Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Don't forget to take advantage of our Labor Day Special!

2012 Honda Accord Offers Style, Performance and Value

See what Honda has in store for the 2012 Accord!

The 2012 Honda Accord combines a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value within a diverse range of spacious sedan and sporty coupe models.

The 2012 lineup, features and specifications remain similar to the 2011 model year when the Accord received upgrades for fuel economy and styling, plus the addition of a Special Edition (SE) trim level. For 2012, a USB audio interface becomes standard on every Accord with the addition of the feature to the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedan models.

The Accord Sedan's exterior conveys an upscale and powerful presence with a prominent two-bar grille consisting of chrome-style crossbars, windswept headlights, inset character lines along the body sides and distinctively-shaped C-pillars. Building on the sedan's design character, the Accord Coupe's muscular stance is enhanced by a sporty front fascia design, a sleeker overall roof profile, a shorter wheelbase and an exclusive trunk and tailgate design.

The comfortable and spacious interior is complemented by high-quality materials with an emphasis on switchgear refinement. A hallmark of Honda design, the Accord exhibits simple and intuitive ergonomics with the audio, climate and vehicle controls organized by expected frequency of use. Often-used climate-control buttons are positioned on the left side of the center stack within easy reach of the driver for quick access. Less-frequently used buttons are positioned on the right side.

The front seats are designed to provide supportive cushions for long-range cruising comfort and progressive lateral support while cornering. The fold-down, rear seatback offers cargo-carrying versatility and also includes a lockable pass-through for long items.

The 2012 Honda Accord Sedan earns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score1 of 5 stars. Helping the sedan achieve its top overall score were 5-star ratings in each of the three combined categories of overall frontal crash safety, overall side crash safety and rollover resistance. These achievements represent a significant safety milestone for the automotive industry, as the 2011 Accord Sedan was the first vehicle to receive 5-Star ratings in each combined category.

Listed by increasing levels of feature content, sedan models include the 4-cylinder Accord LX, LX-P (Premium), SE, EX and EX-L, and the 6-cylinder Accord EX V-6 and EX-L V-6. Coupe models include the 4-cylinder Accord LX-S, EX, EX-L, and the 6-cylinder Accord EX V-6 and EX-L V-6. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on all Accord EX-L models.

Four engine variations are available, starting with a 177-horsepower, 2.4-liter, i‑VTEC 4-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans. Next is the 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that's standard in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedan models and all 4-cylinder coupe models. The top-of-the-line 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine produces 271 horsepower and is available in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedan models and the Accord EX-L Coupe. To increase fuel efficiency, Accord V-6 models with automatic transmissions take advantage of Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology, an innovative valvetrain system that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising. The performance-oriented Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission takes advantage of a special 271-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine that replaces VCM with a performance-tuned valvetrain, intake and exhaust systems to further broaden the torque curve in the low- to mid-rpm range.

Transmission choices vary by engine and trim level and include a 5-speed manual transmission (available on select 4-cylinder models) and a 5-speed automatic transmission (standard on select 4-cylinder models and all V-6 models). Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are standard on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with an automatic transmission. A 6-speed manual transmission is available exclusively on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe.

Aerodynamic body features, low-friction engine technology and optimal transmission gear ratios all contribute to excellent fuel efficiency. The most fuel-efficient Accord model is the 4-cylinder sedan equipped with 5-speed automatic transmission, which returns an EPA-estimated2 23/34/27 mpg city/highway/combined. The EPA-estimated1 fuel-economy rating for the Accord V-6 Sedan model is 20/30/24 mpg city/highway/combined, also with a 5-speed automatic transmission.

For safety, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE™ design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Extensive safety features include front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and driver's and front passenger's active head restraints.

The fully independent, double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension systems inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2012 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers (alloy wheels on LX-P and SE), and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on EX and above sedan models. The Accord Coupe (4-cylinder) has 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment, with 18-inch alloy wheels standard on the Accord V-6 Coupe. All Accords feature Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control and 4-wheel disc brakes with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS).

Three audio systems are available – all with MP3/Windows Media® Audio (WMA) playback capability, an auxiliary input jack and the USB audio interface. The standard system provides a single-disc CD player, six speakers and 160 watts of power. Radio Data System (RDS) displays information broadcast by participating FM radio stations that often includes call letters, station type (searchable by genre) and programming information. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on every Accord. The Accord EX Sedan and LX-S Coupe add a 6-disc in-dash changer.

A premium 270-watt audio system comes standard on Accord EX Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models, which includes a 6-disc CD changer and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer. XM Radio® is standard equipment on all Accord EX-L models.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System2 (available on Accord EX-L) has an 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. The navigation system features the Zagat Survey® guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions, in addition to a rear-view camera on the EX-L Sedan. Accord EX and EX-L Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment for connecting wirelessly with compatible mobile phones.

