Honda HR-V Named "2016 Green SUV of the Year" by Green Car Journal

Jan 21, 2016 - WASHINGTON D.C.

• 2016 HR-V delivers unsurpassed fuel economy¹ in the subcompact crossover segment in combination with fun-to-drive performance, sporty design and spacious, versatile packaging
• HR-V is third Honda model honored by the magazine within the last five years

The 2016 Honda HR-V (http://automobiles.honda.com/hr-v/), the brand’s stylish and versatile crossover vehicle, has been named "2016 Green SUV of the Year™" by Green Car Journal. The "Green SUV of the Year" award recognizes the all-new HR-V for its class-leading environmental performance – a top fuel economy rating of 35 mpg highway¹ (2WD CVT) and additional designation as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV2 ULEV).

"The Honda HR-V is a truly unique new subcompact crossover, delivering the space, utility, comfort and feature content of a larger vehicle, with the sporty driving dynamics and class-leading fuel economy ratings on par with a small car," said John Mendel, executive vice president of Auto Sales for American Honda. "All of us at Honda truly appreciate Green Car Journal for recognizing the HR-V as Green SUV of the Year and as the latest in a growing lineup of products with class-leading efficiency and low emissions."

"With its active styling, smart features, and fuel economy leadership, the 2016 Honda HR-V gives car buyers an entirely new option in the small SUV category," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "The HR-V brings true environmental performance to this fast-growing category, and drivers are taking notice, as are we here at Green Car Journal, making HR-V the perfect choice to take home 2016’s "Green SUV of the Year" honor."

The 2016 HR-V is the third Honda brand vehicle honored by the magazine in the past five years, joining prior Green Car of the Year™ Award winners, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas and the 2014 Accord.

2016 Honda HR-V
The 2016 HR-V is available with an all-new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that delivers both fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive performance at a high level. When equipped with the available CVT, the HR-V has an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating¹ of 28/35 miles per gallon when equipped with front-wheel drive, and 27/32 miles per gallon when equipped with Real Time AWD™. With a 6-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, the HR-V has an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating¹ of 25/34 miles per gallon.

About Green SUV of the Year
The award-winning Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment since its launch in 1992. As part of its mission, the magazine hosts events, produces ride-and-drives of advanced and clean fuel vehicles, and conducts various outreach efforts to educate consumers on better and more environmentally positive vehicle choices. The magazine's content is featured online at www.CarsOfChange.com.

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, including more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions and advanced electromotive technologies. Honda will offer several next-generation, advanced powertrain vehicles, including the launch of the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell sedan in 2016, and an all-new Honda plug-in hybrid model by 2018. Honda also will expand the use of its advanced 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.

¹ Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-hr-v-named-2016-green-suv-of-the-year-by-green-car-journal

Kelley Blue Book: 2015 Brand Image Awards: Best Overall Brand

About the Brand Image Awards

From laundry detergent to designer handbags, a strong brand is a powerful thing. And it's truer in the car market than almost any other.

So every year the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence team tracks consumers' brand perceptions with its Brand Watch study. And every year we leverage the results of that study in presenting the Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, highlighting the standout brands in a variety of categories including Most Trusted Brand, Best Performance Brand and more. More accurate than a moment-in-time survey, this year the ongoing Brand Watch study tapped the sentiments of more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers doing their research at KBB.com.

Best Brands

The Brand Image Awards comprise 13 winners across seven categories, recognizing automakers' outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brands that engender enthusiasm among new-vehicle buyers. The trophies are presented to the winning automakers on the floor of the New York Auto Show.
And with that, let's meet the Brand Image Award winners of 2015, starting strong with the two Best Overall Brand awards.

This is the third year in a row that Honda has claimed the title of Best Overall Brand, thanks in large part to many of the same reasons it also took home this year's Best Value Brand trophy. It's familiar territory for Honda, which has built a reputation for quality and reliability by providing buyers with well-built, hassle-free transportation for decades. Honda owners are more loyal than most and recommend the cars more often, and that's exactly why and how a great brand is built.

• Honda Accord
• Honda Accord Hybrid
• Honda Civic
• Honda Crosstour
• Honda CR-V
• Honda CR-Z
• Honda Fit
• Honda Odyssey
• Honda Pilot

From the storied Porsche 911 to the new-for-2015 Macan SUV, the Porsche lineup benefits from one of the purest brands in the world. The automaker's dedication to driving remains, but today's expanded Porsche portfolio offers several 4-door options and some of the richest interiors on the road. Expanding a brand's appeal while maintaining its integrity is not an easy thing to do, but Porsche has done it masterfully.

• Porsche 911
• Porsche 918 Spyder
• Porsche Boxster
• Porsche Cayenne
• Porsche Cayman
• Porsche Macan
• Porsche Panamera

Source;
http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/brand-image-awards/best-overall-brand/

Honda Canada Presented with Four Value Awards at the Canadian International Auto Show

As Canadian automotive media gather to open the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Honda received four combined awards from Canadian Black Book (CBB) and ALG for overall best retained value and best residual value. The segment awards are received for vehicle quality, reliability and overall value.

