Ultimele articole din presa straina referitoare la Honda

tokyodream · 16-02-13, 07:01

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/12/a...t-the-economy/

Analysts say Honda's growing woes in Europe not just the economy

There is no denying that the European auto market is taking its lumps right now � just ask Peugeot � but Honda might be taking this downturn on the chin a little harder than some of the other Japanese automakers doing business on the continent. Automotive News Europe is reporting that things have gotten so bad for Honda that it will be cutting 800 workers from Swindon, England plant that builds the CR-V, Civic and Jazz (a.k.a. Fit). This will be the first time Honda has made such cuts in more than 20 years.

Despite an increase in output last year over 2011 (165,607 units compared to 97,459), the Swindon plant is still running well below its full capacity (250,000/year), and its 66 percent capacity is less than the expected breakeven point of industry analysts (75 to 80 percent). Unlike in the US, however, Honda's new CR-V and Civic aren't selling well, and the similarly sized Nissan Qashqai is outselling the CR-V at a rate of more than five to one. Slow CR-V sales are blamed on a relatively high price and the crossover's conservative styling. On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, the report notes that Nissan continues to experience growth at its UK operations, leading analysts to suggest that Honda can't blame the sour economy for much of its woes.

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

Honda Brings in New Look Jazz, but will that be Enough to Pose Challenge to Dominance of Maruti and Hyundai? Gaadi.com Reviews

India�s premier online platform for posting of used cars and new cars, Gaadi.com, provides an insight into the new Honda Jazz. Users can now find all that is there to know about this new hatchback which hit the Indian markets in 2012.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/honda-...eb10422366.htm

This car, a new version of the existing five-door hatchback Honda Jazz, is known as Honda Fit in other countries. In the 2012 model of Jazz, Honda has reworked on the style features and given it a new look. Some of the main restyled features for the top end model Jazz X include the head lamps, tail lamps and fog lights, front and rear bumpers, color coded front grille, new color combination for interiors, 15 inch silver alloy wheels, electrically retractable ORVM, and color shade option termed new urban titanium.

The new Jazz is available in three variants � Jazz, Jazz Select and Jazz X. All variants feature dual SRS airbags, and ABS with EBD. Honda has made no change to the engine of Jazz and Jazz continues to be powered by the 1.2 i-VTEC litre petrol engine. Jazz�s engine makes it a powerful option among its segment by providing peak torque of 110 Nm and peak power of 89 bhp,

The car boasts of superior safety in its category. The new Jazz comes loaded with a range of safety features such as emergency brake assist, flexible front seat belts, child seat restraint, Advanced Compatibility Engineering, and Vehicle Stability Assist or VSA that protects the driver�s head with specially created airbags.

This car comes with price range of Rs. 5.75 lakh to Rs. 7.00 lakh (Ex-showroom) depending on the model. Honda has priced it slightly above the likes of Maruti Swift and Hyundai i20 as Honda has a more premium positioning as compared to the other two. In the Indian car industry, Honda has seen good amount of success coming in from sedans and larger cars, however the competitive A2 segment is still dominated by Maruti and Hyundai. By bringing out a revamped Jazz, Honda is trying to hit the right chord in consumer�s minds that Honda can also provide competitive offerings in hatchbacks.

Gaadi.com unveiled a detailed page of Jazz that provides complete specifications, features, expert and user reviews along with some amazing pictures of the Honda Jazz. It also contains the exhaustive review of the first drive that took place in Japan for select few Indian journalists last year.

About The Company
Gaadi.com is the leading online automotive marketplace bringing together car buyers and car sellers. New car buyers can research their car purchase while used car buyers can browse through the largest collection of inventory online. It is the best resource for new car research in India, providing users with information, opinions & tools to ease the process of finding a suitable car. Gaadi.com�s used car marketplace is the best in online space with a comprehensively curated and photographed stock of used cars. It provides a transparent and reliable platform for used car listings with detailed information for used car buyers.

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

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/...-model-locally

Honda launches hybrid car model locally

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, an executive vice-president of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co, gives his opinion of the new Honda Civic Hybrid. He expects to sell 7,200 of the cars this year.

Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co Ltd is bullish on its hybrid car segment, projecting the overall industry will see double-digit growth this year.
Executive vice-president Pitak Pruittisarikorn said domestic demand for hybrids will grow dramatically this year to more than 20,000 vehicles, up from 18,000 last year.
Honda yesterday launched the Honda Civic Hybrid, which features smart technology and comprehensive safety features and is the first hybrid produced in Thailand to come with a lithium-ion battery.
The standard Hybrid goes for 1.035 million baht, while the Hybrid Navi is 1.095 million.
Honda provides a five-year warranty for the fully integrated hybrid system with no limit on mileage, plus a special warranty extended from 5-10 years on the hybrid battery.
It is extending the hybrid battery warranty for the sporty Honda CR-Z Hybrid and the Jazz Hybrid to five years for customers who previously bought these models.
Honda plans to sell 7,200 units of the Honda Civic Hybrid this year.
It started tapping into the Thai hybrid market last year with the launch of the imported CR-Z Hybrid and the domestically made Jazz Hybrid.
Honda sold 3,900 to 4,200 hybrid vehicles last year.
''Hybrid cars are now getting popular in Thailand. With its lower fuel usage and eco-friendly features, I believe this segment will grow,'' Mr Pitak said.
Honda plans to open a hybrid battery production plant in Thailand in the coming years.
The Thai unit of Japan's third-largest carmaker last week said it will invest more than 20 billion baht.
A total of 17.2 billion baht will be used to build an assembly and engine plant in Prachin Buri province.
Honda will also spend 2.03 billion baht to increase its Ayutthaya plant's annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles by early next year.

=================================http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20130213D13JSN01.htm

Honda Gains Foothold In Kenya To Tap E Africa Car Market

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Honda Motor Co. (7267) has begun selling cars in Kenya through a partnership with a local dealership firm and plans to use this low-risk business model to expand into Tanzania and other East African countries.

The Japanese carmaker has joined forces with Dubai-based TransAfrica Motors Ltd., which has operations in Kenya's four major cities. Its dealerships there have begun carrying the low-priced compact hatchback Brio, imported from India, as well as the CR-V sport utility vehicle and Accord sedan, supplied from Japan, among other models.
Honda sees Kenya, with its emerging middle class, as a springboard for a broader expansion in East Africa. It has yet to establish a presence in these countries, where the car markets are still small compared with other parts of Africa.
The automaker opened an office in Kenya in 2012 to conduct market research, but it does not have a sales base there. Instead, its South African subsidiary will provide marketing support for the Kenyan dealerships.
Honda sold 13,373 cars in Africa in 2012, up 10% from the previous year but only half its 2007 tally. The firm marketed cars in Kenya with a different partner until around four years ago, but ended that relationship due to sluggish sales.
(The Nikkei Business Daily, Feb. 14 edition)

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

Neghinitzza · 19-02-13, 08:14

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ho...ery-55316.html

If you want to buy the car that everybody else drives, you buy a VW Golf. But if you're into creative design and interesting applications of modern technology, the new Honda Civic is your hatch.

Launched last year across Europe, it picks up from where the successful previews model left off, with even bolder design that would look at home on a concept car.

Honda's Romanian division has just launched the new 1.6 i-DTEC turbocharged diesel engine which we think is the pick of the range. The new engine developed under the Earth Dreams program is the sort of thing you fall in love with over time, using your head instead of your wallet.

Only naturally aspirated petrol engines and a larger 2.2-liter turbo diesel could be found in the Civic range up tip now, improved versions of the ones used by the old model. However, this new unit offers economy figures that could sell the Civic without the dealer having to lift a finger.

The new 1.6-liter turbo diesel was built from the ground up over a period of five years with the European market in mind. It produces 120 PS and 300 Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, emitting only 94 grams per kilometer of CO2, ideal for fleet Romanian buyers who are worried about taxation and unreasonably high gas prices.

Because of the smaller block, this engine is 50 kg lighter than the 2.2-liter unit. This reduced load over the front axle should make the Civic even crisper. Performance figures are also surprisingly good.

For example, a Hyundai i30 1.5 CRDi 128 has more power on paper than the Civic 1.5 i-DTEC, but is actually slower and less economical. The UK-built, Japanese hatchback takes just 10.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. It's no sportscar, but for a 1.6 diesel that's impressive, and so is the top speed of 207 km/h. Yet all that pales in comparison with the economy figures: 4 liters /100 km in the city, 3.6 on the combined cycle, and only 3.3 if you let it stretch its legs on a highway.

Prices in Romania for the new Civic 1.6 i-DTEC 120 MT5 start at �18,588 including 24% VAT for the S model.

tokyodream · 20-02-13, 14:28

Plan board OKs new Honda store

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/...a-store/nWSxT/

The Dayton Plan Board Tuesday unanimously approved rezoning 2.3 acres to allow construction of a $3.5 million White Allen Honda dealership on North Main Street.

The approval is a step in the dealership�s hoped-for renewal of a business that has operated on Main north of downtown since the 1930s.

White Family Companies Inc. wants to build a Honda dealership just north of its current White Allen Honda dealership, at 500 N. Main. Tim White, the company�s president, spoke last month with the Dayton Daily News about an array of projects � some under way or soon to start � that would amount to a total of $10 million of investments in Montgomery County by his business.

Dayton City Commission may take up the company�s plan in April.

The new Honda store would have a ground floor covering 21,508 square feet, a mezzanine of 5,772 square feet for a total area of 27,280 square feet, according to plans the company submitted to Dayton city government. The lot would cover 2.29 acres with a frontage on North Main of 541 feet. It would be built at 600-660 North Main.

Representatives of McPherson Town Historical Society and Christ Cathedral, 51 Best St., expressed concerns to the board about aspects of the dealership�s plan, but they also said they supported its overall direction.

�There�s no indication in any of the correspondence we�ve received that White Allen (Honda) has been anything but a good neighbor,� said Greg Scott, board president.

One facet of the plan that drew attention was the proposed building of a �windy� � a wind turbine topped with 20-foot sails meant to generate electricity for the dealership�s lot lights. Scott called that his �biggest concern,� asking if the 50-foot structure might resemble a billboard or �set a precedent� for future wind turbines in the city.

But Andrew Rodney, a city planner, said the turbines �are not for the faint of heart.� They are expensive structures, he said.

The �virtually silent� devices will spin with wind speeds starting at about 5 mph, shutting down once winds hit about 40 mph, he said. It won�t be illuminated at night but will be visible from nearby Interstate 75, and the only other turbine similar to it that Rodney could verify is in Texas, he said.

�It�s sort of a unique feature,� Rodney added.

Board members asked that no additional signage be attached to the turbine structure. They also asked that Dayton law firm Pickrel Schaeffer & Ebling, which represents White Allen, work with Christ Cathedral to ensure access to a playground, a dumpster and air-conditioning units on cathedral property. Attorney Alan Schaeffer said that would be done.

�It�s going to be a great boon to downtown, there�s no question about it,� Schaeffer said.

City staff called a new dealership in an urban area �an experiment� for both White Allen and Honda.

�To our knowledge, this is the first and only Honda location coming online (in an urban setting) in the next few years,� Rodney said.

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

Dear Honda: You Need To Make Great Cars Again

http://jalopnik.com/dear-honda-you-n...gain-249766885

Honda, you used to be one of my favorite automakers in the world. In a world of boring Toyotas, you were an exciting alternative. But somewhere in the last decade you forgot all of that. It makes me sad, and Honda, you're better than that.

You've always had beige in the fleet, but that was balanced out with some excellent performance rides. There were cars from Honda that I used to lust after. The CRX was one of the greatest little hot hatches to ever hit the street. The Civic Si continued that tradition in a larger, more user friendly package. I actually wanted a 1999 Civic Si more than a girlfriend in high school. The S2000 was a modern update of Honda's classic sports car tradition.

Acura was cool, too. The Integra brought premium and economical performance chops to the brand. I still consider the NSX one of the finest and sexiest cars to ever be built.

You guys carved out your own niches in the economy and luxury game. Honda had cars that were inexpensive but still fun to drive. Acura was kind of a Japanese BMW for boy racers. Those identities worked.

Then, for some reason, you made Hondas and Acuras boring. The Civic Si is now a fairly large and expensive car. The S2000 is long gone. The CRX's spiritual successor, the CR-Z, is a heavy hybrid hatchback. Acura got rid of the Integra and its successor, the RSX. The NSX is long gone, to be replaced by a hybrid all-wheel drive supercar. Acuras got ugly and a lot less fun to drive.

But Honda/Acura still does a lot of things very well. Most of their interiors are very nice (forgetting the 2012 Civic debacle). They have some great engines, the 2.4 in the Civic Si/ILX comes to mind. There are slick gearboxes.

I want Honda/Acura to be great again, and this weekend I came up with a few ideas on how they can get back on the right track.

Honda, you need to build a performance coupe. A rear-wheel drive performance coupe. If you can find a way to throw in the 2.4 liter four banger from the Si/ILX in there, you'll have a winner. It's got a good bit of grunt, sounds fantastic, and loves to rev. Mate that to one of your excellent six speed manuals, and you have a winning car. It isn't the most original idea, but I believe you can make something that is at least as good as an FR-S/BRZ.

A non-hybrid CR-Z also needs to make an appearance. Hey, why not put the 2.4 under the hood there too? The CR-Z would suddenly be lighter, faster, and I bet it would sell. A lot.

Also, be a little more daring with your styling. Honda's of late have evolved slower than the Porsche 911 and have even been copycats -- I'm talking to you, rear-end designer of the new Accord that spent a lot of time looking at the Hyundai Genesis.

Acura needs its identity back. Give the cars real names. Integra, Legend, Vigor... those are names. Infiniti's new "Q" naming scheme at least means something. ILX, TSX, RLX, TL... that means squat. In a way, Acura is Honda's Lincoln. Both companies once had solid identities. Now neither company does. They have weird styling cues at the front end, and many of their cars are just fancied up versions of cars from their parent companies.

Just because other brands have a signature grille doesn't mean you have to. Get rid of that stupid beak and get back to what you were doing so well: A couple premium front drive performance cars, a mid-engined supercar (you're almost there on this one), and a larger lux sedan with a good bit of tech (yes, I loved the original SH-AWD RL). Oh, and the MDX is pretty good, so keep making that too.
Honda, you aren't Toyota. Acura, you aren't Lexus. You're you. Be you! You had solid identities and made great cars in the past, I'm confident you can do it again. Give me a call when your FR-S fighter comes out. I'll be first in line to buy one.

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

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/bu...tion.html?_r=0

Home Solar Systems to Be an Option for Honda Customers

Automakers have long resorted to incentives like zero-percent financing, rewards points and rebates to inspire customer loyalty. Now Honda is offering a different deal: inexpensive home solar power systems for customers.

Through a partnership with SolarCity, a residential and commercial installer, Honda and Acura will offer their customers home solar systems at little or no upfront cost, the companies said on Tuesday. The automaker will also offer its dealers preferential terms to lease or buy systems from SolarCity on a case-by-case basis, executives said.

The deal, in which Honda will provide financing for $65 million worth of installations, will help the automaker promote its environmental aims and earn a modest return, executives said. It could also open the door for more corporate investment in solar leasing companies, which has largely been limited to a small cluster of banks to provide capital for their projects.

And SolarCity, one of the few clean-tech start-ups to find a market for an initial public offering of its stock last year, will potentially gain access to tens of millions of new customers through Honda�s vast lists of current and previous owners.

�When we partner with financial institutions, they aren�t promoting us to their customers, they�re essentially just providing us with capital,� said Lyndon R. Rive, SolarCity�s chief executive. But with Honda, he said, the company is gaining, �access to a broader customer base, and a customer base that is conscious of the environment.�

Whether the marriage will prove successful remains to be seen. �I don�t think that by finding Honda buyers you�ve homed in on the perfect solar customer, but there�s enough overlapping between the demographics that you�re better off than the general population,� said Shayle Kann, vice president at GTM Research, adding that car buyers were more likely to own their homes and have the income and credit history to qualify for solar leasing. While the American solar industry in general has been struggling in the face of declining government subsidies, overcapacity in production and a glut of inexpensive Chinese panels, interest and investment in solar leasing, or third-party ownership, has continued to grow. According to a recent report from GTM Research, a renewable energy consulting firm that is a unit of Greentech Media, third-party ownership accounts for more than 70 percent of all residential installations in developed markets like Arizona, California and Colorado and has generated at least $3.4 billion in private investment since 2008.

SolarCity and a rival, Sunrun, were among pioneers of the approach, but players like Clean Power Finance and Vivint, a home security company owned by the Blackstone Group, are also gaining momentum.

In a typical arrangement, a company provides a system at little or no cost in exchange for a long-term contract in which the customer pays a fixed fee for the electricity generated, set at less than the customer would pay for power from the local utility. The solar price often rises over the life of the agreement, which can last 20 years.

Honda approached SolarCity more than a year ago when it was looking for a partner to provide solar installation services for its hybrid and electric vehicle customers, said Ryan Harty, American Honda�s assistant manager for environmental business development. The company then decided to expand to all its customers � a group it is defining �very, very broadly,� Mr. Harty said, to include not just car owners but also those who have explored its Web sites. The offer will be available in 14 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, and the District of Columbia.

The two companies say they hope the joint venture leads to projects that integrate solar power and electric vehicle recharging for its customers.

The program will give Honda and Acura customers an extra $400 discount on top of SolarCity�s normal promotions, which they can use to sweeten the terms of the solar contract, like eliminating the escalation of the monthly payment. Honda projects the fund can finance as many as 3,000 systems on homes and 20 for its dealers. If the program catches on, Honda plans to expand it. Executives said they saw more immediate promise in cutting carbon emissions through solar power than the electric vehicles it would sell.

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

Lotus Elise powered by Honda Civic Type R engine [video]

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11302195...r-engine-video

This is a Lotus Elise powered by a Honda engine taken from a Civic Type R.

