All-New Honda Ridgeline Pickup to Debut Within Two Years

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, built exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama, will conclude in mid-2014.

Like the innovative first-generation model that earned 2006 North American Truck of the Year and Motor Trend Truck of the Year honors after its fall 2005 debut, the next-gen Ridgeline is being designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc. at its Los Angeles and Ohio R&D centers.

The Honda Ridgeline broke new ground in the American pickup market with its unique design featuring a spacious five-passenger cabin, smooth ride and handling, and half-ton truck capability. The first truck of its kind to be built on a closed-box unibody platform, the Ridgeline introduced innovative new features to the pickup segment, such as its large In-Bed Trunk® and dual-action tailgate.

"The next generation Ridgeline will build on Honda's role in creating new value with a new take on advancing form and function in the truck segment," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "With a clear path forward, Ridgeline will play an even more important role in our future product portfolio and strengthen an already class-leading lineup of light trucks."

Sales of Ridgeline have enjoyed strong momentum in 2013, strengthened recently by the introduction of a new top-of-the-line Special Edition model for 2014, with sales totaling 16,160 units through the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 29 percent.

Check out the current Ridgeline at Executive Honda and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for further news and updates.

Honda Joins Vehicle-to-Grid Technology Demonstration Project in Partnership with University of Delaware and NRG Energy

Honda has joined a demonstration project for experimental vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology aimed at providing a potentially valuable energy storage resource to the nation's electrical grid while providing for more cost-effective ownership of plug-in electric vehicles. 

The Honda technology builds off of the research conducted by the University of Delaware and now supported by NRG Energy, Inc.  NRG and the University of Delaware, through their eV2g joint venture, came online early in 2013 with the world's first revenue-generating vehicle-to-grid project, demonstrating the controls, regulatory requirements, and market participation rules for selling energy storage from vehicles into the PJM Interconnection Regulation Market. Honda is supplying an Accord Plug-In Hybrid with added V2G capabilities to the University's Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus to jointly investigate the potential of this technology to benefit the electrical grid, vehicle owners and society.

Using smart grid technology, the V2G system is able to monitor the status of the grid to determine whether the grid requires additional power sources that can respond rapidly, or the grid requires power demands that can absorb transitional power supply. Such a system has the potential to reduce or eliminate the fluctuation of the grid, which can occur more frequently when renewable energy sources are introduced to the grid. Electric vehicle owners potentially benefit from supporting a more stable power grid, which can lead to reduced utility costs for the vehicle owner. 

The Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid demonstration vehicle is equipped with a bi-directional on-board charger, which allows the vehicle propulsion battery to both charge from and discharge to the electrical grid.  With an additional communication device, the vehicle receives signals from a grid operator via a charging station, and controls charge and discharge in accordance with the signals.  When electric power is requested by the grid, the vehicle will discharge power from its battery.  When the grid power supply exceeds demand, the vehicle proactively charges its battery.

Build a Plug-In Hybrid Accord at Executive Honda and be sure to stay up to date on our Facebook and Twitter for more news and updates.

2014 Honda Civic Goes On-Sale Today with a Restyled Coupe, Higher Tech, Better Fuel Efficiency and an Improved Driving Experience

The significantly enhanced 2014 Honda Civic officially goes on-sale today with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $18,190 for the Civic LX Coupe and $18,390 for the Civic LX Sedan. We should have ours any day now.

Extensive fresh and dynamic exterior styling updates on the Civic Coupe and premium interior refinements to all models further enhance the Civic aesthetic appeal. New available features on the 2014 Civic include the 7-inch capacitive touch-screen Display Audio, LaneWatch™ blind spot monitor and Smart Entry with Push Button start. The 2014 Civic also marks the introduction of the HondaLink™ Next Generation connected-car technology. HondaLink™ is an application-based platform that allows a seamless integration between a user's smartphone and the car, providing access to online and cloud-based content and information.