“Honda Canada is honoured to be recognized by CBB and ALG for their prestigious value awards,” said Dave Gardner, senior vice president of operations at Honda Canada. “The distinction speaks to the promise of our core brands - reliability, durability and quality – and provides our customers with the knowledge that they are purchasing the highest quality vehicles.”

ALG Awards
ALG's Residual Value Awards honour the vehicles that are forecast to retain the highest percentage of MSRP after a four-year period for mainstream brands. Award recipients are chosen after a careful evaluation of vehicle criteria, including segment competition, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Awards are given in 22 vehicle segment categories and two brand categories (Mainstream and Premium). This year’s winners include:

• Compact Utility – Honda CR-V
• Minivan – Honda Odyssey

Canadian Black Book Awards
The Canadian Black Book ‘Best Retained Value Awards’ acknowledge vehicles that retain the highest percentage of their original MSRP after four years. For 2015, this distinctive award program analyzed model year 2011 vehicles in 20 different categories. CBB's awards guide consumers who are looking for vehicles that hold their value best, thereby reducing the total cost of vehicle ownership...a critical consideration when purchasing a vehicle. This year’s winners include:

• Sub-Compact Car – Honda Fit
• Minivan – Honda Odyssey 

 

Source;

http://www.houseofjapan.com/auto-moto/honda-canada-presented-with-four-value-awards-at-the-canadian-international-auto-show

Honda again honored as most-trusted brand, Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book’s annual Brand Image Award study has crowned Japan’s Honda for the second straight year as the best brand – according to new car buyers.

Kelley Blue Book Announces 2014 Brand Image Award Winners
Honda Holds Reign for Best Overall Brand, Most Trusted Brand; Kia, GMC, Jaguar Win First Brand Image Awards

IRVINE, Calif., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2014 Brand Image Award winners, based on annual new-car buyer perception data, are announced today by Kelley Blue Book, www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used car information. The Kelley Blue Book® Brand Image Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and enthusiasm of the new-vehicle buying public. Award categories are calculated among luxury, non-luxury and truck shoppers.

"The classic saying 'perception is reality' falls true with the Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, as more than 12,000 in-market new-car shoppers have voiced their opinions about today's automakers," said Hwei-Lin Oetken, vice president of market intelligence for Kelley Blue Book. "With strong marketing communications coming from auto manufacturers and dealers, and the increased importance of peer reviews and ratings, consumers today are more influenced than ever to take interest in a brand, ultimately affecting their vehicle purchase decisions."

2014 Brand Image Award Winners: Non-Luxury Brands

Honda
Best Overall Brand

Honda
Most Trusted Brand

Kia
Best Value Brand

GMC
Most Refined Brand

MINI
Best Performance Brand

Chevrolet
Best Car Styling Brand

2014 Brand Image Award Winner: Truck Brand

Ford
Best Overall Truck Brand

2014 Brand Image Award Winners: Luxury Brands

Mercedes-Benz
Best Overall Luxury Brand

Lexus
Most Trusted Luxury Brand

Buick
Best Value Luxury Brand

Mercedes-Benz
Most Refined Luxury Brand

Porsche
Best Performance Luxury Brand

Jaguar
Best Car Styling Luxury Brand

For two years running, Honda has been named the Best Overall Brand, securing the highest average scores among all 12 Brand Watch factors, including affordability, "cool" factor, driving comfort, driving performance, durability/reliability, exterior styling, fuel efficiency, interior layout, prestige/sophistication, reputation, ruggedness and safety (listed in alphabetical order). Strong consumer perception of the Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey helped drive Honda's success in earning the top honor among all automakers.

This year, Mercedes-Benz captured the Best Overall Luxury Brand title from 2013 winner BMW by obtaining the top average Brand Watch factor scores among all luxury makes and being highly regarded with its strong lineup and performance AMG variants.

Reclaiming the top spot among truck shoppers, Ford ousts last year's winner, Toyota, from the Best Overall Truck Brand category. Ford has won five out of six times Kelley Blue Book has announced this award. The F-150 and Super Duty F-250 and F-350 helped the manufacturer earn back the award for 2014, as truck shoppers ranked the brand highest among all other truck brands.

For three years in a row, Honda has earned the award for Most Trusted Brand, and for 2014, the Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey supported the boost in Honda's scores. Meanwhile, Lexus holds its ground as the Most Trusted Luxury Brand for the second consecutive year with help from the ES, IS, LX and RX models.

Kia earns its first-ever Brand Image Award in 2014 for Best Value Brand, taking the crown from last year's winner Honda. Kia received high marks on affordability and fuel efficiency, primarily driven by the Optima, Rio, Soul and Forte models. Buick is a repeat winner for the Best Value Luxury Brand, and the manufacturer's entire lineup, including the LaCrosse, Regal, Verano, Enclave and Encore, has positively influenced car shoppers' perceptions.

"Kia has come a long way in the eyes of the consumer," said Arthur Henry, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "Once known only as an economy car with good gas mileage, the brand has evolved through product growth and maturity into a high-value brand. This is a similar path fellow import brands Honda and Toyota took in the 1970s. In fact, Kia edges out Honda this year for the Best Value Brand title."

Benefitting from its upscale Denali trim models, GMC also wins its first Brand Image Award as 2014's Most Refined Brand, with high ratings for comfort, interior layout and prestige/sophistication. Mercedes-Benz has a second consecutive win for this category among luxury brands, and historically has scored very high in prestige/sophistication since the inception of the Brand Image Awards in 2008.

