Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

World-Renowned Inventor and Futurist Ray Kurzweil to Open SAE 2015 World Congress & Exhibition

Honda invites Kurzweil as "perfect match" for Congress theme of "Leading Mobility Innovation"

Ray Kurzweil, a director of engineering at Google and a world renowned American futurist and inventor, will be the opening speaker next month at the SAE 2015 World Congress & Exhibition. As the company providing Executive Leadership for the 2015 World Congress, Honda is sponsoring Kurzweil's address as an expression of the event theme -- "Leading Mobility Innovation."
"The visionary spirit of Ray Kurzweil is a perfect match for the kickoff of the world's most important gathering of automotive engineering talent," said Erik Berkman, general chairman of the 2015 World Congress and executive vice president of Honda North America, Inc. "Our industry is in the midst of a period of rapid and surprising change and we are excited to bring his challenging ideas to energize this Congress."
More than 11,000 automotive engineers are expected to attend the SAE 2015 World Congress, April 21-23, at Cobo Center in Detroit. The Congress will feature 1,500 presentations and the release of more than 1,400 technical papers. Honda is providing Executive Leadership at the Congress with Continental serving as the Tier One Strategic Partner.
At Google, Kurzweil leads a team that is developing machine intelligence and natural language understanding. He is best known as one of the leading experts on artificial intelligence in the world. The author of five national best-selling books and considered one of the world's leading futurists, Kurzweil has predicted that during the first half of this century computer intelligence will overtake human intelligence.
Kurzweil is the holder of 20 honorary doctorates and an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, as well as a recipient of the National Medal of Technology. As a leader in the field of optical character recognition, he led a team to create an application that allows the blind to hear words photographed with a smart phone.
Other keynote speakers for the World Congress will include:

• Tahmid Mizan, senior technology adviser, Corporate Strategic Planning, ExxonMobil Corp.
• Helmut Matschi, executive board member, Continental VDO Automotive, AG.

The banquet speaker for the final event of the Congress will be Frank Paluch, president, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.
For more information about the SAE 2015 World Congress, visit hondanews.com or sae.org/congress.
About 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 17 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 12 different models, including five 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 will become the exclusive global production location for the next generation Acura NSX supercar.
Honda also operates 14 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.
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting more than 147,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Honda Plans to Bring Civic Hatchback to U.S.

It’s a long story, but here’s the short version of it: Honda reportedly plans to start ramping up production for the hatchback version of the Honda Civic, previously only available to European consumers, with the intent to start selling them to American consumers in the near future.

Honda Introduces New Lease Options for Existing and Prospective Fit EV Lessees

Mar 23, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• Two-year Fit EV lease extension offered to existing lessees
• New, two-year used Fit EV lease offered to prospective customers
• Price reduced to $199 a month; no down payment and unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage included

Honda is extending the reach of its efficient and fun-to-drive all-electric Fit EV (http://automobiles.honda.com/fit-ev/) through new lease programs for both existing and prospective Fit EV customers. For current, eligible Fit EV customers, Honda is offering a two-year lease extension that includes a lower $199 monthly payment¹ (previously $259) and extends the unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage¹ that were included in the original lease. The reduced lease price and matching two-year terms¹ will also be available to new customers interested in driving a used Honda Fit EV. Honda shared the news to a group of Fit EV drivers at an event hosted at the Honda Smart Home US (http://www.hondasmarthome.com/) in Davis, CA on Saturday, March 21.
"Most Fit EV drivers tell us they love their vehicles, and many have requested lease extensions and this extended lease program is intended to meet their needs," said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.  "We're very confident in how the vehicles are performing, and look forward to offering new and existing customers a chance to experience everything the Fit EV has to offer."
The Honda Fit EV is among the most efficient 5-passenger electric vehicles on the market with a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe², an EPA-rated driving range of 82 miles², and a super-efficient energy-consumption rating of 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles. When connected to a 240-volt circuit, the Fit EV battery can be recharged in less than three hours³.
Lessees will be contacted by Honda prior to lease end for additional details about lease extensions. Fit EV customers also can take advantage of Honda's partnership with SolarCity (http://www.hondasolarcity.com/) to install solar power with no upfront cost, allowing them to recharge their vehicle with clean, affordable power from the sun.
Honda Environmental Leadership
Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is taking a comprehensive approach to reducing the environmental impact of its products, advancing fuel efficiency, low emissions and fun-to-drive performance with new powertrain technologies from its Earth Dreams Technology™ lineup, which includes more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions and advanced electromotive technologies. Honda will offer several next-generation, advanced powertrain vehicles, including a new battery-electric model and plug-in hybrid model by 2018 and plans further application of its two- and three-motor hybrid systems in the years to come. Together, these vehicles will offer significant sales volume, enabling Honda to bring ultra-low carbon transportation to consumers in the U.S.
Honda is also demonstrating its vision for zero-carbon mobility and living with the creation of the Honda Smart Home US, in Davis, California, which was opened in early 2014 and is capable of producing more energy on-site from renewable sources than it consumes annually, including enough energy to power a Honda Fit EV for daily commuting.
<sup>1 Subject to limited availability in designated market regions on approved credit through American Honda Finance Corp. Closed end lease for used 2013 or 2014 Honda Fit EV for well-qualified lessees. Not all applicants will qualify. No purchase option at lease end. Original MSRP $37,415 (includes destination). Total monthly payments $4,776.00. Excludes tax, title, license, registration, options and insurance. Zero capitalized cost reduction. Lessee responsible for non-routine maintenance, excessive wear/damage. Lease includes collision coverage, routine maintenance, roadside assistance and navigation system updates.
2 132/105/118 city/highway/combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) rating; 82 mile combined (city/highway) driving range rating (adjusted). Ratings determined by U.S. EPA. Your MPGe and range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-electric-label.shtml.
3 From low-charge indicator illumination point to full charge.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom</sup>

