Edmunds.com Announces True Cost to Own(R) Award Winners: Honda and Ford Vehicles Shine

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jul 25, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Honda Motor Co. won five categories in the 2011 Lowest True Cost to Own(R) Awards, given by Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. The awards name the 2011 model year cars and trucks in 23 categories that offer the lowest True Cost to Own(R) (TCO(R)), which is the projected ownership cost over a five-year period.

The 2011 Honda Accord earned victories in two categories: Coupes $25-$35K and Sedans $20K-$30K. Honda's other award winners are the Honda Civic Hybrid (Hybrids), the Honda Ridgeline (Large Light Duty Truck) and the Honda Pilot (SUV $35K-$45K).

Ford Motor Co. also had a strong showing in this year's awards, with Edmunds.com recognizing the Ford Ranger (Compact Truck), the Ford Flex (Wagon Over $35K), the Ford Fiesta (Sedan Under $20K) and the Ford Transit Connect (Van/Minivan).

The other automotive brands receiving at least two awards were Chevrolet and Cadillac.
"One of the key factors that pushed many of this year's award winners over the top was their free maintenance plans, which can save car owners hundreds or even thousands of dollars over a five-year period," said Danny Zhou, senior director of data products and operations at Edmunds.com. "The 2011 Volkswagen CC, for example, edged past its closest competitors in the Sedan $30K-$40K category in large part because it offers free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles."

To calculate the Lowest True Cost to Own(R) winners, Edmunds.com uses an algorithm that takes into account depreciation, interest on financing, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel, maintenance, repairs and any federal tax credit that may be available. In order to estimate certain mileage-dependent costs, Edmunds.com assumes that vehicles will be driven 15,000 miles per year. Only vehicles launched during the period from July 29, 2010 to April 14, 2011 were considered for the 2011 awards.

To see the full list of all 23 winners this year, please visit the award page at http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/2011-lowest-cost-to-own.html .

Consumers can learn more about Edmunds.com's True Cost to Own(R) (TCO(R)) before they buy their next car at http://www.edmunds.com/tco.html .

About Edmunds.com, Inc. ( http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html )
Edmunds.com Inc. publishes Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com , makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com , features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds .

Source;
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/edmundscom-announces-true-cost-to-ownr-award-winners-honda-and-ford-vehicles-shine-2011-07-25?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Honda Greensburg plant gets survey's highest award

Honda Greensburg was named one of the world's best car assembly plants

.J.D. Power and Associates, a research firm that hands out an annual prize likened to the Academy Awards of vehicle manufacturing, on Thursday singled out the southeast Indiana factory.

Honda Greensburg received the researcher's highest rating, the Platinum Plant Quality award.The Greensburg plant, which assembles the Civic car, scored 24 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with an industry average of 107 problems per 100 vehicles.

"It's a real feather in the cap for a plant that is that new," said Ed Miller, American Honda Motor Co. senior manager for corporate affairs.

Honda opened the plant in 2008 after selecting 900 workers from about 30,000 job applications. Honda is now recruiting a second shift of about 1,000 workers to start late this year.

Honda plants differ from Toyota's and General Motors' by relying slightly less on automation and more on hands-on effort on the assembly line.

To obtain the results, J.D. Power surveyed 73,000 cars and trucks of all makes in the hands of buyers. The survey covers initial problems detected within 90 days of purchase of model year 2011vehicles.

Greensburg was tied for the Platinum award by Toyota's Lexus RX assembly line at Cambridge, Ontario, and Toyota Kyushu 2 in Japan, which produces the Lexus ES, IS and RX. Each plant scored 24 defects per 100 vehicles."

These results are an important demonstration of our focus on the customer and the tireless efforts put forth by Honda associates throughout our organization -- in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales -- toreflect the voice of our customers and to exceed their high expectations of Honda and Acura," Tetsuo Iwamura, chief executive of American Honda Motor Co., said in a statement.

Source;
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110624/BUSINESS/106240345/Honda-Greensburg-plant-gets-survey-s-highest-award

Fun to Drive Honda Fit Wins a Multitude of Auto Awards – Troy Honda

(OPENPRESS) March 8, 2011 -- The Honda Fit, a subcompact five-door hatchback, is a super-metro champion. For 2011 the Honda Fit offers exceptional space efficiency and fuel economy in an affordable and stylish package. The vehicle has already won a multitude of awards that prove the Fit’s dominance.