MINI wins Best Performance Brand for the second year in a row, with help from the MINI Cooper for its high ratings for "cool" factor and driving performance. Like MINI, Porsche holds steady as a repeat winner as Best Performance Luxury Brand since 2010, due to strong ratings for a number of models in its lineup, including the 911, Cayman, Panamera and Cayenne.

Jaguar earned its first Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Award as 2014 Best Car Styling Luxury Brand for its attractive F-TYPE, XK, XF and XJ series, while Chevrolet reclaimed the Best Car Styling Brand title from last year's winner Ford.

"Chevrolet had a slew of redesigns during the past year, which have captured the consideration of car shoppers," said Henry. "Chevrolet decided to take a daring approach with its styling and it paid off. The models primarily driving the success of Chevrolet's expressive design efforts are the Corvette Stingray and Camaro."

The 2014 Brand Image Awards are based on consumer automotive perception data from Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence's Brand Watch study. Brand Watch is an online brand and model perception tracking study tapping into 12,000+ in-market new-vehicle shoppers annually on Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. The highly comprehensive study offers insight into how shoppers perceive important factors driving their purchase decisions, and captures brand/model familiarity and loyalty among new-car shoppers.

For more information about the 2014 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, please visit http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/brand-image-awards/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and get updates on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+kbb/.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Suggested Retail Values, and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a subsidiary of AutoTrader Group, which includes AutoTrader.com, vAuto, VinSolutions and HomeNet Automotive. AutoTrader Group is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises.

Honda Accord, Civic and CR-V Named Best Family Cars for 2013 by Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com

06/03/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• Honda is the leading automaker among recognized vehicles
• Civic and CR-V capture segment honors for the second year in a row

The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan and CR-V compact SUV were all named to the 10 Best Family Cars list compiled by the experts at Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com. The three family-friendly Honda vehicles were selected out of hundreds of models for excelling in the key areas of safety, fuel efficiency, technology and connectivity.

"As one of the most purchased brands by families and the leading manufacturer on this list, this recognition represents our laser focus on customer satisfaction," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of auto operations at American Honda. "The Accord, Civic and CR-V all lead their respective segments in retail sales and Honda continues to focus on selling high value vehicles to one customer - or family - at a time."

All-new for 2013, the Honda Accord was recognized as one of the top sedans for families by Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com. The Accord features sophisticated styling, fuel-efficient powertrains and available technology features like the LaneWatch™ blind spot display. With safety a top shopping consideration for families, the Accord earns industry-leading safety scores, having been rated as a TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.¹

For the second year, the Honda Civic was named among the top rated family cars for budget shoppers. Receiving significant upgrades for 2013, the Civic boasts class-leading standard features like rearview camera, HandsFreeLink™ Bluetooth®, Pandora® internet radio interface, SMS text message feature and steering wheel audio controls. The Civic is also the only small car to be rated a TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.¹

Recognized for a second year as a top vehicle in the crossover category, the CR-V remains an ideal choice for families with its unparalleled balance of size and capability. The CR-V is also rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a TOP SAFETY PICK and is distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.¹

For more information about Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com's list of the 10 Best Family Cars for 2013, please visit www.parents.com and www.edmunds.com.

Source;
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2013/06/03/079838-2013-honda-accord-civic-and-cr-v-named-best-family.html

Honda Dominates the Honest John 4x4 Award Category for the Second Year Running

LONDON--May 17, 2013:

The new Honda CR-V is following hot in the footsteps of its predecessor as it's named the 'Most Popular 4x4' by expert motoring website honestjohn.co.uk. The new CR-V takes the accolade in the 2013 honours list - a year after the previous generation took the top spot - to reinforce the popularity of this British-built car.

Reliable, capable, spacious, versatile and comfortable, these are just some of the qualities that highlight why the CR-V has sold over 5 million models globally since it was first introduced in 1995. The wraps came off the new fourth-generation CR-V in summer 2012 to reveal a comprehensively redesigned and re-engineered model with practicality, refinement, efficiency and quality remaining at the core. Prices range from £21,505 OTR for the entry-level 2.0 i-VTEC S 2WD to £30,965 for the top-of-the-range 2.2 i-DTEC EX 4WD variant which comes loaded with goodies such as satellite navigation, keyless entry and power tailgate.

The CR-V is also the next model in the Honda line-up to receive the new efficient Earth Dreams Technology 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine. Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC will be available in two-wheel drive with manual transmission featuring CO2 emissions of only 119g/km*. This new derivative will arrive in dealerships this Autumn.

The honestjohn.co.uk awards aren't awarded by judges or a panel, instead they come from the best experts of all: the website users. The main awards recognise and reward the cars and vans that users search for most on the site. Put simply, the reviews which create the most interest among honestjohn.co.uk users are the winners. The data to measure this is taken from Google Analytics and calculates the number of page views each review has had over the previous 12 months from April 2012 to April 2013.

Dan Harrison, editor of honestjohn.co.uk, commented: "The 2012 Honda CR-V picks up where its predecessor left off - the previous generation model won this award last year and impressively the latest version has picked up the 2013 award. Refined and upmarket it has all the qualities to be a big seller in the SUV market and as our figures prove, users of honestjohn.co.uk are certainly showing plenty of interest. The addition of the new 1.6 i-DTEC engine will surely only increase its appeal."

