Honda Named "Brand of the Year" 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Equity Study

Honda is Highest Ranked Brand in "Full Line Automotive" category based on consumers' perceptions of familiarity, quality, and purchase consideration

Honda has been recognized as the "Brand of the Year" in the "Full Line Automotive" category according to the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study. Honda received the highest numerical Equity Score among full line automotive brands included in the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study¹. Harris Poll EquiTrend is an annual brand health assessment from Harris Interactive that surveys thousands of U.S. consumers online about their brand perceptions, measuring key touchstones including familiarity, quality and purchase consideration.

"This study offers strong evidence that the Honda brand continues to be well-regarded by American consumers," said Mike Accavitti, vice president of National Marketing Operations for American Honda. "The combination of strong brand equity and a fresh line-up of new models that resonate with customers will drive strong growth for us this year."

Green, Greener, Greenest - Honda's Eye to the Future

Honda Issues Environmental Annual Report 2012

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today issued the Honda Environmental Annual Report 2012 (Japanese language version), summarizing results of the company’s environmental initiatives for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, as well as targets for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. In order to address climate change and energy issues, which Honda views as most important in business management, Honda has established targets to reduce CO₂ emissions from its motorcycles, automobiles and power products sold worldwide. In addition, striving to minimize the environmental footprint of its corporate activities in Japan, Honda has developed mid-term plans for environmental initiatives related to corporate activities. In the report, Honda discloses a wide range of information, including such targets and plans as well as progress made during the previous fiscal year.
Published annually since 1999 which makes this year’s report the 15th edition, the Honda Environmental Annual Report serves both as an annual report on the targets and progress of environmental initiatives based on the Honda Environmental Statement released in 1992, and as a communication tool for collecting feedback and comments from a broad range of outside parties regarding Honda environmental policies and practices.

To download the Honda Environmental Annual Report 2012 (Japanese language version) and another detailed document about some of Honda’s environmental initiatives, please access to:
http://www.honda.co.jp/environmental-report/

Honda Owners to the Forefront with Information At Hand

The Honda Owner Link mobile site will launch on Friday, June 8. The site will debut with 2012 models, and within the next three months will be adding 2011 models. The mobile site provides a convenient way for customers to access their vehicle information and retrieve their radio/navigation code with a smartphone. Customers may also opt to visit the desktop site by clicking on "View Full Site To Login" to save personal information.

Honda's First Store in the United States

We've come a long way since 1959!

In October 1946, Soichiro Honda established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan, to develop and produce small 2-cycle motorbike engines. Two years later, Honda Motor Company, Ltd. was born, and in 1959 Honda opened its first storefront in Los Angeles with six industrious employees.

More than a paradigm shift...another WIN for the Honda Fit

Yet another paradigm shift.  That is, in a world that measures automotive economy in Miles per Gallon.   What will the new measure be for all electric cars?

The EPA’s MPGe rating is determined based on the energy present in a gallon of gasoline and converting it from BTUs to kWh — which comes out to 33.7 kWh of electricity. Otherwise, the simulated highway and city driving dynamometer tests required by the EPA are the same for EVs and cars that run on gasoline or diesel.

Fresh out of EPA testing, the 2013 Honda Fit EV has earned the title of most efficient car sold in the United States.

The electric Honda’s 118 MPGe fuel efficiency equivalency rating is the highest ever awarded by the EPA, beating out the 105 MPGe Ford Focus Electric, 112 MPGe Mitsubishi i-MiEV and 99 MPGe Nissan Leaf. The Fit EV consumes just 29 kWh of electricity per 100 miles driven, which will cost the average driver about $500 per year.

In addition to its miserliness, the Fit EV’s 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack also gives it a decent total range — 82 miles, according to the EPA’s combined city and highway test cycle. That’s nine more miles than the Leaf and a full 20 more miles than the i-MiEV. And six more miles than Honda's earlier estimate.  Last November the word was that the Fit EV would achieve a range of 76 miles in mixed driving when they unveiled the car at the LA Auto Show.

With its 6.6 kW charger instead of the 3.3 kW unit that most EVs use, the Fit EV also promises a full charge in three hours as long as you plug it in to a 240v outlet as soon as the “low charge” indicator comes on. No word on how long it takes to juice up from a totally dead battery.