Honda – Keep Up

2015 Honda Civic Si Among Coolest Affordable Cars

Everybody wants their car to be cool, whether they admit it or not. Plenty of consumers will shrug it off, like having a cool car isn’t as important as finding a good value, but the reality is that they would much rather have a vehicle that accomplishes both things if at all possible.

The good news is that there are cool cars available for reasonable prices. In fact, Kelley Blue Book recently put out a list of “Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $25,000” for the sole purpose of proving that drivers could, in fact, take home a slick, fun-to-drive automobile without having to sacrifice a child’s college education and/or wedding fund.

New Honda Advertising Campaign Urges Owners to Take Immediate Action to Check for Open Recalls to Replace Takata Airbag Inflators

• Multi-million dollar print, digital and radio advertising campaign urges Honda and Acura owners to check for open recalls and complete airbag inflator repairs
• Ad campaign expands existing Honda actions to notify owners affected by Takata airbag inflator recalls
• Campaign will prioritize regions deemed the greatest risk

Honda has initiated a new, voluntary consumer information advertising campaign urging Honda and Acura owners to immediately check for open recalls and safety improvement campaigns, and to take affected vehicles to an authorized dealer for free repair as soon as possible. This new effort builds on the comprehensive approach Honda has taken to identify, locate and contact registered owners with vehicles included in one or more recalls to replace Takata airbag inflators.
"The goals of this campaign are to save lives and prevent injuries," said John Mendel, Executive Vice President of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda hopes that this new consumer information campaign will bolster our existing and continuing efforts to reach our customers and maximize the vehicle repair completion rates associated with recalls to replace Takata airbag inflators. These ads are a strong call to action from our company designed to break through the clutter, grab the attention of customers driving affected vehicles, and urge that they get required repairs as soon as possible," said Mendel.
The consumer information campaign includes a multi-million dollar advertising push that will begin on Monday, March 16. Full-page, color advertisements will appear in more than 120 newspapers, while 30-second radio announcements will air in more than 110 markets. In addition, sponsored, customized Facebook posts that mention the specific vehicle owned by each identified user will appear on owners' timelines, in an additional effort to capture attention and encourage owners to take action. The newspaper and radio advertisements will appear in Spanish or English to match the primary language of each targeted media outlet. Examples are available for download at hondanews.com.
The advertising campaign will prioritize the 11 states and U.S. territories¹ that have been identified by Honda as representing the greatest risk to affected owners. These geographic areas expand on the four states and territories (Florida, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Takata initially targeted based on the consistent high absolute humidity levels present in those regions. It is believed that high absolute humidity contributes to a greater risk of inflator rupture in certain older-model Takata front airbags. Honda voluntarily expanded the scope of the safety improvement campaign to include vehicles in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and California, a total of 11 states and territories, in an effort to include other potential areas that experience consistently humid conditions over extended periods of time.
Honda strives for 100 percent vehicle repair completion in every recall and every safety improvement campaign it undertakes. Since initiating the first Takata airbag inflator recall in 2008, Honda has distributed millions of mailed notifications to registered owners in English and Spanish, but many vehicles included in these recalls remain unrepaired. Unfortunately, it is estimated that one-third of all recalled vehicles in the U.S. are never repaired. The problem is more prevalent among older model vehicles.
To help improve owner response rates, Honda has implemented various means of consumer outreach for recall notification and re-notification, including automated phone calls, mailing notices by registered mail and overnight delivery services, enlisting the support of authorized dealers and other measures. In cases where mailed notifications have been returned to Honda as undeliverable, Honda has engaged firms with specialized search skills and access to unique databases to locate registered owners.
Taking Care of our Customers
Honda and Acura owners with any pending recalls should schedule an appointment with their local authorized Honda or Acura dealership. The dealership will replace the part at no charge to the customer. Honda has taken significant actions to accelerate the pace of airbag inflator repairs, including securing agreements with two additional inflator suppliers. As a result, Honda expects replacement part capacity to fully meet demand by later this Spring. However, the current availability of replacement parts, as well as the time required to complete repairs, could lead to delays for individual customers. If a customer affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls requests alternative transportation until their vehicle can be repaired, including use of a loaner vehicle or rental vehicle, Honda will accommodate their needs at no charge.
Summary of Affected Models (certain specific vehicles only):

