Honda Archives

Honda wins big at KBB

Honda has bagged a number of new awards in North America, with the most notable of the lot being awarded to the 2018 Accord. It has been named Overall Best Buy of 2018 by Kelley Blue Book (KBB). It is one of 7 accolades that the Japanese automaker won from a total of 12 ‘Best Buy’ award categories.

According to the judges, the Accord bested the competition because it managed to outclass its rivals in all categories despite being considerably cheaper. Besides this, it also offers decent fuel consumption and features that offer the best bang for your buck.

The following is the full list of Honda vehicles that were recognized during the awards ceremony:

Overall Best Buy: 2018 Honda Accord
Mid-Size Car: 2018 Honda Accord
Small Car: 2018 Honda Civic
Electric/Hybrid Car: 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
Small SUV/Crossover: 2018 Honda CR-V
Midsize SUV/Crossover: 2018 Honda Pilot
Minivan: 2018 Honda Odyssey

Speaking of Honda’s latest achievements, Jeff Conrad, senior vice president of the Automobile Division of American Honda, said, “We’re exceptionally proud to have dominated this year’s Kelly Blue Book awards, which really reinforces our unique focus on individual car buyers and on delivering the best overall value.”

Honda’s reputation for building vehicles of decent quality with impressive reliability standards have won over many North American car buyers. Despite stiff competition from local and Japanese rivals, it still continues to win award after award.

Honda employee jumps from plane for fun

Honda has published a new video featuring one of its employees, Kevin Kuhn, a thrill seeker who by nature, loves the thrills that are associated with skydiving. Its part of the automaker’s What Makes a Honda is Who Makes a Honda video series, where each episode depicts Honda’s ideals in its employees and in their work ethic.

It focuses on on those who live out the company’s commitment to The Power of Dreams, which is Honda’s global theme that encourages staff to conceive ideas that will create new value for customers and society.

Kuhn’s desire to challenge himself in several aspects of his life lead him to the daring challenge of jumping out of an airplane unaided and negotiating his way via parachute to the designated landing spot.

As the new model project leader in the Plastics department at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN), he leads the team that is responsible for making plastic injected molded parts including bumpers and instrument panels.

According to Honda, Kuhn played a key role in the construction of plastic panels that went into the 2017 CR-V and 2016 Civic at HMIN production plant. Adding to this, he prefers to work together with other departments to maximize efficiency of manufacturing new vehicles.

Speaking of his eccentric hobby, Kuhn said, “Skydiving is a very freeing experience, there’s really nothing to be afraid of. I have learned a lot by taking risks, and how do we challenge ourselves to continue to make that better cars? With a challenging spirit, anything’s possible.”

Kuhn learned to skydive about seven years ago and has completed more than 380 jumps since then. He considers it a liberating exercise and is one that has taught him several life lessons that he applies to his day job.

Honda Jazz claims title of most reliable car

Based on a reliability survey that was conducted in What Car? magazine, a UK based automotive publication, the Honda Jazz is the most reliable car in the UK. The survey asked its readers whether their cars had suffered any faults within the last 12 months.

According to the 14,208 readers who responded, not a single Honda Jazz owner who completed the survey, reported any faults with his or her car. The different types of faults of the car were classified into 14 categories.

Readers were allowed to select parts of the car based on the following categories : battery, bodywork, brakes, engine electrics, exhaust, exterior lights, fuel system, gearbox/clutch, interior trim, non-engine electrics, steering, suspension and other.

Despite this, not a single person reported anything wrong in any of the 14 categories, which is a testament to Honda’s reputation for building reliable and robust vehicles. The Jazz’s bigger brother, the Civic, did well too, scoring a 94.5% reliability rating.

“This is a fantastic result for the Jazz and only goes to further demonstrate the build quality that Honda is famed for,” said Phil Webb, head of cars at Honda UK. “To then also further score highly with the Civic hatchback and Tourer simply reaffirms Honda as one of the most trusted and reliable brands.”

