Monday, January 19, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
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.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Honda Kicks Off "Year of Honda" Innovations at 2015 North American International Auto Show
- 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.
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
Monday, January 12, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
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
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.
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.
Source: Honda Media News
Thursday, January 8, 2015
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.
Friday, January 2, 2015
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:
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.
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.
# # #
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
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