. 2. Toyota Camry. 3. Chevrolet Silverado. 4. Toyota Corolla. 5. Honda Accord.
2008: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Camry. 4. Accord.
2007: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Camry. 4. Accord.
2006: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Camry. 4. Dodge Ram. 5. Accord.
2005: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Camry. 4. Ram. 5. Accord.
2004: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Ram. 4. Camry. 5. Accord.
2003: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Ram. 4. Camry. 5. Accord.
2002: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Camry. 4. Ford Explorer. 5. Accord.
2001: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Explorer. 4. Accord. 5. Camry.
2000: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Explorer. 4. Camry. 5. Accord.
1999: 1. F-Series. 2. Silverado. 3. Camry. 4. Ram. 5. Explorer. 6. Accord.
1998: 1. F-Series. 2. Chevrolet C/K and Silverado pickup line. 3. Explorer. 4. Camry. 5. Ram. 6. Accord.
1997: 1. F-Series. 2. C/K. 3. Camry. 4. Accord.

Sources: media reports

• Top-selling vehicles

• 
  

The Camry has been the top-selling car in the United States for 12 of the past 13 years, losing only once, to the Accord in 2001.
That year, Camry went through a model change, which in the past has affected volume.
"We did lose considerable volume when going through those stages of major model changes," said Georgetown plant spokesman Rick Hesterberg. "We've become more efficient at it in the last 10 years where that did not occur."
Camry is not the overall top-selling vehicle, though. That crown has been claimed by Ford's F-Series pickup line for ages (See chart on page B3). The Camry also frequently trails the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, though it did top it last year and became the second best-selling vehicle in the country.
Being the top seller is an accolade that automakers often use in marketing.
"You can definitely use that in advertising," said Honda spokesman Chris Martin. "It does provide maybe some reassurance to certain customers that they're picking a vehicle that a lot of other people are picking."
With eight months of numbers still to go in 2010, it's possible the Camry will pull back in front. On the back of unprecedented financial incentives by Toyota, it outsold the Accord by more than 7,000 units in March; however, the Accord again outsold the Camry by nearly 4,000 units in April. The Accord outsold the Camry in both January and February. Those months saw dealerships stop selling certain Camrys, as well as the height of recall-related publicity.
Steve St. Angelo, president of the Georgetown plant and Toyota's chief quality officer for North America, emphasized that it's still early in the year and things could change.
Hesterberg added that the title of best-selling car is a point of pride for the thousands of workers in Georgetown.
"It's a good feeling to know you're building a car that consumers really love," he said. "I think it's significant, and it motivates you to build a very high-quality product."
Honda's Martin said his company isn't focused on the accolade.
"Before the end of the year, it could totally change," he said. "It's a factor of production capacity, world balance on where you're going to put your capacity, the amount you're able to spend on incentives. ... A lot of companies chase that. Honda, as a company, doesn't. ...
"It will be a happy occurrence if that turns out to be true, but it's not going to be because of us trying to target that or achieve it."

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/17/1...p-spot-to.html

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

Survey: Honda perceived to be tops in customer, quality commitment


Among seven major auto brands, consumers consider Honda to be the most committed to customers and to product quality. Ford ranked second, followed by Nissan, Chevrolet, and Toyota, based on a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Hyundai and Chrysler trailed the others by a significant margin.

To see how consumers' perception of a brand's commitment to customers and quality has changed in the wake of Toyota's high-profile safety and image challenges, the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey using a nationally representative sample. More than 1,700 interviews were completed among adults whose household owns at least one vehicle.


Commitment
Percentage of respondents who said a brand was committed to the customer or quality.


Honda truly stands out by this measure, being perceived as having much greater customer and quality commitment than its chief rivals. Key to this accomplishment is that Honda has a reputation for building good vehicles that perform well, are fuel efficient, and have strong reliability histories.

Ford continues its march, with strong showings in several recent Consumer Reports surveys, good overall reliability, and, unlike its domestic peers, continued goodwill among consumers for having taken no federal assistance.

Toyota had a relatively decent showing here, though trailing its chief competitors.

Although Hyundai's newer models have generally performed well in our tests, the brand's challenge still seems to be communicating this to consumers. Less than 50 percent of respondents felt that Hyundai was committed to its customers or quality.

The recent financial troubles, dealer closings, and lack of new product may have been factors in the last-place finish for Chrysler. Currently, to the average consumer, Chrysler has not been showing much commitment of any kind.

The bottom line

As we have written before, perception can differ from reality. When shopping for your next new or used car, do your homework by checking ratings and road tests. You may find that the brands you are considering have changed more rapidly than your perceptions.

TABEL =>

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...mmitment-.html

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Honda cites tougher fuel economy standards for delay in launch of new Civic

2009 Honda Civic coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda Motor Company almost religiously follows a five-year redesign schedule. Like clockwork, once every five years, a new Honda Civic is born... but not this time. If the five-year plan was still on schedule, we would be anxiously looking for a new Civic in showrooms this fall, but delays in the launch will push the new model back until sometime next year.

Why the delay? Honda points to several reasons, such as changing market conditions, new fuel economy regulations and stricter emissions standards. Though we had reported before that strict regulations would lead to an increased cost of about $1,000 per vehicle, we didn't assume that launches would be delayed by new emissions regulations. This delay is sure to cost the company much more than the number above, we'd guess something in the millions. Honda had no choice but to delay the launch, as executive vice-president of American Honda Motor Company John Mendel said:

In general, we are not changing cycles. We change vehicles as need be. The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change [based on] what you see happening in the marketplace.

The company had planned to launch the new Civic as a significantly larger vehicle than its predecessor, but now has elected to build the next-gen model to nearly identical dimensional specs of the outgoing one. This move should help improve fuel economy, but also inevitably delays the launch. Delays cost tons of money but Honda would rather get it right the first time and avoid expensive mid-cycle modifications later on.



http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/18...y-in-launch-o/

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15 Years Of Compact Sedan Sales

Honda’s decision to delay a redesign of its Civic piqued some curiosity amongst our Best & Brightest, particularly Mark MacInnis who requested a five-year sales chart on the Civic and a few competitors. We’ve gone one better and worked up a 15-year graph of sales volume for some of the more popular compact sedans in the US. Of course a significant number of those pre-2001 Civics were hatchbacks, and Toyota counts its Matrix hatch as a Corolla, so the numbers are just a little skewed. Still, it gives a fairly good sense of where the major players stand in this important segment.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/15-...t-sedan-sales/

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JAPAN: Honda remains cool on the future of EVs