The tuning industry never rests and we get to see heavily modified cars like the EVO X with 908 AWHP or the Plymouth Prowler with a HEMI V8 engine. Just like the Prowler, this Lotus Elise has received an engine transplant, taken straight from a Honda Civic Type R.

This Honda K20 V-Tec engine generates 250 HP (184 kW) and is quite similar to the K20A mill powering the Mugen RR. Matching a Lotus Elise with a Honda engine is somewhat of a novelty but the end result sounds and seems fast judging by the attached video.

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

tokyodream · 24-02-13, 07:13

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...structure.html

Honda restructures; shift brings 50 jobs to Ohio

Honda is restructuring its operations in North America, putting the continent�s top executive in Marysville, a reflection of the company�s growing emphasis on this part of the world.

The shift will bring 50 jobs from California to Ohio.

Tetsuo Iwamura, who is head of Honda�s North American sales office in California, will move to Ohio where he will oversee all of the company�s operations, Honda said this morning.

He is also being promoted to chief operating officer for Honda�s auto operations around the world. He is already an executive vice president and member of the board that runs the company.

�These organizational changes will improve the speed of decision-making and the efficiency of our business operations,� Iwamura said in a statement. �Our global customers desire new, exciting and affordable automobile, motorcycle and power equipment products, and these changes will enhance our ability to quickly bring our customers� dreams to the market.�

Hidenobu Iwata, who is already based in Marysville, will be president of Honda North America Shared Services, a new subsidiary, and he will continue to be president of Honda of America Manufacturing.

With these moves, Honda is changing a structure that kept the sales and manufacturing leadership in separate locations, with Iwamura in Torrence, Calif., and Iwata in Marysville. The two offices often work together, but they were separate, each reporting to Honda�s headquarters in Tokyo.

Iwamura already serves as president of Honda North America Inc. The difference is that this title and role will now have a broader scope, as opposed to focusing mostly on sales. He will spend much of his time traveling, but will be based in Marysville.

Honda has about 13,500 employees in Ohio, most of them in central Ohio, which makes it the largest auto manufacturer in the state. The company�s local presence began when it opened a motorcycle plant in Marysville in 1979; it started building cars on the Marysville campus in 1982.

In addition to the changes in North America, Honda�s main office in Japan named a new chairman, Fumihiko Ike, who has held a variety of executive roles. He is filling a position that has been vacant because of a retirement.

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

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/18638527.cms

Honda to stop Jazz production temporarily

NEW DELHI: Japanese carmaker Honda will stop production and selling of its premium hatchback Jazz in India from next month till the introduction of a new generation of the model early next year.

The company is taking the step in view of the upcoming launch of its entry level sedan Amaze in April, which it expects to be a volume generator for it. "We will have a gap in the production of the current Honda Jazz from March 2013 onwards. The next generation Jazz is planned to be introduced in India in 2014," a spokesperson of the company's Indian arm Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) said.

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

http://urbanacitizen.com/main.asp?Se...ticleID=162286

Honda says executive changes reflect evolving responsibility

Special to the Citizen

Honda is making several key executive changes effective April 1 that reflect the increased and evolving responsibilities that the Honda North American Regional Operations have assumed within Honda�s global business, according to a news release.

- Tetsuo Iwamura will remain as president of Honda North America Inc. (HNA), COO of North American Regional Operations and president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co. Inc. Iwamura, who serves concurrently as the executive vice president, executive officer and representative director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., will add new responsibilities as the COO of Automobile Operations and risk management officer for Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

- Hidenobu Iwata will become president of Honda North America Services, LLC (HNAS), a new shared services company to be established effective April 1. Iwata will remain in his current positions as president of Honda of America Mfg. Inc. (HAM) and senior managing officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

- Bob Nelson will become president of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) in Greensburg, Ind. Nelson is currently a senior vice president at HMIN and has been with Honda for 25 years, including 23 years with Honda of America Mfg., Inc. in Ohio.

- Jon Minto will become president of Honda Engineering North America, Inc. (EGA), Honda�s production engineering company in North America. Minto is currently a senior vice president with EGA, which is based in Marysville, Ohio, and has been with Honda for more than 20 years, including at Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM)

- Dan Smith will become president of Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) in Alliston, Ontario, a division of Honda Canada Inc. (HCI). Smith is currently a senior vice president at HCM and has been with Honda for 28 years, including 26 years with Honda of America Mfg., Inc. and Honda Engineering North America, Inc. in Ohio.

- Jerry Chenkin will become president and CEO of Honda Canada Inc. (HCI) in Markham, Ontario, outside Toronto. Chenkin, currently executive vice president of HCI, has been with Honda for 38 years.

In conjunction with these executive appointments, Honda will strengthen the leadership function of its North American regional operations under HNA and HNAS to enhance the ability to deliver high quality products to the customer more quickly and efficiently, the release states.

The changes will help achieve this through more efficient management and quicker decision making, and by merging some support functions in Honda companies in North America. Both HNA�s leadership function and HNAS will be located on Honda�s Marysville, Ohio, campus.

In 2012, Honda outlined steps to increase the role played by Honda�s sales, manufacturing and R&D operations in North America.

�These organizational changes will improve the speed of decision-making and the efficiency of our business operations,� said Tetsuo Iwamura, chief operating officer of Honda�s North American Regional Operations.

Since its founding in 1987, HNA has served as a coordinating entity for such operations as legal services, corporate audit and risk management. In its evolving role, HNA will house several members of senior executive management responsible for strategic oversight over North American sales, manufacturing and R&D for the company�s product lines. HNA has offices in Torrance, Calif., Marysville, Ohio, Detroit, Mich., New York, NY and Washington, D.C.

HNAS, the new shared services company, will be based in Marysville, Ohio, with an additional office in Torrance, Calif. HNAS will provide many of Honda�s common support functions in North America, and streamline coordination of Honda�s R&D, manufacturing, purchasing and sales functions as they relate to the introduction of new products.

Most Honda associates (employees) assigned to these entities will be located on the Marysville campus in Ohio, but others will remain at other facilities throughout North America. Current Ohio-based associates will remain in Ohio.

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

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...-ohio/1941229/

Honda moves U.S. head from California to Ohio

Honda North America is moving its top North American executive, along with about 50 other salaried workers, from Torrance, Calif., to Marysville, Ohio.

Honda says Tetsuo Iwamura, executive vice president and president of Honda North America, will add the title of chief operating officer of automobiles, as he moves to Ohio.

"These organizational changes will improve the speed of decision-making and the efficiency of our business operations," Iwamura said in a statement. "Our global customers desire new, exciting and affordable automobile, motorcycle and power equipment products, and these changes will enhance our ability to quickly bring our customers' dreams to the market."

Hidenobu Iwata, who is already in Marysville, will be president of Honda North America Shared Services, a new subsidiary, and he will continue to be president of Honda of America Manufacturing.

Since building its first cars in the U.S. about 31 years ago, Honda has separated its sales and manufacturing leadership. The former has been located in Torrance and the latter in Ohio. The two offices often work together, but they were separate and each reported to Honda's headquarters in Tokyo.

Honda told USA TODAY that it will continue to have offices in Torrance and that marketing and sales executives and product public relations would remain there.

Iwamura's expanded role will have broader responsibility that includes manufacturing.

Honda has about 13,500 employees in Ohio, most of them in central Ohio. The company opened a motorcycle plant in Marysville in 1979. Car production began in Marysville in 1982.

In addition to the changes in North America, Honda's main office in Japan named a new chairman, Fumihiko Ike. He is filling a position that has been vacant because of a retirement.

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

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1133791

All-new 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Earns Highest Safety Ratings in Midsize Class

2013 Accord Coupe joins Accord Sedan in earning 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from NHTSA; all Accord models now boast top overall NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings

02/21/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.

The completely redesigned 2013 Honda Accord Coupe has earned the highest available safety rating � a 5-Star1 Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2013 Accord Coupe is the only vehicle in its class to earn a NHTSA 5-star Overall Vehicle Score and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating with GOOD ratings in all test modes. For model year 2013, all tested Honda models have earned a TOP SAFETY PICK or TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the IIHS (only the Civic Coupe, FCX Clarity and Fit EV have not been tested).

"The Honda comprehensive approach to vehicle safety is validated by these top-level safety ratings," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. "The 2013 Honda Accord truly excels in all areas, delivering the best overall safety ratings, while also providing exhilarating performance, outstanding comfort and top-class fuel economy."

The Accord Coupe earned the 5-star Overall Vehicle Score by garnering a 5-star rating in each seating position in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) frontal, side-barrier, and side-pole crash test categories, as well as a 5-star rollover rating. The 2013 Coupe joins the Honda Accord Sedan in earning an Overall 5-Star Safety Rating under NHTSA's testing.

In addition to its NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score designation, the 2013 Honda Accord Sedan is the only car in its class to earn a GOOD rating in all IIHS test modes, including the Institute's aggressive, new small overlap frontal crash test. Under the IIHS' testing program, the new small overlap frontal crash test�sometimes called a "narrow offset" test�is designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole at high speed.

Beginning with the 2013 Honda Accord, Honda is applying the second generation of the Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering� (ACE� II) body structure to its models. This reinforced frontal structure further enhances frontal crash energy management through a wider range of offset and oblique collision modes.

New standard and available safety and visibility technologies in Accord models such as Back-Up Camera, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Watch help increase driver awareness in the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle.

In addition to the Honda next-generation Advanced Compatibility (ACE II) body structure, passive-safety features offered as standard equipment on the 2013 Accord include dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and new SmartVent� front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. The new SmartVent side airbag construction helps mitigate the risk of injury to occupants that may be positioned in the deployment path of the side airbag. SmartVent also allows heating of the passenger seatback on EX-L and Touring models.

Honda Safety Leadership
Honda has a long history of leadership in the development and application of advanced technologies and designs to enhance the safety of all road users, including automobile occupants, motorcycle riders, and pedestrians. The company operates two of the world's most sophisticated crash test facilities and is responsible for numerous pioneering efforts in the areas of crashworthiness, airbag technology, collision compatibility and pedestrian safety. This commitment to safety is rooted in the longstanding Honda goal to be a company that society wants to exist, and it complements the company's leadership in reducing vehicle emissions, improving fuel efficiency and advancing alternatives to gasoline.

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

http://www.abc12.com/story/21307589/...st-application

Honda Develops New Technology to Join Steel and Aluminum and Achieves World's First Application

SOURCE Honda
LONDON, February 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced the development of a new technology to join steel and aluminium and further applied this technology to mass production vehicles, initially to the North American version of the all-new Acura RLX but plans to expand its application to othermodels.
The first application of this technology was with a new aluminium outer door panel, which has conventionally been made of steel, to join it to the steel inner door panel.

To join together the dissimilar metals of steel and aluminium, the simultaneous establishment of several different technologies was required including technologies to prevent corrosion (electrical corrosion) and thermal deformation caused by the different expansion rates of steel and aluminium.

Honda newly developed three technologies that enabled adoption of aluminium for the outer door panel:
1) Technology to join dissimilar materials: adoption of '3D Lock Seam' (3DLS) structure, where the steel panel and aluminium panel are layered and hemmed together twice

2) Technology to prevent electrical corrosion: adoption of highly anticorrosive steel for the inner panel and a new form that assures the complete filling of the gap with adhesive agent

3) Technology to control thermal deformation: adoption of an adhesive agent with low elastic modulus (better ability to 'stretch') and optimised position of the 3D Lock Seam

The advantages of these new technologies include elimination of a spot welding process required to join conventional steel door panels. Moreover, these technologies do not require a dedicated process; as a result, existing production lines can accommodate these new technologies.

In everyday use, the new technology contributes to the improvement of fuel economy and dynamic performance of the vehicle by reducing door panel weight by approximately 17% compared to the conventional all-steel door panel. In addition, weight reduction at the outer side of the vehicle body concentrates the point of gravity further toward the centre of the vehicle, contributing to improved stability in vehicle manoeuvring.

Going forward, Honda will continue its proactive research and development of leading technologies in order to further enhance the performance and environmental credentials of its products and manufacturing processes, as well as develop innovations to enable society practical ways to enjoy the convenience, independence and fun that come from the freedom of movement.
Contact
Honda Press Office
Honda (UK)
Office: +44-(0)1753-590193
huk.pressoffice@honda-eu.com

�2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

tokyodream · 02-03-13, 07:07

New Managing Director/CEO for Honda Australia

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...australia.html

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA � Feb 25,2013: Honda Australia has today announced the appointment of a new Managing Director and CEO.

Mr. Noriyuki Takakura will commence with Honda Australia on 1 April 2013.

Prior to his appointment to Australia, Mr. Takakura was Senior Manager Regional Sales Operation (Japan), Sales Operations Division, Hokkaido area.

Mr. Takakura, a graduate from Kyoto University, commenced with Honda in 2002 in its Regional Sales Operation (Japan), Regional Operation Planning Office, Planning block.

In 2006 he transferred to Regional Sales Operation (Japan), Automobile Marketing Office, Product Planning block.

Mr. Takakura replaces Honda Australia�s current Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Satoshi Matsuzawa, who returns to Japan having completed three years leading the Australian operation.

Mr. Matsuzawa has been appointed Managing Director of Honda Foundation (Japan), an Associated organisation of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

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

Honda Civic Natural Gas Vehicle Available in La Crosse, WI

http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/...s-vehicle.html

The Honda Civic NGV, compressed natural gas vehicle is available at Honda Motorwerks in La Crosse, WI. The dealership has a large selection of natural gas vehicles that will save customers money and lower CO2 emissions.

LA CROSSE, Wis., Feb. 28, 2013 � /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- There are many "green" fuel options available today but there is one that you will be hearing much more about now and in the future is natural gas vehicles. Honda Motorwerks in La Crosse, WI is one of the leading dealers of compressed natural gas vehicles in Wisconsin and they carry many types of vehicles. One of the most popular natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the dealership is the Honda Civic NGV. The compressed natural gas Honda Civic in La Crosse, WI offers an alternative to traditional gasoline and runs cleaner and cheaper. The Civic burns cleaner than other vehicles and allows customers to save plenty of money at the current natural gas market price. Check out the Honda Civic CNG at Honda Motorwerks.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130228/CG68664)

Compressed natural gas vehicles such as the Honda Civic allow people who are conscience of the environment to have a car that does not leave as many emissions in the air. Natural gas is also plentiful in the United States and is used by most people to heat their homes, power appliances and now run vehicles. There are over 112,000 vehicles in the U.S. currently that are run on natural gas and the La Crosse, WI Honda dealership expects this trend to continue to rise.

The Honda Civic CNG can be driven for cheaper than regular gasoline, especially in La Crosse, WI. Recently, the price of natural gas was only $1,59 per gallon in La Crosse compared to regular gasoline costs that are above $3.80 a gallon. Making the switch to a compressed natural gas vehicle is a great way to save money on fuel and can also help make the earth a cleaner place.

For more information on natural gas vehicles, please visit www.hondamotorwerks.com or call (877) 595-4965.

Media Contact: Ezra Firking Honda Motorwerks, 877-595-4965, efirkins@hondamotorwerks.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Honda Motorwerks

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

Honda blames bad weather for sales decline

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...ruary/1957445/

The blizzard hurt sales, but Accord is still selling well.
Honda blamed lousy weather in much of the nation last month for a 2% decrease in sales.

But the bright spot was redone Accord, up 35.2%, the midsize sedan that is one of the best sellers in the nation.

"It took a big winter storm in the Northeast to slow us down a bit, but our robust sales over the last three weeks show that our strong retail momentum continues," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, in a statement.

Honda said that sales of its Crosstour crossover and Pilot crossover SUV were also up.

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

http://www.leftlanenews.com/february...id-so-far.html

February new car sales: Domestics up, Honda, Nissan, Kia slip

February's new car sales figures are just beginning to trickle in and the news is mostly positive.

Ford and Chrysler both posted their strongest Februarys in more than half a decade, even though some of their divisions saw sales slide last month. Subaru and Hyundai had their best February ever.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Honda, Kia and Nissan saw their sales slide downward.

Here's a detailed look at each brand's sales during February and so far this year.

February's Numbers

Acura up 1% to 11,364
Audi up 28% to 10,877
Bentley up 43% to 180
BMW up 0.5% to 21,311
Buick up 15% to 16,150
Cadillac up 20% to 13,845
Chevrolet up 5% to 158,541
Chrysler down 7% to 25,083
Dodge up 30% to 55,639
Fiat up 2% to 3,302
Ford up 11% to 190,939
GMC up 10% to 35,778
Hondadown 2% to 96,623
Hyundai up 2% to 52,311
Infiniti down 1% to 9,147
Jaguar up 12% to 1,148
Jeep down 16% to 31,164
Kia down 8% to 41,505
Lamborghini up 7% to 46
Land Rover up 20% to 3,905
Lincoln down 29% to 4,883
Mazda down 3% to 24,936
Mercedes-Benz up 23% to 23,268
MINI down 14% to 4,302
Mitsubishi up 28% to 6,051
Nissan down 7% to 90,489
Ram up 2% to 23,827
Subaru up 11% to 28,163
Toyota up 4% to 166,377
Volkswagen up 3% to 31,456
Volvo down 8% to 4,867

2013 Year-to-Date Numbers

Acura up 6% to 20,853
Audi up 17% to 20,933
Bentley up 51% to 368
BMW up 0.6% to 37,824
Buick up 22% to 29,613
Cadillac up 32% to 26,961
Chevrolet up 8% to 295,845
Chrysler up 3% to 45,779
Dodge up 33% to 98,866
Fiat up 13% to 5,805
Ford up 16% to 353,249
GMC up 16% to 66,594
Honda up 4% to 180,760
Hyundai up 2% to 96,024
Infiniti up 2% to 16,273
Jaguar up 9% to 2,177
Jeep down 11% to 61,482
Kia down 4% to 77,807
Lamborghini up 7% to 92
Land Rover up 26% to 8,105
Lincoln down 25% to 9,074
Mazda down 7% to 46,255
Mercedes-Benz up 17% to 46,846
MINI down 4% to 7,98
Mitsubishi up 13% to 10,710
Nissan down 3% to 164,282
Ram up 7% to 44,814
Subaru up 16% to 55,826
Toyota up 14% to 324,102
Volkswagen up 5% to 60,474
Volvo up 0.2% to 9,742

Listed below are selected highlights and lowlights for some individual models. We're only looking at nameplates that have carried over from last year or have not been discontinued. If something is worth noting, we've mentioned it in parenthesis.

