Nearly 60,000 Fans Witness Epic 2015 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase

First-ever Honda Power of Dreams Award honoree's lifelong dedication to serving HBCU students is rewarded with on-field surprise: a 2015 Honda CR-V

Jan 30, 2015 - ATLANTA, GA

Nearly 60,000 fans packed the Georgia Dome to watch top marching bands from America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) rock the house at the 13th annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase on Jan. 24, 2015. 
Watch the 2015 Invitational Showcase sizzle reel here: http://youtu.be/GV9AeO1nbZs
Highlights from this year's Invitational Showcase include:

• More than 2,100 student musicians took to the field for a memorable mass band performance.
• The Marching Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University performed at a record tenth straight Invitational Showcase; the Howard University Showtime Marching Band and Talladega College Marching Tornado Band performed for the first time.
• Tens of thousands of fan-produced social media posts using "#HBOB" helped spread the message around the world.
• Ms. Audrey Stradford was named the first-ever Honda Power of Dreams Award honoree for her lifelong dedication to serving HBCU students and the Tennessee State University community, and was awarded a brand new 2015 Honda CRV on the field. 
• Honda provided more than $200,000 in grants to participating HBCUs during the program period in support of music education.
• The 2015 theme, "March On," encouraged student musicians and fans to follow their dreams despite whatever obstacles they may face.
• Fans were treated to an unforgettable performance by hip-hop legends ‪Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, and a heartwarming rendition of the national anthem by actress and singer Demetria McKinney.

"Honda congratulates the bands that participated in this year's Invitational Showcase, and thanks all of the schools, students, alumni and fans who joined us to celebrate these amazing student musicians," said Stephan Morikawa, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Community Relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda is proud that the Invitational Showcase truly helped students realize what Honda calls The Power of Dreams."
The following eight bands performed at the 13th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. Each band received a $20,000 grant from Honda for their school's music education program:

• Alabama State University, Mighty Marching Hornets (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
• Bethune-Cookman University, Marching Wildcats (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
• Howard University, Showtime Marching Band (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
• Jackson State University, Sonic Boom of the South (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
• North Carolina A&T University, Blue and Gold Marching Machine (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
• Southern University, Human Jukebox (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
• Talladega College, Marching Tornado Band (Gulf Coast Athletic Conference)
• Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands (Ohio Valley Conference)

Honda Campus All-Star Challenge
Tune-in March 21-25, 2015 as Honda hosts the 26th installment of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) Nationals in Torrance, CA.  HCASC is a unique academic competition that celebrates, supports and recognizes academic excellence at HBCUs. Since 1989, Honda has touched more than 100,000 students through HCASC.  Learn more at http://www.hcasc.com/
Connect with Honda Battle of the Bands on Social Media
For highlights, connect with Honda Battle of the Bands on social media using #HBOB.       

• Facebook – Facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands
• Twitter – @The_Honda / Twitter.com/The_Honda
• Instagram – @The_Honda / Instagram.com/the_honda
• YouTube - YouTube.com/hondabotb

For more information on Honda Battle of the Bands, visit HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
About Honda
Honda's long-standing commitment to the support and success of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) began more than 25 years ago with the establishment of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, a program designed to showcase the academic gifts and prowess of HBCU students. American Honda began its support of Honda Battle of the Bands more than 13 years ago as an effort to support HBCU music programs.
Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future for society. Honda is also committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, to socially responsible business practices and to the promotion of diversity in its workforce. From our involvement in STEM education and HBCUs to our support of pediatric brain tumor research, and support of volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to communities where it does business. Find out more at csr.honda.com.

