Honda Accelerates Sweeping Light Truck Makeover with New Ridgeline Pickup

  

Set for Global Debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show TORRANCE, Calif.

December 18, 2015 – Honda will challenge conventional thinking in the mid-size pickup segment with the return of the Honda Ridgeline truck, set to make its world debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 11 at 1:15 PM EST.

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the all-new Ridgeline is the fourth new or significantly refreshed light truck model introduced by Honda in the past 18 months and will hit roads nationwide in the first half of next year.

“We developed this new Honda Ridgeline to offer something new and fundamentally better suited to the way many buyers use their truck,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “Ridgeline will deliver everything you’d expect in a Honda from incredible packaging and fuel-efficiency to top safety technologies and innovative, segment-first features.  We’re honored to once again debut the Ridgeline in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show.”

Honda began the complete remake of its light-truck lineup in the fall of 2014 with the freshened 2015 Honda CR-V, America’s best selling SUV.  Earlier this year, Honda launched the all-new HR-V crossover, gateway to the Honda truck lineup, and the third generation of its popular Pilot three-row SUV. In 2016, Honda will continue the strengthening of its light-truck family of vehicles with the new Ridgeline and a fully redesigned Odyssey minivan.

Calendar year 2015 sales of Honda light trucks are up 11.8 percent to 599,507 vehicles through the end of November and are on track to set a new all-time sales record for the brand, beating the previous best of 602,123 units in 2006.

Like the first generation Ridgeline, which also debuted at NAIAS in 2005, the all-new Ridgeline was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in its Torrance, California design studios and Raymond, Ohio, new-vehicle development center. The Ridgeline and its engine will be produced by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Inc., in Lincoln, Alabama.

Watch the press conference live at Honda’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/Honda or media website, hondanews.com/channels/ridgeline.

All-New 2016 Honda Civic Wins “AutoGuide.com 2016 Car of the Year” Award

Civic honored for its sophisticated styling, advanced technology and sporty performance, all on top of class-leading reliability, versatility, fuel economy and safety ratings, and overall value

Torrance, Calif., December 15, 2016 – The all-new 2016 Honda Civic has been named the AutoGuide.com 2016 Car of the Year. On-sale since mid-November, the Civic sedan particularly impressed the publication with its upscale style and new available 1.5 liter turbo engine.

"Congratulations to the team at Honda," said AutoGuide Group Editorial Director Colum Wood. "The new Civic is easily the best all-around package I've driven, not just this year, but in a very long time. It's premium, yet sporty, and I just love that new turbocharged engine. A car that's this good, with Honda's reputation for quality, reliability and durability, just doesn't come along every day."

Truly all-new, the 2016 Civic features a new vehicle architecture; sporty and sophisticated new interior and exterior styling; a more spacious and high-quality cabin; two advanced new engines; and a host of new available premium features and technologies, including the first application of both Apple CarPlay®  and Android Auto™ in a compact car sold anywhere in the world. Further, with the addition of available Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies and the first application of Honda turbo engine technology to Civic, the 2016 Civic offers buyers a wider
range of options than ever before.

“The Civic has long been known as a smart choice for compact car buyers,” said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. “Now, with a healthy dose of style and sporty capability, it’s never been so much fun to choose wisely.”

The Steve's Coats for Kids coat drive begins today. Please drop off a new or gently used coat into one of our designated bins to help a child in need!  View the video below for details:

Hendrick Honda Supports Steve's Coats for Kids

American Honda has Eight Honda and Acura Vehicles Earning a 2016 TOP SAFETY
PICK+ Rating from the IIIHS

      Accord Sedan and Coupe, CR-V and Pilot earn top rating in latest

      testing, as do the ILX and RLX sedans and the MDX and RDX luxury SUVs

      Odyssey also named TOP SAFETY PICK

      A total of eight Honda and Acura models have received the highest

      possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the Insurance

      Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under its more challenging crash

      protection and technology requirements implemented for the 2016 model

      year.

For model year 2016, four Honda models have earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating: the Accord Sedan, Accord Coupe, the CR-V sport-utility vehicle and the recently redesigned Honda Pilot SUV. The Odyssey minivan was named a TOP SAFETY PICK. Additionally, four 2016 Acura models, the ILX and RLX sedans and the MDX and RDX luxury SUVs, each have earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating. Further, Honda anticipates that the just released 2016 Honda Civic Sedan will also receive a top rating from the IIHS.

