Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
American Honda Highlights Performance and Personalization at 2012 SEMA Show
The Honda Factory Performance® (HFP®) package for the 2013 Accord Coupe makes its world debut today as part of the American Honda display at the 2012 SEMA Show. The all-new 2013 Accord Coupe and Sedan set a new standard for midsize car styling, efficiency and performance, and three modified Accords on display further highlight the personalized appearance and performance potential of the model.
Adjacent to the Honda display, Acura returns to the SEMA Show after a six-year absence on the strength of the all-new 2013 ILX luxury compact sedan, displaying two modified ILX vehicles and the striking Acura Supercar Concept vehicle featured in the blockbuster movie "The Avengers."
Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) merits its own section of the display with championship vehicles including a replica of Dario Franchitti's 2012 Indianapolis 500-winning Indy car, the Muscle Milk® Racing 2012 American Le Mans Series P1 champion car and a B-spec Honda Fit race car that recently won its class at the 2012 SCCA Runoffs.
"Honda, Acura and HPD are on a roll this year, and the SEMA Show gives us a great opportunity to show off a bit," said Mike Accavitti, vice president of National Marketing Operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "With the new Honda Accord clearly excelling in all areas, the ILX opening new doors for Acura, and HPD building championship race cars left and right, it's clear that the magic is back."
The limited-edition HFP package for the 2013 Accord Coupe is set to go on sale in the spring of 2013 and includes: 19-inch HFP alloy wheels; decklid spoiler; HFP sport suspension (lowers height by 15mm and enhances handling); HFP front, side and rear underbody spoilers; red interior illumination; HFP floor mats and HFP badges for each side and the trunk. The HFP package, like all Honda Genuine Accessories, carries a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty when installed at the time of new vehicle purchase, and is engineered to be fully compatible with the vehicle. Enhancing its exclusive appeal, only 500 examples of this limited-edition HFP package will be sold for the 2013 Accord. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the package, not including installation, will be $4,650.
Also on display, a 2013 Accord Sedan featuring the X-Package and additional available Honda Genuine Accessories is designed to turn heads and accentuate the sedan's aerodynamic styling. The X-Package for the Accord Sedan is currently available for purchase nationwide at Honda dealers. The package includes front, side and rear underbody spoilers; a sport grille and a rear-wing spoiler with a MSRP of $2,171, excluding installation.
Reaching out to the enthusiast community, Honda invited two independent vehicle tuners to build and display their Accord concepts at the SEMA Show. Tuners were asked to push the limits of performance and style with their builds, and the vehicles on display demonstrate the personalized potential of the Accord Coupe and Sedan. After previously building amazing versions of the 2011 CR-Z and the 2012 Civic Si, Bisimoto Engineering returns with a 401 hp version of the Accord V6 Coupe in "Grand Touring" style. With three prior Honda project builds under their belts, including a 2007 Element, a 2009 Pilot and a 2011 CR-Z, DSO Eyewear / MAD Industries shows off their all-new Accord Sedan with upscale customization inside and out.
The HPD Supercharged CR-Z Concept rounds out the Honda section of the display with a further exploration of the performance potential of the CR-Z Sport Hybrid. Expanding on the CR-Z supercharged engine displayed at the 2011 SEMA Show, HPD made enhancements to improve acceleration, handling and stopping by adding a sport exhaust, developing a sport suspension, designing wheels with high performance tires and adding sport brakes.
The all-new 2013 Acura ILX luxury compact sedan offers a great chassis, dynamic engine choices, and sophisticated styling, perfect for the car enthusiast seeking compact fun and performance, with luxury and technology matching much larger vehicles. Honda R&D's Team Honda Research-West chose to highlight the performance potential of the car by building the 2013 Acura ILX Endurance Racer, on display, which will compete in NASA's grueling 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race later this year. Additionally on display, Evasive Motorsports created the 2013 Acura ILX Street Build project car, featuring an Acura Genuine Accessories aero kit and aftermarket supercharger among many modifications designed to provide a fun, daily drivable car that is tastefully done.
