2015 Honda Fit takes SEMA Show by Storm

11/04/2014 - LAS VEGAS

• Fit wins SEMA Award as "Hottest Sport Compact"
• Tjin Edition voted Fan Favorite in the 2015 Fit Performance Project
• HPD displays extensive line of available racing "crate motors"

The all-new 2015 Honda Fit  (automobiles.honda.com/fit/) arrived at the 2014 SEMA Show in strength, with nine personalized versions on display in the Honda booth, quickly winning the coveted SEMA Award as the "Hottest Sport Compact" at a ceremony formally opening the show. The Honda booth at the SEMA Show is highlighted by the Fit customized by Tjin Edition, voted as the Fan Favorite in the 2015 Fit Performance Project, which enabled fans to track the build processes of several teams through an interactive Honda Tumblr site.
"The 2015 Fit is a worthy addition to Honda's strong heritage of developing tuned sport compact vehicles, and it wears the mantle of "Hottest Sport Compact" well," said Jeff Conrad, SVP & General Manager of Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co, Inc. "Fun to drive, versatile and a great value, the new Fit does so many things right, and it's great to see it becoming a popular platform for owner personalization."
Over the past few months, Honda and its fans followed the progress of six build teams that customized the all-new 2015 Fit through an ambitious project vehicle program and interactive Tumblr experience dubbed the 2015 Fit Performance Project (#ProjectFit). The six build teams, Tjin Edition, voted Fan Favorite; Bisimoto Engineering; Kontrabrands; MAD Industries; Spoon Sports USA; and the award-winning Kenny Vinces, each personalized the Fit virtually in public, something rarely seen in a very competitive industry. Photos, video and animated GIFs of the transformations in progress were posted throughout the campaign at hondaloves.tumblr.com where fans ultimately voted for their favorite build.
Three additional personalized 2015 Honda Fit vehicles are on display in the automaker's booth including a Fit B-spec race car prepped for competition by Honda Performance Development (HPD), Honda's North American racing company; a Fit loaded with available dealer-installed Honda Genuine Accessories; and an additional Fit personalized by prominent tuner, Bisimoto, on behalf of Norm Reeves Honda in response to fan feedback prompted through the 2015 Fit Performance Project.
HPD is back at the SEMA Show displaying its extensive line of racing engines which are available for purchase for sanctioned racers in North America. HPD has long supported grassroots through pinnacle racing, and the display highlights the broad spectrum of available engines ranging from go-cart motors to IndyCar and ALMS engines. Please refer to the separate HPD SEMA Show press release for full details on the display or visit hpd.honda.com/racing-line/racing-line-store for consumer information.
Bringing a "fun to ride" element to the Honda display, a range of Honda Powersports products help highlight Honda's broad range of enthusiast oriented products beyond automobiles. On display at the show: the Pioneer 500 side by side, the NC700X, CBR300R, and the wildly popular Grom.
After viewing all of the impressive vehicle displays at the 2014 SEMA Show, attendees with media credentials are also invited to celebrate at the second annual "Honda Soiree" on Nov. 4 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Tao Nightclub inside the Venetian hotel complex. Members of the media are invited to visit the Honda booth in the Central Hall at the SEMA Show on Nov. 4, where a limited number of media entry wristbands will be available.
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 and Insight 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 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 Honda Powersports
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and Side-by-Sides in the U.S. American Honda's Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through independent authorized Honda retail dealers.
For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.
Summary of Vehicles on Display at the American Honda Booth
Honda Automobile Display
2015 Honda Fit EX equipped with Honda Genuine Accessories
From Honda Performance Development
2015 Honda Fit HPD B-SPEC Concept Race Car
#28 Andretti Autorsport DHL Show Car – Winner of the 2014 Indianapolis 500 (replica)
HPD Supercharged CR-Z IndyCar Series Pace Car
HI13RT IndyCar Engine
HPD K20 Formula Atlantic Engine
HPD L15A7 Formula F Engine
CRF250 Karting Engine
GXH50 Karting Engine
CR125 Karting Engine
GX120 .25 Midget Engine
GX160 .25 Midget Engine
AR35TT GT Engine

