Honda Recalls 2012 Accord, 2012 Crosstour, 2011-2012 Ridgeline
Honda has issued two recalls today -- one for the 2012 Accord and 2012 Crosstour, and another for the 2011-2012 Ridgeline.
The 2012 Accord and Crosstour recall is the most worrisome of the two. According to a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Accords and Crosstours from the 2012 model year may have been built with a faulty inflator for the side-curtain airbag on the passenger's side. As a result, those airbags may not deploy during a crash, seriously increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Thankfully, the size of this recall is fairly small, including only 347 units to date. (Given the popularity of the Accord, the recall could've been much larger a few months down the road.) Honda expects to notify owners of affected vehicles about the recall by next Friday, February 10. At that time, they'll be able to take their vehicles to a Honda dealer, who will inspect the airbag system and replace inflators as necessary, free of charge.
If you have questions about the 2012 Accord and Crosstour recall, we encourage you to ring Honda Customer Service at 800-999-1009, or call the NHTSA at 888-327-4236 and ask about recall campaign #12V030000.
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The 2011-2012 Ridgeline recall centers around the Ridgeline's spare tire, which has come with inaccurate inflation information on the attached placard. If owners use the spare tire and it's improperly inflated, the tire could fail, leading to an accident. Approximately 206 Ridgelines are included in this recall.
Honda has already begun sending out notices to Ridgeline owners, so if you have one of the recalled vehicles in your garage, you should receive something in the mail very soon. At that time, you can take your Ridgeline to a Honda dealer, who will amend or replace the tire information placard free of charge.
Should you have additional questions about the Ridgeline recall, call Honda Customer Service at 800-999-1009, or ring up the NHTSA at 888-327-4236 and ask about recall campaign #12V025000.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Suspension Recall Affects 2010-2011 Honda Accord, 2011 Pilot
Honda has announced that it will recall about 10,800 Accord sedans and Pilot utility vehicles for a potential issue with the front suspension.
According to the automaker, both the spindle nuts on the front axles of both models, plus the damper attachment bracket bolts on the Pilot might cause the front suspension to fail. The problem is due to a machinery issue (a flaw with assembly software), and may affect a very small number of the vehicles recalled.
All of the affected vehicles—2010 and 2011 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Pilot models—were assembled at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA).
Owners of models affected by the recall will be receiving a notice in the next several weeks, and those who do are encouraged to bring their vehicle to a delaership, where the affected parts will be checked and potentially replaced.
Accord and Pilot owners can go to recalls.honda.com or call 800-999-1009, option 4, to see if their vehicle is affected.
[Honda]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Preview: 2011 Honda CR-Z
Honda plans to launch two new hybrid vehicles next year: a sporty coupe based on 2007’s CR-Z concept car and a hybrid version of the compact Fit. Both cars are due in the second half of next year and in the lead up to their arrival, Honda has previewed the sportier model with its latest ‘CR-Z Concept 2009’ show car that makes it's world debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
The CR-Z Concept 2009 takes the original 2007 CR-Z concept car and refines its wedge shape into something that looks a little more practical and feasible for production.
While the vehicle displayed at this year's Tokyo event is still a concept, the production version that will be introduced to North America for sale in the second half of 2010 will be packaged as a sporty two-seater hybrid (the concept features a rear seat). If you're wondering, Honda has confirmed that the production CR-Z will make its world debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show next January.
Designed as a spiritual successor to the original Honda CRX, the production version of the CR-Z is expected to be powered by a compact four-cylinder engine displacing less than 2.0-liters and matched to an electric motor. The combined output for the car should be close to 140-horsepower, with drive sent to the front wheels via a CVT.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Honda Still Hopes To Meet FCX Clarity Goals
Since the Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle launched over a year ago, it's gotten a good bit of coverage here at TCC, even though there are only about 10 models on the highways of America and Japan. That's a long way from Honda's goal of leasing 200 units in the Clarity's first three years of production. However, Honda seems confident they can not only meet that milestone, but also put the Clarity in showrooms by 2015, despite the fact that building fuel-cells is awfully slow going. You have to admire Honda's hell-or-high-water attitude -- well, most of the time. [Reuters via egmCarTech]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Follow-up: Honda Responds To Crosstour-Bashers On Facebook
Yesterday we discussed the virtual beat-down that the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour is enduring at the hands of Facebook and Twitter. Well lo and behold, the folks at Honda have taken notice, and they've responded. The results are predictably hilarious.
