When will Honda Hybridize the HR-V for North America?

 

There is demand for the HR-V to have a Hybrid variant available in North America, and it feels like it's only a matter of time before Honda has that as a offering.  With the current HR-V having just been redesigned for 2023 and Honda has a typical 5yrs between redesigning the vehicle, my guess is that the 2028 Honda HR-V will be the year for the Hybrid powertrain to come to Canada and the US.

No S660 convertible for U.S., but Honda has some sporty ideas

by David Undercoffler of www.autonews.com

Bad news for fans of Honda's bite-sized S660 convertible, available in Japan: Don't expect it in the U.S., according to John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.

"I wouldn't put my chips on that," Mendel told Automotive News, countering speculation that Honda was considering bringing the tidy two-seater -- which is nearly 2 feet shorter than the Mazda MX-5 Miata -- to the U.S.

"When the practicalities of the market come in, and the car only so big, that might not be the best car for the U.S. market," Mendel said. "It might be better for India or China or somewhere else."

But that doesn't mean Honda doesn't have some fun up its sleeve. Shortly after taking the reins as Honda Motor Co. CEO in June, Takahiro Hachigo promised more exciting models. This idea bears its first fruit in the U.S. next year in the form of the Civic Type R, a 300-hp pocket rocket that has long been coveted but has never been sold here.

And the idea of a sports car just won't die. Honda filed patent drawings this year for a midengine model, and a full-scale exterior design study very similar to the drawings was on display at Honda's opening of its Silicon Valley r&d lab in July.

So is this a successor to the S2000 roadster or a bigger-budget, slightly detuned NSX? Mendel wouldn't say, calling the car in Silicon Valley a "design study" from a team based in downtown Los Angeles.

But he acknowledged that dealers are asking for both.

"They want anything in the sports car world," Mendel said. "They're going, 'Gimme a sports car.' They want a retractable hard top; they want a high-horsepower $20,000 sports car. Because that's the nature of what they do."

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20150831/OEM03/308319977/no-s660-convertible-for-u.s.-but-honda-has-some-sporty-ideas

JAPAN: Honda to ship Civic from UK plant to US

Honda will be hoping that the new Civic Type R can help to reinvigorate the brand and lift flagging European sales

by Dave Leggett of www.just-auto.com

Honda is planning to export its UK-made Civic to North America to raise the rate of capacity utilisation at its UK manufacturing plant, according to a Nikkei report.

The reported move is part of a multi-pronged strategy to improve Honda's disappointing performance in Europe.

Nikkei noted that the next Jazz (Fit) will not be made at the Swindon (UK) plant and will be imported to Europe from Japan. That sourcing switch will leave Honda with a capacity utilisation hole at its UK plant. Swindon will therefore manufacture a five-door version of the car for the North American market, Nikkei said, with NA shipments planned to start in the middle of 2016. The report said that some 30,000-40,000 annual shipments to North America are targeted.

Honda has exported models to markets beyond Europe - including to Australia and Japan - from its Swindon plant at times in the past.

The Swindon factory can produce 250,000 cars a year on two lines. However one of the lines - with a 100,000-unit annual capacity - is currently idle.

The report added that Honda is also planning to move "most" of its European headquarters staff - who are based in the UK - back to Japan.

Honda in Europe has seen falling sales in recent years as it was hit by delayed product renewals as it sought to save cost in the aftermath of natural disasters in Japan and Thailand.

At the recent Geneva Show, the company outlined plans for a new product offensive including new Civic Type R, the HRV, upcoming Jazz, a fuel cell concept and a new NSX supercar. It is also launching a revised CR-V. 

Source;
http://www.just-auto.com/news/honda-to-ship-civic-from-uk-plant-to-us_id156921.aspx

Honda US: Build your 2015 Honda FIT the way you want it

Check out the link to see what Honda has cooking on the 2015 Honda FIT;
2015 Honda FIT Configurator

Honda’s Accord Beat Camry as Top U.S. Car in Individual Sales

By Alan Ohnsman 

Honda Motor Co. (7267) said its Accord was the best-selling car to U.S. individual customers in 2013, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)’s Camry, the leader in total volume to retail and fleet buyers for a 12th consecutive year.

Americans bought 360,089 Accords last year, Honda said in a statement yesterday, citing registration data from IHS Automotive’s Polk unit. Camry retail sales were 342,007 out of 408,484 total deliveries for the sedan, said Amanda Rice, a Toyota spokeswoman.

Honda’s strategy to concentrate on retail sales is paying off, as they aid resale values and typically are more profitable than those to fleets. Sales to individuals accounted for more than 98 percent of Accord’s U.S. volume last year, compared with about 84 percent for the Camry. U.S. automakers generally rely on fleets for a quarter or more of sales.

“Our focus on retail sales to individual buyers has a direct correlation to the high resale value of Honda products,” John Mendel, Honda’s U.S. executive vice president, said in the statement.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, and Tokyo-based Honda have vied for U.S. car sales leadership since the 1980s. Both are under pressure to hold volume leads in those segments as new models from General Motors Co. (GM), Ford Motor Co. and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. gain ground.

The Accord had the highest residual value among mid-size cars in 2013, according to ALG, the Santa Barbara, California-based company that calculates such figures. The Honda model also led Kelley Blue Book’s resale value awards for mid-size cars. Camry isn’t in the top three of either ranking.

Honda advanced 1.4 percent as of 10:08 a.m. in Tokyo trading, compared with a 2 percent gain of the Nikkei 225 Stock Average. The stock has declined 15 percent this year.

2014 Honda Civic Goes On-Sale Today with a Restyled Coupe, Higher Tech, Better Fuel Efficiency and an Improved Driving Experience (US PRICING, NOT CANADIAN)

12/04/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• Coupe styling changes accentuate the Civic's sporty and youthful appearance
• Available technology additions include a 7-inch touch-screen Display Audio system and next generation HondaLink™ connectivity
• LaneWatch™ blind spot display comes to Civic line-up
• All-new CVT option increases performance and fuel efficiency

The significantly enhanced 2014 Honda Civic goes on-sale today with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $18,190¹ for the Civic LX Coupe and $18,390¹ for the Civic LX Sedan.

