Honda improves: Ten of the 18 new additions are Honda/Acura models, including the midsize Accord sedan, which hasn't earned Top Safety Pick since the Institute toughened criteria to win the 2010 award by adding a test to assess roof strength in a rollover crash.
Vehicles rated good for rollover protection have roofs more than twice as strong as the current federal standard requires. The Institute estimates that such roofs reduce the risk of serious and fatal injury in single-vehicle rollovers by about 50 percent compared with roofs meeting the minimum requirement. A new federal standard for roof strength will phase in beginning with 2013 models.
Roofs on the 2009 Honda CR-V and 2010 Pilot scored marginal ratings in prior Institute tests, while earlier models of the Accord, CR-Z, Fit, and Insight rated acceptable. Now all of these 2012 models earn good ratings and Top Safety Pick.
"Honda/Acura deserves credit for most-improved status," Lund says. "The automaker buckled down and upgraded roofs on 10 models that missed winning last year because of rollover protection. Now, the automaker has winners in the minicar, small car, midsize car, small SUV, midsize SUV, minivan, and large pickup categories."
Good ratings secure the Yaris a spot alongside 3 other minicars, the Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, and Honda Fit, as 2012 winners.
"It's great to see the Accord, one of the top-selling midsize cars in the U.S. market, join the Top Safety Pick ranks this year," Lund says. "The Accord previously won the 2009 award but has been missing from the list since then."
With fuel efficiency and reduced emissions on many buyers' wish lists, the winners' circle includes more green choices. Toyota's all-new Prius v is among them. Roomier than the original, the v hybrid brings to 15 the number of winners available as hybrids. The plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, winners in 2011, also earn this year's award.
For drivers who need to haul loads, the Honda Ridgeline, is a good choice in the large pickup category. Small pickups continue to be shut out. None the Institute has evaluated qualify for the award.
"When we launched Top Safety Pick in 2005, consumers had 11 models to pick from. Six years later, finding a winner that fits most budgets and lifestyles is easy," Lund says. "It's a testament to the commitment automakers have made to going above and beyond minimum safety standards."
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
How Honda is working hard to get its groove back....
How Honda Is Working To Get Its Groove Back
For decades, Honda successfully cultivated a hard-earned reputation for technological innovation and thoughtful engineering, but the Japanese automaker has seemingly grown content to let other automakers lead the way with new technologies in recent years. To this point, Honda has stubbornly resisted the engine-downsizing movement, direct injection, as well as more sophisticated gearboxes and hybrids, instead focusing on refining existing technologies and relying on its lighter weight vehicles to keep their models' performance metrics in the hunt.
Honda is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system.
No more, says CEO Takanobu Ito. Honda has embarked on a multi-tier technology binge that Ito says will have Honda at the forefront of fuel economy metrics worldwide within three years. On the table? More advanced everything, from the aforementioned powertrain technologies including a new small-displacement diesel and a new CVT, to direct injection and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Of course, we've seen similar products brought to market from other automakers already, so excellence in execution will need to be Honda's differentiator. But we tend to expect more innovative thinking from an automaker with such a rich history of elegant engineering, so we were pleased to learn that Soichiro's crew is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive serving in vehicles like the Acura TL, RDX and MDX.
In addition to the torque-vectoring rear axle already in production, Honda is incubating a new three-motor hybrid AWD architecture that it says will offer V8 power and a more nimble driving experience than typical all-wheel-drive systems, all while delivering four-cylinder fuel economy.
Just ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda bussed us to its Twin-Ring Motegi racetrack to sample its radical new SH-AWD system in an Accord mule.
Despite the plebeian bodywork of this evaluation model, make no mistake, hardware this costly will not debut in something with a Honda badge out front – it will be a technological linchpin for Acura's revival.
