2014 Civics are here - Compare and Contrast

2014 Civic: What’s New?

The 2014 Civic raises the bar once again in the compact sedan and coupe segments with a number of exciting new features and enhancements. In addition, Civic Coupes receive dramatically refreshed styling, with Civic Si Coupe receiving its own special treatment.

All-new Honda Ridgeline Pickup to Debut Within Two Years

  Design sketch reveals styling direction for Next-Gen Honda truck

Current Ridgeline production will end mid-2014

Sales of Ridgeline up 29 percent in 2013

An all-new Honda Ridgeline pickup truck will come to market in less than two years and, today, Honda shared a sketch expressing the new truck's styling direction. Honda also confirmed that production of the current Ridgeline (http://automobiles.honda.com/ridgeline/), built exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama, will conclude in mid-2014.

Check out Honda's ninth annual North American Environmental Report

Highlights include:

• CO2-adjusted fuel economy of Honda and Acura automobiles up 9.5%
• CO2 emissions intensity of automobile production in N.A. down 16.2%
• CO2 emissions intensity of product shipments in the U.S. down 8%
• CO2 emissions intensity of service parts shipments in the U.S. down 13.5%

And here's the BIG PICTURE of Honda's commitment to our environment:

Earlier this month, Honda released its ninth annual North American Environmental Report. Honda's ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its products and business operations resulted in a number of significant advancements, including a 9.5% year-over-year increase in the CO2-adjusted fleet average fuel economyi of model year 2012 Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S., to 26.4 miles per gallon (mpg); a 16.2% year-over-year reduction in the CO2 emission intensity of automobile production in North America; and an 8% year-over-year reduction in CO2 emissions resulting from the shipment of finished products from factories to dealers in the U.S.

The 2013 Honda North American Environmental Report also details Honda's ongoing actions to effectively minimize the company's impact on the environment, including waste reduction, resource conservation and energy efficiency improvement. The report covers the period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 (fiscal year 2013) and is published digitally. The 2013 Honda North American Environmental Report is available for viewing and can be downloaded at http://corporate.honda.com/environment/2013-report.

Preventative Maintenance is Good - Preventative Advice is too.

Have you ever heard an annoying clicking sound while you are driving. There's a good chance it is a CV joint failure.

The CV joints allow your wheels to rotate and bend in all directions as it is a ball joint. These joints are lubed with high temperature grease that is protected by a CV boot. Due to factors such as aging, abuse, and weather, the CV boot can crack or tear allowing the oil to deplete and contaminants to enter. Therefore it is important to replace a damaged boot before there is damage/failure to the CV joint.

Here's an easy way to check for CV joint failure. Pull your windows down and listen while driving slowly at a walking pace. Turn from side side, if there is loud clicking during the turns, there is very likely a damaged CV joint that needs to be replaced. Try on both locks, hard left and hard right. Usually you'll hear which one has failed. If you are inclined to look under your car you can also check the CV boot for any tears or splits.

Your service advisor will gladly show you the signs of damage or failure to the outer CV joint, and advisse you of your option of either replacing the entire CV half shaft or the damaged outer CV joint. That would entail the same procedure as repairing the CV boot except you are replacing the old outer CV joint as well.

Beware and be advised, when it fails, you have about 500 miles or less before the joint separates and break loose. Ask your advisor when and if you should consider any preventative measures.

Hindsight is 20/20 - And costly at times

Now you don't have to wait until you experience that tendency to pull to one side? Or worse vibration from the steering wheel. If the answer to either of these questions is yes, your car might be due for an alignment. Most car handling problems can be solved with a total wheel alignment. If all system components are properly aligned after a wheel alignment service, shock will be significantly lessened and more efficiently absorbed, which produces a more even ride.



Our opinion is that there’s no better technology or car alignment equipment available than Hunter Alignment. Our mechanics use Hunter Alignment equipment during every alignment procedure for precise adjustments and accurate measurements. Hunter Alignment equipment is what makes it possible for us to guarantee the best wheel alignment service available.



Alignment equipment technology is constantly updating, but the most current version is the Hunter HawkEye Elite Alignment Machine. The HawkEye Elite includes new designs for the adapter, target, and console, as well as high-res cameras and an integrated steering system reset. Some other features of the HawkEye Elite include convenient storage, a customized column cap, a drive-on camera, a TouchRemote, and TPMSpecs. The HawkEye Elite can recall specs in a snap, and the HawkEye Elite also features QuickComp.

Hunter Alignment equipment’s state-of-the-art technology allows for greater productivity, and our mechanics are able to locate alignment issues within a brief 90-second procedure. Alignment results print out automatically after the wheel alignment procedure, so that our mechanics may make the necessary alignment adjustments with exact precision.



With Hunter Alignment equipment, including the HawkEye Elite Alignment Machine, we can guarantee the most precise wheel alignments performed right the first time. You never have to second-guess a wheel alignment performed using Hunter Alignment equipment. For the best wheel alignment services available, performed using the Hunter HawkEye Elite Alignment Machine, contact us online to schedule an appointment.

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Accord recognized for record 28th time since 1983

Honda Accord Wins Car and Driver Magazine's 2014 '10Best Cars' Award


Amid an increasingly competitive mid-size field, Car and Driver magazine has once again named the Honda Accord as a winner of its prestigious annual '10Best Cars' award. The achievement marks the twenty-eighth time in the award's 31-year existence that Accord has won-more than any other vehicle and the seventeenth year in a row for Honda's flagship sedan.
"The editors at Car & Driver have long appreciated Accord's almost singular mix of dynamic excellence and fuel efficiency balanced by a well-equipped, comfortable and practical package," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "They know that it's difficult to balance these attributes and yet it's something the Accord has done consistently for more than three decades."
"Once again, the Accord became the stand­ard by which the largest and most competitive class of passenger cars is judged," said Car and Driver.
Now in its ninth generation, the Accord has been sold in the U.S. since the 1976 model year and this year marks 31 years of Accord manufacturing in America.




And we've been here before, across the product line



Fuel Cell Concept Debuts At 2013 L.A. Auto Show

Honda FCEV Fuel Cell Concept

Once again a picture says a thousand words. And maybe more to those of us that have been driving a Hybrid Automobile for any length of time. This photo may suggest where we are going. The Honda FCEV Concept car shown, while clearly a "Form follows Function" creation, there's a fantastic dose of "style" there too.