Extensive fresh and dynamic exterior styling updates on the Civic Coupe and premium interior refinements to all models further enhance the Civic aesthetic appeal. New available features on the 2014 Civic include the 7-inch capacitive touch-screen Display Audio, LaneWatch™ blind spot monitor and Smart Entry with Push Button start. The 2014 Civic also marks the introduction of the HondaLink™ Next Generation connected-car technology. HondaLink™ is an application-based platform that allows a seamless integration between a user's smartphone and the car, providing access to online and cloud-based content and information.

An all-new CVT is available on the gasoline only powered Coupe and Sedan. The CVT enhances responsiveness by providing quicker and smoother acceleration and due to its wider ratio range and reduced internal friction, the CVT helped the LX Coupe and LX and EX Sedans to an improvement of 2 mpg city and 1 mpg combined for EPA fuel economy ratings of 30/39/33 city/highway/combined².

The Civic Coupe is available in LX and EX trims with a 5-speed manual transmission or the new CVT and EX-L and EX-L Navi versions with CVT. The Civic Sedan comes in LX 5-speed manual or CVT and EX, EX-L and EX-L Navi with CVT. A Civic Sedan HF with CVT is also available. View, build and price at 2014 Honda Civic at automobiles.honda.com/civic.

TRIM	MSRP1	EPA Fuel Economy Ratings2 (city/highway/combined)
Civic Coupe LX 5MT	$18,190	28/36/31
Civic Coupe LX CVT	$18,990	30/39/33
Civic Coupe EX 5MT	$20,290	28/36/31
Civic Coupe EX CVT	$21,090	29/38/33
Civic Coupe EX-L CVT	$22,540	29/38/33
Civic Coupe EX-L Navi CVT	$24,040	29/38/33
Civic Sedan LX 5MT	$18,390	28/36/31
Civic Sedan LX CVT	$19,190	30/39/33
Civic Sedan EX CVT	$21,090	30/39/33
Civic Sedan EX-L CVT	$22,740	30/39/33
Civic Sedan EX-L Navi CVT	$24,240	30/39/33
Civic Sedan HF CVT	$19,940	31/41/35

For More Information
Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com/civic. To join the Civic community on Facebook, visit https://www.facebook.com/Honda/Civic. Additional media information including, pricing, features and high-resolution photography of the 2014 Honda Civic is available at hondanews.com/channels/honda-automobiles-civic.

¹MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) excluding tax, license, registration, $790 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

²Based on 2014 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending driving conditions, how the vehicle is driven and maintained, battery pack age/condition and other factors.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2014-honda-civic-goes-on-sale-today-with-a-restyled-coupe-higher-tech-better-fuel-efficiency-and-an-improved-driving-experience

Award-Winning 2014 Honda CR-V Goes On Sale Today, is an Efficient and Compact SUV Loaded with Value, Versatility and Features

08/06/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• For 2014, CR-V continues to be a great value, offering a host of standard features including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink, air conditioning, rearview camera, Pandora® interface, and one-pull fold-flat seats
• 2014 Honda CR-V provides unmatched combination of a just-right size and ingenious interior packaging

The Honda CR-V returns for the 2014 model year as one of the most fun and functional compact SUVs in America. With its upscale styling, excellent fuel efficiency and its impressive list of standard convenience features, the 2014 Honda CR-V remains the smartest choice in its segment. The CR-V provides car-like interior comfort, a smooth, quiet ride and innovative features, making it a great fit for families or anyone with an active lifestyle.

The Honda CR-V has earned a host of favorable ratings, including a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score¹ and a 2013 TOP SAFETY PICK designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It has also garnered awards and accolades from Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, U.S. News & World Report and others. The CR-V finished 2013 as the best-selling SUV in America. The 2014 Honda CR-V goes on sale today, with prices starting at $22,945.²

The CR-V model lineup carries over for 2014, starting with the remarkably well-equipped CR-V LX with standard one-pull fold-flat rear seats, cruise control, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™, air conditioning, rearview camera, 160-watt 4-speaker audio system with Pandora® interface (with compatible smartphones) and more. The CR-V EX, the most popular trim, adds premium features including a power moonroof, upgraded 6-speaker audio system and 17-inch alloy wheels. Building from there, the EX-L adds a leather-trimmed interior, a 328-watt 7-speaker audio system with XM® Radio³ and much more. Also available on the CR-V EX-L are a Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System⁴ with Voice Recognition™ and FM Traffic, or a DVD Rear Entertainment System⁵. Real Time AWD (all-wheel drive) is available on all models.

2014 Honda CR-V Pricing and EPA Data
Model	Transmission	MSRP2	EPA MPG Ratings6 City/Hwy/Combined
CR-V LX (2WD)	5-Speed Automatic	$22,945	23/31/26
CR-V LX (AWD)	5-Speed Automatic	$24,195	22/30/25
CR-V EX (2WD)	5-Speed Automatic	$25,045	23/31/26
CR-V EX (AWD)	5-Speed Automatic	$26,295	22/30/25
CR-V EX-L (2WD)	5-Speed Automatic	$27,695	23/31/26
CR-V EX-L (AWD)	5-Speed Automatic	$28,945	22/30/25
CR-V EX-L w/ Rear Ent. Sys. (2WD)	5-Speed Automatic	$28,395	23/31/26
CR-V EX-L w/ Rear Ent. Sys. (4WD)	5-Speed Automatic	$29,645	22/30/25
CR-V EX-L w/ Navi (2WD)	5-Speed Automatic	$29,195	23/31/26
CR-V EX-L w/ Navi (AWD)	5-Speed Automatic	$30,445	22/30/25

Body
The CR-V's highly rigid unit-body is designed to contribute to high fuel efficiency and vehicle safety while enhancing interior quietness. All CR-V models feature an exterior Expanded-View Driver's Mirror that adds an additional 5.5 degrees of visibility at the outer edge of the mirror's field of view, which can assist the driver in detecting other vehicles or road conditions that they might not otherwise see in a conventional mirror.

Versatile Interior
There is plenty of space to stretch out in the CR-V’s roomy 5-passenger interior, and there's also abundant storage, including a large center console. When it comes to utility, the innovative Easy Fold-Down 60/40 Split Rear Seatback can be quickly folded using release levers located near the tailgate opening or via a pull-strap accessible from each rear door.