Highlights (sales up > 50%)

Acura RDX - up 178%
Audi Q5 - up 57%
Audi Q7 - up 147%
Chevrolet Captiva Sport - up 67% (fleet only model)
Chevrolet Volt - up 59%
Dodge Avenger - up 52%
Ford Explorer - up 59%
Ford Transit Connect - up 57%
Hyundai Santa Fe - up 64%
Lexus ES - up 67%
Nissan Pathfinder - up 146%
Nissan NV - up 55%
Subaru Impreza - up 61%
Toyota Avalon - up 63%
Toyota Land Cruiser - up 77%
Volkswagen Beetle - up 184%

Lowlights (sales down > 30%)

Acura TSX - down 60%
Acura ZDX - down 55%
Audi R8 - down 32%
Buick LaCrosse - down 30% (new model to debut at NY show)
Cadillac CTS - down 44% (new model to debut at NY show)
Chrysler 300 - down 35%
Infiniti EX - down 52%
Infiniti FX - down 46%
Infiniti M - down 55%
Lexus GS - down 54%
Lincoln MKZ - down 62% (new model just arriving in showrooms)
Mazda Mazda2 - down 62%
Scion iQ - down 62%
Volkswagen Routan - down 36% (sales are primarily fleet right now)
Volvo XC90 - down 45%

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

tokyodream · 02-03-13, 14:44

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1122...-sales-results

Honda Canada Reports February Sales Results

Honda Accord continues strong sales momentum, as the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada names it 'Canadian Car of the Year'

MARKHAM, ON, March 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Combined February sales of 7,823 units by the Honda and Acura divisions of Honda Canada Inc. represented a 12% decrease from last year. The Honda Automobile Division reported February sales of 6,873 units, down 13% from last year. The Acura Division reported February sales of 950 units, down 5% over last year.

"Despite our overall business being impacted by inclement weather in February, consumers have voted for Accord with their wallets, as it continues to post exceptional sales increases year-over-year," said Jerry Chenkin, Executive Vice President, Honda Canada Inc. "We are also pleased that AJAC has voted with their ballots, naming the Honda Accord '2013 Canadian Car of the Year', which recognizes that the Accord raised the bar in the family car segment."

February highlights:

Honda Accord had strong sales of 976 units sold versus 299 units in the same period last year (up 226%).
RDX had best February monthly sales with 382 units sold versus the previous best February of 238 units sold in 2008.
Honda Accord sales up 226% over last year.
Honda Fit up 33% over last year.

Honda Canada has sold approximately 3.7 million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Canada since 1973. Of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in February, 93% were produced at the company's assembly plants in North America.

SOURCE: Honda Canada Inc.
For further information:

Maki Inoue (905) 888-4416

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

http://wot.motortrend.com/february-c...#axzz2MOCUqjcn

February Crossover Sales: Ford Escape Leads, Equinox 19 Units Behind CR-V

The Ford Escape and Honda CR-V usually duke it out in monthly sales for the compact crossover segment, but as the Escape took the lead with 24,110 units last month, that left the Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Equinox battling for second, and it was a close race. The bowtie branded CUV fell behind its top Japanese competitor by only 19 units.

2013 Jeep Patriot front view 300x187 imageWith 20,668 units sold in February, the CR-V barely took the runner-up position while the Equinox settled for third with 20,649 units. While the top three were neck and neck, the Toyota RAV4 landed in the fourth spot with 13,329 examples sold, which is where the CUV has remained comfortable for several months, way ahead of the 9964 Nissan Rogues that were sold. The GMC Terrain trailed the Japanese CUV with 9802 units, however, when combined with its platform-mate, the Equinox and Terrain take all of February by a huge margin. Chrysler�s Jeep Patriot swooped in on the seventh position with 6329 sales, bumping the Subaru Forester (5529 units) down to eighth place, though the Subaru could swap once again after sales of the new CUV gain momentum. The Mazda CX-5 stays in ninth with 5451 CUVs sold, while yet another in the five-pointed-star family steals the 10th spot away from the Hyundai Tucson (3444 units) with 3776 Jeep Compasses accounted for.

After the Tucson came the Nissan Juke, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Kia Sportage, which were all fewer than 300 units behind each other. The Mini Countryman came in at the bottom of the latter with 1662 units sold, though we�d be curious to see how the Paceman fares next to its four-door brother when it goes on sale soon.

Source: The automakers
Crossover February 2013 February 2012 Year-to-Date
Ford Escape 24,110 18,666 44,049
Honda CR-V 20,668 24,759 38,477
Chevrolet Equinox 20,649 17,851 37,872
Toyota RAV4 13,329 12,679 24,939
Nissan Rogue 9964 13,423 18,915
GMC Terrain 9802 8086 18,352
Jeep Patriot 6329 5120 11,577
Subaru Forester 5529 5565 12,094
Mazda CX-5 5451 357 10,695
Jeep Compass 3776 2780 6,892
Hyundai Tucson 3444 3736 6,937
Nissan Juke 2829 2947 5190
Volkswagen Tiguan 2533 2280 4,647
Kia Sportage 2334 3410 4,756
Mini Countryman 1662 1294 3,078

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

http://www.indiandrives.com/honda-is...an-market.html

Honda is planning to launch Civic Hatchback and CR-V diesel in the Australian market

Japanese Auto giant, Honda is now planning to unveil diesel version of its popular CR-V SUV and the Civic hatchback in the Australian market. Honda has recently revealed the petrol version of the CR-V in the Indian market but the diesel version of the same could take over a year to reach Indian shores. Honda probably will be revealing the diesel version of the CR-V by the end of the year or by early 2014 but the Civic Hatchback will be appearing much earlier than that most probably by April this year.

Honda which prominently focuses on the Hybrid technology in the Australian market now thinks that diesel will help them grow faster. Commenting on the same, Stephen Collins, Honda Australia�s Director and marketing head, said that company took the decision to enter into the diesel powered vehicle market as they saw a huge potential in the diesel vehicles and an opportunity that they cannot afford to lose.

It took quite a time for Honda to appear with the diesel unit in the Australian market, however, it has been selling its diesel versions in the European market for quite some time now. But for now diesel will be the upcoming strategy for the company in the future. Mr. Collins further said that just a year and half ago Honda was concentrating more on the hybrid technology but for now it has shifted itself towards the diesel vehicles. For now Honda�s strategy is a mixture of the Hybrid and Diesel units.

If we look at Honda�s India plans, after the launch of the Amaze, company is planning to reveal diesel version of all its existing models.

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

Consumer Reports names the best and worst cars by brand

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...EXTKEY=I72RSC0

While car brand reputation can be a strong influence on purchase decisions, such perceptions can be misleading. The reality is, every brand offers models that perform across a spectrum, with some are clearly better than others.

As we see in our annual Car Brand Perception survey, how consumers view brands can often be a trailing indicator and not reflect the current reality. To further illustrate this point, we have compiled a list chronicling the best and worst models by brand based on our overall test scores.

The test performance variation differs from brand to brand, with some brands' worst model being still doing rather well, while others span a wide range making any generalities quite misleading. Take Acura, for example. Even its worst model, the ILX, scores a 77 (out of 100) and meets our performance standards, safety, and reliability criteria to be Recommended. Meanwhile, the best Jeep is the Grand Cherokee Laredo V6. It earns 71 points in our tests, six points less than the worst Acura. However, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited marks the low point in our current ratings, scoring only a 20.
The gap between best and worst can be even broader. Chevrolet, for instance, spans from the Corvette Z06 (92) to the Spark (34).
Check out our Annual Auto Issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos

The list below includes all brands for which Consumer Reports has tested at least three different models recently, thereby excluding Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Smart.
Best Worst
Acura MDX ILX (2.0L)
Audi A6 3.0 Premium Plus Quattro A5 Premium Plus (2.0T)*
BMW 135i X5 35i Premium
Buick Regal CXL (turbo) Verano Leather (2.4)
Cadillac CTS Premium (3.6) Escalade (base)
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Spark 1LT
Chrysler 300 Limited (V6) 200 Limited (V6)
Dodge Charger SXT Plus (V6) Avenger SXT (4-cyl.)
Ford Fusion SE Hybrid Fiesta SE (sedan)
GMC Acadia SLT2 Yukon Hybrid
Honda Accord EX-L(V6)/LX (4-cyl.) Insight EX
Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Accent GLS (sedan)
Infiniti G37 Journey (sedan) QX 56
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (V6) Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
Kia Optima SX (2.0T) Rio EX
Lexus LS 460L GX 460
Lincoln Navigator Ultimate MKS (base, 3.7)
Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring 2 Touring
Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec ML350
Mini Cooper (base, hatchback) Cooper Clubman
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR Galant ES (4-cyl.)
Nissan 370Z Coupe Touring Versa SV (sedan)
Porsche Boxster 2.7 Cayenne (base V6)
Scion FR-S iQ
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Tribeca Limited
Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE FJ Cruiser
Volkswagen Golf TDI (manual) Beetle 2.5L/Jetta SE (2.5)
Volvo S60 T5 XC90 3.2

Even if you have models in mind when you're shopping, it is wise to look at their Ratings. You just might be steered to a better car than you would have otherwise considered, and as we often find, the smart choices often are not necessarily the most expensive.

For detailed ratings and road test on any model featured here, just click on the name to visit the appropriate model page.

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

tokyodream · 06-03-13, 08:35

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...s-for-new-ones

Honda Recycles Hybrid Battery Packs Into Rare-Earth Metals For New Ones

A popular myth among detractors of hybrid and electric vehicles is that the energy and materials that go into making batteries far outweighs any good they do under ownership.

Batteries aren't as damaging as many suspect though, since so many of a battery's components can be recycled.

Honda is doing just that with the nickel-metal hydride batteries found in its hybrid vehicles.

Since the first Honda hybrid, the Insight launched in 1999, Honda has used nickel-metal hydride chemistry in its batteries. The company has only recently changed to lithium ion with the 2013 CR-Z and new Accord Hybrid, but it means there are plenty of old nickel batteries out there on the roads.

Honda has invented a new process to extract an oxide containing rare earth metals like nickel from old batteries.

Using molten salt electrolysis, Honda can extract rare earth metals with 99 percent purity--the same as ordinary traded, newly mined rare earth metals. Up to 80 percent of the metals found in a battery can be extracted, and it's suitable for re-use on the electrodes of other batteries. You can see Honda's process in the diagram below:

Honda's process for recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries

Honda's process for recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries

So far, Honda has been extracting the minerals from the batteries of 386 Honda hybrid vehicles declared unsuitable for sale after 2011's Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

In less extreme circumstances, Honda would extract nickel from the batteries of hybrids brought in to dealers for battery replacement--an infrequent occurence, as Honda owners have found.

Batteries are more recyclable than people think. Even the humble lead-acid car battery, found in any vehicle, is the most recycled product on the planet. And those in hybrids are lasting longer than many suspected too, with old Honda or Toyota hybrids often not requiring replacements until 200K-300K miles have passed.

And if you're still not convinced about the environmental impact of hybrid vehicles, consider this--the vast majority of a car's lifetime environmental impact comes from its use, not its manufacture.

Take care of the recycling of batteries, and that's just one fewer thing to worry about when driving your hybrid.

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

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/...nda-moves.html

Officials welcome latest Honda moves

When Honda's top U.S. executive, Tetsuo Iwamura, relocates from California to Marysville -- a move the company announced in late February -- he'll have no shortage of locals willing to make him feel right at home.

The list includes Marysville Mayor John Gore, the three Union County commissioners and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eric Phillips.

"All the news coming out of Honda for the last several years has been positive news for Marysville and for the county," Phillips said, "and that's a good thing, a real good thing."

In addition to moving its top U.S. executive to Marysville, Honda announced it would relocate an additional 50 jobs from California to Ohio, although the company stopped just short of calling Marysville its new North American headquarters.

The impact of the latest announcement and Honda's commitment to central Ohio cannot be overstated, Phillips said.

"You think about the effect on our local economy and it's quite remarkable," he said.

A recent study conducted by Columbus 2020 shed light on Phillips' point.

"Honda employs nearly 7,000 people in Union County and provides another 1,200 R and D (research and development) jobs," he said. "We calculated in the study that for every 100 manufacturing jobs Honda creates, an additional 57 jobs are created in the economy at large.

"The so-called multiplier effect is even more pronounced when it comes to those R and D jobs, which create an additional 87 jobs for every 100 original positions."

Phillips said Honda's 8,200 jobs, then, are responsible for "conservatively, between 3,000 and 4,000 additional jobs in the region.

"And when you think about the fact that Union County only has 26,000 jobs in the first place, well, that gives you an idea about the importance of the company to our economy now and moving forward," he said.

Honda has nearly 13,500 total employees in Ohio, most of them located in central Ohio, making it the largest auto manufacturer in the state.

According to a report published in 2012 by the Brookings Institute, Ohio has the third-largest number of manufacturing jobs of any state.

The company opened a motorcycle plant in Marysville in 1979 and started building cars at its Marysville plant in 1982. For three decades, it's been a match made in heaven, said Union County Commissioner Steve Stolte.

"The board of commissioners back in 1977 had the foresight to say, 'We want that motorcycle plant right here in Union County.' They extended two or three different tax abatements to Honda to get it done," Stolte said.

"That was the budding of a relationship that has been beneficial to both parties and is ongoing."

Stolte insisted that both county and Marysville officials have been instrumental in fostering the relationship with Honda.

"The county has assisted with infrastructure, with new roads and road improvements," he said, "but back in 1979, there was no water and no sewer out there (at the plant). The city was instrumental in making that crucial upgrade happen."

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

http://www.hondainthenews.com/honda-...february-2013/

Honda Accord Sales Jump More Than 35 Percent in February 2013

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord continued its ascent up the sales mountain in February, when its 35.2 percent growth rate made it the fastest-growing mainstream entry in the ultra-competitive mid-size sedan segment. In fact, while the Accord�s performance helped it deliver 27,999 units last month, rivals from Toyota, Nissan, Chevy and Hyundai all lost ground as compared to their sales from February 2012.

Two other members of the Honda team also posted strong results in February: The restyled 2013 Crosstour�fresh off of being named the No. 1 Midsize Crossover/SUV in the 2013 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study�responded with a robust 15.3 percent increase in volume, backed by 1,234 sales. Now offering more standard equipment for the new model year, which includes a rearview camera and USB integration, the 2013 Pilot benefited from 9,614 February sales and an 8.3 percent improvement in deliveries.

The automaker�s numbers also received a nice boost from its Acura division, and the latter brand�s 2013 RDX in particular. The compact and athletic crossover rang up its 10th straight monthly sales record, courtesy of 2,795 sales and a whopping 177.6 percent spike in volume.

Overall, American Honda�s sales slipped by 2 percent in February as compared to the same month in 2012, with the automaker delivering 107,987 units in total. But remember: That was during a month that saw fierce weather bring disaster conditions to a large area of the country.

�It took a big winter storm in the Northeast to slow us down a bit, but our robust sales over the last three weeks show that our strong retail momentum continues,� said John Mendel, executive vice president of Sales at American Honda. �With Accord posting strong numbers and spring just around the corner, the best is yet to come.�

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

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1136176

6AT to be standard on all 2014 Odysseys

The Odyssey will be receiving its mid-cycle model updates for the 2014 year and we're hearing that it will receive some interesting updates. The factory will be accepting orders from dealers beginning next month, and we're told that timing-wise this points to an onsale date of mid to late Summer.

We can confirm (from the order sheet that we saw) that 6-speed automatic transmissions will be standard across the board for the 2014 Odyssey. As for the other updates, you can probably pretty much guess the list of what's coming, but we've specifically heard about the following items:

Earth Dreams engine (we expect that to mean the 3/6-cyl VCM + VTEC setup employed by the 2013 Accord).
Lane Watch (mirror-cam)
Lane Departure Warning
Multi view backup camera
LED headlights/taillights for Touring Elite Model
Adaptive cruise control

There could be more stuff coming as well, but these are some of the key items that we've heard.

Last month, the Odyssey trailed Dodge, Toyota, and Chrysler in monthly sales, so it's probably a good time for the MMC to be rolling out soon.

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

http://www.abc12.com/story/21502235/...gkm-honda-cr-v

Introducing the New Sub-120 g/km Honda CR-V

SOURCE Honda UK

LONDON, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The British built CR-V is the next model in the Honda line-up to receive the new Earth Dreams Technology 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine. Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC is available in two-wheel drive with manual transmission and will feature 300Nm of torque and 120 PS with CO2 emissions of only 119g/km* to provide an exceptional balance of performance and economy.

This new derivative will be built exclusively for Europe at Honda's production facility in Swindon and will go on sale in autumn 2013.

The 1.6 i-DTEC diesel was launched in the Civic in January 2013 and is the lightest diesel engine in its class and will deliver energetic performance, agile handling and lower running costs including an annual road tax bill of only �30 for CR-V customers.

With the increasing demand for lower cost motoring, the trend for two-wheel drive diesel SUV's has grown and now represents over a quarter of the total C-SUV market in the UK. The new CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC addresses this trend with competitive CO2emissions of 119g/km*.

Rising fuel prices combined with increasingly stringent environmental performance targets have led to greater customer preference for low emission vehicles. Honda's Earth Dreams Technology series addresses these concerns whilst also delivering enjoyable driving performance.

Efficient, functional and capable

The new CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC continues to assert the original CR-V concept of delivering a balance between the efficiency and performance of a car and the functionality and security of an SUV.

