Honda Gets its Mojo Back: Consumer Reports Puts 2013 Accord on Top of its Class

Latest Honda News:

Despite the (in) famous episode civic 2012, seem to be bad feelings between Honda and Consumer Reports (CR). The publication may have fallen Civic 2012 in its list of recommendations to press to a quick redesign, but Honda can relax on its U.S. market.UU. best-selling refers. In fact, you can even smile as CR has the agreement of 2013 at the top of his class in four-cylinder guise while taking note that the V6 version is "challenging Toyota Camry for the top spot" in their grades. "Honda lost the brand with other models redesigned in recent years, but it did," said CR Auto Test Center director Jake Fisher. In particular, the new Accord was praised by its fuel efficiency. New direct injection 2.4 liter four cylinder earned an "excellent" 30 mpg overall, increasing to 40 mpg on the highway, while the 3.5 litre V6 variant managed 26 mpg on average, despite posting a zesty 0-60 mph (0-96 km / h) time of 6.3 seconds acceleration. Honda mid-size sedan also earned top grades due their visibility, position driving and interior space, but on the negative side, their LaneWatch which is available in the most luxurious versions system found that it was "a trick advertising and distraction". You can see a video of auto CR Tom Mutchler test engineer driving the new agreement immediately after the break.

Honda Photo

Honda Video

Read More

Honda Civic Hybrid's MPGs Wins Appeal of Small-Claims Court

In February of 2012, Honda Civic Hybrid owner Heather Peters was awarded US$9,867 by a small-claims court in California after she accused the Japanese automaker of overstating the car's 50mpg fuel economy figures. However, being that Peters wasn't the only one to refuse Honda's class-action settlement that offered some 200,000 owners US$100-200 each and a $1,000 credit on purchasing a new car, the Japanese company decided to appeal her win.
While lawyers are not allowed in small claims court in California, they are permitted on appeal. And unfortunately for Peters, Honda pulled the big guns hiring a national law firm with more than 800 lawyers to represent the company in court.
On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray II overturned the small-claims judgment against American Honda Motor Co. on the basis that Honda simply advertised the official EPA figures.
Gray's ruling found that while Peters has standing to bring the suit in state court, "federal regulations control the fuel economy ratings posted on vehicles and advertising claims related to those fuel economy ratings" and that Honda at all relevant times "complied with applicable Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements".
The judge's ruling noted that EPA's estimated miles per gallon ratings are for comparison among vehicles and do not take into account many factors that affect mileage at a given moment.
"Despite these many variables, most of the owners of the subject vehicle achieve fuel economy very close to the EPA estimate," wrote Gray. "A graph was presented that showed the results of real world fuel usage as reported to fueleconomy.gov . The graph demonstrates the bell curve expected in nearly any large group surveyed. The majority of users report mileage very close to the EPA estimates," he added.
Gray also ruled that Honda's advertising slogans did not promise anything.
"With regards to Plaintiff's complaint about Defendant's use of advertising slogans such as "sipping fuel", "amazingly little fuel" and "saves plenty of money on fuel", the Court rules that these are non-actionable sales puffery. They are not specific promises of anything," said Gray.
Peters on her behalf said that she understands the ruling but is disappointed.
"It’s a sad day when regulations designed to protect consumers are used against them. I’m certain that the EPA and FTC never intended to shield Honda from liability for advertising claims that a court of law determined to be false," she said.
"Of course I'm disappointed, but I'm still glad that I raised awareness that Honda is no longer the great brand that it used to be. They used to go the extra mile in customer service, now the go the extra mile fighting customers in court. I guess the moral of the story is buyer beware - especially of Honda!," said Peters.
The court decision is now final, though the ruling will not directly affect the other pending cases on the matter.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Honda to Build Fit at New Plant in Mexico

With Japan becoming the Land of the Rising Yen, more and more automakers are moving production outside the country to improve their profit margins. On Wednesday, Honda laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new production plant in Celaya, Mexico. The new factory will become operational in 2014 and among other cars that will be produce there is the subcompact Fit (named Jazz in other markets) for the Mexican, U.S. and Canadian markets, as well as other regions.
"Considering the needs of the Mexican market, which is expecting continued growth in the future, and also serving as a global production base for the North American region and beyond, we decided to make the Fit the first product to be produced here," said Honda CEO Takanobu Ito during a special ceremony in Mexico.
The Celaya plant is expected to employ around 3,200 workers and have an annual production capacity of 200,000 units. It is the company's 8th auto plant and its 10th auto assembly line in North America.
With this addition, Honda's overall investment in its North American operations will reach US$21 billion and increase its production capacity in the region from 1.63 million units to 1.87 million in spring 2014. Currently, Honda employs more than 33,000 associates in North America.
According to the company, in 2011, more than 85 percent of the Honda and Acura cars and light trucks sold in the States were produced in North America, and that number is expected to surpass the 90 percent mark in the coming years.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Nissan SUV Slams Stationary Honda Civic that was Getting Ready to Street Race