As shown here, this SH-AWD system relies on a direct-injected variant of Honda's 3.5-liter V6, tuned here to deliver 310 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque (for comparison's sake, the 3.5-liter six-cylinder in the 2012 Accord manages 271 hp and 254 lb-ft). Internal combustion is joined under the hood by a single 40-hp, 96-lb-ft electric motor mated directly to a Honda-developed seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Out back, a pair of 27-horsepower, 52-lb-ft electric motors power the rear wheels, providing through-the-road all-wheel drive (read: there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels). By independently controlling the two motors, either positive or negative torque can be applied to an individual rear wheel, providing torque vectoring in corners while funneling power back into the lithium-ion battery. Because the system can simultaneously flow positive torque to the outside wheel and negative torque to the inside wheel in a corner, significantly improved cornering over Honda's current mechanical SH-AWD setup is possible.
The larger front-mounted motor can also drive the car independently during low-speed maneuvers when the engine is shut off by the start-stop system, as you might want while inching through rush-hour traffic or pulling away from a stoplight. Honda says the car can reach 25 mph running solely on electrons, but as this is a mule, all performance parameters remain subject to change.
So how well does it all work? Our time behind the wheel was extremely brief, consisting of little more than one lap of a handling course. Thus, we'll have to withhold judgment, but we will say that the system shows genuine promise. Whirring away from the pits under electric power and having the V6 seamlessly come to life was an encouraging start, but we didn't really get a feel for the SH-AWD until we started negotiating the corners and slalom. While carving through the orange pylons, the sedan felt significantly – and predictably – nimbler than a standard front-drive Accord, displaying genuine eagerness to change direction. In fact, with such brief exposure, it initially felt like the Honda's tail was drifting out a bit, so willing was its rump to rotate. Thankfully, the liveliness was wholly under control, with no drama or tire squealing, just quicker-than-expected turn-in and faithful tracking. While certainly swift, claims of V8 acceleration feel a bit inflated, but given excellent traction and further tuning, such assertions seem possible.
We'd love to give you the full report on how well the Honda's new dual-clutch gearbox works, how heavy the system is, and how fuel efficient the car is out in the real world, but we'll need more wheel time in a production car to do so, and for the moment, officials remain tight-lipped on when this technology will debut. Regardless, it's encouraging to see Honda pushing to regain its powertrain innovation reputation... and to see it investing in Acura.
Tags: 2012 honda accord, accord, acura, featured, first drive, FirstDrive, hybrid, quick spin, quickspin, sh-awd, super handling all wheel drive, tokyo motor show, twin-ring motegi
For decades, Honda successfully cultivated a hard-earned reputation for technological innovation and thoughtful engineering, but the Japanese automaker has seemingly grown content to let other automakers lead the way with new technologies in recent years. To this point, Honda has stubbornly resisted the engine-downsizing movement, direct injection, as well as more sophisticated gearboxes and hybrids, instead focusing on refining existing technologies and relying on its lighter weight vehicles to keep their models' performance metrics in the hunt.
Honda is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system.
No more, says CEO Takanobu Ito. Honda has embarked on a multi-tier technology binge that Ito says will have Honda at the forefront of fuel economy metrics worldwide within three years. On the table? More advanced everything, from the aforementioned powertrain technologies including a new small-displacement diesel and a new CVT, to direct injection and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Of course, we've seen similar products brought to market from other automakers already, so excellence in execution will need to be Honda's differentiator. But we tend to expect more innovative thinking from an automaker with such a rich history of elegant engineering, so we were pleased to learn that Soichiro's crew is hard at work on a hybrid evolution of the company's already trick Super Handling All-Wheel Drive serving in vehicles like the Acura TL, RDX and MDX.
In addition to the torque-vectoring rear axle already in production, Honda is incubating a new three-motor hybrid AWD architecture that it says will offer V8 power and a more nimble driving experience than typical all-wheel-drive systems, all while delivering four-cylinder fuel economy.
Just ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda bussed us to its Twin-Ring Motegi racetrack to sample its radical new SH-AWD system in an Accord mule.
Despite the plebeian bodywork of this evaluation model, make no mistake, hardware this costly will not debut in something with a Honda badge out front – it will be a technological linchpin for Acura's revival.