Source;
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2013/05/17/076608-honda-dominates-honest-john-4x4-award-category-for-second-year.html

Kelley Blue Book Announces 2013 Brand Image Award Winners

Posted by Ron Halpert on Apr 1, 2013 in Automotive News, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Porsche, Press Releases

Congratulations go to the winners of the 2013 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Award. This is the sixth year for this award from Kelley Blue Book. The “Judges” of these awards are about 12,000 shoppers that visit KBB.com over the year and have their say on 13 categories including non-luxury cars, luxury cars and truck segments.
Hwei-Lin Oetken, vice president of market intelligence for Kelley Blue Book, said, “The Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards are unique because they reflect the opinions of actual in-market new-car shoppers, providing automakers with a glimpse into what potential customers really think of their brand and showcasing their perception strengths. While other awards from KBB.com are based on data calculated by Kelley Blue Book experts, the information that comprises the Brand Image Awards comes directly from the opinions of thousands of new-car shoppers over the period of an entire year. The insights gleaned from the Brand Watch study can be an invaluable tool for automaker marketing teams and their agencies.”

The Winners of the Kelley Blue Book’s 2013 Brand Image Award Are:

Award-Winning Non-Luxury Brands

• 2013 Honda for the Best Overall Brand
• 2013 Honda for the Most Trusted Brand
• 2013 Honda for the Best Value Brand
• 2013 Chrysler for the Most Refined Brand
• 2013 MINI for the Best Performance Brand
• 2013 Ford for the Best Car Styling Brand

Award-Winning Truck Brand

• 2013 Toyota for the Best Overall Truck Brand

Award-Winning Luxury Brands

• 2013 BMW for the Best Overall Luxury Brand
• 2013 Lexus for the Most Trusted Luxury Brand
• 2013 Buick for the Best Value Luxury Brand
• 2013 Mercedes-Benz for the Most Refined Luxury Brand
• 2013 Porsche for the Best Performance Luxury Brand
• 2013 Porsche for the Best Car Styling Luxury Brand

Many critics are surprised by these results and the serious question remains, are these vote in by actual owners of these cars, or just website visitors who are imagining what the Best Brand Image is? Either way, these are the results and you have to admit, most of these picks are definitely some top selling models.

Source;
http://automotivediscovery.com/kelley-blue-book-announces-2013-brand-image-award-winners/9216719/

Accord named AJAC 2013 Canadian Car of the Year

The list of three finalists in each category was pared down from nine vehicles that were crowned the winners of their individual categories.

by Joe Duarte of www.autonet.ca

The Honda Accord sedan has been named 2013 Canadian Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), beating out the Hyundai Elantra GT and Porsche Boxster.


Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year honours went to the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, edging out the Ford Escape, while the Porsche 911 Carrera S took the Best New Design prize from the Cadillac ATS and Porsche Boxster.

The list of three finalists in each category was pared down from nine vehicles that were crowned the winners of their individual categories in October at TestFest, which is the annual week-long car of the year testing event staged by AJAC every fall where the association’s journalist members drive and evaluate dozens of all-new vehicles split up into different segments.

Also at the awards presentation, General Motors was awarded the Best New Technology award for its centre airbag, which prevents front seat occupants from colliding with each other in the event of a side crash.

Source;
http://www.autonet.ca/auto-news/auto-shows/2013/02/14/accord-named-ajac-2013-car-of-the-year/ 

Honda Wins The Driving Engagement Award During The Chicago Auto Show Social Media Preview

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show, and Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) presented American Honda Motor Co., Inc. with the first-ever "Driving Engagement" award for best social media campaign of 2012 during the Social Media Preview of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. 

Honda's Driving Engagement awards submission featured a music video from startup band Monsters Calling Home where the band members recorded a music video from inside of their Honda. As part of Honda's larger campaign "Honda Loves You Back," Honda surprised the band by booking them as the musical guest for Jimmy Kimmel Live! and utilized Honda's full range of social media presences to help share their story.

"We are thrilled and proud that the latest edition in our Honda Loves You Back social media campaign has been recognized. We're so grateful for the love our customers express for their Honda vehicles," said Alicia Jones , manager of Social Media at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "I think it's the simplicity of the campaign's intent – to say thank you and share the conversation with them – that makes it work."

WOMMA selected three automotive manufacturers as finalists for the Driving Engagement awards: Nissan and Dodge were the two runners-up. Nissan submitted its "2013 Nissan Pathfinder Presents: An Improv-tastic Road Trip" campaign; Dodge entered its "Inspired by You" campaign to promote the 2013 Dodge Dart. 

"We are so impressed with the social business efforts from the auto industry over the last year. We saw major brands engaging with Pinterest, great use of video and humor as well partnerships to showcase artists and embrace fans," said Suzanne Fanning , president of WOMMA. "We are grateful to the Chicago Auto Show for allowing us to help recognize the best campaigns of the year, and we look forward to working with them in the future to further 'drive engagement.'"

The Chicago Auto Show strives to remain at the forefront of social media savvy auto shows.

