News Blog

Honda Fit EV Named to KBB.com’s 10 Best Green Cars of 2013

Posted: April 25, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com

KBB.com’s automotive whiz’s have named the Honda Fit EV to their annual list of 10 Best Green Cars. This award gives recognition to the Fit EV, with its combination of efficiency and power, as one of the best electric vehicles today. No wonder it was an easy choice as one of the best green vehicles of 2013.

"Consumers only have one choice for the most energy efficient electric vehicle – the Honda Fit EV. What's more, its power and handling make it one of the most fun-to-drive EV's available," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. "This recognition from KBB.com further highlights the tremendous environmental and customer value that the Honda Fit EV offers."

“The 2013 Honda Fit EV, part of Honda's diverse portfolio of alternative-fuel vehicles, has a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe¹, an EPA-rated driving range of 82 miles, and a low energy-consumption rating of just 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles.

Based on the award-winning five-door, five-passenger Honda Fit, the 100-percent electric Fit EV features a 20-kilowatt-hour (kWh) Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery and a compact 92-kilowatt (123 horsepower) AC synchronous electric motor that generates 189 ft-lb of torque. This efficient power train is teamed to a chassis with a fully-independent suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode drive system. The result is a fun-to-drive EV with an EPA combined city/highway estimated driving range rating of 82-miles¹.”

You can plug the Fit EV into any household-type 120-volt outlet, or on an available 240-volt AC power supply. This car can be fully charged in less than 8 hours, that is a good nights sleep! ‘Fit’ for the technologically savvy, this car comes equipped with an interactive remote. This remote is available through a smartphone application, or via the internet or personal computer!

An onboard charger allows the vehicle to be plugged into any household-type 120-volt outlet (dedicated GFCI outlet recommended) or an available 240-volt AC power supply. When connected to a 240-volt circuit, the Fit EV battery can be recharged in less than three hours from a low charge indicator illumination point³. When connected to an outlet, charging can be started or stopped with an included Fit EV interactive remote control, through an available smartphone application or through the internet on a personal computer.

A new, streamlined lease application for customers interested in leasing the Fit EV is now available at www.FitEV.Honda.com.

For more information about KBB.com's 10 Best Green Cars of 2013, please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/10-best-green-cars-2013/.

From Honda.com:

Honda Environmental Leadership
In addition to the Fit EV, Honda's diverse portfolio of alternative fuel vehicles has included numerous technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions including the first EV leases in California (1997 Honda EV Plus), the retail introduction of America's first hybrid (1999 Honda Insight), delivery of the first fuel-cell electric vehicle in the U.S. (2002 Honda FCX), four generations of the Civic Natural Gas (first introduced in 1998) and the first gasoline-powered vehicles in the hands of consumers to meet stricter emissions standards. Honda has also led the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since 2000, and a Honda vehicle has topped the list of America's greenest vehicles, from the America Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), for 15 consecutive years.

¹_{132/105/118 city/highway/combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) rating; 82 mile combined (city/highway) driving range rating (adjusted). Ratings determined by U.S. EPA. Your MPGe and range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit}_{http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-electric-label.shtml.}

2014 Honda Odyssey

Posted: April 01, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda.com

Making it’s first debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, is the brand new 2014 Honda Odyssey.

Minivan aficionados were able to touch and experience the 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite under the bright lights at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. Up close, the family favorite new exterior has a new grille and hood. Honda revamped the headlights and taillights with LED light bars and fog lights. There is an Expanded View Driver’s Mirror and new side mirrors, as well as new wheel designs.

The interior receives a much larger upgrade! You will see HD Radio®, a 7” audio touch-screen which also features Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure warning, a new cloud-based system that provides access to different media programs, including Pandora ® and SMS text message function called HondaLink™. They have also included a programmable remote entry system with smart entry and a push start button! How’s that for ease? And if you thought that was all, Honda has given your family another gift! In the back of the 2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite, is an industry-first BUILT-IN VACUUM! Cha-ching! HondaVac™ is now a standard feature on the Touring Elite trim that comes with vacuum attachments. It will reach any corner of the van and is run while the car is on, or for 8 minutes after van shut-off. Honda says that it does not recommend using the vacuum for wet spills, as it could mean liquids would stay in the stored hose system.

