Future - 2010 Acura/Honda Model Changes

Acura -
2010 Acura TSX - New V6 model, revised EPS programming and revised pedal ratio, improved navigation system and improved MID. Available Now.
2010 Acura TL - No changes expected.
2010 Acura RL - No changes, available now.
2010 Acura RDX - MMC, new front and rear ends, slight interior revision, new FWD model, available now.
2010 Acura MDX - MMC, redesigned front end, slight revisions on the rear end and interior, new 3.7 V6 engine with 6-speed auto, additional technology originally exclusively featured on the RL now passed onto the MDX.
2010 Acura ZDX - New model, BMW X6-type vehicle (CUV), glass roof expected, expect SH-AWD with 3.7 V6 engine and a 6-speed auto, to be priced above the MDX.

Honda -
2010 Honda Accord - Redesigned HVAC controls and an improved look to the interior trim on all models. EX gets more trunk lining, and finally, rear air vents are added to the EX sedan. EX-L models now receive Bluetooth on non-nav and nav-equipped models. There are two new colors, Bali Blue Pearl and Dark Cherry Pearl.
2010 Honda Civic - There are no changes, including no colour changes.
2010 Honda Crosstour - New model, based on Accord platform, a mix of hatchback and wagon styles, expect arrival in November 2009.
2010 Honda CR-V - The CR-V will receive it's MMC for 2010, expect a more "Honda" look for the front end, minimal rear end revisions and a slight freshening of the interior look along with new colors.
2010 Honda Element - Will it survive till the 2010 year? If it does, expect little to no changes.
2010 Honda Fit - Expect no changes with the exception of a few color changes.
2010 Honda Insight - Available now.
2010 Honda Odyssey - A new cloth rear entertainment trim and PAX tires are gone from the Touring model. Available now.
2010 Honda Pilot - No changes, available now.
2010 Honda Ridgeline - The RTX model is gone, FMC arrives in 2011.

Review - CNET Reviews with the 2010 Honda Pilot Touring 4WD

CNET Reviews has a lengthy review on the 2010 Honda Pilot Touring @ http://reviews.cnet.com/suv/2010-honda-pilot-touring/4505-10868_7-33730978.html .

Review - St. Petersburg Times on the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

St. Petersburg Times has a short review on the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid @ http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/autos/article1023656.ece .

Breaking - Honda Expands Airbag Recall

Honda is expanding a recall that it initiated in November by an extra of 440000 vehicles due to faulty airbags. The recall affects certain 2001-2002 Honda Accords, 2001 Civics and now 2002-2003 Acura TLs are affected. Honda says that a potential flaw in the airbag inflator could cause the inflator's casing to rupture and spray metal fragments when the airbag is deployed.

Is your car affected? Honda will mail a recall notice to your mailbox at some point in the next few months.

News - Honda's UK Ad receives Award

Honda's upbeat press ads celebrating the return of staff to its Swindon factory has just won an award for the best national newspaper campaign of June. The campaign had featured pooems in praise of workers at the plant. The plant did close down 4 months ago because of the slump in Honda's auto sales. Honda's ad featuring the bacon rasher has been named best national press ad for June in the Awards for National Newspaper Advertising. All the five ads in the campaign have been nominated for the national ad of the year awards to be held in January.

Darren Bailes, the creative director at ad agency VCCP and an awards judge, said the Honda campaign effectively operated as "news in the form of advertising".

The temporary closure of Honda's factory saw 1,300 workers take voluntary redundancy and the remaining 3,400 agree a 3% pay cut for 10 months. Employees said they were pleased to return to work at the plant.

"The reopening could have been swept under the carpet all too easily, the shutdown being seen as a real blow to the pride of the brand," said Bailes. "This recession is something we are all in together, the workers and the manufacturers are all in the same boat."