Courtesy of Sac Bee
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Honda Fit She’s, the world’s only car aimed exclusively at women
Around the world, building and designing cars remains a male-dominated business, and many companies live by an old axiom that women will buy a man's car but men won't buy a woman's car. While a few companies have attempted to bend that rule, only Honda has chosen to embrace it with the Honda Fit She's -- the only model built by an automaker today aimed exclusively at women. Hope you like pink, ladies.
There's a long and embarrassing history of automakers attempting to lure women with ladies-only models. At the turn of the 20th century, electric cars were marketed to wives with the pitch that their lack of hand-crank starting would avoid broken shoulders and/or death. In 1955, Chrysler made a bid for feminine attention with the Dodge LaFemme -- which came in a two-tone pink-and-white paint scheme, along with a storage place for the matching purse and rain hat. Lest you think modern executives learned from errors of the past, in 2000 Ford showed off a concept Windstar minivan developed with Maytag featuring a compact washer/dryer, microwave and vacuum in the rear hatch, because why would a soccer mom ever want to be parted from her appliances?
As women have grown to buy more cars in recent decades -- accounting for about one-third of car shoppers in the United States -- such attempts have given way to more savvy marketing. But in Japan, the gender divide remains more stark; half of all working-age women stay out of the workforce due to more stringent societal pressure to choose homemaking over careers, a major reason Japan's economy has been stuck in a rut for decades. But there's a cohort of younger Japanese women putting work first, and in a weak market Honda sees an opening.
Launched this summer, the Honda Fit She's designers say they wanted to take a regular Fit subcompact and make it in their words "adult cute." That means lots of pink: Pink stitching in the seats and steering wheel and floor mats, matched by pink metallic bezels around the shifter and displays. There's also a few extra shades of pink in the special She's badge, spelled with a heart for an apostrophe. If pink isn't a customer's style, Japanese buyers can also select a Fit She's in shades of brown and white that a Honda executive told the Yomuri Shinbun newspaper match the color of eyeshadow.
To Honda's credit, the Fit She's beauty treatment isn't just skin deep. It also comes with special windshield glass that cuts 99 percent of ultraviolet rays and a "Plasmacluster" air conditioning system that Honda claims can improve a driver's skin quality, all aimed at stopping those wrinkles that turn adult cute into just adult. With a starting price of $17,500, the Fit She's got an attractive price for a home-market Japanese car -- but automakers wouldn't need special editions if taking advice from women wasn't such a noteworthy event.
Courtesy of Yahoo Autos
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
2013 Honda Accord EX Wins Car and Driver Comparison of Midsize Sedan Contenders
Car and Driver profiled four potential challengers to the best-selling Toyota Camry sedan in its November 2012 issue. These cars, the 2013 Ford Fusion SE EcoBoost, 2013 Honda Accord EX, 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV and 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SE, combined for close to 800,000 units sold in 2011, which represents 6 percent of all “light vehicles” sold in the United States last year.
The beloved 2013 Honda Accord EX was the winner of the four-car comparison, providing further evidence of the brand name’s comeback for the 2013 model year. Writer Aaron Robinson lauded Honda for creating a smaller Accord for 2013 while making the interior and trunk roomier than ever before. He was all praises for the Accord EX’s driving feel and comfort, despite the fact that its sunroof makes it heavier than other Accord trims for the coming year. The CVT included under the hood made the tested Accord EX even easier to drive, to say little of the 2.4-liter engine that produced the most horsepower among the four vehicles.
The 2013 Ford Fusion SE EcoBoost was a very commendable second place, excelling in terms of stopping distance and skidpad performance. Robinson described the Fusion SE EcoBoost as a car that James Bond would drive if he was real – this being due to the high-end materials and stylish design of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the MyFord Touch infotainment system was panned by Car and Driver, with Robinson calling the system “slow, ungainly (and) fault-prone.”
Coming in at third and fourth respectively were the 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV and Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SE. The Altima, despite being praised by most for its high fuel economy numbers, was solid but unspectacular in the test, and lacking in “outstanding qualities beyond having the largest trunk opening.” Finally, the Passat failed to impress mainly because of the lack of power and excessive noise generated by its 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Robinson concluded his assessment of the Passat by referring to it as an affordable vehicle nonetheless lacking in personality.
