Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Honda moving up mid-cycle refresh of Civic amidst criticism]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/31/honda-moving-up-mid-cycle-refresh-of-civic-amidst-criticism/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/31/honda-moving-up-mid-cycle-refresh-of-civic-amidst-criticism/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/31/honda-moving-up-mid-cycle-refresh-of-civic-amidst-criticism/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2012 Honda Civic EX

Automotive News reports that Honda is itching to release a mid-cycle refresh for the company's 2012 Civic. In response to a harsh criticism from reviewers and the model's first failure to earn a coveted Recommended rating from Consumer Reports in recent memory, the automaker has apparently decided to pull ahead the model's refresh to 2013 instead of 2014. The report quotes John Mendel, American Honda Executive Vice President, as saying that his company is "appropriately energized" by feedback from critics and customers alike. At the same time, the executive stressed that he wasn't sure exactly how much the manufacturer could do or how quickly it could be accomplished.

Critics have specifically found issue with the vehicle's overly soft handling and muddled, plastic-laden dash design, especially as competition in the segment has matured and grown even more compelling. While the 2012 Honda Civic initially saw a spike in consumer interest, shoppers may have trickled off; something that analysts say is highly unusual for any Honda model, let alone this onetime leader of the compact segment.

What will the refresh bring? We can only imagine that Honda will work to cure the ails that Consumer Reports has specifically called out by improving the interior and rolling in additional content.

Honda moving up mid-cycle refresh of Civic amidst criticism originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civic2013 civic2013 honda civic2013 honda civic refreshciviccivic refreshhondahonda civicjohn mendelMon, 31 Oct 2011 13:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20094519/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/31/honda-moving-up-mid-cycle-refresh-of-civic-amidst-criticism/20094519/article-detail.xml 20094519 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/01-2012-honda-civic-ex-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/01-2012-honda-civic-ex-628.jpg <![CDATA[Will quake-based parts shortages hurt 2012 Honda Civic launch?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/will-quake-based-parts-shortages-hurt-2012-honda-civic-launch/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/will-quake-based-parts-shortages-hurt-2012-honda-civic-launch/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/08/will-quake-based-parts-shortages-hurt-2012-honda-civic-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2012 Honda Civic Si
2012 Honda Civic Si - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda's Japanese assembly plants are scheduled to come back online next week after a month-long hiatus caused by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. That's good news for a company that could soon run short on many vehicles, but Honda's production woes are anything but solved.

TheDetroitBureau.com reports that Honda is also having trouble getting parts from Japan to plants here in the U.S., and the launch of the 2012 Civic could be impacted. The Civic, which is one of the most popular vehicles sold in the U.S., is supposed to begin a phased roll-out on April 20. But with parts trickling in from Japan at a snail's pace, some of the automaker's U.S. factories have experienced production slowdowns and shortened shifts. That means it would be difficult to supply enough '12 Civics to support the model's current sales pace of about 30,000 units per month. The automaker reportedly already has 12,000 Civics ready for delivery, but that number represents less than a two-week supply.

American Honda Executive Vice President John Mendel tells TDB that the situation is "fluid," adding that it "is changing every day." With that in mind, Mendel says that the automaker might not spend as much launch money on marketing out of the gate. Instead, Honda could spend the money over a longer period of time, saving some of the ads for when dealers have proper stock of the latest Civic in showrooms.

We're hoping that Honda's part situation improves in time for launch, but given the current state of the supply chain, we're not all that hopeful. Add in the fact that another 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on Thursday, April 7, and it seems production timing for many vehicles and parts could be in doubt for the foreseeable future.


Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic

2012 Honda Civic2012 Honda Civic2012 Honda Civic2012 Honda Civic2012 Honda Civic

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Will quake-based parts shortages hurt 2012 Honda Civic launch? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 honda civicciviccivic launchcivic productioncivic production stoppageshondajapanjapan earthquakejapan tsunamijohn mendelFri, 08 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19906696/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/08/will-quake-based-parts-shortages-hurt-2012-honda-civic-launch/19906696/article-detail.xml 19906696 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/2012-honda-civic630opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/2012-honda-civic630opt.jpg <![CDATA[Could China-built cars "Fit" American Honda's supply needs?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/15/could-china-built-cars-fit-american-hondas-supply-needs/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/15/could-china-built-cars-fit-american-hondas-supply-needs/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/15/could-china-built-cars-fit-american-hondas-supply-needs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Honda Fit

In the same Ward's Auto World article that saw American Honda's John Mendel nix the idea of a Honda full-size pickup, he also took some time to discuss the hot-selling Fit subcompact. Released in the US at the perfect time, the Fit and its gaudy fuel economy numbers have won over customers to the tune of 15,922 since its Spring launch, according to Ward's. Unfortunately, the demand for the hatchback is so high that Honda is looking at supply problems that are throttling back total sales.