News - 2010 Canadian Acura MDX

The 2009 Canadian-built Acura MDX features a fresh new exterior look along with a new 6-speed automatic transmission, a refined V6 engine with refinements and more comfort/advanced technologies. The MDX receives the Acura Power Plenum grille, revised hood, new side sills and a refreshed new fascia with rolled edge polished stainless-steel pieces. The Canadian Elite Package now offers a new standard 19-inch 7-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. Inside, the 2010 MDX in Canada has expanded featuring of Milano leather, a thicker sportier steering wheel with paddle shifters, redesigned gauges and easier-to-understand button placement for the centre stack controls, a standard power tailgate and upgraded interior trim. Also there are optional ventilated front seats, a redesigned full VGA 8-inch navigation screen, a new rearview camera with three view options, an upgraded rear DVD system, an enhanced audio system with a 15-GB hard disk drive and USB port connectivity and more. The 2010 Canadian Elite model exclusively features an all-new Blind Spot Info. System for accident avoidance by alerting the driver of adjacent vehicles when changing lanes and a refreshed Active Damper System with retuned Comfort and Sport Models. Also featured exclusively on the Elite model is the Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Mitigation Braking System. The 2010 MDX receives a new 3.7 litre VTEC V6 making 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque with a new Sequential Sportshift 6-speed automatic transmission coupled with an all-new multi-clutch torque converter.

In Canada, pricing will be announced in late October and the 2010 MDX will be on sale in Canada by the beginning of December 2009.

News - Honda's Q1 Forecast says Profit!

Honda has announced its earnings for the quarter ending June 30th, and its earnings are a bit surprising. Analysts expected a loss of 106 yen/$1.1 billion US, Honda turned around and posted an operating profit of 25.2 billion yen/$267 million US. Honda's profit is in due in part to the Insight hybrid's success in Japan and the Fit and Accord has been helping their bottom line. Honda however, is still forecasting continuing currency issues as the yen is gaining ground verses the US dollar. Honda's Q1 earnings are strong enough for it to raise its 2009 earnings forecast from 40 billion yen/$420 million US to 70 billion yen/$737 million US. Honda has also reportedly raised its vehicle sales forecast to 3.295 million 2009 vehicles, up 85000 units.

Recall - Faulty Airbags

Honda Motor Co. is recalling 1,532 of its Inspire and Saber passenger cars in Japan following a fatal accident in the United States involving a ruptured air bag. The airbags in the Inspire and Saber vehicles are similar to the type recalled in the U.S./Canada concerning 300000 2001 Honda Civic and Honda Accord vehicles. There are at least 7 accidents in the U.S. between Feb. 2007-May 2009 where metal fragments flew from ruptured driver-side air bags in Honda vehicles.

In May, a driver died in an accident where metal fragments flew from the driver-side air bags, it is unknown if the air bag was responsible for the death of the driver. It was apparent that the metal fragments from the ruptured air bag had pierced the driver's neck. Honda said it was investigating whether the driver died due to the air bag accident or some other causes.

Review - Car and Driver with Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CDTi EX

Car and Driver has a review on the European Honda CR-V diesel version, @
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q3/honda_cr-v_2.2_i-cdti_ex-short_take_road_test .

News - Honda Accord (Acura TSX) Most Reliable UK Car

Honda's 2009 Accord (Acura TSX) was named UK's most reliable car by Which?'s car survey achieving 99%, followed by the 2009 Honda Jazz (Honda Fit) at 98%. A total of 77,000 drivers across the UK took part in the Which? survey to assess customer satisfaction. The survey based its results on breakdowns, faults and general niggles over a 12 month period.

Honda cars hold four of the top ten places in the recent survey. The first generation Jazz scored 95.9% achieving sixth place in the survey. The Civic Hybrid achieved pole position in the hybrid vehicle sector with 95.7%, seventh place in the overall survey and edging ahead of its rival the Toyota Prius with 95%.

Honda have maintained their position at the top of the Which? overall reliability index. Matt Gibson, Head of Customer Services for Honda UK said, 'A reliable car is something every customer deserves; knowing that your car will simply get you from A to B without any problems makes a huge difference to a customer’s enjoyment of their car. We always strive to give our customers the best experience. It is fantastic news that four of the top seven cars featured in the survey are Hondas.'

News - Honda Increasing Production at Alabama

Honda is now increasing Odyssey and Pilot production at its assembly plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Honda announced that it will be adding overtime for the plant's 4000+ workers, and it will increase daily output from the current 900 vehicles/day to 1050 vehicles/day by the end of October. Honda recently added an extra 100 temporary workers to the plant. At capacity, the plant can make 1300 vehicles/day. The plant's daily output at capacity is 1,300 vehicles.

