Hockey Fans Love Honda Cars

new jerseyIn an effort to reach more hockey fans, Honda has introduced a new marketing campaign with the National Hockey League. Honda cars already have a relationship with the NHL, but the new campaign is going to be “multi-faceted.”

The new advertising spot has two versions – a 30-second version and a 15-second version. Both feature young hockey players in Winnipeg along with their parents. This campaign is the first in the three-year sponsorship deal that Honda made with the NHL in October.

In addition to the advertising spots, Honda is also going to donate a 2009 Honda Pilot to the Ronald McDonald House in the city that wins the upcoming Winter Classic. The Pilot holds eight passengers and is one of the most accommodating Honda cars on the market today.

Honda is also sponsoring “Name that Squirt,” a segment that will appear on NHL telecasts shown on NBC. The feature will include “challenging on-air commentators and viewers to identify pro hockey stars from video of them playing as youngsters.”

The makers of Honda cars enjoy being in the midst of what’s happening and helping others. Visit a Honda dealer today and invest in a company that produces quality and helps the surrounding community at the same time.

All about the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

honda civicOne of the most exciting new cars to hit the markets recently is the 2009 Honda Civic hybrid. If you haven’t heard much about these new Honda cars, here are some things you might like to know so you can consider purchasing one.

• The new Honda Civic hybrid gets up to 45 miles to the gallon. That means less frequent fill ups at the gas station and longer uninterrupted drives.
• The suggested starting price for the Honda Civic hybrid is less than $24,000. Of course, you can add more features for a price.
• The new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition provides almost everything you could need while out on the road. Some features include emergency services, turn-by-turn directions and hands-free usage for increased safety.
• A free three month trial of XM Satellite Radio. You can listen to your favorite music on commercial-free stations as much as you want!
• An 8-disc CD changer and a state-of-the-art bass speaker system lets you enjoy your favorite artists with the best sound available.

These are just a few of the awesome features you will find on the 2009 Honda Civic hybrid. Check one out today at your local dealer!

Honda Civic Tops List of Most Researched

honda civicIn 2008, consumers made the Honda Civic the most researched vehicle on the Kelley Blue Book website. That’s quite a feat! It’s almost like the People’s Choice Awards within any awards ceremony.

“The site traffic…demonstrates what is on the minds of today’s new-car shoppers, especially when examining the most-researched new vehicles of 2008,” said Jack Nerad, the executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book.

But the Honda Civic wasn’t the only model from the automaker that topped the list. Other Honda cars were popular searches, too. The Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle came in sixth and the Honda Accord came in second. These Honda cars are made in the United States, too. Of the list of 20 most researched cars on the website, 15 of them are from Japanese automakers, which should give you some indication as to the dwindling confidence in domestic products.

Maybe consumers are enthralled by the sophisticated suspension and steering system installed in the Honda Civic. Maybe they are interested in the fuel-efficient 140 horsepower engine underneath the hood. Maybe they are just happy with the resale value of the Honda Civic. Whatever it is, car buyers continue to make Honda one of the most researched companies on Kelley Blue Book and other reputable car websites.

Did Honda have the First “Zero-Landfill” Factory?

honda carsHonda and Subaru have been disputing which company had the first “zero-landfill” factory lately. They disagree about which automaker’s manufacturing plant was “the first to reuse or recycle sufficient material so that waste winds up being sent to garbage dumps.”

The Honda Motor Company makes about 300,000 vehicles in its Alabama plant each year. Here’s what Mark Morrison, a plant spokesperson had to say about the dispute: “We opened on November 14, 2001, as a zero-landfill site…I don’t know who keeps records of this or anything, but we do know when we opened.”

Subaru argues that Honda incinerates some of the leftover materials from the manufacturing process. Honda admits that it does incinerate some materials that recyclers will not accept. However, the automaker sends those materials to the Redstone Arsenal U.S. Army base in Huntsville. Once it’s burned, it creates steam power. As such, it is still productive.

While there probably will not be a quick resolution to this problem, the makers of Honda cars have been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency and several other organizations for its zero waste and eco-friendly practices. Fortunately, the rivalry is good-natured not an assault on each other’s practices.

Honda Cars Embarrass the Competition

pennsylvaniaIt seemed like a good idea at the time: A dealership in Hawaii wanted to show its brand superiority by crushing one of the Honda cars from a competing dealer. But his plan backfired.

The original plan was supposed to involve a huge Suburban mounted on a monster truck frame, hydraulics and monster tires. It was going to “roll over the competition” as a symbol of superiority. However, when it tried to pass over the Honda, one of the hydraulics went out. The hydraulic system also started leaking fluid. It was almost symbolic of the problems that the domestic automakers are having right now.

Instead of showing its superiority, the demonstration essentially showed that Honda cars cannot be destroyed by one of the Big Three. In fact, the Japanese automakers are making great strides in reaching American customers and convincing them to buy their product. And with the big bailout controversies, consumers are looking for something more reliable and dependable anyways.

Let this be a lesson to you. Just because it is made in the United States does not mean it has the highest quality. With this uncertain and unstable economy, we have to look out for ourselves and make the best financial decision for our families…even if that means buying a foreign car.

