Lute Riley Honda

Last month an ice storm, this month a tropical rain storm, yet the will of our employees to attend our monthly Honda Pride Meeting could not be broken. Prizes, money, and breakfast was just the beginning when it was announced that we won the Honda President's Award. You could feel the excitement in the air as everyone cheered in pride for all the hard work they had done. We had two very special guests, VP of the Region, Rick Ford, and Regional Controller, Toni Ortiz to help us celebrate the great news. We also had several speakers that covered team work and leadership. We had our Poem Contest,and the winner, being Sam Hall, won a Big Screen LCD TV. Here are the list of the Associates of the Month and our Sonic Automotive Superstar.

New                             Tim Neveri

Used                             Sam Hall

Finance                       Will Ramos

Accounting                Kathy Keys

Advisor                        Steve Spade

Technician                 Almir Mesinovic

Body Shop                 Manuel Portillo

Parts                             Paul Bailey

Support                       Josie McFarland

BDC/Internet            Regina Harrell

Sonic Superstar        Harrison Do

What is the purpose of the Crosstour? I asked as I waited for my test car to be readied. Pause. Finally an answer, The Crosstour is now the high-end Accord. It is designed to compete with the Toyota Venza. Ah, I get it: monkey see monkey do. What better way to give the marque a kick in the shorts than to pinch an idea from the market leader. And so they did. Almost. Partly. Sort of.

The most complementary thing that can be said about the Crosstour is that it is an Accord Coupe stretched to accommodate a second pair of doors. Bumper to bumper, it embodies a sportiness that is entirely lacking in the entirely too practical Venza. That's not to say that the Crosstour is a hardened 'bahn burner. Or that it isn't a practical mobile for the modern family. Let's just say that the car has a little of that magic that made earlier generations of the Accord sedan a good deal more satisfying to drive than your average family car.

My crystal black pearl colored Accord Crosstour EX looks longer, lower and wider than the Venza. In this case, looks are deceiving. While it is almost 8 inches longer, Crosstour is in fact 2.3 inches taller. The proportions are, of course, drastically different. While the Venza is an upright and boxy wagon, the hood of the Crosstour is long and low followed by a steeply raked windshield and, lastly, a big thick bootie. In profile it casts a silhouette that is, dare I say it, not unlike the Porsche Panamera. If for no other reason, you can see the Crosstour's sporting aspirations in the 12 inch brake rotors glinting between the spokes of the rear wheels. 

The penalties for the sleek exterior proportions are, of course, on the inside. With the rear seats upright, the cargo area is just 25.7 cu.ft. (51.3 cu.ft. with the seats folded). On paper that's 4.4 cu.ft. smaller than Venza. In reality the difference is greater because much of the added cargo capacity created by the fastback design is an awkward space below the long sloping rear window. However, the space is infinitely more accessible than the pinched and restrictive sedan trunk because the entire rear window lifts up and out of the way.

Honda made the most of the rear space by replacing the spare tire wheel well with a commodious removable storage bin. The spare tire has been relocated up underneath the car in a retractable compartment, the bottom of which is streamlined to help undercarriage aerodynamics.

The dash is elegantly and intuitively laid out with outstanding ergonomics - with the exception of one grotesque flaw. The power outlet, auxiliary audio jack and USB port are located deep under the armrest at the back of the center console.

In a break from past Accord practice, the cabin is spooky quiet. Like a fastidious librarian, the Active Sound Control system utilizes the audio system to detect and shush unwanted noise frequencies before they reach your ears.

Only the sound of the high-strung 3.5 liter V6 engine is allowed to intrude for the entertainment of the driver. In classic Honda fashion, the drive train is tuned to keep the crankshaft whirling like a Dervish on crank, spending much of its time between 3500 and 4500 rpm in pedestrian stop and go traffic driving, about 500-800 rpms higher than the Toyota at any given speed. That means terrific responsiveness because you are almost always driving right in the meat of the engine's power band. Additionally, the decisive 5-speed transmission tenaciously holds the correct gear when cornering.

To keep the inevitable fuel consumption of all of this revving in check, the engine is equipped with Variable Cylinder Management that deactivates two when cruising or three cylinders while coasting. At an estimated 18/27 mpg, Crosstour is 1 mpg worse than Venza in town but a tick better on the highway.

The ride quality of all of the new Accord models is outstanding, but the Crosstour gets the added benefit of sport tuning. More so than the drive train, these suspension tweaks have restored the trademark liveliness that Accord drivers have come to expect from Honda, but is missing from the lower trim models of the current generation. In sum, the car feels lighter and faster.

If cargo capacity were the only consideration the Toyota Venza would win hands down. However, the Crosstour offers greater-than-sedan utility while delivering superior handling and performance to any Camry, Venza, or current Accord sedan. Across the spectrum of options, the Crosstour cost four to five thousand dollars less than the comparably equipped Venza. When the Accord platform took on its current Giganto dimensions, it seemed that Honda gave up on giving its devotees a spirited driving experience. With the Crosstour the Honda Accord is back.

Not even 18 degree weather conditions and ice covered roads could stop the determination of our associates to participate in the dealership's December Honda Pride Meeting on January 7th. However, it quickly warmed up with cash prizes, breakfast, and hip hop music from our own in-house DJ. In addition to the lively entertainment, we had incredible guest speakers from different departments speak about setting long term commitments and New Year's resolutions. We also had the Honda-themed Poem Writing Contest with the winner receiving a Big Screen LCD TV.  Also, during this dealership wide event, we celebrate our top performers, associates with anniversaries, and, of course, our monthly Sonic Automotive Superstar.

