Ridgeline Adds Standard Rearview Camera for 2013

The unique Honda Ridgeline mid-size pickup continues to offer an unrivalled combination of capabilities and comfort for the 2013 model year, and now Honda has announced that it will do so without a cost increase. On the other hand, while its MSRP remains at $29,350, that price of admission now will include a standard rearview camera system on all models.

The 2013 Honda Ridgeline lineup will feature:

Ridgeline RT—Fitted with aggressive 17-inch wheels, power windows/door locks, a power-sliding rear window, air conditioning, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA sound system, an integrated trailer hitch and pre-wiring for a 7-pin trailer hookup.

Ridgeline Sport—Adds a black-out style treatment with 18-inch black aluminum wheels, a model-exclusive black honeycomb grille with black frame, and black headlight and brake light housings, then complements the new look with fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, all-weather floor mats and rear privacy glass.

Ridgeline RTS—Along with its exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels, a painted grille and body-color door handles, the up-level RTS also welcomes an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (with lumbar support), a dual-zone climate system, and a premium seven-speaker sound system with 160 watts of power and a subwoofer.

Ridgeline RTL—The top-of-the-line Ridgeline caps off the roster with its own 18-inch aluminum wheel design, a power moonroof, heated side mirrors, a leather interior, heated front seats, ambient lighting, and more.

All come standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 250 hp and 247 lb.-ft. of torque, with enough grunt to tow up to 5,000 lbs., and all are on sale now at local Honda dealerships.

Honda Civic Natural Gas Incentives

Imagine a car that’s built in the United States, can achieve 31 mpg in combined driving, and requires fuel that’s about half as expensive as gasoline and comes almost exclusively from sources in this country. And now imagine that the vehicle also comes standard with a $3,000 debit card to make fill-ups even less painful. Well, if all that gets your attention, then so will the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, because it offers those advantages and more.

The Civic Natural Gas is the only OEM-manufactured, CNG-powered car that’s currently available to retail customers in the U.S., and it’s built at Honda’s manufacturing complex in Greensburg, Ind. More to the point, if you purchase a Civic Natural Gas from a participating Honda dealer, between now and Jan. 2, 2013, you’ll receive a $3,000 debit card from the Clean Energy Fuel Corp. that can be used at any one of its CNG fueling stations across America.

Needless to say, thanks to EPA ratings that are equivalent to 27 mpg city/38 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, and CNG prices that are hovering just over $2.00 a gallon, taking advantage of this new promotional effort from Honda won’t require much effort at all.

“With gas prices spiking in California, Civic Natural Gas sales at an all-time high, and the public gaining greater awareness of the benefits of using natural gas, we believe this a great time to launch our fuel card promotion with our partner Clean Energy.” said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office. “If you’re looking to save money at the pump, spend less time in traffic, and reduce your environmental impact, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas is a great choice.”

2013 Honda CR-Z Powers Up in Paris

Honda’s CR-Z sport hybrid will be getting even sportier for the 2013 model year, thanks to new powertrain upgrades that were introduced at the recent 2012 Paris Motor Show.
Engineers went to work on both the CR-Z’s high-efficiency 1.5-liter I4 engine and its advanced electric motor system, fine-tuning the former to make roughly 7 more horsepower, and adding 5 kW to the latter by swapping its nickel-metal-hydride batteries for lighter, more efficient lithium-ion ones. As a result, combined system power has been increased approximately 10 percent, allowing CR-Z drivers to enjoy 135 hp and 140 lb.-ft. of torque, noticeably quicker acceleration, and unchanged fuel-economy marks of up to 35 mpg city/39 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.
The CR-Z will look more athletic, too. Designers have revised its front bumper and grille to create a more aggressive face, which is complemented by a redesigned rear diffuser. Two funky new exterior colors also have been added—Energetic Yellow and Aurora Violet—while the cabin gets a fresh color scheme as well.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the 2013 CR-Z, but any changes are unlikely to affect the car’s value proposition. The current model, for example, starts at just $19,695, and that includes LED brake lights, a six-speaker sound system, air conditioning (with an air-filtration system), and a three-mode drive system. The latter technology allows drivers to tailor the CR-Z’s driving dynamics for ECON, Normal and Sport modes—enhanced by a Plus Sport performance enhancer that can deliver a 10-second jolt of electrically boosted power in certain driving scenarios.
Consumers can look for the 2013 Honda CR-Z to reach U.S. dealerships early next year.
New Promotion Offers $3,000 Fuel Card for the Civic Natural Gas