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Car and Driver
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
1981 Honda Accord SE Pushes Honda into $10K Territory
From the March 1981 issue of Car and Driver. The rep for the American Honda Motor Company, Inc., when he handed over the keys to the fresh-off-the-boat 1981 Accord SE, lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone and said, "This is just a little testing of the waters—to see if Honda can sell in the BMW price range." "SE," in case you haven't heard, stands for "Special Edition," and those words will appear in delicate chrome script on the Glacier Grey Metallic flanks of a mere 3000 Accord four-doors this year. These specially anointed sedans will carry every option in the Honda book, including power windows, power steering, power brakes, Michelin radials, four-speaker AM/FM/cassette stereo, and air conditioning. Beyond that extends a long list of fitments that are not in the Honda book—at least they weren't until now—including power antenna, folding rear-seat armrest, alloy wheels, special gray deep-pile carpeting, and genuine Connolly leather on the seats. This, you might conclude, is intended to be one plush little unit. View Photos Patrick Bedard | Car and Driver Hearing all of this, and knowing how crazy car prices have become in recent months, we ventured a tentative "How much?" "Only $9950," was the answer. Aargh! A $10,000 Honda! "That's the five-speed. The automatic is 10,200," he said. How can a Honda cost $10,000? You guys keep it simple, right? You're the company that removed the stigma from small-car ownership. It was okay to have a Honda. Rich people bought them. But this Special Edition is a cop-out. Any company can be in the stigma-free-small-car business if it charges a lot of money. "Yeah, but the SE has all the stuff. You take your base Accord at $7435, add $600 for air, $500 for the digital cassette radio. Already it's $8500. This is a great deal." View Photos Patrick Bedard | Car and Driver Well, folks, maybe it is. But looking at the parts list, we come away with the idea that a few bits of trim add 1500 bucks to the price. Of a Honda. It wasn't so long ago that you could get a whole Honda for that money. For the full several hundred miles of our evaluation drive, this five-digit price kept nagging at the old editorial sense of value. This is a $10,000 Honda? And if it is, then what must rutabagas be going for down at the Hy-Vee? Certainly the Special Edition gives every indication of being a Honda. It has all those little idiosyncrasies we've grown accustomed to: the soft chattering when you engage the clutch and the gentle bucking of the engine when you ask it to accelerate from low revs. View Photos Patrick Bedard | Car and Driver But the old Honda charm is there, too. The engine climbs happily to the redline. The body doesn't creak and groan. The interior is perfectly assembled—nary a loose thread or smear of adhesive to catch the critical eye. And the luxury touches are so tastefully and confidently done. The trunk is thickly carpeted and fitted with small bins on the sides to hold minor objects that you don't want to roll around. The interior is a light dove gray, very popular at Ford a few years back but still fashionable enough. And the seats really are leather, exuding just a trace of the aroma that Connolly also imparts to every Rolls-Royce and Jaguar. Moreover, the Special Edition seems to work better than any Accord we've ever driven. The usually flaccid shock absorbers seem a bit tauter. The shape of the seat is correct, its depression for your butt back where it belongs now, rather than halfway forward in typical Japanese fashion. The power steering isn't as numb as it used to be. The directional stability is better. The car more graceful. Its mood more, well, BMW-like. Of course, we car critics can still find faults. The power-window controls are big and bulky, looking very much like the tack-ons they are. The stereo sounds as though it has K-mart speakers. And the radio itself has so many tiny buttons, with such small descriptions of what they do, that you practically have to pull over to the side of the road just to change from AM to FM. But it'll sure do some tricks, this radio, and the car around it is such a jewel that maybe $10,000 really is fair. Certainly there's nothing else on the market with similar quality, luxury, and efficiency for ten grand. View Photos Patrick Bedard | Car and Driver Just when we had convinced ourselves that there is value in a $10,000 Honda, we saw a dealer ad in the classified section of the New York Times brazenly offering an SE five-speed for $13,950. Apparently while the American Honda Motor Company is merely testing the BMW waters, dealers are jumping right in. They may be avaricious and unconscionable opportunists, the car dealers of this country, but one thing you have to give them: they do know what cars are worth. Specifications Specifications 1981 Honda Accord Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 4-door sedan PRICE Base/As-Tested: $9950/$9950 ENGINE SOHC inline-4, iron block and aluminum head Displacement: 107 in3, 1750 cm3 Power: 75 hp @ 4500 rpm TRANSMISSION 5-speed manual DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 93.7 in Length: 171.9 in Curb Weight (C/D est): 2250 lb EPA FUEL ECONOMY City: 27 mpg
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM, Honda lead February EV gain with fresh U.S. models as Tesla, Rivian slip