Courtesy of Tell Me News
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Check out this Pre-owned 2002 Toyota Highlander Limited
Stop by Livermore Honda today for a test drive, and you might drive away in your new dream car!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Honda Beat Confirmed for Production
Honda President Takanobu Ito has confirmed that a new-generation Beat model will be heading to production, bringing back the automaker’s mini-sports car from 20 years ago.
Rumors and speculation of the Honda Beat revival began last year, and when the Japanese automaker displayed its EV-STER Concept, giving us a glimpse into its design. It’s the car that excites Honda President Ito the most and recently mentioned how his interest in the Beat came when development of the new NSX began.
“When the Beat was being built, I was on the development team to work on the NSX sports car and sports cars are something I really love,” Ito said. “I was kind of envious of the little cute sports car.”
Last year Honda confirmed that the EV-STER was heading to production, and now it appears that the production Beat model will be based on the EV-STER. The question is whether or not it’ll be a true sports car to take on the Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ, or if it’ll be an electric vehicle. Or perhaps, given its rumored Fit underpinnings, the new Beat will be available with a choice of electric or gasoline propulsion.
Courtesy of Auto Guide
Friday, October 19, 2012
2012 Honda CROSSTOUR
Hey, Honda fans! Even though life can get hectic, you can always resort to your polished Honda CROSSTOUR. Stop by for a test drive today!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Livermore Honda Clinic
The Clinic is designed to offer you important information about your vehicle, its warranty, service intervals, maintenance, etc. We will introduce you to our Service Staff, provide a Q&A session, and even have vehicles up on our lifts for a full undercarriage view. This is a great opportunity to learn more about your vehicle while enjoying refreshments, and meeting other owners. We want you to enjoy your new vehicle! We will answer any questions you may have. You may have a chance to win door prizes and raffle prizes So please join us on Saturday,October 27th, 2012 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. We look forward to seeing you!
Please RSVP at Service@LivermoreHonda.com
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
New Promotion Offers $3,000 Fuel Card for the Civic Natural Gas
Imagine a car that’s built in the United States, can achieve 31 mpg in combined driving, and requires fuel that’s about half as expensive as gasoline and comes almost exclusively from sources in this country. And now imagine that the vehicle also comes standard with a $3,000 debit card to make fill-ups even less painful. Well, if all that gets your attention, then so will the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, because it offers those advantages and more.
The Civic Natural Gas is the only OEM-manufactured, CNG-powered car that’s currently available to retail customers in the U.S., and it’s built at Honda’s manufacturing complex in Greensburg, Ind. More to the point, if you purchase a Civic Natural Gas from a participating Honda dealer, between now and Jan. 2, 2013, you’ll receive a $3,000 debit card from the Clean Energy Fuel Corp. that can be used at any one of its CNG fueling stations across America.
Needless to say, thanks to EPA ratings that are equivalent to 27 mpg city/38 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, and CNG prices that are hovering just over $2.00 a gallon, taking advantage of this new promotional effort from Honda won’t require much effort at all.
“With gas prices spiking in California, Civic Natural Gas sales at an all-time high, and the public gaining greater awareness of the benefits of using natural gas, we believe this a great time to launch our fuel card promotion with our partner Clean Energy.” said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office. “If you’re looking to save money at the pump, spend less time in traffic, and reduce your environmental impact, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas is a great choice.”
Courtesy of Honda
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Honda Ridgeline arrives with standard rearview camera and unmatched combination of practicality, efficiency and value
After receiving an extensive mid-cycle refresh for 2012, including a new high-value Sport trim level, new front styling and improved fuel efficiency, the Honda Ridgeline returns for 2013 with a rearview camera now standard on all trim levels. The 2013 Honda Ridgeline represents an exclusive and innovative approach in the half-ton pickup truck segment, prioritizing its construction and features based on the capabilities that recreational truck buyers need and use the most. The 2013 Ridgeline goes on sale today and pricing is unchanged for 2013, starting at $29,3501.