Most recently, the magazine Consumer Reports named the Honda Fit as the small car with the best overall value. Over 200 different vehicles were analyzed, and the Honda Fit surpassed them all to take the lead. The winning score was determined by a variety of factors including performance, reliability, and ownership cost data.

This latest win, is just one of the many the Honda Fit has been honored with. The small car has also been awarded ALG’s Residual Value Award for the Best Sub Compact Car. This award showcases that the Fit retains its value over time which is an important aspect drivers consider when purchasing cars. The Honda Fit is a very versatile car, so it is able to hold its value whether new or used. This award goes along with Kelly Blue Book’s award for ‘Best Resale Value Award’ in the sub-compact car category. KBB gives this award to a vehicle in each category that has the best resale value after five years.

Car and Driver’s praised the Honda Fit for its fun to drive experience and named the vehicle on its 10 Best Cars list. U.S. News and World Reports also named the Fit on its list of 2011 Best Cars for the Money due to its impressive fuel economy, spacious cabin and affordable price tag.

The award winning Honda Fit is available at Troy Honda, a Honda dealer serving the Detroit, MI area. Visit http://troyhonda.com/new-cars.aspx to view the Honda car dealer’s extensive inventory of new and used Honda Fits.

About Troy HondaTroy Honda, http://www.TroyHonda.com, of the Detroit area carries an extensive inventory of new and used Honda cars, trucks and SUVs. In addition the service department at Troy Honda handles general maintenance to large repairs and the parts department keeps a large selection of OEM certified parts. Troy Honda’s primary goal is 100% customer satisfaction.

Source;
http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=98272

Honda scoops European Excellence Award

Honda Motor Europe's crowd-sourced, social media activated film project, Live Every Litre, has been recognised by the European Excellence Awards hosted in Prague last week (9 December, 2010).

Short-listed in a total of three separate categories - Best Campaign, Social Media and Automotive and Transport - Live Every Litre was rewarded in the Automotive and Transport category.

Laura Price, Social Media Manager for Honda Motor Europe, said: "Live Every Litre gave those who consume media online the chance to do something unique and different. This was such an exciting project for Honda because the crowd sourced nature of the campaign allowed the online community, rather than us, to mould the final outcome thereby tearing up the rule book on traditional car launches."

Marc-Oliver Voigt, Communications Director and Chairman of the Jury for the European Excellence Awards, commented: "As one of only 58 winners from a field of over 1,450 projects, Live Every Litre has been recognised as one of the best projects in European public relations over the past year."

Live Every Litre is a social media activated, European road trip documentary project which encouraged people to submit their dream journey to http://www.liveeverylitre.com, where the public could rate their stories. The best journeys were chosen and the participants invited to join the pan-European odyssey, having their experiences recorded as they drove a new Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe on their trip of a lifetime. Over 1000 applications were received from 28 countries. Filming took place over 38 days, starting in the Netherlands, heading down through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and finishing at the infamous Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

All of the short films that introduce the cast and their individual stories can be viewed on http://www.liveeverylitre.com. Or join the conversation on www.facebook.com/liveeverylitre.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1641-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Honda Accord and Fit Receive Car and Driver Magazine's "10Best Cars" Awards

Car and Driver magazine has named the 2011 Honda Accord and the 2011 Honda Fit as two winners of its prestigious and highly competitive, annual "10Best Cars" award. Now in its eighth generation, the Accord has achieved "10Best" status 25 times in the 29 years that Car and Driver editors have been conducting the competition, more than any other vehicle in the award's history. The Honda Fit has been honored with 10Best status in each of the five years that it has been on sale in the United States.

"The Car and Driver '10Best' awards are among the most coveted awards in the industry," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "These awards recognize the company's ongoing emphasis on performance, quality and safety, and Honda is honored to have its vehicles regarded so highly over the years."

