Sconda

2011 Odyssey May Cause 2nd Baby Boom

The 2010 U.S. Census team has new concerns the all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey could cause what bloggers have dubbed a "2nd Baby Boom".

Scientists are extremely worried that adults with 0-2 children will desire this beautifully-styled vehicle so much that they will actually have more children, just to justify owning one.

"Our internal market research has shown such a fierce attraction to the curves on this new Honda that it's causing the area of brain linked to parenting many children to light up the monitor," remarked Dr. Chip Lipbalm, of the Center for Population Expansion (CPE).  "We really think this will help regions like Scandinavia who are actually seeing a decrease in population."

It appears single men even want to get in on the 2011 Odyssey craze.

"I never planned on having a family," 24-year-old Jayson Jagger, of New York City told Sconda Blog.  "But the moment I saw this awesome minivan, with room for three car seats across the middle, I bought a wedding ring for my girlfriend of 3 weeks and we're expecting triplets this September!"

Some on the interweb had claimed the newest version of the Odyssey would be renamed the Iliad, but those rumors were put to rest by Honda last week when they unveiled the minivan for the first time at Chicago's Auto Show.

While dealers like Scott Honda in West Chester, PA are taking orders for the new Odyssey, reports are that the vehicle may not be sold in India and China due the their already huge populations.

Stay tuned to Sconda Blog for updates as they come in.

Scott Honda Finishes on Top in PA...again

The numbers have been crunched, the results have been tallied and Scott Honda is proud to announce we finished 2009 where we left off in 2008, as the #1 volume new and Certified Honda dealer in Pennsylvania.

With a total of 2534 new Hondas sold we were the 42nd largest new car Honda dealer in the country. Even more impressive was Scott Honda finishing #2 in the country in Certified Hondas, with 1002 sold.

It was an impressive December that catapulted Scott ahead of the pack, with only 8 other Honda dealers in the country selling more than our 369.

Nationally it was a great month for Honda as well, finishing 24% ahead of last years dismal numbers.  In the end Honda was down 19.5% for the year, while Scott was only down 9.9% in new Honda sales, but up in Certified Hondas sales by 6.4%.

"All in all we braved a tough year, we worked hard and we were able to reach on of our goals, which was retaining our position as #1 in Pennsylvania," says Vice President Duke Scott.  "We look forward to doing that again in 2010, but this time with some more growth on the new car side as well."

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Looks Badazz

What's white, fast, eco-conscious and badazz?  It's the new CR-Z hybrid coupe from Honda.  Fresh off being awarded the Editors' Choice from the Tokyo Auto show by Auto Week magazine, this lean, mean concept car turned reality is primed and ready to hit the road in the second half of 2010 according to Honda.

Billed as the resurrection of the Honda CR-X, a sporty 2-seater built from 1983-91 with a cult following, the CR-Z, which stands for Compact Renaissance Zero, may become an instant classic herself.  Already equipped with a Facebook Fan Page maybe the CR-X can create some positive Facebook attention following the less then stellar public response on Honda's Accord Crosstour Fan Page.

Sporting a 6-speed manual transmission, eco-friendly/driving enthusiasts can finally combine two of their loves in this one vehicle or as Honda says on the coupes official micro-site, "CR-Z is that place in the universe where sport and efficiency meet."

Look for it in the Scott Honda Showroom, Fall 2011!

Crosstour: "You've Gotta See It in Person"

 

The first of six Honda Accord Crosstours rolled off the truck today at Scott Honda to some fanfare.  Salespeople, technicians, lot attendants and others crowded around the newest member of the Honda family to get a look at this all wheel drive hatchback.

Officially going on sale this Friday, this CUV is designed in Japan and assembled in Honda's Ohio plant.  All Crosstour models feature Honda's 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management designed for power and efficiency.  The MSRP (excluding destination) ranges from the $29,670 in the EX 2WD to the $36,220 in the 4WD EX-L model with navigation.

There was a lot of internet speculation about the design of the Crosstour, with many (myself included) hoping it would be more wagon and less hatch.  It's true look was debuted on a dedicated Facebook Fan Page, the results of which had to be a bit unsettling for Honda.  The opinions poured in one after another and a feeding frenzy of negativity forced the page to be shut down for a few hours while Honda did some damage control.  The majority of the consumer frustration came from their desire for an Accord Wagon, similar to the European version. 

It's like when you take a swig of what you thought was going to be Sprite and it instead you get water.  There's nothing wrong with the water, but your mind was ready for some fizzy lemon-lime flavored, sugar liquid.

Honda had this to say about "wagon envy" in part of their official Facebook response, "We've seen a lot of comments about the desire for a wagon, but this is neither a wagon nor designed for wagon buyers. We think the Euro wagon is a cool vehicle, too, and we appreciate the feedback… but a version of that wasn't our intention here. That's another segment worthy of our consideration, but the Accord Crosstour, built on the larger, Accord platform, is meant to give you the best of two worlds – the versatility of an SUV with the sportiness of a car."

The new mantra became "you have to see it in person" and they were right, it is much nicer in person and only time will tell whether or not the decision to build a hatchback instead of a wagon was the right one.  Many Honda lovers do love this newest addition to the line-up, while others are still holding out hope that an Accord wagon may still in the pipeline in the near future.

