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2011 Honda Accord Gets Visual, Equipment Updates

Four years after it went on sale as a 2008 model, the Honda Accord is receiving its scheduled refresh. Car and Driver says tweaks for 2011 include sharpening the front fascia design, new wheels, and updated rear lighting for both sedan and coupe. The grille is wider with less chrome, and rests above a restyled bumper with deeper fog-lights. Sedan models also have a new trunklid with lighting strips adjacent to the license-plate holder. A new SE sedan will also debut, filling the gap between the LX-P and EX four-cylinder trims. An entry-level Accord with a 177-hp four cylinder is now available with heated leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. “More-refined” accents, according to Honda, include a redesigned instrument panel and repositioned climate-control buttons. EX sedans and coupes have USB audio input and sedans with navigation have a backup camera. Click here for Car and Driver’s photo gallery of the updated 2011 Accord. Honda says four-cylinder engines equipped with the five-speed automatic transmission return 23 mpg city/34 mpg highway, bumps of 2 and 3 mpg respectively. The automatic-only V-6 sedan now sits at 19/30. Click here for more from Honda on its plans for the 2011 Accord.

For in depth information on the improvements, click here.

Camry, Accord Top List of ‘Most American’ Cars

Cars.com's American-Made Index rates vehicles built and bought in the U.S. Factors include sales, where the car's parts come from, and whether the car is assembled in the U.S. Additionally, Cars.com disqualifies models with a domestic parts content rating below 75 percent, models built exclusively outside the U.S., or models soon to be discontinued without a U.S.-built successor. Overall, the American-Made Index recognizes cars that are built here, have a high amount of domestic parts, and are bought in large numbers by American consumers. Click here to view the list at Cars.com. For the second year, the Toyota Camry – which dethroned the Ford F-150 pickup on last year’s index – topped the list. But the No. 2 model, Honda's strong-selling Accord, surged unexpectedly. With all Accords sold in the U.S. now assembled in either Ohio or Alabama, the car’s 75 percent domestic content and strong sales came close to unseating Toyota for first place. The Accord is only the most noticeable changing of the guard. Half the models in last year's AMI didn't make it back, including the venerable F-150.

Click here to read Cars.com’s complete rundown of its 2010 list of top American-made cars

Survey: Honda perceived to be tops in customer, quality commitment - May 19, 2010

Among seven major auto brands, consumers consider Honda to be the most committed to customers and to product quality. Ford ranked second, followed by Nissan, Chevrolet, and Toyota, based on a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Hyundai and Chrysler trailed the others by a significant margin.
To see how consumers' perception of a brand's commitment to customers and quality has changed in the wake of Toyota's high-profile safety and image challenges, the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey using a nationally representative sample. More than 1,700 interviews were completed among adults whose household owns at least one vehicle.

(Read the full article here)

Honda Sees Strong Year Ahead as Market Recovers - April 28, 2010

Honda Motor Co. reported a $774.7 million fiscal fourth-quarter net profit and predicted a 27 percent jump in bottom-line results for the current fiscal year, as Japan's No. 2 auto maker counts on significant growth in North America and elsewhere. The Wall Street Journal reports that the car maker's bullish forecast underlines the fact that it is making swift progress in moving back to a growth track following an industrywide slump after the financial crisis. Honda is targeting growth in the U.S., its largest market. The company Wednesday predicted a 14 percent rise in North American sales this fiscal year ending in March to 1.48 million vehicles, outpacing a projected 8.9 percent rise world-wide. Honda said it swung back to profitability in the fiscal fourth quarter as it boosted sales of hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles and other fuel-efficient cars. It was Honda's fourth straight quarter of net profit, after plunging into its first quarterly net loss in at least 15 years in the three months ended March 2009. Honda became the latest major car maker to report a return to profitability following Ford and Daimler AG. Domestic competitors Mazda and Mitsubishi said Tuesday they turned profitable in the quarter ended in March.

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Our Own Sergio Gaona Gives Back During National Volunteer Week - April 22, 2010

Sergio Gaona, Adult Education Program

Walking into Sergio Gaona’s evening English as a Second Language class is a truly inspirational experience. Sergio, a volunteer teacher at El Buen for more than four years, lights up his classroom two nights a week with a charismatic style and a passion for teaching that exudes through every lesson. Staff members and students alike recognize Sergio as a superstar in the ESL teaching team.

After a recent evening class, students eagerly lined up to express their gratitude and appreciation for Sergio and his teaching style. The student praise speaks for itself: “He is a very good teacher, the best,” says Andrea Armendario. She says in English, “He explains everything perfectly and I feel that I learn so much every night.” Of her time as an ESL student at El Buen, she says, “I feel very happy here.”

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Honda’s CR-Z Hybrid Shatters Sales Target in First Month

As Toyota Motor Co. attempts to rebuild its reputation around the world, Honda Motor Co. on Wednesday said orders for its new hybrid sports car exceeded its forecast by 10 times, quietly stealing the march from its main Japanese rival. Honda Motor Co. unveiled its CR-Z model in Japan roughly a month ago, making it the first mass-market hybrid sports car to hit dealerships. The company said cumulative orders for the car had exceeded 10,000 vehicles, far surpassing its monthly sales target of 1,000 vehicles. Honda said 90% of the orders had been placed by men, with most purchasers in their 30s and 40s. Honda has nearly reached its domestic annual sales goal of 12,000 in just under a month.