The new CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC's styling maintains the confident stance adopted at the introduction of the new CR-V in 2012 and retains the impressive practicality with a spacious 1648 litres of luggage capacity.

The new CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC will also include Honda's easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seats which can be folded flat in one movement. At the pull of a handle, the CR-V can be transformed from a five-seater passenger car into a versatile load-lugger.

Features on the new derivative include Honda's ECON mode which helps to minimise fuel consumption and the Eco Assist system which advises drivers on how their driving style is impacting on fuel economy. Idle Stop technology will also be standard on the new CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC.

Over five million CR-Vs have been sold across the world since its introduction in 1995. The CR-V is one of the world's top-selling SUVs, sold in more than 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa. Further technical and specification details and prices for the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC will be announced closer to the on sale date.

For further information on the Honda CR-V range please visit http://www.honda.co.uk

Specification

CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC
Displacement cc 1596
Max Power kW/PS 88/120
@ rpm 4000
Max Torque Nm 300
@ 2000rpm 2000
CO2 emissions g/km 119*

Notes to Editors

* Honda internal figures

�2012 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

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

http://www.madhunt.com/honda-feb-sales-20130305.html

February another down month for Honda sales in Canada

The brightest spot for Honda Canada in February was when the Automobile Journalists of Canada voted the 2013 Accord as the Canadian Car of the Year. Sales wise, the automaker reported a second consecutive month whereby sales were lower than in 2012.

For February, the Honda and Acura divisions sold a combined 7,823 units, a 12 per cent decrease from last year. The Honda Automobile Division reported February sales of 6,873 units, down 13% from last year while Acura Division reported February sales of 950 units, down per cent.

February highlights included Accord sales of 976 units sold versus 299 units in the same period last year (up 226 per cent). RDX had best February monthly sales with 382 units sold versus the previous best February of 238 units sold in 2008. Honda Fit up 33 per cent over last year.

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

http://www.carnewschina.com/2013/03/...1-in-february/

Honda sales in China down 27.1% in February

Honda Motor Co Ltd and its joint venture partners sold 32,024 cars in China in February, down 27.1 percent from a year earlier, the Japanese automaker said on Monday.
That compares with a rise of 22 percent in January from a year earlier, though figures were skewed because of the timing of the week-long lunar new year holiday. Sales in the first two months of the year came to 79,272 cars, down 4.1 percent from the same period a year earlier.
The Jan-Feb data shows the company�s sales in China, which have been battered since last year in the wake of a territorial dispute between China and Japan over a group of small islands in the East China Sea, are recovering almost to pre-crisis levels.
China sales of Japanese car makers fell around 50 percent following violent anti-Japan protests in September after Japan nationalized two East China Sea islands. China claims the islands as its own territory.
Honda makes vehicles in China in partnership with Dongfeng Motor and with Guangzhou Automobile.
Via: Reuters.

tokyodream · 11-03-13, 08:06

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ic-test-review

2013 Honda Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe Automatic
Soul Survivor: Honda's shapely and fast two-door goes whistling past the graves of its competition.

Assumptions fly with the arrival of a driver in a two-door coupe: The driver has no young children. The driver pays others to deliver the new furniture and television sets. The driver does not spend long weekends at the lake, or shop for an orphanage at Costco, or rebuild old Mopars, or venture into rainy nights to walk a malamute.

Of course, you can own the new Honda Accord coupe while defying all of these assumptions, except maybe the one about the dog. But because people tend to buy cars they believe mesh perfectly with their busy lifestyles, rather than ones that might just do in a pinch, former rivals to the Accord coupe have steadily become stuffed pelts in the museum of automotive evolution.

The Toyota Camry Solara is gone, as is the Chevy Monte Carlo, and the Nissan Altima coupe is making death rattles. To make comparisons, we had to cast the net widely, from the Ford Mustang to the Volkswagen Beetle Turbo. Proof that it�s been a while since a two-door hardtop was urban chic lies in the increasingly vast flotillas of SUVs, of jacked-up Benzes and Hyundais shaped like hiking boots. In our auto biosphere, the elephants are winning.

Thus, what you see here is a survivor, albeit one expertly tailored in the Honda way to serve those with lesser lug-about needs. Whistling past the graves of others, the two-door Accord comes fitted with a four-cylinder or a V-6, and here we sample the latter, oddly equipped with the six-speed automatic. �Oddly,� we say, because a six-speed manual is also available with the 278-hp V-6, and our preference for sticks is well documented. But so is the wider population�s disdain for them, so we have, in this case for the sake of broader science, deigned to test Honda�s new automatic.

Choosing the V-6/automatic propels you out of the $20,000s and into the low-$30,000 realm, a sort of Mongolian desert for two doors. The only other kindred soul slogging its way across this barren stretch is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8. The Mustang V-6 and Beetle Turbo remain back in Mid-20s Town, and in the far distance is an oasis of pedigreed sports coupes such as the Audi A5 and Infiniti G37, which start at or just under $41,000.

Yet, when it�s all broken down into lease payments, this gussied-up Accord coupe sits a little too close to machines of seriously upscale pretensions to completely discount them as competition. The Honda is tangibly cheaper, but at $33,140 with the $2000 optional navigation system, it has to be the luxurious and dynamic real deal, or potential buyers might stretch to the next rung.

The coupe�s styling makes a strong start at keeping buyers in the Honda showroom. This is a company that doesn�t follow the crowd in mixing its genres. Whereas the new Accord sedan is something of a revival of flatter-roof, larger-window, more-upright-windshield practicality in a market hastening toward four-door Lotus Esprits, the coupe is definitely a coupe. From an unapologetically three-box profile, the coupe melts down and puddles rearward into a pleasingly sloped wedge. It breaks the air with an upturned bank of narrow headlights fanning out from the grille, and follows through with flexed tendons in the sheetmetal running up the sides to the rear. Black cutouts in the bumpers add a whiff of racy air ducting, but in fact are just blanked-off, design-studio theater. Because the new, smaller Accord heralds the industry�s retreat to more sane dimensions in this class, the robotic-snowflake wheels manage to look big even at just 18 inches.

As with any coupe, the doors are longer and may require foam *bumpers to be deployed in the garage, but the inner armrests and pockets are at least slimmed down for easier exits. Honda�s cockpit-design ethos has swayed little with the winds of time, remaining primarily dependent on yards of black plastic interstitched with stacked tiers speckled with buttons. One large super-knob, familiar to any driver of a higher-spec Honda or an Acura of the past 10 years, controls the upper information screen.

What�s new is a second, smaller touch screen below, part of the EX and EX-L trim upgrades, that serves as the virtual radio console. This second screen is where the ergonomics turn silly. Its pixelated station-seeking buttons are a distraction to tap while driving, and the single, free-standing volume knob, while welcome, is needlessly lonely. By fitting a second knob for spin-tuning (the available real estate is ample and rotary car-radio knobs have been a winning design since the 1930s), Honda would have made the radio much easier to use. Note that you can�t buy any V-6 coupe without getting the touch screen.

Also, the Accord�s electronics are gallingly slow considering that its technology is hardly groundbreaking. As you spin and push the Honda�s super-knob to program the nav, the on-screen cursor alternately pauses and then skips wildly as the processor struggles to keep up with your inputs. Entering an address or syncing a Bluetooth phone is an exercise in target shooting. True, you can use the smaller touch screen to enter addresses directly using a virtual keyboard, which is that screen�s only really useful function. But history will record that profit-laden $2000 factory nav systems were killed off by $200 smartphones, and Honda was happy to help.

With the coupe, Honda shows its strengths in other ways. If rear passengers are in the party, the back seats welcome them with an easy-slide front-seat release and a deep, supportive scalloping to the bench foam. Honda is not known for wasting millimeters, and in the coupe, a six-footer can sit behind a six-footer without a squeeze. The rear seatbacks also fold as one via a release in the trunk, so longer items need not be left at the curb. Aside from the electronics, the only serious design dribble is with the cutout for the door grab handle, which is placed right where the driver�s left elbow wants to perch.

Honda�s signature red start button lights the 3.5-liter V-6. It rasps with a voice sharpened to penetrate the cabin. Note the elevated sound levels in the specs, especially the 83-dBA full-throttle reading. Not that we�re complaining. Stand on it, and this Honda sounds like a Honda, built around a precision engine with its power in the penthouse and one brisk elevator going up.

It attains the 60-mph mark in a snappy 5.5 seconds. Nothing over five seconds is stunning these days, but it puts the coupe nearly even with a G37 and it whomps the Genesis and Audi A5 2.0T. The all-season Michelins mean that other performance indexes, such as the 0.86-g skidpad and the 169-foot braking, are less noteworthy and more aligned with the coupe�s genetic lineage.

On the road, however, the Accord coupe feels as tightly wound as a sapper poking a land mine. The throttle is on a short fuse and the transmission is always primed and ready. It doesn�t wait to see if you�re serious before kicking down a couple of ratios. The light-but-tense steering responds right now, with a no-nonsense alertness. Slight tugs of wheel feedback hint at the hard work being done by the tires. The brakes have a deep reserve of capability and enough shading in their operation to set up a corner perfectly. Here is yet another Honda that proves front-drive cars can handle.

Parts of this highly caffeinated coupe are a little too amped for the car�s own good, though. The suspension is just plain harsh, causing obnoxious head-toss where it should just be lightly thumping and bumping. And the transmission sometimes feels too eager, too rough, banging home the next gear unnecessarily or throwing a ragged downshift at you when you�re just coasting up to a light.

It�s a strange machine, then, and hard to pigeonhole. Closer to its $24,140 four-cylinder-equipped base price, it makes more sense as a larger, steadfastly adult alternative to the Scion FR-S and similar. But at this price, its elegant but utilitarian interior and the tattle-tale squirm of the disproportionately heavy front end under acceleration never let you forget that it�s just the market�s best mainstream family taxi minus two doors. But it is also fast and edgy, at times a can of Red Bull on radials. It generates the performance stats of more-expensive cars, but without the brand cachet or the credibility of rear-wheel drive, a fact that will undoubtedly send some potential buyers walking.

It is, in short, a car that defies assumptions even as it defies extinction.

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

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...lant_talk.html

Honda's Alabama auto plant talks diversity, among its people and products (photos)

LINCOLN, Alabama -- A church drummer. A volunteer firefighter. A competitive vegan body builder. And the list goes on.

While it may sound like those people have nothing in common, they're all employees of the Honda plant in Talladega County, and they're helping the Japanese automaker tell a story about diversity and teamwork.

This week, Honda representatives visited Lincoln High School with two specially-designed vehicles in tow.

An Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV, both models produced at the Alabama factory, were wrapped with photos of employees doing things they love to do, from bowling to knitting.

The vehicles are part of the plant�s new diversity and inclusion initiative � What Makes You Makes Honda Better � that highlights the different backgrounds and interests of its 4,000-member workforce. The company is taking the vehicles to schools and special events as part of the program.

Mike Oatridge, the plant's vice president, spoke to about 50 students, telling them that embracing differences in the workplace -- and learning to work well together amid them -- is reflected in what rolls off the assembly line.

"If we do that well, we end up with a product that appeals to many, many people around the world," he said. "If we don't understand those differences, we wouldn't be in business very long."

More than 32 percent of the plant's workforce is black, while a quarter is female. There's also more than 100 Japanese workers.

The vast majority -- 91 percent -- hails from five Alabama counties: Calhoun, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair and Talladega. The other 9 percent is from another 21 counties.

The plant also employs engineers from across the U.S., and Honda leaders from Japan, Canada and Ohio helped with its startup.

But Oatridge, who himself is Canadian, said diversity goes beyond statistics, and he encouraged students to try to understand their peers on a deeper level.

He also discussed diversity in some of the plant's vehicles, particularly those that are exported.

For Alabama-made Pilots shipped to Russia, for example, there's a beefier suspension and a higher ground clearance. That's because of poor road conditions in some areas of the country and certain parking habits -- Russian drivers tend to jump curbs.

And the models exported to Bahrain must have a full-size spare tire, not just a donut. There's a lot of desert driving in the Middle Eastern nation, and a smaller tire won't help when drivers are dealing with a flat and lots of sand.

Along with the Pilot and Odyssey, the plant produces the Ridgeline pickup. And it will soon kick off mass production of a fourth model: the Acura MDX, the first vehicle from Honda's luxury division to be built in Alabama.

School officials said Honda has helped diversify the education experience for students in the community as well.

Since Honda started operations in Lincoln in 2001, there's been substantial growth in population and support businesses. The city has about 6,200 residents, according to 2011 Census estimates, up about 35 percent from 2000.

Beyond that, living near a manufacturing center for an international automaker has given students a curiosity about the world beyond their small community, said Lincoln High School Principal Terry Roller.

Several years ago, the school started international education tours, taking a group of students and parents to London, Paris and Rome. In two weeks, another group from the school will tour Italy.

"It's really just that richness and diversity that's created a new experience for us," he said of Honda's proximity to the school. "It makes our kids want to go explore the world."

Rhonda Lee, principal of Lincoln's Charles R. Drew Middle School and an educator in the community for 30 years, said Honda brought a shift in attitude. People there previously thought of it as 'just' a small town.

"If I could sum up in one word what Honda's meant to the community, it's hope," she said. "We've gone from 'we're just Lincoln' to 'we are Lincoln,' and there's so much more we can do."

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

http://www.examiner.com/article/2013...keover?cid=rss

2013 Honda Accord underwent an impressive makeover (Photos)

Honda�s ninth generation Accord just got better. In fact, it�s probably the best Accord to date. Why? Well for one it�s a tad smaller in size (3.5 inches shorter in length, and 0.9-inch shorter wheelbase) and lighter (by 57 pounds) which inches back to Accord�s of yesteryear. These traits all allow for better fuel economy. Yet despite this downsizing, Honda engineers performed their engineering magic and added more front and rear headroom and rear legroom that increased by 1.3 inches. The trunk too increased by 0.8 cubic feet.

But that�s not all. Honda replaced its traditional double-wishbone front suspension with struts. They also switched to a continuously variable transmission (an $800 option) from a traditional automatic in their EX model with 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The latter also helped improve EPA mileage figures.
View slideshow: 2013 Honda Accord underwent an impressive makeover

I tested Honda�s first ever direct injection 2.4L, 185-hp, up 8-hp from last year (181 lb/ft of torque), 4-cylinder engine that was coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. The combination gave EPA mileage estimates of 24 city, 34-highway mpg, or 28-combined mpg. [Accord can also be ordered with a V6 and new 6-speed automatic transmission] This powertrain has been 0-60 tested at 7.8 seconds and the quarter-mile at 15.8 seconds. So there�s ample power on demand with two adults aboard. And for a four banger, the engine was surprisingly quiet. Ditto for interior quietness that is helped by Honda�s Active Noise Control system that uses the audio system speakers to cancel out road noise.
for 2013 the Accord retained some styling ques from the 2012 but is sleeker
for 2013 the Accord retained some styling ques from the 2012 but is sleeker
Photo credit:
by Nick Hromiak

While the Accords� exterior received some minor, but attractive surgery, the interior was also redone. Improved seating and dash/vertical stack redesign made for a pleasing cockpit. The dash is done in a carbon fiber look vinyl. Forward visibility has been significantly improved and HVAC controls are now easier to use and more efficient. An 8-inch LCD screen handles everything from GPS nav (which my test car did not have) to rearview camera to instant fuel economy read-outs.

Another new feature that will be appreciated by Accord EX owners is LaneWatch. The system displays the cars� blind spot on the LCD screen when the right turn signal is pressed. It gives an 80-degree view when moving between lanes; a great safety feature.

Then there�s Hondalink that supports Internet access via a Smartphone from which Twitter info, restaurant locations and other information is given through Yelp. However, it�s only offered on EX-L and EX coupe models.

As said, trunk space has been increased so that two large roll-a-longs or two golf bags, with the long clubs stacked atop the bag, will fit. Or, pull a handle in the trunk and the one-piece seatback flips forward for added space.

Handling has been improved and the low-effort electric assisted steering gives decent feedback, but more importantly, makes parking in tight spots a bit easier. Tight turns taken at speed showed virtually little body roll and roadway flaws are dampened quite nicely. Accord is playful yet graceful on all type roadways. And its ride on 17-inch Michelin tires was smooth, quiet and comfy over the long haul.

All in all, the 2013 midsize Accord is full-size inside with seating for five in a pinch. It�s attractive and reasonably priced. My test car with a long list of safety items like tire pressure monitoring, brake assist, rollover sensor and Lane Watch, plus goodies like sun roof, Bluetooth, keyless/push-button start and maintenance minder to mention a few, carried at bottom line of $25,395 including delivery. There were no extra cost options.

While Accord sales were slipping due to a number of reasons including the tsunami, the new improved model is sure to regain any lost ground.

To test drive a 2013 Accord, stop by Lehigh Valley Honda on Emmaus Avenue in Allentown. And to automatically receive auto news and reviews from Nick Hromiak, click on the �Subscribe� notation on this page.

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

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1136746

RealTime Acura Team Ready to Defend Pirelli World Challenge GTS Titles

Cunningham, Esayian Eye More Wins, More Championships

SAUKVILLE, Wis. (March 7, 2013) � RealTime Racing is geared up for a tough fight to defend its Pirelli World Challenge GTS titles in 2013. After sweeping highest honors for Manufacturers�, Drivers� and Team last year, Peter Cunningham and Nick Esayian will return to pilot their HPD-supported Acura TSX machines in search of RealTime�s 15th Drivers� Championship and an 11th Manufacturers� Championship for Acura.

The new World Challenge season will take RTR to nine different venues�five street circuits and four permanent tracks�for a total of 14 races. This includes two Texas facilities that are new to the series: Circuit of the Americas in Austin, and the Grand Prix of Houston street course. The schedule is also highlighted by a return to Lime Rock Park for the first time since 2008, a track RealTime has been particularly successful at, amassing eight wins at the historic Connecticut road course. After a two-year hiatus, the Grand Prix of Toronto is making a comeback as well, a tricky street circuit where RTR is undefeated.