Honda’s head of research and development Tomohiko Kawanabe says he is still sceptical about demand for electric cars because of a “lack of confidence” in the marketplace.
It is ten years since Honda stopped selling its EV Plus battery-powered vehicle model, Kawanabe told Bloomberg News: “It’s questionable whether consumers will accept limited driving range and having to spend time charging batteries.”
Honda’s view contrasts with that at Nissan which believes that EVs will make up 10% of the global car market by 2020. Kawanabe added that while Honda plans to sell electric cars in the US to help meet California emission rules, its priority is to improve the fuel efficiency.
From model years 2012 through 2014, the largest carmakers by volume in California must sell about 60,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars combined, according to the state Air Resources Board.
Honda began its research into battery-powered cars in 1988 and leased about 320 EV Plus models in the US and Japan between 1997 and 2000. The model used a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and had a range of 210kms on a single charge.
The company showed a concept version of an electric car named EV-N at last October’s Tokyo Motor Show but Kawanabe said it is focusing on expanding its lineup of hybrid models and improving its gasoline engines, adding that Honda sees hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles as the ultimate zero-emission vehicle.
Kawanabe also said that Honda is considering assembling Civic and Insight hybrid models in the US to avoid the negative impact of a stronger yen against the dollar, although he gave no indication on timing.


http://www.just-auto.com/news/honda-..._id104421.aspx

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[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

Honda R&D President says automaker "lacks confidence" in viability of EVs

Honda EV-N Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Carlos Ghosn and Nissan may be plowing head first into the EV world, but Honda isn't so certain buyers are going to be willing to accept the range and charging woes that go along with driving an all-electric car. Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of research and development for Honda, has been quoted as saying that while his company is currently researching the possibility of an EV, he isn't going so far as to recommend them. We're not sure whether that means he won't recommend his company produce an electric car of its own, or if he just wouldn't tell his mother to cruise on over to the Nissan dealer to pick up a Leaf.

Either way, we'll probably see some form of plug-in hybrid or EV from Honda within a few short years. California has mandated that a certain percentage of vehicle sales must be either plug-in hybrid or EV starting in 2012. Given Kawanabe's chilly assessment of the EV game, though, odds are we won't be seeing anything like the adorable all-electric EV-N Concept on our streets. Chances are cars like the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and Insight will come with a plug-in option and larger batteries instead.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/h...ce-in-viabili/


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2010 Honda Civic EX-L

http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchb...-34101576.html


An absolute stalwart in the Honda line-up, the Civic maintains its popularity as a practical and quality economy car even after almost 40 years on the market. But, as the latest 2010 Honda Civic shows, popularity comes at a price. Offensive to none, the Civic is a perfectly average little car to which only the most particular person would turn up their nose.
The Civic received its last major update for the 2006 model year, acquiring smooth sides and hovercraft like overhangs. Honda did get a little radical with the instrument cluster, using a bilevel arrangement with the tachometer in the usual place, and a digital speedometer just below the windshield.

Nav needs update

Minor updates for the Civic EX-L model with navigation that we reviewed include the addition of a Bluetooth cell phone system and iPod integration. But the navigation system in particular highlights the aching need for Honda's next generation Civic, due to arrive as a 2012 model. Not only are the maps low resolution, with jaggy graphics, but the route guidance is poor and response time is slow.

The navigation system maps show jagged street names and graphics.

This navigation system was introduced with the 2006 model, so don't expect external data sources with traffic and weather information, even though the car comes with satellite radio. The maps show in 2D only, on a touch-screen that also displays audio information.
We had no difficulty entering addresses into this navigation system, although there was a slight delay after each button push. Trying to follow its route guidance through dense urban streets proved frustrating, with insufficient graphics and voice prompts that seem to come only at every fifth turn.
Honda includes its excellent voice command system in the car, but its response time was also slow. Further, with the addition of the voice-operated Bluetooth phone system, the car gets two sets of voice command buttons, something we have previously complained about in models from Acura before the cabin tech was streamlined.
Using the Bluetooth phone system with a paired iPhone, the only feedback on the car's LCD is an informational graphic showing the location of the voice command buttons. You have to use voice command to enter digits, and the system does not import a phone's contact list.
Bluetooth was one add-on to this generation of Civic, as was iPod integration, which relies on a pigtail USB port in the console. Again, the system showed quite a bit of sluggishness as we selected albums or artists from the iPod library menu. The USB port will also work with USB mass storage devices.

To access the CD slot, you need to open up the LCD.

As with the 2006 model, the only way to access the CD slot is to open up the LCD screen, which motors down. That single CD player also handles MP3 CDs. A more esoteric option sits near the CD slot in the form of a PC Card slot. With either a flash memory PC Card or an adaptor for an SD card you can play MP3s through the stereo.


Bolstering the Civic's average nature, the EX-L trim version gets a six-speaker audio system. Not particularly loud, this system reproduced music well enough that we didn't mind listening to it, but neither did we look forward to cruising around in the car listening to music.

Sprightly engine

For power, the Civic EX-L uses a sprightly little 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to either a five-speed manual or automatic, as in our car. We liked the way the Civic felt ready to leap forward as soon as we put it in drive. That eagerness almost made it difficult to control as we maneuvered our way out of a crowded parking lot.

The Civic can be had with a manual or automatic transmission--five gears with each choice.

Honda squeezes 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque out of this engine using its i-VTEC variable-valve-timing technology. Techwise, the power train is far from cutting edge, another average component of the Civic. Other automakers are trotting out turbocharged and direct injection engines, whereas five speeds on the gearbox seems primitive.
The Civic drives well enough; it is easy to shoot around town and reasonably comfortable at speed on the freeway. When we mashed the gas pedal for passing power, the transmission dropped down a gear and the engine made a tortured grinding sound as the revs climbed. The Civic is one of those cars with good acceleration up to about 30 mph, but it quickly loses wind.
Its handling is responsive, but not particularly sporty. Honda offers the Civic Si for that. The Civic displays the kind of understeer we would expect, and the body is prone to leaning in turns when pushed, despite the firm suspension.

The Civic acquired this bilevel instrument cluster in its last update.

The EPA puts the Civic fuel economy at 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. By contrast, we easily got over 40 mpg with the Honda Insight hybrid, which, similarly equipped, can be had for about $2,000 less than the Civic. Going by the numbers, the Insight seems a no-brainer compared with the Civic.

In sum

Reiterating the point, the 2010 Honda Civic EX-L is a fine but purely average car. It has some of the cabin tech features we look for in cars, but the performance is not all that good, and the aesthetics are definitely lacking. The Civic also faces very tough competition in its segment from cars such as the new Kia Forte, which offers a better Bluetooth phone system and iPod integration, although not navigation.
The Civic's 1.8-liter four-cylinder and five-speed automatic is also pretty average in the current car market. Fuel economy is good, but not great, with the company's own Insight hybrid besting it without sacrificing much in the way of power.

