Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Honda Odyssey Receives MotorWeek 2012 Drivers' Choice Award
Designed and built1 in the United States, the eight-passenger Odyssey features the highest EPA2 highway fuel economy rating for an eight-passenger minivan of 28 mpg for Odyssey Touring. It has also earned the best possible safety ratings from both NHTSA (5-Star Overall Vehicle Score) and the IIHS (TOP SAFETY PICK), an achievement that no other currently-tested minivan can match.
"Beyond great packaging, class-leading fuel economy, unparalleled safety ratings and cutting-edge family-friendly features, the Odyssey was designed to be fun to drive." said Michael Accavitti, VP of marketing operations for American Honda. "Being honored with a Motorweek Driver's Choice Award for a second consecutive year confirms that the Odyssey remains the best minivan choice for those who truly enjoy driving."
Presented annually since 1983, the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award has been awarded 29 times to Honda vehicles. The winner of two Emmy awards, MotorWeek is television's longest running and most respected automotive series. Produced by Maryland Public Television, MotorWeek airs on 89 percent of PBS stations nationwide, and can also be seen on Discovery's Velocity and the V-me Spanish-language network.
Courtesy of Honda
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Honda Performance Development Unveils Ambitious Worldwide Sports-Prototype Effort
Courtesy of Honda
Honda Performance Development today unveiled its largest customer endurance racing program to date, as six teams will campaign a total of seven HPD-powered LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes in the 2012 World Endurance Championship and the American Le Mans Series.
"In recent years, teams running HPD engines and chassis have delivered remarkable results at some of the world's greatest sports-car races," said Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president, "starting with an amazing LMP2 victory - and second and third overall finishes - at our endurance racing debut, the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring. Another highlight was Strakka's LMP2 victory and fifth-place finish overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010, also on our first attempt!
"Returning to LMP1, while continuing our LMP2 program, will be the biggest challenge yet for our engineers and associates," Eriksen added, "but I'm extremely confident in our capabilities and look forward to another exciting season in 2012. We expect that the proven design, development and engineering expertise of HPD and its technical partners will provide our teams with the tools they need to succeed. It will be an exciting season."
Three teams, all experienced, accomplished racing organizations, will campaign the new HPD ARX-03a in the LMP1 class. The British-based Strakka Racing group continues its three-year association with HPD, but moves from LMP2 to the premier category in the new FIA World Endurance Championship with drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts.
Joining them on the WEC grid in 2012 will be JRM Racing, which comes to LMP1 after winning the drivers' title in the FIA GT-1 World Championship last season. Now, drivers David Brabham, Karun Chandok and Peter Dumbreck will have HPD's LM-V8 engine and new ARX-03a chassis at their command for the eight-race WEC schedule, which begins March 17 with the classic 12 Hours of Sebring endurance contest.
Sebring also marks the start of the 2012 American Le Mans Series, where Greg Pickett's Muscle Milk Racing team will debut the ARX-03a chassis it will campaign during the full ALMS schedule for team regulars Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr.
In addition to the LMP1 program utilizing the new ARX-03a chassis and proven HPD LM-V8 normally aspirated, gasoline engine, HPD will continue its support of the cost-capped LMP2 formula in 2012, which features the production-based HR28TT twin-turbocharged V6 engine powering the new HPD ARX-03b cost-capped LMP2 chassis.
Fresh off an undefeated LMP2 season with HPD power in the 2011 ALMS, Level 5 Motorsports returns to defend its team and drivers' championships, and HPD's LMP2 engine-manufacturers' title, with a pair of new ARX-03b chassis for regular drivers Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker. The team also plans on returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, following up on their strong third-place finish in LMP2 last year, in their inaugural attempt at the French racing classic.
Level 5 will be joined on the ALMS grid this year by Black Swan Racing, which will campaign an HPD-powered Lola B10/80 coupe after winning the ALMS GTC championship in 2010. The driving duo of team owner Tim Pappas and Jerome Bleekmolen now move up to LMP2 competition as part of the HPD lineup.
Another American-based team has announced plans to take part in the full WEC schedule, as the Florida-based Starworks Motorsport team completes the 2012 HPD sports-prototype lineup. Coming off a strong second-place finish at the recent 24 Hours of Daytona, the Starworks HPD ARX-03b will join the LMP2 grid for the first time with team regulars Ryan Dalziel and Enrico Potoliccio behind the wheel.
