Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Classic Honda Accord Commercial


Two words that seldom go together: Beautiful commercial. That is what this 2006 ad for the Honda Accord is, though.

Arranged and directed with the dreamlike loveliness of a Gondry movie, the “Cog Commercial” is a forgotten classic. Click to watch an elaborate dance of parts assemble themselves into a whole, all with a grace that you have hardly ever seen while waking.

This isn’t the kind of tightrope walking you can see down at the fair in Puyallup. Nissan has an outstanding talent when it comes to bringing art to advertising too.

Monday, September 20, 2010

2010 Honda Civic

Through eight generations, the Honda Civic has developed from bare-bones subcompact to sophisticated compact, all the while remaining frugal to buy and own. Available in sedan and coupe versions, along with a hybrid and the high-performance Si and the natural gas-powered GX, the Civic is Honda’s “everycar.“

There are four engine and four transmission choices, but most prevalent is a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 140 horsepower and mated to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. The Civic Si’s 2.0-liter engine produces 197 horsepower is connected to a six-speed manual. Visit Honda dealer Manchester or Manchester Honda to learn more about the 2010 Honda Civic.

Civic Hybrid pairs a 1.3-liter engine with an electric motor with a continuously variable transmission. The GX gets a natural gas version of the 1.8-lier engine mated to a five-speed automatic. All Civics feature antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and a pedestrian injury mitigation design. Stability control is standard on the EX-L, Si and Hybrid models. Get more information about the 2010 Honda Civic at Honda dealer Manchester or Manchester Honda

All models come standard with side-curtain airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags and passenger-side occupant detection, and dual-stage, dual threshold driver and front passenger airbags and active head restraints. Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure uses different types of steel in crush zones and the occupant safety cage. Honda dealer Manchester or Manchester Honda to get details about the 2010 Honda Civic.

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Honda Announces 2011 Odyssey Pricing

Honda has announced pricing for the 2011 Odyssey minivan, with the suggested retail ranging from $27,.800 for the LX to $43,250 for the Touring Elite, plus a $780 destination charge. The best selling minivan the past two years, the new model comes out swinging in order to take on its main rival, the Toyota Sienna. Honda has restyled the Odyssey in a more aggressive, sport vein by making it a little shorter and a little wider.

A new grille, similar to the Accord Crosstour, and a beltline styling cue known as the “lightning bolt” set the new minivan apart from its predecessor. The design sets the Odyssey apart from its domestic competitors, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. Get more information on the 2011 Honda Odyssey at Honda Middletown or Middletown Honda.

Inside, the 2011 Odyssey offers several standard optional features aimed at driver and passenger comfort. Among these are a 12-speaker audio system, satellite navigation, an HDMI input, split-screen capability for the rear-seat entertainment system, a “cool box,” a removable front-seat center console and stowable third-row seats. Honda Middletown or Middletown Honda

Powered by a 3.5-liter, V-6 that will produce about 250 horsepower and 245 lb.-ft. of torque—final specifications haven’t been released. The engine will have Variable Cylinder Management, which saves fuel by using only three or four cylinders in low demand situations. A six-speed automatic transmission is expected, replacing the previous model’s five speed. Honda Middletown or Middletown Honda

While still either a seven- or eight-passenger vehicle depending on the second row configuration, the new Odyssey boasts the ability to put three child seats in the second row versus the previous model’s two-seat capability. Expected to arrive in dealers this fall, the new Odyssey is expected to be available in the same three models, LX, EX-L and Touring.

2011 Honda Odyssey Pricing

Model

Transmission

MSRP*

City/Hwy/Combined

Odyssey LX

5-Speed Automatic

$27,800

18/27/21 MPG

Odyssey EX

5-Speed Automatic

$30,950

18/27/21

Odyssey EX-L

5-Speed Automatic

$34,450

18/27/21

Odyssey EX-L with RES

5 Speed Automatic

$36,050

18/27/21

Odyssey EX-L with Navi

5-Speed Automatic

$36,450

18/27/21

Odyssey Touring

6-Speed Automatic

$40,755

19/28/22

Odyssey Touring Elite

6-Speed Automatic

$43,250

19/28/22

*Excluding $780 destination charge.