The CR-V features sophisticated instrumentation that includes a standard full-color "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) that offers a range of customizable features via fingertip controls on the steering wheel. A multi-angle rearview camera, standard on all models, provides a choice of three different views on the i-MID or optional navigation screen.

Comprehensive Safety
As standard equipment, every CR-V incorporates a VSA® electronic stability control system; ABS with Brake Assist; driver and front-passenger airbags; side-curtain airbags with roll-over sensor; front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and a front seat design that can help reduce the severity of neck injury in the event of a rear collision. An Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure helps make the CR-V highly effective at absorbing and dispersing the energy of a frontal crash.

Powertrain
All CR-V models are powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 163 lb-ft. of torque (SAE net), paired with a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. Real Time AWD with the Intelligent Control System further harnesses available traction in low-grip driving conditions. The CR-V has an EPA fuel economy⁶ rating of 23/31/26 mpg city/highway/combined for the front-wheel-drive model and 22/30/25 mpg city/highway/combined for the AWD model.

Responsive Chassis
With its front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link fully independent suspension, the CR-V chassis is designed to maximize driving enjoyment, passenger comfort and confidence. All CR-V models feature Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) that works with the standard VSA and Electric Power Steering to detect instability in slippery road conditions and automatically initiate steering-wheel inputs that prompt the driver to steer in the correct direction.

Manufacturing
The CR-V is sold in more than 160 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In the U.S., CR-Vs are manufactured at the Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio from domestic and globally sourced parts.

Connect with Honda:
Media Newsroom (for journalists): http://www.hondanews.com/channels/honda-automobiles-cr-v
For consumers: http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-v/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HondaCR-V
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/honda/
On Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Honda/posts
¹ 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). Model tested with standard side airbags (SABs). Vehicles tested under the new program cannot be compared to MY10 and earlier vehicles.
² MSRP excluding tax, license, registration,$830.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
³ Required XM Radio subscription sold separately. Subscriptions are governed by the XM Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com/service terms. Other fees and taxes apply; see XM Customer Agreement for details. Fees and programming subject to change. Service not available in Canada, Alaska, or Hawaii. © 2013 SIRIUS XM Radio Inc.
⁴ The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on the CR-V EX-L in the United States, except Alaska. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
⁵ Rear Entertainment System (RES) not available with Navigation
⁶ Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
Third-party trademarks: Kelley Blue Book is a registered trademark of Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license. Pandora, the Pandora logo and other Pandora marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pandora Media, Inc. or its subsidiaries worldwide. SIRIUS, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/award-winning-2014-honda-cr-v-goes-on-sale-today-is-an-efficient-and-compact-suv-loaded-with-value-versatility-and-features

Honda recalls 777,000 Odyssey, Pilot vehicles in North America

Honda Motor Co. said it is (voluntarily I might add) recalling 777,000 late-model Pilot and Odyssey vehicles in the United States and Canada due to a problem with the deployment of driver’s side airbags, American Honda said on Friday.

No crashes or injuries have been reported in relation to the issue, Honda said.

Honda said some driver’s side airbags were may have been installed without some of the rivets that secure the airbag’s plastic cover. If the rivets are missing, the airbag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash, Honda said.

Honda recalled 748,000 Pilots and Odysseys in the United States and another 29,000 in Canada.

The Pilot crossover vehicles recalled are from model years 2009 to 2013 and Odyssey minivans from model years 2011 to 2013.

Honda said it will mail out notifications to Pilot and Odyssey owners in mid-February.
Owners will be asked to bring their vehicles into dealerships for inspection and replacement of the driver’s side airbag if necessary.

If you are in the USA and would like to determine if your vehicle requires repair by going to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (800) 999-1009, and selecting option 4.

If you are in CANADA and would like to determine if your vehicles requires repair by going to  http://www.honda.ca/recalls and type in your VIN.

Source;
Honda Canada

MotorTrend: Honda CR-V Untouchable in 2012 Compact Crossover Sales, Ford Escape 20,000 Units Behind

by Karla Sanchez

Things heated up between the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape a couple months ago, as the compact crossovers battled for year-to-date sales supremacy. Now that the dust has settled, we can see that the CR-V dominated the segment with 281,652 units sold. The Escape was about 20,000 units behind, but we’ll be interested in seeing how the new 2013 Toyota RAV4 shakes up the segment.

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Equinox was third best-selling CUV in 2012 with 218,621 sold, finishing way ahead of the fourth-place Toyota RAV4, which went home to 171,877 new owners. The Nissan Rogue settled for the fifth spot, ringing in a total of 142,349 sold for the entire year. The GMC Terrain finished mid-pack with 97,786 copies sold, while 76,347 Subaru Foresters were sold in 2012. Combine Terrain and Equinox sales and GM passes the Escape and CR-V at the top.

Rounding out the last of the top 10 best-sellers are the Jeep Patriot (62,010 sold), Hyundai Tucson (48,878 units), and the Mazda CX-5 with 43,319 sold. Crossovers that didn’t quite make the cut for the top 10 best-selling in the segment include the Jeep Compass, which outsold the Kia Sportage by about 4000 units (40,235 Compasses versus 36,357 Sportages), and the Volkswagen Tiguan with 31,731 sold in 2012.

Source;
 http://wot.motortrend.com/honda-cr-v-untouchable-in-2012-compact-crossover-sales-ford-escape-20000-units-behind-310009.html#axzz2GyiL5sM0

Honda expects to be net exporter from North America within two years

DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co (7267.T: Quote), maker of the best-selling Civic compact car, expects that within two years it will export more cars and light trucks built at its seven North America plants than it imports from Japan and that those factories will take on a larger role in global product development.


The Japanese automaker said in a statement on Wednesday that at the same time, operations in North America would assume a "larger responsibility for the introduction of global automobiles sold in multiple countries."

Honda began exporting vehicles from the United States in 1987. The company said it expects those exports to reach about 100,000 Honda and Acura vehicles this year.