Honda Car and Driver "10Best" Award History

Accord
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994,1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983

Civic
1996, 1991,1990, 1989, 1988

CRX
1988, 1985

Fit
2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

Prelude
1998, 1997, 1996, 1995,1994,1993, 1992, 1986, 1985, 1984

S2000
2004, 2002, 2001, 2000

Source;

http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-accord-and-fit-receive-car-and-driver-magazine-s-10best-cars-awards

Car and Driver: 2010 Editors Choice Awards

Are you in the market for a new car or truck? Now you can see what we at Car and Driver would choose to drive if we were shopping for new wheels today. We conducted rigorous instrumented testing and editorial evaluation of hundreds of 2010 model-year vehicles, including all the Editors' Choice picks and their competitors.

These alphabetical lists aren’t static. We will adjust our rankings continuously to reflect the merits of new vehicles as they come on the market, providing a real-time look at what we consider to the top entries in any given market segment. To that end, you may notice that we’ve marked several vehicles as Ones to Watch. Those are vehicles we have yet to either fully test or directly compare against the competition, but that we feel show a lot of promise.

Winners are chosen based on three criteria: practicality, value, and driver satisfaction, and they highlight our editors’ favorite rides in 20 vehicle categories, ranging from small cars to family sedans to exotic sports cars—and more. Click on a vehicle name below to go directly to our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide, where you can get full specs, pricing, capsule reviews, and more on every vehicle chosen as a 2010 Car and Driver Editors' Choice.


SMALL CARS
Honda Civic
Honda Fit
Mazda 3
Nissan Versa
Volkswagen Golf

FUEL SIPPERS
Ford Fusion hybrid
Honda Fit
Honda Insight
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Jetta TDI

ENTRY LUXURY
Acura TSX
Audi A4
BMW 3-series
Cadillac CTS
Infiniti G37

FAMILY SEDANS
Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Accord
Ford Fusion
Mazda 6
One to Watch: Hyundai Sonata (2011)

SPORTS SEDANS
BMW M3
Cadillac CTS-V
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
Porsche Panamera

SUPERCARS
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Ferrari 458 Italia
Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

LUXURY SEDANS
Audi A6
BMW 5-series
BMW 7-series
Mercedes-Benz S-class
Infiniti M (2011)

PERFORMANCE COMPACTS
BMW 1-series
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Mazdaspeed 3
Subaru Impreza WRX
Volkswagen GTI

CONVERTIBLES
Audi A5/S5
BMW 1-series
BMW 3-series/M3
Ford Mustang
Mercedes-Benz SL-class

AMERICAN MUSCLE
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Camaro
Dodge Challenger SRT8
Ford Mustang GT
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

SPORTS CARS
Audi TTS
Chevrolet Corvette
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Nissan 370Z
Porsche Boxster

PREMIUM COUPES
Audi R8
BMW M3
Maserati GranTurismo
Porsche Cayman
Porsche 911

TRACK STARS
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
Lotus Elise/Exige
Nissan GT-R

SUPERCARS
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano
Ferrari 458 Italia
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

SMALL SUVs
Chevrolet Equinox
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan

MID-SIZE SUVs
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Mazda CX-9
Nissan Murano
One to Watch: Jeep Grand Cherokee (2011)

LARGE SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
Ford Expedition/EL
Ford Flex
Nissan Armada
Toyota Sequoia

LUXURY SUVs
Acura MDX
Audi Q5
BMW X5
Land Rover Range Rover
Mercedes-Benz GL-class

PICKUPS
Chevrolet Silverado
Dodge Ram
Ford F-150
Honda Ridgeline
Nissan Titan

VANS
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Odyssey
Mazda 5
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Toyota Sienna

Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/09q4/2010_editors_choice-awards

10Best Surprise: The Honda Accord May be an Oldie, But It’s Still a Goodie

We’re spending the week driving 60-plus new cars in order to decide our 2011 10Best list. When that many cars are gathered in one place, many of which we haven’t driven before, there are bound to be some unexpected discoveries. Be sure to check back throughout the week for more 10Best surprises, and look for our annual 10Best issue to hit newsstands on December 7.