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

The Honda Accord is often considered the best midsize sedan on the market. So how do you top that? By making a premium crossover with all of Accord’s features and reliability blended with five-door versatility. To that end, the Crosstour’s features and options are all at the upper end of Accord’s offerings, and is offered in EX and EX-L models. Learn more about the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour at Honda dealers MD.

Crosstour is powered by a 3.5-liter, i-VTEC, V-6 engine with Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management, which can shut off half the cylinders while cruising to save on fuel. The engine produces 271 horsepower and 254 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that features automatic RPM rev-matching on downshifts. Two-wheel drive is standard and Honda’s Real Time 4WD available. Fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for the two-wheel drive Crosstour and 17 city, 25 highway for the 4WD model. The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour is generating a lot of buzz at Maryland Honda Dealer.

Crossover shoppers are focused on utility and versatility. Crosstour offers both. Conveniently located levers near the rear hatch opening allow for easy conversion of the rear seats into flat cargo floor, creating 51.3 cubic feet of space. Under the rear floor is a removable box that adds nearly two cubic feet of space. The cargo box lid can be flipped over to protect the carpet from dirty items. Honda dealers MD have all the details on the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour.

Standard features on the EX include: dual-zone, automatic climate control with second row ventilation; a 360-watt, AM/FM, six-disc, seven-speaker audio system; 60/40 split rear seat; 17-inch alloy wheels; hidden removable utility box; projector beam headlights and auto-off fog lights. The EX-L adds or upgrades: leather seats with heated front seats; leather steering wheel and gear shift knob; auto dimming rearview mirror; 18-inch aluminum wheels; auto on/off headlights; memory driver’s seat and side mirrors; cargo cover; upgraded speakers and USB audio interface. Get more information at Maryland Honda dealer.

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Honda’s Hybrid Future? The Fit

It’s more than just the Fit, of course, with the Insight and a new Civic Hybrid on the way next year. But the Fit Hybrid is the new kid in the automaker’s lineup with introduction scheduled for Japanese and American markets in 2011. Recently, Honda announced plans to bring more alternative-powertrain vehicles to the U.S. and other markets. Learn more about Honda’s alt-fuel vehicles at Washington Honda.

The Fit Hybrid goes on sale in Japan this fall for the equivalent of $18,600, which makes it the cheapest hybrid in that country. As yet, pricing hasn’t been announced for the U.S. version of the Fit Hybrid, which is expected to hit these shores next year. More details about Honda vehicles can be found at Washington Honda dealers.

Honda will lease demonstration electric vehicles to Stanford University, Google and the city of Torrance, Calif. (home of Honda’s U.S. headquarters), from the end of the year through 2011. The company says range and recharge times remain an issue, which analysts say means the car will be a short-distance vehicle like the Nissan Leaf. Honda plans to sell its EV in Japan and America in 2012. Honda also has a mid-size plug-in hybrid set to debut in the U.S. and Japan by 2012. Torrance also gets to test that one out. Visit Washington Honda to get more info on Honda’s current alt-fuel cars.

Honda still sees the gasoline engine as the near- to mid-term drive train for the majority of its vehicle lineup. The company says it will update engines and transmissions with more efficient products in 2012. As for diesel engines, Honda’s announced new, smaller engine is only bound for Europe. As for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the company is continuing development of vehicles and refueling. Outside of the FCX Clarity, which is limited to a small number of leases, the company hasn’t publically announced any plans to expand its fuel cell vehicle lineup for retail customers. Check out Washington Honda dealers for more about Honda’s lineup of hybrids.