HR-V Wins Green SUV of the Year Award

2016 Honda HR-V Named a Finalist for Green Car Journal’s
Green SUV of the Year® Award

2016 HR-V is class leader in fuel efficiency with a top EPA fuel economy rating of 35 mpg

highway1

HR-V crossover blends the functionality of an SUV with the sporty styling and personality of a

coupe

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 8, 2015 – The stylish and fuel efficient 2016 Honda HR-V crossover has been named a finalist for the 2015 Green SUV of the Year® by the Green Car Journal. The award recognizes the environmental performance of the all-new HR-V, which has a top fuel economy rating of 35 mpg highway1 (2WD CVT) and an additional designation as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV2 ULEV).

“With class-leading fuel economy ratings and interior space, the Honda HR-V compact crossover is a
great choice to replace larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. “The HR-V also fulfills the Honda brand's promise to deliver both fun-to-drive enjoyment with outstanding fuel efficiency."

The 2016 HR-V is available with an all-new continuously variable transmission (CVT) which targets
both fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive performance at a high level. When equipped with the available CVT, the HR-V has an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating1 of 28/35 miles per gallon when equipped with front-wheel drive, and 27/32 miles per gallon when equipped with Real Time AWD™. When equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, the HR-V has an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating1 of 25/34 miles per gallon.

"The Honda HR-V is sporty, right-sized, and fun to drive," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of GreenCar Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "Its approachable price means a great many drivers have access to a versatile crossover with a top fuel economy rating of 35 mpg."

The Green SUV of the Year™ winner will be honored along with winning vehicles for the magazine's 2016 Luxury Green Car of the Year™ and 2016 Connected Green Car of the Year™ awards at a press conference during the Washington Auto Show's Policy Days on January 21, 2016.

About Green Car of the Year®

The award-winning Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and
environment since its launch in 1992. As part of its mission, the magazine hosts events, produces
ride-and-drives of advanced and clean fuel vehicles, and conducts various outreach efforts to educate
consumers on better and more environmentally positive vehicle choices. The magazine's content is
featured online at www.CarsOfChange.com.

Honda Environmental Leadership

Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is taking a comprehensive approach to
reducing the environmental impact of its products, advancing fuel efficiency, low emissions and
fun-to-drive performance with new powertrain technologies, including more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions and advanced electromotive technologies. Honda will offer several next-generation, advanced powertrain vehicles, including the launch of the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell sedan in 2016, and an all-new Honda plug-in hybrid model by 2018. Honda will also expand the use of its advanced two and three-motor hybrid systems in the years to come. Together, these vehicles will offer significant sales volume, enabling Honda to bring ultra-low carbon transportation to consumers in the U.S.

1 Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

Honda Road Readers Program

New Honda Road Readers Program Designed to Encourage Children
to Use Their Imaginations During Drives

• Custom-Created App Gives Honda Owners Access to More Than 100 Free Audiobooks, Offers Parents Opportunities for Quality Family Time
• Honda Road Readers Program Seeks to Better Utilize the Roughly 208 Hours the Typical American Family Spends Driving Per Year

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2015 – The average family spends about four hours per week in the car. Honda wants families to put that time to good use. Today the brand is

launching Honda Road Readers, a new app (available on Apple® and Android™) providing Honda drivers free access to children’s audiobooks to expose children to great

literature and foster their imaginations. An introductory video to the program will be promoted on Honda’s social channels, using the hashtag #HondaRoadReaders.

“The goal for the Honda Road Readers program is to provide an educational and entertaining alternative to the usual car ride and inspire young listeners to vividly

imagine,” said Susie Rossick, Assistant Vice President, Honda/Acura Regional Media and Marketing at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “This effort is a powerful

demonstration of our commitment to the brand’s ‘Power of Dreams’ philosophy by encouraging our customers and their families to dream big together.”

To add to the experience, most books are supported with critical-thinking questions aimed at getting parents and children to dive deeper into each story. Honda has also

teamed up with the National Teacher of the Year Program run by the Council of Chief State School Officers to provide a curated selection of books that will be both

entertaining and intellectually stimulating.

“Students learn best when they have enthusiastic teachers, and parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Honda Road Readers will help families share the

infectious fun of reading together on journeys of the mind, the imagination and the heart,” says Rebecca Mieliwocki, the 2012 National Teacher of the Year and 7th-grade

English teacher in Burbank, Calif. “Reading not only boosts academic success but also awakens a person’s social and civic sense. They help us know and be mesmerized

by the world around us and give us a sense of how we fit in. Simply put, books change lives for the better.”