As shown here, this SH-AWD system relies on a direct-injected variant of Honda's 3.5-liter V6, tuned here to deliver 310 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque (for comparison's sake, the 3.5-liter six-cylinder in the 2012 Accord manages 271 hp and 254 lb-ft). Internal combustion is joined under the hood by a single 40-hp, 96-lb-ft electric motor mated directly to a Honda-developed seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Out back, a pair of 27-horsepower, 52-lb-ft electric motors power the rear wheels, providing through-the-road all-wheel drive (read: there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear wheels). By independently controlling the two motors, either positive or negative torque can be applied to an individual rear wheel, providing torque vectoring in corners while funneling power back into the lithium-ion battery. Because the system can simultaneously flow positive torque to the outside wheel and negative torque to the inside wheel in a corner, significantly improved cornering over Honda's current mechanical SH-AWD setup is possible.
The larger front-mounted motor can also drive the car independently during low-speed maneuvers when the engine is shut off by the start-stop system, as you might want while inching through rush-hour traffic or pulling away from a stoplight. Honda says the car can reach 25 mph running solely on electrons, but as this is a mule, all performance parameters remain subject to change.
So how well does it all work? Our time behind the wheel was extremely brief, consisting of little more than one lap of a handling course. Thus, we'll have to withhold judgment, but we will say that the system shows genuine promise. Whirring away from the pits under electric power and having the V6 seamlessly come to life was an encouraging start, but we didn't really get a feel for the SH-AWD until we started negotiating the corners and slalom. While carving through the orange pylons, the sedan felt significantly – and predictably – nimbler than a standard front-drive Accord, displaying genuine eagerness to change direction. In fact, with such brief exposure, it initially felt like the Honda's tail was drifting out a bit, so willing was its rump to rotate. Thankfully, the liveliness was wholly under control, with no drama or tire squealing, just quicker-than-expected turn-in and faithful tracking. While certainly swift, claims of V8 acceleration feel a bit inflated, but given excellent traction and further tuning, such assertions seem possible.
We'd love to give you the full report on how well the Honda's new dual-clutch gearbox works, how heavy the system is, and how fuel efficient the car is out in the real world, but we'll need more wheel time in a production car to do so, and for the moment, officials remain tight-lipped on when this technology will debut. Regardless, it's encouraging to see Honda pushing to regain its powertrain innovation reputation... and to see it investing in Acura.
Tags: 2012 honda accord, accord, acura, featured, first drive, FirstDrive, hybrid, quick spin, quickspin, sh-awd, super handling all wheel drive, tokyo motor show, twin-ring motegi
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Wins “2012 Green Car of the Year” Award
The 2011 Green Car of the Year award isn’t going to an electric car or a hybrid. The winner is the Honda Civic GX, a car that has an internal combustion engine, but that doesn’t burn any gasoline at all. That’s because it’s powered by natural gas.
The Civic beat out the Ford Focus Electric, the Mitsubishi i, the Toyota Prius v and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI.
The car is rated at 27-mpg city, 38-mpg highway and a 31-mph average. Honda claims the cost to operate the car is roughly 30 percent less than a conventional gasoline engine.
While fueling stations for such cars are rare, they’re likely to become much more popular – especially in Southern California. The reason is that the Civic GX is allowed to operate in the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes – something the Prius is no longer able to boast.
Along with staff from the Green Car Journal, this year’s judging panel for the 2012 Green Car of the Year award included Carl Pope, Sierra Club chairman; Frances Beinecke, Natural Resources Defense Council president; as well as Jay Leno and Carroll Shelby.
The winner of the 2011 Green Car of the Year award was the Chevrolet Volt.
Filed under: Featured Articles
Tags: 2011 la auto show, 2012 green car of the year, Honda, honda civic, honda civic gx, japanese cars, natural gas
The Civic beat out the Ford Focus Electric, the Mitsubishi i, the Toyota Prius v and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI.
The car is rated at 27-mpg city, 38-mpg highway and a 31-mph average. Honda claims the cost to operate the car is roughly 30 percent less than a conventional gasoline engine.
While fueling stations for such cars are rare, they’re likely to become much more popular – especially in Southern California. The reason is that the Civic GX is allowed to operate in the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes – something the Prius is no longer able to boast.