I’d love to tell you that the shockers at 10Best are the cars I’d most like to write about: the Lotus Evora, the Corvette Grand Sport, the Shelby GT500. For me, however, it’s usually the lesser lights that sneak up from behind to snap the wet towel. In years past, for instance, cars like the Saturn Astra and Suzuki SX4 earned a bonus tour of our 15-mile test route. This year, what most surprised me is the aging Honda Accord, now within roughly a year of a wholesale makeover.

And among the Accord coupes and sedans—fours and sixes, manuals and automatics—it’s the no-options, no-mascara, everyday base EX sedan with do-it-yourself five-speed that leaves me speechless. Its steering is light and willing, its shifter seems to intuitively migrate to the appropriate gear even before your hand summons the motion, and the structure magically manages to feel simultaneously feather-light yet Germanic in its solidity. All of that for an as-tested price of $24,855. What this car is, is dead honest. Here is everything you need for a gratifying driving experience. It’s so rare these days to make a purchase and, on the drive home, say out loud, “Jeez, I think the clerk must’ve undercharged me.” Of this year’s 60-some 10Best candidates, I defy anyone to find better value for money than the base Accord EX. Boring to look at? Maybe. But I had a Kenmore refrigerator that, for 24 happy years, reliably made ice faster than a Russian icebreaker. I loved that plain-Jane appliance—nicknamed it Jane, in fact. Fantastic value is never boring.

Source;
http://blog.caranddriver.com/10best-surprise-the-honda-accord-may-be-an-oldie-but-its-still-a-goodie/

J.D. Power and Associates Names 2007 Model Year Honda CR-V, Fit and Ridgeline as Most-Dependable Vehicles in Their Segments

04/02/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
J.D. Power and Associates has named the 2007 Honda CR-V, Fit and Ridgeline as the "most-dependable" vehicles in their respective segments in its 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study℠ (VDS).

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (2007 model year), includes 198 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The industry average for all vehicles in the 2010 VDS survey measured 155 PP100.

The CR-V compact multi-activity vehicle received an overall score of 113 PP100. The Fit subcompact received an overall score of 137 PP100, and the Ridgeline midsize pickup received an overall score of 109 PP100. The Honda Accord was also among the top three models in the midsize car segment with a score of 103 PP100.

J.D. Power and Associates also measures initial quality of new vehicles. Last year the CR-V and the Honda Ridgeline pickup ranked highest in their respective segments in the company's 2009 Initial Quality Study℠ (IQS). The Honda CR-V ranked highest for IQS in its segment for the third consecutive year, with an IQS score of 93 PP100, and the Honda Ridgeline truck ranked highest in the midsize pickup segment, with an IQS score of 81 PP100.

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on cell phone ratings, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5411

Honda EU3000i Handi Portable Generator Earns Most Innovative Product Award

02/22/2010 - ALPHARETTA, Ga. -
Rental Equipment Register (RER) magazine has named the Honda EU3000i Handi portable generator as a recipient of the prestigious 2009 Innovative Product Award. The EU3000i Handi tied for first place in the magazine's generators and welders category, selected by RER editors as displaying innovation in rental industry products.

The RER Innovative Product Award was established in 2003 to honor excellence in new product development in the equipment rental industry. This year, the awards were given to the magazine's selections for the most innovative rental products introduced between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009.

The new EU3000i Handi adds increased portability to the fuel efficiency and reliability of Honda's existing EU3000i generator. The lightweight and extremely user-friendly EU3000i Handi provides customers with dependable, portable power for use at home, work or play.

In an all-new design for Honda, the EU3000i Handi features built-in wheels, two fixed handles and a folding handle to allow for easy movement of the generator from place to place and from job to job. When one person uses the foldable handle to wheel the generator, its total towing weight is a slight 17.6 pounds – easily manageable by people of many statures. Two people can conveniently carry the EU3000i Handi with the unit's fixed handles, or one person can more easily load and unload the unit from a storage spot using both handles for optimal leverage.

"Being named an innovative product by the editors of RER Magazine is truly an honor, and we appreciate the recognition," said Honda Power Equipment vice president, Steve Bailey. "The EU3000i Handi is a dependable power package. Our newest generator provides consumers an innovative way to help easily move a portable power source to any location as well as offers durability, ease of operation and fuel efficiency."

