‘Inside the Indy Challenge’ Offers Behind the Scenes Look at Honda Racing

With Honda’s ‘Inside the Indy Challenge’ social media initiative, you can get an insider look at what it takes to keep the Honda Racing team focused on their path to an Indianapolis 500 victory.

Follow drivers Simon Pagenaud and Tristan Vautier, along with their teams, in a series of behind the scenes videos that will showcase what it takes to succeed in the fast-paced world of IndyCar racing. These videos will be available for viewing on Honda, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and Honda Performance Development websites and social media pages.

Three major races will be documented for this campaign, including the Long Beach Grand Prix, the Sao Paulo Indy 300, and the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indianapolis 500.

Twitter users should look for updates including #HondaRacing, and can follow @Honda, @SimonPagenaud, @TristanVautier, @SPMIndyCar, and @HondaRacing_HPD for the most up to date information and links to the most recent videos.

Updates and videos will also be available on Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, and other popular social media sites, so race fans will have no shortage of options for staying current on the Honda IndyCar team’s status.

The team at Garcia Honda will be cheering for the Honda Racing IndyCar team as we follow their journey to victory at the Indianapolis 500.

Honda Enters Diesel Market in India with the Honda Amaze Diesel Sedan

April 11, 2013, Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) announced their entrance into the diesel market with the Amaze Diesel sedan; a design developed in Bangkok, Thailand at Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.

The Amaze’s 1.5L i-DTEC compact diesel engine helps the model to earn the title of the most fuel efficient car in the country, with a certified mileage of 25.8km/l. Honda is also continuing to maximize the available passenger space, while minimizing the space needed for mechanical components, with their “man maximum machine minimum” concept.

With all of this taken into consideration, along with a long list of safety features including Dual SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), it’s easy to see why Honda representatives have said “we are very confident that we will exceed customer’s expectations and would set new benchmarks in the industry in terms of design, packaging, cabin comfort, and fuel-efficiency.”

As stated by Hironori Kanayama, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd., “Amaze will be a game changer for us and over the next few years we will look to increase our operating universe in India to around 50%.”

Keep looking out for all the ways Honda is changing the game. For more information on Honda vehicles stop into Garcia Honda in Albuquerque, New Mexico, or visit us online at www.garciahonda.com.

Honda Helps to Sponsor 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

The 91^st running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is scheduled for June 30, 2013, and Honda is working hard to make sure this day is exciting and successful in many ways. Not only will Honda host a record setting 10 products in 9 different racing classes, but American Honda Motor Co, Inc. will be a Partnering Sponsor for the event.

Honda has participated in this event several times, but never as a sponsor, nor at this level of involvement in the race. With several vehicles from both Honda and Acura, including the CR-Z Hybrid, Fit EV, and motorcycles and ATVs as well, this should certainly be an exciting day for Honda and race fans.

As Honda gears up for this ground breaking day of racing in Colorado Springs, CO next month, Garcia Honda in Albuquerque, NM is cheering them on and excited to be a part of the Honda family.

Honda Debuts Concept M in Shanghai

At the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, Honda unveiled a new concept car that will launch production in 2014 in China. Labeled the Concept M, this minivan is specifically aimed at the Chinese market, and has an aggressive new look.

Honda plans to introduce more mid-sized and large vehicles to the Chinese market, as these have had greater success and interest recently than the more compact hybrid models. The Concept M is one of four new concept models introduced in Shanghai this year.

Though Honda has not been too forthcoming with specific information on this new minivan, they do state it “offers the attributes of a passenger car while adding new value through the realization of a comfortable and spacious cabin space made possible by Honda’s packaging technologies, and the fun of driving.”

Be sure to watch the video below to get a good first look at the new Honda Concept M.

Honda Civic Tour 2013, Featuring Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson

Looking for a great rock show and a chance to win some incredible prizes? Check out the 2013 Honda Civic Tour, with headlining artist Maroon 5. This year’s tour has stops all over the United States starting August 1^st in St Louis, MO.

Maroon 5 will be receiving some great support from other artists on this tour, including Kelly Clarkson, Rozzi Crane, PJ Morton, and Tony Lucca. This lineup is sure to deliver a great show, as well as an eclectic mix of genres.

Don’t forget about the chance to win a fabulous prize that includes:

Round-trip airfare
Hotel accommodations
Ground transportation
2 front row tickets to opening night of the tour
Meet and greet with Maroon 5
Passes to rehearsal
Tour merch

For more information on the tour, how to win this amazing prize package, and official rules for the sweepstakes, check out the Honda Civic Tour website at civictour.honda.com/hondacivictour. We hope to see you at the show!

Honda Dominates Brand Image Awards

Last month, Kelley Blue Book released the results of its 2013 Brand Image Awards. We at Garcia Honda are happy to announce that Honda received the Best Overall Brand; the biggest and best award of all. We’re hardly surprised, seeing as the Japanese automaker also took home Best Value Brand and Most Trusted Brand this year as well.