You will be able to test out the car when it goes on sale this summer! For more information, check out http://automobiles.honda.com/2014-odyssey/

Honda scoops up awards from KBB.com's 2013 Brand Image Awards

Posted: March 27, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: Hondanews.com

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Most Automotive companies dream of racking up awards and accolades, but such a dream is reality for Honda! This is the second consecutive year that Honda picks up ‘Most Trusted Brand,’ by KBB.com’s 2013 Brand Image Awards!

Consumers, just like you, give out KBB.com’s Brand Image Awards! Kelley Blue Book uses a KBB Market Intelligence’s Brand Watch™ study, which reaches out to 12,000 shoppers over the year on KBB.com and gains the shoppers perception of car brands and what factors into their decision to look at or purchase a car.

This is the second year Honda was named the ‘Most Trusted Brand’ and the third consecutive year as the ‘Best Value Brand’ as words such as ‘trust’ and ‘value’ repeatedly describe Honda. Additionally, Honda captured the top honor of ‘Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand,’ thus receiving more awards than any other brand in the 2013 Kelley Blue Book study.

“We are honored to be recognized by American car buyers for two tenets of the Honda brand: trust and value,” said Mike Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “These awards demonstrate how customers recognize the tremendous quality and value of our products, reflecting the incredible competitive strength of the Honda brand.”

About Honda

Honda offers a complete lineup of cars and trucks through a network of more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States. In 2013,Honda marks 40 years of the Civic model, with more than 30 years of producing automobiles in the region, which began with the Accord in Marysville, Ohio in November 1982. Having produced more than 25 million vehicles in North America through 2012 using domestic and globally sourced parts, Honda currently operates 14 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, engines and transmissions.

'Guess the 2013 Headliner' at the 2013 Honda Civic Tour Sweepstakes

Posted: March 22, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: honda.com

Fans are invited to guess the 2013 tour headliner; All entrants receive pre-sale code for advanced ticket purchase!

Since 2001, the Honda Civic Tour is nationally known as one of the most successful music concert tour franchises with close to three million fans. “Featuring the hottest music acts, giveaways of Civics customized by the headlining artists and dynamic, interactive attractions, Civic Tour consistently delivers its goal – to bring its fans across the U.S. closer to their favorite music” (Honda.com). This year Honda is making this more interesting by asking fans to guess the 2013 headliner for the Honda Civic Tour. If you enter, you also get the opportunity for a meet and greet with the soon-to-be-known headliner, and a special pre-sale code, redeemable for the purchase of up to four tickets* starting April 2.

This sweepstakes begins on March 21 at 9:00am ET, where you can enter the ‘Guess the 2013 Headliner’ on the Honda Civic Tour Facebook page (www.facebook.om/hondacivictour). Sweepstakes officially ends on April 1, 2013.

If you are the grand prize winner, you will fly with a guest to Los Angeles, attend a Honda Civic Tour video shoot in Hollywood and meet the headliner. Prize includes round trip airfare and hotel accommodations. The 2013 Honda Civic Tour headliner will be announced on April 1.

For more information on the Honda Civic Tour, visit www.hondacivictour.com or the Honda Civic Tour Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hondacivictour.

*Tickets to the Honda Civic Tour are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed. Acquisition and possession of a pre-sale code does not guarantee access to tickets. Each pre-sale code is good for up to four tickets per show, with a limit of 12 tickets for the tour. The pre-sale code may be used starting on April 2, 2013 until the pre-sale closes.