Incentive Time - Acura Canada & Honda Canada

Alberta Acura Offers -

Ontario Acura Offers -

Alberta Honda Offers -

2009 Honda Civic DX Sedan - Lease a DX Sedan with $0 Down - $240 a month.
2009 Honda Accord LX Sedan - Lease a LX Sedan - $298 a month.

2009 Honda CR-V LX - Lease a CR-V LX for $298 a month.

2009 Honda Element (Select models) - Pay cash and get cash incentives of up to $3000.

2009 Honda Odyssey DX - Buy/lease an Odyssey DX for $29990.

2009 Honda Pilot (Select models) - Pay cash and get incentives of up to $3000.

Ontario Honda Offers -

2009 Honda Civic (Virtually all models) - 0.9% purchase financing for 5 years.

2009 Honda Accord (Select models) - 0.9% purchase financing for 5 years, 4-cylinder models, get $500 July Bonus dollars, V6 models, get $1000 July Bonus dollars.

2009 Honda CR-V (All models) - 0.9% purchase financing or 5 years, get $1500 July Bonus dollars.

2009 Honda Element (Select models) - Get cash incentives of up to $3000.

2009 Honda Ridgeline (Select models) - Get cash incentives of up to $4500.

Missed your province? Drop me a line and I'll find out for you!

Back !

After a year and a half, I am pleased to say that this blog will be back and running. However expect less posts when the school year starts in September. Remember to keep it here for all the latest Acura and Honda news! Thanks.

New - 2010 Acura MDX Unveiled!

For 2010, the MDX features a fresh new exterior look, revised powertrain that includes a new 6-speed automatic, chassis refinements, more comfort, and improved technology along with the introduction of an all-new Advance Package— making the class leader even better.

"Already considered by many as the benchmark in its class, the new 2010 MDX significantly raises the bar yet again," said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. "Fresh looks, an all-new 6-speed transmission and lots of new customer relevant technology make the MDX an even smarter SUV choice than ever."

Visually, the 7-passenger 2010 MDX receives more aggressive styling in the form of new front and rear bodywork, a bold new front grille and numerous new trim enhancements. Under the hood, the MDX receives a more refined 3.7L V-6 engine that teams with an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission for better performance and improved fuel efficiency.

Inside, the MDX receives a host of new features and technologies that make it even more luxurious. Ride and handling have been enhanced as a result of a revised power steering system, stiffer rear trailing arm mounting, body rigidity improvements and reduced overall NVH.

To expand the dynamic capabilities for 2010 MDX, a new Advance package, with a revised Active Damper System and larger 19-inch wheels and tires, further enhances handling while retaining the comfortable, quiet and controlled ride quality expected of a luxury vehicle.

The 2010 MDX exterior gets a fresh new look as a result of Acura’s signature design front grille, a new front fascia, revised hood, new side sills, a new rear fascia matched with rolled edge polished stainless-steel exhaust finishers, revised taillights with brighter LED lights, many new trim pieces and available 19-inch diameter 7-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels.

Inside, the 2010 MDX benefits from the expanded use of Milano leather, a new thicker sport steering wheel with racing-inspired paddle shifters, new gauges, easier to understand button placement for center stack functions, available ventilated front seats and upgraded interior trim. In addition, a host of new technology is available including AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ and Traffic Rerouting™. Other available features include a new full VGA 8-inch navigation screen, a new rear view camera with three unique view choices, upgraded rear entertainment system, an updated audio system with a dedicated 15 GB hard disk drive (HDD) and USB port connectivity, even more LED lighting— and the list goes on. In keeping with Acura’s leadership in the application of advanced, customer-relevant features, the 2010 MDX is available with an array of technologies to improve convenience, including an all-new blind spot information system and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and enhance safety, with Acura’s unique Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™).

