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Honda Fit EV is changing the electric car game

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

2013 Honda Fit EV

Honda’s dive into the electric car realm is coming in the form of the 2013 Honda Fit EV. While it is based on the Honda Fit that is currently out there, it has its own unique qualities – in addition to the fact that it runs entirely on electricity. Obviously the Fit EV has a lot going for it, as it was recently named the most efficient vehicle on the market.

As far as design, the Fit EV looks very similar to the Honda Fit that we know and love, but it has gained some aerodynamic advantages. The new fascia diverts air more effectively, allowing the Fit EV to have less drag. It also brings more air into the engine, which keeps the electric motor cool.

The actual driving experience will be all new to Honda drivers. Under the hood is a 20kWh lithium-ion battery and 92 kilowatt electric motor. The result is 123 horsepower that is good enough for a top speed of 90 mph. A three-mode driving system allows drivers to select between Sport,Normaland Econ modes. Sport mode provides the most power to your ride, Econ mode saves the most energy and extends battery life andNormalmixes in the two for a comfortable driving experience. Obviously, range will depend on which mode you choose, with the optimal range coming from Econ.

By providing top-of-the-line efficiency, the 2013 Honda Fit EV is changing the electric car game.

Tags: 2012 honda fit, 2013 Honda Fit EV, honda fit austin
Posted in Honda Efficiency, Honda Fit, Honda in the News, Honda Models, Honda Technology, Honda Vehicles, New Honda Cars, Sustainability, Vehicle Efficiency | Comments Off

Howdy Honda Priority Spotlight: Automatic vs Manual Transmission?

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Howdy Honda Priority Spotlight: Automatic vs Manual Transmission?

You probably already decided which type of transmission you are going to have on your next car. However, the decision should really depend on what type of driving you usually do. For city driving an automatic transmission is usually recommended, but for driving in rougher terrain (steep curves, mountains, mud, etc) a manual transmission is your best choice. Why is this? What is really the difference between the two?

Automatic

An automatic transmission offers drivers an easy way to drive a vehicle as the vehicle does all the shifting automatically. This allows for drivers to put more attention on the road itself and allows drivers to survey the elements surrounding them on a more frequent basis. Vehicles outfitted with automatic transmissions also are much easier to drive in large cities due to the frequent stop-and-go traffic, which can give owners of a vehicle with a manual transmission a headache.

Manual

Manual transmissions may be known as ‘harder’ to drive, but they offer a wide variety of benefits to drivers as well. The most popular reason why drivers select a vehicle with a manual transmission is efficiency, as manual transmissions offer more efficient fuel economy. Another big advantage of a manual transmission is that vehicles with a manual transmission are often-times cheaper than vehicles with an automatic transmission. Lastly, those who prefer a manual transmission like the added ‘control’ that it gives them behind the wheel as they (drivers) are the ones shifting the vehicle from one gear to the next.

Although each transmission offer a pros and cons, the final decision should come down to the type of driving you engage in and what you need your car to do for you (be fuel efficient, performance, etc). Honda has a quite a few models that come with a manual transmission: Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Fit, and the Honda CR-Z. They are definitely worth a look as the y have top safety, reliability and resale value ratings. Give us a call at 512-443-4300 to schedule a test drive.

Source:What’s The Difference Between Manual And Automatic?

Tags: Honda Accord Austin, honda civic austin, honda cr-z austin, honda fit austin, manual vs automatic transmission
Posted in Priority Spotlight | Comments Off

2012 Honda Fit claims victory of the Subcompact Shootout

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

Family judges, married couple Erik & Robyn Rose. Photo by USAToday

Our favorite small car, the Honda Fit, has won Cars.com/USAToday/MotorWeek’s 2012 Subcompact Shootout! Like on previous shootouts, the 2012 Honda Fit went head to head in an all out battle with six other subcompact cars to gain the attention and respect from a panel of expert auto writers and a young married couple.

Not every small car in the market made the cut. In order to qualify for the shootout, the car had to seat four, have four doors, an automatic transmission, an EPA rating of 35mpg or more, and a sticker price of less than $16,000. The shootout took the judges on a three-day test through a 200-mile loop in Southern California that combined city with highway driving. At the end, the judges rated each vehicle and attached a score that evaluated the static features (things like looks, comfort, usability, etc.), driving, overall value, and gas mileage.

At the end there can only be one ultimate winner: the 2012 Honda Fit. The Fit was praised for its fun-to-drive feel, practicality, visibility, and powertrain. “A triumph of cargo volume, versatility and execution…From the first moment, the Fit begged to be driven hard,” said Joe Wiesenfelder, Executive Editor at Cars.com. As for the family judges, Erik & Robyn Rose, they stated that “As soon as you sit in it and drive it, you feel at home.”

Watch all the action after the jump:

Tags: 2012 honda fit austin, honda austin, honda cars austin, honda fit austin, honda for sale austin
Posted in Awards & Accolades, Honda Fit, Honda in the News, Honda Models, Honda Vehicles, New Honda Cars | Comments Off

How do automakers come up with car names?

Friday, February 24th, 2012

How do automakers come up with car names?