If you visit the Facebook page for the Crosstour, you'll now see a tab entitled "Message to Fans". On it, there's a five-point response to the many, many negative comments posted on the "Wall" section of that Facebook page. Like all good cross-x debaters, Honda's PR team leads with its strongest argument in favor of the Crosstour. Sadly, it's not very strong:
The photos: Arguably, the two studio photos we posted didn't give you enough detail, nor were they the best to showcase the vehicle. There are more photos on the way. Maybe it's like a bad yearbook photo or something, and we think the new photos will clear things up.
Now, we've seen bad photos before at TCC. More than we can count. They're typically teasers that capture a slice of a vehicle's interior or maybe the slope of a C pillar -- enough to give an impression, but no real sense of the car as a whole.
However, the photos that Honda posted to Facebook are really straightforward. No trickery, no crazy angles, just the Crosstour, tip to tail, front and center. For Honda to claim that the photos are somehow inaccurate is bewildering. And to go one step further and compare the shots to a bad yearbook pic? To us, that says that the Crosstour is just going through a pimply, awkward phase; everything will be fine once its voice fully changes. And we all know how well that worked out for Peter Brady.
Honda's other four rebuttal points are pretty forgettable, except number three:
Many of you don't like the styling: It may not be for everyone. Our research suggests that the styling does test well among people shopping for a crossover.
There may be some truth to that statement, and sure, the people responding to the Crosstour on Facebook may not be the target market for this particular vehicle. But many of these commenters are Honda devotees, and if they -- like us -- feel that the model falls outside Honda's aesthetic, there may be problems ahead. In fact, we might be inclined to bet on it.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Honda Brings Squeaky-Clean Civic GX To A Third State–Utah!
Honda's natural-gas-powered Civic GX is only offered to the general car-buying public in two states—California and New York. But today the automaker announced a third state where it's available: Utah.
Why Utah? According to Honda, the Great Salt Lake state leads the nation in per capita natural gas refueling infrastructure and has the lowest natural gas prices in the country. Current average prices are just 99 cents per gasoline gallon equivalent. The 2009 Civic GX costs $25,090, but buyers might qualify for a double money-saver in the form of a $4,000 federal tax credit plus a $3,000 Utah tax credit.
Still, not all dealerships in California and New York sell the Civic GX; Honda says that 42 California dealerships and just nine New York state stores have added retail sales of the GX. Plenty more—129 dealerships in 32 states—sell it as a fleet only vehicle though.
TheCarConnection.com has driven a Honda Civic GX in previous model years. The GX has a range of about 170 miles and takes just a few minutes to refill at a compressed natural-gas station. Honda partner company FuelMaker offered the Phill home refueling system previously, but the firm went bankrupt earlier this spring and the system was taken over by Fuel Systems Solutions.
On a gasoline-equivalent basis, the 2009 Honda Civic GX achieves 24 mpg city, 36 highway, and it is classified as an Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV)—a designation only awarded to a few clean fuels, like natural gas.
There are just eight dealerships in Utah and two of them are already selling the Civic GX, so it's unlikely that the move will have much effect on the GX's relatively low retail numbers compared with the rest of the Civic lineup.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Rumor: Toyota Launching Yaris-Based Subcompact Hybrid In 2011
Toyota's subcompact Yaris will allegedly serve as the basis for a new hybrid model, set to launch sometime in 2011. The car (name TBA) will feature new styling and a new hybrid system that's apparently less expensive than those found in Toyota's other hybrid vehicles, which should have a nice effect on pricing: the car is expected to retail around $16,000. Given sluggish U.S. sales of smaller hybrids like the 2010 Honda Insight, don't expect this one to appear in North America anytime soon, though -- at least until all those tiny EVs arrive on the scene, making the Yaris look spacious by comparison. [HybridCars]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2009 Ford Taurus and 2009 Honda Odyssey: Ideal Vehicles, Say Owners
There's more good news all around for Ford—it beats out Toyota, GM, Honda, and other full-line mainstream brands and has taken the top mainstream-brand spot in AutoPacific's 2009 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA). Porsche takes the top premium-brand spot, and both top-performing brands win for the second year in a row. Model-by-model, top honors go to the 2009 Honda Odyssey minivan, followed by the 2009 Toyota Venza crossover/wagon, Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Taurus sedan (in the top five for a second year), and Lincoln Town Car sedan. Last year's top-rated vehicle was the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
As an indicator that shoppers' priorities might be changing, the Ideal Product Segment for 2009 was 'Large Car'—the 2009 Ford Taurus' segment—while 2008's ideal segment was 'Large Crossover SUV,' won last year by the Ford Escape and this year by the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse.