Honda received the award at the American Rental Association Rental Show in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month.

Honda is the world's largest engine manufacturer, having sold over 23 million units in 2009 across all of its global product lines. Its generators are characterized by the same fuel-efficient technology that is behind the company's reputation for unparalleled durability, quality and reliability.

Editor's Note:
Honda Power Equipment, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., markets a complete range of outdoor power equipment, including outboard marine engines, general purpose engines, generators, lawnmowers, pumps, snowblowers, tillers and trimmers for commercial, rental and residential applications. Its comprehensive product line is powered exclusively by 4-stroke engines.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5382

First Ever Pre-Owned Vehicle Award Goes to Honda’s Reliable Mid-Size Sedan

2003-2007 Honda Accord Takes inaugural WheelsTV POV of the Year February 9, 2010

Acton, MA (PRWEB) February 9, 2010 -- WheelsTV today announced that the seventh generation of the Honda Accord, 2003-2007, has been named 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year. This year marks the inaugural year for this first of its kind award; recognizing the most outstanding pre-owned vehicle on the road today.

"With pre-owned vehicles outselling new by as much as four to one, we at WheelsTV feel that it’s essential to recognize automotive excellence that extends beyond the new car showroom to where the rubber literally meets the road,” said Jim Barisano, CEO of WheelsTV. “Every new car ultimately has to prove its worth through thousands of miles of driving and years of service.

After careful consumer research, testing and deliberation, The WheelsTV panel of automotive writers and analysts are pleased to name the seventh generation Honda Accord The 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year.”

Competition for the 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year Award was fierce with European, Asian and Domestic makes narrowing the gaps in quality, safety and dependability. But, in the end, one pre-owned car came out on top. The 2003 to 2007 Accord with Honda’s three-liter V-6 engine has generated virtually no major consumer complaints while delivering peppy response and good fuel economy, hitting 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

The Accord’s ride is silky smooth. It’s also one of the safest mid-size sedans on the road with top ratings for frontal and side impact protection from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

WheelsTV’s writers and analysts test-drive hundreds of vehicles each year and conduct exhaustive consumer research which is used in video programs viewed by millions of consumers every day when shopping for cars and light trucks. This research is studied by the panel of judges when considering recipients of the 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year Award.

The WheelsTV judging panel evaluates each vehicle using five key criteria:

Dependabililty: Perhaps the most important vehicle attribute for every pre-owned vehicle owner is reliability. Can I depend on my vehicle to always get me where I want to go? How well will the vehicle stand up under regular use and with proper care? Will the vehicle cause me worries or will my ownership experience be trouble-free?
Performance: How well does the engine, powertrain and suspension perform under all driving conditions? Does the vehicle have enough power to comfortably merge on to highways, cruise and pass comfortably?
Safety: How well does the vehicle standup in crash tests? Is it equipped with the latest airbags, restraints and braking technology?
Fuel Economy: How well does the vehicle perform in EPA mileage tests against vehicles of similar class, weight and engine size?
Overall Build Quality: Every vehicle comes from the factory in top shape, but how well does the vehicle hold up in day-to-day use? Do squeaks and rattles develop? What breaks? What wears-out over time?Contenders for the 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year Award included a number of well-built models that offer good quality for the dollar. While Japanese automaker Honda took the award this year, domestic and European carmakers are constantly improving their products. Automakers with vehicles that can stand-up to years of wear and tear include entries from Ford, BMW, Nissan and Kia.

WheelsTV is the leader in providing video reports and reviews on new and pre-owned vehicles to web portals and cable VOD services.

With the inaugural 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year Award, WheelsTV has focused its knowledge and behind-the-wheel experience to recognize and award vehicles that truly fulfill the promise of good, solid, reliable, safe and enjoyable motoring.

“The automobile is an essential element in the day-to-day lives of most Americans,” states Lehel Reeves, president of WheelsTV, “With Americans so reliant upon the automobile, we at WheelsTV are pleased to recognize the vehicle that our research and experience has shown provides the most dependable, enjoyable and trouble-free service. Our congratulations to American Honda for winning the 2010 WheelsTV POV of the Year Award with the 2003-2007 Honda Accord.”