Connect with Honda Civic Tour:
Website: www.hondacivictour.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hondacivictour
Twitter: twitter.com/hondacivictour

Check out the Honda Civic! The Honda Civic is one of the best-selling compact cars in the United States. There are six models that the Civic offers which includes: the conventional gasoline-powered Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe, two high-performance Civic Si models, gasoline-electric Civic Hybrid, the Civic Natural Gas and Civic HF high fuel economy model. “The Civic lineup embodies the Honda brand values of 'clean, safe and fun' with the Civic HF achieving an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating² of 41 mpg on the highway. The Civic Hybrid's EPA-estimated fuel economy rating3 is 44/44/44 city/highway/combined. The Civic Sedan has earned top safety ratings from NHTSA and the first small car to earn a 'TOP SAFETY PICK+' designation from IIHS” (Honda.com). For further information of the ninth generation 2013 Civic lineup, please visit www.hondanews.com.

¹ Based on 2013 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
²MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $790.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

Abbreviated Sweepstakes Rules:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Term: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") on 3/21/13 – 9:00 a.m. ET on 4/1/13. Eligibility: entrants must be legal residents that are physically located in the 48 contiguous United States or D.C., who are 18 yrs or older. All other entries are VOID. To Enter: you may access the Sweepstakes Application by visiting the official Honda Civic Tour Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/hondacivictour. From the Fan Page, complete and submit all required fields of the on-screen registration form. You will be asked to "guess" the headliner of the 2013 Honda Civic Tour, but your guess will not be evaluated or judged for prize determination. Winners will be randomly selected. When you submit an entry, you will automatically be entered into the Grand Prize drawing. Upon entry, all entrants will receive an email from Sponsor that includes a unique pre-sale code. The code is redeemable for the purchase of up to four tickets to the Honda Civic Tour and may be used starting on April 2, 2013 until the pre-sale closes. All entries must be completed and submitted by 9:00 AM ET on April 1, 2013, to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing. Limit: One entry per person. One Grand Prize: A trip for the winner and one (1) guest to Los Angeles, CA to attend the Honda Civic Tour video shoot with the 2013 headliner. Trip includes: round-trip coach air transportation from a major U.S. Gateway airport nearest winner's residence to Los Angeles; standard hotel accommodations [one (1) room, double occupancy, room and tax only], $100 gift card for incidentals, for three days, transfers to and from airport and video shoot in Los Angeles. Winner and guest must be available for travel during April 16, 2013 to April 18, 2013 period or prize will be considered forfeited. (ARV: $3,857). Additional terms and restrictions apply. See full rules at http://www.hondacivictour.com/guesstheheadliner for full details. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Sponsor: American Honda Motor Co. Inc., 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501. The Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Sponsor and not to Facebook.

2013 Honda Accord proves us wrong

Posted: March 18, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: Car and Driver

27 times on Car and Driver's 10Best list : 2013 Honda Accord!

The Honda Accord is on Car and Driver’s 10Best list for a record 27 times, and the new 2013 is no exception. This 9^th generation Accord is now smaller on the outside but maintains a big car feel on the inside, but don’t let this claim fool you. The 2013 Honda Accord will defy all assumptions made on this model before. With a “Man-maximum, machine-minimum velocity, this new car borders on ethereal” (CarAndDriver.com). Whether you decide on the 4-Cylindar Sedan or the V-6 Coupe, both cars offer new, direct-injection technology for gripping acceleration with better fuel efficiency, at an average of 29mpg. In the V-6 coupe, a strong punch to the gas pedal “will bring a 0-to-60 time of 5.6 seconds; a quarter-mile time of 14.0 seconds at 103 mph is possible”(CarAndDriver.com).

They have given the body a new, sophisticated design with alloy wheels and an Expanded New Driver’s Mirror. The 2013 Honda Accord also gives you the look and feel of luxury on the inside as well. Honda has indulges in new tools such as the Honda LaneWatch™, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Forward Collision Warning, Bluetooth™ HandsFreeLink®, a Rearview Camera, and Eco Assist™.

The Eco Assist™ feature is able to show the driver, by using illuminated arcs on either side of the speedometer, if the vehicle is being driven efficiently or not. A greener color of the arcs means the vehicle is being driven efficiently, whereas if the arc becomes a white color, the vehicle is being driven inefficiently. This feature helps the driver learn what manner of driving will be most beneficial.

Automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted phone and audio-system controls, and an eight-inch LCD infotainment screen all come standard. Then Honda cleverly uses the audio by integrating “Active Noise Cancellation™ [which] uses the audio system to generate out-of-phase waves to reduce engine noise inside the cabin” (Honda.com), so you can steam Pandora® as loud as you want (which also comes standard!). You can enjoy all these new features starting just below $22,000.

*24 city/34 highway/28 combined mpg rating for 4-cylinder Sedan 6MT models. 27 city/36 highway/30 combined mpg rating for Sedan CVT models. 26 city/35 highway/29 combined mpg rating for Sport Sedan CVT models. 21 city/34 highway/25 combined mpg rating for V-6 Sedan models. Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Honda Named "Greenest" for 15th Year in a Row!

Posted: February 22, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: hondanews.com

Five Hondas are among the ACEEE's Greenest Vehicles of 2013

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has named not one, not two, but five Honda vehicles among the “greenest vehicles of 2013”. Taking second place on the “greenest” list was the 100-percent electric Honda Fit EV, while two hybrid Hondas, the Insight and Civic Hybrid, were placed on the 12 most environmentally responsible “greenest” vehicles. The Honda Odyssey and Honda Fit were named, within their respective classes, as “greener choices of 2013”. If that wasn’t impressive enough, 2013 marks the 15^th consecutive year that Honda has had multiple vehicles named in the top 12.

"The recognition by ACEEE of Honda's alternative fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles over the past 15 years further validates our commitment to create and deliver more energy-efficient, low emissions mobility solutions for society," said Steven Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda's vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is reflected in our environmental slogan of ‘Blue Skies for our Children’, inspires us to lead and innovate in every aspect of our operations, from our product engineering and manufacturing practices to our upstream sales and service activities."

The Honda Fit EV is a vehicle in a class of it’s own. With an EPA combined mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe, and when connected to a 240-volt circuit, the battery can be fully recharged in less than three hours. The charging can also be controlled by a remote control (included with every Fit EV), a device connected to the Internet, or even an application on a smart phone. Charging can be started, stopped, scheduled, and observed from any of the aforementioned devices.

From the Civic Hybrid to the Fit, Honda is no stranger to eco-friendly vehicles. The world is watching and waiting for Honda’s next big move.

132/105/118 city/highway/combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) rating; 82 mile combined (city/highway) driving range rating (adjusted). Ratings determined by EPA. Your MPGe and range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.

The 2013 Civic. Hop In.

Posted: January 28, 2013 | by: Blog Editor | source: Motor Trend

It only took Honda 20 months to put the top-selling compact vehicle on the road with a new design. When times were tough Honda made the Civic ecnomical, and just about two years later Honda has a new Civic on the streets with updates.

When the ninth-generation Honda Civic was in development, the global economy was tanking, and the Japanese automaker figured customers would be willing to settle for less as long as the price were right. Considering that the Civic was the best-selling compact car of 2012, that assessment was not entirely inaccurate. But it got a lukewarm response from critics, and Honda CEO Takanobu Ito reacted by personally taking responsibility. The result was a rushed face-lift, and we're glad Honda did it.

The 2013 Honda Civic EX sedan, is easy to distinguish from the 2012 Civic Si four-door, and not just because of the EX's Dyno Blue Pearl finish. The front end gets a sleeker lower valance treatment and chrome-framed, Accord-like mesh grille, while the hood receives a more prominent power bulge. In back, things get decidedly racier with the widened taillights with smoked lenses and adjoining horizontal chrome strip. Reflectors are now integrated into the rear bumper, which also gets a diffuser-like design element. New two-tone, twisted-spoke alloy wheel design on EX models add to the 2013 Civic's edgier look.

Inside, the 2013 Civic replaces the previous model's hard, oddly textured plastics with soft-touch materials. The tiered dashboard remains, and will likely take some time to get used to for the Civic uninitiated, but it now looks and feels more upscale thanks to new, higher-quality upholstery. Also still intact are the spacious-for-the-class rear seats. Mechanical changes are limited to stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars with new bushings.

