It's all so easy...Once you know how to use it! (Technology)

What was once called 'Ownerlink' is now called the 'Honda Owners Site'.   The site has been entirely revamped for ease of use and access.  The level of content has also increased and been enhanced to include chart, diagrams, photos, even video clips.  This due largely to the fact that Honda has introduced many new interactive technologies in each new generation of vehicles.  The 2013 Honda Accord for example boasts a long list of standard features and is the first vehicle to benefit from a substantial increase in the amount and quality of supportive media.

Customers and Sales personnel alike can benefit from a browse through the pages of the  'Honda Owners Site' and a review of the all new Delivery Support Guide.   Topics included int he new 'guide' include: 'pairing your phone', 'using bluetooth handsfreelink', 'sms text messaging and e-mail', 'tpms calibration', 'lanewatch', 'lane departure warning(LDW)', 'HONDALINK featuring AHA'.  We'll all reap the benefits of the synergy of these to sources.

Owner Link has a new look. If you had a vehicle account on Owner Link, simply sign in as usual. All your information is here. (visit:  http://owners.honda.com/)

• We know you'll like the Honda Owners Site!

Below, I'm showing just three screen images that I hope will encourage everyone to visit the new site.  IThe new Owners site is very well structured and full of indispensable information.  Here are the three screens that will get you to all the 'new technology' information that you'll need to understand what's embodied in the New Accord:

Select the 'Vehicle Information' menu just to the right of the Honda Owners Logo (top left) and you'll be taken to the next screen:

To get to your specific model select the 'View Model Information' button and Voila....welcome to Honda Technology 101:

Sales associates will introduce customers to all the bells and whistles right from the start, on the demo drive. Customers will be shown the diverse interfaces and controls for setting up, customizing and interfacing with the various tech goodies on your car or truck.  Customers will revisit these controls once the vehicle has been purchased when the Sales Associate and the customer follow the 'Personalized Settings Worksheet' to customize the various features to the customer's liking.  And as a final effort to reinforce all the information that has been conveyed during the vehicle delivery process..the sales associate will provide the customer with the all new 'Delivery Support Guide'.  In paper or PDF format.

It's all so easy...once you know how to use it.  And we're here to make that learning process easy!

2013 Accord, CR-V and Odyssey Take Top Pick in 3rd Party Testing

Honda has what it takes to make the Top Picks list in ConsumerReports 2013 Annual Auto Issue.   This year Honda picked up three slots on Consumer Reports Top Picks list.   Including the redesigned Accord and the CR-V and Odyssey.  While the Accord took top honors this year....our entire product line shares the same DNA, so to speak.  All top class in our estimation.  But you can be the judge by driving one or any Honda today here at Hendrick Honda Bradenton.

Consumer Reports put together a comprehensive set of tests that include:

• Road testing
• Reliability testing/polling
• Safety testing

Each model’s overall road-test score, predicted-reliability Rating, overall fuel economy, detailed pricing, and much more is available on the pages of the current .

And Honda's Flagship, the 2013 Accord took the Midsize Sedan Category, the CR-V took the Small SUV category and the Honda Odyssey to the Minivan category.

Midsize SedanHonda Accord
As a sales person the redesign was phenomenol.  In many ways a big surprise to many of us.  Features and technology we had not even considered viable are now in the 2013 Accord.  The Accord was redesigned for 2013, now at the top of its class, Honda was right on target..matching customer wants and needs without sacrificing everything that's familar and expected to our many loyal Accord owners.  It's roomy, fun to drive, well equipped, and very fuel efficient. On a recent test drive the vehicle had personaility attributes that can only be experience by driving in one.  There's that sense that this car doesn't not want to leave the road...yet it's light and agile.  With its four-cylinder engine, the Accord squeezes out 30 mpg overall and 40 on the highway.  This being comparable to the Honda Fit.  Higher-trim models have safety features seldom found in this category.  You'll be amazed to know that the Accord’s price remains very reasonable.

Small SUV
Honda CR-V

The CR-V has not only moved into the category this yeart but it has taken over as the top small SUV category.  Honda's own design objective manifest in virtues that include a smooth, responsive powertrain, exceptional fuel economy, a driver adaptive ride, balanced and effiecient braking, a rear seat that is both spacious and comfortable, and reliability?...that goes without saying.  Stop in for a test drive...once again you can be the judge...and you just might be surprised at the competiveness of the pricing.

Minivan
Honda Odyssey
This evolution of the 'base camp' minivan, is much desired in the family domain.  You can expect reliability and you'll get it as it has improved over previous years.  I guess it's earned it's spot as a top family hauler. The ride is first and foremost quiet, quieter than ever and comfortable.  It's also extremely roomier than it's streamlined and sculpted exterior would lead one to believe.  Honda just doesn't cut corner on comfort in any of their third row amenities including the comfort factor.  Imagine a minivan delivering 19 mpg and you've imagined the Honda Odyssey.  Visibility is superb, and enhanced by a rear camera in every model.

 

Hendrick Honda Bradenton - Congrats to Team Hendrick

For all the latest on the Hendrick Motorsports victory at this years Daytona 500 please visit the website:
http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news

Here are just a couple of inspirational quotes from this years Winner, Jimmie Johnson:

"It is just awesome. There’s no other way to describe it; 400 starts, every one of those starts with Lowe’s and Hendrick Motorsports. To be the first to win in a Gen-6 car, and that car is a Chevy SS, just a very proud moment," said Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS.

"The way our cars work, there’s more help from someone pushing you than somebody towing you along. Some guys call it the beach ball effect. When the front bumper gets close to the rear bumper, there’s bubble effect that shoots the car ahead," said Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS.

It's a proud moment for all of us here at Hendrick Honda Bradenton too.  That spirit of winning, and finding new ways to do better is just part of the Hendrick culture here at the Bradenton dealership.  I hope you can come and visit us here soon and get the spirit!

Product Design Challenge - Keeping It Simple



Early Benz



Automobiles and automotive technology have evolved from simple machines that provide a level of mobility to simply move passengers and cargo from point A to point B.  They've become more and more complex. Generally speaking, overly complex products tend to intimidate customers, and the better manufacturers balance maximum functionality with maximum ease of use.  Honda is one of the best at striking that balance.




Horseless Carriage

 

K.I.S.S.,  one of my all time favorite acronyms for "Keep It Simple Stupid"...   Keeping things simple is a challenge to every engineer....as complexity can often correlate to cost, and high cost can have the effect of taking a good feature, worse, a great product out of the market.





2013 Accord Interior

  

As the trend for improved human factors is pervasive in all aspects of product design, including graphical and analog interfaces to that technology, I am curious how our customers feel about the latest advances in our latest Honda Cars and Trucks.  The Civic, The Accord and The Odyssey boast many creative and 'user friendly' technology based features, especially as viewed from  the driver's seat.  To be more specific the New 2013 Honda Accord introduces the following:

 



Honda Lane Watch

Forward Collision Warning

Rearview Camera

Lane Departure Warning

Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID)

Audio with Touch Screen

ECON Button

ECO Assist

Steering Wheel Mounted controls

Bluetooth HandsFreeLink

HondaLink

 

  

2013 Accord Sedan



 





I'll use the 2013 Accord as an example.  Each of the advanced features that are itemized under the dashboard photo have various interfaces for activation, modification and customization.  And many are layered with profuse heirarchical structures.   How is that simple.  While it's all surprisingly 'INTUITIVE'.  Another one of my favorite idioms is, "anything is simple once you know how to use it."  Good Human Factors design is both Intuitive and Easy to Use.  Honda seems to be coming at that goal from all directions.  And we're bringing all that to you!