Honda

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. announced today the acquisition of a Land Rover dealership in Darien, Connecticut. The company estimates the dealership will generate approximately $50 million of revenue annually.

Penske Automotive Group President Robert H. Kurnick, Jr., said, “We are pleased to add the Land Rover brand to our existing automotive dealership operations in Connecticut. For almost 30 years, this dealership has been serving customers in Darien, Greenwich, Westport and Stamford with a dedication to customer service. This brand complements our existing presence with Audi, BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche in the Connecticut market and connects our business from Fairfield, through Darien and into Greenwich, allowing us to continue scaling our operations.”

[Source: PenskeAutomotive.com]

The slate of six finalists for AOL Autos’ Technology of the Year Award have been named, each embodying the latest and greatest developments in automotive fuel economy, connectivity, telematics and active safety. Readers will now be charged with casting votes that will help determine which entrant takes the top honor.

Following a careful review of over 40 entries submitted by industry professionals, editorial staffers and readers alike, the judging panel has declared the finalists to be (in no particular order):

• Infiniti Backup Collision Intervention
• Volvo Pedestrian and Cyclist Detention w/Full Auto Brake
• Chevrolet MyLink Valet Mode
• Tesla Supercharger Network
• Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive
• Mopar In-Vehicle Wireless Charging for Portable Devices

From midnight on November 19 onward, readers will be given the chance to vote for one of the six innovative technologies to take the top prize. The announcement and presentation of the honor to the victor will occur in Las Vegas at January’s 2014 Consumer Electronics Show.

Though it is certainly true that most readers of AOL Autos will not have had a personal opportunity to test the technologies in the running for the honor, they do have access to reviews written by site staffers, all of which are accompanied by videos explaining the finer points of each innovation. These summaries also include specific articulation of the reasons each finalist was selected by the judging panel. Once the readers’ choice is determined after voting closes, that selection will have the equal weight to the vote of one of the judges on the 14-judge panel.

AOL Autos editor David Kiley believes that the readership will have sufficient information to fairly judge the merits of each new technology offering, thanks to the detail provided in the site’s presentations. Those assessments, combined with the hands-on experience AOL Autos staffers enjoyed with each finalist, make for a thorough, accurate judging process.

In its inaugural technology contest last year, AOL Autos tapped the updated UConnect system from Chrysler as the top technological innovation, surging ahead of laudable submissions from Cadillac, Honda, Nissan and Ford.

The fuel economy category was a new addition to this year’s contest, largely because it is an arena that is seeing a major influx of technological development within the auto industry. Kiley asserted that since fuel economy innovations are so thoroughly intertwined with electronics, the decision to include this sector in an event affiliated with the Consumer Electronics Show is entirely fitting.

Are we allowed to say that this infographic celebrating the 2013 Honda Accord might be – so far – the most interesting thing about the car? Breaking down thirty years and eight generations of Accord production at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio plant, it’s a detailed chart of how the Accord went from a 75-horsepower sedan that got 28 mpg, took 12.9 seconds to reach 60 mph in 1982 and boasted a digital clock, to a 185-hp (the four-cylinder model) sedan that gets 35 mpg, takes seven seconds to get to 60 mph and boasts the kinds of features you’d also find in a Mercedes-Benz.

The factory numbers are just as interesting, the Marysville plant taking six years to build its first million cars, then taking just two years to add another one million during the third-generation Accord, repeating the feat again twice during the fifth and sixth generations. The latest sedan and coupe carry the hopes of those nine million others that came before it, each generation of which made Car and Driver‘s 10-Best list. Let the games begin – after you check out the infographic, which you can click on to enlarge.

[Source: AutoBlog.com]

Have you ever wondered where your Honda came from? Honda has a number of manufacturing facilities across the country that all specialize in particular areas. This week, one facility in particular has something to celebrate.

This month marked the tenth anniversary of Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA). On November 14, 2001, the Alabama manufacturing facility began production on the Odyssey minivan.

Located in Lincoln, Alabama, the facility is responsible for the global production of Odyssey minivans, Pilot sport utility vehicles and Ridgeline pick-up trucks, plus V-6 engines. The plant has an annual production capacity for 300,000 vehicles and V-6 engines, and is the largest Honda light truck production source in the world. HMA performs a number of operations, including stamping, welding, painting, casting, assembly and sub-assembly, testing, quality assurance, and more.

Honda recently announced that it would be investing an additional $84 million to the Alabama facility. The funding will help increase production by another 40,000 vehicles and provide 100 new jobs. The Alabama facility already employs over 4,000 associates, and a recent addition provided a new Honda Engineering facility, on-site consolidation center and steel blanking operation.