ABOUT WheelsTVWheelsTV (www.WheelsTVnetwork.com) is the first multi-platform television network in the U.S. devoted exclusively to consumers’ interests in cars, trucks and motorcycles—serving both the general audience and the enthusiast with a wide spectrum of vehicle-based entertainment, information and news. Top 200 Test Drives, 1:00 on One Vehicle Profiles and POV Reviews are the standards of excellence for independent automotive video reports and reviews. Distribution partners include MSN, AOL, Yahoo, JDPower.com, Vehix, AutoTrader, Comcast, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable.

WheelsTV is a program service of Automotive Networks Corporation, headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts. The network is dedicated to celebrating the beauty, action, fun, and excitement of the world’s love affair with the automobile.

Source;
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/02/prweb3581994.htm

Car and Driver: 2010 Honda Fit - 2010 10Best Cars

Car and Driver: 2010 Honda Accord - 2010 10Best Cars - Car and Driver

Insight Hybrid Vehicle Wins Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car of the Year 2009-2010

TOKYO, Japan, October 29, 2009 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that the Committee of Japan Automotive Hall of Fame had awarded its Car of the Year 2009-2010 to the Insight hybrid vehicle. The NonProfit Organization cited the following three factors in conferring the award on the Insight:

1. The strategy of affordable pricing Honda used in marketing the hybrid Insight
2. The Insight's balance of driving performance and environmental performance
3. The balance of performance and fuel economy at cruising and higher speeds offered by Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), Honda's original hybrid system

Designed to set the standard of compact cars for a new era, the Insight combines outstanding environmental performance based on Honda's original hybrid system with a fun, responsive driving and an efficient, versatile packaging. In addition, pricing starts at an affordable ¥1,890,000*. Enthusiastically received by customers, in April 2009 the Insight became the first hybrid vehicle to achieve the status of the best-selling automobile among new vehicle registrations in Japan in a calendar month.

Source;
http://world.honda.com/news/2009/4091029Insight-Car-of-the-Year/

Honda Wins 2009 Grove Medal For FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Technology

At the 11th Grove Fuel Cell Symposium in London Honda received the prestigious Grove Medal in recognition of the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle.

The FCX Clarity has 2-3 times better fuel economy than its petrol equivalent and 1.5 times that of a petrol-electric hybrid. In addition to this excellent fuel economy the FCX Clarity produces no harmful gases, its only emission is water. The FCX Clarity is also a practical car with room for four people and luggage and it is ready for use on the road.

The award was accepted by Yuji Kawaguchi, Managing Director of Honda R&D Ltd. On accepting the award he commented; "We are honoured to accept this medal. At Honda we believe that the automobile holds the potential for limitless dreams and excitement in the future. The FCX Clarity represents the beginning of that future. We hope you will continue to look to Honda with anticipation and we will continue to strive to become a company that society wants to exist. " Honda was chosen for the award by the Grove Symposium Steering Committee. Each individual Committee member proposes one or more possible candidates for the Medal. They must write a supporting case detailing the scientific breakthrough and innovation of the particular development and its importance for the fuel cell industry. They also consider other developments or breakthroughs carried out by the individual or company and their ongoing commitment to fuel cells. The candidates are then discussed in turn in the following Committee meeting and a vote is taken. A clear majority is required to award the medal. Honda's FCX Clarity scored very highly in all categories. The Grove Committee made the following comments regarding Honda's achievement: "Honda's commitment to fuel cells has been evident for a long time. The FCX Clarity shows not only scientific breakthrough but also styling that has captured the public imagination, and Honda's move to small-scale automated production marks a watershed in the introduction of fuel cell vehicles. The Grove Committee was unanimous in its choice and is delighted to present this year's medal to Honda."

Source;
http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/honda-wins-2009-grove-medal-fcx-clarity-fuel-cell-technology/5/25324

Award for Honda 'back to work' ads

Honda's upbeat press ads to celebrate staff's return to work as its Swindon factory re-opened has won an award for best national newspaper campaign of last month.

The campaign featured poems in praise of workers at the plant, which closed for four months earlier this year because of the slump in car sales, against a background of images evoking factory life such as bacon, a cup of tea and an iron.