Throughout the 2013 season, the team will be up against robust GTS competition. The Acura TSXs will go head-to-head with the V8-powered Chevrolet Camaros, BMW M3s and Ford Mustangs, the mid-engined Porsche Caymans, the turbocharged Kia Optimas, and the brand new, supercharged Scion FR-S, just to name a few.

�Since the GTS category was created, the level of competition has grown exponentially every year,� defending GTS Drivers� Champion Cunningham said. �The diversity is unlike anything you�ll find in sports car racing right now, which is great to be a part of, but certainly presents a challenge for us. The entire RealTime team will just have to work hard, be prepared, execute well, and hopefully we�ll add some more trophies to the case.�

The 2013 season marks RealTime�s 21st year with World Challenge, during which the team has recorded 85 race victories on 27 tracks with 11 different drivers. Esayian is looking forward to his eighth season with the team.

�I�ve always enjoyed racing with RealTime and I know I can count on them to give me one of the best prepared cars in the paddock,� Esayian said. �The GTS field is stacked, so it�s going to be a tough go, but I know if we can stay out of trouble, we�ll be running at the front.�

The 2013 Pirelli World Challenge season begins with a doubleheader at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 22-24. In the seven PWC races held previously at this temporary street circuit, the RealTime team has dominated the podium, scoring two wins and 10 other top-three finishes.

All races will be streamed live on http://www.world-challengetv.com. TV broadcasts will air at a later date on NBC Sports Network. For a full schedule of TV times, visit http://www.world-challenge.com.

For all the latest updates from inside the RealTime Acura team, follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RealTimeRacing

Sponsors

RealTime Racing�s 2013 season is brought to you by Acura, HPD, BuyBrakes.com, Red Line Oil, Eibach, Sparco, BOSCH, Brembo, Earthwalk Flooring, and Total Auto Body.

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

tokyodream · 15-03-13, 09:04

http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/ne...gneti-marelli/

Honda Performance Development to form technical partnership with Magneti Marelli
Magneti Marelli to provide technical components to HPD.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. � Milan, Italy (March 14, 2013) � Honda Performance Development and Magneti Marelli S.p.A. have announced a technical partnership to develop powertrain components for use in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

HPD detail
HPD detail

Photo by: Eric Gilbert
The partnership between HPD and Magneti Marelli will see the two companies utilize their extensive research and development resources to assist the HPD effort in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Plans call for the two companies to extend the program to include other pinnacle racing series, such as the World Endurance Championship and North American road racing that will combine the American Le Mans Series with the Grand-Am Championship starting in 2014.

�We believe the partnership between HPD and Magneti Marelli will be rewarding for both organizations,� said Steve Eriksen, vice president of HPD. �Magneti Marelli has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in motorsports R&D, and its capabilities are well matched with our own R&D efforts. We believe the combination will quickly provide improvements to our IndyCar Series program, and grow with HPD�s other pinnacle racing efforts.�

In the IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD produces, prepares and develops the Honda HI13RT turbocharged V6 engine for competition in the world�s fastest closed-course racing championship. Seven teams and 12 drivers will utilize Honda power in the 2013 series, as the manufacturer seeks its seventh Manufacturers� Championship (with competition), tenth consecutive Indianapolis 500 win and 200th IndyCar race victory.

Features of the HI13RT V6 engine include direct fuel injection, a single Borg-Warner turbocharger and �Drive-by-Wire� throttle technology.

�We are proud to supply our best motorsport technology to HPD, who can exploit it at the maximum level on Honda engines,� said Roberto Dalla, Head of Magneti Marelli Motorsport. �We are fully committed to the development of high-technology solutions for the new engines and new powertrain configurations that will characterize future races and top motorsport championships. The partnership with HPD will be the ideal environment to convey our deep R&D activity and apply our high-end solutions�.

Magneti Marelli S.p.A.

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

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/ho...sumer-reports/

Honda Civic Hybrid labeled a �risky� purchase by Consumer Reports

In its April 2013 issue, Consumer Reports raises some serious concerns over the long-term reliability of the Honda Civic across the model year board.

According to the Consumer Reports 12-month survey, one in five owners of the 2009 model year Civic Hybrid needed to replace the nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery pack.

More than 10-percent of owners of the 2003, 2004, and 2010 model years also needed to replace the battery, according to Autoguide.

Running anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 per unit, the battery packs are a costly and vital part of the hybrid system. When they go, the car can�t function. So it�s not just a repair owners can forego.

Depending on the state in which the vehicle was sold and the model year, some Civic Hybrids are covered under a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, which Honda has extended to 11 years/137,000 miles after initial reliability concerns were raised. Not all buyers were fortunate enough to receive such a lengthy coverage window and many have been forced to replace the faulty batteries out of pocket.

Interestingly, we just last week we reported that Honda began recycling these exact nickel-metal-hydride batteries for reimplementation into the hybrid market. While the recycling technology is impressive, we now wonder if it�s worth the effort. If the batteries remain a liability, is it wise for Honda to reuse them?

Honda recently switched over from a nickel-metal hydride-powered Civic Hybrid to a lithium-ion-powered unit for the 2012 and 2013 model years. Since other automakers have had reliability success with lithium-ion, it�ll be interesting to see how Honda fares with the new batteries.

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

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ho...m-apr/1087488/

Honda Cars India to hike car prices by up to 2% from Apr

Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) will increase prices of its vehicles across models by up to 2 per cent from April to offset cost of OBD (on-board diagnostics) compliance and freight increase.

"We we are increasing car prices from April 1, 2013 by an amount of up to 2 per cent. The details are still being worked out," a company official said.

The increase in prices will be primarily on account of OBD compliance effective from April 1, 2013 and freight increase, the official added.

At present the company sells hatchbacks Brio and Jazz, sedans City, Civic, Accord and sports utility vehicle CR-V with price ranging from Rs 4.1 lakh to Rs 27.38 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) across the models.

The price hike comes at a time when the company witnessing a decline sales in a tough market. HCIL had reported 26.49 per cent decrease in its domestic sales for

February 2013 at 6,510 units as against 8,856 units in the same month last year.

HCIL is slated to introduce its much-awaited entry-level sedan Amaze in April, which will be the company's first diesel offering in India.

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

tokyodream · 19-03-13, 07:14

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/hon...4-odyssey.html

Honda Confirms Facelifted 2014 Odyssey Minivan for New York Auto Show

The redesigned 2014 Honda Odyssey joins the list of new cars heading to the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) for their world premiere.

Like many other carmakers, the Japanese company won't share much about its new model until the auto show kicks off on March 29 (for the press). In fact, besides an image of the "Odyssey" logo made out of cereal [�], the only other piece of information we get about the refreshed people carrier is that it will include "some innovative new features".

The current, fourth generation Odyssey was presented in concept form in early 2010 at the Chicago Auto Show, with the production model following later in the same year.

Honda said that the 2013 Honda Fit EV and 2013 Accord Plug-In Hybrid will highlight its display in New York.

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

http://www.leftlanenews.com/average-...last-year.html

Average vehicle fuel economy hit record high last year

The United States' average fuel economy saw its biggest gain last year since the Gerald Ford administration, with Honda, Volkswagen and Mazda leading the way.

According to an annual report released by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average fuel economy of vehicles sold in the U.S. jumped 1.4mpg between 2011 and 2012, marking the biggest single-year improvement since the EPA began recording fuel economy figures in 1975.

The U.S.' average fuel economy has inched up 16 percent over the last five years to 23.8mpg.

Honda was 2012's fuel economy champ, with the Japanese automaker's fleet averaging 26.4mpg. Volkswagen wasn't far behind with a fleet average of 26.2mpg. Mazda rounded out the top three with an average of 25.9mpg.

The EPA notes that Hyundai would have had the highest fleet-wide average � 28.8mpg � but the agency left out the Korean automaker, along with its Kia affiliate, due to a recent fuel economy investigation.

Ford was the highest-ranked domestic automaker with a 23.2mpg average, up from 21.1mpg in 2011.

Chrysler was not only the lowest ranked domestic automaker, but also the lowest ranked automaker overall. Chrysler's fleet managed an average of just 20.6mpg.

The EPA's data revealed that about 25 percent of the vehicles sold today already comply with 2016 fuel economy regulations, which will require vehicles to average 35.5mpg. By 2025, vehicle fleets will have to average 54.5mpg.

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

http://jalopnik.com/the-honda-civic-...gain-454543972

The Honda Civic Gets Hammered In Consumer Reports Again

Looks like there's drama between Consumer Reports and the Honda Civic yet again! How sad. They had just become friends again.

You'll recall that Consumer Reports dropped the mediocre 2012 Honda Civic off their "Recommended" list, leading to an emergency refresh for the 2013 Civic. That seemed to do the trick, as the little grocery getter earned accolades for its improved interior and driving dynamics.
But now the Civic is back in CR's targets again, this time for its hybrid model. The magazine's April 2013 issue says that the Honda Civic Hybrid "has a big problem with its battery." Oh, snap.
It's not the most recent Civic Hybrid that has issues, but older ones, according to the magazine. Specifically, the 2009 model, where almost one in five owners needed a battery replacement in their 12-month survey. Also, "more than 10 percent of owners of the 2003, 2004, and 2010 models also needed one," CR said. A not-under-warranty battery pack replacement can cost between $2,000 and $4,000.
Honda sent the folks at AutoGuide this response to the CR story:

�We are sorry to read that some of your Honda Civic Hybrid subscribers have experienced IMA battery issues during their ownership,� it reads. � While the majority of Honda owners experience very few problems with their vehicles, we regret the inconvenience that any repair imposes on our customers.�

Honda has issued a software update to protect older hybrids from battery failures, and they extended the warranty on the battery in 2012.
This is just yet another reason to wonder what's going on over at Honda, a company that built its reputation on reliability and dependability. They've already sacrificed nearly all of the sporty cars that made them so loved. Let's hope quality isn't next.
Hat tip to Wayne!

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

http://www.autos.ca/car-comparisons/...CanadianDriver

Comparison Test: 2014 Mazda6 vs 2013 Honda Accord Sedan

Review by Brendan McAleer, photos by Brendan McAleer and Autos.ca staff
All things considered, it really would be best if the Mazda6 pictured above was brown.
Sure, the swelling lines of the �6 would look rich and luscious in a deep metallic colour, in the spirit of the brownnaissance that�s sweeping through the auto industry (Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are suddenly fond of using the hue in press shots) � but that�s not what�s behind my reasoning. No, brown would be appropriate because what we�ve got here is the oldest taste-test in the book: Vanilla versus Chocolate.
Luckily, the Accord happens to be the right colour, same as my washer and dryer; possibly the same as your iPod. So, an apparent contest between an appliance and a four-door Miata � should be an easy victory for the Mazda, right? Not quite.
Style/Design
While the compact car market remains Canada�s largest volume segment in terms of vehicle sales, buying a mid-sized family car isn�t quite the emotionless choice that selecting an A-to-B commuter can be. Sure, you need some everyday four-door essentials, but this is a big purchase and come Sunday morning, you�ll probably be proudly washing it in the driveway with the kids.
The folks who buy, lease or finance a mid-sized family sedan are likely to bring it home, park it out front and surreptitiously check to see whether the neighbours are peeping through the curtains enviously. You want something practical, but also something you can be proud of.
Almost immediately, you have to hand it to Mazda�s styling team for sculpting probably the best-looking mid-sized car on the market bar the Ford Fusion. Some of the long-hood-short-deck profile is due to packaging considerations for the Mazda�s high-compression engine (more on that later), but you�d be hard-pressed to find an angle from which the Mazda6 doesn�t look the proverbial million bucks.
Riding around the tony neighbourhood of West Vancouver, where 911s are more common than Vee-Dubs and Audi/BMW ownership is practically a compulsory city bylaw, my GT-trim tester still manages to turn a few heads. It looks more expensive than it is.
In comparison, the Accord aims not to offend anyone�s palate too much and mostly succeeds. Sport trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a subtle rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tips by way of decorating a conservative, squared-off shape.
And yet, somehow it all works. The Honda might lack the initial flash of the Mazda, but it has lines that will still look classically good when it�s five years old with hood chips and parking-lot door-dings. Think of it as good bone structure � nothing fades faster than cutting-edge style.
What�s more, a few points have to be deducted from the Mazda as only the expensive GT trim wears the 19-inch big shoes to fill out the wheel wells. 17-inch alloys are standard on the GX and GS trims � and they look fine. However, the 18-inchers on the Honda come as the very first upgrade over stock.

2014 Mazda6 (left) & 2013 Honda Accord (right). Click image to enlarge

Efficiency
Anyone who�s purchased a new vehicle in the past few years knows how laughably optimistic Natural Resources Canada can be in reporting average fuel consumption. Still, on paper the Mazda6 pips the Accord handily at just 7.6/5.1 L/100 km city/highway versus the Accord�s 8.7/5.7 rating.
Those figures are an automatic-to-automatic comparison by the way, but my Mazda6 tester was actually a six-speed manual that is rated a few tenths of a litre worse than the excellent Mazda six-speed auto, yet still ahead of the CVT-equipped Honda Accord. However, we can extrapolate from the results.
In the real world, or at least Vancouver�s traffic, one of two things happen. Either volume is heavy and sluggish and you inch along at low rpms, or everyone drives like they�re fleeing the scene of a major jewellery heist.
The end result of a week�s worth of mostly city driving is a dead heat between the automatic Accord and the manual-box Mazda at around 10 L/100 km. Not trusting on-board computers, this figure is based on the fuel burned by each vehicle over the week, calculated against mileage travelled.
How useful is such a measurement? Not much: slight variability in air-temperature over the week, an extra ten minutes of idling in traffic or a slightly higher average speed, and a plus-or-minus figure of at least 10 percent should be taken into account.
However, take into account the Mazda�s reduced efficiency due to the manual tranny and the 6 should theoretically be 10 percent better than the Accord over a year�s worth of driving.

2014 Mazda6. Click image to enlarge

Features/Value
Apples to apples, you might save a couple hundred dollars in fuel bills by choosing to buy into Mazda�s Skyactiv technology. Over five years, that�s a cool grand in your jeans � well worth considering, right?
Flipping open the Canadian Black Book shows a clean 2007 Mazda6 GT sitting at wholesale values of around $8,600. The same exercise for a roughly equivalent �07 Accord EX shows $9,300. While fuel and maintenance are certainly costs to be considered, vehicle depreciation is the greatest cost a new-car owner will face and that big H-badge on the front of the Accord still imparts confidence in the used-car market.
Taking a look at bang-for-buck, the Mazda6 commands a price premium over an approximately equivalent Accord when looking at traditional features like a power moonroof or leather interior. The leather-equipped EX-L Accord undercuts the Luxury-package Mazda6 GX at $29,090 compared to $30,395. The Honda�s rear seats are heated as well � more luxury-level trickle-down for the rest of us!
Pare things down to the base models and the $23,990 Accord LX again is slightly cheaper than the base $24,495 Mazda6 GX. Your chances of finding a basic manual version of either car are pretty slim, but that $500 spread remains when selecting the slightly more costly automatic options.
Still, with both cars coming standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, heated front seats, and LCD displays, it�s hardly fair to call either model basic. Worth noting is the Honda�s standard backup camera and much-larger screen at 8 inches wide; however, the Mazda does offer touchscreen capability on its smaller 5.8-inch display.

2013 Honda Accord. Click image to enlarge

Safety
If you actually have the misfortune to ram either one of these mid-sizers into an unyielding object, you�ll be happy to note that both cars are IIHS top safety picks. The Accord does fare slightly better than the �6 in the small overlap front-impact test, but either one is a safe, comfortable place to be sitting while driving into the medium-sized tree of your choosing. Or what have you.
�Course, if you do impact something it won�t be the car�s fault. As mentioned, the Honda Accord has a back-up camera as standard (with multiple angles in higher trim levels), and also can be equipped with a clever passenger-side blind-spot camera that shows what your mirror misses in a wide-angle shot on the centre-mounted display when turning right. Warning chimes for both lane departure and frontal collision are available on EX-L trim and upwards.

2013 Honda Accord. Click image to enlarge

As my Accord Sport tester wasn�t equipped with anything other than the standard backup camera, it�d be unfair to comment as to the effectiveness of Honda�s safety tech. Instead, I�ll editorialize a little that the asymmetric nature of Honda�s camera is a bit odd (great for avoiding cyclists, not really useful on a blind on-ramp). I�ll also just express the vain hope that all these safety gizmos don�t turn us all into even worse drivers, like the permanently distracted, technology-dependent blobs from Pixar�s �Wall-E�.
However, if an electronic safety net is your thing, then, boy, has Mazda got a car for you. You have to pay for it, as a back-up camera is only available on the GS and up, but a whole host of warning systems are available on the GT. GS and GT models have an audible blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alerts; an optional GT-only technology package has gee-whiz goodies like radar-controlled cruise control, automatic high-beam control � even an automated city-speed braking system.
Mazda�s blind-spot system works extremely well � and if you�ve set your mirrors properly, you really don�t need it. More useful is the rear cross-traffic warning. Getting out of my driveway involves backing up a small slope into a busy street � difficult with the swoopy rear styling of the �6 and compounded by my neighbour�s street-parked long-box pickup truck. I was frankly impressed by the Mazda�s seeming ability to look around the pickup and alert me of high-speed miscreants careening along, heedless of reverse lights.

2014 Mazda6. Click image to enlarge

Also worth noting is the Mazda6�s adaptive front lighting system. Available only on GT models, this setup turns the projector headlamps along with the front wheels, as though the car is �looking� through the corner. It�s not new technology (you can get the same equipment on the Mazda3), but it�s still an excellent feature and one that makes night-time country roads much more liveable.

