Archive for April, 2011
Honda Upgrades Its In-car Telematics System
Tokyo Japans Yuri Kageyama writing for the AP reported that Honda’s car navigation system already takes the fastest route to a destination through avoiding traffic jams. Now drivers will get information with regard earthquakes and warnings of heavy rainfall ahead on roads.
Shown to reporters in Wednesday Honda Motor Co.’s service will be offered beginning with the redesigned Fit subcompact which is set to go on sale in Japan later this year. Executive Manabu Nishimae said that there are no plans so far to offer it overseas. He told the reporters that their company believes that information services are an essential part of a quality of a car.
Drivers pay mobile phone bills for relaying data though the service is for free. For frequent users data transmission cards for a set monthly fee of about 8 are available. Over 530000 drivers use the current navigation service in Japan and that figure is nearly 40 percent of Honda owners.
Email warnings with the latest upgrade will be sent to a preassigned address when car with the system is in an area of a strong earthquake. It is handy in a quakeprone nation like Japan. Icons of exclamation marks pop up on the monitor if heavy rain is forecast on a planned route.
Japan’s No. 2 auto manufacturer and Honda Civic parts maker also upgraded its map system so that updates take just a few minutes to be downloaded. Disks with map data had to be changed up to now.
Based in Tokyo Honda said that it found a way to compress data so that portions of a map such as new roads get relayed piecemeal. Furthermore it said that driving time is cut on the average by 20 percent.
All the major automakers in the world offer car navigation services that include some that give guides to nearby restaurants. Not only that some automatically calls ambulances in cases of accidents and connect to human operators.
One of the featured capabilities of Honda’s system is that it collects information from individual Honda cars on the road. In the new earthquake notification service for example the system will be able to show which roads have been shut down.
General Manager Takeshi Imai said that this kind of detailed information could even tell drivers exactly which lane of a freeway is congested. He further said that Honda’s telematics is already moving toward its next level.
About the writer: Rain Stockton is an engineer by profession. He is a motorsports fanatic especially F1 and NASCAR. He seldom fails to attend major car racing events. A frustrated race car driver he spends some of his free time working in one of the largest automotive shops in Indianapolis.
Honda Recommends Repair Of Unibody Vehicles
Comaker of Acura RSX performance parts American Honda Motor Co Inc. has issued four recommendations for repair of Honda and Acura unibody vehicles.
The first recommendation is on Sectioning Frame Components. It states that when body repairs are necessary Honda recommends that by using the Honda or Acura body repair manual any repairs will be performed by an experienced professional. Furthermore component replacement will be accomplished along factory connection. The company further added that failure to do so can result in a number of problems that include improperly fitted parts noises tire wear and most importantly changes in vehicle dynamics and occupant protection in a sequential crash.
Particularly speaking Honda in America is firmly against the process of joining cut pieces from separate vehicles which is commonly referred to as clipping that is not an authorized American Honda method of repairing. The companys American factory or extended warranties will not be held liable with any problems with other components resulting from such inaccurate vehicle repairs.
The second recommendation is on adhesives and welding. The company states that using adhesives in place of welding for replacement of a component is not an authorized American Honda repair method. According to Honda it is important to repair at factory seams using the same procedures as the factory assembly process except where specified otherwise in the Honda or Acura body repair manual.
The third recommendation is on Door and Bumper Reinforcements. Because these parts are made of high strength steel the company recommends that reinforcements of door and bumper must not be repaired or straightened.
The last but not the least recommendation is on the Replacement Parts. American Honda firmly recommends the use of Honda Genuine or Acura Precision Crafted original equipment replacement parts. The company said that the use of these parts helps return the vehicle to its precrash condition.
About Honda in America
Since the Honda America operations began in 1959 they already believe that their success in the global marketplace relies on its dedication to continued investment in future of the US. With this philosophy the company is guided that it will continue to grow in America.
For more than 45 years of a huge contribution to the U.S. economy Honda now has over 25000 people in all 50 states of the country.
In 1979 the first U.S plant was opened and has evolved into a company that directly employs more than 25000 Americans.
About the writer: Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.
Honda Is Moving Into Aviation
Honda Motor Corporation the producer of topofthe line Honda wipe blade is moving into aviation and would be investing a total of 27 million in a North Carolina plant that would build engines for small business jets.
The construction of the factory and headquarters of Honda Aero Inc. will soon start in Burlington North Carolina according to Fumitaka Hasegawa Chief Executive Officer of the unit at a press briefing yesterday. The new factory will create 70 new jobs said Mike Easley the states governor.
Honda will be setting aside 127 million for its aviation facilities including the 40 million needed for the construction of the North Carolina plant that would build the eightperson Honda Jet. The worlds biggest engine manufacturer said that there are already more than 100 orders for their 3.65 million aircraft which will use the companys engines and at the same time compete with models from the likes of Textron Inc.s Cessna the largest maker of business jets.
According to Richard Aboulafia an analyst at Teal Group in Alexandria Virginia who has consulted with Honda on the aircraft market “It’s going to be a slow uphill battle. They are going to get a receptive market but will have to pay to enter it. They’ll probably have to spend as much in marketing costs as they are for facilities.”
Tokyobased Honda has announced that the Burlington factory will start building the HF120 turbofan engines in 2010 with initial production of about 200 units. The engines are to be sold via a venture formed with General Electric Co. the worlds largest maker of aircraft engines.
Fuel Efficiency
In terms of fuel efficiency the new engines will be 50 percent more fuelefficient than other competing turbofan models Honda said.
Mark Wagner program manager for the GE Honda Aero Engine venture said that the engine will also be “the lowest cost to own and operate.” He also added that there is also the possibility that the price will be less than 500000 each.
Honda will perform the final assembly in Burlington while General Electric will take care of the repair and service under their joint venture. The partnership has already sold more than 200 engines according to GE spokesman Rick Kennedy.
The Honda Aero has been previously based in Reston Virginia and would be moving 15 people from that location.
Honda Motor is currently Japans second biggest automaker next to Toyota Motor Corp. But in terms of motorcycle Honda is worlds largest motorcycle manufacturer. Its US automotive headquarters is located in Torrance California.
About the writer: Ally Wahlberg is a Computer Information Systems specialist. Ally leads an active lifestyle and he is a fan of extreme sports. He is also a car enthusiast and writing about his interests is one of his passions.