Honda recently commissioned a survey of more than 1,500 parents with one or more children ages 5 to 16 and learned that 77 percent of parents think listening to books or

stories read aloud is very important for children’s cognitive development and developing listening skills. The survey also revealed that parents (69 percent) are concerned

that their children are spending too much time in front of screens (cell phones, computers and TV). They are equally aware that their children are not reading books for fun

and have fewer opportunities to use their imagination these days.

A Honda Road Readers infographic summarizing the survey findings can be viewed on Honda’s Pinterest and Tumblr pages.

Any Honda owner can easily access the Honda Road Readers program. First, owners go to www.hondaroadreaders.com to register. Owners will then be directed to

download the Honda Road Readers app in the Apple or Android store. Next, owners will either scan or key in their 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN). Honda

owners will have access to five free audiobooks per Honda VIN aimed at children 5 to 16 years old for one year, the first being J. M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan and followed

by four other titles of their choice.

The app experience features 10 rotating National Teacher of the Year featured books and several audiobook categories including fantasy/adventure, mystery, science fiction

and teens.

To further support Honda Road Readers in December, the brand will debut a social video, titled “Imagination Inspiration,” featuring Jeff Kinney, the bestselling author of

the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Honda spoke with the author, just before he departed on a global tour for book 10, about his new bookstore, imagination and the Honda

Road Readers program.

Toys for Tots - Last Week

Last week for Toys for Tots! Don't forget to bring in your new, unwrapped toys for a child in need!

Honda Accord Wins 10Best Cars Award

Honda Accord Wins a Record 30th 10Best Cars Award from Car and Driver

                                 Magazine

Accord recognized more than any other model in the magazine's history

For a record 30th time in the 32-year history of the award, Car and Driver magazine has named the Honda Accord to its prestigious annual list of the 10Best Cars in America.

"Do something special once, you might be called lucky. Do something special twice, you start to build some credibility. Do something special 30 times, like the 10Best Honda Accord, and you've accomplished something truly extraordinary," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Earning a record thirty 10Best awards from Car and Driver demonstrates Accord's enduring values of advanced fuel efficiency, safety and fun-to- drive performance all built on a foundation of incredible quality and reliability."

Now in its ninth generation, the Accord went on sale in the U.S. in 1976 and has been produced in America at Honda's Marysville, Ohio auto plant since 19821. Total U.S. sales of Accord now top 12.5 million units, with more than 10.5 million Accords made in America, including models built for export.

"The Accord is the sole- high-volume product to earn this award year after year," noted Car and Driver magazine.

Accord was the most popular car in America in 2013, 2014 and again thus far in 2015, based on IHS Automotive new retail vehicle registration data2.

2016 Honda Accord

The 2016 Accord marks a further advancement of the 9th-generation Accord, building on the foundation established by the 2013 model with more sophisticated, sportier, and even more highly fuel efficient performance.

The 2016 Accord features a further refined design, a more rigid body and upgraded chassis, and upsized wheels and tires on select models.

Further, the Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver assistive features is available as a standalone option on all trims of the 2016 Accord, with the Touring grade featuring Honda Sensing™ as standard equipment.

Additional new available features include the first combined application of Apple CarPlay®3 and Android Auto3 to a Honda model and among the first high-volume cars to apply the two systems in the marketplace.

New premium features and technologies available on the Accord include the expanded use of LED exterior lighting, remote engine start, front and rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, rear seat heaters, and a 60/40 split and folding rear seat. The Accord Sedan and Coupe, depending on trim, also feature new exterior color and interior fabrics and decor; and the Accord Coupe adds a new line-topping Touring model to match its Sedan counterpart.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit  www.hondanews.com.Consumer information is available at www.automobiles.honda.com.

Honda Named “2016 Best SUV Brand” by U.S. News & World Report for CR-V, All-New HR-V and Pilot

On November 11, 2015, Honda was named “2016 Best SUV Brand” by U.S. News & World Report, tied to the excellent scores earned by the Honda HR-V crossover and CR-V and Pilot SUVs in the U.S. News & World Report Best Cars Rankings.

“Honda wins the Best SUV Brand award on the strength of its entire SUV lineup,” said Jamie Page Deaton, Managing Editor, U.S. News Best Cars. “The HR-V, CR-V and Pilot are all consistently ranked at the top of their respective classes, as automotive journalists are impressed with the utility, comfort and family-friendly features that all three offer. No matter what class SUV shoppers are searching in, Honda has a model worth considering.”