Left � 2014 Mazda6, right � 2013 Honda Accord. Click image to enlarge

Space
Manufacturers will happily provide all manner of objective measurement in the area of interior space. Thus, I am able to tell you that the Honda Accord has 10 mm more rear headroom than the Mazda6. That�s not even enough of a difference to change your hairstyle.
Hip room and shoulder room are slightly in Honda�s favour as well. Overall, reading through the spec sheets, the Accord�s passenger volume is larger by 98 L, which will please if you are a family of extra-large amoebas.
Cargo space also skews in favour of the Accord, though I have to speculate how much of the Honda�s advantage is down to the upper portion of the trunk: both cars use a torsion set up rather than gas struts and Mazda has shrouded theirs to prevent it crushing luggage. Points deducted from Honda for the single-piece (rather than 60/40) folding rear seatback.
Despite relatively minor differences, I can subjectively tell you that the best way to differentiate the Mazda6′s interior from that of the Accord is to describe the former as a cockpit. Where the Accord is airy and spacious, the �6 is closed-in, cloistered, a place for a driver to focus on driving.

2014 Mazda6. Click image to enlarge

Driving Experience
Slotting the Mazda into first or plopping the Accord into �D� seems like a formality. Surely the sleeker Mazda with its high-compression engine, bolstered seats, and brand focus on driving pleasure will be the runaway winner; after all, these are the guys behind the Miata. There might be 18-inch alloys on that big white couch, but it�s still just a decently reliable ride with the personality of mashed potatoes, right?
Not so fast. Mazda might still build the MX-5, but Honda is the company that once built the CRX and the S2000, the Acura NSX and the Integra Type-R. When it comes to an engaging four-cylinder engine and a willing chassis, Honda used to be the go-to badge. They�ve just been, I don�t know, taking a nap for the past few years.
Well guess what. Soichiro Honda just woke up.
Even though my Accord Sport is equipped with the enthusiast�s bane, a CVT, it�s no ordinary Continually Terrible Transmission. Back to back with the Mazda6, the Accord�s 2.4L direct-injection engine feels somehow gruntier than the Mazda6�s torquier-on-paper 2.5L Skyactiv.
It�s got to be trickery from the belt-drive transmission as the two cars are extremely close in power output: 189 hp at 6,400 rpm for the Sport version of the Accord, 184 hp at 5,700 rpm for the Mazda6. Torque is similarly close at 185 lb-ft at 3250 rpm for the Mazda and 182 lb-ft at 3900 rpm for the Honda. If you can feel five horsepower�s worth of difference, then you must be a stagecoach driver.
Despite the slightly greater torque, a great-shifting manual transmission (kudos to Mazda for making the stick available right up to the top-trim GT), and a curb weight that�s effectively one fully grown passenger lighter than the Accord, the Mazda6 doesn�t run away with the handling crown. Its steering is crisper, its engine more willing to rev � and better sounding when it does.
However, punting the Accord Sport through my favourite hairpin on-ramp, I can�t help feeling that the difference isn�t as pronounced as you�d expect. The Accord is light on its feet, with a punchy midrange and plenty of grip from 235-mm-wide tires (Sport and Touring models).
Pulling the same stunt with the �6 shows the Mazda to be slightly more feelsome in the bends. The six-speed transmission is no Miata gearbox � let�s not get carried away � but it is crisp shifting and the Skyactiv four-pot is a gloriously fizzy little thing. Much like most Mazdas, past and present, the �6 is at its happiest when you�re thrashing it up through the rev-range; this as a contrast with the Accord, which still feels pretty zoomy, albeit happier at the 80 percent.

Left � 2013 Honda Accord in black, right � 2014 Mazda6 in white, just to keep you on your toes.

Conclusion
Neck and neck through the finish line, and we�re doubly impressed. Firstly, Mazda has built a car that�s strongly appealing and dynamic to drive � a machine that thrills, yet still manages to deal with day-to-day schlepping with hardly any drawbacks.
However, the laurels can�t go to both, and it�s the Accord that narrowly feels like the better total package. It�s a hair better in the value department, a tad more spacious; it�s broadly appealing and, best of all, marks something of a return-to-form for Honda driving pleasure.
What�s more, there�s the sense that this car�s going to be a great hand-me-down for the kids one day; the automotive equivalent of a faithful Labrador retriever. Like the somewhat-staid styling, the engineering under the skin is conservative enough to stand the test of time.
As a conquest vehicle, the Mazda6 is the real deal, a must-drive on any shopper�s list, and the available manual-transmission in everything except the Tech-package GT would be a major factor in successfully courting my purchasing dollar.
However, the thing about Vanilla is that, done right, it�s pretty darn tasty. And it goes with everything.

Pricing: 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Sport
Base Price: $23,990
Options: $2700 (Sport package � $1500; CVT � $1200)
Freight: $1,640
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $28,430
Pricing: 2014 Mazda6 GT
Base Price: $24,495
Options: $7,700 (GT package � $7,700)
Freight: $1,695
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $33,990

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

http://www.i-newswire.com/honda-s-20...ised-by/216717

Honda's 2013 Accord Praised by Motor Trend

The Accord takes on challengers as Motor Trend examines affordable and sporty sedans.

Ellisville, MO (I-Newswire) March 18, 2013 - Many drivers and critics have lauded the 2013 Accord as one of the best sedans on the road by many drivers and critics, and because of that, it gives the team at West County Honda great pride to announce that Motor Trend Magazine has only the best things to say about the Accord Sport.

With Honda's 2.4L Earth Dreams engine living under the hood, the Sport is capable of up to 189 hp and comes paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for maximum control and performance. Although there's quite a respectable powertrain for a mid-size sedan, Motor Trend has said that the vehicle feels as though it is a much smaller car.

Indeed, their experts noted that, once the driver puts the pedal to the floor, the Accord Sport takes just 7.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60. With paddle shifters included as standard to accompany the CVT, drivers can get a level of control that isn't found on many competing vehicles.

Once the performance of the Sport is set aside, there's still much for drivers to explore, as Honda provides one of the most inclusive lists of standard features available on base-level models, let alone the Sport.

This is all a part of their line-wide program to develop a new definition of �standard features,� with every 2013 Honda from the basic LX trims on up including a wide range of amenities as standard.

Each of the latest 2013 Honda vehicles come with Honda's revolutionary new i-MID infotainment system. The i-MID also includes a customizable touchscreen to meld the new technology together. Features such as Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, SMS text messaging, a rearview camera, and more.

To learn more, readers can check out Motor Trend or contact the sales team at West County Honda. In addition to keeping the latest Honda models in stock, they have on-site financing for both new vehicles and a diverse selection of gently-used cars, trucks, and SUVs. West County Honda is located at 15532 Manchester Road in Ellisville, Missouri, with the showroom open for browsing six days a week.

About West County Honda:
Everyone at West County Honda shares the same vision to meet our customers' expectations at every level. So not only do you get the lowest pricing in the St. Louis area, but you get second to none service by people who really know their product. Everyone here at West County Honda wants to truly earn your business and make you a customer for life.

Company Contact Information
West County Honda
West County Honda
15532 Manchester Rd.
Ellisville, MO
63011
Phone : 636-391-6900

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

Robby_Alessio · 19-03-13, 13:58

nu stiu daca a mai fost scris...Oricum e o stire fenomenala

http://www.tuttosport.com/formula1/2...motori+McLaren
http://mobile.sportmediaset.it/check...en-honda.shtml

tokyodream · 23-03-13, 08:27

http://www.carnewschina.com/2013/03/...in-china-soon/

Patent Applied: 2013 Honda Civic sedan will arrive in China soon

Honda has applied for patent on the 2013 Honda Civic sedan for the Chinese auto market, indicating the updated Civic will arrive in China soon. The 2013 Honda Civic, with a new grille and bumper, was launched in the US in February, launch in China is expected early in the second half of this year.
The current Honda Civic sedan, made in China by the Dongfeng-Honda joint venture. Price starts at 131.800 yuan and ends at 269.800 yuan. Engines: 1.3, 1.8 and 2.0. All engines will continue in the facelifted car and price will be about the same.

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

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...-to-steal.html

Honda Accord Still Most Popular Car to Steal

The bad news for Honda Accord owners? It was the most stolen car in 2012. The good news? It was also the most recovered.

LoJack Corp., which manufactures the Lojack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System, today released its fourth annual vehicle-theft recovery report based on statistics from 28 states. The study not only tracks auto-theft trends across the U.S. during the past year, but also serves as a de facto advertisement for the device, which in 2012 helped law-enforcement officials recover nearly $125 million worth of stolen vehicles.

Citing FBI reports, the study notes that a vehicle is stolen every 44 seconds and that the recovery rate is at a 30-year low. Still, vehicles equipped with a LoJack were recovered 94% of the time, the company reported.

"Unlike other location-based systems, LoJack Police Tracking Computers can find vehicles in some of the most secluded locations, including shipping containers that are hidden amongst thousands of others onboard a ship that is about to depart the United States," said Patrick Clancy, vice president of law enforcement for LoJack, in a statement.

Click below for LoJack's top 10 "most stolen and recovered" vehicles for 2012 and here for a list of February's 10 best-selling cars; the Honda Accord ranks high on the list.
10. Chevy Tahoe
9. Nissan Altima
8. Nissan Maxima
7. Cadillac Escalade
6. Chevrolet Silverado
5. Toyota Corolla
4. Acura Integra
3. Toyota Camry
2. Honda Civic
1. Honda Accord

Other noteworthy findings from the study are:

States with the highest 2012 auto-theft rates are California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Arizona, Maryland, Georgia and Washington, respectively.
The oldest vehicle stolen and recovered was a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air.
The most expensive vehicle stolen and recovered was a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL600, valued at $108,025.
19% more stolen hybrids were recovered in 2011 than in 2010.
Black was the most common color of recovered cars while blue was least common.

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

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/03...ld-downey.html

Honda Honors Honda World Downey with President�s Award for Exceptional Performance

DOWNEY, Calif. --

Each year, Honda awards a dealership that is able to achieve excellence in all areas of operation, from customer service, sales satisfaction, sales, training and facility. For 2012, this honor has been given to Honda World Downey, a premier dealership located in the LA area. This is the 5th year that Honda World Downey has earned the distinguished President�s Award.

Throughout 2012, more than 1,000 Honda dealerships competed for the title, with only 112 dealerships earning the award. In order to win the award, the dealer must be compliant with Honda�s standards. Once honored with the award, the dealership is provided with a distinguished trophy and other showroom embellishments to herald their accomplishments.

�The President�s Award is truly a reflection of the dedication and hard work put forth by each and every member of our team. Honda World Downey is honored to be recognized for putting customers first in every aspect of our dealership. We�ve always known we have an incredible team, and now others know it as well,� said Jeffrey Hodge, President of Honda World Downey.

Honda World Downey carries a full line of Honda vehicles, including the all-new 2013 Accord, rated one of Car and Driver magazine�s 10 best for a record 27 times.

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

http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf...readies_f.html

Honda's Alabama plant readies for big week in the Big Apple, with two new model debuts

LINCOLN, Alabama -- Two new models built by Honda's Alabama workers will debut next week at the New York International Auto Show. First, there's the production version of the redesigned 2014 Acura MDX SUV, a new vehicle for the Japanese automaker's Talladega County plant and the first state-made model for Honda's luxury division.
Honda also will take the wraps off the updated 2014 Odyssey, the bread and butter of the 4,000-worker plant in Lincoln. The minivan accounts for a little more than half of the plant's output.
While there's a lot riding on the success of both models, the MDX has had a significant effect on Honda's Alabama operations lately. Advanced electronics and other features of the SUV prompted considerable investment in the plant's production line, quality assurance and vehicle testing operations.
"The 2014 Acura MDX that will be revealed in New York next week is the most technologically advanced vehicle that Honda Manufacturing of Alabama has ever produced," said Ted Pratt, a spokesman for the plant.
Some of the new investment included training for employees, structural additions to the plant, new testing equipment and a redesign and expansion of the vehicle test track.
The plant has added nearly $400 million in investment and 350 jobs in the past two years, partly to prepare for the MDX addition. Another key project is the expansion of its annual capacity to 360,000 vehicles a year.

The MDX is Acura's U.S. sales leader and typically represents about a third of the brand's overall sales. But so far this year, MDX sales are down 14 percent from last year. Acura revealed the prototype of the MDX redesign in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The production version, to be unveiled Wednesday in New York, isn't expected to look much different.
The "aero sculpture" styling of the new MDX offers 16 percent more aerodynamic efficiency than the 2013 model, Acura says. It will be powered by an improved, direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It also will have a collection of technologies aimed at assisting drivers and improving visibility, such as a multi-angle rearview camera and adaptive cruise control with low speed follow.
As for the Odyssey, this is a mid-cycle refresh, and Honda has revealed few details about the updates. The minivan went through a full redesign in the 2011 model year.
So far this year, the Odyssey's U.S. sales trail 2012 by 7 percent. But last year, the company sold nearly 126,000, an 18 percent improvement over 2011.

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

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ho...hicle/1091994/

Honda�sNew ComfortableRunabout Vehicle

The all-new fourth generation Honda CR-V is not only a Stylish Urban Vanity, it is also a good Sport Utility Vehicle
In the early 2000s when the Indian car market was seeing a shift from small hatchbacks to mid-size sedans�Hyundai Accent, Ford Ikon, Honda City were getting popular�on the other end of the segment a petrol SUV was becoming fashionable to own and run (despite the fact that petrol and SUVs haven't historically gone together in India). It was in 2003 when Honda introduced in India the second generation CR-V, which, although not a looker, was 'different' from the Accords, Camrys and Sonatas on the road�essentially, the cars that signified you've 'arrived' in life. Just that with the CR-V, you arrived a little more!
But this was before premium diesel SUVs�Ford Endeavour, Chevrolet Captiva and then the mighty successful Toyota Fortuner�entered the market. Soon, the CR-V started losing its sheen. In 2006 Honda launched the third generation CR-V, but it couldn't do much either. The problem essentially was, and remains, the fuel�diesel. Now, even though Honda still hasn't taken the diesel route, the company has introduced the fourth generation CR-V in India, which, it hopes, will give Honda another standing in the Indian premium SUV market.

First impression
The new CR-V has an aggressive SUV stance with deep sculpting of the body lines and a bold front fascia, highlighted by a sporty chrome grille and sleek, wraparound projector headlamps with washer. The aerodynamic design is carried to the rear and the rear glass has been sculpted to look as wide as possible. The vertical rear combination lamp comes with a new theme for the new CR-V with a three-dimensional style that augments the design and aerodynamics of the vehicle. The SUV also sports a shark fin antenna that further accentuates the aero form. It rides on large 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and bold fender flares emphasise the vehicle's dynamic presence and capability. It looks quite good and many SUV owners stopped to inquire about the new CR-V during the two days I had it with me in Delhi. On the downside, almost all inquired whether it comes with a diesel option or not, and when replied in the negative, their disappointment was apparent.

Inside
The Honda CR-V remains the benchmark vehicle in its class in terms of quality and refinement, and the interiors take the quality a step ahead. You get sedan-like driving comfort, high panoramic seating, reduced noise levels, versatile cargo storage and high-quality materials. The new CR-V is 4,545 mm long, 1,820 mm wide and 1,685 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,620 mm, and this means the space inside is quite good. In fact, Honda says the highly efficient proportion of space is in line with Honda's "Man Maximum, Machine Minimum" concept. You also get dual tone sienna beige interiors with leather upholstery. Another feature you will like is the "One Motion Dive Down Rear Seats", which helps in increasing the cargo area in the car and is much more convenient than the traditional manual folding seats. Each side of the rear seat can automatically fold full flat into the front of the cargo area using one of the small levers located near the tailgate or a pull-strap positioned on the rear seat side.
You get a multi-information display that offers a smart interface via fingertip controls on the steering wheel communicating fuel consumption, providing audio status display and rear camera display during parking. The new CR-V also comes with GPS navigation.

Under the hood
The new CR-V has two engine options�2.0L SOHC i-VTEC with 2WD and the more powerful 2.4L DOHC i-VTEC with 4WD. Improvements to both the engines ensure that the 2.0L produces a maximum power of 156PS@6500rpm and a torque of 190Nm@4300rpm, while the 2.4L produces a maximum power of 190PS@7000rpm and a torque of 226Nm@4400rpm. The company-claimed fuel efficiency is 13.7 kmpl and 12 kmpl, respectively. With a view to encourage fuel efficient driving�and Honda really needs this considering the fact that petrol prices are going through the roof�the CR-V's Eco Assist system has a built-in meter that changes colour in response to driving style. The illuminated arcs located on either side of the speedometer show if the vehicle is being driven in a fuel efficient style. Green light means an efficient driving style while white signifies inefficient driving.

Safety
The CR-V comes with ample safety features such as vehicle stability assist system, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, dual front SRS airbags and side-curtain airbags, among others. You also get, what Honda says, whiplash mitigation front seat design that can help reduce the severity of neck injury in the event of a rear collision.

Verdict
Available in five colours, the new CR-V is priced from R19.95 lakh (2.0L MT), while the top end 2.4L AT with audio-video navigation will cost you R23.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Additionally, you get a Honda Care 2+2 year warranty and 4 years roadside assistance as standard value for all CR-V buyers. But as I said earlier, the problem is fuel. Although Honda expects the petrol-only SUV will win back Honda brand loyalists and expand the demand for petrol vehicles in the market, how many people will actually consider the new CR-V remains to be seen.

key facts
* Has a completely redesigned exterior
* Rides on large 10-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels
* Benchmark vehicle in its class in terms of quality
* Comes with a lot of safety features
* Sports a shark fin radio antenna that looks smart

tokyodream · 25-03-13, 15:29

http://www.carnewschina.com/2013/03/...ng-in-china-2/

Spy Shots: Honda Concept C seen testing in China

Spy shots from a heavily camouflaged Honda Concept C testing in China. The Honda Concept C debuted as a concept on the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, the production version will debut on the Shanghai Auto Show in April and it will be launched on the Chinese car market soon thereafter.

The Honda Concept C on the Beijing Auto Show.

