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

 

Counterfeit Airbag Information

NHTSA  has become aware of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. While these air bags look nearly identical to certified, original equipment parts—including bearing the insignia and branding of major automakers — NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment. NHTSA is not aware of any deaths or injuries connected to counterfeit air bags.
While the full scope and scale of the problem of counterfeit air bags is uncertain from currently available data, NHTSA has identified certain vehicle makes and models for which these air bags may be available and believes this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Only vehicles which have had an air bag replaced within the past three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership may be at risk.
Consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash and had their air bags replaced by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership within the past three years or who have purchased a replacement air bag online should contact the call center that has been established by their auto manufacturer to have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and their air bag replaced if necessary. The full list of call centers and additional information are available at www.SaferCar.gov.
NHTSA is currently gathering information from automakers about their systems for verifying the authenticity of replacement parts and is working with the industry to make the driving public aware of the potential safety risk posed by counterfeit air bags. Moving forward, the agency will continue to monitor consumer complaints, police accident reports, and other sources for additional information.
CONSUMERS THAT SHOULD NOT BE AT RISK

• Consumers who purchased their vehicle new and have not had their air bags replaced
• Consumers who have full knowledge of the entire history of their used vehicle (including knowing whether the vehicle had been in a crash in the last three years and being certain that the air bag was replaced at a new car dealership)

CONSUMERS THAT MAY BE AT RISK AND SHOULD CONTACT THE CALL CENTER ESTABLISHED BY THEIR AUTO MANUFACTURER

• Consumers who have had air bags replaced within the past three years at a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership
• Consumers who have purchased a used car that may have sustained an air bag deployment before their purchase
• Consumers who own a car with a title branded salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed
• Consumers who have purchased replacement air bags from eBay or other non-certified sources—especially if they were purchased at unusually low prices (i.e. less than $400)

While the full scope and scale of the problem of counterfeit air bags is uncertain from currently available data, NHTSA has identified certain vehicle makes and models for which these air bags may be available and believes this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. Only vehicles which have had an air bag replaced within the past three years by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership may be at risk.
Consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash and had their air bags replaced by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership within the past three years or who have purchased a replacement air bag online should contact the call center that has been established by their auto manufacturer to have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and their air bag replaced if necessary. The full list of call centers and additional information are available at www.SaferCar.gov.
VEHICLES FOR WHICH COUNTERFEIT AIR BAGS MAY BE AVAILABLE:
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Air+Bags/Counterfeit+Air+Bags+General+Information

2013 Honda Accord Nominated to Car of the Year Short List

The all-new 2013 Honda Accord has only just gone on sale, but it’s already up for one of the U.S. auto industry’s most prestigious honors: The North American Car of the Year award, presented each year during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The Accord took its first steps toward joining past Honda Car (and Truck) of the Year winners by recently being named to the award’s short list—a selection of the top new or significantly redesigned vehicles offered for North American buyers. The next stage in the process will occur in December, when three finalists are announced, with the overall winners scheduled to be revealed in January, at the opening of the 2013 NAIAS.
Certainly among the favorites for the honor, the Accord family actually includes two members: The sedan, on sale now for $21,680, and the coupe, on its way to dealerships with a starting price of $23,350. Both packages wrap the latest technologies in taut new sheet metal, and add increased power—and efficiency—over their 2012 counterparts. For example, the previous Accord sedan had a standard I4 engine that delivered 177 hp, 161 lb.-ft. of torque and EPA ratings of 23 mpg city/34 mpg highway/27 mpg combined with a five-speed automatic transmission; the completely redesigned 2013 model offers 185 hp (+4.5 percent), 181 lb.-ft. of torque (+12.4 percent), a six-speed automatic (+20 percent) and an EPA line of 27/36/30 (+11.1 percent in combined driving).
Other Honda vehicles that have come up big in the North American Car and Truck of the Year voting include:
2012—Honda CR-V (finalist)
2008—Honda Accord (finalist)
2007—Honda Fit (finalist)
2006—Honda Civic (winner), Honda Ridgeline (winner)
2003—Honda Element (finalist)
2001—Honda Insight (finalist)



Marietta Sixth Grade Academy Gets Donation of 1,000 Books

Over 1000 books were placed in Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) classrooms, as a result of a donation from the Ed Voyles Automotive Group.

Over 1000 books were placed in Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) classrooms, as a result of a donation from the Ed Voyles Automotive Group honoring Marietta City Schools Superintendent, Emily Lembeck.
The books for MSGA consist of six-pack sets of books that cover social studies and science standards while integrating reading and language arts instruction.
Similar books were purchased for fifth grade to address teaching and learning social studies and science standards. Each fifth grade class across the district will receive these materials.
Valery Voyles, president and CEO of Ed Voyles Automotive Group and Bill Brantley, President and Chief Operating Officer, Ed Voyles Automotive Group will join Emily Lembeck for a book donation ceremony, at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy on Thursday.

Honda Makes it Easier to Purchase the All-New Accord

The brand-new 2013 Honda Accord is at dealerships now, bringing customers a wealth of new technologies, impressive fuel-economy gains, and agile reflexes. And for some folks, it’s also going to bring a healthy dose of cold, hard cash. It’s all part of the Accord’s soon-to-launch Cash Car promotion, inspired by the popular “Cash Cab” television show.Slated to kick off on Oct. 6, 2012, in New York, the Accord effort will invite participants to compete for cash awards based on their knowledge of Honda’s completely redesigned mid-sized sedan. Each stop on the Cash Car tour will be hosted by Emmy-winning comedian Ben Bailey—who also starred in the “Cash Cab” TV series—and be broadcast on big-screen displays for maximum exposure. To check it out for yourself, you can visit www.AccordCashCar.com or:
Times Square, New York City, Oct. 6
Gateway Park at Navy Pier, Chicago, Oct. 20
Arizona State Fair, Phoenix, Nov. 3
Hollywood & Highland Central Courtyard, Los Angeles, Nov. 10
Priced from $21,680, the latest iteration of Honda’s hot-selling Accord is once again available in coupe and sedan body styles, with a choice of two conventional engines, three transmissions and, starting early in 2013, two hybrid powertrains—including a plug-in model.
“With an innovative, fun-to-drive product like the all-new 2013 Honda Accord, we wanted to create an exciting, innovative contest to help people experience it,” said Mike Accavitti, vice president of automotive marketing at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.  ”Accord is the new value leader in the mid-size class because it excels in all areas and the Accord Cash Car promotion will bring that story to life.”