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Amazing race Waterloo racer makes the Cannonball Run and comes out on top




May 19, 2010



When William Chan left Waterloo two weeks ago to compete in the One Lap of America race, he knew he would face some hardships. Little did the Waterloo native know most of the challenges he and his driving partner Jon Weir would face would be off of the race track.
“It got a little bit crazy,” said Chan, 28, adding he hadn’t pulled so many all-nighters since university.
Six thousand kilometres, a busted fuel tank and a few caffeine pills later, the duo returned to Waterloo as champions.
Chan and Weir placed first in the economy class, and eighth overall in the 68-car field.
But One Lap of America is no ordinary race.
It’s based on the infamous Cannonball Run, which was an illegal race in the early 1970s from coast to coast in the United States.
The race turned legal in the late 1970s and now drivers travel from track to track in the northeast United States and race at one per day.
“You do three laps (at each track) and it’s a cumulative time,” Chan said. “You don’t get much of a look at the track beforehand. There’s no practice laps.”
This off-the-cuff kind of racing is complicated by the fact that the races take place each day and the tracks are up to nine hours away from each other.
Chan and Weir were underdogs in every sense of the word heading into the race.
Not only were they facing professional racers, but their vehicle was a 1993 Honda Civic.
Chan and Weir have souped it up and turbo-charged the engine. The car, nicknamed the Giant Killer, ended up being one of the fastest in the race.
“We were beating cars like Ferraris and Porsches,” Chan said.
When the duo embarked on the trip, Chan wasn’t expecting to come home with trophies. But he’s learned to deal with the unexpected.
After the first race in South Bend, Ind., he and Weir were running late after making some modifications to their vehicle.
They were rushing on the highway to make it to the next track in Wisconsin. Chan and Weir had driven all night and figured they were going to make it just in time.
“We were about a half an hour from the track and our fuel tank supports broke and the fuel tank ended up scraping against the road,” Chan said.
“We had to pull over and fix it on the side of the road.”
Unfortunately, they didn’t have the parts to repair it and ended up using cargo straps to hold the tank in place. That lasted for a couple races, but it was stressful, Chan said.
“It was exhausting to keep having to check them,” he said. “Every city we went to we called dealerships looking for the supports, but no one had them in stock.” Eventually they found some, which was a huge relief, Chan said.
The other big hiccup in their marathon race occurred when they fell behind once again — not on the track, but on the highway.
“We figured we’d have to pull another all-nighter,” Chan said.
“So we took turns driving. After an hour or so, we’d start weaving and almost dozed off.”
Eventually, Chan and Weir decided to pull over. Chan bought some caffeine pills but they seemed to have no effect.
They decided to pull over and take a nap. Twenty minutes later, Chan awoke.
“I was so alert, I figured it was time to get going,” he said.
And it was lucky he was alert, because a few minutes after hitting the road again, Chan narrowly avoided hitting two deer on the road.
“It was a near miss,” Chan said. “But I’m thankful I took those pills.”
On the track things went much smoother. Chan credits their success with a unique strategy.
“Some of the rich people just hire professional drivers,” he said. “We had two drivers. Most people in that situation have drivers alternate between (morning and afternoon laps).”
Chan and Weir, however, alternated days.
“That let the driver get a feel for the course in the morning and then get their times in the afternoon.”
Chan and Weir have now returned home, tired but proud of their win.
“We went down there to make a name for ourselves in the States and hopefully get some sponsors,” Chan said.

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/article/210434

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Honda Accord most-stolen car in Washington

If you own a 1992 Honda Accord, be careful, because it’s the most stolen car in Washington state.
And if you live in Yakima, you have a greater chance of having your car stolen compared with other Washington cities, according to statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
In 2009, there were 26,684 vehicles stolen in the state, and Yakima was the sixth-highest spot in the nation for auto thefts. Seattle ranked 37th last year, compared with 26th in 2008.

Here’s the entire release on auto thefts:

Report: 26,684 vehicles stolen in WA in 2009; Seattle area ranked 37th in the nation for auto theft
SEATTLE – Washington continues to be a hotbed for auto thieves despite a 15.8-percent dip in theft rate last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s annual Hot Spots Report.
Yakima ranked sixth-highest in the nation for auto theft rates, down from third in 2008. Spokane jumped to 18th in auto theft, up from 35th in 2008. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area fell from 26th in 2008 to 37th last year.
In 2009, 26,684 vehicles were reported stolen in Washington, a 15.8-percent drop from 31,681 in 2008. That’s an average of 73 stolen vehicles per day and three vehicles an hour. While the decrease in thefts is encouraging for drivers, auto theft is still a costly crime vehicle owners pay for through their insurance premiums.
In 2009, auto theft cost more than $180 million in Washington. Vehicle theft is the nation’s number-one property crime, costing an estimated $6.4 billion in 2008, according to the FBI. The average value of a motor vehicle reported stolen in 2008 was $6,751.
“Consumers literally pay billions each year for auto theft,” said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. “The cost to replace stolen vehicles and repair those that are recovered is reflected in your insurance rates.”
Here are lists of Washington cities with the highest theft rates:


City Thefts Theft Rate

1. Yakima 1,525 637.93

2. Spokane 2,218 473.24

3. Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue 13,635 400.11

4. Longview 348 341.29

5. Vancouver/Portland 6,837 304.97

6. Olympia 578 230.30

7. Kennewick-Richland-Pasco 467 190.11

8. Mount Vernon-Anacortes 211 176.52

9. Bremerton-Silverdale 392 162.75

10. Lewiston, ID-WA Metro 80 131.92

*The theft rate is based on the number of thefts per 100,000 inhabitants using 2009 U.S. Census Population estimates.
Here are Washington’s most stolen vehicles, according to NICB statistics:

1. 1992 Honda Accord

2. 1995 Honda Civic

3. 1990 Toyota Camry

4. 1995 Acura Integra

5. 1994 Nissan Sentra

6. 1995 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee

7. 1994 Saturn Sl

8. 1995 Nissan Pathfinder

9. 1994 Ford Explorer

10. 1993 Dodge Caravan

NW Insurance Council offers the following tips to help you reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen:
· Keep your doors locked and windows completely rolled up.
· Remove keys from the ignition, even when briefly stepping away from your car.
· Keep valuable items such as bags, purses, cell phones and briefcases out of sight.
· Always park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
· Always activate your vehicle’s security or alarm system when parked.
Before buying a new vehicle, check with your insurance company to find out which vehicles have the highest risk of theft.
If you witness or have knowledge of an auto theft, contact your local law enforcement agency. In some cases, auto theft is a form of insurance fraud when automobile owners stage phony accidents or arrange to have their vehicles stolen with hopes of collecting the insurance money.
If you know of anyone who has filed a false insurance claim, you may be eligible for an award up to $5,000 offered by NW Insurance Council. Call the Fraud Hotline at 800-TEL-NICB. For more information about the Hot Spots Report and insurance fraud, call (800) 664-4942 or visit NW Insurance Council .
NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.







http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/s...ess+Journal%29

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UPDATE 1-Honda to ramp up carmaking capacity in China - Nikkei

Stocks



HONDA MOTOR CO.,LTD.

