2013 Honda Fit Named Car and Driver 10 Best Vehicles

Honda Fit

Intelligence in five-door form.

With the Fit, Honda hands drivers a bargain-priced tool that is neither pretty nor powerful.  In place of all that is something rarer: density of thought.  There's more intelligence packed into a Fit than in many cars nearly twice the size.  It's the defining small car-mechanically precise, pared of excess fat, respectful of gasoline, and graced with fluid handling.  It's also hugely practical and affordable.  Like a genie lamp, it's small on the outside and remarkably cavernous inside.  An electric version priced itself out of connection, and the gas model is by no means perfect-the 117-hp engine needs more oats.  But the Fit's every component hums the song of high-quality machinery and that seduced us again. 

Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon Base Price:  $15,425 Engine: SOHC 16-valve, 1.5-liter inline-4, 117 hp, 106 lb-ft Transmissions: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic with manual shifting mode.  Wheelbase:  98.4 in Length: 161.6 in Width: 66.7 in Height:  60.0 in Curb Weight: 2496-2628 lb EPA City/Hwy Fuel Economy Ratings: 27 city/33 hwy mpg ratings for Fit and Fit Sport with manual transmission.  28 city/35 hwy mpg rating for Fit with automatic transmission.  27 city/33 hwy mpg rating for Fit Sport with automatic transmission. 

MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $790.00 destination charge and options.  Dealer prices may vary.

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.

2013 Honda Accord Named Car and Drivers Top Ten for 27th Time

Let us get this straight: The new Accord has ditched its control-arm front suspension for struts; a CVT has displaced its four-cylinder's step-gear automatic; and gasoline direct injection is new this year-but only on the four-nine years after Audi first offered it in the U.S. So why is this car back on the list for a record 27th time? It's not because the Accord is a looker.  What it has is inner beauty: Luxury-car big inside and yet smaller outside than before, this ninth-gen version fully delivers on Honda's "man-maximum, machine-minimum" philosophy.  The Accord's greatness has always derived from its ability to disappear under it's driver, but this new car verges on the ethereal-it is so easy to see out of, so easy to point into a corner, so elegant and light and forgiving in its responses that one big fluid loop develops between man and machine. This is true whether you're talking about the base four-cylinder sedan or the six-cylinder coupe with its clock-work manual.  Its playful and graceful spirit takes taking grandma to the doctor and the kids to soccer practice and the boss to lunch no chore.  You only think it's a driving appliance until you drive it.  Then you understand.

Specifications:

Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan 

Base Price: $21,680 LX Sedan and $23,350 LX-S Coupe

Engines: DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4, 185-189 hp, 181-182 lb-ft; SOHC 24-valve 3.5-liter V-6, 278 hp, 251-251 lb-ft Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, continuously variable automatic Wheel Base:107.3-109.3 in Length: 189.2-191.4 in Width: 72.8 in Height:56.5-57.7 in Curb Weight:3186-3559 lb EPA City/Hwy Fuel Economy Ratings: 24 city/35 hwy mpg rating for Sport Sedan and 4-cylinder Coupe models with CVT. 21 city/34 hwy mpg rating for V-6 Sedan models. 18 city/28 hwy mpg rating for V-6 Coupe 6MT models.  21city/32 hwy mpg rating for V-6 Coupe 6AT models.

MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $790.00 destination charge and options.  Dealer pricing may vary. Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings.  Use for comparison purpose only.  Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

HBCU Marching Bands Rock the Georgia Dome at the 2013 HBOB "House Part

Grammy Award winner Brandy electrifies the crowd.

Fans, students and alumni packed the Georgia Dome on Saturday adding to the energy generated by dynamic performances by eight of the nation’s top marching bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at the one-of-a-kind “House Party,” known as the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.
An electrifying performance by Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Brandy and American dance music singer and songwriter, Crystal Waters, added additional spark to the Honda Battle of the Bands presented by Verizon Wireless and official banking sponsor SunTrust Bank, which celebrated its 11^th annual Invitational Showcase.
The unparalleled pageantry, musicianship and camaraderie of the HBCU marching band experience was on full display with spirited performances by Albany State University, Alcorn State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters College, Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T University, Tennessee State University and Winston-Salem State University.
The Showcase also hosted a dance-off between participating HBCU dance teams which used songs selected by fan vote via social media. Additionally, fans helped amp up the “house party” theme in two dance contests presented by official presenting sponsor, Verizon Wireless: one for individual fans to show off their best moves on the Georgia Dome field; the other for couples who wanted to dance in an iconic “Soul Train” line-style contest.
Two lucky fans also left the Georgia Dome as proud owners of brand new Honda vehicles. One of the three finalists in the Honda Battle of the Bands Sweepstakes became the owner of the award-winning 2013 Honda Accord. Adding to the excitement, the crowd was surprised when a second lucky fan in attendance received a new 2013 Honda Civic.
“The Honda Battle of the Bands not only provides a national stage to showcase the talent of these outstanding student musicians, but also the success of the music education programs at each school,” said Marc Burt, assistant vice president, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda is honored to support these programs with grants that each school receives for participating in the program.”
The Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase is the largest and most popular music event of its kind. Widely known to fans as “The Honda,” the Showcase not only serves as a platform to highlight and celebrate the heritage and showmanship of HBCU marching bands, but also stands as the only national music scholarship program dedicated to supporting HBCU music education programs. The eight qualifying marching bands each earned a $20,000 grant for their school’s music education programs, along with an all-expense paid trip to perform at the Invitational Showcase in Atlanta.
The Honda Battle of the Bands actively engages with fans through social media, providing access to the latest updates, photos and videos. Fans can connect with the Honda Battle of the Bands at:
Twitter – @The_Honda, #HBOB2013 (http://twitter.com/The_Honda)
Facebook – (www.facebook.com/HondaBattleOfTheBands)
YouTube – (www.youtube.com/hondabotb)
Instagram – #HBOB2013
For more information on the Honda Battle of the Bands program and the Invitational Showcase, including photos and video footage, visit www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
For downloadable video and high-resolution photos please go to www.epklink.com/hondabattleofthebands2013.
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., was founded in 1959 as the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda produces automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, lawn mowers and engines at its nine major U.S. manufacturing operations, using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda’s long-standing commitment to the support and success of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities began more than 20 years ago with the establishment of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, a program designed to showcase the academic gifts and prowess of HBCU students. American Honda established Honda Battle of the Bands 11 years ago as an effort to support HBCU music programs.