Currently more than 95 percent of new Accords sold in the United States are produced4 at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio. In its 2011 Initial Quality Study (IQS), J.D. Power and Associates named the Accord as having the highest initial quality in its segment. Additionally, Car and Driver magazine has chosen the Honda Accord as one of its "10Best" vehicles 25 times in the 29 years that its editors have conducted the competition, more than any other vehicle in the award's history.

Press Release via Honda

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

2012 Honda Fit Receives Updates and More Features

Take a look at what's in store for the 2012 Honda Fit.
01_2012_fit_sport

The Honda Fit builds on its proven strengths for 2012 with updated styling on Fit Sport, interior upgrades on all models, and the addition of new standard and available features.

The Fit's compact size and tight turning diameter (34.4 feet, curb-to-curb) can conveniently navigate space-confined urban areas and fit in small parking spaces. Yet a roomy and versatile interior offers the convenience and cargo volume of a relatively larger vehicle. Compared to any other vehicle in the subcompact class, the five-passenger Fit provides the lowest, flattest cargo floor and the most cargo volume of 57.3 cu-ft. when the rear seats are down. Its four distinct seat configurations are designed to accommodate large objects ranging from mountain bikes to surfboards to tall houseplants.

Fit Sport exterior updates for 2012 include new designs for the front grille and bumper, black headlight bezels and a dark "machined surface" finish for the alloy wheels (replaces a painted finish appearance). The entry-model Fit retains its exclusive front fascia design and for 2012 receives body-color exterior mirrors (previously black) and updated wheel covers.

Inside, the Fit Sport interior is enhanced with dark metallic dashboard components for a unified color theme (replacing the previous gray and black theme). Fit Sport receives additional chrome accents around instrument displays. All models receive newly designed console-mounted center beverage holders along with console ambient lighting, which provide easier access and greater stability. All models also receive added sound insulation measures in the floor, front fenders and A-pillars, plus thicker front corner-window glass, to help create a quieter, more-refined cabin environment. Two new colors are available: Blue Raspberry Metallic and Orangeburst Metallic, which replace similar colors from the prior model year.

The top-of-the-line Fit Sport includes a long list of exclusive, standard features compared to the entry-model Fit. For 2012, it gains standard steering wheel-mounted audio controls for fingertip operation (previously exclusive to navigation-equipped models) and upgraded seat fabric. When equipped with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition5, the Fit Sport now includes Bluetooth®1 HandsFreeLink® to help make hands-free telephone calls more convenient. The enhanced system also includes a Bluetooth Audio capability with compatible phones and devices.

Though the Fit has an overall exterior length of just 161.6 inches, the interior provides an impressive 90.8 cubic feet of passenger volume. There's comfortable seating for up to five passengers, and behind the rear seats, there's 20.6 cubic feet of storage space – much more than you'd find in a typical sedan. For enhanced versatility, the exclusive 60/40 split rear Magic Seat® offers multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations. With its one-motion dive-down functionality, it can fold flat into the floor to maximize rear cargo volume. The Fit's interior can also be easily converted to tall object mode or long object mode based on the shape of the cargo.

The 1.5-liter, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine is tuned to deliver an engaging combination of power and fuel economy. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic transmission is available. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on Fit Sport models equipped with the available automatic transmission allow for manual gear selection.

All models are powered by a four-cylinder engine that produces 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 lb-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm. When equipped with the available automatic transmission, the Fit has an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 28/35/31 miles per gallon3. The Fit Sport with the available automatic transmission has an EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy rating3 of 27/33/30 miles per gallon. All manual transmission-equipped models have an EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 27/33/29 miles per gallon3.

A sporty, refined and dynamic driving experience is provided by the front MacPherson strut suspension and torsion beam rear suspension. Fifteen- and 16-inch wheels (Fit and Fit Sport, respectively) feature 175/65 R15 84S (Fit) and 185/55 R16 83H (Fit Sport) tires. The standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) uses 10.3-inch ventilated discs in the front and 7.9-inch drums in the rear.

All Fit models are equipped with a wide range of standard safety equipment including Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, anti-lock brakes and more. Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are also standard equipment for 2012.

Standard comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, cruise control, remote entry, a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, a USB audio interface4, an auxiliary audio input jack, MP3/WMA playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS), power windows, power mirrors, power door locks and a security system.

The Fit Sport adds or replaces: alloy wheels, an underbody aero kit, rear roofline spoiler, fog lights, illuminated steering wheel mounted audio controls and upgraded seat fabric. For improved audio performance, the Fit Sport audio system has a total of six speakers. The Fit Sport is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition, which features a 6.5-inch screen and more than seven million points of interest. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System debuting on the 2012 Fit Sport features 16 GB of flash memory in place of the DVD-based system used previously. Like other Honda navigation systems, this new system allows simple, intuitive operation and has an extensive on-board database.