7267.T
¥2,906
-79.00-2.65%
7:09am UTC+0300


TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

7203.T
¥3,430
-80.00-2.28%
6:59am UTC+0300


NISSAN MOTOR CO.,LTD.

7201.T
¥699
-18.00-2.51%
6:59am UTC+0300



May 20 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co (7267.T) plans to ramp up its annual automobile production capacity in China 36 percent by 2012 to meet sharp demand growth in the country, the Nikkei business daily learned.
Cyclical Consumer Goods
The move, which will raise Honda's capacity in China to 830,000 units, is expected to be announced locally as early as next week, the daily said.
The carmaker will expand a plant operated by local joint venture Guangqi Honda Automobile Co, adding a new assembly line at an estimated cost of slightly more than 10 billion yen ($108.6 million), the daily learned.
The upgrade will double the factory's production capacity to 240,000 units, the Nikkei said.
The new equipment is expected to be used to assemble models including the Accord and a new brand to be launched with the joint venture partner, the Nikkei said.
Including production at another factory, Guangqi Honda's total output capacity will grow to 480,000 units through this effort, the Nikkei said. Currently, Honda can produce 610,000 vehicles a year in China.
Other Japanese automakers including Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) are also boosting their Chinese operations, the Nikkei said.
Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, which had frozen plans to construct a second plant in Changchun, said last month that it will proceed with the project, expanding its Chinese capacity to 920,000 units by 2012. [ID:nTOE63R09X]
Nissan Motor Co (7201.T), Japan's third biggest carmaker, said earlier this month that it began building a second plant in Guangzhou, with an eye to increasing capacity in the country to 900,000 units by 2012, the daily said.
China's auto market, which overtook the United States as the world's largest last year, thanks to a raft of policy incentives, has been a major bright spot amid a global industry downturn. [ID:nTOE63J05C]
Sales of new cars continue to grow rapidly in China. The number of vehicles sold there in the January-March quarter is equivalent to Japan's projected demand for all of fiscal 2010. Chinese sales in April surged 34 percent on the year to 1.55 million units, the Nikkei said. ($1=92.07 YEN) (Reporting by Isheeta Sanghi in Bangalore; Editing by Don Sebastian)


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSS...merGoodsSector

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Rumor: Next generation (2012) Civic Si to have 2.4L? And other 9th gen Civic tidbits.

Date: May 19, 2010 11:41
Submitted by: Jeff
Source: Anonymous
Credibility Rating: 5

We received this tip a while back but were asked to sit on it for reasons I won't get into, but here's what we got:

"Just heard through the grapevine that the next-gen civic will definitely be getting a version of the TSX K24. Probably for Si model. Will incorporate integrated exhaust manifold"


The integrated exhaust manifold the source is speaking of is the same sort of cast-in exhaust manifold that is currently found on Honda's J-series V6 engine family. It should be noted that the source has indicated that this rumor still has legs, yet it currently sits right around a 5 on our CR scale at this point.

In other 9th generation Civic news, American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel recently confirmed something that we've been talking about here since last May (and more last September), and that's that the 8th generation cycle will be stretched by up to a year, pushing back the release of the 9th generation Civic. Mr. Mendel has only said that the next generation Civic would be released some time in 2011. For some time, we had been hearing that it would likely launch early in 2011. More recently some folks in the dealer community have pegged the intro date as June '11. If we start seeing 2011 Civics appearing in showrooms earlier than this September, then it would tend to support the notion that the 2012s would launch in the first half of 2011.

And finally, it's no secret that the Civic's delay was keyed by a midstream change during the design cycle. There were some reports from a blog or two that the redesign resulted in a vehicle that would be smaller than the current generation, but our understanding was that the original design of the 9th generation was going to be larger than the 8th generation, but then the redesign shrunk it back to the point where it was roughly equivalent in size to the current model. The latest from Automotive News lines up with this:
At the Tokyo auto show last October, Honda Motor Co. COO Tsuneo Tanai said the redesign had been altered midstream. The next Civic was planned to be larger than the current model. But its exterior has been resized closer to the current one, Tanai said





http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=899102

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Honda’s Still Not Feeling The Electric Vehicle






With Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicles heading into showrooms by late this year, all eyes will be glued to see how this EV will perform in the market. With reservations already adding up quickly, the Leaf may be a boon to EV development in the US. However, Honda has a different perspective when it comes to EVs.
Honda “lacks confidence” in electric-car demand, according to Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s research and development. Despite the automaker’s strength when it comes to building environmentally-friendly products, Honda remains skeptical about electric-cars 10 years after it has stopped selling the EV Plus, the first battery electric vehicle.
“It’s questionable whether consumers will accept the annoyances of limited driving range and having to spend time charging them,” said Kawanabe. “We are definitely conducting research on electric cars, but I can’t say I can wholeheartedly recommend them.”
Although recent research has suggested that EV demand will remain modest for years to come, Nissan CEO Carols Ghosn has higher expectations, suggesting that EVs will account 10 percent of the global car market by 2020.


http://www.hondainthenews.com/honda-...ctric-vehicle/

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Honda, Toyota plan to develop diesel engines



19 May, 2010 Japanese carmakers Honda and Toyota plan to develop diesel engines for their passenger cars even as rivals like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai spend more on building and marketing diesel cars to keep pace with demand.

Honda, which has only petrol cars in India, is developing a small diesel engine for the Indian market, while Toyota will soon roll out a diesel version of Corolla Altis, making it its first diesel-driven passenger car in India.

“We feel the need to develop a diesel engine,” said Jnaneswar Sen, vice president (marketing), Honda Siel. He pointed out that more than half the vehicles sold in Europe are diesel. The company is yet to decide the timeline for the launch and which cars it will power.

Toyota, which sells only diesel versions of its utility vehicles and SUVs such as Innova and Fortuner in the country, has 90 per cent of sales coming from diesel cars. “While diesel is cleaner advanced technology, gasoline will also be important for us,” said Sandeep Singh, deputy MD (sales and marketing) of Toyota Kirloskar Motors.

Maruti Suzuki, which sells 60 per cent of its popular Swift, Dzire and Ritz cars in diesel versions, plans to roll out smaller diesel cars, using Fiat’s 700cc engine. Three out of every four cars that Maruti Suzuki sells is petrol-driven. Maruti, which sources diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat, also plans to get 1.6 litre and 2 litre engines. Its main rival Hyundai Motor is considering making diesel engines.