Over the last two years, Honda has poured more than $2.2 billion into its North American operations. Its production capacity in the region will increase 18 percent to 1.92 million vehicles annually by 2014.

Due to the additional production capacity, annual exports of Honda and Acura vehicles are expected to "far surpass" Honda's export record of 105,511 set in 1994, the company said.

(Reporting By Deepa Seetharaman)

Source;
http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCABRE8B502620121206

Fit-based crossover? Honda could be eyeing new variant

TOKYO -- Honda has a few tricks up its sleeve for the next-generation Fit due next year.

Honda already has said the Fit will pioneer a new regional r&d strategy -- in which global nameplates will break from a one-size-fits-all approach and be developed and built locally.

But Honda apparently is planning a new Fit-based crossover to help it sell more than 1 million vehicles off the new platform, according to Japan's Nikkei business daily.

Those crossovers will mainly target the U.S. and European markets, and global volume could reach 400,000 units, the report says.

If true, look for a U.S. version to be made at the new Mexican plant Honda plans to open in 2014. That factory is already slated to make the Fit hatchback.

Worldwide, Honda makes about 800,000 vehicles based on the Fit platform, including the Fit hatch and its sedan-styled City sibling, the Nikkei notes.

Adding a crossover could push it over the 1 million mark.

The redesigned Fit is expected in the United States next year.

The car is already small by U.S. standards, but could a pint-sized crossover version catch on Stateside? To match demand for utility hauling, it might need more oomph under the hood.

The Japan market already gets a tall-wagon variant of the Fit, called the Freed. That model even comes in an eight-seat version, but that kind of load can put a strain on its 1.5-liter engine.

Source;

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120716/BLOG06/120719880/1499/fit-based-crossover-honda-could-be-eyeing-new-variant

Honda promotes American managers in push to revive U.S. market

By ALAN OHNSMAN / Bloomberg News

Honda Motor Co. was the first Asian carmaker to build autos in the U.S. and is the most dependent on the market. Now it's also putting more non-Japanese in key roles.

North American Chief Operating Officer Tetsuo Iwamura becomes executive vice president April 1 and No. 2 to President Takanobu Ito. His new seven-member board will manage activities from product planning to production to sales in North America. Three members will be U.S. natives, the first time Americans have held such responsibility, including Erik Berkman to lead regional product development and design.

"Honda quite literally has become a North American car company headquartered in Tokyo, and that's a horrible combination," Jim Hall, principal of 2953 Analytics Inc., an auto consultant in Birmingham, said in a phone interview. "When your headquarters isn't in your most important and biggest-volume market, you become disconnected. We can see that's what's been happening to them. This is to reconnect headquarters with their most important market."

While Honda's U.S. problems have been less dramatic than those of Toyota Motor Corp., which recalled millions of vehicles for unintended acceleration, they've been significant. Even before last year's earthquake and tsunami cut supplies, core Honda cars such as the Civic and Accord were losing ground to Hyundai Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co. models that won praise for stylish looks and fuel economy.

Growing competition spurred Honda to offer U.S. incentives that were 87 percent of the industry average in this year's first two months, according to Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based Autodata Corp. In 2008, Honda's discounts were less than half the average.

'Out of Necessity'
"For too long they've lived in this cocoon of 'What we're doing is good enough,' " said Maryann Keller, principal of a self-named consulting firm in Stamford, Conn. "There's a recognition that that's no longer the case, so I think they are making these moves out of necessity."

For the first time, Honda's No. 2 executive will be based at the company's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif., instead of Tokyo.

"Knowing the current competitive and complicated marketplace, rapid changes in customer needs, we think it's better to put more emphasis on the American side," Iwamura said in a March 12 interview. "Production and R&D, development facilities, those can be done by investing money. Localization of the people is one of the key issues."

Toyota Moves
Honda's revenue from sales of autos, motorcycles and power products in North America was 986.2 billion yen ($12.7 billion) in the quarter that ended Dec. 31, or 51 percent of its global total. While U.S. sales of Honda and Acura autos fell to 1.15 million units last year, which was still 38 percent of the company's worldwide volume.

Toyota, too, is giving more authority to North American executives, to improve development of products for the market and avoid a repeat of the 2009-10 recall crisis.

This month, Toyota promoted Jim Lentz to chief executive officer of its U.S. sales unit, the first time that job has gone to an American.

Asia's largest automaker last week said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president for North American engineering and manufacturing, will oversee regional production as part of his duties on Toyota's North American management committee. Ray Tanguay, chairman of Toyota's Canadian unit, is responsible for North American quality issues. Lentz will oversee regional sales, marketing and product planning.

Honda's Revamping
Toyota President Akio Toyoda has said shifting more responsibility to local managers in North America is central to his goal of restoring customer satisfaction hurt by the recalls.

Honda's U.S. car and light truck sales slid 6.8 percent last year after natural disasters in Japan and Thailand curbed output of parts and vehicles. The company's redesigned Civic also flopped in tests by Consumer Reports, which recommended previous versions, a sign that the carmaker's ills extended beyond 2011's one-time events.

For decades, products created for the U.S. came from a "synergy effect" between Japanese and American engineers, Iwamura said. Now, American engineers making product decisions for U.S. customers is the best way to increase competitiveness, Iwamura said.

"That is one of the reasons we appointed Erik as the top man of R&D," he said. Berkman, who begins his new job April 1, was traveling in Japan and unavailable for an interview.

Honda's Targets
John Mendel, executive vice president of U.S. sales, is also joining Berkman on Honda's North American management board, as is Tom Shoupe, president of the company's Alabama plant.

Honda wants to rebound this year with a 24 percent U.S. sales gain. It has made some progress, boosting sales 11 percent in 2012's first two months, led by a 45 percent jump in Civic deliveries. The company plans to release a modified Civic later this year to address concerns raised by Consumer Reports, as well as a redesigned Accord.

The company's U.S., Canadian and Mexican plants may also set a production volume record, building about 1.8 million vehicles this year.

The automaker is completing more than $690 million of upgrades at U.S. plants and is also building an $800 million factory in Mexico to produce subcompact models such as the Fit.

In January, Honda said it planned to build its Acura NSX "supercar" in Ohio within about two years. The racing-style coupe will sell for more than $100,000. The site and cost of that project hasn't been announced.