Along with staff from the Green Car Journal, this year’s judging panel for the 2012 Green Car of the Year award included Carl Pope, Sierra Club chairman; Frances Beinecke, Natural Resources Defense Council president; as well as Jay Leno and Carroll Shelby.
The winner of the 2011 Green Car of the Year award was the Chevrolet Volt.
Filed under: Featured Articles
Tags: 2011 la auto show, 2012 green car of the year, Honda, honda civic, honda civic gx, japanese cars, natural gas
Monday, November 14, 2011
2012 Honda Ridgeline Adds New Sport Model, More Style and Fuel Efficiency
Updates include a new Ridgeline Sport model, new front styling and improved fuel efficiency on all models
Honda's four-door, five-passenger pickup receives styling upgrades and improved highway fuel economy for 2012, along with a new Ridgeline Sport model that provides high-value features targeted at the entry four-wheel-drive truck segment.
The 2012 Ridgeline is now available in four models, including the Ridgeline RT, new Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline RTS and Ridgeline RTL. Upgrades on all models for 2012 include a refreshed grille design, aerodynamic improvements, friction reduction measures in the engine and a new EPA fuel rating of 15/21/17 city/highway/combined mpg, up 1 mpg in the highway rating.
The new Ridgeline Sport model adds the following features to the Ridgeline RT: exclusive black 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels); exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround; leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; auxiliary audio input jack; fog lights; rear privacy glass; all weather floor mats and black headlight and brake light housings.
The Ridgeline represents an exclusive and innovative approach in the half-ton pickup truck segment by prioritizing its construction and features based on the capabilities that many recreational truck buyers typically need and use. The Ridgeline is built with a closed-box, unitized body structure for a unique combination of capability, interior spaciousness and comfortable ride performance from its independent front and rear suspension. It also delivers a wide range of conventional pickup capabilities with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds and a half-ton payload rating, all while offering unique features like a large In-Bed Trunk®.
Functionally Innovative Exterior
The unit-body architecture is designed for vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs and provides the foundation for the Ridgeline's spacious interior cabin and bed, safety performance and class-leading ride and handling performance. The Ridgeline's modern and athletic design incorporates a solid, one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. Large side mirrors compliment rear vision while towing. The windshield wipers have a heated wiper zone to enhance wiper performance in cold, winter driving conditions and minimize ice scraping.
A 5-foot-long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations provides a payload rating of 1,100 pounds. Four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the 8.5 cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk®. The Ridgeline is available with a wide variety of accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles and ATVs. The cargo area measures 49.5 inches wide between the wheel wells, 20.7 inches deep and 60.0 inches long (79.0 inches with the load-supporting tailgate in the down position).
Roomy and Comfortable Interior
The interior takes advantage of Honda's unit-body packaging efficiency to deliver full-size interior space dimensions while maintaining a garage-friendly, mid-size exterior footprint. The driving position provides ergonomically comfortable access to large and easy-to-use controls.
Ridgeline's large multi-function console features a sliding armrest and sliding lower tray – each with a hidden storage area. Other console storage areas accommodate items both large and small like mobile phones, beverages, compact discs and portable digital music players.
The 60/40 lift-up rear seats feature a storage area underneath large enough to accommodate a golf bag. Plus, the rear seating area can quickly convert for cargo duty by lifting the seats up to create enough room for a full-size mountain bike with the front tire removed. The rear seat incorporates three LATCH positions for compatible child safety seats.
Strong, Versatile Performance
Ridgeline's all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC engine produces 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. Variable valve timing enhances low rpm torque while extending high rpm horsepower for a broad power band. The 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the most appropriate gear when going uphill or downhill to avoid gear "hunting." The fully automatic Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) provides confident operation in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud, while also improving on-road and towing performance by distributing torque to all four wheels as needed. The system operates predominately in front-wheel-drive during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations. VTM-4 lock button located on the instrument panel allows the driver to temporarily hold engagement of both rear wheels to aid traction while in gears "1" and "2" at speeds of up to 18 mph.
Standard equipment for towing includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a seven-pin trailer hook up (pre-wiring only on RT and Sport).