Currently Hyundai’s i20, Getz, Verna and Sonata have diesel options. But the proportion of diesel sales has been going up steadily from 15 per cent in 2006 to 25 per cent in 2009, thanks to superior technology and fuel efficiency that modern diesel engines offer. Many customers prefer diesel versions because of better fuel efficiency that makes up for the premium they pay.

http://www.carazoo.com/autonews/1905...diesel-engines

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Honda Motor: To Announce Plan To Up China Output Capacity Tuesday


By Yoshio Takahashi

Dow Jones Newswires


TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Honda Motor Co. (7267.TO) Thursday said it will announce on Tuesday a plan to raise production capacity in China in its latest effort to keep up with surging demand in the world's largest auto market.
Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., will hold a press conference to disclose details of the plan, a Honda spokesman said.
The latest move comes a few months after Honda said it would build a new plant--its fifth in China--with its other local joint venture, Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co.
Copyright © 2009 Dow Jones Newswires

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/mar...Latest+News%29

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Honda Plans to Sell Hybrid Civic in India


Honda Motor Co. wants to sell its Honda Civic Hybrid in India starting next year.
Advanced environmental-protection technology and all that sort of thing…buy our Honda Civic Hybrid – Save the World.

India doesn't have an approval system for hybrid cars. When it does, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. will start
importing the Honda Civics.

Because of high tariffs, the Civic Hybrid will cost twice as much in India as it does in Japan. The people in India make just a small

percentage – cost of living considered – of their Japanese counterparts.



Honda has just a 4% market share in India.
China will get the Civic Hybrid by the end of this year.
Toyota Motor already sells the Prius in China where it is produced…since Dec 2005. Last year Toyota sold 1,700 Priuses.
Japanese automakers are confident there are enough rich in India and China to make it worthwhile to market their hybrids to those countries.
What do you think?


http://www.risingsunofnihon.com/gadg...ll-hybrid-civ/



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Honda skeptical of electric cars, to focus on improving fuel efficiency in internal combustion engine

Honda is skeptical of the electric car as the future of motoring. Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s R&D unit, said that “they lack confidence” in EV tech. “It’s questionable whether consumers will accept the annoyances of limited driving range and having to spend time charging them,” he went on to say.
“We are definitely conducting research on electric cars, but I can’t say I can wholeheartedly recommend them,” said Kawanabe, who is an engine specialist. Honda will still sell electric vehicles in the US though, but only to help meet California emission rules. From model years 2012 to 2014, the largest carmakers by volume in The Golden State must sell about 60,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars combined. Kawanabe stated that their main goal is to improve the fuel efficiency of new and upgraded models.
Honda has been researching battery powered cars since 1988 and started leasing out the EV Plus in the US and Japan before the turn of the millennium. That car used a nickel-metal hydride battery pack which ran 210 km on a single charge, very good even for today’s standards. The company then shifted to hybrids and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles; Honda believes that the latter is the ultimate zero-emission vehicle.
Honda’s stand is the opposite of what Nissan believes. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is betting big time on an electric future and will roll out 500,000 units per year across the globe from 2012, starting with the Leaf. Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn said that EVs will make up 10% of the global car market by 2020. Who do you think is right?

Source


http://paultan.org/2010/05/20/honda-...ustion-engine/

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Honda Suspends Operations at Two Factories over Thailand Conflict

Will decide on a day-by-day basis whether to operate factories



Due to the violent political turmoil that has engulfed Bangkok, Honda Motor said on May 20 that they have suspended operations at two Thailand factories making cars and motorcycles.
"We suspended operation of one plant manufacturing cars and another for motorcycles in Thailand today," a Honda spokeswoman said, adding that the suspension is only currently scheduled for May 20.
"We'll decide whether to operate our business on a day-by-day basis, watching the changing situation there," she said.
Honda has a car manufacturing plant in Thailand's old capital of Ayutaya and a plant making motorcycles in a suburb of Bangkok.
The Ayutaya plant has an annual production capacity of 240,000 vehicles, manufacturing mostly its Accord sedan and Civic compact cars for sales in Thailand.
Honda closed its office in Bangkok on May 20 due to the turmoil.
Thailand's army on May 19 cracked down and ended a six-week protest by anti-government protesters in Bangkok, triggering a wave of arson attacks in the capital and more clashes.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010

http://www.industryweek.com/articles...ict_21883.aspx

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Acura And Honda "Cute Utes" Provide Good Rides




Whether you go up market or mainstream, the Honda Motor Company has an "entry level" sport utility vehicle they think you'll like. And they may be right. I certainly like both of them.
Not that Honda is alone in this, of course, but its CR-V and Acura RDX are both fine and compelling vehicles with a lot to offer. Choosing between them amounts basically to how much you want to be coddled, how much you want to spend and how sporty you want your vehicle to be.
The CR-V was renewed a couple of years ago, and of course Honda found some tweaks for 2010, whereas the RDX is getting a little long in the tooth in car years (like dog years but, since technology advances so quickly, even shorter). That doesn't mean the RDX is out of date, though, especially since it also features a series of upgrades and enhancements for 2010. But if history is any judge there'll probably be an "all-new" version coming out in the next year or two.
In the meantime, you have to "suffer" with one of my favorite SUV's, which means there won't be a lot of suffering involved.
The RDX was the first Honda consumer vehicle to be offered with a turbocharger, though the company has a long history of turbos in its racing engines. In the RDX' case, the turbo is attached to a 2.3 liter four cylinder engine that puts out 240 hp @ 6000 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm. This is plenty of motivation.
The only downside to the power plant is that there's a bit of turbo lag and, in general, the acceleration seems to come on as if you're stepping on an on/off switch, which affects its smoothness overall. This isn't a huge deal, however.
All RDX's come with what the company calls a "Performance-minded Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission" that offers the driver paddles for the manual shifting mode. I love paddles and they work very well here, though perhaps it's time for a sixth gear. You also get an electronically-controlled drive-by-wire throttle system.
RDX has sported Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system traditionally, which can direct torque not only to the rear wheels but to the outside rear wheel in cornering, and it works very well. For 2010, however, buyers in the United States can order their RDX with front wheel drive only, which can not only cut down on the price of entry but which the manufacturer says will also garner a two miles per gallon increase in its fuel economy.
People who live in warmer climates may like this version over the all-wheel drive one. Canadian customers, most of whom of course don't live in warmer climes, don't get the front drive option, which may prompt some potential Canadian buyers to say SH-UCKS!
Acura has also given the RDX a more luxurious interior for 2010, as well as some new technology features, to make it more compelling.
The 2010 RDX is recognizable from the front immediately, thanks to the new "Acura signature design" front grille. Well, actually, it's recognizable from other RDX's, but the grille makes it harder to tell it apart from its big brother, the MDX (which was given the same grille this year as well).
Other exterior changes include redesigned 18 inch aluminum alloy wheels, new front and rear bumper fascias, revised HID headlights and taillights, new exhaust tips and "satin" trim accents.