Restoring Reputation
Restoring its reputation as an industry innovator, a legacy of founder Soichiro Honda, is a bigger challenge than boosting sales and production.

"It's not just the Koreans; everyone has gotten better," Keller said. "In terms of quality and features, it's a game of equals. It's just a lot harder for Toyota and Honda to stand out."

It may be years before Honda's changes in local management are effective, said Hall of 2953 Analytics.

"It's safe to say that if they keep going the way they were going, they were heading for a decline with other guys passing them and just doing better than they are," he said. In the U.S., "the question is whether they've caught their problems soon enough to not get passed by Hyundai-Kia."

Source;
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120325/AUTO0104/203250305/1148/auto01/Honda-promotes-American-managers-push-revive-U-S-market

Volkswagen parks in Honda's U.S. driveway

By Christiaan Hetzner
FRANKFURT Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:51am EST

(Reuters) - Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn squeezes his bulky frame behind the wheel of the new Honda Civic and takes out a tape measure - part of a forensic, and very public, inspection of the five-door compact at last September's Frankfurt car show.

"You were a role model for us for many years once," he tells an attendant Honda official. "Really."

They were the words of a man who knows Honda (7267.T) is on the ropes in the United States, and who fervently hopes he can eat the Japanese group's lunch in its biggest market.

The United States is home to nearly one in two Honda buyers, but its sales there fell 7 percent last year while overall U.S. vehicle sales expanded at a double-digit pace.

As a result, Honda's market share has tumbled 2 percentage points in two years to 8 percent in 2011. Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) is headed in the opposite direction, albeit from a low base.

Winterkorn wants to at least double the Volkswagen VW.L brand's 2.5 percent U.S. market share. Last year's sales performance was the best VW has managed there in three decades, with sales of Jettas and Passats up 44 percent and 83 percent respectively.

"The good news for Volkswagen is that brand loyalty is not what it used to be. Honda buyers started to flee to other brands like Hyundai because they wanted to express themselves and not be just one of the herd," said TrueCar analyst Jesse Toprak.

At an international level, VW has had its ups and downs since its birth in 1930s Germany, but it has come out of the 2008 crisis better than most.

While General Motors (GM.N) was pushed into a pre-packaged bankruptcy and Toyota (7203.T) endured its first ever operating loss, the Wolfsburg-based group has emerged as the world's second largest carmaker with the firepower to buy Peugeot (PEUP.PA), Fiat (FIA.MI) and Renault (RENA.PA) put together.

It made a record profit in 2011, but will need to prey on weaker rivals abroad to keep growing. That is because its core European market is set to shrink to its smallest in a decade, and carmakers are piling on costly, margin-corrosive incentives for free to compete for what remains.

VW's ultimate goal of becoming the largest, most profitable carmaker in the industry hinges on whether it can find lasting nourishment in the United States, where its pricey imports long ago forced the brand to feed off the scraps left over by others.

By shifting German car production to Tennessee and taking expensive features out of their over-engineered cars, a practice known as "de-contenting", VW has succeeded in luring customers back with affordable entry prices and sporty sedans like the Jetta - features that were once the hallmarks of Honda's Accords and Civics.

"Our biggest competitor here is Honda, since its customer base shares the same core values. We both focus on sportiness and versatility and have high demands when it comes to handling," VW's U.S. strategy chief, Rainer Michel told Reuters.

Toyota's no-frills customers do not buy a Camry to enjoy the ride, he said, while Hyundai buyers are attracted to the kind of trendy exterior designs which Honda and VW both eschew.

HUGE BULL'S-EYE
Honda, by contrast, has a pool of well-educated and more affluent U.S. car owners who tend to favour more subdued styling packaged into a fun ride.

Among its five biggest competitors, Honda boasts the lowest spending on incentives like cash rebates or free features and trim, according to auto-information website Edmunds.com.

It also abstains entirely from selling to fleets like Hertz rental agency. Fleet sales and incentives are both pressure valves many carmakers resort to when times are hard.

"We are not the flashy choice, we are the smart choice that informed customers make after weighing things like reliability, fuel economy, driving enjoyment and so on. This helps us keep a tight lid on incentives and preserve a high resale value for our owners," said American Honda spokesman Chris Martin.

"That also means that we have a huge bull's-eye painted on our back, though, since any other auto company would love to attract this kind of customer base."

But the chinks are starting to show in Honda's armour. It expects operating profit in the year to end-March 2012 to fall 65 percent to its lowest level in three years, prompting Moody's to downgrade the company's outlook to negative due partly to the tougher competition from predators like VW.

Earthquakes, tsunamis and floods in Japan and Thailand severely damaged its supply chain last year. Making matters worse, the latest Civic model has been panned by critics in the United States, forcing Honda to promise a costly facelift much earlier than planned.

"The Civic was for the longest time the torch bearer for what Honda was all about - compact cars with efficient four cylinder engines and very responsive chassis that give drivers a great feeling for the road," said Bill Visnic, an analyst and senior editor for Edmunds.com.

"That reputation has been slipping rather precipitously, though, ever since they began compromising to chase market share with cars getting bigger and the ride becoming softer."

AMERICAN HEARTLANDS
Meanwhile VW has one of the youngest customer bases - important for a brand's image - while spending even less than Honda on incentives - quick fixes that boost volumes but ultimately hurt demand over the long run as resale values fall.

As a result, the new Passat sedan spends half as long collecting dust on a dealer lot than the average U.S. vehicle.

"A lot of new VW buyers were Honda owners who no longer wanted to see 10 other exact same cars every time they came to a stop at the traffic light," said Chris Chaney, Vice President of consumer research group Strategic Vision.

According to his firm's surveys, Honda was the brand to surrender sales the most to VW last year. VW owners are more prone not just to feel better about driving their new cars but also to be more excited about them than Honda customers.

"There is no question that there are Honda owners who see Volkswagen as a step towards the prestige associated with German engineering," Chaney said.

With gasoline prices expected to climb, market researcher Art Spinella believes VW can also benefit from its strong range of fuel-efficient diesels, but warns a patchy dealer network, largely based in coastal areas, will continue to hold them back.