Chassis Specifications
Fully independent, a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link with trailing arm rear suspension provide a smooth ride and responsive handling. A heavy-duty braking system includes 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The Ridgeline RT has 17x7.5-inch steel wheels and P245/65 R17 all-season tires, while the Ridgeline RTS upgrades to 17x7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Ridgeline Sport and Ridgeline RTL models are uniquely equipped with 18x7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels and all-season P245/60 R18 tires.
Committed to Safety
All Ridgelines are equipped with these standard safety features: advanced dual-state, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); two-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front-seat active head restraints; a tire pressure monitoring system; and daytime running lights. Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), commonly referred to as electronic stability control, can apply braking force to a wheel with low traction and direct driving force to the wheel with more traction.
Standard and Available Features
Standard features on the Ridgeline RT include: integrated trailer hitch; pre-wiring for seven-pin trailer wiring; trip computer with instantaneous and average fuel economy; air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; power windows and door locks; power sliding rear window; cruise control; keyless entry; automatic heated wiper zone; six-speaker, 100-watt audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA playback capability; and 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage.
The new Ridgeline Sport model adds the following features to the Ridgeline RT: exclusive black 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels); exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround; leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; auxiliary audio input jack; fog lights; rear privacy glass; all weather floor mats and black headlight and brake light housings.
The Ridgeline RTS adds the following to the RT: exclusive 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a seven-pin trailer wiring connector, body-color painted door handles, painted inner grille surfaces, a seven-speaker 160-watt audio system with subwoofer, six-disc in-dash CD system, steering wheel-mounted controls, an auxiliary audio input jack; dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, privacy glass and all-weather floor mats.
Exclusive Ridgeline RTL features include leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, fog lights, moonroof, 115-volt power outlet, XM Radio1, HomeLink® remote system, carpeted floor mats and a compass in the rearview mirror.
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™2 with Voice Recognition and Zagat Survey® restaurant information is available on RTL models. It includes XM Radio3, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, a multi-information display and a back-up camera display. The navigation system includes a compass, thus eliminating the compass in the rearview mirror.
Warranty
The 2012 Honda Ridgeline is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.
Ridgeline Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing3
Ridgeline RT: $29,250
Ridgeline Sport: $29,995
Ridgeline RTS: $31,995
Ridgeline RTL: $34,830
Ridgeline RTL with Navigation: $37,180
The 2012 Ridgeline is now available in four models, including the Ridgeline RT, new Ridgeline Sport, Ridgeline RTS and Ridgeline RTL. Upgrades on all models for 2012 include a refreshed grille design, aerodynamic improvements, friction reduction measures in the engine and a new EPA fuel rating of 15/21/17 city/highway/combined mpg, up 1 mpg in the highway rating.
The new Ridgeline Sport model adds the following features to the Ridgeline RT: exclusive black 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels); exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround; leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; auxiliary audio input jack; fog lights; rear privacy glass; all weather floor mats and black headlight and brake light housings.
The Ridgeline represents an exclusive and innovative approach in the half-ton pickup truck segment by prioritizing its construction and features based on the capabilities that many recreational truck buyers typically need and use. The Ridgeline is built with a closed-box, unitized body structure for a unique combination of capability, interior spaciousness and comfortable ride performance from its independent front and rear suspension. It also delivers a wide range of conventional pickup capabilities with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds and a half-ton payload rating, all while offering unique features like a large In-Bed Trunk®.
Functionally Innovative Exterior
The unit-body architecture is designed for vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs and provides the foundation for the Ridgeline's spacious interior cabin and bed, safety performance and class-leading ride and handling performance. The Ridgeline's modern and athletic design incorporates a solid, one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. Large side mirrors compliment rear vision while towing. The windshield wipers have a heated wiper zone to enhance wiper performance in cold, winter driving conditions and minimize ice scraping.
A 5-foot-long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations provides a payload rating of 1,100 pounds. Four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the 8.5 cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk®. The Ridgeline is available with a wide variety of accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles and ATVs. The cargo area measures 49.5 inches wide between the wheel wells, 20.7 inches deep and 60.0 inches long (79.0 inches with the load-supporting tailgate in the down position).