In 2011, Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development announced a new long-term technical partnership building upon the global successes achieved in recent years - a partnership that has produced numerous class and/or outright victories in all the world's premier sports-car races and championships, including the Le Mans 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring.
Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD prepares and fields the Honda Indy V6 turbocharged engines used in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series; and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
HPD also participates in multiple U.S.-based Touring Car series; and administers The Honda Racing Line to provide racing enthusiasts and professionals with dependable racing products and support, from entry level to pinnacle forms of motorsports.
2012 HPD Sports Prototype Program
| FIA World Endurance Championship | |||
| Class | Team | Chassis | Engine |
| LMP1 | Strakka Racing | HPD ARX-03a | HPD LM-V8 |
| LMP1 | JRM Racing | HPD ARX-03a | HPD LM-V8 |
| LMP2 | Starworks Motorsport | HPD ARX-03b | HPD HR28TT V6 |
| American Le Mans Series Championship | |||
| LMP1 | Muscle Milk Racing | HPD ARX-03a | HPD LM-V8 |
| LMP2 | Level 5 Motorsports | HPD ARX-03b | HPD HR28TT V6 |
| LMP2 | Black Swan Racing | Lola B11/80 coupe | HPD HR28TT V6 |
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! Way to go team!
Two positive reviews from Google Maps:
Review 1
Review 2
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saving Birmingham from High Prices: the Return of Serra Honda Man
Read all the way to the end for a debut of the latest commercial!
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- Serra Honda Heroes
Who can defeat the monstrous Price Bot? Who can drop-kick a High Price Ninja? Who can save Birmingham from inflated prices on cars??
Serra Honda Girl, of course. Oh yes, and her burly sidekick, Serra Honda Man. The superhero duo flew back into Birmingham this past week for another round of commercials. If you’ve ever wondered how they can pull of their incredible stunts, come along for a backstage tour of the commercial shoot.
Serra Honda Man and Serra Honda Girl began their shoot in the early afternoon. (Serra Honda Man, also known as mild-mannered, general manger Gerrick Wilkins, had to do some car business first.) They shot their first scenes in the green screen room, aka, the conference room. It was there that Serra Honda Girl found the dinosaur…or rather his tail…to be incredibly fascinating! They launched an attack on the dino, did a few victory dances, and did their lines with little flubbing. Sometimes the lines were a little tongue-twistery but the superheroes powered through! The best line was an off-the-cuff comment from the little gal in pink. When asked by the director to smile showing her teeth, the little comedienne replied, “But I don’t have any left!” That’s what happens when young superheroes lose 3 front teeth in one week. (The week prior to shooting the commercial, no less!)
After finishing up some publicity photos against the green screen, the superheroes enjoyed a snack break and a few moments of rest before back on the set. With the Birmingham afternoon sun shining down and the wind cooling the air, the Serra Superheroes headed outside to battle a monster of a robot, the Price Bot. With Serra Honda Girl crouched beside a Civic, held captive in the ray of the Price Bot, the shooting began. The heroes had a few fans in the audience. Some walking by the store and a very young fan inside who was in awe of the Girl’s pink outfit. Outdoor filming was hard work but Serra Honda Man powered through and Serra Honda Girl took frequent snack breaks.
Finally the ninjas arrived. Serra Honda salesmen, Charles and Ricky, along with Hunter (dinosaur and robot actor), surrounded the superhero duo. But they would not prevail as Serra Honda Girl laid out the first ninja with a kick and a chop. Of course, much hilarity ensued as Serra Honda Girl, not wanting to inflict real injury on the salesman, gently tapped Ricky on the leg. Laughing ninja, giggling superhero…ah, life as an actor.
Of course, all the hard work happens after the shoot ended. Serra Honda Man and Girl will hang up their suits for a little while and Director Brian will head to his office to edit and create the magic of the Serra Honda Superheroes.
And now…enjoy the debut of Serra Honda’s New Commercial!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from Serra Honda Man’s latest commercial
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Who fights high car prices in Birmingham? Serra Honda Man! Have you missed this price fighting hero? Well never fear, Serra Honda Man is about to make his triumphant return! Take a look at these exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from Serra Honda Man’s latest commercial.
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Honda to Invest $98 Million in Anna Engine Plant for Production of Advanced Transmission Components
Honda announced today that it will invest $98 million at its Anna, Ohio engine plant as part of a strategy to build the company's next-generation powertrain technologies in Ohio. The move is aligned with a $120 million investment, announced last year, for the production of a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) in Russells Point, Ohio.