An all-new CVT is available on the gasoline only powered Coupe and Sedan. The CVT enhances responsiveness by providing quicker and smoother acceleration and due to its wider ratio range and reduced internal friction, the CVT helped the LX Coupe and LX and EX Sedans to an improvement of 2 mpg city and 1 mpg combined for EPA fuel economy ratings of 30/39/33 city/highway/combined.

The Civic Coupe is available in LX and EX trims with a 5-speed manual transmission or the new CVT and EX-L and EX-L Navi versions with CVT. The Civic Sedan comes in LX 5-speed manual or CVT and EX, EX-L and EX-L Navi with CVT. A Civic Sedan HF with CVT is also available. In the next few days, you'll be able to view, build and price a 2014 Honda Civic at www.executivehonda.com/new-hondas/build-a-car.

TRIM	MSRP	EPA Fuel Economy Ratings (city/highway/combined)
Civic Coupe LX 5MT	$18,190	28/36/31
Civic Coupe LX CVT	$18,990	30/39/33
Civic Coupe EX 5MT	$20,290	28/36/31
Civic Coupe EX CVT	$21,090	29/38/33
Civic Coupe EX-L CVT	$22,540	29/38/33
Civic Coupe EX-L Navi CVT	$24,040	29/38/33
Civic Sedan LX 5MT	$18,390	28/36/31
Civic Sedan LX CVT	$19,190	30/39/33
Civic Sedan EX CVT	$21,090	30/39/33
Civic Sedan EX-L CVT	$22,740	30/39/33
Civic Sedan EX-L Navi CVT	$24,240	30/39/33
Civic Sedan HF CVT	$19,940	31/41/35

 
Come test drive a Civic as soon as they arrive at Executive Honda and be sure to stay up to date on our Facebook and Twitter.

Honda Accord Named "2014 Green Car of the Year" by Green Car Journal

The 2014 Honda Accord, America's top-selling car with retail car customers, has been named the "2014 Green Car of the Year®" by Green Car Journal.  The award recognizes the class-leading environmental performance of the Accord family of vehicles, including the fuel-efficient and low emissions Accord 4-cylinder and V-6 Coupe and Sedan, the EPA-rated 50 mpg city Accord Hybrid and the EPA-rated 115 MPGe combined Accord Plug-in Hybrid. 

"Led by the 2014 Accord Hybrid, the entire Accord lineup really embodies the promise of the Honda brand to deliver both fun-to-drive enjoyment and outstanding fuel efficiency at the highest level," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of Automobile Operations at American Honda. "I want to say thank you to Green Car Journal, not just for honoring Accord, but for shining a spotlight on the environment and our shared vision for an ultra-low carbon future."

2014 Green Car of the Year® jurorsselected the Accord as the winning model for many reasons, not the least of which is its ability to offer an efficient choice for a wide range of buyers, from those seeking better fuel efficiency in a conventionally powered model to those desiring the milestone efficiency of a world-class hybrid or plug-in hybrid. In addition to the "Green Car of the Year" honor, the Accord was earlier honored as one of Green Car Journal's 'Top 5 Green Cars for 2014' and additionally earned the magazine's 'Green Car Product of Excellence' distinction. 

"With its efficient internal combustion, hybrid, and plug-in choices, the 2014 Honda Accord delivers exactly what consumers are looking for today," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "It all comes together this year for the Accord in ways that speak to significant environmental performance built into a mainstream, volume model that's a joy to drive. The Accord is a deserving winner of Green Car Journal's 2014 Green Car of the Year."

The 2014 Accord is the second Honda brand vehicle named as "Green Car of the Year" in the past three years, joining the 2012 Civic Natural Gas, which netted the distinction in 2011.

2014 Honda Accord
The 2014 Accord lineup features Honda's innovative Earth Dreams™ Technology powertrains, including Honda's next-generation 2.4-liter, direct-injected 4-cylinder engine with continuously variable transmission or 6-speed manual transmission. The Accord Plug-In, with an 115 MPGe combined EPA fuel-economy rating, and the Accord Hybrid Sedan, with a class-leading 50 mpg EPA city fuel-economy rating, are powered an all-new highly efficient Atkinson cycle engine and two-motor hybrid system. Fuel efficiency is the best ever for Accord in the EPA Midsize class, with 4-cylinder models earning a 36 mpg highway EPA rating and the V-6 models garnering a 34 mpg highway EPA rating.