• 2001-2007 Honda Accord
• 2001-2005 Honda Civic
• 2002-2006 Honda CR-V
• 2003-2011 Honda Element
• 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey
• 2003-2007 Honda Pilot
• 2006 Honda Ridgeline
• 2003-2006 Acura MDX
• 2002-2003 Acura TL
• 2003 Acura CL
• 2005 Acura RL

***Note to News Media: Please consider including the information below when reporting this story. Honda appreciates your help in reaching as many affected owners as possible with this important message. Thank you very much!***
Honda continues to urge owners of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls to get their vehicles repaired at an authorized dealer as soon as possible. Honda owners can check their vehicles' recall status at www.recalls.honda.com or by calling 1-800-999-1009, option 4. Acura owners can check their vehicles' recall status at www.recalls.acura.com or by calling 1-800-382-2238, option 4.
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¹Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; bordering states may be included

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Four Honda Models Named Best Family Vehicles

If we were to tell you that the 2015 Honda Odyssey was mentioned on this year’s Kelley Blue Book “Top 15 Family Vehicles,” chances are pretty good that the majority of our readers would not be surprised. Not only is it spacious and versatile and utilitarian, but it’s also absolutely loaded with great technology, including conveniently-located USB charging ports for teens with smartphones and optional entertainment systems in the headrests for younger kids on long trips. Some trims even offer built-in vacuum cleaners, proving just how built for families the vehicle actually is.

Top-selling Honda CR-V and Odyssey Named Best Cars for Families by U.S. News & World Report

• Odyssey minivan wins Best Minivan for Families award for 5th consecutive year
• CR-V named Best Compact SUV for Families

The boldly restyled 2015 Honda CR-V (http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-v/) compact sport utility vehicle and the class-leading 2015 Honda Odyssey minivan (http://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey/) have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as 2015 Best Cars for Families. This is the fifth year in a row that the Honda Odyssey has been selected as the Best Minivan for Families.
"Recognition from the Best Cars for Families awards for our top-selling CR-V and Odyssey demonstrates that the Honda brand values align with the needs of family buyers in terms of performance, fuel efficiency and safety performance," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "The CR-V and Odyssey were designed to offer the ideal vehicle packaging for transporting families in comfort and style positioning Honda strongly in the competition for family buyers."
The new 2015 Honda CR-V received the most significant mid-model cycle refresh in its history, with a new direct-injected Earth Dreams Technology™ i-VTEC® engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) to improve performance and fuel efficiency. A new suite of Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive features on the Touring trim, along with significantly enhanced exterior and interior styling, and a long list of new family-friendly standard and available features bring a new level of sophistication to America's top-selling SUV¹.
The Odyssey received a multitude of powertrain, styling, interior, feature and safety equipment upgrades for the 2014 model year, including the highly acclaimed in-vehicle vacuum cleaner, the HondaVAC™, featured on the Odyssey Touring Elite. Other upgrades designed to meet the needs of active families included the addition of a standard 6-speed automatic transmission resulting in receipt of class-leading EPA fuel-economy ratings, enhanced safety equipment and connectivity upgrades.
The Best Cars for Families award methodology combines professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume and the availability of family-friendly features. The 2015 Honda CR-V and Odyssey and other winners can be found at http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Best-Cars-for-Families/.
¹ Based on Automotive News Center data for all SUV and CUV models 2004-2014 calendar years.
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, CR-Z, along with the Pilot, CR-V sport-utility vehicle, the HR-V crossover 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 2013, more than 94 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
About U.S. News Best Cars
U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report at www.usnews.com/cars, has published rankings for new vehicles sold in America since 2007 and rankings for used vehicles since 2012. U.S. News also publishes the annual Best Cars for the Money awards. U.S. News Best Cars has grown in popularity and influence each year; in 2013, the site received over 40 million unique visitors. Over 65 percent of visitors were actively shopping for a car, while 80 percent of those active shoppers reported that the U.S. News Best Cars site influenced their car purchasing decision.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

The 2015 Honda Fit Going Euro

When is a Honda Fit not a Honda Fit? When it's a Honda Jazz. In other markets around the world, our pleasant little Fit hatchback uses a jazzier nomenclature, but what you're looking at here isn't simply a rebadged version of the car we know and love.