General Motors and American Honda led the industry's 14 percent gain in new U.S. electric vehicle registrations in February compared with a year earlier as Tesla and Rivian stumbled, according to S&P Global Mobility. Registrations of fresh models, including the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Honda Prologue, grew as incentives pushed down EV prices for a more level playing field against gasoline counterparts. 'What we're seeing now is a result of GM's decisions years ago to go full bore on EVs,' said Tom Libby, an analyst at S&P Global Mobility. For Honda and Acura, 'you have loyalists who've been waiting for an EV. Now it comes, and boom.' Total February registrations of new battery-electric models rose to 89,728 vehicles from 78,367 in the same month last year, S&P Global Mobility said. EV share of the U.S. light-vehicle market grew to 7.2 percent from 6.1 percent a year earlier. The data does not include hybrid models. General Motors' and American Honda's fresh electric vehicle models helped fuel a 14% rise in EV registrations in February. Tesla 35,159 Ford 7,815 Chevrolet 5,973 BMW 4,366 Hyundai 3,739 Kia 3,202 Honda 3,145 Volkswagen 2,691 Cadillac 2,663 Rivian 2,501 Mercedes-Benz 2,246 Nissan 2,079 Audi 1,960 Toyota 1,724 Acura 1,616 GMC 1,557 Jeep 1,205 Porsche 1,089 Subaru 990 Volvo 857 Lucid 604 Dodge 516 Lexus 485 Genesis 476 Polestar 307 VinFast 215 Mini 184 Fiat 111 BrightDrop 102 Fisker 86 Rolls-Royce 31 Jaguar 26 Maserati 4 Ram 4 Source: S&P Global Mobility light-vehicle data 'The EV growth has slowed down, but there's still growth,' Libby said. He noted that electric vehicle share of the light-vehicle market was 8.1 percent in calendar year 2024 and 7.6 percent in 2023. Sign up for the weekly Automotive News Mobility Report newsletter for the latest developments at the intersection of transportation and technology. Registration data serves as a proxy because Tesla doesn't break out U.S. sales and some automakers don't detail all of their EV deliveries. Registration figures lag official sales data. Among top-10 EV brands by volume, Chevrolet grew the fastest. Chevy's February registrations rose 139 percent to 5,973 vehicles. Industrywide, the Equinox EV was the No. 4 electric model by volume, with 3,323 registrations. Chevy's Blazer EV and Silverado EV also posted sharp gains. Honda, which was not selling EVs a year ago, logged 3,145 registrations for the Prologue, which was the No. 5 EV by volume in February, S&P Global Mobility said. Acura posted 1,616 registrations for its ZDX crossover, which wasn't on sale in February last year. General Motors and American Honda brands together added about 10,000 registrations in February from a year earlier, boosting an otherwise lackluster EV market, Libby said. Honda builds the Prologue and ZDX on GM platforms alongside the Equinox EV and Cadillac Lyriq. Cadillac's EV registrations grew 35 percent in February, bolstered by the new Optiq crossover and Escalade IQ. Automaker incentives helped boost EV sales, Libby said. 'They have to keep the incentives on. Any brand that doesn't is going to fall behind,' he said. The federal government also offers EV tax credits of up to $7,500 for qualified vehicles. The Honda Prologue's average incentive reached $11,836, and the Acura ZDX's average incentive was even higher at $17,544, according to a Motor Intelligence estimate. The data provider didn't break out the Equinox EV's incentives from the gasoline model. Jeep, another EV newcomer, posted 1,205 February registrations for its Wagoneer S crossover, S&P Global Mobility said. Dodge, also a Stellantis brand, had 516 registrations for its new electric Charger sedan. Tesla remained the EV leader by volume, but February registrations fell 4.2 percent to 35,159 vehicles. Tesla's EV share dropped to 39.2 percent, a decline of 7.6 percentage points from February last year, the data showed. Tesla also suffered a significant decline in its brand loyalty compared with a year ago, Libby said, without providing numbers. Tesla had previously led brand loyalty rankings for several years. Separately, the California New Car Dealers Association said Tesla sales fell 15 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year. Non-Tesla EV volume increased 35 percent in the state, the group said. 'An aging product lineup and backlash against [CEO] Elon Musk's political initiatives are likely key factors for the decline in Tesla BEV market share,' the association said. Tesla's California EV share fell to 43.9 percent in the first quarter from 55.5 percent a year earlier, the group said. Musk is a key adviser to President Donald Trump, leading efforts to cut government programs. In the California car market for all fuel types, Tesla fell to the No. 3 spot in the first quarter from No. 2 a year earlier, the association said. Honda was No. 2 in the first quarter behind longtime leader Toyota. Nationally, Rivian's February EV registrations fell 23 percent to 2,501 vehicles, S&P Global Mobility said. The consumer R1T pickup and R1S crossover slid sharply while its commercial vans grew 33 percent. Rivian, which hasn't launched a new model since 2021, is planning to launch the smaller R2 crossover next year. One reason for the cooldown in EV adoption over the last year is increased consumer interest in gasoline-electric hybrids, Libby said. 'It makes sense that hybrids are hurting electrics,' Libby said. Hybrids offer partial electrification and similar pricing to gasoline vehicles without the range anxiety and charging hassle of full EVs, he said. Then again, consumers might dial down car buying altogether in the near term if automotive tariffs and economic uncertainty persist, Libby added. 'In general when there's a lot of turmoil, that creates uncertainty, and it causes consumers to wait,' he said. Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Honda Software Recall Poses Serious Danger To Drivers