The Honda Concept C is a new mid-size sedan that will be positioned under the Honda Accord. It will be made in China by the Guangzhou-Honda joint venture that also makes the Accord. Honda is considering export from China to other Asian countries but plans are not finalized yet. Power will come from a 1.8 or a 2.0, both mated to a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.

Price will start around 130.000 yuan and end around 170.000 yuan. The Concept C will compete with cars such as the Volkswagen Sagitar and the Citroen C4L, relatively small sedans with a premium look & feel. Hyundai is also working on a competitor for the same segment.

tokyodream · 27-03-13, 10:42

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2013/03/honda-lauded-as-top-auto-brand-in.html

Honda lauded as top auto brand in Kelley Blue Book shopper study

Honda Motor Co. touts the loyalty of its customers and reliability of its vehicles, and its fans are backing up the claims.

The automaker, which is one of the biggest employers in Central Ohio, has racked up three Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards for 2013, including best overall brand. The awards, aimed at recognizing brand trust, are based on consumer perceptions gathered by the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence�s Brand Watch study, which surveys more than 12,000 new-vehicle shoppers annually.

Honda (NYSE:HMC) also was honored as the most trusted non-luxury brand. It was the second year for that award and the second time Honda has won it. The automaker also was named the best value non-luxury brand for the third straight year.

�Some will say that perception is reality and while we concede image isn�t everything, it is more than enough to get shoppers into the store and that�s half the battle for automakers and their dealers,� Jack Nerad, Kelley Blue Book executive editorial director and executive market analyst, saidin the press release.

Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. employs 7,000 workers in Central Ohio, where they assemble Honda Accords, CR-V crossovers and Crosstours, as well as Acura TL sedans and RDX sport-utility vehicles.

This is the sixth year for the brand image awards. There are 13 honors given, spanning non-luxury, truck and luxury categories.

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

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...honda-is-king/

Analysis: In The Land Of Boring, Honda Is King

Honda�s 2014 Odyssey doesn�t have any of the stuff that enthusiasts care about. Never mind the fact that it�s a minivan, but there�s no powertrain upgrades or shiny rims for its midcycle refresh. But you know what it does have? A vacuum cleaner. Honda partnered with ShopVac to create a vacuum cleaner for the Odyssey, one that can run indefinitely with the engine on, or for as long as 8 minutes with the engine off. If you have small children or pets, this is a god send. I won�t label it a game changer or say that Honda is about to dominate the minivan market, but it is going to sell a lot of buyers on the showroom floor when they see this.

It�s funny that despite their astounding sales success and frequent ingenuity, the automotive press persists with the �Honda has lost its way� narrative. The CR-V is the top selling crossover. The Civic is the best selling compact car, and the third best selling car in the land 0 the Accord was in second place, behind the Toyota Camry. The Odyssey is the second best selling minivan, right behind the Dodge Grand Caravan. Among the top selling vehicles in the United States last year, three of the top 10 were Hondas, more than any other OEM. And they did it barely any fleet sales.

The CR-V is a great example. It frequently gets taken to task by the automotive media for being �boring/soulless/an appliance/whatever demeaning adjective� but I�ve long maintained it has three items that effectively sell the car to buyers; a standard backup camera, one-touch rear folding seats and a cargo floor that is at knee level. No amount of Skyactiv technology, stick shifts or European inspired handling can make up for those three things, not when all of them are directly functional in the context of grocery shopping or picking up the little ones from daycare. The proof is in the sales charts. On the other hand, it�s an interesting reflection on how relevant the automotive press is to the average consumer and their needs. �Not at all� looks to be the answer.

Honda�s lineup may be boring, sterile and unattractive to the people who bought Integra GS-Rs in 1995. But for the people actually in the market for a new car, these are the things that make them sign on the dotted line. I may have lost faith that we�ll ever see another CRX or S2000, but if Honda keeps up this sort of ingenuity, they will be around long after other niche makers fall by the wayside during the industry�s inevitable consolidation.

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

Physicist who turned a Honda Civic into fully electric 'Hondatron' to speak April 3

http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/24012.html

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A former post-doctoral researcher at Indiana University's Cyclotron Facility -- now a professor in the Physics Department at Western Michigan University -- who converted one of the world's most popular gasoline automobiles to full electric power will bring the story of this conversion to an April 3 Physics Department colloquium.
Hondatron

The Hondatron, a 1992 Honda Civic converted to all-electric power by former IU post-doctoral researcher Paul Pancella. Pancella, now a physicist at Western Michigan University, will speak at IU Bloomington April 3.

Print-Quality Photo

Paul V. Pancella, an experimental nuclear physicist whose work has focused on nucleon scattering, drove a 1992 Honda Civic CX for 15 years before the engine gave out. His inherent interest in all things efficient, and in transportation systems in general, led him to gather together a cadre of gearhead friends and the team two years ago installed a rechargeable lithium iron phosphate battery system, a charger and a new electric motor in the car.

His presentation at IU Bloomington is titled "The Transition to Electric Cars."

"There is reason to believe that in the near future, more and more electricity will be used to power transportation, significantly reducing the amount of petroleum-derived fuels burned in internal combustion engines," Pancella said. "This talk will explore some of the physics behind this belief."

Researchers at the University of Texas in 1996 identified lithium iron phosphate as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries. Five years later researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology addressed the primary problem with commercializing the battery - low conductivity - and systems based on those improvements are now used by leading corporations like Black and Decker, Daimler and Cessna.

"I can go 100 miles on a full charge, and expect the equivalent of 2,000 full recharge cycles before there is a noticeable decrease in energy storage capacity -- thus 200,000 miles," Pancella said. "There are caveats here, because there is very little data beyond five years of real-world automotive use, but during that time there is no maintenance required beyond safeguarding against overcharge and over-discharge."

So the life expectancy of the battery system will generally exceed the average useful life of passenger cars themselves, he noted. A power cord runs from the front of the car to a traditional wall socket when the vehicle needs a recharge.

And Pancella, who calls the car the Hondatron, said that as far as carbon dioxide output compares to a traditional gasoline-powered car, the electric car still produces less than the gasoline car, even when the electricity is produced solely from coal.

The colloquium is open to the public and will begin at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, in Room 119 Swain Hall West.

For more information or to speak with Pancella, please contact Steve Chaplin, University Communications, at 812-856-1896 or stjchap@iu.edu .

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

http://paultan.org/2013/03/26/honda-accord-bangkok/

ASEAN-spec 2013 Honda Accord surfaces in Bangkok

Another one that�s popped up at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show is the 2013 Honda Accord. The ninth-gen D-segment sedan arrives in Thailand in five variants � 2.0 EL, 2.0 EL Navi, 2.4 EL, 2.4 EL Navi and 2.4 Tech, priced between 1.299 and 1.799 million baht (RM137k-188k).

Honda says the Accord is its first model in Thailand to feature Earth Dreams tech, in the 2.4 litre engine, which produces 174 hp at 6,200 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 2.0 litre engine pumps out 155 hp at 6,500 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. Both engines can run on E85 fuel, and are mated to a five-speed auto �box.

Among the features on offer are Active Noise Control (emits noise-cancelling sound waves for added cabin refinement), Collision Mitigation Brake System, LaneWatch Blind Spot Display and Active Cornering Lights. Modulo accessories are also available, comprising a subtle bodykit, two choices of rear spoiler, single bar grille, door visors, chrome body mouldings and 17-inch sports rims.

Spec for spec, the new car weighs up to 25 kg less than its predecessor despite being stronger and more rigid. It is slightly smaller too, its length and wheelbase shortened by 76 and 25 mm respectively. Just like the Civic, Honda bucks the trend of growing vehicles, but still manages to offer a larger and more comfortable cabin than before. Rear legroom alone is up by 25 mm, while the boot is 30 litres larger.

Following Honda�s mechanical simplification process apparent in the latest Civic, the 2013 Accord ditches the tried and tested double wishbone suspension setup for simpler and (whisper it) cheaper MacPherson struts up front. The rear multi-links remain unchanged, but electric power steering appears in an Accord for the first time.

As for the Malaysian market, expect the new Honda Accord to make its local introduction as CKD models later in the year, as part of Honda Malaysia�s five new car launches for 2013. Note however that final specs and equipment list can vary from the Thai models, so what you see here may not be the same as what we�ll get. Like what you see so far?

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

http://paultan.org/2013/03/27/honda-...with-hondavac/

2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite minivan debuts new HondaVAC in-car vacuum cleaner

The 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite will be making its debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, setting the new �ultimate family vehicle� standard. Refreshed for 2014, the Odyssey Touring Elite provides safety upgrades, sharpened exterior styling and a revised interior with new features and tech.

Noting unusual for an annual update, but there�s one new feature that caused us to sit up. The 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite will mark the debut of HondaVAC, the first-ever in-vehicle vacuum system. Developed in conjunction with industry-leader Shop-Vac, the system consists of a powerful vacuum, replaceable filter and canister bag, with nozzle accessories neatly integrated into a dedicated space in the rear cargo area�s wall.

Honda says that the HondaVAC�s electric motor never needs an outlet or recharging, can operate continuously when the engine is running, and will continue to operate for up to eight minutes when the vehicle is turned off. Families with young children (and the unavoidable mess they leave behind) will find this in-car vacuum very useful, we can imagine.

Vacuum aside, the US-made Odyssey comes with HondaLink featuring Aha Mobile interface. HondaLink, which debuted on the 2013 Honda Accord in America, enables owners to connect to cloud-based content.

The free HondaLink smartphone app uses the owner�s favorite online content to create live, personalised radio stations, gets you news feeds from Facebook and Twitter, and allows one to check out restaurant reviews or find the nearest Starbucks, for instance.

Also included for the soccer mum are driver assistive and visibility technologies such as an Expanded View Driver�s Mirror, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), although we�re predicting that none will be used as often as the HondaVAC.

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

http://www.elp.com/news/2013/03/23/a...nergy-red.html

American Honda Installs Stationary Fuel Cell System that will Produce a Megawatt of Clean Energy, Reduce CO2

New Delhi, March 22 -- Continuing its efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today announced the installation of a new fuel cell system on its Torrance, California campus that will produce one megawatt of clean, reliable energy, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions from Honda's operations in the region.

The fuel cell system consists of five energy servers each producing 200 kilowatts of power, and will provide 25 percent of Honda's electricity needs for its 1.13 million square feet of office space, research, design and development operations, and parts distribution center on the 101 acre campus. The power generated by the fuel cell system would power approximately 750 average-sized homes each day.

For each megawatt-hour of power the fuel cell system generates, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 18 to 25%1. Over a project life of ten years, the system will reduce Honda's carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 16 million pounds. Fuel cells convert fuels - in this case, natural gas - into electricity through an electrochemical process that is much more efficient than combustion, thereby reducing CO2 emissions of fossil fuels. Additionally, fuel cell technology delivers extraordinary water savings as it requires no water beyond an injection of 240 gallons at start-up. Compared to the average water demands of California power plants, it is estimated that Honda will save more than 3.25 million gallons of equivalent water used per year2.

Over the past decade, American Honda has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce the company's carbon footprint at its Torrance campus, including the installation of high efficiency cooling systems and a recent lighting retrofit that cut the facility's CO2 emissions by nearly 750,000 pounds per year.

American Honda contracted with Bloom Energy and its partner, Core States Group, to design, develop and implement this project. Bloom Energy will provide all monitoring and maintenance for the fuel cells.

Copyright 2013 Contify.com
All Rights Reserved

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

tokyodream · 27-03-13, 11:10

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/..._the_big_test/

The Big Test: Compact Sedans
Dodge Dart vs. Honda Civic vs. Kia Forte vs. Mazda3 vs. Nissan Sentra

According to the old maxim, Americans don't like small cars. We buy trucks by the truckload and midsize sedans more than any other car segment. But because of gas prices, the tough economy, or both, the compact segment is growing. In 2012, it accounted for roughly 13 percent of the U.S. car market, with most entrants registering sales increases over 2011. With frugality in vogue, automakers expect the segment to keep growing during the next several years. Last year, the Mazda3 went bumper to bumper with the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Volkswagen Jetta in a battle of 40-mpg-capable cars. The Mazda won because we framed the conversation thus: Is there a 40-mpg car you'd want to own? The question was directed at the enthusiast who wants a high-efficiency car that's also fun to drive. In that measure, the Mazda was without question the Goldilocks car. It finished mid-pack on fuel economy, but it was far and away the driver's choice. Since then, three new pretenders to the throne have arisen, and a fourth made an emergency update to better position it against the competition. More important, we're no longer asking which is the best sports car, but which is the best all-around car for the average consumer. We're looking for the car that offers the best value, content, fuel economy, and safety in addition to performance. It's a whole new ballgame.
RIDE & HANDLING
Compact Sedan Front End In Motion In claiming its previous victory, the Mazda3 dazzled the judges with its crisp, natural steering feel; responsive, unshakable chassis; and sport sedan handling. It led this competition with the same trump card, at least in the dry. As it happened, rain struck during our evaluation loops, and opinions of the Mazda changed quickly. Those who drove it in the dry were again smitten with its excellent handling on the winding road portion. Those who drove it in the wet, however, told a different tale. Editors found it breaking loose at both ends on wet roads when pushed hard, eroding confidence. One point we all agreed on was the ride quality, which was among the best in the group.

2013 Dodge Dart Front Three Quarters In Motion
2013 Honda Civic Front Three Quarters
2013 Mazda3 Front Three Quarters In Motion
2014 Kia Forte Front Three Quarters In Motion
2013 Nissan Sentra Front Three Quarters In Motion
Compact Sedan Front End

Another car that divided the judges was the Dodge Dart. Opinions were mixed on the thick, meaty steering wheel -- while it felt direct, the steering was surprisingly heavy. Also heavy was the car itself, outweighing the nearest competitor by more than 300 pounds, and it felt heavy from behind the wheel. The Dart threw its heft into a corner, but once the weight transferred, it was a smooth and stable handler. The weight made the car feel planted on the road, but it also hurt the ride quality, though it wasn't the worst in the group. In terms of ride and handling, the worst was the Nissan Sentra. There wasn't a large difference in ride quality among the group, but the Sentra was at the bottom of the spectrum. Where it really disappointed was in handling. The Sentra received constant complaints of terminal understeer, egregious body roll, and lifeless steering, and it lacked grip. Said associate online editor Karla Sanchez: "This car handled so terribly, I couldn't wait until the loop was over."

2013 Nissan Sentra Rear Three Quarters In Motion
2013 Dodge Dart Rear Three Quarters In Motion
2013 Honda Civic Rear Three Quarter In Motion
2013 Mazda3 Rear Three Quarters In Motion
2014 Kia Forte Rear Three Quarters In Motion

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Kia Forte surprised everyone. In general, we've known Kias to have rough rides and elastic-feeling steering, but not this car. The ride was pleasantly firm, almost sporty, and the steering felt naturally weighted and responsive, though it still provided no feedback. Many editors found it the second-most fun car to drive behind the Mazda. Somewhere in the middle was the Civic. The lightest of the group, it felt that way on the road. Ride quality and handling both fell in the middle of the pack, though the steering took some hits. Editor-in-chief Edward Loh found that the "light steering feels artificial and requires jerky inputs. Initial input doesn't seem to do much, so I kept dialing in more and more steering. Hard to be smooth." 2013 Nissan Sentra Front Three Quarter In Motion
PERFORMANCE
The Kia surprised us at the track. It was the quickest to 60 mph by half a second and stopped the shortest from the same speed by 2 feet. On our skidpad, it put up respectable grip numbers and was the quickest around our figure-eight course. Out in the real world, we found the power strong compared with the rest of the group, and the transmission shifted quickly and smoothly and seemed to never select the wrong gear. Less surprising was the poor showing from the Sentra. It was the slowest to reach 60 mph and needed the longest distance to stop. The car also was slow to accelerate and lacked brake bite. The primary culprit in drivetrain complaints was the continuously variable transmission, which all agreed was slow to respond and then provided insufficient additional leverage when it did. Despite its poor handling on the road and lowest average g on the figure-eight test, the Sentra did manage to tie the Dart for the highest average g on the skidpad.

2013 Nissan Sentra Front End
2013 Nissan Sentra Rear End
2013 Nissan Sentra Side
2013 Nissan Sentra Cockpit
2013 Nissan Sentra Interior 02
2013 Nissan Sentra Interior
2013 Nissan Sentra Engine
2013 Nissan Sentra Gear Shift Knob
2013 Nissan Sentra Navigation Screen

The Dart was a disappointment. Its raspy exhaust and turbocharged engine seemed to promise performance, but its jog to 60 mph fell right in the middle of the pack, as did its stopping distance. As noted above, it posted the highest average g on the skidpad and the figure eight, but tied the Mazda for second in figure-eight lap time. Where the Dart really fell down was in everyday driving. The dual-clutch transmission was jerky and often seemed confused in automatic mode, whether dicing in the city or carving a canyon. The only remedy was to manually shift using the gear stick, which delivered fairly quick and crisp shifts, though it upshifted automatically at redline. We were likewise disappointed in the Civic. The engine felt weak at low rpm, but like the Sentra, the fault lies squarely with the transmission. The aging five-speed gearbox was slow to shift and had no manual mode. This carried over to the track, where it was the second slowest to 60 mph and the slowest around the figure eight. Its low curb weight contributed to the second shortest stopping distance, but it posted mid-pack average g numbers. The Mazda3 was a curiosity rather than a disappointment. Despite its stellar dry performance on the road, it didn't post the big numbers at the track. It was the second quickest to 60 mph and around the figure eight, but dead last on the skidpad. It also finished third in braking. Somehow, though, it all came together on real-world roads, making the Mazda3 the clear driver's favorite. 2013 Honda Civic Front Three Quarter In Motion
EFFICIENCY
The two cars with the most overt technological approaches to fuel efficiency performed the poorest. An accelerating trend in the automotive industry today is to replace a larger engine with a smaller, turbocharged one that, in theory, provides the same power while using less fuel. This was not the case for the Dart. Its turbocharged 1.4-liter engine was the smallest and offered the most torque and second-highest horsepower rating, but it returned a dismal 19.5 mpg on our evaluation loops, well below its EPA estimates of 27/37 mpg city/highway. Likewise unimpressive was the Sentra's continuously variable transmission, which should theoretically always be at the optimum gearing for fuel economy. With the least horsepower and tied for the least torque, you'd expect it wouldn't burn much fuel, but it returned the second-lowest observed fuel economy at 21.2 average mpg. With ratings at 30/39 mpg city/highway, it was a long way off. "Nissan might be on to something," quipped senior features editor Jonny Lieberman. "No one will drive this car quickly and in an inefficient manner, as it actually sounds like you're injuring the car with your right foot."