Honda credits the Fit EV’s range and efficiency to the car’s lightweight design, aerodynamic exterior and “savvy powertrain,” which includes a 92 kW electric motor sourced from the FCX Clarity that generates 189 ft-lb or torque. The car also has a fully independent suspension and an electric drive system that’s been adapted from the Honda CR-Z. That, says Honda’s Environmental Business Development Office VP Steve Center, makes it “an absolute kick to drive.”

 Honda is reportedly releasing the 2013 Fit EV in select markets in California and Oregon this summer, with an East Coast rollout happening early next year. Chances are it will cost you a lot more than a gasoline Fit.  No guarantees but word has it the car’s MSRP will be around $36,625.  I sure hope Honda comes out with an enticing lease on this one.  Stay tuned.

Franchitti Claims Third "500" Win in Honda 1-2 Finish

Dario Franchitti came from the rear of the field to win a dramatic Indianapolis 500 Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leading Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon to the checkered flag in a 1-2 finish for Honda in near-record heat and humidity. It is the third Indianapolis 500 victory for Franchitti, and the third for Honda with engine manufacturer competition.
After starting 16th, Franchitti was hit during his first pit stop by the car of E.J. Viso, spinning Franchitti around and dropping him to the rear of the field. But he fought back to the front, reaching the lead for the first time on Lap 151 and then entering into a multi-car battle for the victory over the final laps.
Once at the front of the field, Franchitti spent the late laps trading the lead with Dixon, part of a record 34 lead changes during the race; while the Honda Dallaras of Takuma Sato and Justin Wilson; as well as the cars of Tony Kanaan and Ed Carpenter all looked like potential race winners.
Carpenter was the first to fall by the wayside, spinning without contact on Lap 180. On the Lap 184 restart, Kanaan jumped from fourth to the front on the run to Turn One, but the yellow came out again just three laps later as Marco Andretti spun and crashed without injury.
On Lap 194, the green flag waved for the final time and both Franchitti and Dixon passed Kanaan. Sato also was quickly past Kanaan and then Dixon. On Lap 199, Sato moved alongside Franchitti and attempted a last-lap pass for the lead as they entered Turn One. But Sato lost control mid-corner, made contact with Franchitti and then spun hard into the wall, crashing without injury.
Franchitti was momentarily sideways, but corrected for the slide and claimed his third Indianapolis 500 victory, and the 96th IndyCar win for Target Chip Ganassi Racing at the 96th running of the Memorial Day weekend classic. Dixon finished second, with Honda drivers Justin Wilson seventh, Charlie Kimball in eighth and Townsend Bell, ninth.
The IZOD IndyCar Series now enters June with a run of four consecutive race weekends, starting with the June 3 Belle Isle Grand Prix temporary street circuit race in Detroit, Michigan, followed by oval races at Texas Motor Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile and Iowa Speedway.
Dario Franchitti (#50 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 16th, finished 1st, his third Indianapolis 500 victory, 31st IndyCar victory (all with Honda power) and first win of 2012: "I moved over for Takuma [Sato]. I knew he was coming and I moved up the track. I felt it was a good move, but he got loose underneath me. It was the last lap of the Indianapolis 500 and I didn’t expect him to lift. I think he did everything right up until the point he lost the rear of the car. It kind of reminded me of Emerson [Fittipaldi] and Little Al [Unser, at the 1994 Indianapolis 500] at the end there. This means the world. This is Indianapolis.
I also have to say ‘thank you’ to Honda. I have all of my [IndyCar] wins with them and today showed us all exactly why. They worked incredibly hard throughout the event, and never more so than in the week after qualifying. Honda showed us all today what they can accomplish."
Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) qualified 15th, finished 2nd, led 53 laps: "We had the car to win today. Between the efforts of the team and Honda we had the power, reliability and mileage we needed, but at the end it was Dario’s race. He did a hell of a job today, so I’m super happy for him, but super gutted for myself. Still, it couldn’t be a better day, a 1-2 finish for the Target Chip Ganassi team at the Indianapolis 500."
Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today's Honda victory in the Indianapolis 500: "This is why we go racing. To be able to participate in such a competitive race is one of the most amazing things in my career with Honda. It was an exciting day, and a great race for the fans – but pretty stressful for the participants! Any of several Honda drivers would have been a deserving winner today, but somehow it seemed destined that this was Dario’s day. He drove a fantastic race, never giving up after getting hit during his first pit stop. It was an inspiring drive, and an incredible race, that had all of us riveted throughout. My congratulations to all our associates at Honda Performance Development, who worked so hard to make this victory a reality. What a great day."