Awards and accolades include being named to Car and Driver Magazine's "10Best Cars" list (www.caranddriver.com) continuously from 2007 through 20112. In the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, the Fit earned the highest initial quality score in its segment. The Fit has also been named a 2011 Top RecommendedSM vehicle by Edmunds.com in its 2011 New Car Sedan Buying Guide. In addition, the Fit captured the 2011 Residual Value Award for "Best Sub Compact Car" from ALG.

1The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.
2Car and Driver, January 2011
3Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only.  Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
4The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your dealer for details on compatibility.
5Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include, but are not limited to, automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments. RDS not available on navigation models.

PRESS RELEASE & PHOTO via Honda

Monday, August 22, 2011

Serra Honda is hiring! We have immediate openings for professional sales associates.

Training is available. Click on the link to learn more about this great opportunity. http://bit.ly/o3Igkd

We would like to thank Angie for writing us this review. Kudos to James and Jayson for their great work.

Five star review from DealerRater:

"I was a long loyal customer at Neil Bonnett Honda for 20 years. I had one salesman for those years and thought I would never experience that type of service again after they sold to Serra. I purchased my first Honda from Serra in 2008. It was an ok experience. But this experience in 2011 was much like my long time experience of 20 years. I felt like my Sales person was all about meeting my needs. I was there getting my beautiful Honda Fit serviced...a car that I loved, but it was not my "Dream" car. Jayson, the financial manager struck a conversation with me and it was as if we were instant friends. After convincing me to just "drive" my dream car he connected me with James my salesman. They made me believe that owning my "dream" car was possible. There was no pressure. They assured me that after I drove it, if I didn't want to talk about it, there would be no pressure. They stuck to their word...of course, I wanted to talk about it because I fell in love with the Crosstour. I have driven a Honda for 23 years. Once I bought my first civic, I have never driven anything else but a Honda(civics, accords, CRVs, and the FIT). When I first saw the Crosstour 3 years ago, I didn't think I would ever be able to drive one. Well, they made it happen. I left Serra Honda a very happy and very satisfied customer. James has kept in contact with me to make sure I am still happy. He really made the deal go through because I didn't feel judged by the "mess in my car".. He assured me that it was no big deal and definitely not a problem. He took the time to sit with me in the car and answer any questions that I had. No question was too dumb or too simple. He made sure the detailing on my car was up to par and even took it back when I wasn't completely satisfied. I have since called him because I found some spots on my leather and he told me to just bring it back and if he had to handle it himself he would...Thank you James and thank you Jayson for having that initial conversation with me."

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Honda Achieves Its Best-Ever Result in 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study

Just a few more reasons to love your Honda!

Honda leads industry with seven segment-leading models, more than any other brand

The Honda brand earned its best-ever ranking in J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) for 2011, finishing second among all surveyed brands, including premium makes, the company announced today. Honda also led the industry with seven models earning the highest initial quality ranking in their respective segments, including its top-selling Accord and Civic models.

The Acura brand finished third overall in the 2011 IQS.

In the manufacturing realm, the 2011 study recognized three Honda plants for superior quality, including Honda's newest U.S. auto plant in Greensburg, Ind. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, producing the Civic Sedan, was one of only three plants around the world to earn the Platinum Plant Quality Award. The Suzuka, Japan plant, line 1, earned a Silver Plant Quality Award, Asia Pacific (tie), for production of Civic and Insight, while the East Liberty, Ohio, plant took home a Bronze Plant Quality Award, North/South America, for production of the Accord Crosstour, CR-V and Element.

"Creating products of the highest quality and value is the foundation of our business, and it begins with a deep understanding of the customer," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "These results are an important demonstration of our focus on the customer and the tireless efforts put forth by Honda associates throughout our organization—in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales—to exceed their high expectations of Honda and Acura."

Of the seven Honda models earning the highest initial quality score in their segment – the most segment leaders of any brand – five were manufactured in North America: the Civic (compact car); the Element (compact crossover SUV—followed by the CR-V in second place); the Accord (midsize car); the Accord Crosstour (midsize crossover SUV); and the Ridgeline (midsize pickup). Those five models were joined on the 2011 segment leader list by the Insight hybrid (compact car, tie) and Honda Fit (sub-compact car).

Honda automobiles made in North America are produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts.

J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study serves as an important tool for consumers in evaluating the quality and design of new vehicles. Since 1987, J.D. Power and Associates has been surveying owners to measure the initial quality of new vehicles after the first 90 days of ownership.

Press Release via Honda