Roomy and Comfortable Interior
The interior takes advantage of Honda's unit-body packaging efficiency to deliver full-size interior space dimensions while maintaining a garage-friendly, mid-size exterior footprint. The driving position provides ergonomically comfortable access to large and easy-to-use controls.
Ridgeline's large multi-function console features a sliding armrest and sliding lower tray – each with a hidden storage area. Other console storage areas accommodate items both large and small like mobile phones, beverages, compact discs and portable digital music players.
The 60/40 lift-up rear seats feature a storage area underneath large enough to accommodate a golf bag. Plus, the rear seating area can quickly convert for cargo duty by lifting the seats up to create enough room for a full-size mountain bike with the front tire removed. The rear seat incorporates three LATCH positions for compatible child safety seats.
Strong, Versatile Performance
Ridgeline's all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC engine produces 250 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. Variable valve timing enhances low rpm torque while extending high rpm horsepower for a broad power band. The 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the most appropriate gear when going uphill or downhill to avoid gear "hunting." The fully automatic Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) provides confident operation in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud, while also improving on-road and towing performance by distributing torque to all four wheels as needed. The system operates predominately in front-wheel-drive during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations. VTM-4 lock button located on the instrument panel allows the driver to temporarily hold engagement of both rear wheels to aid traction while in gears "1" and "2" at speeds of up to 18 mph.
Standard equipment for towing includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a seven-pin trailer hook up (pre-wiring only on RT and Sport).
Chassis Specifications
Fully independent, a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link with trailing arm rear suspension provide a smooth ride and responsive handling. A heavy-duty braking system includes 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. The Ridgeline RT has 17x7.5-inch steel wheels and P245/65 R17 all-season tires, while the Ridgeline RTS upgrades to 17x7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Ridgeline Sport and Ridgeline RTL models are uniquely equipped with 18x7.5-inch aluminum alloy wheels and all-season P245/60 R18 tires.
Committed to Safety
All Ridgelines are equipped with these standard safety features: advanced dual-state, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); two-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; front-seat active head restraints; a tire pressure monitoring system; and daytime running lights. Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), commonly referred to as electronic stability control, can apply braking force to a wheel with low traction and direct driving force to the wheel with more traction.
Standard and Available Features
Standard features on the Ridgeline RT include: integrated trailer hitch; pre-wiring for seven-pin trailer wiring; trip computer with instantaneous and average fuel economy; air conditioning; tilt steering wheel; power windows and door locks; power sliding rear window; cruise control; keyless entry; automatic heated wiper zone; six-speaker, 100-watt audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA playback capability; and 60/40 split lift-up rear seat with under-seat storage.
The new Ridgeline Sport model adds the following features to the Ridgeline RT: exclusive black 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels (+1 inch from RT steel wheels); exclusive black honeycomb grille with black surround; leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; auxiliary audio input jack; fog lights; rear privacy glass; all weather floor mats and black headlight and brake light housings.
The Ridgeline RTS adds the following to the RT: exclusive 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a seven-pin trailer wiring connector, body-color painted door handles, painted inner grille surfaces, a seven-speaker 160-watt audio system with subwoofer, six-disc in-dash CD system, steering wheel-mounted controls, an auxiliary audio input jack; dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, privacy glass and all-weather floor mats.
Exclusive Ridgeline RTL features include leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, exclusive 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, fog lights, moonroof, 115-volt power outlet, XM Radio1, HomeLink® remote system, carpeted floor mats and a compass in the rearview mirror.
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™2 with Voice Recognition and Zagat Survey® restaurant information is available on RTL models. It includes XM Radio3, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, a multi-information display and a back-up camera display. The navigation system includes a compass, thus eliminating the compass in the rearview mirror.
Warranty
The 2012 Honda Ridgeline is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.
Ridgeline Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing3
Ridgeline RT: $29,250
Ridgeline Sport: $29,995
Ridgeline RTS: $31,995
Ridgeline RTL: $34,830
Ridgeline RTL with Navigation: $37,180
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Teachers of year get hot wheels
MARIETTA — The Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast was all about education Monday morning.