Minimal mechnical changes keeps the 2013 Civic's performance numbers are unsurprisingly similar to those of a 2012 Civic EX we tested in 2011.

While performance remains the same, the 2013 Civic does offer enhanced style plus more standard features, including a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and Pandora streaming radio. To preserve the Civic's value argument, Honda raised prices by a mere $160. The Civic EX carries an MSRP of $21,605, with leather costing an extra $1450 and navigation an additional $1500. The base DX model has been dropped for 2013, which means the LX and sporty Si are the only two Civic sedans available with a manual transmission.

The Fit Has the Fastest Draw

Posted: December 29, 2012 | by: Blog Editor | source: Cars.com

There has been an explosion of new and redesigned cars in the subcompact category in the past couple of years, so we're putting to the test seven of them that seat four, have four doors and an automatic transmission, and get 35 mpg on the highway or better, according to EPA ratings.

We set the price after checking J.D. Power and Associates on the average transaction price for cars in this segment. Incentives aside, that number is $16,300, J.D. Power says. We rounded that price and came up with this field: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, 2012 Ford Fiesta, 2012 Honda Fit, 2012 Hyundai Accent, 2012 Kia Rio, 2012 Nissan Versa, and 2012 Toyota Yaris.They were judged in four categories: Static (35%), Driving (35%), Value (20%), Gas Mileage (10%) and ran through 10 tests. They ranged from initial impressions, cargo room, to driving performance and acceraltion.

No one could keep up with the Fit though. It had more cargo room than any other subcompact and was fun to drive. And safety is important when it comes to subcompacts. With the Fit though plenty of visibilty will prevent any costly mistakes.

"Unbelievably roomy for the overall size," said James Healey, Writer at USA Today, and he was hardly alone. In the voting, most judges gave the Fit top scores for cargo, from the flat load floor to the second-row seats that actually fold up to allow you to put cargo there. "It's impossible to beat the practicality of the rear seats," Brian Robinson, Producer at Motorweek, said. But the Fit is more than just a roomy cargo carrier. "It's still fun to drive," Robinson said, and Jennifer Newman, Editor at Cars.com, concurred. "The Fit handled the steep hills and curvy roads of our test drive with no problems. The transmission easily found the right gear to get us up the hill," she said. The Fit also had among the best visibility of the class. "Nearby traffic can hide no more," Kelsey Mays, of Cars.com, commented.

"The Fit is a triumph of cargo volume, versatility and execution," Joe Wiesenfelder, Executive Editor at Cars.com said, "and its powertrain is a winner.

MPG Based on 2012 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Get $3,000 Gas Card with Civic Natural Fuel

Posted: October 29, 2012 | by: Blog Editor | source: Honda Youtube

When purchase a Honda Civic Natural Gas you won't only be getting one the cleanest burning cars, but also $3,000 in a pre-loaded debit card that can be used at any Clean Energy CNG fueling station.

Fighting back against a spike in gasoline prices and building on momentum from record sales of the Civic Natural Gas Vehicle, American Honda today announced that it is working with Clean Energy Fuels Corp., America's largest owner of public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations, and participating Honda dealers to provide a special savings to customers purchasing a new 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle – a debit card pre-loaded with $3,000 that can be used at Clean Energy CNG fueling stations around the country to purchase fuel*.

With a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg and a fuel cost savings of up to 40 percent compared to a typical gasoline-powered compact car, the Civic Natural Gas Vehicle can significantly reduce the pain at the pump. The Civic Natural Gas Vehicle can also be refueled in a matter of minutes, much like a conventional gasoline-powered car, and should be able to cover over 200 miles on a single tank of fuel (depending on driving conditions and style).

Named the "2012 Green Car of the Year" by Green Car Journal and one of the "greenest vehicles of 2012" by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle runs on cleaner, abundant and domestically sourced inexpensive natural gas.

The Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is available for purchase at 199 certified Honda CNG dealers in 36 states. It is the only dedicated CNG-powered passenger car available for retail purchase from a major automaker and is manufactured exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC in Greensburg, Indiana, using domestic and globally sourced parts.