Read Honda's official press release

Honda SKYDECK Concept set for Debut

At the upcoming 41st Annual Tokyo Motor Show Honda will debut the SKYDECK, an innovative six-passenger, multi-purpose hybrid vehicle.  Reminiscent in size to the first version of the Honda Odyssey that was more wagon than minivan, the SKYDECK has an unmistakable futuristic feel.

The eye catching, space saving, unconventional doors are almost assuredly set to become the standard entry combination in a world where space is always at a premium.  The open and airy interior is sleek and spacious, featuring center-mounted stackable floating seats for easier access to the third row.  The interiors clean lines are accentuated by a unique for Honda all-glass roof.

According to Honda, their Tokyo Motor Show display "will cover the largest floor area of any single brand at the show, combining automobiles, motorcycles, power products and other highlights to present the distinctive world of Honda mobility."Driven by dreams and passion, and with the booth concept of 'Creating the never before!'" Honda says they have "strived to propose attractive products that please and amaze its customers."

Honda’s automobile exhibit will present a variety of environmentally responsible approaches to mobility, including hybrid vehicles, a fuel cell electric vehicle and a battery electric vehicle. The display will also highlight models with innovative packaging and enhanced driving performance that communicate the enjoyment an automobile can provide.

source: Honda

The EV-N from Honda - Tiny Meets Retro

 

Honda will use the Tokyo Motor Show, beginning October 21, to introduce their all-new concept car, dubbed the EV-N.  This micro machine takes exterior styling cues taken straight from the Honda N360, a 2-cylinder, 354cc, 31-horsepower, built in the late 60's .  The interior of the EV-N is all it's own.  This mini Hybrid Honda is said to have an electric motor, with a lithium-ion battery that is partially powered by a solar panel on the roof of the car.

With small becoming the "new black", this true 4-seater would fit nicely into the Honda lineup, going a step smaller then the popular Honda Fit and has the potential to be a big hit, if it ever hits U.S. shores.  However Honda has no plans for productions as of now.

note to manufacturer: Think on it Honda...we could sell the heck out of these. 

2010 Accord Crosstour is Official, but what will it look like?

There will be a new addition to the Accord lineup this fall "accord"ing to Honda.  The announcement came with a parade, fireworks and a marching band...oh wait that's not Honda's style...the announcement came in the form a Twitter-like, 308 character press release that read as follows:

    An all-new crossover vehicle based on the award-winning Honda Accord will go on-sale in the fall of 2009 as the "Accord Crosstour," American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. This new addition to the Honda lineup will be sold as a 2010 model. Additional information will be announced later in the year.

The big question is what the heck will it look like?  Half the news outlets and blogs say it will resemble a wagon, based on the Acura TSX/European Honda Accord Tourer, while others say it will most definitely be a hatchback.

I can only hope Honda chooses the wagon version as the marriage of the coupe and sedan look is weak at best and won't give us the exciting new car we need to jump-start sales this fall.  Click here to be the first to find out what it really looks like.

Honda Celebrates 50 Years of US Innovation

In the same summer that Scott Honda celebrates it's 25th year, Honda itself celebrates 50 years of engineering excellence in America. 

Honda really began in 1946 when Soichiro Honda established the Honda Technical Research Institute, but this 50th year marks the opening of the American Honda Motor Corporation in Los Angeles, CA.  Establishing itself as motor bike specialists,it wasn't until the release of the S500 in 1963 that Honda got into the automobile indistry.  Then came the Civic in 1972, the Prelude in 1978 and the famous Accord in 1982.

With a lineup that now includes 2 auto brands, 16 vehicles, ranging from Fuel Cell vehicles like the FCX Clarity, to award winning four door pick-up trucks, not to mention lawnmowers, Indycar racing, marine engines, robots and jets...the sky is truely the limit for the next 50 years of Honda turing dreams in to reality.

FCX Clarity named '09 World Green Car

    Source: Honda press release

Recognizing Honda's commitment to environmental leadership in the area of alternative fuels and hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology, the Honda FCX Clarity was declared the 2009 World Green Car, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Mobil 1 at the Jacob Javits Center in, New York, the Honda FCX Clarity was named the 2009 World Green Car. The FCX Clarity was chosen from an initial entry list of 22 contenders nominated by 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries worldwide.

"The FCX Clarity is a symbol of the progress we have made with fuel cell vehicles and our commitment to developing vehicles that promote renewable energy supplies and zero-emissions transportation," said Steve Center, vice president, national Marketing Operations for American Honda.

2010 Honda Accord Wagon Spy Shots Taken

Introducing the 2010 Honda Accord CUV or wagon as they used to call them in the olden days.  Some great spy photos have been taken of this beauty that looks almost more like the Accord coupe given 2 extra doors and a hatch, than an expanded sedan.

Honda used to carry a production Accord Wagon from 1991 to 1995.  Cars which are wildly popular in the used market, almost attaining a cult-like status among owners.  Europe has also had an Accord Tourer (Wagon) for some time and Honda has finally deemed America to be a viable market for this great new addition to the the lineup.

LeftLaneNews.com is reporting "AWD will be an option. A close look at this prototype reveals that it has a rear differential. More than likely, this means the car has Honda’s VTM-4 AWD system."  That's great news for us Northeassterners!

And yes I added the Scott license plate on there for fun.  Yeah photoshop!