Source: Honda Media News

2015 Honda Fit and CR-V Named 'Best Resale Value' Vehicles by Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com

Honda has received two Best Resale Value Awards from trusted vehicle valuation source Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com. The 2015 Honda Fit (automobiles.honda.com/fit/) earned the top award in its segment for projected resale value after five years of ownership. Additionally, the 2015 Honda CR-V (automobiles.honda.com/cr-v/) was honored as one of the overall Top 10 Best Resale Value vehicles in America.
2015 Honda Vehicles Honored with Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards

• 2015 Honda Fit – Best Resale Value: Subcompact Car
• 2015 Honda CR-V – Best Resale Value: Top 10

"The Fit is a premium small car with a healthy appetite for passengers and cargo, representing tremendous value well beyond its exterior footprint," said David Hendley, assistant vice president of sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "It's great to see the all-new Fit, our brand's entry model, join the much-honored CR-V among KBB.com's Best Resale Value Award winners this year."
Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards are based on projections from the Kelley Blue Book® Official Residual Value Guide. These prestigious awards honor vehicles expected to maintain the greatest proportion of their original Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) after five years of ownership. Since depreciation (or loss of value) is typically a car buyer's primary expense during ownership, these awards are designed to help consumers make more informed car-buying decisions.
For more information about Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards, please visit: http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-value-awards/.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Honda Gives 2015 Honda Accord to Last-Picked NHL All-Star

One of the worst feelings in the world is standing around awkwardly on a playground blacktop while the biggest, strongest, most athletic kids in your class choose sides for kickball. The singular worst feeling the world is being chosen last, but there is one really easy way to remedy all that sadness and frustration: give that last kid picked a free 2015 Honda Accord.

All-New 2016 Honda Pilot SUV to Make Global Debut at 2015 Chicago Auto Show

Jan 21, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. 

A completely reengineered and redesigned Honda Pilot SUV will make its world debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show on February 12 at 9:30 a.m. The all-new, eight-passenger Pilot SUV – completely designed, developed and manufactured in America -- will raise the stakes in the mainstream three-row SUV segment with new technology, advanced safety, class-leading fuel economy and enhanced family utility and versatility.

The new Pilot represents a dramatic shift in design, while showcasing new standout technologies, versatility, and dynamics currently unavailable in the mainstream SUV segment. Further, the Pilot remains as family-friendly as ever, proving once again that driving the family truckster can be a joy.

The redesigned Pilot SUV, launching at Honda dealerships nationwide this summer, will further augment a Honda light truck lineup that includes the recently redesigned Honda CR-V – 2014 Motor Trend SUV of the Year and the best-selling SUV in America – and the all-new Honda HR-V crossover, launching this spring. In addition to showcasing the completely redesigned Honda Pilot SUV, the company also will reveal details and styling direction for its forthcoming Ridgeline truck at the Chicago Auto Show.

"Honda continues to fortify its light-truck lineup in 2015, this time turning our eye to the fast-growing family SUV segment," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "The new Pilot will raise the bar in a segment it helped to create, with more innovation, style, premium features and family utility than ever before."

The original Honda Pilot was introduced in 2002 as the first mainstream eight-passenger SUV to feature car-like unitized body construction, delivering more refined driving dynamics, better fuel economy and superior cabin space in a family-oriented sport-utility vehicle. The second-generation Pilot was launched in 2008. All three generations of the Pilot have been designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Los Angeles and Ohio. The Pilot and its engine are now produced at the company's Lincoln, Alabama plant. 

The Honda brand's U.S. light-truck sales were up 10.6% in the fourth quarter of 2014 to 154,480 SUVs, pickups and minivans, including an 8.6% gain for Pilot, to 28,610 units, in the fourth quarter.

About Honda 
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive automobiles for American car buyers through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Accord, Crosstour, Civic, Fit, and CR-Z along with the Pilot, and CR-V sport-utility vehicles and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 30 years and currently operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2014, 98 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Source: Honda Media News

Honda Sees Record-Setting Year in Sales

Generally speaking, 2014 was a ridiculously good year to be in the business of selling cars. Never in the recorded history of man have human beings purchased more automobiles, which speaks both to a growing population of people who need/can afford cars and the quality of the cars themselves.

Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC

2015 Honda Odyssey Tops All Minivans in Crash Test

We here at Pacific Honda are always trying to tell people that the 2015 Honda Odyssey is a true standout in the world of modern minivans, and it’s always nice when something is published that proves we’re not just talking a big talk.

