Posted on 01/08/2006 12:31:29 PM PST by paulat
Honda sweeps honors at Detroit auto show
Sun Jan 8, 12:26 PM ET
DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Corp. (7267.T) swept the top honors at the Detroit auto show on Sunday as its all-new Civic and first-ever pickup, the Ridgeline, were voted car and truck of the year by a panel of automotive writers.
The result marked another setback for Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - news) and General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news), which have been losing market share to Japanese competitors in their home market and have pledged to mount a comeback in the passenger car market.
The Ford Fusion and the Pontiac Solstice had been the other finalists for the North American Car of the Year award, given by a panel of 49 car writers from the United States and Canada.
The revamped 2006 Civic and the Ridgeline, Honda's first truck offering, had also won vehicle of the year honors from trade magazine Motor Trend, giving Honda a first-of-its-kind sweep in all four major awards and an important marketing tool to attract new buyers.
"I don't know how you can top this. We certainly hoped for one, didn't expect two (awards)," said John Mandel, senior vice president at American Honda. "Words can't express the excitement. It's the first time it's ever been done, I believe."
The Ridgeline, which Honda introduced in April, is on track to meet the company's target for 50,000 unit sales in North America in the first full year, Mandel said.
Honda has promoted its first entry into the truck market, which features a relatively short bed and roomier passenger cabin, in part on the basis of its responsive handling and safety features.
Honda expects to sell more than 300,000 Civics in 2006, Mandel said, adding that sales since the revamped model's launch had benefited from renewed consumer attention to fuel economy.
The Civic also comes in a hybrid version, offering 49 miles per gallon for city driving and 51 miles per gallon on the highway.
"Sales have been phenomenal. It's really hit the ground running," Mandel said of the Civic.
The full-time auto writers who voted on the vehicle-of-the- year awards assigned points to each entrant on the basis of ride, performance, safety and value considerations.
The Civic Coupe price starts at $14,360, while the Ridgeline starts at $27,700 before optional features.
Oh, golly...I DO lust after a CRV....
We got an '06 CR-V about 3 weeks ago. I like it a lot more than I thought I would. Unfortunately my wife drove it for the first time today and I may never see the inside of it again.
I drove a Toyota until I found out they were paying off Jesse Jackson. I then switched to Honda - good decision.
I like the Solstice a lot, and it's great to see a Detroit car that can hold its own against the MX-5 and doesn't need incentives to sell. But a 2-seat roadster is such a niche vehicle that awards like this usually won't go to it.
I've owned 7 Hondas and they were all dependable.
I may have to trade in my S2000 on the 260hp version of the Solstice. Very, very nice!
My Pilot was made in Canada. I should probably check under the hood for anti-Bush propaganda.
I really love Hondas but I think the Ridgeline is hideous-looking
Yup, the Ridgeline is ugly. Looks a little like the Chevy Avalanche, which I also thought was ugly.
That's odd. We compared the RAV4 and the CRV a year ago and found the CRV the roomier of the two. We didn't buy either, as we have a 1999 Camry that we cannot find any excuse to replace. She's a keeper!
1987 Accord with 189,00 miles runs like a champ!
Very ugly.
Our "old" union hall (we've since moved production to Mexico, Korea and China) used to be full of brand-new Avalanche's.
Now, the lot is empty.
That's odd. We compared the RAV4 and the CRV a year ago and found the CRV the roomier of the two. We didn't buy either, as we have a 1999 Camry that we cannot find any excuse to replace. She's a keeper!
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I'm enjoying the 2006 CRV but I now understand that the 2006 RAV4 has a V6 (269 HP), third row, longer wheel base, and is wider. I also understand that the 2007 CRV will also have a third row, V6, longer wheel base and wider stance. It seems that Honda is a year behind Toyota in this competition.
In retrospect, I should've pulled the trigger on the 2006 RAV4 or waited for the 2007 CRV instead of purchasing the 2006 CRV--which is not a bad car at all. Oh well, that's the way it goes. I'll just have to be content with my CRV for the next 10 years (12-15 yrs is the minimum useful life for a Honda when maintained...perhaps longer) when the CRV becomes my daughter's college car.
I'm frugal with my money, so buying a V6 for the kind of driving I do is not necessary. The 4-cylinder is less expensive to start with and less expensive to run.
I also think the seats in the Hondas are not as comfortable, but then I drive a Camry and that's what I'm used to.
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The best SUV that I ever had was the Highlander (Camry platform). I traded it in in 2004 for a Sequoia to capitalize on the SUV/Light truck tax loophole. Unfortunately, the Highlander wasn't heavy enough to qualify for a light truck. The Highlander was smooth as silk and you would never know that you were driving a midsize SUV. It was the best and probably still the best midsize non-luxury line SUV.
And mine is paid-for-in-full since 1989!!!
Fast....relative to what? Would that be walking?
...from components made in Japan which is where all the profits go.
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