The Honda Ridgeline features a closed-box, uni-body structure and an independent front and rear suspension for a unique combination of capability, interior spaciousness and comfortable ride performance. It also delivers a wide range of conventional pickup capabilities, with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds and a half-ton payload rating, all while offering unique features like a large In-Bed Trunk® with dual-action tailgate for easy access.
Four distinctive Ridgeline models are available, including the Ridgeline RT, Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline RTS and top-of-the-line Ridgeline RTL, which is available with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™2. The 2013 Ridgeline earns an EPA fuel economy rating of 15/21/17 city/highway/combined3 mpg.
Ridgeline RT features include: Unique 17-inch steel wheels, integrated trailer hitch, pre-wiring for 7-pin trailer wiring, keyless entry, power windows and door locks, power sliding rear window, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, trip computer with instantaneous and average fuel economy, 6-speaker 100-watt audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA playback capability, rearview camera, and 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage.
Ridgeline Sport features include (adds to Ridgeline RT): Exclusive black 18-inch aluminum wheels, exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround, black headlight and brake light housings, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, auxiliary audio input jack, all-weather floor mats and rear privacy glass.
Ridgeline RTS features include (adds to Ridgeline RT): Exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels, painted inner grille surfaces, body-color painted door handles, 7-pin trailer wiring connector, 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate control, 7-speaker 160-watt audio system with subwoofer, 6-disc in-dash CD system, steering wheel-mounted controls, auxiliary audio input jack, exterior temperature indicator, all-weather floor mats and privacy glass.
Ridgeline RTL features include (adds to Ridgeline RTS): Exclusive 18-inch aluminum wheels, fog lights, power moonroof, heated side mirrors, leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, XM Radio4, HomeLink® remote system, ambient console lighting, 115-volt power outlet and carpeted floor mats.
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™2 with Voice Recognition and Zagat Survey® restaurant information is available on the Ridgeline RTL. It includes XM® Radio4, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® and a multi-information display. The navigation system includes a rearview camera display, thus eliminating this display in the rearview mirror.
Powertrain The Ridgeline's all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine produces 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. Variable valve timing enhances low-rpm torque while extending high-rpm horsepower for a broad power band. The 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the most appropriate gear when going uphill or downhill to avoid gear "hunting."
A fully automatic Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) provides confident operation in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud, while also improving on-road and towing performance by distributing torque to all four wheels as needed. The system operates predominately in front-wheel-drive during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations. The VTM-4 lock button located on the instrument panel allows the driver to temporarily hold engagement of both rear wheels to aid traction while in gears "1" and "2" at speeds of up to 18 mph.
Standard towing equipment includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a 7-pin trailer hook up (pre-wiring only on RT and Sport).
Body The unit-body architecture is designed for vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs and provides the foundation for the Ridgeline's spacious interior cabin and bed, safety performance and class-leading ride and handling performance. Its modern and athletic design incorporates a solid, one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. The windshield wipers have a heated wiper zone to enhance wiper performance in winter driving conditions and minimize ice scraping, while large side mirrors compliment rear vision while towing.
A 5-foot-long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations provides a payload rating of 1,100 pounds, while four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the 8.5 cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk®. The Ridgeline is available with a wide variety of accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles or ATVs. The cargo area measures 49.5 inches wide between the wheel wells, 20.7 inches deep and 60.0 inches long (79.0 inches with the load-supporting tailgate in the down position).
Chassis A MacPherson strut front suspension and fully independent multi-link rear suspension with trailing arms provide a smooth ride and responsive handling. A heavy-duty braking system includes 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The Ridgeline RT has 17x7.5-inch steel wheels and P245/65 R17 all-season tires, while the Ridgeline RTS upgrades to 17x7.5-inch aluminum wheels. Ridgeline Sport and Ridgeline RTL models are uniquely equipped with 18x7.5-inch aluminum wheels and all-season P245/60 R18 tires.
