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

Automobile's Man Of The Year: Honda's Takeo Fukui

In a year when the U.S. auto market has been knocked out cold by the one-two punch of spiking fuel prices and the financial meltdown, it's not easy finding a hero in the car business. Now that the tide of easy credit and cheap gasoline has gone out, we see that a lot of car companies have been swimming naked. But not Honda. Honda's steadfast refusal to follow the herd once looked stubborn but now appears prescient. In an era when platinum-paid executives rarely deviate from the orthodoxy of the crowd, Honda's Takeo Fukui has successfully avoided faddish trends and instead stayed true to the founding principles of Soichiro Honda and his successors. For that, Honda president and CEO Takeo Fukui is the 2009 AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE Man of the Year.

Fukui's long path to the presidency at Honda has seen him move through many of the arenas that are so key to the company's DNA: R&D, motorsports, and manufacturing. An engineer by trade-funny how so many of the best auto executives are-Fukui joined Honda in 1969 and started work on the project that would lead to the Honda CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine, a unique approach to meeting emissions regulations and an early indicator of the nascent automaker's engineering prowess and commitment to the environment.

Honda often goes its own way, whether it's being the first Japanese auto manufacturer to set up a U.S. assembly plant (a move many others followed), avoiding the merger mania that swept the industry (most of which have since been undone), or refusing to follow the herd with its model mix.

Honda kept to the sidelines when Nissan and Toyota went scurrying after the U.S. automakers in the full-size pickup, and attendant big SUV, markets-both of which are now in a free fall. Resources not spent developing trucks have been directed instead to cars, such as the Accord, enabling Honda to keep them at the top of their game.

Unlike so many other car companies, Honda has not treated the small-car arena as a low-margin backwater. Every generation of Civic moves the bar of excellence still further, and the introduction to the United States of the even-smaller Fit, in 2006, proved to be a deft move indeed. Honda blew through its 50,000-unit projected annual sales estimate for that car by some 30,000 units in 2007, and at this writing is on track to sell even more for 2008, when the model has been effectively sold out for months and a redesigned version was introduced.

Diesel engines are off the radar in Honda's home market of Japan, but Fukui and his team recognized their importance to Europe, leading Honda to develop an advanced 2.2-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder for that market. Like so many Honda engines, it's been winning rave reviews and will come to the United States later this year in the Acura TSX.

Looking ahead to future technologies, Fukui continues to lead the company outside the mainstream. The upcoming new Insight hybrid, for instance, was engineered with an emphasis on cutting the weight and the cost of the hybrid powertrain, rather than maximizing fuel economy. The Insight is expected to undercut the benchmark Toyota Prius by several thousand dollars while still achieving 40/45 mpg. Continued effort in this direction will allow Honda to add a hybrid Fit in a few years.

Fukui also has expressed skepticism of lithium-ion batteries, which he considers not ready for prime time-although Honda does use them in its FCX Clarity fuel cell car-and, as a result, is cool to the prospects of plug-in hybrids and battery-electrics. Instead, the company is forging ahead with the development of fuel cell cars-where Honda is the only manufacturer to put fuel cells into the hands of paying customers, albeit in small numbers. Will Fukui's independent course put Honda behind the pace, or is he steering around another costly diversion? It's too early to know, but one thing is certain: Honda's strong internal compass has kept it moving forward with a kind of plodding certainty that so many of today's naked swimmers can only envy.

Source;
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/0811_2009_man_of_the_year_takeo_fukui/_honda_future.html

Honda wins “Automotive Lease Guide Residual” award

The outstanding value of a vehicle can be a complicated suggestion. There are so many factors to consider such as age, mileage, general condition, segment and brand of the vehicle make a whole lot of difference in ascertaining its value. If strong residual value is what you are looking for in a vehicle, then Honda would be a good choice, as the manufacturer from Japan has won six consecutive Automotive Lease Guide residual award. The Acura division of Honda joined its less expensive counterpart for the first time by taking the highest position for luxury vehicles, too, making it a an overall win for Honda.

Even though Toyota finished fourth overall in the voting, it managed to garner the most number of awards in the overall segment. Subaru won the second place overall in the residual values category. In the light pickup truck category Ford’s F-150 scored high. Of the 18 overall segment awards, Japanese automakers won 11, while U.S. carmakers won or shared only three segments.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-wins-automotive-lease-guide-residual-award/
[via autoblog]

2009 Honda Accord Sedan: Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award Winner

By Matt DeLorenzo
November 2008

With all-new head-turning styling introduced last year, the Honda Accord has cemented its reputation as one of the best-selling family sedans in the American market. That popularity as a practical yet stylish 4-door is one of the reasons why the Accord has captured the first ever Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award.

This new honor is an annual award to designate the No. 1 car on Yahoo! Autos. The award criteria are based on user interest, intent and satisfaction. These factors are measured by search queries, leads submitted, rating and reviews by Yahoo! users. The award is not sponsored by any manufacturer and Yahoo! is not being paid for this initiative.

In capturing the fancy of Yahoo! users, the Honda Accord Sedan relies on fresh styling to set it apart from others in the mid-size category. A bold grille, large jeweled headlamps and crisply executed character lines gives the Accord a commanding presence more in line with European luxury models. The Honda Accord Sedan is slightly larger than its main rival, the Toyota Camry. Compared with the previous Accord Sedan, the new car has a wheelbase that has increased by nearly an inch, and the overall length has increased by nearly 5 in. And at 72.7 in. across the beam, the Accord is an inch wider than the Toyota.

This translates into an abundance of room in the passenger cabin, which sports a contemporary design that matches the freshness of the exterior. In fact, while the Accord Sedan competes in the mid-size segment, its space-enhancing redesign means the EPA now considers it a large sedan, a designation confirmed by the excellent front and rear leg, head and hip room. The front bucket seats are comfortable, the center console has plenty of storage cubbies and there is a choice of no less than three audio systems, all with MP3/WMA playback capability.

But what makes the Honda Accord Sedan stand apart from the crowd is its fun-to-drive nature. Both the LX and EX trim levels come with a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces a robust 177 bhp, which is delivered to the front wheels via a choice of a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. Top level EX-L models can be equipped with a 3.5-liter V-6 making 271 bhp. That engine not only delivers power, but good fuel economy thanks to an ingenious cylinder deactivation system that allows the powerplant to run on either three or four cylinders when under a light load.

The Accord's ample output is enhanced by variable-assist power steering that provides ample feedback through the twisty bits and an easy action in low-speed parking maneuvers. Independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes imbue the car with a lively personality that has become a Honda hallmark.

While the head-turning styling and spirited performance appeal to the senses, other amenities of the Accord Sedan address rational concerns. Besides Honda's emphasis on great efficiency, the Accord boasts numerous standard safety features, including electronic stability control, six airbags and anti-lock brakes.

This combination of performance, safety and comfort — at prices ranging from $20,755 to $28,555 — make the Honda Accord Sedan a natural choice as the winner of Yahoo! Autos' inaugural Excelerator Award.

Source:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=10&article_id=7242