Value and trust are key components to the Honda guarantee, and Garcia Honda strives to prove that every day with our superior customer service, trained technicians, and knowledgeable sales staff. Not to mention our wide selection of Honda vehicles that won us the Brand Image awards in the first place. Vehicles like the Civic, Accord, Fit, Odyssey, and CR-V continue to prove just why Honda is so dependable and valuable.

Honda value and reliability are growing increasingly apparent. In fact, just last year, our sales climbed 24%, and just in the first quarter of this year, they’ve shot up by another 4.4%. We hope to see those numbers continue to grow at Garcia Honda so we can keep on delivering new and innovative vehicles to take you wherever you need to go!

Win Big or Small Sweepstakes

Garcia Honda is pleased to announce the 2013 Honda Win Big or Small Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes, in which one lucky person may even end up behind the wheel of an all-new 2013 Odyssey Touring! Here’s how it works:

Check out the official rules before playing.
Log on to play the Instant Win game (which started on April 1 and lasts through June 30, 2012). You can play once every day to win small (and instant) prizes.
For each Instant Win Game you play, you’ll get one sweepstakes entry.
Four sweepstakes finalists will get the chance to win the brand spankin’ new 2013 Odyssey Touring.

The four finalists will win an all-expense-paid four-day, three-night trip to the Little League World Series on August 22, 2013, to August 25, 2013, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; each finalist can bring along three friends for the trip. Finalists will attend one of the series games on Saturday, August 24, 2013, and will be given a key that just may start the Odyssey. There will be five keys in total, so chances are good that one of the four finalists will be walking away—no, driving away—with the 2013 Odyssey!

Those who aren’t selected as finalists need not be discouraged; there are plenty of other great prizes as well, including radio controlled cars, autographed baseballs, apple pie deliveries, gift cards, and more!

All of us at Garcia Honda encourage everyone to enter! Good luck!

Honda Remains Top Brand

Once again, Honda has been recognized by new car shoppers and Kelley Blue Book as the Most Trusted Brand and Best Value Brand. Kelley Blue Book’s 2013 Brand Image Awards recognized Honda as the Most Trusted Brand for the second year in a row, the Best Value Brand for the third consecutive year, and the Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand for the first time. Honda received more awards than any other brand this year.

Kelley Blue Book uses insights from its Brand Watch study to determine what brands should receive awards. The Brand Watch study collects data from more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers on KBB.com, including factors that affect purchase decisions during the shopping process.

Honda secured the Best Overall Non-Luxury Brand award by receiving the highest average scores across ratings of all non-luxury models. Honda also scored at or near the top of the field in affordability, reliability, and good resale value, earning it Best Value Brand. KBB.com visitors named Honda their Most Trust Brand.

“These awards demonstrate how customers recognize the tremendous quality and value of our products, reflecting the incredible competitive strength of the Honda brand,” said Mike Accavitti, vice president of national marketing operations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

2014 Honda Odyssey Has Built-In Vacuum

Honda continues to keep families in mind with the new 2014 Honda Odyssey. The acclaimed minivan now features a built-in vacuum that can clean the entire car.

Known as the HondaVac, this feature is the first of its kind. It is essentially a miniature shop vacuum with a 10-foot hose. The hose, motor, and dust canister are concealed behind a panel in the rear of the Odyssey. When the van needs to be cleaned, the hose can reach every corner. The vacuum can be run with or without a filter bag, but users should note that it is not a wet-dry vac.

The HondaVac runs on its own motor, meaning it can be used when the van is off. It will be available on the Touring Elite trim of the 2014 Odyssey.

Watch the reveal of the new Honda Odyssey below:

2013 Honda Ridgeline Can Go the Distance

In 1930, the average life expectancy of a new car was 6.75 years. Today, a new car’s average life expectancy is a record-breaking 10.8 years, according to research company R.L. Polk. Whether it be by necessity or choice, people are driving their cars longer and are more likely to hold on to models that don’t breakdown often or are costly to repair.

“Today’s cars are built to last as long as 250,000 miles or more with simple routine care,” says ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician and Chicago Tribune auto-service columnist Bob Weber.

Forbes compiled a list of 2013 models that can be expected to be driven up to 250,000 miles or longer. These models were selected based on J.D. Power & Associates’ initial quality and mechanical reliability scores, a popular consumer publications’ long-term dependability ratings, and Intellichoice.com’s maintenance and repair-cost predictions. The Honda Ridgeline is one of only two pickup trucks that made the cut.

The 2013 Honda Ridgeline is a unique car-based pickup truck that is ideal for anyone looking to do some light hauling. Its strong build and ability to haul substantial, but not overly heavy loads, allows the Ridgeline to last longer and drive farther.

Visit Garcia Honda in Albuquerque, NM to test drive the 2013 Honda Ridgeline and see why you’ll want to keep it for miles and miles.

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