2013 Honda Civic Front End
2013 Honda Civic Rear End
2013 Honda Civic Side
2013 Honda Civic Cockpit
2013 Honda Civic Interior 02
2013 Honda Civic Interior
2013 Honda Civic Engine
2013 Honda Civic Gear Shift Knob
2013 Honda Civic Navigation Screen

As much as we knock the Civic for its old five-speed transmission offering no manual control, it still gets the job done. The Civic was the second-least powerful car present and it felt like it, but that little engine and old gearbox know how to use fuel wisely. The Civic returned 23.5 mpg, which, while not stellar, was at least closer to its 28/39-mpg city/highway ratings. Kia had a rough go of it last year after the EPA unceremoniously lowered the fuel economy ratings on a number of its cars. The Forte was unaffected, but the new car has struck back with a vengeance. Despite having the most horsepower and second-highest torque rating, as well as an conventional six-speed automatic, the Kia returned 24.4 mpg -- falling nicely within the estimated EPA city/highway ratings of 24/36 mpg and good for second best in this comparison. The big winner, though, was the car that won the fuel economy comparison on handling rather than mpg. The Mazda3, with its funny-sounding Skyactiv badging and no obvious technological tricks (they're all deep inside the engine), was the longest running model in this test and by far the fuel-sipping champ. It handily bested the competition by returning 25.3 average mpg against its 28/40-mpg city/highway ratings. 2014 Kia Forte Side In Motion
COCKPIT/CABIN
Many people put a lot of stock in how a car looks, but the truth is, you'll spend far more time looking at the inside of it than the outside, and it greatly shapes your perception of the vehicle. In this category, the Sentra clawed back some favor with the judges. The rear seat and trunk are cavernous for the class, and the navigation and entertainment systems are simple and intuitive to use. Some editors found the design dull, likening it to a doctor's waiting room, but others pointed out that it barely feels down-market from the larger, more expensive Altima, a nice treat for a value-conscious buyer. The Forte received similar praise for being second to the Sentra in rear seat space. It was also dinged, albeit less so, for being cold and dark with some odd ridges on the dash. Those gripes were quickly overlooked, however, in light of the segment-busting list of features, such as heated and cooled front seats and power-folding mirrors.

2014 Kia Forte Front End
2014 Kia Forte Rear End
2014 Kia Forte Side
2014 Kia Forte Cockpit
2014 Kia Forte Interior
2014 Kia Forte Navigation
2014 Kia Forte Engine
2014 Kia Forte Gear Shift Knob
2014 Kia Forte Side In Motion

Also feature-rich was the Dart, with its massive touchscreen infotainment system and high-resolution, reconfigurable gauge display. We appreciated the clear, easy-to-use UConnect infotainment system, even if it did seem a bit cluttered compared with Kia's UVO system. Editors also liked the front-and-back steering wheel controls. Where the Dart struggled was in seating, with hard perches front and rear and compromised rear headroom. The editors complained about the grainy, low-resolution back-up camera. 2013 Honda Civic Front Three Quarter In Motion Riding mid-pack was the Civic, whose bi-level instrument cluster and funky shapes divided editors. It was given high marks for being a strong improvement over the poorly received 2012 model, and we appreciated the better materials and quieter cabin. We took issue, though, with the old, low-resolution navigation system and its tiny buttons, and rear seat space ranked smallest among the competitors. Receiving some of the harshest criticism was the Mazda3. While we liked its sporty, supportive seats overall, many were disappointed with its small, cramped rear seat. The dashboard also drew fire for looking the oldest and appearing to be made of the cheapest materials. "The split screens are at least well-organized/executed," wrote Loh. However, "none of the screens matches in background colors, fonts, or font colors, not in the instrument panel, infotainment screen, or the two tiny screens above." We were disappointed with the lack of a back-up camera, but equally delighted by the preferred manual shifting orientation of forward for downshifts and backward for upshifts, which the Dart shared.
SAFETY
With safety a key concern among buyers, it's no surprise all these competitors performed well in crash testing. They were not, however, all created equal. For example, Honda found out about the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's new small-offset crash test and designed the new Civic accordingly. As such, the Civic is the only car here to be named a Top Safety Pick+ after receiving a Good score in all tests. (None of the others has yet completed the small-offset test.) The 2013 Civic hasn't been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yet, but the 2012 car received 5-star front and side ratings and a 4-star rollover rating for 5 stars overall. Like the Honda, the 2014 Forte hasn't been crash tested yet. In this case, though, the Kia is a thoroughly redesigned car and not a refresh, so it's difficult to say how it will fare. The old Forte, for what it's worth, received 4 stars and Good ratings in all tests and was named a Top Safety Pick.

2013 Dodge Dart Front End
2013 Dodge Dart Rear End
2013 Dodge Dart Side
2013 Dodge Dart Cockpit
2013 Dodge Dart Interior 02
2013 Dodge Dart Interior
2013 Dodge Dart Engine
2013 Dodge Dart Center Stack
2013 Dodge Dart Gear Shift Knob

It's a similar story with the 2013 Sentra, which also has yet to be fully tested. NHTSA has crashed it, and gave it a 5-star side impact rating, 4 stars for front and rollover tests, and 4 stars overall. IIHS hasn't tested it, but the old model was not a Top Safety Pick because of an Acceptable rating in the roof crush test. There is plenty of information, however, on the oldest car in the test. The Mazda3 is an IIHS Top Safety Pick thanks to Good ratings all around, but it didn't fare quite as well at NHTSA. It's a mixed bag, with a 5-star front impact rating, 4-star rollover rating, and 3-star side impact rating, combined for a 4-star overall rating. Editors also noted and appreciated the optional Blind Spot Warning system. We appreciated the Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Path Detection systems on the Dart as well, not to mention the only Driver Knee Bolster airbags in the group. That car fared better in crash testing, earning a 5-star overall rating on 5-star front and side impact ratings and a 4-star rollover rating. It is also a Top Safety Pick with Good scores across the board. 2013 Mazda3 Front Three Quarter In Motion
VALUE
In a price-conscious segment like this, value is a major consideration. That's especially true in this test, where all the competitors were heavily equipped with pricey options such as navigation systems, leather seats, keyless entry, and more. None was more heavily loaded than the Mazda3, which rang in just above the Dart at $26,420. Being the oldest model in the test and lacking a back-up camera hurt its value argument, though we enthusiasts found quite a lot of value in its handling and performance. The Dart also became something of a tough sell at $26,415. It was feature-rich with its big display screens, automatic headlights and wipers, heated steering wheel, and more. The problem is, the Forte offers all that and more for $805 less. With by far the worst observed fuel economy, the Dart's value appeal dropped precipitously in the eyes of the judges.

2013 Mazda3 Front End
2013 Mazda3 Rear End
2013 Mazda3 Side
2013 Mazda3 Cockpit
2013 Mazda3 Interior 02
2013 Mazda3 Interior
2013 Mazda3 Engine
2013 Mazda3 Audio Controls
2013 Mazda3 Gear Shift Knob

That Forte, though, blew us away. Power front seats that are both heated and cooled, heated rear seats, power-folding side mirrors, a heated steering wheel, multiple steering modes, and more, all for a mid-pack price of $25,610. Add to that the second-best fuel economy in the test and far and away the best warranty, and the Kia makes a serious value proposition. The Civic was a tougher case to make. It offered many of the features the others did, but the clunky navigation system and poor observed fuel economy hurt it. On the other hand, it was very nearly the least expensive car here at $24,555, and it got high marks for its quality interior materials. The Sentra fell into the same trap as the Civic, offering the lowest as-tested price by just over a hundred dollars at $23,715. While that appealed to our wallets, the second-worst observed fuel economy and the poor handling made us reconsider how our hypothetical money was being spent.
CONCLUSION
Compact Sedan Front Three Quarters Some comparison tests are blowouts, and those are easy to judge. Then there are tests like this, where the field is closely matched in nearly every category. Each car had strengths and weaknesses and none completely ran away with the award. There wasn't a "perfect" car in the bunch, but several that would be very good choices depending on your priorities. If, for example, you're an enthusiast like us, you'll be happiest with the sporty Mazda. It would also appeal to those who value fuel economy above all else. If safety is your priority, you'll be comforted by the Honda's class-topping crash test scores. Those who love features will be very happy with the Dart and Forte, and the buyer shopping on price will find the Sentra's low as-tested price very appealing. After weighing the contenders in each category against what would best serve the average compact car buyer, we picked the 2014 Kia Forte as the best all-around car here and the winner of this test. Its combination of performance, fuel efficiency, reasonable pricing, and endless feature list had our judges agreeing it's the car we'd recommend to our friends and family.
RANKING
5th Place: Nissan Sentra
Poor handling, poor fuel economy, and a shorter feature list outweigh a low price and big back seat. 4th Place: Honda Civic
A weak drivetrain, poor fuel economy, and frustrating nav system sank a solid entry. 3rd Place: Dodge Dart
Sport handling and a long list of features weren't enough to overcome a high price and terrible gas mileage. 2nd Place: Mazda3
An enthusiast's special and fuel-sipper to boot, weighed down by a heavy price tag and missing features. 1st Place: Kia Forte
Handles well, sips fuel, loaded with exclusive features, and priced just right. What's not to like?
Notable Features
Dodge Dart: The only car rolling on chromies made the Dart stand out amongst all the alloys. Honda Civic: Not just a back-up camera, the Civic gives you multiple camera angles including panoramic and straight down for maximum visibility. Kia Forte: Power-folding mirrors on a $25,610 car? We love it when features trickle down. Mazda3: We think this is the proper way to orient a manual shifting feature, and we're glad Mazda (and Dodge) agree. Nissan Sentra: There was no question, the Sentra had the most rear seat room by far, with more than some midsize sedans.

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

http://www.i-newswire.com/honda-anno...-geneva/217605

Honda Announces News at 2013 Geneva Motor Show

Monroe, MI (I-Newswire) March 26, 2013 - It can be tough to keep up with all of the news that comes out of an auto show, but the experts at Victory Honda in Monroe have done an excellent job in keeping area drivers informed with all of the latest Honda news as it unfolds. They have had their fair share of highlights at the show as well.

Honda's popular Earth Dreams technology is getting a revamp for their European market, with the CR-V sporting a 1.6L i-DTEC diesel engine for the manual transmission, two-wheel drive model of their popular crossover utility vehicle. The lightest engine in its class, it is optimized for torque production and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Honda had their next-generation fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, on display as well, right alongside their other innovative vehicles, from the CR-Z hybrid sports car to the new Jazz and Insight hybrids.

One of the most exciting announcements came in the form of the Honda Civic Tourer. While this vehicle does not look to be coming over to the United States any time soon, European drivers can expect the Sport Wagon take on the ubiquitous Honda Civic as early as autumn.

While each of these vehicles is geared toward practicality as well as style, Honda brought out the latest version of the NSX concept car as well, built with a driver-centered interior that carries a �simple sports interface� designed to reduce clutter and allow the driver to focus on driving above all else.

When events such as the Geneva Motor Show occur, it becomes the responsibility of auto dealers such as Victory Honda to keep the public informed, and area residents can rest easy knowing that each of Honda's announcements at auto shows will be covered by the team at Victory Honda.

For more information on Honda's announcements at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, or to keep up to date on the happenings of the world-renowned automaker, contact the sales team at Victory Honda in Monroe. Their dealership is open six days a week and can be found at 1605 North Monroe Street in Monroe, Michigan.

About Victory Honda Monroe:
We take great care and pride in assembling nothing short of a top-notch team. Not only is each member of our team extremely knowledgeable about what they do, but they're also compassionate and helpful.

Our very diverse staff ensures there is always someone to answer your questions and someone you can relate to. There is also a good chance that you'll actually know the person you're working with - making what could be a potentially stressful situation that much easier.
Victory Honda Monroe

Company Contact Information
Victory Honda Monroe
Victory Honda Monroe
1605 N. Monroe St
Monroe, MI
48162
Phone : 888-605-7056

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

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1140374

Realtime Acura Results at St. Petersburg Grand Prix *Spoilers*
Date: March 26, 2013 10:00
Submitted by: JMU R1
Source: Press Release
Credibility Rating: Not Specified

Double Podium for RealTime Acura at St. Petersburg Grand Prix

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 25, 2013) � The 14-event 2013 Pirelli World Challenge season got underway last weekend on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., with a double header the St. Petersburg Sports Car Challenge. The RealTime Acura team began its defense of the GTS Manufacturers� and Drivers� titles with two third-place finishes from Peter Cunningham, plus a 10th and seventh-place finish from Nick Esayian.

The fourth season for the GTS category looks to be the strongest yet, with representation from no fewer than 10 different manufacturers. The Acura TSX V6 will face stiff competition from BMW M3, Chevrolet Camaro SS, Ford Mustang Boss 302 S, Kia Optima Turbo, Lotus Exige S, Nissan 370Z, Pontiac Solstice, Porsche Cayman S and the brand new, supercharged Scion FR-S.

Friday - Qualifying

Up against this diverse 25-car GTS field on the punishing St. Pete street circuit, RealTime pilots Cunningham and Esayian qualified fifth and ninth, respectively. Cunningham, the defending GTS Drivers� Champion, turned a 1:21.394 (79.612 mph) in his No. 42 Acura/HPD/RealTime Racing Acura TSX, while Esayian entered a 1:22.290 (78.645 mph) in the No. 34 Acura/HPD/RealTime Racing Acura TSX.

Saturday � Race One

Saturday�s 34-lap race began with a rolling start, a policy initiated last year at double weekends for the first of the two races on those weekends. With the RealTime crew chanting �green� on the radio, Cunningham immediately picked up a position on the start, moving past the sideways No. 16 Porsche Cayman S of Kevin Gleason and into fourth.

The top four cars then checked out from the rest of the GTS pack. By midrace, Cunningham experienced increasing pressure from fifth-running Gleason, but he was able to navigate traffic efficiently enough to develop a comfortable gap.
That cushion was erased when a full-course yellow was issued on lap 26 to retrieve a stalled GTS car from the course. On the restart, Gleason made his move on Cunningham and tried to pass third-place Lawson Aschenbach in the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro as well. It ended up paying dividends for Cunningham.

�Gleason out-braked me into Turn One and tried to out-brake Lawson at the same time, but he couldn�t get it slowed enough and got into the back of the Camaro,� Cunningham recalled. �I was able to get around both of them. I went from fourth, to fifth, to third in one corner.�
The checkered flag flew three laps later and Cunningham crossed the finish line in the final podium spot with a comfortable gap to fourth. The top-three finishers were the same as the top-three in the 2012 Drivers� points, but in reverse order, as Jack Baldwin�s No. 73 Porsche was victorious over Andy Lee�s No. 20 Camaro and Cunningham�s Acura.
Esayian appeared en route to a top-five finish before a power steering issue derailed his charge through the field.
�That was probably the most physically demanding race I�ve dealt with,� Esayian said afterwards. �In a front-wheel drive car, on a bumpy course, it's not just about steering the car, but all the feedback you get through the wheel.
�I could have managed it had we stayed yellow, but when the green came back out I didn't want to be unfair to the guys behind me, so I pulled over and let them go. We may have had a top-five, but it was 10th today. We still took home good points though.�

Sunday � Race Two

The grid for Sunday�s race was set by fast laps from Saturday�s race, placing Cunningham fifth on the grid once again and Esayian eighth.
The race started with the traditional standing start, followed by a brief, two-lap full-course caution for a GT car stalled on course. A great start from Esayian promoted the No. 34 to seventh before the yellow.
On the lap three restart, the Camaro of second place Lee began to smoke heavily and was black flagged, promoting Cunningham to fourth. The 33-lap race ran caution free from there on out, leaving Cunningham plenty of time and track to chase down Gleason�s third-place Porsche.
The Acura was on Gleason�s tail when the GT leaders began to come through the front of the GTS field. As one of the GT runners passed Gleason, Cunningham saw his opportunity to pull alongside for the final podium position in Turn 10. Gleason put up a strong defense, but ultimately lost the braking duel, as Cunningham took over third place on the penultimate lap. Baldwin won again and Aschenbach improved three spots from Saturday to finish second.

Esayian briefly moved his car to sixth after the restart, but eventually brought his Acura home in seventh.

�All in all it was a good start to our 2013 season,� Cunningham said. �The key on a street course like St. Pete is to keep your nose clean and let the race come to you, and I think that�s what we did. The whole team is focused on the goal of winning another championship for Acura and as it stands, Acura is second in the points, so we�ll keep building from here.�

To learn more about RealTime Racing, visit www.realtimerl.com or follow the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RealTimeRacing
Points

With a pair of third-place finishes, Acura is currently second in the GTS Manufacturers� Championship, five points behind Chevrolet. Cunningham is tied for second in the Drivers� points. Esayian is ninth.
TV

The Pirelli World Challenge season opener from St. Petersburg will air on NBC Sports, Sunday, April 7 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Next Up

From one ocean to another, RealTime Racing next heads to Long Beach, Calif., for the Long Beach Grand Prix, round three of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships. The race is scheduled for April 21 at 7:30 PM ET. Live coverage will be available on www.world-challengetv.com.

Sponsors

RealTime Racing�s 2013 season is brought to you by Acura, HPD, Eibach, Sparco, BOSCH, Brembo, Earthwalk Flooring, and Total Auto Body.

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