In addition to fuel economy ratings leadership, the Accord has continually led the industry in meeting strict emissions standards. The Accord Plug-In is the first vehicle to achieve SULEV 20 emissions standards, with the lowest tailpipe emissions of any ICE vehicle currently available. Additionally the Accord was the first vehicle to meet ULEV (1998) and SULEV (2000) emissions standards.

Accord was the most popular midsize passenger car in America through September of 2013, based on sales to individual (non-fleet) car buyers, according to new vehicle registration data from R.L. Polk.

Come test drive an Accord today at Executive Honda and be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter for further news and updates.

Honda Wins ALG's 2014 Residual Value Award for Best Mainstream Brand for the Second Straight Year

For the second straight year, Honda is the recipient of multiple 2014 Residual Value Awards from ALG, including the top honor of Best Mainstream Brand. Additionally, the Honda Accord, Honda Odyssey, Honda Fit and Honda CR-V each received individual Residual Value Awards as the highest ranked vehicles in their respective segments. As the leading provider of residual value information to the automotive industry, ALG's annual Residual Value Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements for vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.

"Providing long-term value for our customers is a top priority at Honda," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of automobile operations at American Honda. "Honda's commitment to retail sales leadership through top-quality, well-equipped vehicles is a major differentiator for our brand that will pay dividends to our customers for years to come."

The Honda brand was named the Best Mainstream Brand for 2013 and now again in 2014, recognizing the entire Honda lineup for exceptional vehicle quality, strong brand desirability, and long-term reliability. The Accord ranked the highest in the ultra-competitive Midsize Car category for the second straight year. The Odyssey prevailed in the Best Minivan (MPV) category, retaining the top spot for the third consecutive year. The Fit received a Residual Value Award for the sixth consecutive year in the Sub-Compact Car category. The Honda CR-V secured the top position in the Compact Utility category. Since 2000, the Honda brand has earned 32 model awards and eight overall brand awards from ALG.

"Honda used solid fundamentals to earn its second consecutive mainstream brand award," said Eric Lyman, Vice President of Editorial for ALG. "The brand's lack of fleet, lowest-in-industry incentives and quality reputation make it a continual frontrunner in the battle for best residual values."
Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies represent key factors that impact ALG's residual value forecasts.

Come test drive a Honda today at Executive Honda, and don't forget to check us out on Facebook and Twitter for further news and updates.

Honda FCEV Concept to Make World Debut at 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

Yesterday a sketch was released of the Honda FCEV Concept in advance of its debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20. The concept model expresses a potential styling direction for Honda's next-generation fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) launching in the U.S and Japan in 2015 and later in Europe.

 "The Honda FCEV Concept demonstrates the company's vision for the future of personal mobility and our commitment to developing advanced alternative fuel vehicles," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "As we work toward the introduction of our next-generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2015, our long-term experience with fuel-cell technologies will help us pave a way towards a zero-emissions future.

Honda has led the industry in the development and deployment of fuel-cell electric vehicles. In 2002, Honda was the first automaker to begin a retail initiative with the leasing of its fuel-cell electric vehicles to fleet customers. Honda also was the first automaker to put a fuel-cell electric vehicle in the hands of an individual retail consumer in 2005. Today, about two dozen customers are driving the FCX Clarity – enjoying the benefits of driving this advanced technology vehicle, while also contributing valuable experience, helping Honda to advance fuel-cell technology for the future.

Further details about the Honda FCEV Concept and the enhanced 2014 Civic, America's best-selling compact car, will be revealed on Nov. 20 at 1:35 p.m. PST at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Keep an eye on Executive Honda and our Facebook and Twitter for further news and updates.