Read the full story on The Auto Wire American Honda is recalling about 295,000 Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States thanks to a software error that could lead to engines suddenly losing power. That's right, your car could be going 75 mph down the highway when the engine just cuts out, possibly leading to a serious crash. We advise anyone whose vehicle is part of this recall to take it problem, according to the automaker, stems from 'improper programming' of the fuel injection electronic control unit software for certain vehicles. It also apparently can happen during 'sudden changes in the throttle' or in other words when the driver is stepping on it. In a press release about the recall, Honda says the check engine light could turn on when the problem arises, so the driver might have a little bit of advanced notice. Then the engine might lose power, hesitate, or even stall. Without the engine running, crashing become a very real possibility. Instead of federal regulators catching this problem, Honda says it did by monitoring vehicle telematics info. This is one of the many wonders of having connectivity to modern cars, even though it can open up some potential threats as well as annoyances. Only some of the following cars are included in the recall: 2023 to 2025 Honda Pilot, 2022 to 2025 Acura MDX Type S, 2021 to 2025 Acura TLX Type S. American Honda has the VINs of all affected cars, so that's the only way to know if a specific vehicle in those model lines needs the software update. The plan is to start contacting the registered owners of affected vehicles through the mail in March. That piece of snail mail will direct owners to take their ride to an authorized Honda or Acura dealership for the software update free of charge. Too bad it can't be done through an over-the-air update. Anyone who's wondering right now if their Honda or Acura is part of this recall can visit or to run their VIN. Image via American Honda Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Honda recalls almost 300,000 vehicles over engine concerns. Here are the cars included
American Honda is recalling 295,000 vehicles over a programming error that could impact engines. The recall, announced Wednesday, impacts 2023-2025 Honda Pilots, 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S and the 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S. In total, 294,612 vehicles have been impacted. 'American Honda will voluntarily recall about 295,000 Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. to update the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) software,' the company said in a statement. The issue stems from the 'incorrect programming' of the fuel injection electronic control unit. This can cause engines to lose drive power, hesitate or stall, 'increasing the risk of a crash or injury,' the statement reads. The issue may also cause the check engine light to pop on. There have been no reported crashes or injuries due to the error, the company said. The company identified the error by 'monitoring telematics information.' Now, they say the software must be updated. Registered owners will receive a notice of the recall via mail in March, and can take their cars to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer for a free software update. 'American Honda is announcing this recall to encourage owners of affected vehicles to take them to an authorized dealer for repair as soon as they receive notification,' the company said in a statement. Owners can determine if their vehicle qualifies for the update by visiting the Honda recall website, the Acura recall website, or by calling (888)-234-2138. This comes after Ford recalled 270,000 vehicles last week over reported battery failures that have impacted several functions, including the steering and hazard lights. The models impacted include the 2021-2023 Bronco Sport SUVs and 2022-2023 Maverick trucks. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery if needed, free of charge.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Honda issues recall on nearly 300K cars due to fuel injection software issue
American Honda announced this week it will voluntarily recall nearly 295,000 Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. to update the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) software. "Due to improper programming of the FI-ECU, sudden changes in the throttle could illuminate the check engine light and cause the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall, increasing the risk of a crash or injury," the company stated in a Jan. 29 press release. "American Honda self-diagnosed this issue by monitoring telematics information and determined the need to perform the software update of the supplier part." Honda said it will contact registered owners of all affected models by mail in March, at which time they can take their vehicle to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to update the software free of charge. American Honda said it announced the recall "to encourage owners of affected vehicles to take them to an authorized dealer for repair as soon as they receive notification." The company said it "has not received any confirmed reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue" to date. Those who own any of the recalled vehicles can also find out if their vehicles require repair by visiting the Honda recalls website here or by calling (888) 234-2138. Honda models 2023-2025 Honda Pilot Acura models 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S Honda issues recall on nearly 300K cars due to fuel injection software issue originally appeared on
