Honda Siel has unveiled a couple of new Honda CR-V models today, varying in terms of engine capacity: 2.0-2.4 liters. These new variants carry a price range between Rs 21.9 lakh and Rs 24.12 lakh. Over 12,500 units of these Honda sports utility vehicles have been sold in India since it opened shop in 2003. The Honda CR-V sales have been dwindling from the past months, selling only one unit in September. Some form of reprieve came in October occurred though as they were able to sell 47 units, which is not really that impressive to offset administrative and operations cost.

(Source) Business Standard

Tags: Honda, honda cr v, honda siel, honda sports, India, lakh, liters, models, reprieve, rs 21, sports utility vehicles

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In the past Honda has pointed towards fuel cell powered vehicles as the future — Today at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has again stated his company’s stance on the fuel cells saying that hydrogen energy is the best long term strategy for the auto industry.

Sure, Honda has some electric vehicles in the works such as the Honda EV-N and the Honda CR-Z but Ito says once the industry realizes the limits of batteries they too will turn to hydrogen.

What do you guys think? Is hydrogen the future or will we be seeing batteries stick around for a bit longer?

via..

Tags: ceo, fuel cells, Honda, Hydrogen, takanobu ito, tokyo motor show

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Yesterday we told you that Ford’s hybrid sales were up 73% over last year but we had no idea the Detroit automaker was going to see this kind of success. Recent reports have surfaced that suggest Ford is dangerously close to surpassing Honda as the second best hybrid seller in the United States.

Let’s take a look at some numbers: Honda has sold 29,958 hybrid vehicles so far this year which is a 8% increase over last year while Ford sold 26,016 vehicles, a 73% increase over last year like we already told you.

If these trends continue, by this time next year we may very well be seeing the U.S. hybrid seller top 3 looking like Toyota, Ford, Honda. But don’t pop the champagne yet, Ford, there’s still a lot of work to be done.

via autobloggreen

Tags: auto sales, Ford, Honda, hybrid, Toyota

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Yes, you read that headline right.  Seems that Honda’s got a niche market in mind with its next Honda Element: dog owners.

Now, your furbaby can ride along in style and comfort should you but a new Honda Element.  Check THIS out: the Honda Element’s Dog Friendly package costs right around a thousand bucks, but comes with an extendable ramp for the dog’s rapid and graceful exit from the vehicle, the dog’s own fan, a spillproof water dish and nylon webbing to act approximately like a seatbelt for the rest of us, restraining the dog in place in case of an accident.

It even comes with a cushioned pet bed to make those long drives just fly by.

I happen to think this is a pretty awesome idea, myself, and dog owners who happen to be looking for a new car should likely agree with me.

Tags: 2010 honda element, dog friendly edition, Honda, honda element, option package, options

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It’s called the Honda F-UZO, ladies and gentlemen, and it’s an actual hovercraft.

No, seriously, a hovercraft.  Granted, right now it’s just a concept in the twisted minds of Honda engineers, but you know how these things start!  Everybody’s got to start somewhere, and the F-UZO is exactly the start we need.

The F-UZO is controlled with a dual-joystick array, with the left joystick to spin the car on its axis, and the right joystick to manage tilt and direction.  There are also pedals for power and brake.

A kind of fly-by-wire system, driven in turn by GPS, keeps cars from colliding, but in the event you should hit something not regulated by GPS, there are both interior AND exterior airbags, so not only are you protected, whoever you hit also gets the benefit of protect.

This is so awesome it hurts, and I only hope these are put into production. And soon, too.

Tags: Concept, concept car, F-UZO, Honda, hovercraft

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If recent reports are to be believed Honda may be shutting down their European design office that is headquarted in Germany. The office in question is a 3000-square-meter 2 floor building that originally opened in 1992.

The reports don’t point to any specific creations coming from said design studio other than the above pictured Open Study Model.

Keep in mind that these are just reports and Honda has not come forth and confirmed it so we will regard it as a rumor until then.

via autoblog

Tags: design office, design studio, Europe, Honda

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So there’s a lot of news coming out about the new Honda CR-V Crossover, so here’s a quick, chunk-style news post all about the new model:

The 2010 model Honda CR-V will get ten spoke alloy wheels now standard instead of the seven spoke from before.  Bluetooth hands-free telephone link is now available if you get the navigation system, but also included are former options like automatic headlights and wider center armrests.  How much wider? A whole inch, say Honda officials.

The engine, meanwhile, now puts out a hundred and eighty horsepower, as opposed to the earlier hundred and sixty-six.  But not at the cost of fuel efficiency: it gets twenty eight miles per gallon highway (21 city) on front wheel drive models.  Real Time 4WD models lose a whole mile per gallon highway.

And just in case you’re interested in color choice, check out this monster list:

Opal Sage Metallic, Royal Blue Pearl, Taffeta White, Glacier Blue Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Tango Red Pearl and Urban Titanium Metallic.

That’s some color scheme, isn’t it?

Tags: 2010 Honda, 2010 Honda CR-V Crossover, Honda, Honda CR-V Crossover

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Honda!

That’s who!  Seems that Honda got sick of watching fellow Japanese car company Toyota eat its lunch round the clock with nonstop harping on the Prius, and as such has readied a line of its own hybrids to go after some of that fat green–and cash, too.  There will be a Honda hybrid minivan based on the Odyssey (it’s apparently already for sale in Japan) and a regular sedan based around the Insight.

Smart of Honda, I’d say–take advantage of current models to rejigger their fuel systems a bit and churn out a hybrid car.  Strike while the iron is hot and be rewarded with the ability to reshape the market as you see fit.