Today, the US-spec Fits are all imported from Japan. Mendel suggested that if Honda were to try to increase US supply, a very real possibility would be the importation of Chinese-built Fits to the States. China already exports the car to Brazil, India, Russia, and Australia, and has even begun shipping some cars to Europe as well. According to Mendel, there would be no quality drop-off if China-built Fits made their way here, and he feels that customers would be indifferent towards the car's point of origin, especially when you consider the number of products we buy that are made in China anyway.

Our feeling is that if the cars are built to the same standard as the Japan-built models, where the they come from won't matter. Would some people shy away from the Fit if they knew they would be getting a Chinese model? Probably, but the majority of customers would never see past the "H" badge and happily plunk down a deposit on one.

Technically, this is all hypothetical, since Mendel told Ward's that no such plan is in the works at this time. The fact that he discussed it at all, however, indicates that the idea has been (and probably still is) discussed at length internally. If Honda -- or any other automaker, for that matter -- were to look to China to supply the US market, would that influence your purchasing decision? We'd like to hear your feedback.

[Source: Ward's Auto World]

Could China-built cars "Fit" American Honda's supply needs? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american hondaAmericanHondachina-built fitchina-built honda fitChina-builtFitChina-builtHondaFitchinese-built fitchinese-built honda fitChinese-builtFitChinese-builtHondaFitfithonda fitHondaFitjohn mendelJohnMendelTue, 15 Aug 2006 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/654367/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/08/15/could-china-built-cars-fit-american-hondas-supply-needs/654367/article-detail.xml 654367 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/fit_sport_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/fit_sport.jpg <![CDATA[Honda exec: No Tundra-fighter for US]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/honda-exec-no-tundra-fighter-for-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/honda-exec-no-tundra-fighter-for-us/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/14/honda-exec-no-tundra-fighter-for-us/#commentsFiled under: ,

Honda Ridgeline

As Toyota readies its latest attempt to send a shock through the full-size pickup market with its new, fully-redesigned Tundra, Honda is quite content to stand on the sidelines and watch as the battle royale ensues.

John Mendel, American Honda's senior VP of automotive operations, says that creating a big body-on-frame pickup runs counter to the company's philosophy, which is to ultimately produce fuel-efficient vehicles. He correctly points out that Toyota has been at this for a while now with the Tundra, and stated, "We're fine with Ridgeline," Honda's unique-looking unibody pickup.

While we're sure that there are plenty of readers who'd love to see Honda's take on the full-size pickup, the company's reluctance to dip a toe into that pool is completely understandable. The level of competition in the segment is relentless, and Ford, GM, and Chrysler still have a distinct advantage over newcomers. Just look at the sales numbers, where Tundra and Nissan's Titan are routinely trounced by the Americans. (To illustrate the Titan's place in the market, consider that Chevy sold more Uplanders - the aged, unappealing minivan - last month than Nissan did Titans.)

Toyota has taken its lumps, learned its lessons, and is in it for the long haul, with its new San Antonio, Texas plant geared up to build the all-new Tundra. Still, it's going to be an uphill battle for them, as the Tundra is met by a welcoming committee of completely redesigned GM trucks.

Honda's doing the right thing. They have an appealing niche pickup in the Ridgeline, and for them, that's enough. They're probably more than happy to keep building their bread-and-butter vehicles while watching from afar as their competitors beat each other's brains out with their big pickups.

[Source: Ward's Auto World]

Honda exec: No Tundra-fighter for US originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>full-size hondaFull-sizeHondahonda full-size trickhonda ridgelineHondaFull-sizeTrickHondaRidgelinejohn mendelJohnMendelMon, 14 Aug 2006 13:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/654175/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/08/14/honda-exec-no-tundra-fighter-for-us/654175/article-detail.xml 654175 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/ridgeline_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/ridgeline.jpg -1 2