All-New 2014 Accord Hybrid Sale

Forget the candy corn, the must-have Halloween treat this year is the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, with an exceptional EPA fuel economy rating of 50 mpg city and fun-to-drive performance, sophisticated styling and premium comfort features. The Accord Hybrid goes on sale today to be spirited away from Honda dealerships across the country with an MSRP starting from $29,155.

Behind the Accord Hybrid's class-leading fuel-economy rating is Honda's Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) two-motor hybrid system. The innovative and elegant system transitions seamlessly between electric motor power, gasoline engine power and hybrid gas-electric propulsion, delivering power to the wheels without the need for a conventional transmission.

Sharing the Accord Sedan's sophisticated design yet with exclusive styling accents, the made-in-America Accord Hybrid comes very well equipped with standard features including LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Smart Entry, Honda Lane Watch™ and Rearview camera, plus a 10-way power driver's seat, heated side mirrors and 17-inch alloy wheels. The Accord Hybrid EX-L adds numerous premium features including leather seating, heated front seats with memory driver's seat, 360-watt premium audio, 4-way power front passenger's seat, and power moonroof. The line-topping Accord Hybrid Touring adds a HDD navigation system, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and Homelink™.

2014 Accord Hybrid Pricing:

TRIM	MSRP	EPA Fuel Economy Ratings (city/highway/combined)
Hybrid	$29,155	50/45/47
Hybrid EX-L	$31,905	50/45/47
Hybrid Touring	$34,905	50/45/47

Come test drive an Accord Hybrid today at Executive Honda, and be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter for more news and updates.

2014 Civic to Once Again Raise the Bar with Coupe World Debut at SEMA Show

Just one year after major improvements established the Honda Civic as the clear compact segment leader, Honda will further its segment leadership again with new enhancements to the Civic lineup for 2014. Details and technical changes will be announced in the coming weeks, but the world will get its first look at some of the changes when the 2014 Honda Civic Coupe makes its world debut at the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas during a press conference scheduled for Nov. 5th at 9:30 a.m. PT. 

As one of the key vehicles sparking the original import tuner movement of the late 1980's and early 1990's, the Honda Civic has been the platform of choice for those seeking personalization potential and built-in performance coupled with unmatched reliability. The 2014 Civic Coupe will honor that proud tradition by making its debut among its most ardent fans, displaying multiple variations at the 2013 SEMA Show. 

Along with the Civic, the Honda SEMA booth (24987) will feature an impressive array of personalized automobiles, motorcycles and the 133-mph "Mean Mower" developed by Honda (UK) and their title-winning British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) partner, Team Dynamics. 

Check out the Civics at Executive Honda, and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more news and updates.

Winter Car Supply Checklist!

Fall is here and winter is coming! Are you prepared? Here are some items we recommend keeping in your car - just in case:

• Ice scraper and brush
• Road salt
• Flashlight (with new batteries)
• Folding shovel
• Jumper cables
• Carpet strips for traction
• Blanket, extra jacket, gloves, and socks
• First aid kit
• Water, hard candy, energy bars, and chocolate
• Tire chains
• Tool kit
•  Portable cell-phone charger
• Road maps
• Emergency flares
• Water-proof matches

What the heck are big blocks and small blocks?

When hearing people discuss older engines, you'll often hear them talking about a "400 big block" or "350 small block." The block is the main, bulky part of the engine (the cylinders are part of it). The adjectives "big" or "small" just refer to the size of the block. The number refers to of the volume (in cubic inches) of the cylinders. An engine can have the same horsepower and be big or small block (however, big blocks are heavier and small blocks are more limited in high horsepower).

The Difference Between a Turbocharger and a Supercharger Simplified.

A turbocharger is simply an engine component that uses a turbine that powers a compressor that blows more air into your engine. A supercharger is directly driven by your engine. They both allow engines to consume more fuel to deliver more power. Also, turbochargers provide more power over a period after accelerating, while superchargers provide more boost immediately when you start to accelerate.