Like Honda Motors, the Alabama facility is a leader in environmental innovation and stewardship and has dedicated a company-wide commitment to maintaining the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. HMA was actually the first Honda facility to introduce a zero-waste-to-landfill commitment when it first opened in 2001. Today, HMA is one of ten Honda Zero Landfill Facilities, and the other four facilities are “virtually zero” waste to landfill. HMA has also received Energy Star wards from the EPA based on the facility’s advances in reducing energy usage in the production process.

HMA has established itself as an environmental leader and has seen much success in the past decade. Hopefully we will see the same success and leadership in the decade to come.

Source: Honda Alabama

 

This week, Honda has used SEMA to demonstrate several interpretations of the new Civic Si Coupe. They also took advantage of the opportunity to announce news about the ninth-generation model and debut a prototype Accord with a supercharger.

Of the factory interpretations, Honda showed off the Civic Si Coupe with an HFP package. This dealer-installed kit has a new HPF sport suspension, and thus a lower ride height and stiffer springs. It also comes with 18-inch HFP wheels. This is the first collaboration between HFP and Honda Performance Development, and Honda looks forward to continued collaboration.

The package will cost about $4,244, and features LED ambient lighting on the inside and a front lip spoiler, side sills, and rear bumper underbody spoiler on the outside.

If the HFP package is too tame for some, they also showed off the sportier Compass360 Racing HPD Civic SI Coupe Racecar. The Civic coupe will be available in body-in-white for $3,500.

The Civic wasn’t the only model on the display. Honda also featured an Accord Coupe V6 Concept. Outfitted with the HFP package, the Accord Coupe also got an upgraded suspension, body kit, and rims, and an HPD-tuned supercharger. The upgraded Coupe is expected to get 333hp and 385 lb-ft of torque.

Planning a lot of road trips this year?

You may want to check out the new 2012 Honda Pilot.

In case you haven’t already heard, the Honda Pilot has been redesigned for 2012, and, since its release this fall, has seen sales jump.  The redesign includes a number of new features, as seen in the commercial, including an improved fuel efficiency of 25mpg on the highway.

 

To demonstrate all the nifty new features, Honda created a commercial that follows a family on a road trip and showcases the variety of possibilities the Pilot has to offer.  Using a mix of real life actors and diorama sets, the commercial begins with a family packing their 2WD Touring model at sunrise and shows off the power tailgate and rearview camera.

 

The Pilot seats eight, perfect for large families planning a vacation together.  With the Pilot’s navigation system with voice recognition and FM traffic (available on the EX-L and standard on the Touring), drivers can get to their destination sooner and minimize the number of “Are we there yet?”s emanating from the back seat.

 

Other features that are available include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, Song by Voice, a USB Audio Interface and Honda’s DVD Rear Entertainment System.  It’s also available in 4-wheel drive and comes with Vehicle Stability Assist to help drivers maintain control of the vehicle in case they over or under steer.  And of course, to address every family’s main concern, the Pilot’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure helps protect the driver and passengers.

 

If the features don’t do enough talking, it also helps to know that the Pilot recently won Cars.com’s Best 3-Row SUV for $37,000, which was judged not only by experts, but also by a family of four – the ultimate judge for any family vehicle.

 

The 2012 Honda Pilot is now available at Your Penske Honda Dealerships. If you’re interested in a test drive, one of our helpful staff members would be happy to assist you.

 

Got to Love your Honda!

 

Honda has announced the starting price for the 2012 Honda Insight: $19,120.  The price includes a $770 destination and handling fee.

The 2012 model has only undergone a few updates to refresh it for next year.  Such updates include redesigned 15-inch wheels, and a lower front fascia to make it more aerodynamic.  With its new aerodynamic design, the hybrid hatchback gets a better fuel economy, with 41 mpg in the city, 44 mpg on the highway, and 42 mpg combined, giving it the highest EPA fuel economy rating for new vehicles under $20,000.

Honda also redesigned the interior, making it more comfortable for passengers.  Better sound deadening materials give it improved noise insulation, making for a quiet ride.  Backseat passengers can enjoy increased legroom and headroom.  The base model also includes automatic climate control and power windows.  On the outside, a thinner spoiler and a more compact rear-wiper motor give the driver better visibility.

The 2012 Honda Insight comes in three version: base, LX, and EX.  For the Insight LX, which starts at $20,895, drivers can expect better seat fabric, a four-speaker sound system, USB audio interface, security system, map lights, steering wheel audio controls, and more.  For the Insight EX, which starts at $22,585, the benefits increase even more, with automatic headlights, synthetic leather and fabric for seats, a six-speaker sound system, a Bluetooth hands free phone system, and a navigation option that includes a rearview camera.

The Honda Insight was one of the first hybrid electric vehicles to come to the US in 1999.  The first generation of the Insight ran from 2000 to 2006 and used a subcompact hatchback design that only fit two people.  In 2009, Honda released the second generation Insight, this time using an all-new 5-passenger, 5-door platform.

Overall, the new Insight is quieter and more efficient and features a nicer interior, providing drivers with a more comfortable ride.