"Pump prices mean that car buyers will consider VW much more often, but for that to translate into actual sales they need good dealers, and here they are only strong in the slow-growth states in the Northeast," said Spinella, President of CNW.

In order to hit its sales target of 800,000 VW brand car sales by 2018, VW opened up in January a new sales office in Dallas to support the near 100 dealers spread thinly across 16 states.

Dependability may also need to improve, however, before buyers in more rural areas think about a VW.

"I think the biggest problem Volkswagen will need to address is its reliability issues, if it wants to make greater inroads into the American heartlands," said Gabriel Shenhar, Senior Auto Test Engineer & Program Manager at Consumer Reports.

In the hopes of better persuading Honda owners to defect, VW has poached marketing guru Tim Mahoney from Japanese rival Subaru of America (7270.T).

Known for his ability to hit an emotional nerve through ads like the Subaru Love campaign, he was recently voted by industry newspaper Automotive News as one of 10 managers to watch this year alongside such exalted peers as the group chief executives of Toyota, Ford and, yes, Honda.

BARKING DOGS
VW's traditional focus has been on its engineering prowess, but Mahoney favours funny skits like the "Vamonos" ad, with its clever emphasis on the fuel economy features of the VW Passat TDI.

"In a world of instant entertainment, companies can overestimate what a person can absorb in a 30 second spot that flashes over a TV screen," he told Reuters.

"But by engaging someone with ad they can relate to, you can draw people into a more complete experience offered on our website or get them to download the latest Golf racing app."

VW built on last year's Star Wars-themed "Force" commercial, voted the best ad of 2011 by industry publication Adweek, with a viral teaser spot on YouTube that featured a choir of dogs barking out the theme tune from the space saga.

Not so much as a front headlight - let alone a whole car - is ever shown, but the association with VW is unmistakable.

"People are even filming their dogs watching the spot and posting it on the internet. Humour is a big part of what we do and people like to participate," said Mahoney, a language major who studied in Vienna and Goettingen.

Honda's ad people are fighting back.

Fresh from a month of resurgent Civic sales in January, it is creating buzz with a popular ad where Matthew Broderick reprises his role from the 1980s hit "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", only this time he is behind the wheel of a CR-V crossover instead of a vintage Ferrari 250GT cabrio.

A Honda executive who worked for six years in the United States says last year marked the trough in sales for the brand, and the business there is now firmly on a path to recovery.

"It is true that Volkswagen has been expanding aggressively with success, but I believe the U.S. sales data for the new Civic in January is indicative of the new improving trend," Honda Europe President Manabu Nishimae told Reuters.

Just to make sure, though, American Honda reshuffled its management in order "to further speed decision-making and increase efficiency and competitiveness," it said last week.

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/uk-volkswagen-honda-idUSLNE81R01V20120228

Honda Putting No. 2 Executive in U.S. in Localization Drive

Honda plans to post its second-highest ranking global executive in the U.S. for the first time as the automaker that was Japan’s first to build cars in the market extends a three-decade localization push.

Tetsuo Iwamura, 60, Honda’s chief operating officer for North America, on April 1 adds the titles of executive vice president and executive officer, the Tokyo-based company said today in a statement. Iwamura is to also join Honda’s board in late June, pending shareholder approval, the company said.

Iwamura will continue to run operations in North America while assisting President Takanobu Ito in managing global sales, said Jun Odajima, a company spokesman. “This is the first time the top North American executive has also been the No. 2 company official,” he said.

The promotion of Iwamura and naming of Erik Berkman to lead Honda’s U.S. research and development unit, the first time that job has gone to a non-Japanese engineer, come as the company lifts production across North America, its biggest source of revenue, to counter a rising yen. Honda is increasing vehicle output at plants in the U.S. and Canada, adding a factory in Mexico to build subcompacts and preparing to make the Acura NSX supercar in Ohio by 2014.

Berkman, currently vice president of corporate planning and logistics for U.S. auto operations, is to become president of Honda R&D Americas on April 1, the company said.

Honda’s U.S. headquarters are in Torrance, California. The company’s American depositary receipts rose 1.3 percent to $37.28 at the close in New York.

Source;
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/honda-putting-no-2-global-manager-in-u-s-in-localization-drive.html

Honda President Ito Forecasts Year of ‘Complete Rebound'

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito forecast that business results at Japan's third-biggest carmaker will climb to the highest in at least five years, led by sales of Accord sedans and Civic compacts in North America.

Business results in the year ending March 2013 will recover to levels achieved before the failure of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. roiled global markets, as sales climb above 4 million vehicles for the first time, Ito said in an interview this week. Lehman filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, six months after Honda earned record annual profits.

“It will be the year of the complete rebound,” Ito said at the company's Tokyo headquarters. “Sales in North America will lead the recovery. We'll introduce a fully revamped Accord in the fall, and that will be a big plus to our sales.”

Ito's comments reflect a revival in confidence by Japanese automakers as they recover from a year plagued by natural disasters at home and in Thailand. Toyota Motor Corp., Asia's largest carmaker, said this week annual sales will be 100,000 units higher than it anticipated last month.

“Honda's targets are definitely aggressive, but the U.S. economy seems like it's going to recover to a better-than- expected level this year so it's likely for them to achieve it,” said Mitsushige Akino, who oversees $600 million at Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co. in Tokyo. “They've remodeled their best-selling cars, and we can expect strong sales in North America to help them regain market share.”

Reversal of Fortune
Honda fell 1.9 percent to close at 2,689 yen in Tokyo. It's gained 15 percent this year, the best performer among Japan's three biggest automakers. That's a reversal from 2011, when the stock's 27 percent drop made it the worst performer.

Honda's operating income, or sales minus the cost of goods sold and administrative expenses, will probably double to 586.6 billion yen ($7.6 billion) next fiscal year after shrinking 52 percent, according to the average of 24 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Earnings reached 953.1 billion yen, 851.9 billion yen and 868.9 billion yen, respectively, in the years before Lehman's bankruptcy.

Ito, 58, is counting on the U.S. market to drive growth.