Project Vehicles⁵
Bisimoto Engineering 2015 Honda Fit for Norm Reeves Honda
Bisimoto 2015 Honda Fit Turbo
Bisimoto 2015 Honda Fit Spec Car
Kontrabrands, LLC A.M.L. (Active Metropolitan Lifestyle) Honda Fit
Spoon Sports Super Taikyu 2015 Honda Fit
Kylie Tjin Special Edition Fit

Powersports Display
Pioneer side-by-side
Grom
CBR300R
NC700X
⁵ Aftermarket project vehicles. All modification information listed was provided by the vehicle builders and has not been confirmed by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. The modifications to these vehicles may void the manufacturer's warranty, may not be legal for street driving in all 50 states and have not been specifically suggested, recommended or approved by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Honda Division Breaks Another Monthly Sales Record in October; Acura October Sales Jump Nearly 8% with another Big Month for the All-New TLX

11/03/2014 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• Honda Division has its best-ever October sales—up 5.5 percent on delivery of 105,745 new cars and trucks
• All-new Acura TLX sales reach nearly 5,000 units in October, driving an overall 7.9 percent increase for the brand
• Honda CR-V smashes previous October record with 29,257 sales, an increase of 29.7 percent over the same period in 2013; New Fit also sets new October sales mark

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported total October 2014 Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 121,172 units, an increase of 5.8 percent versus October of last year. The Honda division set a new October record on sales of 105,745 vehicles, an increase of 5.5 percent for the month. The Acura division posted sales of 15,427 units to rise 7.9 percent in the same period.
Honda
The new October sales record for the Honda brand was driven by the success of core models leading to an overall 5.5 percent gain versus October 2013. The new 2015 CR-V, crowned Motor Trend's 2015 SUV of the Year, helped the model post its best October on record. The new Honda Fit also set a new October milestone and Accord sales rose for the 10th straight month—all helping to push the Honda brand to a new October pinnacle.

• The redesigned 2015 Honda CR-V, which went on sale October 1, helped smash the previous October record, and was up 29.7 percent over 2013 on sales of 29,257 units.
• The new Honda Fit nearly doubled its sales last month, setting an all-time October record with sales of 6,851 units, an increase of 83.4 percent for the month.
• Honda's stalwart Accord posted a strong month, rising 7.8 percent in October with sales of 27,128 units to give the model its 10^th straight monthly increase.

"The new 2015 CR-V is giving renewed momentum to what has already been an incredible year," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "The success of the new Fit is an important step in re-establishing small cars as a pillar in the Honda lineup."
Acura
With the 3.5L SH-AWD model enjoying its first full month on the market, the new Acura TLX gained more than 25 percent versus last month's strong performance, reaching sales of nearly 5,000 units in October after less than three months on the market. TLX helped push Acura brand sales up 7.9 percent for the month.

• TLX sales reached 4,890 units in October, jumping 25.9 percent over last month for its best month since joining the Acura lineup, and came within just a few hundred units of ranking as Acura's best-selling model.
• With 5,324 units sold in October, Acura's current best seller—MDX—jumped 9.5 percent month-over-month despite being limited by tight supplies.

"With TLX sales nearly topping 5,000 units in a segment full of notoriously tough competitors, the new TLX is quickly establishing itself as a top player in the mid-size luxury sedan game," said Mike Accavitti, Acura division senior vice president and general manager. "This early success of TLX also demonstrates the strong potential of the performance direction for the Acura product lineup."



Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Honda to Host First-Ever Trick-or-Treating Event on Twitter