Honda's ad featuring the bacon rasher has been named best national press ad for June in the Awards for National Newspaper Advertising.

All five ads in the campaign, by agency Wieden & Kennedy London, have been nominated for the national ad of the year of awards to be held in January.

Darren Bailes, the creative director at ad agency VCCP and an awards judge, said the Honda campaign effectively operated as "news in the form of advertising".

The temporary closure of Honda's factory saw 1,300 workers take voluntary redundancy and the remaining 3,400 agree a 3% pay cut for 10 months. Employees said they were pleased to return to work at the plant.

"The reopening could have been swept under the carpet all too easily, the shutdown being seen as a real blow to the pride of the brand," said Bailes. "This recession is something we are all in together, the workers and the manufacturers are all in the same boat."

Source;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/31/honda-back-work-campaign#

2009 World Green Car Winner is the Honda FCX Clarity

At the New York Auto Show this morning, the organizers of the World Car of the Year competition honored four cars that garnered the most votes in their respective categories from an international jury of journalists. While other categories were open to all newly introduced cars, the Green Car of the Year started with a list of 22 significant cars that had been produced in volumes of at least 10 and were in the hands of customers or test fleets. A team of three international experts in the field representing North America, Europe and Asia (including yours truly) examined the list and narrowed it down to five finalists. Among those, the top three vote-getters from the overall jury were the Honda FCX Clarity, Toyota iQ and Mitsubishi iMiEV, with the fuel cell-powered Clarity taking the top prize.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-2009-and-the-world-green-car-of-the-year-is/

Honda Fit named MOTORING’s Car of the Year

Toronto, Ontario - Canadian television show MOTORING has named the Honda Fit as its 2009 Car of the Year. This year’s edition named winners in 13 categories plus the overall winner, including a new Green Power category.

For the first time in the show’s 22-year history, two cars tied, resulting in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru WRX STI sharing honours for Performance Car Under $35,000. The new Green Power category went to GM and Chrysler’s shared Two-Mode Hybrid System, which edged out the Volkswagen TDI and Mercedes-Benz BlueTec diesel technologies.

To watch the show online, visit MOTORING.

The winners for 2009 were:
Overall: Honda Fit
Small Car: Honda Fit
Family Car Under $30,000: Mazda6
Family Car Over $30,000: Pontiac G8
Sports Car: Dodge Challenger
Luxury Car: Hyundai Genesis
Prestige Car: Lexus IS F
Performance Car Under $50,000: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution/Subaru WRX STI (tie)
Performance Car Over $50,000: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
CUV Under $35,000: Subaru Forester
CUV Over $35,000: Ford Flex
SUV: Suzuki Grand Vitara
Pickup Truck: Ford F-150
Green Power: GM/Chrysler Two-Mode Hybrid

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/03/30/honda-fit-named-motorings-car-of-the-year.htm

Honda wins Energy Star awards from EPA

Torrance, California - Honda has received Energy Star awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its auto plants in Ohio and Alabama. The awards are in recognition of curbing energy use during vehicle assembly.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, Honda’s average CO2 emissions per vehicle produced in North America were at their lowest levels since the company began measuring results in 2001. The EPA bases the award points on the amount of energy needed to produce an automobile, and includes factors such as vehicle size and production volume.

In Ohio, the plants in Marysville and East Liberty both earned top energy performance scores of 100 points. Honda has focused most of its activities on efficient use of lighting, chiller systems, motors, metering, heating, compressed air and air conditioning to reduce the use of electricity and natural gas. The Marysville plant produces the Honda Accord sedan and coupe, and Acura TL and RDX, while the East Liberty plant produces the Honda CR-V and Element.

Honda’s plant in Alabama, which produces the Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline, also earned the energy Star award. Initiatives include monitoring the use of equipment between shifts, during lunch and breaks, and on weekends, which helped reduce electricity use on the paint line by 10 million kilowatt hours, the equivalent of about 15 million pounds of CO2.

