Barretts Latest News
Honda Jazz gets Hybrid Tech
Barretts Honda Canterbury News
New and Used Honda in Kent and the South East
HONDA JAZZ GETS HYBRID TECH
• Improved emissions and fuel economy for popular supermini
• World’s first B-class hybrid car
A hybrid version of Honda’s much-loved Jazz will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, bringing lower emissions and improved fuel economy to the practical supermini.
The introduction of Honda’s petrol-electric IMA system to the Jazz, makes the car the world’s first B-segment hybrid.
Featuring the practicality and flexibility of the current Jazz, but with reduced CO2 emissions and improvements to fuel economy, the hybrid version will go on sale in the UK in early 2011.
The car will feature the same engine as the Insight hybrid; a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine combined with a CVT gearbox, with an electric motor sandwiched between the two to create a parallel hybrid system. The hybrid Jazz – like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models – will be capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions.
Much of the Jazz's practicality is derived from its height, but despite being taller than the current Honda Insight, the hybrid version of Jazz manages to maintain fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on comparable levels.
Visually, this new, cleaner Jazz is distinguished from the current range by revised headlights with a blue surround, clear rear lights, new front grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate garnish. The new hybrid will also be available in a range of existing colours plus a bespoke Lime Green metallic.
Inside, the cabin is also given a fresh look, with darker single colour dashboard, which contrasts strongly with the blue lighting of the dials and dashboard instruments. The new hybrid is also available with leather trim, the first time this has been available on a Jazz model in Europe.
MPG and emissions data will be released at the Paris Motor Show in September.
Along with the new hybrid Jazz, Honda will display the 2011 model year Insight, CR-Z, Jazz, CR-V, Accord and Accord Tourer, as well as the sports touring motorcycle VFR1200F equipped with the V4 engine, and a stylish PCX scooter with low emission idle-stop 125cc engine.
To view the South East's finest selection of used Honda Cars please visit the Barretts Honda Used Car Website here>Labels: Barretts Honda News, Barretts Kent Motor Group, Honda Kent, Honda South East, Honda Used Car Website, motortradesolutions.net, Paris Motor Show, Twitter, used Honda cars
Honda CR-Z Safety Rating
Barretts Honda News
HONDA CR-Z IS ONE OF EUROPE’S SAFEST CARS
Top Euro NCAP score for sporty hybrid
Honda Safety Rating
Honda Cars Kent
Honda Cars South East
The Honda CR-Z has been rated one of Europe’s safest cars, achieving a maximum 5-stars in the latest independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP.
Euro NCAP’s rating scheme focuses on the vehicle’s overall safety performance which gives consumers an easy to understand single score. The system considers occupant protection in frontal, side, pole and rear impacts, child protection, pedestrian protection and the availability of driver aids.
The rating scheme uses a weighted score, combining many aspects of a car’s safety performance: adult (50%), child (20%) and pedestrian (20%) protection assessment results with the availability of safety assistance devices (10%). To qualify for inclusion, safety assistance devices (VSA for Honda) must be fitted as standard across 90% of the EU 27 2010 model range.
The CR-Z is the latest in a series of Honda cars to receive top marks. Since the introduction of the new rating scheme, Euro NCAP has tested four other Honda models; Civic, Accord, Jazz and most recently, Insight. All five models achieved 5 stars, with the Honda Insight also being named “safest hybrid vehicle” as well as the 2nd safest vehicle tested during 2009.
Euro NCAP's new assessment reflects Honda’s commitment to overall vehicle safety, complimenting Honda’s long standing in-house safety testing which seeks to improve real world safety. Honda’s car-to-car crash test facility at the Tochigi R&D centre analyses impacts between models of different sizes and weights and develops solutions to mitigate injuries for both for passengers and pedestrians. The omni-directional vehicle-to-vehicle crash test facility opened in 2001 and is the world's first indoor all-weather facility of its type.
Safety in the Honda CR-Z
Vehicle Stability Assist
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) is designed to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking assistance to any of the wheels as necessary and modulating the engine torque output as required.
Braking
14-inch ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes ensure road stability, which is further enhanced by the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE)
Developed in the car-to-car crash testing facility at Tochigi, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure is now a well-established strength of Honda’s safety credentials.
The ACE™ body structure is a Honda exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. The ACE design utilises a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash.
Pedestrian Protection
The CR-Z also incorporates many features designed with pedestrian-protection in mind. Research has shown that these features can dramatically improve a pedestrian's chance of survival if struck by a moving vehicle. Features include windscreen wiper pivots designed to break away on impact, energy absorbing front wing mounts and bonnet hinges, as well as an unobstructed area beneath the bonnet allowing greater space for deformation.
Airbags and Seatbelts
On all models in the range, the driver and passenger Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) front and side airbags are complemented by full length curtain airbags to protect all occupants. There are three-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts in all seating positions, the front seatbelts also have two stage Energy Absorption (EA) load limiting pre-tensioners. Additionally in the rear ISOFIX points ensure secure and correct installation mounting of child seats.