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2011 Honda Accord

Now in its eighth generation, the Honda Accord continues as one of the best selling midsize sedans in the U.S. For 2011, new styling and an increase in fuel economy, along with the addition of the leather-equipped SE model are the highlights. Sedan and coupe models feature some differences in the refreshed design, with the coupe receiving a different grille, new front bumper shape and new wheel design for V-6 models. A new front grille, front bumper, rear deck lid and wheel design are the treatment for the sedan’s refreshed look. See more of the 2011 Honda Accord at Honda Richmond.

For 2011, there is a 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, i-VTEC, four-cylinder engine in the EX and EX-L Sedans and the LX-S, EX and EX-L Coupes. In the Accord LX, LX-P and SE sedans, the 2.4-liter, i-VTEC, four-cylinder produces 177 horsepower. An available 3.5-liter, i-VTEC, V-6 engine produces 271 horsepower and has Variable Cylinder Management, which can deactivate up to half the cylinders while cruising to improve gas mileage. For the Accord EX-L Coupe with the six-speed manual gearbox the 3.5-liter, VTEC engine drops the cylinder management and gets a performance tuned valve train, intake and exhaust to broaden the torque curve. Learn more about the 2011 Honda Accord at Richmond Honda.

Four-cylinder Accords come with a five-speed manual gearbox standard and a five-speed automatic is available. Sedans with the V-6 come with a five-speed automatic, while the coupe gets an exclusive six-speed manual transmission. The sedan comes with either 16-inch steel wheels or 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on model. The four-cylinder coupe rides on 17-inch alloys, while 18-inch allows are standard on the V-6. Every model comes with four-wheel disc brakes, double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. Honda Richmond has more information about the 2011 Honda Accord.

Accord buyers have a choice of audio systems, all with MP3/Windows Media Audio playback and an auxiliary input jack. A single disc, six speaker, 160-watt system is standard. Also included is Radio Data System, which shows information broadcast by participating FM stations and often includes call letters, station type, song and artist. A six-disc, in-dash changer replaces the single-disc player on some models. The premium system sports a six-disc changer, 270 watts and seven speakers including an eight-inch subwoofer. Get more details on the 2011 Honda Accord at Richmond Honda.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

2011 Honda CR-Z

A fun, two-seat car isn’t a new idea for Honda, which sold the CRX for nine years. CRX models ranged from the high-mileage HF to the sport Si, which was popular with the enthusiast crowd. With the CRX firmly in mind, Honda has created a two-seat hybrid model with similar looks and sportiness in mind. The CR-Z, priced at less than $20,000, is due in dealers Aug. 24th. Visit Honda dealer Portland and find out more about the 2011 CR-Z.

The CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-liter, i-VTEC four-cylinder, gasoline engine couple to an electric motor, which Honda calls Integrated Motor Assist. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard and a continuously variable transmission is optional. The gasoline engine produces 115 horsepower and 107 lb.-ft. of torque, while the electric motor kicks in 13 horsepower and 58 lb.-ft. of torque. The two-seat hybrid is generating a lot of buzz at Honda dealership Portland.

Fuel economy for the CR-Z comes in at 31 mpg city and 37 mpg highway with the six-speed. Opt for the CVT, and the numbers increase to 35 city, 39 highway. As expected, acceleration is reportedly quicker with the six-speed. Honda has kept the weight in check with aluminum suspension control arms, four-wheel disc brakes and electric steering. The CR-Z weighs about as much as an Insight and less than the Fit. This head-turning hybrid arrives at Honda dealership Portland in about three weeks.

The CR-Z comes in two grades, CR-Z Base and CR-Z EX. The base model features include a six-speaker AM/F/CD/USB audio system, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry and cruise control. The EX adds a 360-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with seven speakers, including a subwoofer, Bluetooth and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Satellite navigation and voice recognition are available options. Honda dealers near Portland have all the details on the 2011 CR-Z.

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