Redesigned Accord
The redesigned Accord sedan, the Civic and CR-V sport- utility vehicle will help Honda increase U.S. sales 24 percent to 1.43 million units in 2012, Ito said. Sales in the market, Honda's largest, declined 6.8 percent last year, led by a 17 percent drop in deliveries of the Accord. The Accord is Honda's best-selling U.S. model, followed by the Civic.

Ito ruled out any major overhaul of the Civic after the current version of the sedan, which failed to receive the “recommended” status its predecessors had from Consumer Reports magazine, was the best-selling model in the compact-car segment in the last three months of the year.

Honda's new models will give it an edge in the U.S. over South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co., which is producing close to full-capacity, said Kota Yuzawa, a Tokyo-based analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. That puts Honda in “good position” to regain lost market share, he said.

Honda may not be alone. Japan's three biggest carmakers are poised to gain market share this year at the expense of U.S. producers led by General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co., according to five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

‘Unstoppable' Motorization
In China, the world's largest auto market, Honda expects its sales to rise more than 20 percent to 750,000 units in 2012 after they shrank for the first time in 2011 in a slowing market, Ito said. The company plans to introduce three gas- electric hybrid models in the country this year, he said.

“China is still strong,” Ito said. “Once motorization captures a market, it's unstoppable.”

China's total vehicle sales -- including cars, trucks and buses -- grew 2.5 percent to 18.5 million units last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, trailing growth in the U.S. for the first time in at least 14 years. Honda expects the market to expand to 20 million this year, or “just above” China's economic growth, he said.

In Thailand, where the country's worst floods in almost 70 years disrupted assembly plants and supply of components in 2011, Honda plans to resume production starting in April, Ito said. Damages stemming from Thailand forced the company to scrap this fiscal year's profit forecast.

Reorganizing Factories
As part of Honda's strategy of producing cars where they are sold, the company plans to reorganize its Japanese factories so they focus on production of minicars, a growing category that makes up about 40 percent of the nation's auto demand, Ito said. Orders for the N Box minicar in Japan reached 27,000 units in its first month of sales, more than double Honda's original target.

Minicars, defined as vehicles no longer than 3.4 meters (11 feet) in length, will account for 40 percent of Honda's Japan sales, compared with 25 percent now, Ito said.

Honda joins Toyota and Nissan in reorganizing operations as the yen, which has gained against the world's 16 most-traded currencies for two straight years, erodes the value of exports. Honda plans to boost the portion of vehicles sold in the same region they're built to as high as 80 percent, Ito said. In 2010, Honda sold about two out of three Japan-built cars in the country.

Officials at Toyota and Nissan this month have also echoed plans to increase their portion of vehicles sold in the region where they're assembled.

“Minicars will be key for us in Japan in the next five years,” Ito said.

Source;
http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey=1376-LYALB80UQVI901-3I262TT8I3HDDBE46BK1GAN789

US Top 10 Best-Selling Cars of 2011

It was a year of rebuilding in the automotive industry in more ways than one. Overall, automakers were overcoming a disastrous U.S. economy, and a tsunami in March dealt Japanese automakers a tremendous blow to production of popular cars. Those two storylines directly impacted the top 10 cars of the year in terms of sales.

Top 10 Best-Selling Cars: December 2011

While the Toyota Camry remained the best-selling car in the country in 2011, the rest of the top four sellers from 2010 — Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, respectively — tumbled down the list with the Civic falling off the top 10 completely, though it was the 12th best-selling car of 2011 and the Honda CR-V was the 13th.A redesigned Civic was launched at possibly the worst time after the tsunami in Japan, leaving many dealers with inventory shortages for months.

Nissan wasn’t as negatively impacted by the tsunami, leaving room for the Nissan Altima to land the second spot in terms of car sales. The Ford Escape and Ford Fusion follow the Altima on the list, and Chevy’s surprising Cruze compact made the list at No. 10.

Trucks still ruled the top two spots, however, with the Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado seeing sales grow year over year by 10.7% and 12.2%, respectively.

Source;
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012/01/top-10-best-selling-cars-of-2011.html

New Four-cylinder 2012 Honda Crosstour EX and EX-L Combine Affordability, Fuel Efficiency and a Sleek Crossover Design

12/21/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
Two new four-cylinder, two-wheel-drive Honda Crosstour® models are set to go on sale next month, broadening the vehicle's appeal through a lower price point and EPA-estimated fuel economy that increases 3 mpg1 in the city and 2 mpg1 on the highway.

Equipped with a 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower, the newest Crosstour is available in two trim levels, including the Crosstour EX and leather-upholstered Crosstour EX-L. A Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System2 is available on the Crosstour EX-L.

EPA-estimated fuel economy on the four-cylinder Crosstour is 21 mpg1 city and 29 mpg1 highway, a significant increase from the 271-horsepower 2WD V6 model's EPA estimated 18 mpg1 city and 27 mpg1 highway.

With the launch of the new four-cylinder Crosstour models, some useful features are now standard across the entire Crosstour family, which first debuted for the 2010 model year with V6 power. Standard features now include an automatic dimming rearview mirror, a rearview mirror back-up camera display for improved rear visibility (non-Navigation models), convenient auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth®3 HandsFreeLink® and USB audio interface.

Bold Exterior and Functional InteriorHonda Crosstour approaches the crossover SUV formula from a distinctively sleek, sporty and fuel-efficient perspective, while also maximizing the interior's cargo capacity, versatility and premium feel.

The exterior design emphasizes a bold, aerodynamic look that also conceals an accommodating rear cargo area. The four-cylinder model includes body-color door handles and unique 17-inch alloy wheels with P225/65 R17 all-season tires. Two new colors are available on all 2012 Crosstour models: Twilight Blue Metallic replaces Glacier Blue Metallic, and Basque Red Pearl II replaces Tango Red Pearl.

Premium interior styling, appointments and details extend from the passenger compartment all the way through the cargo area. An under-floor storage area in the rear of the vehicle adds functionality, while reversible cargo floor panels accommodate dirty objects.

Efficient Four-cylinder PowertrainThe new four-cylinder Crosstour models come with a 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine for power and efficiency. The engine produces 192 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 4,400 RPM, while achieving an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 21/29/24 mpg1. To maximize efficiency, a technologically advanced 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control is standard equipment.