Interior The interior takes advantage of Honda's uni-body packaging efficiency to deliver full-size interior space dimensions while maintaining garage-friendly, mid-size exterior dimensions. The driving position provides ergonomically comfortable access to large and easy-to-use controls.
Between the front seats, a large multi-function console features a sliding armrest and sliding lower tray – each with a hidden storage area. Other console storage areas accommodate large and small items like mobile phones, beverage holders, compact discs and portable digital music players.
The 60/40 lift-up rear seats feature a storage area underneath that is large enough to accommodate a golf bag. Plus, the rear seating area can quickly convert for cargo duty by lifting the seats up to create enough room for a full-size mountain bike with the front wheel removed. The rear seat incorporates three LATCH positions for compatible child safety seats.
Safety All Ridgelines are equipped with standard safety features including dual-stage, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags, front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seat active head restraints, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), a tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights.
Courtesy of SacBee
We love hearing from our customers. Keep up the good work service department!
"Service dropoff is quick and they have a shuttle to/from work which is convenient." -- Jennifer B.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Check out this 5-star review on Yelp. We love hearing from our customers!
"Henry was very courteous throughout the whole process...I would recommend this place." -- Jin L.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Cars gone wild in Paris:Honda EV-Ster
Word on the floor of the 2012 Paris Motor Show is that Honda's EV-Ster open-top electric sports car will see production possibly as soon as 2014. To maximize the 10-kWh electric powertrain, Honda is working carbon materials into the EV-Ster to make it lighter, helping it carry a range of 100 miles per charge. However, the EV-Ster is no speed demon in its current form, with a top speed of 100 mph and a zero-to-40 mph of five seconds.
Courtesy of MSN Autos
Friday, October 5, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Honda Accord "Cash Car" Hits New York, Chicago, Phoenix and L.A. Starting This Week in Contest Hosted by Ben Bailey of "Cash Cab"
As a part of the comprehensive marketing launch surrounding the all-new 2013 Accord, Honda kicks off the first-ever Accord Cash Car competition event Saturday, Oct. 6 in New York City's Times Square, to be followed by appearances in Chicago, Phoenix and Los Angeles. The interactive Accord Cash Car promotion allows participating contestants to trade knowledge of the all-new 2013 Honda Accord's innovative new features for cash prizes and the chance to win a 2013 Honda Accord.
Hosted by Emmy-winning stand-up comedian and television personality Ben Bailey of "Cash Cab" fame, the fun and entertaining Accord Cash Car events will see participants teaming up to answer a series of questions related to the innovative new features on the 2013 Honda Accord. Correctly answering questions can earn participants cash prizes, and each contestant will also be entered for a chance to win an all-new 2013 Honda Accord.
This initiative by Honda is designed to raise awareness among consumers of the numerous advanced technologies and ample standard features found in the 2013 Honda Accord. The Accord Cash Car marketing program is geared to show consumers that the completely redesigned, ninth-generation Accord is not a one-spec machine, but the total package of luxury, safety, efficiency, agility and technology which makes it the smartest choice in its ultra-completive segment.
"With an innovative, fun-to-drive product like the all-new 2013 Honda Accord, we wanted to create an exciting, innovative contest to help people experience it," said Mike Accavitti, vice president of automotive marketing at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Accord is the new value leader in the mid-size class because it excels in all areas and the Accord Cash Car promotion will bring that story to life."
The Accord Cash Car events will kick off Saturday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. in New York City's Times Square, and will feature an outdoor set replete with several models of the all-new 2013 Honda Accord. The six-hour event will allow multiple sets of three-person teams to participate as contestants each hour, with their shot at the cash awards broadcast live to attendees on a large-screen display. After the New York City event, the Accord Cash Car event moves to: Chicago's Navy Pier Gateway Park on Saturday, Oct. 20; the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix on Saturday, Nov. 3; and the Hollywood & Highland Central Courtyard in Los Angeles next to the Kodak Theater on Nov. 10.
Courtesy of Honda News
Monday, October 1, 2012
Check out this certified 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L.
The vehicle features a rear camera, XM satellite and more! 
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