"We're extremely happy with the outcome of this year's partnership with the Word of Mouth Marketing Association and hope to continue the Driving Engagement award presentation in future years," said Michael Ettleson , 2013 Chicago Auto Show chairman. 

For more information about the Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com. 

About the Chicago Auto Show The Chicago Auto Show is the largest on the continent, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2 million annually for 18 worthy Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2013 public show will be February 9-18. For more information please visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.

About WOMMA The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) is the official trade association dedicated to word of mouth and social media marketing. Founded in 2004, WOMMA is the leader in ethical word of mouth marketing practices through its offline education such as WOMMA Summit, professional development opportunities, and knowledge sharing with top industry marketers. WOMMA's membership is made up of the most innovative companies committed to progressing the word of mouth marketing industry through advocacy, education, and ethics.

About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. It is comprised of about 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit CATA.info.

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show is officially sanctioned by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Founded in Paris in 1919, it is known as the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.

Source;

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honda-wins-the-driving-engagement-award-during-the-chicago-auto-show-social-media-preview-190706911.html

Honda Canada Finance Wins Leadership Award from Ventana Research for Verint Software Implementation

Company Enhances Service and Increases Customer Satisfaction with Verint Impact 360 Workforce Optimization
 

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verint^® Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: VRNT) today announced that its customer Honda Canada Finance Inc.—a provider of financing and leasing options for Canadian consumers for Honda and Acura automobiles—has been honored with Ventana Research’s 2012 “Contact Center Excellence” Leadership award based on its use of Impact 360^® Workforce Optimization^™. The Ventana Research Leadership Awards program, presented in November 2012, highlights organizations that have advanced their business leadership by effectively utilizing people, processes, information and technology to realize the best outcomes.

“We are delighted to see Honda Canada Finance recognized for its dedicated focus on driving customer satisfaction and for the ways it has propelled technology and processes that support its commitment to service excellence”

“We congratulate Honda Canada Finance and Verint on receiving this prestigious award,” says Mark Smith, CEO and chief research officer, Ventana Research. “The results speak for themselves. Together, they have achieved real-world impact by optimizing customer satisfaction scores, and driving service levels and operational efficiencies. It truly is a showcase application of impactful contact center technologies.”

Honda Canada Finance selected the Verint software with specific goals in mind: to increase team efficiency, place an emphasis on customer satisfaction and maintain a consistent communications platform across multiple contact centers. In order to achieve this, the organization deployed Impact 360 Workforce Optimization (WFO) to obtain a unified approach for quality monitoring (QM) and call recording, workforce management, eLearning, performance management, enterprise feedback management and surveys. The enterprise WFO solution has delivered Honda Canada Finance an offering that provides real-time access to intelligence across its centers, enabling it to capture and analyze customer interactions, uncover trends, discover the root cause of employee and customer behaviors, and make faster, better decisions.

When Honda Canada Finance first started its quality program and tracking scorecards, associates averaged 64 percent. Today, QM scores exceed 90 percent—a big improvement and direct result of more focused training, process improvement and service levels.

“We are delighted to see Honda Canada Finance recognized for its dedicated focus on driving customer satisfaction and for the ways it has propelled technology and processes that support its commitment to service excellence,” comments Nancy Treaster, senior vice president and general manager, strategic operations, Verint Enterprise Intelligence Solutions^™.

About Verint Enterprise Intelligence Solutions
Verint^® Enterprise Intelligence Solutions^™ help organizations of all sizes capture and analyze customer interactions, sentiments and trends across multiple channels, improve performance and optimize the customer experience. The solution portfolio includes the Impact 360^® Workforce Optimization^™ suite and Voice of the Customer software, which serve as strategic enterprise assets for increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty, enhancing products and services, reducing operating costs and driving revenue.

About Verint Systems Inc.
Verint^® (NASDAQ: VRNT) is the global leader in Actionable Intelligence^® solutions and value-added services. Its extensive portfolio of Enterprise Intelligence Solutions^™ and Security Intelligence Solutions^™ helps worldwide organizations capture and analyze complex, underused information sources—such as voice, video and unstructured text—to enable more timely, effective decisions. More than 10,000 organizations in 150 countries, including over 85 percent of the Fortune 100, use Verint solutions to improve enterprise performance and make the world a safer place. Headquartered in N.Y. and a member of the Russell 3000 Index, Verint has offices worldwide and an extensive global partner network. Learn more at www.verint.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expectations, predictions, views, opportunities, plans, strategies, beliefs, and statements of similar effect relating to Verint Systems Inc. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and they are based on management's expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. For a detailed discussion of these risk factors, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2012, and other filings we make with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them or to provide reasons why actual results may differ.

VERINT, ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE, INTELLIGENCE IN ACTION, IMPACT 360, WITNESS, VERINT VERIFIED, VOVICI, GMT, AUDIOLOG, ENTERPRISE INTELLIGENCE SOLUTIONS, SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SOLUTIONS, VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER ANALYTICS, NEXTIVA, EDGEVR, RELIANT, VANTAGE, STAR-GATE, ENGAGE, CYBERVISION, FOCALINFO, SUNTECH, and VIGIA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Verint Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Source;
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130211005028/en/Honda-Canada-Finance-Wins-Leadership-Award-Ventana

2013 Honda Accord Sedan named a Top 3 Finalist for Overall Car of the Year by AJAC

MONTREAL, Jan. 17, 2013 /CNW/ - The 2013 Honda Accord sedan was named a Top 3 Finalist for overall 'Canadian Car of the Year' by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) at the Montreal Auto Show today. The winner will be announced in February at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. 