For the first time ever, ghouls, goblins, ghosts and other costumed creatures will be able to trick-or-treat on Twitter on Fri., Oct. 31 by tweeting @Honda a photo of themselves in costume with the hashtag #TreatPromo. Honda will reply to eligible people with a link to a coupon for a free box of MIKE AND IKE® candy as well as a link to a spooky Vine video.
Five eerie Vine videos feature the redesigned CR-V opening up when trick-or-treaters come to Honda’s door, so to speak.
Honda will use promoted tweets with video cards to announce the effort on Twitter. Both brands will also organically promote the effort on social media—Honda on Facebook and Twitter and MIKE AND IKE® on Facebook and Twitter.
“In the spirit of Halloween, we wanted a simple and unique way to show some appreciation to our fans. Innovation is at the heart of our brand. Why not look at innovating something as fun as trick or treating?” said Tom Peyton, AVP, Advertising and Marketing at Honda.
About Just Born Quality Confections
Just Born Quality Confections is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, where it manufactures PEEPS®, HOT TAMALES® and MIKE AND IKE® Brand Candies. GOLDENBERG’S® PEANUT CHEWS® Brand Candies are produced in Philadelphia, PA. All Just Born candies are made in the U.S.A.
For more information on MIKE AND IKE®, new flavors and upcoming programs, visit www.mikeandike.com. Also be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and “like” us on Facebook.
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 and Insight along with the Pilot, and CR-V sport-utility vehicles and the Odyssey minivan.
Honda has the highest brand fuel economy¹ and the longest-lasting cars² of any mainstream automotive brand in America, and more models achieving an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating than any other automotive nameplate.
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.
¹ Based on model year 2012 fuel economy data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its report: "Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2013."
² Longevity based on IHS Automotive, Polk U.S. vehicles in operation registration statistics 1988-2012 for Honda and non-luxury competing brands.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

Eight HBCU Bands Selected to "March On" to the 13th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase

 Tickets Now On-sale to Attend the Nation's Premier Marching Band Showcase

Students, alumni and fans of America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) cast their votes online and took to social media to help their favorite marching bands advance to the 13th annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. The final eight bands have been selected and will take the Georgia Dome by storm on January 24, 2015, when they showcase their incredible musical talent and electrifying showmanship in front of a packed crowd in Atlanta, GA.
The following eight bands will perform at the 13th Annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase:

• 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); performing at Honda Battle of the Bands for the first time
• 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); performing at Honda Battle of the Bands for the first time
• Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands (Ohio Valley Conference)

Tickets to the Honda Battle of the Bands are available for purchase now on the official website, starting at just $10. The participating eight HBCUs will receive a $20,000 grant from Honda to support their music education programs, plus travel to and accommodations in Atlanta for the Invitational Showcase. The final eight were selected through a process that included online fan voting, as well as feedback from band directors, HBCU school presidents and representatives from American Honda.
This year's theme, "March On," serves as a reminder to students and fans that life on and off the field is a journey, and no matter the challenge, the dream or what may lie ahead, learning never stops as long as you commit to "March On."
"Honda congratulates the eight bands selected to participate in the Invitational Showcase and thanks all of the schools, students, alumni and fans that participated in the process leading to Atlanta," said Stephan Morikawa, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Community Relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda is committed to supporting education at HBCUs by investing in their programs and providing a platform aimed at helping students realize what Honda calls The Power of Dreams."
The 2015 Invitational Showcase will feature the first-ever Honda Battle of the Bands Power of Dreams Award. Participating teams and fans will have the opportunity to nominate an outstanding member of their community who is working to help students achieve their dreams. Honda will then select a winner who will be recognized in Atlanta at the 2015 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.
For updates, follow the Honda Battle of the Bands and join the social media conversation 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 the 2015 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 20 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 12 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 we do business, to socially responsible business practices and to the promotion of diversity in our 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 the communities where we live and work. Find out more at csr.honda.com.

Source: Honda Media Newsroom

2015 Honda CR-V Named Motor Trend SUV of the Year!

Of all the accolades that an automaker hopes to see its models win over the course of a year, the Motor Trend Car, SUV and Truck of the Year awards are typically considered among the most prestigious. Knowing that, we here at Pacific Honda are thrilled to pass on the good news that the 2015 Honda CR-V was recently named the Motor Trend 2015 SUV of the Year!

Fit Lyft – Overly accommodating Lyft Driver

2015 Honda Fit Nominated for Car of the Year

There are a lot of things worth looking forward to when it comes to the Detroit Auto Show, which takes place every winter in the motor capital of the U.S., but one our favorites here at Pacific Honda is the North American Car of the Year Award presentation, which almost always involves at least one nominee with a Honda badge on the front grille.