The Anna Engine Plant will manufacture high-tech pulley components for Honda's new CVT technology, which is part of the new Honda 'Earth Dreams' powertrain technology lineup, to be deployed for the first time in the U.S. in the all-new, more powerful and fuel-efficient 2013 Honda Accord.
Honda will produce its technically advanced CVT on a new assembly line at Honda Transmission Mfg. of America, Inc. in Russells Point. The modernization and expansion of the Russells Point transmission plant, along with the new pulley component production at the Anna plant, will create 150 new jobs.
Since November 2010, Honda has announced new investments exceeding $500 million in its two auto plants and two powertrain plants in Ohio.
"For decades, our two Ohio powertrain plants have worked together to deliver advanced products for our customers," said Hide Iwata, president and CEO, Honda of America Mfg., Inc. "The production of this new CVT technology puts the Buckeye State right in the middle of Honda's global strategy."
The new transmissions will debut in the all-new 2013 Honda Accord models that will come to market later this year. The Accord for the U.S. market is built only in Ohio at the Marysville Auto Plant.
"Applying Honda's new Earth Dreams Technologies in the production of engines and transmissions will greatly enhance the driving performance of Honda vehicles, and help us achieve fuel economy leadership in every segment over the next three years," said Iwata.
While the Anna plant prepares for its production launch, the nearby Russells Point transmission plant will proceed with CVT production this summer. These transmissions require highly sophisticated pulley components. Initially, these components will be supplied from Honda operations in Japan, before CVT production for U.S. models is taken up by the Anna plant in 2013.
"Our associates have incredible experience and we are counting on them to help us introduce an even higher level of powertrain technology for our customers," Anna Engine Plant Manager, John Spoltman, said. "The new CVT technology will be mated with Honda's new Earth Dreams 2.4-liter direct-injection engine, which will also be produced here at the Anna Engine Plant."
Earth Dreams technology defines Honda's next-generation engine and transmission strategy to realize advanced levels of both performance and fuel efficiency. Introduction of the new CVT for mid-size cars, will improve fuel economy by approximately 10 percent compared with the current five-speed automatic transmission.
The new component production operation at Anna will utilize 84,000 square feet of plant space for lathing, heat-treating, grinding and subassembly of precision CVT pulley systems. With the capacity to manufacture 1.18 million V-6 and four-cylinder engines annually, the Anna Engine Plant is the largest automobile engine factory in Honda's global production network.
At the Russells Point transmission plant, CVTs will be manufactured on a sophisticated assembly line that is being constructed as part of a $70 million, 200,000-square-foot expansion of the facility. An additional $50 million is being invested in a 75,000-square-foot expansion of the facility for additional aluminum casting operations to support the CVT assembly line.
Honda Transmission Mfg. of America currently employs 1,050 associates. In addition to automatic transmissions, the Russells Point plant also manufactures four-wheel-drive systems. Both plants manufacture the precision steel parts for engines and transmissions, and four-wheel-drive components.
Today's announcement continues a series of major initiatives by Honda in its Ohio operations. In January, the Acura luxury brand revealed that the all-new Acura NSX supercar will be developed in Ohio and built at a new manufacturing operation in central Ohio. And since November 2010, Honda has now announced more than $500 million in investments for advanced technologies and systems at it four existing Ohio plants.
Other major initiatives now underway include construction of on-site parts consolidation centers at Anna and East Liberty, a sophisticated new stamping press at the Marysville Auto Plant, and several major projects at East Liberty to expand assembly lines, implement new paint technologies and consolidate vehicle quality operations.
About Honda Manufacturing in Ohio
Based on Honda's longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda began operations at its first U.S. auto plant nearly 30 years ago, on November 1, 1982, in Marysville, Ohio. Honda now has the capacity to build 680,000 automobiles annually at its two auto plants in Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio.
Honda employs more than 13,500 Ohioans. The company's total investment in its extensive operations in the state exceeds $8 billion.
In addition, in 2011 Honda purchased nearly $6 billion in parts and materials from more than 150 Ohio suppliers, and more than $16 billion in parts and materials from 600 domestic suppliers in North America.
Honda has seven auto plants in North America have the capacity to manufacture 1.63 million automobiles annually, using domestic and globally sourced parts. More than 80 percent of the Honda and Acura products sold in the U.S. are built in North America.
Courtesy of Honda