"To have the all-new Accord recognized by so many of Canada's top journalists is something we are extremely proud of," said Dave Jamieson, assistant vice president, Honda Canada. "We designed the new Accord to do what it has always done - raise the bar in the family car category. AJAC's recognition, along with the incredible feedback we're getting from our customers, tells us that we've accomplished just that."

About the 2013 Honda Accord
With a beautiful new design and a host of new and improved content and technology, the 2013 Honda Accord is the most fuel efficient, most spacious, and most fun-to-drive Accord ever built. Featuring the all-new Earth Dreams™ powertrain technology, this Accord is available with the first North American application of Honda's next-generation, 2.4-litre, direct-injected 4-cylinder engine pushing a shorter, sportier, yet more spacious and comfortable vehicle.

Today, after being on the market for just three months, the 2013 Honda Accord is already filling the award cabinet with recognition, including:

• AJAC's 'Best New Family Car under $30,000'
• Autos.ca's 2013 'Top Pick' in the Family Cars category
• Auto123.com's '2013 Midsize Car of the Year'
• One of the first vehicles to earn the highest possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the U.S. IIHS.
• Winner of Car and Driver magazine's prestigious '10Best Cars' award

For more information and photos, please visit HondaNews.ca.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1100587/2013-honda-accord-sedan-named-a-top-3-finalist-for-overall-car-of-the-year-by-ajac

2012 Car and Driver 10Best… and the winners are

“Over one week in September, and over a distance of more than 15,000 miles, our editors drove every new 2013 model under $80,000, as well as our returning winners, to bring you this year’s 10Best,” CARandDRIVER said – here’s the full list of winners.
2012 Car and Driver 10Best winners:

• Audi A6/A7/S6/S7
• BMW 3 Series
• Ford Focus/Focus ST
• Ford Mustang GT/Boss 302
• Honda Accord
• Honda Fit
• Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Porsche Boxster
• Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ
• Volkswagen Golf/Volkswagen GTI

- By: Omar Rana
Source: CARandDRIVER

Source;
 http://www.egmcartech.com/2012/12/05/2012-car-and-driver-10best-and-the-winners-are/

Honda tops ALG's 2012 Percieved Quality Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (May 31, 2012) – Ford and Hyundai have had the highest level of improvement in perception of quality among all automakers during the last 5 years according to ALG, the industry benchmark for vehicle values. Since 2008, Ford’s perception of quality has improved nearly 37%, while Hyundai’s perception of quality has increased by 25% during that time period. The release of ALG’s 2012 Perceived Quality Study (PQS) shows Ford ranking fourth, with Hyundai above the mainstream average.

Honda ranks highest among mainstream brands with a perceived quality score of 81.3, followed closely by Toyota, whose perception of quality continues to recover from its drop in 2010. Toyota showed the largest year-over-year perception improvement of any brand. Honda and Toyota continue to be the perception of quality standard bearers among mainstream brands, with Subaru ranking third.

Among luxury brands, Lexus is highest ranked for the second consecutive year, with a perceived quality score of 85.4. Three European brands – Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche round out the top four.

“Changing the perception of quality is a long-term proposition,” said Eric Lyman, ALG’s Vice President of Residual Value Solutions. “Consumers recognize the product improvements made by Ford and Hyundai. Honda and Toyota are still widely recognized as being the quality leaders, but as more consumers increasingly consider brands like Subaru, Ford and Hyundai, that perception gap erodes.”

Other brands showing significant year-over-year improvement include Fiat, Scion, Dodge and Kia.

“Kia and Dodge are great examples of perception improvement based on product and marketing,” said Lyman. “Both brands have launched exciting new product and impactful messaging. While they both face significant history to overcome, consumers are beginning to recognize their improvement.”

Now in its fifth year, ALG’s Perceived Quality Study is a semi-annual consumer survey measuring the perceived quality of automotive brands. PQS reports the opinions of more than 3,000 U.S. consumers in order to gauge perceptions of mainstream and luxury brands. PQS is one of the metrics ALG examines in calculating our industry benchmark residual values, helping companies and consumers understand the future value of their vehicles.
The complete list with scores and details is available here.

About ALG
Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG is the benchmark of vehicle value information to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the “Residual Value Guidebook” – the standard for residual value projections in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for nearly 50 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets. For more information, visit www.alg.com.
Promotional use of this information may be used only with the express permission of ALG. Contact marketing@alg.com for additional information.