Honda Kicks Off "Year of Honda" Innovations at 2015 North American International Auto Show

Jan 13, 2015 - DETROIT

• Next-generation Honda fuel cell vehicle launching in 2016
• Advanced environmental vehicles including a new plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric vehicle to launch by 2018
• HondaJet, Acura NSX supercar, and 4th era of Honda Formula One racing mark extraordinary year of Honda Power of Dreams
• New Ohio-made VTEC® Turbo engines launching in 2015

Calling 2015 the "Year of Honda," the company is showcasing multiple innovative products and technologies on the international stage at the 2015 North American International Auto Show that will make 2015 an extraordinary year for the company and its customers. Making its first North American appearance, the Honda FCV Concept demonstrates the company's continued evolution of its next-generation fuel cell car, slated for introduction in the U.S. in 2016. In an effort to showcase Honda's numerous innovative technologies and wide-ranging mobility prowess, the automaker also showcased the HondaJet advanced light jet, the global unveiling of the highly anticipated Acura NSX mid-engine supercar, the UNI-CUB personal mobility device and the return of Honda to Formula One racing.

"No other automaker in the world has the depth of R&D know-how and experience to create such a diverse array of advanced technology products, let alone bring them to market," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "These all-new products and technologies represent significant advancements for our customers and for the future of mobility everywhere; innovations that only a comprehensive mobility company like Honda can truly achieve."

The "Year of Honda" will be marked by the 2015 introduction of iconic and innovative products and a new expression of Honda's racing spirit.

• Customer deliveries of the North Carolina-made HondaJet advanced light jet, which is powered by two GE-Honda HF120 turbofan engines, will begin this year after Federal Aviation Administration type certification is achieved.
• The next-generation Acura NSX supercar will begin orders in late summer, with customer deliveries expected later in the year.
• Honda F1 racing power, in the form of a new power unit – a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and hybrid-type kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems – will return to Formula One through Honda's partnership with McLaren and drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, beginning with the opening race of the series in Melbourne, Australia on March 15, 2015.

The company also announced aggressive plans for future product and technology introductions, including:

• The introduction of Honda's next-generation fuel cell vehicle, as highlighted by the stunning design and spacious interior in the Honda FCV Concept.
• An all-new battery electric vehicle and an all-new plug-in hybrid vehicle by 2018 and further application of Honda's two- and three-motor hybrid systems, as part of the next phase of Honda's commitment to advanced powertrain technologies that enable ultra-low carbon mobility.
• The spring 2015 launch of the all-new 2016 HR-V crossover and the introduction this summer of a fully redesigned Pilot 8-passenger SUV, followed by a new Ridgeline pickup truck in 2016 – part of the step-by-step strengthening of the Honda light truck lineup that will help fuel future growth.
• Before the end of the year, Honda will begin to introduce our new 4-cylinder VTEC® Turbo engines – an extension of its Earth Dreams™ Technology powertrain lineup – that will deliver fun-to-drive performance and fuel efficiency at a very high level. Production of the new VTEC® Turbo engines will begin later this year at Honda's Anna, Ohio, engine plant, the largest automobile engine plant in Honda's global production network. Honda is investing $340 million at the Anna Engine Plant to produce the VTEC® Turbo 4-cylinder engines, a third assembly line for production of 4-cylinder engines and additional manufacturing innovations.

About American Honda
Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 39,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion.

Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Eight Honda auto plants in the region, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year. In 2014, more than 97 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. Those plants today manufacture 11 different models, including four passenger cars and seven light trucks using domestic and globally sourced parts. A fifth U.S. auto plant, the Performance Manufacturing Center, is under construction in Marysville, Ohio, and in 2015 will become the exclusive global production location for the next generation NSX supercar.