We're not saying it can't happen, but the last thing you expect to see on an open road at night is two motionless vehicles occupying both regular lanes. Is it that difficult to see that this is something extremely dangerous for all parties involved? Apparently, the answer is yes…
 
Too bad these drivers had to find out the hard way when an unrelated Nissan SUV slammed into a Honda Civic hatchback that was standing still revving its engine as the owner was preparing to race another Civic on an unnamed road in Tampa, Florida.

Read More

New Honda Crosstour Costs $2,685 Less than V6, Starts at $28,465*

Honda is expanding the range of its Accord-based Crosstour model with the addition of a four-cylinder, two-wheel drive version that goes on sale today priced from $27,655, or $28,465 if you include an $810 destination and handling charge. That's $2,685 less than the equivalent V6 model. The new entry level Crosstour sports a 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine that develops 192 horsepower matched to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission, delivering 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, an improvement of 3 mpg and 2 mpg respectively over the V6 model.
Speaking about the new model, John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda said: "The new four-cylinder Crosstour offers sleek design, unmatched passenger comfort and ingenious functionality now with four-cylinder pricing and fuel economy. With four-cylinder and V6 options and a long list of standard features, Crosstour should be on every CUV buyer's shopping list."
Along with the launch of the new four-cylinder Crosstour, Honda announced the addition of several standard features across the entire range, which include an automatic dimming rearview mirror, a rearview mirror back-up camera display (non-Navigation models), convenient auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and USB audio interface.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Honda CR-Z Limited Edition 'Label α' for Japan

Japanese buyers are no strangers to special edition versions with extremely subtle modifications, the newest one coming from Honda with its CR-Z 'Label α' model, which goes on sale this week and will be available for a limited release until May 31. What makes the 'Label α' special in Honda's eyes is the bespoke burgundy pearl metallic finish on the outside with a matching interior color for the seats, door panels and the stitching on the leather steering wheel and manual gearbox shifter.
The hybrid sports hatch also gets alloy wheels and aluminum sport pedals.
The CR-Z 'Label α' will be offered with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) or a six-speed manual gearbox with pricing in Japan set at 2,510,000 yen (about €24,850 and US$32,150) for both models.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Watch Roadside Assistance Pull a Honda Civic from the Top of a Cadillac CTS [Video]

We just got our hands on fresh footage from the January 5 accident in Wellesley, Massachusetts, when a 51-year old driver of a Honda Civic sedan slammed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake and hit a curb that sent his car a flying into a garage and on top of a fairly new Cadillac CTS. Fortunately, no one was hurt from the accident, though both cars were significantly damaged.
The newly released video, which you can watch after the jump, shows the roadside assistance trucks as they were trying to extract the Honda from the parking lot the same way it entered the building.