During the First Monday Breakfast, Cobb County and Marietta’s top four Teachers of the Year received keys to new cars, and chamber members, along with representatives of 17 higher education institutions in Cobb, listened to a panel of four local college presidents who talked briefly about the major challenges that their institutions face and how they can help retain jobs in Cobb County.
Valery Voyles, president and CEO of Ed Voyles Automotive Group, presented car keys to Cobb County Teacher of the Year Coy Dunn, Marietta City Schools Teacher of the Year Joanna Cox, Cobb County Middle School Teacher of the Year Dawn Castleberry and Cobb County Elementary School Teacher of the Year Richard McKee.
“This is the fourth year that we’ve been involved in this program,” she said. “It is one of the most fulfilling things that we do as an organization. Our teachers are so special to us.”
Each Teacher of the Year received a car that he or she picked out from local car dealerships sometime last week. They are given the cars for a year, and if Dunn or Cox is named the Georgia Teacher of the Year, they will be able to keep the car.
Dunn chose a Honda Pilot, Cox got a Chrysler Town and Country, McKee picked a Kia Sorento and Castleberry selected a Hyundai Sonata Limited.
Chamber members also heard from Dr. Ron Newcomb, interim president at Chattahoochee Technical College; Dr. Ken Harmon, interim provost at Kennesaw State University; Dr. Guy Riekeman, president at Life University; and Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, president at Southern Polytechnic State University.
Each took a moment to describe what their schools offer to the county and explained what major challenges their schools face in the future.
Riekeman said he is worried about the tuition hike that students will see over the next 10 years at his private university.
For example, students currently enrolled in the chiropractic program at Life pay approximately $102,000 in tuition but by 2022, it could be around $152,000.
“One of my concerns is that it would put education out of the reach of most people,” he said. “I don’t see that funding is going to go up for the private or the public, and I don’t see the government expanding caps for what students can borrow … so we’re going to have to look for dollars in other places. That’s what absolutely keeps me up at night.”
Rossbacher said money was keeping her up at night as well.
“In the last 10 years we’ve seen the funding at Southern Polytechnic from the state go from 75 percent to less than 50 percent, so state funding is dramatically decreasing for the public higher education in the state,” she said. “They are the lowest they have been in about 15 years.”
She questioned how the school will be able to support the growth to staff the classes and meet the needs of students.
“How are we going to make up for the shortfall in funding?” she asked. “We’re shifting the responsibilities to the students — who do get the benefit — but it’s a concern about access to higher education.”
The panel also answered a question about how their institute is impacting economic development in Cobb.
Newcomb said Chattahoochee Tech is all about creating a strong work force for Cobb.
“Whatever business industry you’re in, we do the work force development,” he said. “You can’t operate if you don’t have the hands on folks to make it work.”
Kennesaw State’s Harmon said that last week he was reviewing a list of new programs for the school.
“The No. 1 filter that we put (programs) through right now is economic impact,” he said. “Everything we’re doing at the university right now, we’re thinking about the economic impact of the community around us.”
He said they are also focused on entrepreneurs and how to develop new businesses through these individuals.
“We are actually promoting getting out and being a part of the community and having numerous touches with the community,” he said. “It’s just part of who we are.”
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Teachers of year get hot wheels
During the First Monday Breakfast, Cobb County and Marietta’s top four Teachers of the Year received keys to new cars, and chamber members, along with representatives of 17 higher education institutions in Cobb, listened to a panel of four local college presidents who talked briefly about the major challenges that their institutions face and how they can help retain jobs in Cobb County.
Valery Voyles, president and CEO of Ed Voyles Automotive Group, presented car keys to Cobb County Teacher of the Year Coy Dunn, Marietta City Schools Teacher of the Year Joanna Cox, Cobb County Middle School Teacher of the Year Dawn Castleberry and Cobb County Elementary School Teacher of the Year Richard McKee.
“This is the fourth year that we’ve been involved in this program,” she said. “It is one of the most fulfilling things that we do as an organization. Our teachers are so special to us.”
Each Teacher of the Year received a car that he or she picked out from local car dealerships sometime last week. They are given the cars for a year, and if Dunn or Cox is named the Georgia Teacher of the Year, they will be able to keep the car.
