Honda of Concord

Filed under: Etc., BMW, Honda, Mini, Subaru, Volvo, Humor

Happy April, everyone. And we all know what this first day of the month means: April Fools' Day. Today is a national holiday for pranksters with the Internet acting as a serious enabler, and it's always fun to see what kind of vivid imaginations exist out there in the automotive world. The abundance of fake news gets a little old as the day rolls on, but we did manage to get in a few chuckles thanks to a handful of major automakers and automotive news outlets that got into the pranking spirit this year

Some of our favorites this year includes Subaru showing what happens when you combine a bunch of rumors, a Corvette some may have already thought was a joke or Honda providing some in-car innovation circa the late 1980s. Honestly, we're still waiting for official confirmation from Mitsubishi that the recently introduced 2014 Mirage is an elaborate April Fools' joke using a failed design intended for the 1995 Geo Metro. We dug up as much "official" OEM foolishness we could find, as well as some of our other favorites, and posted them all below.

Continue reading Automotive April Fools' joke roundup [w/videos]

Automotive April Fools' joke roundup [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Minivan/Van, Technology, Honda, Design/Style

Much of the minivan segment's volume has been sucked up by the industry's ever-increasing appetite for crossovers, but a few major players are hanging in there, eager to serve as beasts of burden for America's families. Chief among those players is Honda, which is showing its revamped 2014 Odyssey at this week's New York Auto Show with a potential game-changing feature - an in-car vacuum.

Co-developed with Shop-Vac, the HondaVAC system will come standard on the range-topping Touring Elite model. The system includes a replaceable filter and canister bag, along with a range of attachments located in the cargo hold. Honda says this first-ever feature includes a hose that is long enough to clean the entire interior. Better still, the vacuum will run for up to eight minutes after the vehicle is turned off, so you can get every last Cheerio out of the seat cushions, and it never needs plugging in or recharging, as it runs off of the vehicle's electrical system.

In other news, the 2014 Odyssey gets a new aluminum hood and fenders to pair with its revamped grille and lower fascia. Headlamps get a more sinister look thanks to darker surrounds, and there are new LED taillamps out back, as well as revamped side mirrors on the doors. Underneath the skin, Honda says the 2014 Odyssey has received structural changes to help it ace the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety's new small-overlap frontal crash test, and it's also added active safety features like lane departure warning and forward collision warning to the optional features list.

Honda has chosen to make no mention of any drivetrain innovations, so we assume it will continue to be motivated by a 248-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 powering the front wheels.

Inside, existing Odyssey owners will note a revamped center stack and new trim finishes, along with available new features including pushbutton start, HondaLink cloud-based infotainment options with smartphone integration, HD radio and so on.

Us? We just want to go spill some things and try out that vacuum. In the meantime, sit tight, kids - we'll have live photos of the new Odyssey from its New York debut before you can finish sucking down that sippy cup.

Continue reading 2014 Honda Odyssey set to clean up in NY with world's first in-car vacuum

2014 Honda Odyssey set to clean up in NY with world's first in-car vacuum originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A reliable, safe, well-performing new Honda car with exceptional fuel economy, under $18,000-- No, you aren't dreaming. However, you will be able to sleep easy after purchasing the affordable 2013 Honda Fit. Consumer Reports can back us up, as they just named the vehicle one of its "6 Great New Cars Under $18,000."

It was more than the price tag that won over Consumer Reports. This Honda model has many dreamy features...

New-car shoppers have once again recognized the Honda brand as the 'Most Trusted Brand' and 'Best Value Brand' in Kelley Blue Book's 2013 Brand Image Award study. This is the second year Honda was named the 'Most Trusted Brand' and the third consecutive year as the 'Best Value Brand'. Additionally, Honda captured the top honor of 'Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand,' thus receiving more awards than any other brand in the 2013 Kelley Blue Book study.

"We are honored to be recognized by American car buyers for two tenets of the Honda brand: trust and value," said Mike Accavitti, vice…

The 2013 Honda CR-V and the 2013 Honda Odyssey were both honored by U.S. News & World Report among its "Best Cars for Families." The efficient and capable CR-V was named "Best Compact SUV for Families" and the stylish up to 8-passenger Odyssey was named "Best Minivan for Families" among 2013 model year vehicles sold in the United States.

"If you're looking for a top safety-rated, fuel efficient, fun-to-drive family vehicle, you can't really go wrong with a Honda," said Mike Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Both the CR-V and the Odyssey exemplify 'family friendly' with top safety ratings, proven Honda quality and loads of smart features to keep the driver and all passengers comfortable and connected."

The "Best Cars for Families" methodology combines quality, size and family-friendly features into a composite score. Quality is measured using a weighted average of scores from the U.S. News rankings at the time the awards are published. The rankings compare cars on the basis of safety, reliability and a consensus of automotive critics' opinions. Size is based on a vehicle's seating capacity and interior space. For family-friendly features, the availability of features deemed to be helpful to families by U.S. News editors is factored in.

The 2013 Honda CR-V provides upscale styling, excellent fuel efficiency, and a host of standard convenience features, making it one of the most fun and functional compact SUVs in America. The CR-V is rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a TOP SAFETY PICK and is distinguished by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star Overall Vehicle Score.¹ Compact on the outside and roomy inside, the CR-V represents an unparalleled balance of size and capability in the entry SUV segment. With its car-like interior comfort, a smooth and quiet ride, plus innovative features, the versatile CR-V is a great fit for families or individuals with an active lifestyle.

The 2013 Honda Odyssey minivan continues to lead its class in fuel economy and safety ratings, while providing spacious accommodations for up to eight passengers and a refined and engaging driving experience. The Odyssey Touring is rated at a remarkable 28 mpg,² the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating of any eight-passenger minivan. All Odyssey models are an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK, and the Odyssey has earned the best possible overall safety rating from NHTSA with a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score.¹

Connect with Honda:
Honda Media Newsroom (for journalists): www.hondanews.com
Honda (for consumers): www.automobiles.honda.com
Honda on Facebook: www.facebook.com/honda
Honda on YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Honda on Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Honda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/honda
Instagram: http://instagram.com/honda
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+honda

¹ Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). Model tested with standard side airbags (SABs). Vehicles tested under the new program cannot be compared to MY10 and earlier vehicles.

² Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Honda, Racing

Drumming up a little excitement for the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship, Honda brought its new Civic WTCC car to the bright lights of Geneva for all to see. Honda joined WTCC late last year entering the final three races. The racing outfit will run this year's entire 12-round season, which kicks off later this month in Italy.

In the off-season, Honda made a few updates to its WTCC entry including better aerodynamics, improved suspension and braking and numerous engine and turbo enhancements. Two teams will field the new Civic racecar in this year's season: Honda Racing Team JAS and a private team from Hungary, Zeng? Motorsport.

Fans of the WTCC in the US will be pleased to know that series makes a return visit to Sonoma Raceway on September 8 for the Race of the United States.

Continue reading 2013 Honda Civic WTCC is ready for racing

2013 Honda Civic WTCC is ready for racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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