Source (via www.autoblog.com);
https://www.alg.com/press-releases/ford-hyundai-show-long-term-improvement-in-perceived-quality.html

Honda Earns Multiple Honors in AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards and Total Car Score's 2012 Top Scoring Car Awards

05/24/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif

Honda has captured three of AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards for the 2012 Honda CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot, and four of Total Car Score's inaugural Top Scoring Car Awards for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline, Fit, Odyssey and CR-V.
"It's fantastic to have so much of Honda's outstanding product line represented in these awards," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations for American Honda. "AutoPacific's awards tell us we're creating truly satisfied owners, and the Total Car Score awards demonstrate how widely and well regarded Honda's products are among top authoritative sites."
AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) are based on over 75,000 surveys completed by owners of new cars and light trucks in the United States in the first quarter of 2012.The VSAs are based solely on owner input, and are an accurate measurement of how satisfied new car and light truck buyers are with their recently purchased vehicle.
The Top Scoring Car Awards are based on Total Car Score's ranking formula, which utilizes the ratings from trusted automotive sites converted into a simple percentage. These ratings are translated into a single Total Car Score that allows car shoppers to quickly and easily compare cars.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/-20

TrueCar.com Identifies 10 Most Popular Cars for Moms (Honda CRV Tops!)

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Just in time for Mother's Day, TrueCar.com, the authoritative voice in new car pricing and industry trend information, has identified the 10 Most Popular Cars for Moms. Based on 2011 data received from women with children about the cars they drive, the findings place the Honda CR-V at the top of the list, followed by the Nissan Altima, Honda Odyssey, Subaru Outback, and Honda Pilot.

"The data shows moms prefer vehicles that combine practicality with style," said Kristen Andersson, Senior Analyst at TrueCar.com. "Bigger is not always better when it comes to moms' favorite vehicles as evidenced by the lack of any Large SUVs and only one minivan in the overall top ten."

Some of the key findings of the data include:

Honda has five vehicles in the top 10 most popular cars for moms, including the CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot, Accord, and Civic.

Nissan has three vehicles in the top 10 most popular cars for moms, including the Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Odyssey ranked the highest among moms with two or more kids, thanks to its ability to hold up to eight people as well as 38.4 cubic-feet of cargo. The Honda Pilot, which ranked fifth overall, came in second place among moms with two or more kids, also attributable to its ability to carry up to eight passengers and 18 cubic feet of cargo.

With manufacturer's suggested retail pricing of $37,855 and $40,200, the Honda Odyssey and Pilot are the two most expensive vehicles on the list.

The two least expensive vehicles on the list were the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra small sedans, with MSRPs of $21,445 and $19,140, making them favorites among small families with small budgets.

Only one minivan made the overall top 10, showing that most moms still prefer to drive a sedan or SUV. However, three minivans -- the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler Town & Country -- ranked among the top five most popular vehicles for moms with three or more children. 

Source;

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/truecarcom-identifies-10-most-popular-cars-for-moms-2012-05-10

Honda Named Automotive “Brand of the Year” in Harris EquiTrend Poll

Honda has had a rough go as of late, with reduced sales in 2011 due to production shortages as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Prior to that, there were criticisms of the new 2012 Honda Civic.

None of that, however, has phased consumers it would appear, with Honda being named the full line Automotive Brand of the Year in the latest Harris EquiTrend Poll. Measuring brand leadership in a total of 127 different categories, Harris Interactive surveyed 38,529 U.S. consumers aged 15 and older.

Ranked second overall is Toyota, another Japanese automaker that’s had its share of bad press over the past few years. This would seem to indicate the long term reputation of each of those brands hasn’t been affected by these most recent events.

In third place is Ford Motor Company, which topped the list last year followed by Chevrolet, then Honda, Toyota and Nissan. For 2012, Chevrolet has dropped two spots to fourth, while Nissan remains in fifth place.

In terms of luxury automotive brands, Mercedes-Benz tops the list followed by BMW and then Lexus.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/03/honda-named-automotive-brand-of-the-year-in-harris-equitrend-poll.html

2012 Honda Odyssey and CR-V Win ALG Canadian Residual Value Awards

Fourth-annual ALG awards honour 2012 vehicles that demonstrate ability to hold value in Canadian market

MARKHAM, ON, Feb. 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Two of Honda Canada's most popular vehicles have received Canadian Residual Value Awards from automotive insights company ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values. The 2012 Honda Odyssey won in the MPV category while the 2012 Honda CR-V, Canada's top-selling import SUV, won in the Compact Utility category.

"These awards are a testament to the quality and reliability that customers have come to expect from Honda," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada Inc. "Odyssey and CR-V play very important roles in the lives of many Canadians and these awards should reassure our customers of the investment they are making when choosing Honda."

About the ALG Residual Awards
The annual ALG Residual Value Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in producing vehicles that demonstrate the ability to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period. Awards are given in 19 vehicle categories and two brand categories (mainstream and luxury). This year's awards are based on 2012 model year vehicles.

Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance, industry trends, and economic conditions. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies remain the key factors that impact ALG's residual value forecasts.

About the 2012 Honda Odyssey
Ample space, dramatic exterior styling and engaging driving experience are among the well-deserved impressions people get from Honda's eight-passenger, luxurious family-mover that continues to be a class leader in fuel efficiency and safety. For a family on the go, Honda's Odyssey is the ultimate recreation room on wheels.

"Honda has kept incentives and fleet penetration to a minimum on the Odyssey, which is a rolling showcase of emerging technology and smart packaging," said Geoff Helby, Canada Regional Director for ALG. "Always versatile, the Odyssey can transform from upscale family transporter to voluminous cargo carrier in a matter of seconds."