This accolade comes as Honda continues to strengthen and expand its light-truck lineup, which began with the launch of the refreshed 2015 CR-V in the fall of 2014, followed by the spring arrival of the all-new HR-V crossover and summer introduction of a redesigned, third-generation Pilot. On the strength of these products, Honda is on track for record results in 2016, with light truck sales reaching a new high of 550,210 units through October, a 13.6 percent gain over year-ago results; with CR-V on track to earn the title of America’s best-selling SUV for the 4th consecutive year.

“This recognition of Honda as the Best SUV Brand validates our effort to produce world-class SUVs to meet the needs and desires of families of any size,” said Jeff Conrad, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Honda Division. “Honda is committed to providing fuel efficient, safe and fun products with the quality and reliability to meet the needs of our discerning customers.”

The awards recognize the brands whose vehicles perform the best on an overall basis within four major categories of the U.S. News vehicle rankings: Cars, SUVs, Trucks and Luxury. The Best Vehicle Brands methodology uses the combined overall scores from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings across all models in each of the award classes. The overall rankings score is based on an analysis of published, credible reviews of a given model from the automotive press, as well as safety and reliability data.

The 2015 Honda CR-V, with its new direct-injected engine, more refined interior and first application of Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies, was named as 2015 Motor Trend Sport Utility of the Year. The Honda HR-V brought Honda’s packaging magic to a new and growing market segment, and quickly became the subcompact SUV segment’s hottest selling model. On the heels of HR-V came thee redesigned 2016 Pilot, Honda’s flagship SUV, offering more top-in-class efficiency and safety ratings performance in a sleek new design.

The CR-V, HR-V and Pilot are all produced exclusively in North America at Honda’s plants in Lincoln, Alabama (Pilot), East Liberty, Ohio (CR-V) and Celaya, Mexico

(HR-V). Honda R&D Americas, Inc. is also responsible for development of the Pilot, Ridgeline and Odyssey models and led development of the all-new 2016 Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe.

About U.S. News Best Cars

Since 2007, Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. U.S. News annually publishes the Best Cars awards, including Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families. Best Cars had over 45 million unique visitors over the past year, with over 65 percent of visitors actively shopping for a car. Close to 80 percent of active shoppers reported that the U.S. News Best Cars site influenced their car purchasing decision.

U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive automobiles for American car buyers through approximately 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Accord, Civic, Fit and CR-Z, along with the HR-V crossover and Pilot and CR-V sport/utility vehicles, as well as the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has the longest-lasting cars¹ of any mainstream automotive brand in America, and more models achieving an IIHSTOP SAFETY PICK+ rating than any other automotive nameplate.
Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 30 years and currently operates 17 major manufacturing facilities in North America. More than 90 percent of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. are made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

¹Longevity based on IHS Automotive, Polk U.S. vehicles in operation registration statistics 1988–2012 for Honda and non-luxury competing brands.

2016 Honda Civic Named ‘Overall Best Buy of the Year’ by Experts at Kelley Blue Book

         All-new, redesigned sporty and fun-to-drive 2016 Civic Wins Top

         Award

         Honda takes home bevy of ‘Best Buy’ honors for 2016 including

         CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey, showcasing strength in light-truck

         offerings

         Honda takes five of 11 non-luxury awards from Kelley Blue Book

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015 – Honda vehicles took home top accolades in multiple categories at the 2016 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards, with the all-new, sporty and aggressively styled 2016 Civic taking home the ‘Overall Best Buy Award.’ According to the expert team of editors and evaluators at KBB.com, ‘the 2016 Honda Civic is the Overall Winner in our Best Buy Awards because it sets a new standard in a segment already known for delivering great value, providing an up-level experience to drivers and passengers in every facet of the driving and ownership experience.’

            2016 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award Winners: Honda

         Overall Winner: 2016 Honda Civic

         Small Car: 2016 Honda Civic

         Small SUV/Crossover: 2016 Honda CR-V

         Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: 2016 Honda Pilot

         Minivan: 2016 Honda Odyssey

In addition to the Overall Best Buy of the Year Award for Civic, Honda secured accolades from The Trusted Resource® for three vehicles in its light truck lineup including CR-V, Pilot and Odyssey in their respective categories.

The Honda CR-V is the best-selling SUV over the past two decades and continues to offer incredible value to customers. The sleek and sophisticated 2016 Pilot is all-new and fully redesigned from the ground up with more trim levels, features and options than ever before. The 2016 Odyssey continues to be the only minivan to offer an in-vehicle vacuum and class-leading fuel economy.