AutoPacific notes that the Honda Fit and Lexus LS, two segment winners for IVA, achieve the top spot in the company's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards as well.
For its Ideal Vehicle Awards, the Tustin, California-based marketing research and consulting firm have new-car owners rate their new or nearly new 2009 vehicles on 15 key attributes that sound a lot like TheCarConnection.com's Bottom Line review checklist, including styling, power and acceleration, ride, handling, visibility, cargo space, safety features, and others. From these responses, AutoPacific puts together a numerical rating for nearly every U.S.-market vehicle. The results are based on a survey of 32,000 new-car owners.
AutoPacific splits vehicles into 23 different shopper-based categories; here are those segment winners for 2009:
| Premium Luxury Car | Lexus LS |
| Aspirational Luxury Car | Hyundai Genesis |
| Large Car | Ford Taurus |
| Luxury Mid-Size Car | Lexus ES 350 |
| Premium Mid-Size Car | Saturn Aura |
| Mid-Size Car | Volkswagen Jetta |
| Image Compact Car | MINI Cooper |
| Compact Car | Hyundai Elantra |
| Economy Car | Honda Fit |
| Sports Car | Porsche 911 |
| Sporty Car | Dodge Challenger |
| Large Pickup | Ford F-150 |
| Compact Pickup | Ford Explorer Sport Trac |
| Luxury Sport Utility | Lincoln Navigator |
| Large Sport Utility | Nissan Armada |
| Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility | Ford Explorer Sport Trac |
| Mid-Size Sport Utility | Jeep Liberty |
| Luxury Crossover SUV | BMW X5 |
| Large Crossover SUV | Chevrolet Traverse |
| Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV | Toyota Venza |
| Mid-Size Crossover SUV | Subaru Forester |
| Compact Crossover SUV | Kia Sportage |
| Minivan | Honda Odyssey |
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
New York Auto Show: First Pic Of 2010 KIA Forte Koup
Laptops are dying left and right at the Javits Center, so getting info from the floor of the New York Auto Show is trying at best. However, we just got this intriguing pic via the TCC hotline (i.e. our personal cell phones) and this cryptic sentence: "2010 KIA Forte Koup. Yes: 'Koup'. 2.4 liter four with 173 hp and six speed manual. More l8tr."
Here's the "l8r" part: the new Koup model is spun from the Forte bits that were on public display at the Chicago auto show. The important bits and pieces include two models, the EX and SX. EX cars use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 156 horsepower, and a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearboxes. The SX version churns away with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder worth 173 horsepower, via a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode.
Kia's promising the interior room, handling, style and fuel economy to compete with the likes of the Honda Civic Coupe, Ford Focus coupe, and Scion tC. We'll be driving it soon--stay tuned for a first spin in the Koup before it goes on sale this summer.
Full press release below these live pics--more photos over at our 2010 Kia Forte page.
PRESS RELEASE
Based on the design styling of the KOUP concept vehicle shown during last year's show, Forte Koup's fluid lines and balanced proportions, meant to evoke an emotional driving experience, closely mirror the powerful design cues of the concept vehicle and offer the same aggressive stance with swept-back wrap-around headlamps, aggressive air intakes and a low, sleek profile. Available in two trim levels (EX and SX), Forte Koup offers a muscular yet sophisticated design. Even from behind, Forte Koup exudes attitude with slim, wrapped tail lights, duel exhaust outlets and a rear diffuser.
Athleticism and convenience are standard for the Forte Koup EX with body-color bumpers, power heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and 16-inch alloy wheels outfitted with P205/55R16 tires. The SX trim offers an even sportier profile with 17-inch alloy wheels paired with P215/45R17-sized premium tires.
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Smooth and Sporty Ride
With a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall length of 176.4 inches, an overall width of 69.5 inches and overall height of 55.1 inches, Forte Koup is slightly shorter in length and height than the Forte sedan, but still boasts comfortable seating for up to five passengers. Koup's lowered stance provides better aerodynamics for those looking for a more exciting ride.
The Kia-engineered body achieves high torsional stiffness giving Forte Koup better handling, smoother ride quality and greater refinement than its competitors, with a specially tuned suspension developed to optimize responsive handling on curvy roads. Additional refinements are fitted throughout to help ensure a comfortable ride with good noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction qualities.
Built on a front-wheel-drive unibody frame, Forte Koup utilizes the same platform as the sedan, with an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar and a torsion beam rear suspension with struts and coil springs. This combination helps provide the optimal balance of handling and comfort. An engine-speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system adds the finishing touch for precise handling to help provide the most advantageous amount of assist for varying road conditions. The SX trim also comes with a sport-tuned suspension providing for a firmer ride with reduced body roll and improved handling.