For 2010 the MDX receives a new 3.7-liter VTEC® V-6. The engine continues Acura’s longstanding mission to provide V-8 level horsepower and torque while retaining the size and fuel efficiency of a V-6. Based on the previous MDX’s powerplant, the newly refined 3.7L V-6 develops 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque to provide immediate throttle response, outstanding low- and mid-range torque and excellent high-rpm power. To widen the powerband while simultaneously improving fuel efficiency, the latest 3.7-liter engine has the patented Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC®) system applied to the intake valves, revised high-lift camshaft specs during VTEC® operation, a computer controlled dual-stage induction system and an electronic Drive-by-Wire™ throttle system. Internally, the new 3.7L V-6 makes use of special heavy-duty components including a more rigid cylinder block, high-strength crankshaft, heavy-duty connecting rods, high compression-ratio pistons, cylinder heads with improved cooling, new intake valve springs, a new EGR system, unique long-reach spark plugs, a larger throttle body and other features. EPA estimated city/highway fuel mileage of 16/21 mpg* (an improvement of 1 mpg city and 1 mpg highway over the 2009 model) and a large 21-gallon fuel capacity mean the MDX is perfect for long drives. Like all 2010 Acura vehicles, the MDX complies with the latest EPA TIER 2 – BIN 5 and CARB LEV II ULEV emissions standards.

The 3.7L V-6 is coupled with a brand-new Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic transmission along with a new multi-clutch torque converter. With comparatively “short” gearing in the first five forward gears, acceleration is enhanced— while fuel efficiency and quiet cruising are optimized with a relaxed Sixth gear ratio. The transmission offers two automatic shift modes, or can be operated manually via racing-inspired steering wheel paddle shifters. Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, Cornering G Shift Control and Hill Start Assist make the new 6-speed the most advanced automatic transmission ever offered by Acura.

As part of the available Advance Package, the Active Damper System gives the 2010 MDX an elevated level of handling precision designed to satisfy the most discriminating drivers— all while maintaining a smooth ride. The MDX’s Active Damper System features a new algorithm which provides two driver-selectable settings—Comfort and Sport—that tailor the suspension dampers for a more comfortable or more sporting ride. For 2010, the Active Dampers have been re-tuned for provide a more refined ride for Comfort mode and a more natural feeling Sport mode.

For 2010, new (lighter) 18-inch diameter 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels are standard with 19-inch diameter 7-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels available as part of the Advance Package.

For 2010, new attention to detail and added luxury further distinguish the MDX interior. Expanded use of Milano premium leather to the available Technology Package, improved look and feel of interior trim materials, relocated front seat headrests for improved comfort, more detailed leather stitching (such as the Lancia-style stitching on the steering wheel and shift knob), thicker steering wheel grip, increased use of LED interior lighting and revised cockpit controls make it clear that the MDX is focused on the driver— but not at the expense of passenger comfort.

For 2010, now standard are steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated rear view camera screen and backlit LED instrumentation. The Technology Package’s Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™ system uses a new 8-inch full VGA high-resolution color display positioned high up in the center of the instrument panel where it is close to the driver’s line of sight. A new rearview camera system offers three different rear view angles—normal rear view, wide angle rear view and a tow-friendly top view. With data now stored on a built-in 60 GB hard disk drive (HDD) media storage device, the navigation system now boots up and operates with impressive speed. The navigation system includes AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ with a new Traffic Rerouting™ feature that can display up-to-the-minute traffic information including freeway flow, incident, construction and weather related incidents in 77 major metropolitan areas.

New for 2010 is AcuraLink Real-Time Weather™ that includes weather radar image maps.

Rich with luxury, comfort, performance and technology upgrades for the 2010 MDX is a new Advance Package that replaces and goes beyond the previously available Sport Package. Building on the items in the Technology Package, the Advance Package adds ventilated front seats with specially contoured seat foam covered by perforated Milano premium leather, a sport steering wheel with unique design racing-inspired paddle shifters on the steering wheel and textured metallic interior accents. The Advance Package also includes the Collision Mitigating Braking System™ (CMBS™), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), blind spot information system (BSI) and the Active Damper System. In addition, the Advance Package delivers 19x8-inch 7-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels and auto-leveling HID front headlights.

Numerous standard "active safety" features that help the MDX driver reduce the risk of collision include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) along with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. An additional active safety feature included in the available Advance Package is the Collision Mitigating Braking System™ (CMBS™) which helps the driver reduce the likelihood of a collision by alerting the driver to potential collision situations and activating the brakes if the system determines a collision likely is unavoidable. VSA® has been retuned for 2010 to deliver a 10-percent improvement in performance during hard acceleration on slippery surfaces.