Acura has also worked on the braking system to deliver "better feel and enhanced durability". I can't comment on the durability, since I only had the thing for a week, but the brake feel is very good, not grabby at all nor mushy when you press the pedal.
Inside, the 2010 RDX gets a new rear view camera system that shows up on its LCD screen, an electronic compass on the rear view mirror, automatic headlights (which in my opinion every vehicle should have), a handle to help you close the hatch (but no power closing option), a storage tray on the center console, better cup holders, USB-port connectivity (and charging capability) for your MP3 player, and stuff like that. The interior leather has been reworked as well, to give a higher end look to where you park your lower end.
Acura is known for stuffing a lot of technology into its vehicles, and the RDX is no exception. Standard equipment includes RDX Bluetooth HandsFreeLink connectivity, now with Bluetooth audio capabilities. Base RDX's get a 7-speaker Acura Premium Sound System but my test unit also came with the optional Technology Package, which includes a Navigation System with Voice Recognition (though the recognition interface is a bit clunky).
The best thing about the premium sound is the 410 watt, 10 speaker ELS audio system, which plays DVD-Audio discs and more, and sounds spectacular. This is one of the best systems I've heard in a vehicle.
The front seats are very comfortable - and power-operated, with the driver's side of my test unit offering two memory settings as well. The rear seat splits 60/40 and folds and when it's down you get plenty of storage space. I brought home an OHM bicycle in the thing and, though it was tight, it fit in without much ado.
That was great, because it meant I didn't have to ride the bike!
One thing that turns my crank about the RDX is how Acura has so far eschewed the temptation to spray buttons and knobs all over the center stack, as they have with some of their other models. The RDX is pretty simple to use, with well-designed and laid out controls. The only real fly in the ointment is how the audio controls are kind of hidden down toward the bottom of the stack, where they're a bit of a long reach, but it isn't a deal breaker by any means especially since you can control the major audio functions from the steering wheel.
The 2010 Honda CR-V isn't as nice as the RDX, but that doesn't mean it's a slouch; in fact, it's a very nice machine; it's just not as ritzy as the Acura. And for 2010, Honda has given it some upgrades inside and out, some new features, more power and better fuel economy.
Sounds like a winner.
One of the things I like about the current CR-V compared to its earlier version (and the current Toyota RAV4) is that its tailgate opens upward, instead of to the right. While this does lead to a bit of a stretch for short people (and I speak from experience), it's a lot more logical than having a tailgate that opens against the curb when you're parallel parked, making access more difficult.
That isn't a 2010 thing, however, just a current generation thing. For 2010, new stuff includes a new grille and bumper design, re-sculpted hood, and a new rear bumper. Ten spoke alloy wheels are standard on CR-V EX and EX-L trim levels, replacing the previous seven spoke alloy wheels, if such things are important to you.
Inside, tweaks include the welcome Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, which is now standard on all CR-V's with the navigation system. The EX-L trim level now gets automatic on/off headlights and the front seats have wider armrests on the inside. I hate such armrests because I find they interfere with my movement (I keep them folded up when I come across them), but to each his own.
My EX-L test unit had such amenities as automatic climate control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and heated leather seats. The driver's seat features power adjustment, though the passenger's doesn't.
The CR-V's 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine has been tweaked to provide 14 more horses, for a total of 180, which is adequate, while getting one mile per gallon better fuel economy. The five speed automatic transmission works well, but doesn't offer a manual mode.
The vehicle is easy to use and drive and quite comfortable, though my daughter-in-law complained that the rear seat shoulder belt hurt her neck. That's why we strapped her dear self to the fender and took her home like a deer self.
There's plenty of storage space, of course, including a double decker glove compartment.
All things being equal - which of course they aren't - I'd opt for the RDX over the CR-V any day. That's because of the Acura's higher level of toys and better fun to drive factor. I guess that's yet one more indicator of the old saw "You get what you pay for."
The Honda CR-V starts at $21,545 U.S./ $26,290 Canadian. The Acura RDX FWD version starts at $32,520 U.S. (Not available in Canada) . The SH-AWD version starts at $34,520 U.S./ $39,990 Canadian.
Copyright 2010 Jim Bray, TechnoFile.com

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/or....shtml?ref=rss


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Mazda 3 topples Honda Civic sales in April

Richmond Hill, Ontario – The Mazda3 took the sales lead in April, selling 5,436 units to the 5,301 Honda Civics that were sold, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers. The Ford F-150 retained the top spot for light trucks.
DesRosiers noted that although the April numbers were close, Mazda3 is also the bestseller year-to-date, with 17,198 sold from January to the end of April, versus 17,095 Honda Civics. Toyota Corolla is third at 13,059 units.
The top ten best-selling passenger cars in April, in order, were the Mazda3, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Fusion, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.
Year-to-date to the end of April, the top ten were the Mazda3, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Matrix, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Yaris and Ford Focus.
The top ten best-selling light trucks in August, in order, were the Ford F-Series, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Ranger.
Year-to-date to the end of April, the top ten were the Ford F-Series, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Ranger.




http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/0...s-in-april.htm

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An art odyssey with the Honda City





Art doesn’t simply manifest by itself. It is a product of carefully selected design and materials, some inspiration and the passion that puts it all together. It can take on many forms from photo-realistic paintings to larger than life sculptures. Some works of art are, quite literally, poetry in motion.
To give the press a refreshing sample of art, Honda invited members of the media to participate in the City: A Work of Art tour. Journalists would travel to local craft heavens in the Laguna Loop, shuttled there by Honda’s very own work of art, the Honda City, both automatics with 1.3 liter and 1.5 liter engines.
The tour would begin in Metro Manila, heading down south to Tiaong, Quezon, up agin to Pagsanjan, Laguna and ending in Binangonan, Rizal.
The first stop is possibly the farthest, down south in Tiaong, Quezon. Tucked away in the town’s back road was the residence of Augusto “Ugu” Bigyan. The ceramics artist’s works has earned the attention of resorts like Amanpulo, El Nido, Villa Escudero and many others. Here in his pottery garden cum workshop and restaurant is where the artist host treats guests to a cooking and pottery demo. Interested parties of at least 10 can call to schedule a lunch. One of the dishes, Kulawo, made of banana hearts and eggplants, will be prepared for the visitors. After lunch, Ugu himself will demonstrate pottery-making.
After touring the property, members of the media got back in the cars for the long drive up to Binangonan via the Laguna loop. Various road conditions from asphalted national highways to inner national roads to the tree lined winding roads in Pagsanjan offered a sample of the City’s comfort and handling attributes. It wasn’t long before we arrived in Binangonan, to catch the picturesque Thunderbird resort perched in a highland valley along the Sierra Madre range. It would make the perfect launch point for the next day’s activities.
Early the next day, the group set of for the foothills of the resort. The town proper of Binangonan is widely recognized as the art capital of the Philippines. Who would have thought a rich cultural patina of art houses, studios, galleries, museums, and heritage sites would be just a short drive from here.
The first stop was Yab Design, producers of life-size and larger-than-life figurines made mainly out of polyester resin, reinforced with fibreglass. The stage is set as early as the driveway, lined with Egyptian statues that lead to the T-Rex and Dragon standing guard at the rotunda. Inside their warehouse are thousands more, ranging from life-size figures of celebrities and historical figures to mock-ups of vehicles and even the US president’s desk.
Yab Design maybe adept at capturing the likeness of people, but it’s still a far cry from the skill of the Blanco’s. Along a simple unassuming road in Angono is the Blanco Family Museum. It houses the collection of paintings Jose "Pitok" V. Blanco, his wife and 7 children. The celebrated family of painters is known for their photo-realistic style and dauntingly large murals. In this museum, the collection of works illustrates the evolution of the artists from early age to their signature pieces. The tour ends with a massive mural worked on by the entire family, featuring some 200 unique faces from Rizal.
The last stop is also home to the oldest work of art, not just in Rizal but in the entire Philippines. The site turned out to be just a stone’s throw from Thunderbird Resort. There, carved into a rock wall were human and animal figures dating back to 3000 BC. These inscriptions show stylized human figures, frogs and lizards along with other designs that may have depicted life during the era. This heritage site was discovered by the late National Artist Carlos V. Francisco in 1965. In 1973, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 260, it was declared as a national cultural treasure.
Of course, patiently waiting on the sidelines was the Honda City, shuttling media men from site to site. One truly begins to appreciate the car’s subtle style especially after a trip like this.
As for the tour itself, it’s refreshing to see that some of the most memorable sites to see aren’t that far at all.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/258298...ith-honda-city

