Last Chance to Register for the First Monday Breakfast

Last Chance to Register! Join Dr. Stephen D. Dolinger, president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, as he addresses businesses’ role in education at the November Cobb Chamber First Monday Breakfast. The Cobb County and Marietta City School's Teachers of the Year will also be celebrated and presented with a one-year car lease from Ed Voyles Automotive Group. MONDAY, NOMEMBER 5 7:30 A.M. COBB GALLERIA CENTRE REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31 AT NOON Register. Presenting Sponsor: Cobb Chamber As one of the most influential business advocacy organizations in Georgia, the Cobb Chamber is dedicated to bringing the community and its leaders together to create jobs and strengthen the economy and quality of life so businesses and the community can achieve more. The Chamber achieves this by creating jobs and driving economic development; strengthening the community and the region; growing member businesses and nurturing leadership; and connecting businesses, government and the community. Physical Address:240 Interstate North Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339 Main: 770-980-2000 Fax: 770-980-9510 info@cobbchamber.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 671868 Marietta, GA 30006-0032

New Honda Accord Outperforms Luxury Vehicles

New Honda Accord outperforms higher-priced luxury vehicles like BMW,
Mercedes and Lexus
Accord gets highly coveted 5-star review from VehicleTests.com

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, October 26, 2012, 5:37 PM

The 2013 Honda Accord starts at $21,680 and is loaded with high-tech standard features.

The 2013 Honda Accord starts at $21,680 and is loaded with high-tech
standard features.

The release of the all-new 2013 Accord arguably marks the biggest launch in
Honda’s history, and the automotive giant is not holding anything back.
Coupled with a complete redesign and a whole slew of industry-leading
standard features, the ninth generation Accord is living up to the hype of
the media buzz surrounding its launch.

“The latest incarnation of the Accord represents the best value-per-dollar
of any vehicle on the market,” said Chris Kelly, who road tested the
all-new Accord for VehicleTests.com. “After seeing all the high-tech
standard features that come with the Accord, I got reverse sticker shock
because the car was so inexpensive with more technology and safety features
than a lot of luxury cars that are twice its price,” which is why
VehicleTests.com awarded the 2013 Honda Accord with its vaunted 5-Star
rating.

The 2013 Accord comes at starting price of $21,680 with an array of hi-tech
standard features, including a rear view camera and Expanded View Driver’s
Mirror. Other standard technologies include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone
interface, Multi-Information Display (i-MID), SMS text messaging function
and Pandora Internet Radio interface. These are just some of the reasons
for the high praise from VehicleTests.com, which produces independent
test-drive videos for consumers.

Citing "reverse sticker-shock" based on the vehicle's high-tech features
compared to its affordable price, VehicleTests.com awarded the 2013 Honda
Accord a 5-Star rating.

“After I spent the whole day driving the new Accord, I found myself missing
the great features it has once I got back into my own car,” adds Kelly.
“You get used to those features really fast.”

Drive safer

One of the features to which Kelly refers is the new Honda LaneWatch
blind-spot display, which enhances visibility of the passenger-side roadway
thanks to a camera that displays what is in your blind spot on the i-MID
screen. The Lane Departure Warning system uses cameras to make sure the
vehicle is aligned within the lines on the roadway and alerts the driver if
he or she is drifting. There is also Forward Collision Warning, which
alerts the driver if he or she is closing in too fast on the car ahead.

This new technology, coupled with the 2013 Accord’s standard safety
features, also contributed to its 5-Star rating from VehicleTests.com. The
vehicle comes with four-wheel anti-lock braking system, a total of six
airbags, including front and rear head airbags and dual front side-mounted
airbags. In addition, the Accord has emergency braking assist, electronic
brake force distribution, both a driver and passenger head restraint
whiplash protection system, stability and traction control and tire
pressure monitoring. Additionally, the Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone
interface and SMS text messaging function allows for hands-free phone
usage, which means less distracted driving.

Go faster for less

The 2013 Accord comes in eight different trim levels, from the standard LX
to the EXL, including the all-new Sport and top-of-the-line Touring models.
Engine options include the 2.4L four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and the
six-cylinder with 278 horsepower, which is more horsepower than the Lexus
ES, BMW 328i or Mercedes Benz C Class. However, more power doesn’t mean
less fuel economy. Due to its new Earth Dreams technology, the 2013 Accord
offers better gas mileage than previous Accords that had less horsepower.

While the all-new Accord has a lot more horsepower, the cabin was extremely
quiet during the road test. “Normal conversation volume measures in at 65
decibels,” says Kelly. “The new Accord measures in at an exceptional 56
decibels. It was amazing to see the amount of soundproofing that Honda put
into the vehicle.” Under the hood of the 2013 Accord, you’ll find a thick
soundproofing mat, which helps keeps most engine noise away from the cabin.
However, Kelly says that the Accord also features additional rubber gaskets
around the edges, which provides even more soundproofing.

As part of its road-test, VehicleTests.com drove the vehicle for 50 miles
on the highway at 60 miles per hour with cruise-control, in order to test
the fuel economy — listed at 35 miles per gallon. Kelly and his team found
that the Accord they tested actually exceeded the listed miles per gallon
by a good amount. However, he could not disclose the actual figures for
legal reasons.

Cost of ownership

The American-made Honda Accord has been one of the best selling cars in
history, which is one of the reasons why it has boasted the highest resell
value of any car in its class and has won many resell value awards from
Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com. In fact, New York Honda dealers are
already celebrating its sales success - it is selling faster than any Honda
in history.

Based on early reception, this vehicle is receiving — including the high
rating from VehicleTests.com — it looks like Honda’s problem is not going
to be market share because customers know a deal when they see one. With
industry-leading standard features, a shockingly low MSRP and more
technology and safety features than many more expensive luxury vehicles,
Honda may have a challenge keeping up with the demand in the market place.

“The new Accord is selling faster than any Honda in history,” said Rob
Sabbagh, President of the Tri-State Honda Dealers Association.

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)