The Odyssey is unsurpassed for safety with an extensive list of safety equipment including the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure - a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Combining that with a 248 horsepower, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management for enhanced fuel efficiency, and the highest estimated highway fuel economy in its class, the Odyssey balances power, fuel efficiency, safety and fun.

About the 2012 Honda CR-V
All new for 2012, the fourth-generation Honda CR-V embraces a sophisticated styling direction in conjunction with improved interior comfort, improved fuel economy, a smoother and quieter ride, and more innovative features as part of a 'total package' approach. Long established as the benchmark vehicle in its class with high levels of quality, refinement and value, the 2012 CR-V is designed to exceed customer expectations in the compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment with increased value resulting from lower MSRPs across the entire CR-V lineup and added content.

"With improved styling and feature-rich content, the redesigned CR-V provides a strong value proposition for consumers," said Geoff Helby, Canada Regional Director for ALG. "In a hyper-competitive segment, adding competitive features and drivetrain to an already class-leading vehicle and the strength of the Honda brand deliver great value for consumers."

All CR-Vs are powered by a 2.4-litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. In addition, a new ECON operating mode increases the potential for drivers to improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency when the system is activated. The 2012 Honda CR-V is built at Honda's assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario.

About Honda Canada
Honda Canada Inc. was founded in 1969 and currently employs approximately 4,700 associates in addition to more than 15,000 dealership personnel across the country. Honda Canada has built close to 6 million cars and trucks since 1986. Honda's two vehicle assembly plants in Alliston, Ontario, produce Honda CR-V, the Civic Coupe, Sedan and Si models, and the Acura MDX and ZDX. An adjacent engine plant produces fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines for Civic. All three plants have achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status. Honda Canada has invested more than $2.6 billion in Canada, and annually sources nearly $1.1 billion in goods and services from Canadian suppliers.

About ALG
(www.alg.com)Based in Santa Barbara, California, ALG is the industry standard for residual values and a leading provider of insights and consulting services to the automotive industry. ALG publishes the Automotive Lease Guide - the benchmark for residual value expectations in North America, and has been forecasting automotive residual values for nearly 50 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Image with caption: "Geoff Helby, Canada Regional Director, ALG, presents the 2012 Residual Value Award for the Honda Odyssey to Jerry Chenkin, Executive Vice President, Honda Canada Inc., at the Canadian International Auto Show. (CNW Group/Honda Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120216_C4893_PHOTO_EN_10212.jpg

Source;
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/589146

Honda Odyssey Named One of the Smartest Car for Family

Smartest Cars for Families 2012
We test-drive the smartest, tech-iest family cars hitting the carpool lane this year.
By Scott Steinberg

Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

By the numbers: Three rows, eight seats, 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway

Game-changer for lane-changers: The Blind Spot Information System provides an extra pair of eyes on the road (in the form of radar sensors). The door-mounted indicators illuminate when the sensors detect trouble.

One DVD screen, two happy siblings: The split-screen monitor helps you entertain two kids at once.

Source;

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/best-family-cars-suvs?pnid=517378

Honda Civic Named to About.com's Best New Cars of 2012 List

01/11/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today that the 2012 Honda Civic has been named as one of About.com Cars' Best New Cars of 2012.

"Ranging from a gas-sipping hybrid to a kick-in-the-pants Si, the Civic lineup provides a variety of fun, fuel-efficient options to satisfy a wide range of customers," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We are thrilled to receive this award that recognizes the many advantages of the Civic."

In describing the award-winning Civic, About.com's Aaron Gold called the 2012 Civic hands-down the most comprehensive compact car on the market. "You can get a sedan or a coupe; a high-fuel-efficiency version; a high-performance version; a leather-lined version; a hybrid version; even an alternative-fuel version that runs on clean natural gas," Gold said. "And whichever Civic you choose, you're virtually guaranteed years of trouble-free motoring."

The award from About.com adds to the 2012 Honda Civic's growing list of accolades that include being named Green Car of the Year (Civic Natural Gas), capturing Best Resale Value for a Compact Car by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, and earning a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick.
About.com is one of the largest providers of original content on the web, with over 60 million unique visitors per month in the United States.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-civic-named-to-about-com-s-best-new-cars-of-2012-list

Honda Pilot Receives "Family Car of the Year" Award From Cars.com

01/17/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.
TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2012 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced that the 2012 Honda Pilot has received the Cars.com"Family Car of the Year," award. The Pilot SUV received a wide range of upgrades for 2012, including a sleeker front-end design, enhanced interior features and improved fuel economy. The 2012 Pilot had already earned the top spot in the"USA Today, MotorWeek and Cars.com $37k and Under SUV Shootout,"with the editor-in-chief touting the Pilot as"the perfect SUV for buyers who want to comfortably haul the entire family and all of their gear."

"We're delighted to see the eight-passenger Pilot's versatility and family-friendly attributes recognized with this prestigious award,"said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning, American Honda Motor Co. "The newly refined and more fuel-efficient Pilot provides real value and surprising sophistication for anyone shopping in the segment."

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Cars.com Family Car of the Year award, which was presented last year to the Honda Odyssey. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is an online destination for car shoppers that offers information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. For more information on the Best of the Year Awards, visit http://www.cars.com/awards/.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-pilot-receives-family-car-of-the-year-award-from-cars-com