Though it seem like this bit of news irrelevant to Malaysian car owners, the contrary is true. This data offer an insight into the robustness of the mechanicals that power the current Jazz.

And since cars made in different parts of the world utilize similar drivetrains and trim fixtures, it’s safe to say that Honda Jazz owners here in Malaysia should be able to enjoy the same reliability as those in the UK.

Honda reveals new concept sports car

Honda unveiled a new sports car concept at the Tokyo Motorshow called the Sports EV Concept. The car features similar retro-modern looks of the Urban EV Concept, that has been altered to suit a larger silhouette.

At the front, it gets the same iconic rounded headlights used by the early Civics and an elongated black grille that occupies the recessed section of the front fascia. The bulging front fenders and long swooping bonnet provide the car with a muscle car look.

The noticeably large windshield stretches the entire width of the car with the A-Pillars forming narrow partitions between it and the window glass. Toward the rear, the vehicle takes on a fastback look, reminiscent of the original Ford Mustang.

It’s raked roofline tapers toward the back and forms a muscular looking rear. The overall look makes the car look as premium as vehicles from European automakers. Despite being a compact sports car, its design fools people into thinking that the Sports EV Concept is a larger car than its dimensions would suggest.

According to Honda, this new concept combines EV performance with Artificial Intelligence in a car that has been purposefully built to offer decent driving enjoyment. This news suggests that the car will be aimed at enthusiasts as well as those who enjoy a well built machine.

It’s refreshing to see Japanese automakers embrace this newfound need to produce efficient vehicles that combine cutting edge technology with beautifully sculptured bodies. That said, this is only part of the story for Honda. The automaker also unveiled plans of developing various technology that may contribute to the realization of a carbon-free society.

Fernando Alonso to drive for McLaren in 2018

After a rocky few months, McLaren’s driver line-up for the 2018 season seems to be set in stone. Former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, who recently gave the team an ultimatium, has chosen to stick around for another year, according to F1.com.

He will rejoin current teammate Stoffel Vandoorne as McLaren mounts its renewed title hopes next year with new engine supplier, Renault. After several dismal seasons trying to rekindle the glory days of the McLaren-Honda partnership, both companies have decided to go their own separate ways.

The under performing McLarens have lacked the much needed power that would have allowed them to compete further up the grid. Instead, plagued with several reliability issues and a noticeable power deficit, contributed to a lackluster few seasons.

Previously, McLaren F1 cars were powered by Mercedes-Benz engines, the very same ones that allowed the team to be a dominant force in Formula 1 for decades. Now, with Renault power, the UK based team should be able to harness all of its knowledge and resources to make a much needed comeback.

Source: F1.com

Kobe Steel falsified claims of aluminium and copper specifications

Yet another scandal has hit Japan, and this time its from a company called Kobe Steel. Though this company maybe relatively unfamiliar to many, it is a key player in supplying the automotive industry with a whole host of parts that include doors and bonnets.

Based on an article posted by The Guardian, Kobe Steel has admitted that over the course a decade, it has falsified data regarding the strength and durability of its aluminium and copper products that are used in cars, aircraft, space rockets and defense equipment.

This issue affects a whole host of manufacturers that include Boeing, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Hitachi and several others. In fact, Hitachi has said that it used Kobe Steel parts in trains that it built for the UK market.

Boeing, the US based aircraft maker, has stated that it is currently inspecting Kobe Steel products that it had used, but for the moment at least, says that there is no evidence to suggest that the safety of the respective parts had been compromised in any way.

This news has many mainstream automakers scrambling to assess the extent of which Kobe Steel products were used in their vehicles. Though certain companies have said that safety may not be an issue despite the fact that Kobe Steel didn’t honour the specifications agreed upon, we won’t know for sure until further investigations are carried out.