For starters, the Euro-spec Jazz uses a 1.3-liter VTEC engine from Honda's Earth Dreams line, tuned to produce 101 horsepower. (The US-spec Fit, meanwhile, cranks out 130 hp from its larger, 1.5-liter engine.) That powerplant is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable unit, and will be the only engine initially available at launch. From there, it's pretty much the same, save the small running lamps that flank the foglamps.

The Jazz should fit nicely within not only the Honda lineup, but the booming subcompact class, with lots of onboard technology, excellent packaging (including the company's Magic Seat rear bench), and – we assume – a relatively affordable price point.

Source: Autoblog

Honda Proves Among Most Dependable Brands in Study

In the most recent J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, it was discovered that while today’s owners of automobiles generally love the cars that they buy, they do have a couple of qualms about things like infotainment systems and voice commands.

Honda Technology: Lane Departure Warning* (LDW)

Diverse Lineup of Light Trucks and Sub-Compacts Leads American Honda February 2015 Sales Increase

• Acura trucks set new February benchmark, with a 12.5 percent gain on sales of 8,415
• Honda Fit sets new February record, rising 81 percent on sales of 5,652 units
• Honda Pilot has February to remember, with sales up 82.7 percent

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported February Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 105,466 units, an increase of 5.0 percent versus February 2014. Sales of Acura light trucks set a new February record, rising 12.5 percent on sales of 8,415 vehicles. The Honda Division sold 92,474 vehicles in February—an increase of 4.1 percent for the month. The Acura brand posted sales of 12,992 units in February, rising 12.5 percent over the same period last year.
Honda
Honda's remarkable Fit subcompact set another monthly record in February, posting an 81 percent increase over year ago totals. The Pilot again showed considerable sales strength, creating strong momentum as the company prepares for the arrival of the all-new 2016 Pilot this summer. Sales of the best-selling CR-V also rose in February, gaining 7.4 percent vs. the same period last year. Pilot and CR-V pushed Honda light trucks to a total increase of 12.6 percent for the month.

• Honda Fit easily smashed its previous February record, rising 81 percent on sales of 5,652.
• Sales of the best-selling Honda CR-V totaled 22,298 units, up 7.4 percent for the month.
• The Honda Pilot posted one of its best months in the last year with sales up 82.7 percent on sales of 12,629 vehicles.
• Overall Honda truck sales totaled 43,782 for a gain of 12.6 percent in February.

"Strong February sales of both the sub-compact Fit and our 8-passenger Pilot SUV demonstrate the power of the Honda brand with individual buyers," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "Honda is delivering incredible value throughout our product lineup that is resonating with our customers."
Acura
Acura trucks continue to light up the sales charts with RDX setting a new February best just ahead of the launch of the refreshed 2016 model. MDX also sold at near record levels during a transition month as the 2016 model became available at Acura dealers in early February. Combined, the RDX and MDX gave Acura trucks a new February sales record.
TLX sales remain strong, taking important share in the super-competitive mid-luxury sedan segment and spurring overall Acura car sales to 4,577 in February, an increase of 12.7 percent. And the significantly revised 2016 ILX went on sale mid-month, adding new power to a strengthening Acura sedan lineup.

• RDX captured yet another monthly sales record with 3,862 units sold in February, up 32.7 percent for the month.  
• MDX maintained a strong pace as America's 3-row luxury SUV sales leader easily surpassed 4,500 units again.
• RDX and MDX combined for a February record of 8,415 Acura trucks sold in February, an increase of 12.5 percent for the month.

"While bone-chilling winter weather takes its toll on much of the country, Acura sales continue to reflect a strong warming trend," said Mike Accavitti, Acura division senior vice president and general manager. "Our MDX and RDX luxury SUVs remain red hot—with refreshed 2016 models only adding fuel to the fire. And the substantially upgraded 2016 ILX sport sedan now in showrooms nationwide will burn brighter than ever."
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Source: Honda Media Newsroom