Lively Performance
More powerful than the Honda Civic Coupe, Ford Focus Coupe or Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe, Forte Koup EX is driven by a 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine, producing 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque that features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection, both of which provide for greater performance and fuel economy. The SX features an upgraded 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, also with CVVT, which delivers 173 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque, more than the Scion tC. Expanding upon the dynamic look and feel, Forte Koup's engine hums powerfully courtesy of the dual exhaust outlets outfitted on both EX and SX trims.
Like the Forte sedan, two transmission options are available for both 2010 Forte Koup models: a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission (EX models). The SX model features a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic®.
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Forte Koup fuel economy is not sacrificed for sportiness, as both engines deliver at least 31 miles per gallon (highway). The 2.0-liter engine offers 25/34 mpg (city/highway) when mated with either the five-speed manual transmission or the optional four-speed automatic. Those opting for the more powerful 2.4-liter engine also can expect an economical 22/32 mpg with the six-speed manual and 23/31 when paired with the five-speed automatic transmission.
Striking Interior
With a surprisingly spacious interior for a two-door coupe, Forte Koup provides a comfortable 90.7 cubic feet of interior volume, larger than the 2009 Honda Civic Coupe, Scion tC or Chevrolet Cobalt Coupe. Driver and passengers have an impressive 38.7 inches of headroom and 43.6 inches of legroom in the front seats and 35.3 inches of headroom and 33.9 inches of legroom in the rear seats. Trips to the beach and weekend getaways will be a breeze with ample cargo space of 12.6 cubic feet, enough to accommodate luggage and belongings of all passengers.
Forte Koup continues the luxury treatment with a host of standard interior features, beginning with supportive, nicely appointed sport seats outfitted with more aggressive bolsters on the seat cushion and seat back for optimal comfort. Air conditioning, a driver's seat height adjuster, adjustable rear seat headrests, tilt steering column, rear defroster, center console with dual cup holders, map lamps and variable intermittent wipers are also just some of the myriad amenities standard on every vehicle. Also standard on all models are power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry and cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls for added convenience.
Progressing to the SX trim offers additional standard touches such as: unique sport cloth seats with vibrant red stitching, a tilt and telescoping steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, metal pedals and metal finish trim and a Supervision gauge cluster with trip computer further enhancing its energetic personality. Both EX and SX trims also offer an optional power moonroof.
An optional Leather Package is available for both EX and SX trims. When combined with the EX trim the Leather Package adds leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and heated seats. When paired with the SX trim it includes leather and heated seats in addition to the standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
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Superior Sound
For inside entertainment while cruising down the road, Forte Koup comes with a standard six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service . For added listening convenience steering wheel-mounted audio controls also come standard on all models, as well as USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod® and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit. Standard Bluetooth® connectivity enables hands-free operation for compatible cell phones.
Standard Kia Motors Safety
Forte Koup offers a class-leading level of standard safety equipment, with features such as dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Industry-Leading Warranty
Like all Kia models, Forte Koup is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year or 100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mi
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Honda Takes The High Road With ‘Dream The Impossible’ Film Series
Honda has launched a new marketing campaign, and -- dare we say it? -- it's kind of interesting.
The campaign centers on Honda's "Dream the Impossible" documentary series, which features short films by director Derek Cianfrance (who's largely left off the the campaign's website). There are three vids so far -- "Failure: The Secret to Success", "Kick Out the Ladder", and "Mobility 2088" -- and given the interface at the site, we'll assume that a few more shorts are on the way.
Now, on the one hand, it would be easy to dismiss these three films as calculated marketing ploys--which they are. Given the recessionary times we're living in, is it really surprising that Honda would post one film about humility and failure, another about the struggles of innovation, and a third about the bright promise of tomorrow? All that talk of hard work and humble pie will play well in Peoria.
On the other hand, we have to give Honda props for being so earnest and thoughtful. At a time when many companies are still pushing gimmicky, trying-too-hard viral vids, it's refreshing to see someone take the high road. Granted, this campaign is obviously a branding exercise for Honda rather than a direct-sales pitch, but these days, as people do more thinking and comparing before buying, beefing up the brand is likely a very smart move.
There's one other thing we like about this campaign--how to say it, though? ...Well, there's nothing wrong with seeing Danica Patrick in a bikini, but it's equally nice to watch her speak her mind now and then. See what we mean in the "Failure" clip below.
[source: Honda: Dream the Impossible]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