The extent of the issue and the sectors that are affected by it are still unknown, but we hope that for the most part at least, that the issue is isolated to the Japanese market. That said, we will let you know more as this scandal begins to unravel in the coming weeks.

Source: The Guardian

Honda ranked 20th most valuable brand in the world

Honda is said to be one of the most valuable brands in the world according to market research done by Interband in its latest ‘Best Global Brands’ study. The Japanese automaker was able to move up the ranking and is now considered the 20th most valuable brand globally.

Interbrand estimates Honda’s financial value to be at $22.696 billion. This includes its entire business divisions including the aviation sector, which is starting to witness a great deal of interest pertaining to its newly launched aircraft.

“The power of the Honda brand highlights our influential position in the market,” said Philip Ross, Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe. “There’s diverse range of new products, from the zero-emissions Clarity Fuel Cell to the award-winning Honda Civic Type R.”

“These vehicles showcase the significance of advanced technology to the Honda brand. The recently-announced ‘Electric Vision’ will fast-track a major brand advancement, bringing to market a host of new electrified vehicles from 2018,” he later added.

The recognition that the automaker received from Interbrand is a correlation with several landmark achievements for the company in 2016 as well as recent company announcements. Honda has revealed its business plans for the near future, which is considered a drastic shift from what we are used to expecting from the brand.

At the recent Frankfurt Motorshow, Honda revealed that electrified technology will be at the core of every new car model launched in Europe. The announcement was made by Honda Motor Company CEO, Takahiro Hachigo after the unveiling of the Urban EV Concept vehicle.

This proves that Honda is convinced that electric mobility is the future and are readying plans to offer more electrified vehicles to customers in the coming years. The Urban EV Concept will eventually pave the way for the launch of a new Honda electric car, which is slated for production in 2019.

At a global level, Honda plans on having electrified technology powering at least two thirds of its cars by 2030. Though these plans aren’t as drastic as those put forth by Volvo, but they too, spell the end of the automaker’s dependence on fossil fuel powered cars in the not so distant future.

Besides its automotive sector, the newly launched HondaJet light aircraft set a new Miami-Panama speed record that was recognized by the National Aeronautical Association. It also celebrated global deliveries that surpassed that of other jets in its class.

Honda’s expertise in robotics that include its spectacular creation, Asimo, the automaker has come up with an ingenious Miimo lawnmower. It is capable of recharging itself at an electric docking station when its running low on power and can intelligently follow the layout of any garden, quietly while cutting the grass.

All this combined, is the reason why Honda has been ranked this high on the list and should it may be able to move even closer to the top once it realizes the true potential of EV power.

McLaren and Honda end troubled F1 partnership

McLaren’s Formula 1 team and its engine supplier for the past two and half years, Honda, have decided to part ways after a dismal run of performance since the partnership was forged in 2015. Since switching from Mercedes-Benz powered engines to the Honda ones, McLaren hasn’t been the same.

The team have found themselves closer to the back of the grid, competing with teams that lacked the same technology funding, and driver talent than what the British based automaker had at its disposal. Despite having one of the most talented drivers of this era in Fernando Alonso, the team has failed to impress.

Plagued by constant reliability issues, the under powered Honda units have caused McLaren and Alonso, a great deal of grief. So much so that the Spaniard delivered an ultimatum to his team by stating, if things did not improve soon, he would leave in search of other opportunities.

After allowing all this to sink in, both teams have decided, in a complicated manner, to break-up and go their separate ways. As part of the deal, McLaren will receive Renault engines for the 2018 season, Toro Rosso will switch to Honda power and its driver, Carlos Sainz Jr., would be loaned to the Renault F1 team for the 2018 season.

It’s a complicated break up but it’s one that might allow McLaren to get back to its winning ways. This is especially sad considering that this same partnership allowed Mclaren a great deal of success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Any hopes of both teams rekindling that same success of their glory days will never be realized in the near future.