So how do car manufacturers come up with names for their car lines? After all, it’s just a name and it will only take up a small space on the back of a vehicle that costs tens of thousands of dollars. How hard could it be? Try really hard.

The name of a car model is the result of the perfect mix between research, imagination, and a little bit of good judgment. Automakers face a big challenge when it comes time to name their new model line. They need to select a name that hasn’t been already trademarked, doesn’t mean anything negative in another language, and doesn’t have a negative connotation. It must also be pleasant to the ear, easy to understand, reflect the car’s image, and resonate with the primary market. Tough.

The process of naming a new car starts as early as two years before the vehicle hits the showroom floor. The name is a critical component of the car’s marketing plan, so the naming process usually involves third parties, like advertising or branding agencies, as well as the company’s top executives. Parties involved look for creative inspiration in a myriad of places like dictionaries, maps, seasons, minerals, themes, product codes and corporate archives to come up with a list of potential names.

The final name will depend on the automaker’s goals: What connection do they want the consumer to make between the name and image of the car? What emotion should the name of the car evoke? This, folks, is behind-the-scenes marketing magic at work.

What do you think is the story behind the Honda Civic’s name? How about the Honda Fit? Let us know what you think!

Tags: honda civic austin, honda fit austin
Posted in Honda Models, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Google To Test Drive Honda Fit EV; Give Feedback Before Production

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Google To Test Drive Honda Fit EV; Give Feedback Before Production

Search engine powerhouse, Google, will be receiving a fleet of Honda’s 2013 Fit EV to test and use as part of their in-house car-sharing program. You may have noticed that this vehicle isn’t available to the general public yet, but Google will have the opportunity to participate in Honda’s Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. Google employees will get to drive around in Honda’s newest electric vehicle (EV) and give Honda feedback before it’s released later this year.

But Google isn’t the only place where the 2013 Honda Fit EV is being tested out. Honda also dropped off a fleet at Stanford University and also to the city of Torrance, California. The faculty and students at Stanford University will be doing something completely different with the Fit EV as opposed to what the city of Torrance and Google are doing. Stanford’s faculty and students will focus on “study(ing) the psychological and physical reactions of using battery-electric vehicles and how these reactions differ when driving a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle.”

American Honda’s VP of Environmental Business Development Office, Steve Center, believes strongly in this form of quality assurance stating that, “The goal of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program is to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the advancement in battery-electric technology. Honda has a long history with electric vehicles beginning with the introduction of our first battery-electric car, the EV Plus, nearly 15 years ago. Honda’s experience and the unique feedback that Google, Stanford University and the city of Torrance will provide will be valuable to the future introduction of battery-electric technology.” By getting immediate feedback from test drivers before the official release, Honda will be able to use the data to improve the vehicle and make the 2013 Fit EV even better than anticipated.

For updates on the 2013 Honda Fit EV, follow our blog closely as we’ll have updated information on the Fit. If you want to take a look at the 2012 Honda Fit in Austin and get a feel for the car, schedule a test drive online and take it for a spin!

Tags: 2013 Honda Fit EV, honda fit, honda fit austin, new honda fit
Posted in Honda Efficiency, Honda Fit, Honda in the News, Honda Models, Honda Vehicles, New Honda Cars, Sustainability | Comments Off

Honda Fit named Best New-Car Value by Consumer Reports for the Second Year in a Row

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

We keep repeating that the Honda Fit is an awesome car, and you should definitely consider one if you are looking to buy a new car this year.

A few days ago, on January 3^rd, Consumer Reports revealed its list of best value cars. The Honda Fit retained its top position as the Best Value Small Car and Best New-Car Overall Value. The independent product-testing organization analyzed over 200 different vehicles in 11 different vehicle categories.

Consumer Reports calculates value scores based on performance, reliability and cost of ownership data. The organization determines performance and reliability on road-test scores and its own predicted-reliability. Additionally, cost of ownership is based on the five-year cost of owning the vehicle, which estimates costs in depreciation, sales tax, maintenance and repair, fuel consumption, loan interests and insurance. Basically, the better a car’s performance is on the road-test and reliability ratings, and the less it costs to own over time, the better the car’s value.

As Rik Paul, the automotive editor for Consumer Reports, says: “A low price doesn’t necessarily make a car a good value. A cheap vehicle can wind up costing you more money over time or can be disappointing down the road. We think real value is what you get for your money.”

So there you have it, folks. The 2012 Honda Fit is a great car with even better overall value. If you are in the market, just give us a call at 512-443-4300 or shoot us an email at howdy@howdyhonda.com.

Tags: 2012 honda, 2012 honda fit, honda austin, honda fit, honda fit austin
Posted in Honda in the News, Honda Models, New Honda Cars | Comments Off

Howdy Honda Blog

Posts Tagged ‘honda fit austin’

Honda Fit EV is changing the electric car game

Howdy Honda Priority Spotlight: Automatic vs Manual Transmission?

2012 Honda Fit claims victory of the Subcompact Shootout

How do automakers come up with car names?

Google To Test Drive Honda Fit EV; Give Feedback Before Production

Honda Fit named Best New-Car Value by Consumer Reports for the Second Year in a Row

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