2013 New York Auto Show: Refreshed Honda Odyssey cleans up well

Honda unveiled a refreshed version of its popular Odyssey minivan at the 2013 New York Auto Show with a unique option -- a vacuum cleaner built into the rear cargo area.
It's the first vacuum-equipped vehicle to hit the market, ready to suck up all the snacks and drinks spilled by the kids. Honda said it worked with Shop-Vac to design the HondaVac, with a replaceable filter and bag.

The contraption fits into two small compartments built into the left side of the rear cargo area. The top bin holds the hose and attachments, while the bottom section holds the canister.

This vacuum can reach every corner of the Odyssey’s interior, according to Honda. The automaker said it will run indefinitely with the motor on, or for up to eight minutes when it's off.

Only the fully-loaded 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite model will come with the HondaVac.

Though the refreshed Touring Elite model was the only Odyssey Honda brought to the New York show, all trim levels will get their own improvements. This includes structural changes aimed at making them better able to withstand the new offset crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2014 Odysseys also get aluminum front fenders, and a slightly revised grille and front bumper.

The Touring Elite model has LED taillights and a new center console that replaced the cluttered setup that Highway 1 found troubling when we reviewed the Odyssey in early 2011.

Honda wouldn’t confirm whether these changes would be on the other models.

The Touring Elite’s powertrain remains the same: a 3.5-liter V-6 makes 248 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. It pushes this power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

While the rest of Honda’s Odyssey trim levels have only a five-speed transmission, it’s largely expected that Honda will announce soon a switch to a six-speed gearbox for the entire lineup.

Honda said the 2014 Odyssey models will hit dealerships this summer.

Courtesy of The LA Times 

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Honda Takes Award for Best Brand Image

Honda Motor Co. has the best brand image of any major auto maker, according to a study released today by Kelley Blue Book, that takes results from 12,000 people who were shopping for a new car and using its Web page to do research.

The 2013 Brand Image Awards say Honda was the most trusted brand and considered the best value of all car brands in the survey. Honda has long been a stalwart in North America, where it derives half its profits, but it has in recent years gone through some stumbles.

The Japanese earthquake two years ago disrupted its supplies and caused sales to plummet, it then was criticized for the redesign of its Civic compact car, forcing a quick overhaul and several of its attempts to break into new market segments – like the Crosstour — have struggled.
But the brand is on the way back now. Honda’s U.S. sales rose24% in 2012 and have risen a modest 4.4% in the first two months of the year. Its redesigned Accord sedan is selling well and the company is investing heavily in plants in the U.S. and Mexico to meet anticipated demand.

Others capturing awards include, Ford Motor Co. for styling on its Ford brand designs. On the luxury side, BMW AG got buyers’ nod for best image, Lexus won for most trusted and Buick was the best value. Porsche won for best performance and styling. Mercedes-Benz won the award for “Most Refined.”

The study had a few other interesting winners. Chrysler, a brand with three vehicles, including a minivan, got readers’ approval for the most refined brand in the non-luxury division. That could be result of the brand’s slick advertising that features the “Imported From Detroit” tagline. Another oddity was that readers chose Toyota as the best overall truck brand – apparently they like Toyota’s trucks, they just don’t buy them. Ford sold six times as many F-150s pickups as Toyota sold Tundras.


Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal 

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Honda Planning Formula 1 Return

Japanese automaker Honda is reportedly planning to return to Formula One starting with the 2015 season, as an engine supplier to British team McLaren.

According to a Jiji Press report quoted by AFP, Honda's president Takanobu Ito said the company is considering returning to Formula One. In addition, Asahi Shimbun claims, citing company sources, that Honda has begun developing engines for McLaren.

If the rumors prove to be real, McLaren and Honda will team up for the second time in Formula 1 history. Their previous alliance, which lasted from 1988 to 1992, has resulted in four constructors' World Championships with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost behind the steering wheel.

 

Courtesy of Auto Evolution

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2014 Honda Odyssey Set for 2013 New York Auto Show

 

The 2014 Honda Odyssey minivan, which will get some "innovative new features," will debut next week at the 2013 New York Auto Show, Honda said on Monday.

The Odyssey, which targets the Toyota Sienna, gets a mild makeover.

The Odyssey will share the New York stage with the 2013 Honda Fit EV and the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid.

All Odyssey models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 248 horsepower. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard on Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models. Odyssey Touring models feature a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Odyssey is one of the Best Family Cars of 2012, according to the editors of Parents Magazine/Edmunds.com.

 

Courtesy of Edmunds

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Three of a Kind: Honda Trio Named to Best Bet List

Honda’s commitment to customer satisfaction has paid off big time in the annual Best Bet ratings by The Car Book 2013, an honor roll of the vehicles that provide a winning combination of nine key factors: Performance in crash testing, safety features, rollover resistance, preventative maintenance, repair costs, warranty coverage, fuel economy, customer complaints and insurance costs.
Now, that’s a lot to take into consideration, but many Honda products excelled in the analysis. According to the experts at The Car Book, one of the nation’s oldest continuously published vehicle-buying resources, the automaker had three Best Bet prize-winners, all right in the heart of the marketplace:

• 2013 Honda Accord: Honda’s all-new midsize sedan was a Best Bet in the “intermediate” category, an achievement rivals like the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion can’t match. The Accord was rated particularly highly for fuel efficiency, a reflection of how well its real-world numbers match its EPA line of 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg.
• 2013 Honda Odyssey: The only minivan to be named a Best Bet was the Odyssey, which was singled out for its low insurance and repair costs by The Car Book team. And remember, earlier this year, the Odyssey also showed off its long-term value proposition by winning a Residual Value award from ALG.
• 2013 Honda CR-V: After finishing the 2012 selling season as the No. 1 crossover in America, the CR-V is off to another fast start this year. Not only did it earn a Best Bet award, but it also was named a Best Value by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and a Best Resale Value recognition from Kelley Blue Book.

Courtesy of Honda in the News

Best Cars for the Money: 2013 Honda Fit and Honda Fit

No, that’s no typo in the headline. The Honda Fit was the only vehicle to receive two Best Cars for the Money Awards in the annual rankings from U.S. News & World Report. The versatile Fit won both the “Subcompact” and “Hatchback” segments in the comprehensive study, which is based on factors like five-year cost of ownership data from TrueCar.com; safety scores from NHTSA and the IIHS, reliability information from J.D. Power and Associates; and reviews from the automotive press.
As the publication noted:

• “No competitor can match the Honda Fit’s interior space.”
• “Reviewers still say the Fit is pretty fun to drive.”
• “It has the best combination of ownership costs and positive reviews.”
• “An above-average reliability score helps the Fit secure a spot at the top of its class.”

These accolades are further evidence that the Fit is closing out its current generation on a high note. Even with the all-new 2014 model now getting its finishing touches, the 2013 version has recently:

• Been designated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
• Earned a place on the “Greener Choices” list from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
• Claimed its seventh “10Best Cars” trophy from Car and Driver.
• Captured a “Best Resale Value” prize from KBB.com.
• Brought home a “Residual Value” title from ALG.

“The Fit brings truth to the concept that big things can come in small packages,” said Mike Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “With an amazingly roomy interior, snappy styling, great driving dynamics and industry-leading Honda quality, Fit proves that small cars can provide value well beyond their size.”

Courtesy of Honda in the News