2009 Honda Cars Strive for Practicality

honda carsWhile all the other automakers are making large SUVs and other vehicles that are impractical, the 2009 lineup of Honda cars is striving for something different.

The 2009 Honda cars are going to be a line of practical cars that will be more fuel-efficient with a more practical design for a good use of space. Honda cars have done the same thing in previous model years, which is why it is one of the best-selling foreign brands in the United States. Honda has also been able to retain its sales figures better than most other brands in this economy. The 2009 lineup, however, will prove to be even more practical than the ones we’ve seen thus far.

The Fit and the Pilot SUV are two Honda cars that will cause drivers and other automakers to take notice. The Fit has only been sold in the United States for a couple years, but this model year has more space and it’s sportier than the previous generation. The Pilot is another larger vehicle with great fuel efficiency. You can put eight adults into the Pilot comfortably and still have room for groceries and whatnot.

These are just two of the practical Honda cars you’ll see on dealer lots soon. We’ll write more about other 2009 Honda cars in the days and weeks to come to keep you updated.

Honda Workers Unite to Help Each Other

hondaHonda workers at a Lincoln plant recently showed their compassion for their fellow worker. As part of the Honda Workers United, they held a day-long event in October to raise donations for seven injured workers. The event consisted of a barbecue, car washes and other activities for the entire family.

On December 13, the workers gave the money to the workers who are “temporarily away from work because of their injuries.” The money helped the injured workers pay some of their bills and buy gifts for their children.

Michael Verges, a committee member with Honda Workers United, said the company has plans to make the fundraiser an annual event. “If time permits, we will do it more if there are more people in need,” he said. However, he declined to comment on the amount of money the fundraiser raised. The only detail he gave was that the money bought seven pre-paid Visa cards for the injured workers.

One injured worker – Jerri Wilson – feels “very blessed” by the contributions and helping hand. She is suffering from a shoulder injury and is currently receiving worker’s compensation. However, that’s much less than what she was making when she was able to go to work each day.

This is just another way that Honda shows its workers that the company cares for them. Why not invest in one of the many Honda cars at your local dealer and donate to a company that has compassion for its employees?

Honda Odyssey Sales Leader in Van Segment

honda dealerThings didn’t look well in November for the Honda Odyssey. Sales “took a major hit” during the month and the automaker was afraid they may not come back up for awhile. However, now that the sales are back to normal, there’s a great chance that the Honda Odyssey will be crowned the best-selling minivan of 2008.

Sales for the Honda Odyssey dropped by nearly 50 percent last month when compared to the same month last year. But sales for minivans overall have slipped in recent years. A segment that once held an eight percent share of the market has now dropped to about four percent of the market share. Much of the blame can be placed on SUVs and other large vehicles taking the place of the minivan. The bad economy isn’t helping either.

Chris Martin, a spokesperson for Honda cars, isn’t concerned with winning the top sales spot this year. He is confident in the Odyssey’s room to grow in the years to come. “Several other manufacturers have actually stepped out of the minivan segment in the last couple years…The fact that others have stepped out definitely leaves some room for the Odyssey to see some growth,” he said.
Are you a fan of the minivan? If not, why? Let us know your thoughts below.

Honda Civic Makes Hollywood Appearance

honda carsThe new Honda Civic hybrid made its movie debut last week when “The Day the Earth Stood Still” arrived in theaters across the country. In honor of the event, Honda is offering a VIP trip to Hollywood and you can qualify simply by taking any Honda cars for a test drive.

There were a few reasons why the producers chose the Honda Civic hybrid to appear in this remake. The main reason, however, was its eco-friendliness. “The reason the filmmakers chose the Civic Hybrid is that as a low-emission, fuel-efficient car, it’s already a car of the future that was right for the lead female part,” said Harry Cooklin, the Marketing Communications Manager at Honda in the UK. “We’re proud of the car’s role in the movie and are also pleased to be able to offer a taste of Hollywood to customers who want a taste of a new Honda.”

In addition to the Honda Civic hybrid, Honda is launching the Insight, another hybrid which is due out in 2009. With all of this good press and attention, is it any wonder that Honda cars continue to gain popularity among US and UK buyers? Check one out for yourself today!

Diesel-Powered Honda Cars May be Delayed

honda carsWith the high cost of diesel fuel costs right now, the makers of Honda cars are thinking now may not be the best time to launch diesel-powered vehicles in the United States.

“Right now we are re-evaluating, due to trends in gasoline and diesel prices, and the price of raw materials we use in the exhaust clean-up system,” said Honda spokesperson David Iida about the delay.

Currently, the plans to delay the diesel-powered Honda cars are exclusive to the Honda Motor Company, but other automakers may follow the example. Diesel cars typically cost about $1,500 more than their traditional fuel counterparts, but they also get about 30 percent better gas mileage.

The prices of diesel fuel right now are about 40 percent higher than the normal fuel prices. That hasn’t been the case in many, many months and it may have taken several automakers by surprise. As a result, consumers won’t save much money by buying diesel-powered Honda cars right now. However, when the gas prices go up again (and I’m sure they will sooner or later), Honda cars that use diesel fuel are likely going to be a big hit among consumers.