Comprehensive Feature ListIn addition to auto-on/off headlights, Bluetooth3 HandsFreeLink®, USB audio interface and rearview mirror back-up camera display with integrated guidelines, additional standard features on the new four-cylinder Crosstour EX include projector-beam headlights, a moonroof, body-colored power side mirrors with defrost, auto-up/down driver and front passenger side windows, and rear privacy glass. Inside are air conditioning with second-row ventilation, a 360-watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers, steering wheel-mounted cruise, audio and phone controls, an easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seatback, a hidden removable utility box and more.

Crosstour EX-L adds leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, a memory driver-side seat and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down capability, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, dual-zone automatic climate control, an automatic dimming rearview mirror, a premium audio system with Kevlar® cone speakers and front aluminum dome-type tweeter speakers, XM® Radio and more. Also available on the Crosstour EX-L is the Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System2 which includes a rearview camera with guidelines integrated into the display.

Safety AssetsSafety technology includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment on the Crosstour includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and active front seat head restraints.

The Crosstour is assembled in Ohio at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant using domestic and globally sourced parts.

WarrantyThe 2012 Honda Crosstour is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.

Additional media information including detailed features and high-resolution photography of the 2012 Honda Crosstour is available at www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/new-four-cylinder-2012-honda-crosstour-ex-and-ex-l-combine-affordability-fuel-efficiency-and-a-sleek-crossover-design

Statement Regarding Forthcoming White House Fuel Economy Announcement by John Mendel, Executive Vice President of Sales for American Honda

07/27/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.

Honda is proud to have actively worked with the Administration as they developed their proposed national fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards. Honda embraces this challenge, which will be good for our customers and for the environment, and we welcome the competition we will have with other automakers that will result from these new standards.

- John Mendel, Executive Vice President of Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/statement-regarding-forthcoming-white-house-fuel-economy-announcement-by-john-mendel-executive-vice-president-of-sales-for-american-honda

Study: Honda leads as greenest automaker, again

By CHRISTOPHER JENSEN
Honda has the greenest vehicles in the United States, with Toyota and Hyundai tying for second place, according to a study released on Thursday by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit advocacy group.

The results were calculated using the predicted impact of the automakers’ fleets on global warming — based largely on miles per gallon -– as well as the smog-forming emissions of the engines.

The study looked at eight automakers that together sold 92 percent of the vehicles available in the United States during the 2008 model year. The advocacy group explained that 2008 was the most recent year for which its researchers felt comprehensive information from the Environmental Protection Agency and Transportation Department was available. The results were also weighted for sales.

The study said that “selling a modest number of clean and efficient models” was not enough to be considered a green automaker. Instead, an automaker has to do well with all its vehicles.


The scores were calculated by giving the global warming and smog-forming emissions data equal weight. A score of 100 indicates the average of the eight automakers studied. Scores with lower numbers indicate better, greener performance. For example, a score of 80 means that automaker was 20 percent better than the industry average.

The top three automakers were extremely close.

“We really did have a photo finish this year between Honda, Toyota and Hyundai,” said Jim Kliesch, the author of the study and a senior engineer in the group’s Clean Vehicles Program.

Honda, which has taken the top spot every year since the study began five years ago, received 86 points, while Toyota and Hyundai tied with 87 points. Volkswagen followed with 90 points, then Nissan (93 points), Ford (108 points), General Motors (109 points) and Chrysler finished last with 113 points.

Selling a lot of small, fuel-efficient vehicles could help an automaker, Mr. Kliesch acknowledged. But he said to excel automakers had to do well with vehicles of all sizes, not just on fuel economy but also on emissions.

While all automakers must meet certain minimum emissions standards some manufacturers produce more sophisticated engines that are cleaner.

“There is actually a big difference between doing a bare minimum to meet what is required by law and doing what is technically achievable,” Mr. Kliesch said in an interview.

He noted that Toyota sold a wide range of vehicles, including trucks and high-performance vehicles, yet it came within 1 point of matching Honda.

“One of the things that Toyota did that propelled its performance was it produced efficient hybrid vehicles in volume,” he said. “If you took the Prius out of their mix, Toyota would have ranked fourth over all. In many respects the environmental halo that Toyota has as a result of its Prius is warranted.”

Mr. Kliesch said that when he began reviewing information this year he thought the question would be whether Toyota, which was second last year, would finally overtake Honda.

He said he did not imagine that Hyundai, which was in third place last year, might move up to match Toyota. “They nearly spoiled the party for Honda and Toyota,” he said. “They may not be having the lowest emissions in every class in which they compete, but they are right up there in the top couple of manufacturers. So across all the classes in which they compete, they are consistently delivering low emissions and good global warming performance as well.”

The study described the domestic automakers as having “continued poor performance” and being “mired” at the bottom of the lists.

It said G.M.’s poor ranking “reflects, more than anything, a poor hybrid strategy. The company focused primarily on hollow hybrids, which offer minimal fuel savings and on a different but promising ‘two-mode’ hybrid design in its large trucks that unfortunately was mated to upsized, rather than downsized, engines.”

“Hollow hybrids” was a reference to vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid, which lacked the sophisticated, more expensive and fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains of vehicles like the Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid.

While the domestic automakers might have been at a disadvantage in the fuel economy ratings because they had larger vehicles, they were also hurt because, over all, their engines produced more smog-forming emissions than their foreign competitors, the study found.

Source;

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/new-study-names-honda-as-the-greenest-automaker/?src=mv

Autoblog's First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey!

This is a really good read and takes a in depth look at the 2011 Honda Odyssey....

Honda doesn't redefine the minivan, they strive to perfect it
by Michael Harley

Honda did something silly during the launch of its all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan. The automaker built a large autocross-type "track" in the parking lot of San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium and invited journalists to take its latest eight-passenger family hauler for hot laps. It was an interesting "fish out of water" introduction to Honda's fourth-generation people mover.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the United States, Honda considers the 2011 model an "American Odyssey." The domestic development team, owners of 46 Odysseys between them, labored to deliver a minivan with distinctive style, greater interior versatility and improved fuel economy. Did Honda build itself a worthy successor and how did it fare on the autocross?

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