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Local police agencies giving away 'The Club' to Honda owners for free

KENT - With a recent increase in thefts of older Honda passenger cars, local police agencies are making "The Club" available to owners of 1991-1998 Honda Accords and Civics, according to a release from the City of Kent.
This auto theft prevention tool is available free of charge as a part of the state's initiative to reduce car thefts.
The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority was created by the state Legislature in 2007. Working with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, local prosecutors, and the insurance industry, the agency has taken aim at auto theft state-wide.
It funds regional auto theft prevention projects and investigative task forces through grant projects. One part of this initiative includes providing steering wheel locking devices such as The Club to the public at no cost.
To qualify, you must provide proof that you own a 1991 through 1998 Honda passenger car and that you live within the service area of one of the local participating police agencies.
“Vehicle thefts continue to plague our region and are usually preventable. We hope that this offer will increase public awareness and improve their ability to prevent auto theft from occurring. Using devices such as The Club is recommended as a proven deterrent to auto thieves,” said Kent Police Lieutenant John Pagel, Commander of the South King – North Pierce County regional Task Force.
This offer is available while supplies last. The Club devices are available for pick up at several police departments in King and Pierce counties.
According to a story published today, the 1992 Honda Accord and the 1995 Honda Civc rank as the number 1 and 2 of the most stolen cars in the state.

Participating police departments and contacts include: =>

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/0...tml?source=rss

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Five Of A Kind: Quintet of Hondas Makes “Best Family Car” List

by Honda in the News on May 21, 2010




Each year, Parents magazine and the automotive experts at Edmunds.com honor the “Best Family Cars” in the industry, and for 2010, they helpfully separated the 15 honorees into five separate vehicle categories. It also turns out that the list showed a recurrent theme this time around: Honda placed vehicles in each of the five segments, the only automaker to do so.
The Honda Accord was recognized in the “Sedan” category, thanks to its roomy backseat, comfortable cabin, “nimble” handling and convenience features like remote start. The short story from the list makers: “There are plenty of strong sedans, but the Accord ranks above all of its comparably priced rivals.”
The “Budget Cars” included the Honda Fit, which manages to fit “a storage tray, 10 cup holders, and a glove box big enough to tuck away bottles and snacks for your kids” within its versatile interior. The Fit also received kudos for its responsive engine and adult-sized back seats.
Among “Crossovers,” it was the CR-V taking home laurels for Team Honda, with a car-like ride and very un-car-like interior flexibility: “The rear seats fold down in various configurations, with minimal effort, to fit double strollers and science projects, and loading bulky gear is less laborious thanks to the superlight lift gate and low rear deck.”
The new 2010 Honda Insight made its mark in the “Hybrid” segment, starting with an affordable sticker price that begins $3,000 below that of a Toyota Prius. That’s an excellent value for “among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road,” and it’s fun to drive, too, thanks to its “quick, responsive ride.”
The only minivan able to earn its way onto the top family vehicles list—the Honda Odyssey—”warrants inclusion for its outstanding interior space, maneuverability, and flexibility,” reported the Parents/Edmunds.com crew, which really highlighted the Odyssey’s flexibility by naming it to the “Big Cars” category. Of course, it also helps that the Honda is outfitted with a retractable center tray, an in-floor storage compartment and a rear cargo area big enough to hold both a portacrib and enough luggage for a weekend getaway.
With a wide range of Parents-approved vehicles like this, it’s easy to find the right member of the Honda family for any family.
* * *



http://www.hondainthenews.com/five-o...mily-car-list/

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JAPAN: Honda reviewing Thai operations daily




Honda Motor suspended operations for a day at two Thailand factories making cars and motorcycles due to the violent political turmoil that has engulfed Bangkok, a company official said.
"We suspended operation of one plant manufacturing cars and another for motorcycles in Thailand [on Thursday]," a Honda spokeswoman told AFP, adding that the suspension was only currently scheduled for yesterday.
"We'll decide whether to operate our business on a day-by-day basis, watching the changing situation there," she said.
Honda has a car manufacturing plant in Thailand's old capital of Ayutaya and a plant making motorcycles in a suburb of Bangkok.
The Ayutaya plant has an annual production capacity of 240,000 vehicles, manufacturing mostly its Accord sedan and Civic compact cars for sales in Thailand.
Honda closed its office in Bangkok on Wednesday due to the turmoil.
Thailand's army on Wednesday cracked down and ended a six-week protest by anti-government protesters in Bangkok, triggering a wave of arson attacks in the capital and more clashes.

http://www.just-auto.com/news/honda-..._id104479.aspx

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Indonesia overcome Thailand to be largest car sale country in asean in 4 month of 2010



Indonesia overcome Thailand to be largest car sale country in asean in 4 month of 2010

During the first four months of 2010, from January to April, car sales in Indonesia are higher compared to Thailand. Total Total sales reached 223 361 units in Thailand. While in Indonesia, the latest data received KOMPAS.com, reached 239 306 units to 226 565 units for wholesales and retail.
Total car sales during the first four months of 2010 in Thailand, was released by Mazda in the country and cited a variety of media, up 58 percent over the same period last year. Though the country’s political crisis continues to worsen.
Nevertheless, the increase in sales of cars in Indonesia, either retail or wholesales higher than Thailand when compared to the same period last year. from 137 642 units to 226 565 units. While wholesales higher, 74.4 percent, from 134 861 to 239 306 units umnit.

Toyota Top Top Toyota

As in Indonesia, the country’s white elephant, Toyota also occupies a top position with total sales of over 92 406 units or 41.3 percent. In Indonesia in the same period of Toyota, for retail controlled 39.7 percent or 90 138 units. . While for wholesales, although the number of units more, but Toyota was slightly lower percentage, 38.9 percent.