How well these new partnerships pan out remains to be seen, but rumour has it that Honda might introduce a more powerful engine for the 2018 season. If proven true, McLaren might have jumped the gun by switching to Renault power and allowing Toro Rosso to benefit from its R&D with Honda.

Source: F1.com

Honda unveil new compact concept car at Frankfurt

Honda has unveiled a funky new EV concept car called the Urban EV concept at the Frankfurt Motorshow. The supermini sports a compact three-door design and retro looks reminiscent of the early Civics. Shorter than the current Jazz by atleast 100mm, it aims to offer sportiness and ‘manly’ practicality.

The squarish front grille is actually able to light up and display a number of different messages that include greetings and advice for other drivers while on the road as well as charging updates. The Honda emblem has a back-light that emits a blueish hue.

The concept was officially introduced by Honda Motor Co. President and CEO, Takahiro Hachigo, during his press conference speech. This is not some vision of the distant future, a production version of this car will be here in Europe in 2019.”

Visibility from inside the cabin is impressive, thanks to slim A-pillars and a wide windscreen that stretches the entire width of the vehicle. The car also features rear-hinged coach doors and a charging port that is housed on its bonnet.

Inside, the cabin incorporates innovative styling and design that allow for better use of space. Honda says that the Urban EV will be able to seat four adults comfortably across two bench seats. And unlike most cars, the Urban EV’s interior resembles that of a lounge.

Thanks to wood accents, elegantly designed seating positions and an elongated rectangular display on the dashboard, mean the vehicle can also double as a meeting area. The seat-belts for the rear bench are fixed in the middle of the seat, allowing the belt to retract out of the way before a passenger exits the car. Though not ideal, but it’s still a cool feature for a concept.

That said, the car’s main party piece is its Automated Network Assistant that assesses the driver’s past decisions and facial/emotional expressions that accompany them to apply what it has learnt to make new choices and recommendations on journeys.

But don’t get too excited though, concept vehicles such as these rarely ever make it onto showroom floors. Some elements of its design maybe incorporated into upcoming Honda models, but most, will probably be shelved till a later date.

Honda celebrates 25th anniversary of the Type-R

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Type R nameplate. Introduced in 1992 to signal a vehicle’s performance oriented heritage, it went to become a set of letters that is revered all over the world.

The first Honda vehicle that received the R in its model name was the NSX-R, which was fitted with Motorsport-inspired upgrades that improved the base car’s characteristics. The R version had a powerful and high revving engine and finely tuned suspension.

Within Honda, the NSX-R was known as the R-Type, which eventually reversed to form Type-R. It’s a name that went on to adorn a number of high performance Hondas that include the Integra DC2, Civic and Accord.

Honda’s Type-R vehicles were in high demand up until 2011 when the global financial recession hit markets around the world. But things eventually picked again as economies around the world began to recover.

Fans of the brand are commemorating this milestone with a celebration event in Rockingham this week. Apart from that, Honda UK also gave a select group of people the opportunity to experience the best that Type-R vehicles have to offer including the Civic, Accord and Integra models.

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Honda

Honda wins big at KBB

Honda employee jumps from plane for fun

Honda Jazz claims title of most reliable car

Honda reveals new concept sports car

Fernando Alonso to drive for McLaren in 2018

Kobe Steel falsified claims of aluminium and copper specifications

Honda ranked 20th most valuable brand in the world

McLaren and Honda end troubled F1 partnership

Honda unveil new compact concept car at Frankfurt

Honda celebrates 25th anniversary of the Type-R

Honda wins big at KBB

Honda employee jumps from plane for fun

Honda Jazz claims title of most reliable car

Honda reveals new concept sports car

Fernando Alonso to drive for McLaren in 2018

Kobe Steel falsified claims of aluminium and copper specifications

Honda ranked 20th most valuable brand in the world

McLaren and Honda end troubled F1 partnership

Honda unveil new compact concept car at Frankfurt

Honda celebrates 25th anniversary of the Type-R

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