Honda also operates 16 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

The 2015 Honda CR-V: Everything Well

Honda Division Breaks Annual Auto Sales Record as Honda and Acura Brands Set Numerous New Sales Marks

• Honda Division sets new annual record with total sales of 1,373,029 vehicles
• American Honda sets new light truck sales mark for calendar year and December
• Acura Division has best annual sales since 2007, with best-ever month & year for trucks

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported record Honda Division sales of 1,373,029 vehicles for 2014 as overall vehicle sales reached 1,540,872 units, the second-best result in company history and an increase of 1.0 percent for the year. AHM light truck sales reached new monthly and annual records with December sales of 67,479 units, an increase of 6.2 percent, and total 2014 sales of 702,351 vehicles, up 1.5 percent. Acura Division sales also gained strongly in December, posting a 13.1 percent gain on sales of 17,809 vehicles, helping push the division to its third best year since 2007.
Honda
The record Honda Division sales of 1,373,029 vehicles in 2014 was an increase of 1.0 percent versus 2013, led by a 2.0 percent increase in total car sales of 781,224 units. The Honda Division once again displayed considerable sales strength across both car and truck categories in 2014.
The award-winning Accord and the all-new Fit led the brand on the car side, while the new Honda CR-V re-asserted its leadership in the hottest segment in the industry, compact SUVs. Accord alone accounted for 388,374 sales in 2014, while CR-V captured 335,019 for the year, a new all-time annual record, and Civic again surpassed the 300,000-unit mark. The sub-compact Fit enjoyed its best December ever.

• CR-V shattered its previous December and annual milestones, rising 12.6 percent in December on sales of 32,369 units, and 10.2 percent YTD on sales of 335,019.
• The new Fit continued its hot streak, with 6,450 vehicles sold in December for an increase of 39.7 percent as total Fit sales reached 59,340 units in 2014, an increase of 10.9 percent.
• Accord posted an annual increase of 5.9 percent on sales of 388,374 vehicles in 2014 while over 325,000 Civics were sold in 2014. Adding CR-V's record haul of 335,019 vehicles pushed the total for these three vehicles comfortably over 1 million units.
• The Honda Pilot surged 28.0 percent in December on sales of 11,479 units in a fast-paced truck market.

"Despite the price of gasoline dropping well below $3 a gallon in many markets, Honda's strong, balanced lineup of cars and trucks helped us achieve record sales in 2014," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "The great news is that we will build on this momentum with some great new products coming in 2015."
Acura
The Acura Division reported total vehicle sales of 167,843 units in 2014, up 1.5 percent — the brand's best year since 2007 – and third consecutive year of increased sales.  Acura finished the year strongly with 17,809 new cars and truck sold in December for a total gain of 13.1 percent month-over-month.
The Acura MDX and RDX combined for new all-time annual and all-time monthly sales records on combined year-to-date sales of 110,546 units, up 12.6 percent, and December sales of 11,919, up 10.7 percent.

• MDX rode a wave of popularity en route to best-ever sales of 65,603 units for 2014, up 23.7 percent versus 2013. December sales were up 3.4 percent on sales of 6,761 vehicles for a new all-time sales record for any month.
• RDX also set annual and monthly records, with total 2014 sales of 44,865, up 0.3 percent, and December sales of 5,156, up 22.3 percent for the month.
• Total 2014 TLX sales reached 19,127 since its mid-August market debut, with December sales limited only by tight supplies of key models.
• ILX posted a strong December, with sales rising 10 percent on delivery of 1,730 units.

"The Acura MDX and RDX declared loud and clear why we call them the best 1-2 punch in the luxury SUV game, with record sales in the history of the Acura brand," said Mike Accavitti, Acura division senior vice president and general manager. "With our passenger car lineup now strengthened by the successful launch of the all-new TLX, the upcoming introduction of the redesigned ILX, and the highly anticipated NSX supercar set for its global debut in Detroit, the Acura brand is poised for great things in 2015."

Source: Honda Media News

2015 Honda CR-V Performs Well in Crash Tests

Like it always has been, safety remains a priority for Honda, particularly in their new 2015 Honda CR-V, which has been completely redesigned for the new model year. Of course, any time an automaker moves forward with a full update, it’s the job of crash-testing organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to go ahead and run that new vehicle through the ringer of tests that determine just how safe a vehicle actually is.