Hopefully other companies will start to take up this approach–I’d love to see a hybrid Ford Explorer, and if someone comes out with a Jeep hybrid I think I’ll just plain old lose it.

Tags: 2010 models, Honda, honda insight, honda odyssey, hybrid

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Honda has been known to innovate and come up with catchy car designs that captivate their customers and it looks like that same tradition will be carried on with the new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV). The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour features a new and aerodynamic shape that provides a sporty looking vehicle with versatile functionality motorists are going to love.

The new vehicle concept originated from the Accord sedan. By increasing the height and perking up the styling such as a new front grille to go along with a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance, the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour certainly deserves to be positioned among the top tier vehicles that Honda has to offer. The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour will be start selling this Fall. No word on pricing yet.

(Source) Press

Tags: aerodynamic shape, appearance, car designs, Crossover, Honda, honda accord, motorists, pillars, tradition

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Towards the beginning of the month Honda told us that they would be focusing on hydrogen powered cars rather than all electrics. However, recent reports suggest that due to the limited availability of hydrogen components, Honda will actually be producing an all electric vehicle after all.

If these reports are true, we could possible be seeing a Honda produced EV prototype at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show with the vehicle itself going into production sometime in 2015.

For now, we’ll be stuck playing the waiting game.

via greencarcongress

Tags: all electric, ev, Honda, tokyo motor show

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While just about every automaker is pumping out their own version of the perfect all-electric vehicle, Honda has generally stayed in the back instead focusing their efforts on hybrid and fuel efficient gas burning vehicles. Well, it seems that they dont’ have an electric vehicle cookin’ at all, instead they are hoping that Hydrogen powered cars will take off.

Honda’s head honcho of everything hydrogen, had this to say about the matter, “Fuel-cell cars will become necessary. We’re positioning it as the ultimate zero-emission car.”

I don’t know about you guys, but this whole push towards greener vehicles is looking a lot like the format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray. Until a clear victor is decided, pick your poison.

Read (Bloomberg)

Tags: FCX, fuel cell, Honda, Hydrogen

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Honda has recently come forth to issue a recall for their 2001 Accords and Civics.

The recall focuses on the driver’s airbag inflator which could potentially cause excessive pressure when deployed. This could cause a rupture in the inflator thus causing metal shards to go flying every which way and I’m sure you can see the safety hazard in that.

Honda is saying that if you take your vehicle to your local dealership the airbag inflator will be replaced free of charge.

via KickingTires

Tags: Accord, airbag inflator, civic, Honda, Recall, safety

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Landing the right car is important and wise buyers always want to get all the important information for a potential vehicle they are interested in. The looks and features may be great but unless you know the full details of the car like ownership history and damage records, you are overlooking one important aspect of a used car.

To some it may not matter but with the growing trend these days on used cars, the need to be well-versed with the complete details just became easier with this CarFax Auction Tool offered by AutoLookout.

“CARFAX Auction Quick Check is a must-have for the online auction process,” said Dave Stambaugh, Used Car Manager at Shenango Honda in Hermitage, PA. “Our buyers can easily identify top quality cars wholesaled through AutoLookout and aggressively bid on the ones our customers want. Carfax helps our dealerships, as well as our customers, buy smarter and with more confidence.”

CARFAX Auction Quick Check highlights those cars that would command a premium price on the retail market, such as Carfax 1-Owner cars. Dealers can quickly identify these much-sought-after units and bid competitively for them. Carfax and AutoLookout have integrated services to provide a seamless solution for their mutual customers.

(Source)Press

Tags: auction tool, car manager, cars dealers, Honda, important information, mutual customers, online auction, owner cars, ownership history, premium price, quality cars, retail market, right car, seamless solution, stambaugh, top quality, wise buyers

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Living your dreams and being aware of what is truly going around is a great way to help build the brand awareness that Honda wants to instill towards current and potential customers.

Originally launched in January, the “DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE Documentary Series” is intended to speak to both the hearts and minds of consumers by endeavoring to reveal the essence of Honda’s corporate philosophy in an intimate multimedia, interactive Web site.

And now, a new installment called “Dreams vs. Nightmares” will be added to that documentary, where seeing opportunities and experiences shared by visionary leaders to build the Honda name. Two more films are in production and will launch in the coming months.

The campaign targets 25- to 49-year-old adults with a youthful spirit, who are comfortable with technology, who value authenticity, and who are drawn to brands they can relate to, connect with, or admire.

(Source) Press

Tags: authenticity, brand awareness, campaign targets, consumers, corporate philosophy, documentary series, experiences, films, hearts and minds, Honda, honda name, interactive web, living your dreams, nightmares, visionary leaders, youthful spirit

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This might a bit as a shocker to you folks but it looks like driving while you’re texting sweet messages to your loved messages is more dangerous than driving while under the influence. Car and Driver conducted a test in which it compared drunk driving with driving while texting under tha same conditions. The test has been done at the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport in Oscoda, MI. and the equipment used consisted in a few phones, including the iPhone and a BlackBerry-like Samsung Alias, screwdrivers (yeah the drink) and a Honda Pilot.

A red light mounted on the windshield acted as the car in front and every time it lit up the driver was supposed to hit the brakes while the person in the passenger’s seat was monitoring the results. After a bunch of tries and some complicated speed and response monitoring it all came down to this: don’t drink and drive cause it’s really dangerous. But most importantly don’t ever text and drive as it’s even more dangerous than being drunk at the wheel. See the brain tends to concentrate on the text and forgets about those fast moving cars ahead. Even a few seconds away from the windshield and you could add several feet before coming to a brake. And it might not be a very pleasant brake…

via Car and Driver

Tags: DUI, Honda, pilot, safety, SMS, test, Texting

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