"We are incredibly confident in the value, quality and design of the all-new 2016 Civic,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “This prestigious award from KBB.com helps current and future buyers with their purchase decisions and further solidifies the notion that for customers who purchase a Honda, be it a car or a light truck, they are making an ‘overall’ smart choice.”

“We believe the all-new Honda Civic is a game-changer in the compact vehicle class” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.  “While the previous-edition Civic was a market leader in a very important segment, the newest version ups the ante in every category – interior and exterior style, safety, feature set – the new Civic takes them all to a new level.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO JASON AND STEPHANIE HURLEY - WINNERS OF THE HONDA ODYSSEY RAFFLE!

Click here for more details on the Hurley's experience!

For more information on the raffle and how to get your organization involved, please contact Anne Wilkinson at anne.wilkinson@hendrickauto.com or at 704.552.2090 x3318.

School Tools

Join us in donating school supplies for kids in the greater Charlotte area!  

Not only are we an official drop-off location, but when you bring a backpack with school supplies, you will receive a $19.95 Oil Change*!  

Together we can make a difference and ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed.

*See our Service Department for more info or visit our coupon page HERE. 

Summer Food Drive

Don't forget to stop by and bring non perishable food items for our Summer Food Drive!  When you bring in a jar of peanut butter, you can get great savings with our Service and Parts department!

Where does your Raffle ticket money go?

When you purchase a ticket, not only are you entering for a chance to win a brand new Honda Odyssey, you're contributing to the dreams of local youth athletics and organizations.   

The Myers Park Wrestling team had the opportunity to take over a new room, so with the funds raised they were able to turn the dream of a bigger and better wrestling training room into a reality.

Accomplishments -

•   MPHS Administration & Mustang Club approves repurposing old weight room to new wrestling room
•  Wrestling team raises funds via Hendrick Honda Raffle
• Private donors contribute to the effort
• Administration approves naming the new room the Rick Stack Wrestling Room
• Principal Bosco announces official naming of the Rick Stack Wrestling Room at the post season wrestling banquet
• Coach Stack to be inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
• Deep cleaned and painted the new room
• Installed wall to wall padding
• Move and fit mats including brand new mats that were purchased years ago and were in storage
• Installed pull-up stations, wall mounted wrestling timer, and storage cabinet
• Delivered project under budget

The Rick Stack Wrestling Room is now in use and has the following features 

• 8 practice circles – new mats
• Wall mounted timer with remote
• 7 pull-up stations
• Wall to wall padding including doors
•  White board and cork board w/detachable padding
• Storage cabinet
•  Still to come – 6 ceiling mounted climbing ropes

   What are you waiting for?  Purchase your raffle ticket HERE for your chance to win a Honda Odyssey, and help out great organizations like the Myers Park Wrestling Team!

   Way to go Myers Park Wrestling!  We're proud of you!

Annual Raffle

What's better than a Honda Odyssey?  A FREE Honda Odyssey!  That's right, all you have to do is buy one raffle ticket for your chance to win a new Honda Odyssey. They're only $10, so you can get as many as you want to increase your chances to win!  And the best part?  Proceeds go to our local youth athletics!  So, what are you waiting for?  Buy your tickets now!

Go HERE! 

Pop Warner Odyssey Raffle 2014

We're ecstatic to announce that we raised $60,040 for athletic and youth associations across Charlotte Mecklenburg in 2014!  

Hendrick Honda has partnered with Pop Warner and Mecklenburg Optimists since 2011 to create a dynamic environment in which sports leagues are given tools to increase opportunities and resources for the athletes they serve and enhance the lives of the local families.  

The following associations proudly sold over 100 tickets!

WCWAA	1138
Charlotte Symphony Guild	994
South Charlotte	920
LKN/Davidson	872
Mallard Creek	607
South Park Lacrosse	418
South Park/MP Wrestling	170
South Charlotte Baseball	133
South Park	128
Stanley	119
Steele Creek	106

Way to go guys!  Here's to an even bigger 2015!

Steve's Coats for Kids was a big SUCCESS!

Did we mention?  Thanks to you, and our great community, the annual Steve's Coats for Kids broke a record of 19,950 coats collected!  That's awesome Charlotte!

Steve's Coats for Kids

With the weather dropping into the teens, now is the time to donate coats for local children in need.  We're partnering with Steve's Coats for Kids again this year in efforts to keep everyone warm this winter.  From now until January 21st we'll be collecting, and offering a discounted oil change for those who bring in a coat!