Dunn chose a Honda Pilot, Cox got a Chrysler Town and Country, McKee picked a Kia Sorento and Castleberry selected a Hyundai Sonata Limited.
Chamber members also heard from Dr. Ron Newcomb, interim president at Chattahoochee Technical College; Dr. Ken Harmon, interim provost at Kennesaw State University; Dr. Guy Riekeman, president at Life University; and Dr. Lisa Rossbacher, president at Southern Polytechnic State University.
Each took a moment to describe what their schools offer to the county and explained what major challenges their schools face in the future.
Riekeman said he is worried about the tuition hike that students will see over the next 10 years at his private university.
For example, students currently enrolled in the chiropractic program at Life pay approximately $102,000 in tuition but by 2022, it could be around $152,000.
“One of my concerns is that it would put education out of the reach of most people,” he said. “I don’t see that funding is going to go up for the private or the public, and I don’t see the government expanding caps for what students can borrow … so we’re going to have to look for dollars in other places. That’s what absolutely keeps me up at night.”
Rossbacher said money was keeping her up at night as well.
“In the last 10 years we’ve seen the funding at Southern Polytechnic from the state go from 75 percent to less than 50 percent, so state funding is dramatically decreasing for the public higher education in the state,” she said. “They are the lowest they have been in about 15 years.”
She questioned how the school will be able to support the growth to staff the classes and meet the needs of students.
“How are we going to make up for the shortfall in funding?” she asked. “We’re shifting the responsibilities to the students — who do get the benefit — but it’s a concern about access to higher education.”
The panel also answered a question about how their institute is impacting economic development in Cobb.
Newcomb said Chattahoochee Tech is all about creating a strong work force for Cobb.
“Whatever business industry you’re in, we do the work force development,” he said. “You can’t operate if you don’t have the hands on folks to make it work.”
Kennesaw State’s Harmon said that last week he was reviewing a list of new programs for the school.
“The No. 1 filter that we put (programs) through right now is economic impact,” he said. “Everything we’re doing at the university right now, we’re thinking about the economic impact of the community around us.”
He said they are also focused on entrepreneurs and how to develop new businesses through these individuals.
“We are actually promoting getting out and being a part of the community and having numerous touches with the community,” he said. “It’s just part of who we are.”
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Teachers of year get hot wheels
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Teachers of the Year Receive All-Star Salute During Annual ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ Community Pep Rally
Teachers were the stars of the annual Cobb Chamber of Commerce “Give Our Schools A Hand” Pep Rally Oct. 25, a countywide celebration of Teachers of the Year from the Cobb County School District, Marietta City Schools and the local post-secondary institutions.
The Hillgrove High School pep band provided the rhythm and energy a pep rally deserves!
Students, parents and community leaders filled the Roswell Street Baptist Church sanctuary for the event, bearing colorful signs and banners thanking their favorite teachers.
As the teachers of the year paraded into the church building, the crowd roared with cheers and noisemakers. Grins were in ample supply on the faces of the Cobb teachers as they looked for representatives of their schools and families in the crowd.
The audience was treated to a performance by the much-lauded ComPAny troupe from the Pebblebrook High School Center for Excellence in Performing Arts. The group sang and danced to selections from “The Heat Is On,” featuring a medley of pop hits.
Partners in Education from the Ed Voyles Automotive Group awarded a one-year lease on a new car to District-level Teachers of the Year Dawn Castleberry, Richard McKee and Coy Dunn, as well as Marietta City TOTY Joanna Cox. All four drew numbers that paired each with a different Voyles car dealer!
Cobb Teacher of the Year Coy Dunn of Kennesaw Mountain High School was greeted by Pete Richards of Ed Voyles Honda after drawing his dealership.
Each school’s honoree had his or her moment in the spotlight as the names were announced. Every teacher was awarded a special plaque by Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa.
Students and staff from each school were on hand, cheering loudly and making noise as each Teacher of the Year walked across the stage.
Thanks to the Cobb Chamber of Commerce for organizing the ‘Give Our Schools A Hand’ rally and for the local business community’s commitment to education!
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