VIDEO

Read More

Auto Execs Take a Swipe at Each Other at the Detroit Motor Show

Good manners dictate that unless you are provoked, you can politely ignore your adversaries. In the case of those involved in the auto industry, politely point out to your clients and/or the press why and in which areas your products are superior. That's a common practice. Openly attacking your opponents is considered rude. But Not anymore. At the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, some pretty poisonous remarks were uttered by several executives. BMW North America boss, Ludwig Willisch, dismissed the new Cadillac ATS and Lincoln MKZ saying that, despite their claims, they are simply not in the same league as the 3-Series.
“We don’t produce trucks, nor taxis or buses”, said Willisch. “We don’t produce sofas on wheels – and we don’t take mass-market vehicles and rebadge them as premium.”
Although he does have a point, maybe those remarks are trying to undermine the U.S. carmakers’ amazing recovery after their 2009 bailout adventure.
Former GM chairman and car guru Bob Lutz thinks that American carmakers have recovered their mojo, while some of their competitors are losing the plot.
“Some of the big Japanese companies are showing a distinct loss of momentum in design, engine technology and public perception”, said Lutz. “The Detroit Three are just one the roll doing probably the most competitive vehicles in the history of the American automobile business.”
At the Detroit motor show, Toyota put a billboard across the Cobo Center. It was an ad for the Camry Hybrid, reading “Sorry Fusion”, a direct reference to Ford’s model.
Two can play that game: Ford answered at Tuesday’s press conference for the Fusion with a video attacking the Camry and Honda Accord. “When the recession hit, they plummeted along with the rest of the industry”, said the commentator in the video. “What you might not realize is that Camry and Accord never recovered. They saw further sales and share losses more than a year before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.”
John Mendel, Honda’s top U.S. executive, immediately picked up his boxing gloves: “Many of our competitors were enjoying the race with Honda running at half-throttle”, he said, in a race-like metaphor.
“They temporarily picked up a lap or two while we were in the pits. We’re here to serve notice to the competition that Honda is again firing on all cylinders. We’re back to full power,” said Mendel.
GM's executives were much more restrained. CEO Dan Akerson did not brag about his company reclaiming the number one spot as the world’s largest manufacturer from Toyota, while GM North America president Mark Reuss conceded that the Cadillac ATS has to earn its place among the competition: “We’re going to have to prove this. There’s no easy game here.”

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

New Acura NSX Concept Meets Old in Gran Turismo 5 Video

Now that was pretty fast. The creators of Sony's wildly successful Gran Turismo racing game series have released a new video that brings to life both the brand-new Acura NSX Concept that was revealed just the other day at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and the original model, which was marketed under the Honda brand name outside North America. It's only natural to assume that the NSX Concept will eventually find its way into the digitalized garage of the GT5 down the road.
The new NSX brings a new hybrid powerplant that combines a naturally aspirated V6 engine with three electric motors, two of which are assigned to the front wheels.

VIDEO

Read More

2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept Previews 9th Generation Model [Video]

Like its Acura sibling, Honda is previewing one of its upcoming production models at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show with the presentation of the Accord Coupe Concept, which paves the way for the ninth-generation 2013 Accord series set to go on sale in North America this fall. As you can see for yourself, the only conceptual parts of the Accord Coupe are the dramatically styled front and rear bumpers along with the side skirts and alloy wheel designs. Take out those and you have the next Accord Coupe, which truth to be said, doesn't really look all that new.
In fact, if Honda didn't tell us that it's the ninth generation model, we'd be inclined to think it's a facelift of the current series as the only changes to the design concern the fascia that gets new headlamps and a simpler, four-sided grille, a more sculptured beltline, pronounced rear wheel arches and newly shaped tail lamps.
The Japanese company tells us that while the Accord Coupe will remain similarly sized, the Accord Sedan will feature a more compact exterior footprint with a shortened length and reduced weight that should contribute to better handling and improved driving dynamics.
"Both the 2013 Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe will retain the current model's generous cabin space," said Honda.
There are more changes under the body as the 2013 Accord will be introduced with three all-new powertrains, including the first U.S. application of both a 2.4-liter direct-injected (DI) engine and a two-motor plug-in hybrid system.
According to Honda, the 2.4-liter DI gasoline engine produces more than 181 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque and will be paired to a 6-speed manual transmission or a new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
The range-topping 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 engine has also been re-engineered offering more power and increased torque over the current model though Honda did not announce performance numbers. The V6 will be matched to a new 6-speed automatic transmission or an available 6-speed manual transmission
The new Accord Plug-In Hybrid sedan combines a 2.0-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder, Atkinson cycle engine, with an electric Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT) and a 120kW (161HP) electric motor fed by a 6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.
Honda said is two-motor hybrid system moves continuously through three modes: all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive, in order to maximize driving efficiency and fuel economy.
In all-electric mode, the 2013 Accord Plug-In Hybrid has a city driving range of approximately 10-15 miles (16-24 km) and a top speed of 62 mph (100km/h). The battery can be fully recharged in less than four hours using a 120-volt, outlet and less than 1.5 hours using a 240-volt charger.
The 2013 Accord also introduces several safety features such as Honda's first application of Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW) technology, both of which use a camera mounted behind the windshield, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone interface, a full-color Multi-Information Display (i-MID) and an SMS text messaging function.

VIDEO

2013 HONDA ACCORD COUPE CONCEPT

2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE

Read More