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Civic Named One of the 2013 Top Safety Picks

By Jeffrey N. Ross

In an attempt to help push vehicle safety to a higher level, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safetycreated a stricter Top Safety Pick+ rating last year, which incorporates a brutal small overlap test and requires cars to get Good ratings in four out of the five categories (and no less than Acceptable in the fifth). Joining the list of the safest cars of 2013, the 2013 Volvo XC60, Lincoln MKZ, Honda Civic (sedan and coupe) and the 2014 Mazda6 have all received the coveted TSP+ rating.

The Mazda6 and Lincoln MKZ have both been completely redesigned, and both received Acceptable ratings in the small overlap test. The Honda Civic, coming off its emergency refresh for 2013, is the first small car to be subjected to the small overlap test, and IIHS says that one of the car's many upgrades includes a stiffer front structure allowing it to receive Good ratings in all categories. Similarly, the XC60 gets all Good ratings thanks to, according to IIHS, Volvo updating the airbag software allowing the side airbags to inflate during the small overlap test.

The 2014 Subaru Forester has not yet been subjected to the small overlap test, so it must make do with justa Top Safety Pick rating until the IIHS tests small utility vehicles, which is expected to happen later in the spring.

News Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety  & autoblog.com

Image Credit: Copyright 2013 AOL

2013 Honda Accord

Your friends at Pacific Honda have all new options to lease or finance brand new cars, like the 2013 Honda Accord LX 4DR Auto for only $179 a month. With a great selection of rides and payment options, you don't want to miss out on all of the great deals going on this month.  Stop by for a test drive or visit us online at www.pacifichonda.com to see which vehicle is right for you!

2013 Honda Fit Among Best Cars for the Money

Thanks to the internet, potential new car buyers can do a quick Google search at any time and justify the purchase of pretty much any make or model vehicle because some website somewhere listed it on some praise-spewing top ten list. Don’t get us wrong; we are in no way against these lists because our vehicles are featured on a whole lot of them, but the sources behind these write-ups aren’t always the most reliable.

Euro Civic Tourer Shows Future Edge

By Steven J. Ewing

Honda will be expanding its European Civic range this year, and our first glimpse at the shape of things to come arrives in the form of this Tourer Concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. According to Honda, this swoopy concept provides a look at the upcoming Civic Tourer production model, which is set to be revealed in Frankfurt this September.

The Tourer Concept very obviously builds on the design groundwork set by the latest Civic hatchback when it first debuted in 2011. That means there are sharp, angular elements found up front and a sloping roofline that rakes down at the rear. Combine that with the large, concept-spec wheels and the funky front lighting elements, and what we have here is a really attractive little wagon – something that will no doubt battle the new Toyota Auris Touring Sports and Volkswagen Golf Variant that are also making their debut here in Switzerland.

Get the full article here: autoblog/civictourer

News Source: Honda

Honda On Top For Consumer Picks

Honda jumps back on top with the Accord, CR-V, and Odyssey landing in the top picks for Consumer Reports in 2013.  Don't forget to stop by Pacific Honda to test drive any of these great cars, and click the image below to get the full report!

US To Play Larger Role With Honda?

By Jonathon Ramsey

The increasing sales success of Honda North America (HNA) has led to Honda brass in Japan reorganizing regional operations here. The management shuffling here and in Japan is intended to both streamline and confer more responsibility on HNA "as the region assumes a larger role in shaping Honda's global business," and as Honda builds more facilities that serve several roles in the product development pipeline.

Honda's executive vice president and president of HNA Tetsuo Iwamura was named COO of automotive operations, taking over a position that had been handled by company president Takanobu Ito. Iwamura's new role puts him in charge of anything Honda makes that has four wheels, which Automotive News saysequates to 78 percent of the company's global revenue.

The current company CFO, Fumihiko Ike, will fill the now-vacant role of company chairman and Kohei Takeuchi will take his place. Takeuchi is presently the operating officer, general manager of the accounting division. The executive swaps take effect April 1, 2013.

Beyond that, a company called Honda North America Services (HNAS) will integrate IT systems, human resources and other responsibilities and streamline operations such as purchasing and manufacturing. It will pluck 50 employees from Honda's offices in Torrance, California, the new company being based in Honda's offices in Marysville, Ohio.

Honda wants to "deliver high quality products to the consumer more quickly and efficiently," and HNA is also expected to have more input into product development. Honda won't confirm it, but that could mean that the next Honda Accord is developed here.

News Source: Honda/AutoBlog.com

Image Credit: Copyright 2013 Drew Phillips / AOL