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Review: Special Edition Honda Element Caters to Dog Lovers

Scott Burgess at The Detroit News, writes that the Honda Element is a quirky vehicle that he’s always liked. And like a well-bred dog, the Element improves with every generation. For the 2010 model, Honda has begun offering a $995 accessory package to transform an Element into a more dog-friendly version. Technically, this is not a new model in the lineup, but it's one of those special features that the press and crowds at auto shows, Burgess himself included, were wagging their tongues over. But, he writes, it's almost too much of a good thing. After a week of testing, his dog, Bogart, a floppy-eared shepherd, decided he would rather walk. Burgess says it’s a great idea that doesn't work out in real life. First of all, he was too big for the crate and too spoiled to ride in it. The kennel and ramp easily pull out of the Element. The rest of the Dog Friendly features are kind of cool. The dog-bone pattern floor mats look awesome, though they can be a little slippery if your shoes are wet. The hair-resistant second row seat covers look cool and work very well. Really, all of the accessories other than the kennel are nice, and Honda should consider selling them individually. In the end, Burgess writes that while he still likes the Element, he likes his dog more.

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Honda Leads in Fuel Efficiency

Honda has the most fuel efficient fleet in the United States, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency which released preliminary figures for 2009 (final 2009 figures will be released in October/November 2010). According to the Detroit News, all vehicles sold in the 2009 model year are expected to average 21.1 miles per gallon in "real world" driving, which is one-tenth of a mile better than in the 2008 model year.

Best Resale Value Awards go to Honda

Car and Driver names 2010 Accord and Fit to “10 Best” list

The Accord has been selected for this prestigious award for a record 24 times, more than any othe rvehicle, since the “10 Best” began in 1983. And Fit has made the list each of the four years it has been on sale in the U.S.

Three Honda Models Achieve Top Value Rating

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced it has received three Residual Value Awards from ALG. ALG's 11th annual Residual Value Awards, for the 2010 model year, honored the vehicles in each industry segment that ALG predicts will retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period.
The Accord won the award in the Best Midsize Car category, the Fit was the winner in the Best Compact Car category and the Odyssey prevailed in the Best Minivan category. Since 2001, the Honda brand has earned 20 model awards and six overall brand awards from ALG.
ALG determines the award winners after carefully studying the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends.Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG's residual value forecasts.
Honda had a fleet-wide 23.6 MPG fuel economy average in the 2009 modely ear. Toyota Motor Corp., which was tied for first in 2007, slipped to third with 23.2 MPG. The EPA reports "real world" fuel economy rankings and carbon emissions. Because of credits for building alternative fueled vehicles, real-world adjustments and testing procedures, the EPA figures are at least 25 percent lower than those on new vehicle stickers.

Honda and Subaru Score Big in Consumer Reports Study

Consumer Reports 2010 Annual Auto Issue, on newsstands March 2, will feature the “Rating the Carmakers” section where Honda and Subaru lead, with Hyundai the most improved automaker from last year.

Honda and Subaru, both tied with an overall score of 77 out of 100, and have earned the status from Consumer Reports as the class leaders in building the best all-around vehicles for American drivers.

Toyota followed behind the leaders, with a score of 74, but Consumer Reports has recommendations for the eight recalled models, but temporarily suspended them during the testing.

Hyundai (73) and its subsidiary Kia, showed the most improvement, jumping from ninth place last year to fourth place this year. Consumer Reports said this improvement was led by new models offered by the automaker, including the Hyundai Genesis and Elantra, as well as the Sante Fe CUV.

(Read the full article here)

Odyssey Concept Reveals Stylish, Dynamic Image for All-New Honda Minivan

The next-generation Odyssey adds sleek styling, new functionality and higher fuel economy to best-selling minivan

CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2010 – The Honda Odyssey Concept, on display at the Chicago Auto Show, introduces a sleek and distinctive exterior styling direction for the next generation of the industry’s best-selling minivan, set to debut this fall, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The Odyssey Concept dramatically departs from conventional minivan styling with its low and wide stance, highlighted by a “lightning-bolt” beltline that further distinguishes the vehicle’s profile. Compared to the current Odyssey, the Concept’s slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch) contribute to a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence with improved aerodynamics that help increase fuel economy. Forthcoming improvements to the production Odyssey’s interior are designed to further enhance the current model’s accommodating space for people and cargo.

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European Debut of Honda CR-Z at Geneva

The 2010 Geneva International Motor Show will be the world debut of the European specification Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe. The European version features a 2+2 seating layout and an eight LED daytime running light accent under each of the headlamps.

CR-Z customers will be able to enjoy the first car to combine a hybrid system with a 6-speed manual gearbox. By combining an efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine with Honda's unique IMA parallel hybrid system, the CR-Z can offer lower emissions of all exhaust gasses, while offering an entertaining and engaging driving experience. The flexibility of the IMA parallel hybrid system means that it can be used with a manual gearbox, allowing drivers to exploit the broad spread of torque, while maintaining excellent fuel economy of just 5.0 l/100km.

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Los Angeles-based Station to Re-fuel Honda Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Hercules looked over a new "dog friendly" Honda Element at a dog park here at the invitation of USA TODAY, which got a peek at the vehicle prior to its public debut Thursday at the New York International Auto show.

The new version of the Element is sort of a rolling Ritz-Carlton for the canine set. It features a built-in bed in the cargo area, a private electric cooling fan, a spill-proof water bowl and a mesh net to keep animals separated from people. Rubber floor mats are embellished with a dog-bone design.

Being shown at the show as a concept, a final version of the pooch-coddling 2009 Element will go on sale in late summer, setting up a dogfight of sorts with Toyota.

(Read the full article here)