Both plants are implementing a unique “intelligent paint booth” technology that reduces energy consumption and related CO2 emissions from painting operations by as much as 25 per cent. Developed by Honda in Ohio and Ohio State University, the system uses a predictive control mechanism to keep temperature and humidity within specifications in the paint booth, even as weather conditions change.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/02/19/honda-wins-energy-star-awards-from-epa.htm

Honda Fit Wins AJAC's 2009 Best New Design Award

TORONTO, Feb. 11 /CNW/ - The Honda Fit won the "Best New Design" awardfor 2009 as presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada(AJAC). The award was handed out as part of the 2009 Canadian Car of the Year(CCOTY) awards that opened the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. "We thank the AJAC members for this design award," said Jerry Chenkin,Executive Vice President of Honda Canada Inc. "We built the Fit to meet theneeds of our customers, and their response has been overwhelmingly positive.The Fit combines a sleek, aerodynamic design for enhanced fuel efficiency witha roomy interior for excellent passenger and cargo space, proving that greatstyle and value are not mutually exclusive attributes." Canadian independent designer Paul Deutschman, Humber College automotivedesign professors Ken Cummings, and Bruce Thomson, as well as Automobilemagazine's design critic Robert Cumberford were appointed by AJAC as a panelof design experts. Their task was a difficult one: create a short-list of four"Best New Design" finalists from the full-slate of fifty-six entries in theCanadian Car of the Year awards program. Their top four finalists were the Audi A4 ("Distinguished as it is on theoutside, it is the superbly finished interior of the A 4 that lifts it wellabove its class rivals. That the model offers a wide variety of powertrains isicing on the cake. Despite its compact size, the A 4 has real presence andprovides is owner with a real sense of occasion." - Robert Cumberford), theHonda Fit ("It speaks well of Honda's far sightedness when they triumphed onthe market in the mid-Seventies with a little hatchback (then called theCivic).... over 30 years later their little hatchbacks are still flying offthe dealers lots. Every generation needs an affordable, efficient, honestworkhorse and this is the best available in North America" - Paul Deutschman),the Jaguar XF Supercharged ("Ian Callum and his team have designed a car whichis patently "Jaguar", yet they have managed to do so without trotting out oldnames or hackneyed design motifs." - Bruce Thomson), and the Volkswagen PassatCC ("The Volkswagen Passat CC represents an opportunity for regular folks todrive a Teutonic, elegant, four-door sedan with more than a passingresemblance to its German competitors for half the price."- Ken Cummings). AJAC journalists then selected the winner from the design expert'sshort-list based on a combination of aesthetics, function, and brand essence.Each parameter was rated separately for each of the design finalists. Theaesthetics score reflects the sheer beauty of the design. The function scoreassesses the manner and degree to which it accommodates the practicalrequirements of the vehicle type. And brand essence considers its success inconveying the image, heritage, and values of the specific brand. "The intent of the AJAC Best New Design award is to identify and rewardthe vehicle that exhibits the best balance of form and function", said RichardRussell, chair of AJAC's 2009 Canadian Car of the Year awards. AJAC's annual Canadian Car of the Year awards program was created in 1985with the purpose of providing consumers with sound, comparative information onvehicles that are new to the market. For that reason, the vote results that determined today's winners areavailable to consumers as a resource buying guide on the AJAC web site. Alsoavailable are the comparative test data derived from the journalists'extensive five day evaluation of over 160 new vehicles in Niagara-on-the-Lake,Ontario in October. This annual event is known in the industry as "TestFest".Shell Canada is the official fuel supplier of the event. The rigorous TestFest evaluation program includes real world driving onpublic roads - exactly where consumers drive so that the test and vote resultsposted to the AJAC web site are directly relevant to potential car and truckbuyers. Still looking to buy a 2008, 2007, or even a 2006 vehicle? AJAC archivesthe comparative test data from previous years on its web site. Photos from today's award announcements, the October 24th categorywinners, and the TestFest evaluation event, are available for print andbroadcast media under - Canadian Car of the Year - Photo Gallery - on the AJACweb site. In addition, our AJAC journalists who evaluated the brand new models atTestFest are available across Canada for interviews to talk about the voteresults and comparative data. Media are invited to visit the AJAC web site andlog-in under "Ask An Expert", then choose the "Media" link to access interviewinformation once validation has occurred.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/11/c7493.html