Compared to last year, Toyota is enjoying sales in Thailand rise 53.3 percent. Isuzu, 46.071 unit , Honda 29.739 unit , Nissan 13.208 unit, Mitsubishi 10.438 unit (naik 100,9 persen dan Mazda 10.438 unit. Car sales positions in the country is Isuzu, 46 071 units (up 43.8 per cent), Honda 29 739 units (up 78.8 per cent), Nissan 13 208 units (up 75 per cent), Mitsubishi’s 10 438 units (up 100.9 percent and Mazda 10 438 units (an increase of 219 percent).
Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, General Motors reported its sales in Thailand rose 62 percent, compared to 1162 units 1879 units.

translate form Kompas.com

http://autoten.com/2010/05/21/indone...month-of-2010/

[tokyodream Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tokyodream]

One Week Test: Has the 2010 Honda Accord EX Finally Been Beaten by the Altima, Camry and 6?

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


are 4 pagini

Vehicle Tested: 2010 Honda Accord EX Sedan

Base Price: $23,830

Price as Tested: $24,630

Options on Tester: Five Speed Automatic

Engine: 190 Horsepower 2.4 liter 4-cylinder

EPA Economy: 21 city/31 highway

Trunk: 14 cubic feet

Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles Bumper to Bumper

5 years/60,000 miles Powertrain

Crash Test Ratings (Government): Front Impact—5 stars

Side Impact—5 stars (front seats): 3 stars (rear seats)

Rollover—Five stars

"Top Safety Pick" According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Vehicle Provided by: Honda Motor Corporation

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World's Greenest Cheerleader: ASIMO roots on drivers at Honda's Green Car Challenge






Even Honda's little humanoid robot ASIMO cares about saving the environment and conserving fuel. To show support for going green, ASIMO was on hand at Honda's Green Car Challenge in Romania to wave the flag at the start/finish line, cheering on competitors throughout the event and handing out awards when it was all over. Too bad ASIMO didn't drive one of the challenge cars.

The three-day Green Car Challenge pitted 18 finalists against each other in a 300-mile event. Walking away with an award required an exercise in conserving fuel, as the goal of the event is to cover the entire distance while using as little gas as possible and finishing in the shortest amount of time – not an easy feat if you ask us. Honda supplied vehicles for the event, including the Honda Jazz 1.4, Insight Hybrid and Accord 2.2-liter i-DTEC. Three winners walked away with awards, one in each vehicle class, but it's ASIMO who stole the show by consuming no fuel while exhaustively cheering on the competition.

[Source: Honda Worldwide]


http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/22...ers-at-hondas/

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The Most Effective Ways To Making A Hybrid Car Comparison




Hybrid autos tend to be hot nowadays. This is not a fad which will drop its lure at a later date, with the technology, fuel mileage, and overall environment concerns that it in unison attempts to solve.
So before you rush to your dealer, start studying the diverse hybrid vehicles offered in the market today, it will be worth your time and effort to make a hybrid car comparison utilizing several factors.
You can start with a few of the hybrid cars models currently available and worth evaluating. You will find the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Honda Accord Hybrid. These are the four major hybrid vehicles available at car dealers in your area today.
Your options are additionally significantly improved with the availability of the Ford Escape Hybrid. This was initially the first hybrid suvs available. But you then have a selection with Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander as well as the Mariner Hybrid.

First Consideration is The Fuel Mileage:

Cars sold in america today, around the average, should get a combined highway and city EPA gasoline use estimation of some 20.4 miles per gallon (mpg). All hybrid cars, you’ll discover, possess EPA amount well above than what given earlier.
Honda Insight was particularly manufactured to obtain the top mileage, rendering it your indisputable best hybrid car when it comes to gas mileage. The traditional manual transmission hybrids have EPA estimates of 60 mpg inside the city and 66 mpg on the highway. The automatic model however has transmission rated slightly lower at 57 city/56 highway.
The 2nd best choice may be the latest version of the Prius at 60 city/51 highway. It could be observed the fact that the city estimate is actually higher than the highway estimation for this reason hybrid car’s capacity to perform on battery power alone at reduced speeds.

Size Does Matter:

Another factor to take into account with hybrid autos is the size. With earlier designs, hybrid automobiles only came in two sizes. Initially is the smaller sized vehicle. The second is the much smaller size. However hybrid manufacturers are presently reacting to consumer’s particular requirements. Also , since these manufacturers somehow know that the customers had realized how to compare hybrid cars, they all are making improvements.
But let’s return to the size consideration. When contemplating size of a specific hybrid vehicle number of passengers and common loads you may well be carrying.
The Honda Civic Hybrid is a stream-lined sedan. It offers 5 seats and has a basic appearance similar to that of non-hybrid Civic. The interior is the identical size, however the trunk on this hybrid is a bit smaller to accommodate the battery.
The Prius models have five passenger capacity, and was recently redesigned and developed into a mid-sized category car. This comparatively bigger release features a functional hatch back.

The Appearance:

The last thing to consider is the visual appeal. You are able to select a hybrid vehicle that looks like the other offered models, or you’ll probably decide to to be totally different. In any case, this is one of the number of explanations why hybrids are hot today and managed to enter the American marketplace effectively within a brief period of time.



http://www.dv-depot.com/72254/the-mo...ar-comparison/

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[Chill0ut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chill0ut]

What's Wrong At Honda? Maybe Everything

http://www.autoobserver.com/2010/05/...verything.html

[maruta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maruta]

What's Wrong At Honda? Maybe Everything

http://www.autoobserver.com/2010/05/...verything.html

Foarte interesant articolul. Se merge cam pe burtă...cel puţin pe piaţa nord-americană.

[Rav Last nick: bastircar Find all posts View Profile Close Rav]

tu zici pe burta, din ce am inteles eu cu engleza mea buclucasa... mai mult stau pe loc...iar graficele respective parca sunt bataie de joc...
nu e de mirare ca multi dintre batranii forumului si-au cam luat talpasita ...

[zagado26 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zagado26]

tu zici pe burta, din ce am inteles eu cu engleza mea buclucasa... mai mult stau pe loc...iar graficele respective parca sunt bataie de joc...
nu e de mirare ca multi dintre batranii forumului si-au cam luat talpasita ...

Adevar graita-i!

[maruta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maruta]

tu zici pe burta, din ce am inteles eu cu engleza mea buclucasa... mai mult stau pe loc...iar graficele respective parca sunt bataie de joc...

Eu doar am încercat să am un ton optimist.

nu e de mirare ca multi dintre batranii forumului si-au cam luat talpasita ...

Cred că este totuşi diferenţă între un forum şi un brand sau politica unei firme, dar nu-mi permit să comentez mai mult pentru că nu-i treaba mea.

Una peste alta, se pare că responsabilii de la Honda sunt pierduţi prin norul de cenuşă.