Honda Reports on its Environmental Performance and Progress in North America

Tenth Annual North American Environmental Report provides detailed accounting of environmental impacts and Honda's effort to minimize its environmental footprint

The 2014 Honda North American Environmental Report, released today, details ongoing advances in Honda's effort to minimize the environmental impact of its products and operations, with a continuing strong focus on greenhouse gas emissions that can contribute to global climate change.  In FY2014, the company made significant progress in a number of areas. These include further gains in product fuel efficiency, reduced vehicle emissions, and the near-complete elimination of waste sent to landfill from 14 manufacturing plants in the region.

"The past year has seen a number of important advancements in the environmental performance of our company," said Takuji Yamada, president of Honda North America, Inc. " Honda North America will continue to take on a larger role in Honda's global effort to reduce its environmental footprint and achieve zero-emissions mobility."

The report is Honda's tenth annual report on the environmental impact of its operations in North America, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, and covers the period from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 (fiscal year 2014).  
 
2014 North American Environmental Report Highlights:

Product Development

• In the automobile lineup, Honda has expanded the use of its Earth Dreams™ Technology powertrain series with the launch of the 2014 Accord Hybrid, redesigned 2015 Fit and freshened 2015 Civic, advancing fuel efficiency.
• The company showcased its Honda FCV Concept as a precursor to the introduction of a next-generation Honda fuel-cell car, now slated to launch in 2016.

Purchasing

• Honda is working with parts suppliers to extend the use of Honda's "green factory" principles and expand the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in supplier factories. In 2014, there was a 44 percent increase in the number of suppliers reporting on their GHG emissions.

Manufacturing

• CO2 from production activity in North Americai rose a modest 0.7% despite a significant increase in production in FY2014.
• Waste per auto sent to landfills from plants in the region has been reduced 97% since FY2001 to just 0.8 kilograms per automobile in FY2014.
• Water used in automobile production fell 4.1% from the previous year to a six-year low.

Sales and Service

• The CO2 intensity of transporting finished products from plants to dealerships has been reduced 14.3% over the past seven years.
• The CO2 intensity of transporting service parts to dealerships has been reduced 35.6% over the past five years.

Product In Use

• The unadjusted fleet-average fuel economy of model year 2013 Honda and Acura automobiles, at 34.9 mpg, was up 3.9% over year-ago levels and was ahead of  the industry average by 14.4%.
• The fleet average fuel economyii of model year 2013 Honda powersports products is up 59% from the model year 2000 baseline.

Administration

• The company earned its 13th "green building" certification in North America – for the new maintenance and repair facility of Honda Aircraft Company in Greensboro, NC.

Environmental Business Innovation

• Honda's unique partnership with SolarCity resulted in nearly 11.1 megawatts of solar power-generating capacity be deployed across more than 1,650 rooftops across the U.S. Honda also opened its Honda Smart Home U.S. in Davis, California, a project that showcases environmental innovation and renewable energy-enabling technologies that demonstrate Honda's vision for zero-carbon living.

Additional information on Honda's environmental performance outside of North America can be found in Honda Motor Company's Environmental Report, with a focus on the company's activities in Japan – available at world.honda.com (or by clicking here).

Honda Environmental Leadership 
Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is working to address society's environmental and energy concerns through a diverse lineup of products and technologies, including more fuel-efficient gasoline engines, natural gas, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).
Today, Honda is targeting a 30-percent reduction in CO2 emissions from its U.S. automobile product lineup by 2020, compared to 2000 levels. In pursuit of its vision for a zero-carbon future, the company is advancing electromotive technologies in many forms, and is slated to introduce an advanced fuel-cell vehicle in 2016. In keeping with its commitment to produce vehicles with the lowest CO2 emissions at plants with the smallest environmental footprint, the company is broadly addressing emissions, energy, water use and waste in all phases of its products life cycles. Honda is also demonstrating its vision for zero-carbon mobility and living with the creation of the Honda Smart Home US, in Davis, California.

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iCO2 emissions from the consumption of electricity and natural gas, representing approximately 97 percent of energy consumed in the manufacturing of Honda and Acura products in North America.

iiHonda calculation using U.S. EPA exhaust emissions data

Source: Honda Media Newsroom