Honda of Concord

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sarah Fisher finally found an engine deal for her IndyCar team, signing Friday with Honda for the 2012 season.

Fisher's team will field a car for rookie Josef Newgarden, last year's Indy Lights champion. He's scheduled to be on the grid for the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25.

Fisher thanked fellow team owner Bobby Rahal for helping the deal come together. Rahal originally had the rights to two Honda engine lease agreements this season, but does not plan to get his second team onto the grid until the Indianapolis 500. That opened the door for Fisher's team to resolve its uncertain engine situation.

"Bobby once again personified the definition of a gentleman and sportsman, remembering how we helped his son Graham," said Fisher, who allowed Rahal's son to run four races in her car in 2010.

"This is a wonderful example of paying it forward."

A spokesman for Rahal's team confirmed the team owner is still working to add a second car by Indianapolis, the fifth race of the season.

"When Bobby kindly offered to forego his second full season lease in order to ensure that Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing could be on the grid from the start of the season, we were happy to be able to help facilitate the matter," said Steve Eriksen, vice president of Honda Performance Development.

"We're pleased to be able to continue our relationship with Sarah Fisher and her new team and look forward to a successful rookie year from Josef following on the heels of his 2011 Indy Lights championship."

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

JAMIE ROBINSON!


Jamie, if you would please email me at jessica.dunlow@hendrickauto.com to set up a time to claim your tickets.  Remember, that you will need to come into the dealership prior to the date of the event (March 08, 2012).  You can also call in to schedule a pick up time at 704-979-7500.  Ask for Shane Purser or Jessica Dunlow.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our contest!  A new contest opens up on March 1, 2012 so keep your eye on our Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs!

Honda of Concord serving the greater Concord area is proud to announce that the 2013 Honda Fit EV is going to Stanford University. That's right. Honda has made a vehicle so smart that it requires testing from only the most intelligent minds.

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Honda

Continue reading Honda shows European CR-V prototype ahead of Geneva

Honda shows European CR-V prototype ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FROM KELLEY BLUE BOOK.

While initial price is always a prime issue in any new-vehicle purchase decision, the ultimate "best deal" also entails factoring in a number of other significant elements that can have an equally meaningful impact on long-term out-of-pocket expenses. To help bring those big picture details into sharper focus, Kelley Blue Book, the world's most experienced and trusted automotive pricing organization, calculates and integrates data from eight different categories to come up with real-world bottom-line figure that allows for direct comparisons to be made over a five-year period. This year, we've decided to go one step beyond and formally recognize the best-in-class entries with our inaugural Kelley Blue Book 2012 Total Cost of Ownership Awards.

Presented in conjunction with the Chicago Auto Show, the Kelley Blue Book 2012 Total Cost of Ownership Awards honored individual winners in 21 different market segments as well as two overall brand awards. The comprehensive valuation criteria used to determine the most deserving cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans included their fair purchase price (FPP), projected depreciation, financing costs, Insurance costs and state fees as well as the anticipated total cost of fuel, scheduled maintenance and repairs.

Hybrid Car: 2012 Honda Insight | 5-Year Ownership Cost: $32,884

Hybrid Utility: 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid | 5-Year Ownership Cost: $45,051

By David Shepardson

President Barack Obama traveled to Milwaukee Wednesday to urge companies to bring jobs back to the United States.

Obama spoke to workers at Master Lock, the largest manufacturer of padlocks and related security products. The company has brought 100 jobs back to the United States, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

In a statement released before his appearance at Master Lock, the White House praised Honda Motor Co.

The White House noted that the Japanese automaker is investing $98 million at its largest auto engine plant, which produces components for its new transmission technology. The Anna, Ohio, plant will make high-tech pulley components for the automaker's new continuously variable transmission, which is aimed at improving fuel efficiency.

The White House said Honda has committed to nearly $800 million in new U.S. investments and more than 1,200 new jobs across manufacturing operations in states such as Ohio, Alabama, and Indiana, since the beginning of 2011.

"Honda supports the administration's efforts to revitalize the U.S. manufacturing sector. As a company that is celebrating its 30th year of building cars in America, we know it is a great place to do business," said Edward Cohen, vice president of government and industry relations.

Last month, Obama irritated foreign automakers when the White House asked them to provide vehicles for the president to see at the Washington auto show and bring executives to meet with the president.

Shortly before Obama toured the show, foreign automakers were disinvited â?? and Obama didn't bother to look at any of the foreign vehicles. Instead, he looked at 18 vehicles made by Detroit's Big Three and met with executives from the U.S. companies.

Nancy McLernon, president & CEO of the Organization for International Investment, a Washington business association representing the U.S operations of global companies, noted that foreign companies are bringing jobs to the United States.

"While President Obama has emphasized insourcing jobs in the context of domestic firms bringing jobs back from overseas, increasing foreign direct investment in the United States is an essential piece of the insourcing story. Global companies have insourced over 5 million jobs for American workers â?? and produce 6 percent of America's GDP. In particular, the U.S. subsidiaries of global companies like Philips, BASF, Toyota, Mack Trucks and Tata, are heavily concentrated in the U.S. manufacturing industry â?? employing 17 percent of total American manufacturing jobs," she said.

Last month, Obama praised Ford Motor Co. for moving jobs back to the United States and invited Ford's Americas president Mark Fields â?? along with other companies â?? to the White House.

dshepardson@detnews.com

by Kristy Hessman, February 13th, 2012

As if the folks at Googledonâ??t have enough fun technology to play with, now they get to be the first to test out the new Honda 2013 Fit EVbattery-electric vehicles. Honda recently deliveredthe cars to the Google campus in Mountain View, Calif., as part of its Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. Googlers get to drive, test and provide feedback to Honda regarding the electric vehicles.

To make the arrival of the vehicle, 100 Googlers took the Fit EVfor a spin, Honda said, but the real testing will come as the company uses the car as part of its G-Fleet, an employee car-sharing service that features numerous plug-in vehicles. Google will also analyze various aspects of the car including CO2 reduction, energy consumption on a miles-per-kilowatt-hour basis and overall energy cost.