Our Top Performers in their Department:

• New Cars - Jae Kim
• Used Cars - Shannon Wonzer
• Finance - Will Ramos
• Accounting - Tianicqua Williams
• Service Advisor - Timmy Tran
• Technician - Saul Alvarez
• Body Shop - Dean Barrett
• Parts - David Bohrer
• Support - Paula Stidham
• BDC/Internet - Regina Harrell
  
• Sonic Superstar - Steven Krempp

The first images of the all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour have been released, about a month ahead of the car's official launch.

Honda said the new Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord range. Visually, the crossover bears only a slight resemblance to the Accord sedan and coupe. The Crosstour features a more prominent grille, a sloping X6-like roof line and a substantial rear hatch.

Honda said the Crosstour will have a "car-like ride and refinement" with taller ride height and all-weather tractability, suggesting the vehicle will feature all-wheel drive. Honda said the roomy cargo bay "can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan."

Honda executive Erik Berkman said, "Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord lineup by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace. The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan."

The company says it will release full details in early October.

TORRANCE, California -
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Honda has 5 of the Top 20 Researched New Vehicles of 2009 with Accord and Civic taking first and second place!  Here's the list:

 

  1. Honda Accord

  2. Honda Civic

  3. Toyota Camry

  4. Honda CR-V

  5. Toyota Corolla

  6. Toyota RAV4

  7. Toyota Highlander

  8. Toyota Prius

  9. Nissan Altima

  10. Honda Pilot

  11. Ford Escape

  12. Chevrolet Camaro

  13. Honda Odyssey

  14. Ford Fusion

  15. Mazda3

  16. Ford Mustang

  17. Volkswagen Jetta

  18. Toyota Sienna

  19. Lexus RX 350

  20. Chevrolet Equinox

 

In addition, Honda was #2 brand with the greatest share of market interest.  Here's the list.

 

  Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest on Kelley Blue

  Book's kbb.com for 2009

  1. Toyota

  2. Honda

  3. Ford

  4. Chevrolet

  5. Nissan

 

2010 Best Resale Value:

http://mediaroom.kbb.com/2010-best-resale-value-award-winners-named-kelley-blue-book

 

The CR-V, Pilot and Accord won their respective vehicle categories for 2010 best resale value according to KBB.com

 

In addition, CR-V was named one of the Top 10 models for best 2010 resale value.

Next evolution of the crossover offers CUV attributes while maintaining a premium sedan feel and a sporty, bold appearance.

    The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour evolves the Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) concept by integrating a sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile CUV functionality, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

    "Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord line-up by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace," said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan."

    Derived from the Accord Sedan, the Accord Crosstour maximizes car-like ride and refinement, yet maintains capabilities consistent with a CUV's increased ride height and all-weather potential. The Accord Crosstour's styling builds on the Accord's familiar character lines and adds a bolder front grille complemented by a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance. The flowing roofline narrows smoothly into the rear of the vehicle to create an aggressive-looking design, which conceals a unique cargo area that can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan.

    "We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV," said Berkman. "This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV."

    The Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord family when it goes on sale in fall 2009. Additional details will be announced later in the year. Consumer information is available at http://automobiles.honda.com/future-cars. An Accord Crosstour Facebook page is available at www.facebook.com/accordcrosstour. Additional media information regarding all Honda products is available at www.hondanews.com.
TORRANCE, Calif. September 01, 2009

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TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 20, 2010 - Four Honda vehicles earned recognition from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as among the"greenest vehicles of 2010" with the Civic GX natural gas car earning the title of American's greenest vehicle for the seventh consecutive year, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. In the annual ACEEE's "Green Book® Online" ranking of environmentally responsible vehicles (available at www.greenercars.org), the near-zero emissions natural gas-powered Civic GX ranked first with the Civic Hybrid, Insight and Fit joining the list on the ACEEE's 12 most environmentally responsible vehicles available to the public.
This is the tenth year in a row that a Honda vehicle received the number one ranking and the ninth consecutive year that Honda vehicles held at least three positions in the top 12. This year's list also marks the first appearance of the next-generation Insight in its first year on the market.
"Honda's rankings in the ACEEE study are emblematic of our commitment to lowering emissions and increasing fuel efficiency in all of our models," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "Honda continues to set the standard for socially and environmentally responsible vehicles with products like the Insight and Civic GX."
The ACEEE's ranking system uses a singular measure that incorporates fuel economy, health-related pollution impacts, and global warming emissions. All vehicles are analyzed and given a "Green Score" which is used to rank a vehicle's total environmental performance, including a list of the 12 "greenest" and 12 "meanest" vehicles. The Civic GX, first introduced in 1998 and currently built at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana*, is the cleanest internal combustion vehicle certified by the
U.S. EPA**.
Honda has a long history of environmental innovation, including the introduction of America's first hybrid, the Honda Insight (1999), delivery of the first fuel cell vehicle in the U.S., the FCX (2002) and the first gasoline-powered vehicles in the hands of consumers to meet stricter emissions standards, including:
? The first gasoline Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV), the 1996 Honda Civic.
? The first gasoline Ultra-Low Emissions vehicle (ULEV), the 1998 Honda Accord.
? The first gasoline Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV), the 2000 Honda Accord.
? The first Advanced Technology Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), the 2001 Civic GX natural gas vehicle.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
*Using domestically and globally sourced parts
**EPA Tier-2, Bin-2 and ILEV certification as of January 2010