Active headrests
The CR-Z is equipped with front seat active headrests which reduce the likelihood of neck injury in rear impacts. As the occupant is pushed against the seat back, a rigid plate in the seat presses a link to the headrest pushing it up and forward to support the head.
If you are looking for a great deal on a new Honda CR-Z then please go direct to our offer page here>Labels: Barretts Honda News, Honda CR-Z, Honda Kent, Honda Safety, Honda South East, motortradesolutions.net
Honda Jazz Offers Enhanced
Barretts Honda News
Honda Jazz Offers Enhanced at Barretts Honda in Kent
Latest New Car and Finance Offers on Honda Jazz
Barretts Honda are pleased to announce enhancements to the 3 years affordable driving on new Honda Jazz with the addition of Honda Jazz SE, ES, EX Manual & I-Shift Models.
- Choice of low-rate finance offers
- 3 years free servicing
- 3 years £0 road tax
If you are looking for a great deal on a new Honda Jazz then please go direct to our offer page here>Labels: Barretts Honda, Barretts Honda News, Barretts Kent Motor Group, Free Road Tax, Free Servicing, Honda Finance, Honda Jazz, Honda Kent, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter
Honda BTCC Race Report - Silverstone
Barretts Honda News Honda BTCC Race Report - Silverstone Rounds 19-21, Silverstone, Northamptonshire
 |
| Type R Lap of Honour: For a great deal on a new Honda Civic Type R click the image above. |
Three strong points scoring finishes for Honda Racing driver Matt Neal has kept him in the fight for the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title as the series prepares for the last three rounds of the year. The 43-year-old powered his Civic to a fourth, a fifth and an eight place finish around the famous Northamptonshire track and Neal says he is in a position to challenge for his third crown during the last nine rounds of the season.
“Silverstone is a track that doesn’t particularly play to our strengths so to come away still in the hunt is a positive thing,” he explained. “We are now going to tracks where we will be able to exploit the excellent package that the Civic gives us so I am optimistic of being right in the fight come the end of the season.”
Carrying success ballast for qualifying and the opening race meant Neal was in a tight group of cars battling at the lower end of the top ten but he nevertheless crossed the line in eighth place. He fought bravely up to fifth place in the second race of the weekend before climbing up to fourth position in the reversed-grid race despite contact at the opening corner that nearly pitched him off the circuit. “The racing around Silverstone is always tough and it certainly was today,” he said. “It is a hard circuit to pass on because there are so few corners so to be able to improve in each of the races was my main target and that is what we did.”
Neal is third in the points standings heading into the next rounds of the championship, which will be held on the Knockhill circuit in Fife, Scotland. That is home territory for his Honda Racing Team team-mate Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden who works at the track.
Shedden is just ten points adrift of Neal in the standings in fourth position after the latest instalment of the series. He also scored points on three occasions at Silverstone despite being nudged off the track in the opening race at the very first corner. Recovering from that setback, he battled through to finish in the top ten before he climbed to seventh in race two. In race three, he followed Neal home in fifth place.
“It has been a hard weekend here,” said Shedden. “My car was handling excellently throughout the three races but circumstances beyond my control conspired against us. The first corner problem in race one set the tone for things really but we recovered well. I was in with a chance of taking pole position for the reversed-grid race but they pulled the number six out of the hat when I had finished in seventh place – that was the kind of weekend we had. Like Matt though, I know we have three tracks coming up where the Honda will be the car to have and that gives me optimism.”
The weekend also marked a special celebration of the Honda ‘Type R’ series of cars. 40 Honda Type R owners from the biggest Honda owners' clubs in the UK took part in a special 'Lap of Honour' led out by Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden driving the red Civic Type R MUGEN concept car and World and Olympic Champion cyclist Ed Clancy in his white Civic Type R.
British Touring Car Championship standings (after 21/30 rounds): 1. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (171)
2. Tom Onslow-Cole, Team Aon, Ford Focus ST (157)
3. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (148)
4. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (138)
Save up to £2,230 on a new Honda Civic Type R by clicking here> Labels: Barretts Honda News, Barretts Kent Motor Group, Gordon Shedden, Honda BTCC Racing Team, Matt Neal, motortradesolutions.net, Silverstone, Twitter
Honda BTCC Race Preview - Silverstone
Barretts Honda News
BTCC Race Preview
Rounds 19-21, Silverstone, Northamptonshire
Honda Racing Team star Matt Neal says developments to his Civic can help him zero in on the lead of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone this weekend. The 43-year-old, who is currently second in the standings, thinks work on the two-litre motor in his hatchback will reap rewards at the Northamptonshire track.
“Our engine tuner Neil Brown has looked closely at the engine and we have managed to extract even more power from it which will be an advantage for us,” said Neal, a three-time winner so far this season. “We think we have found a few more horsepower. We won’t know exactly how much it will push us forward until we get on to the circuit for the free practice on Saturday but I hope it will help us rein the others in.”
Neal comes to the Silverstone track 20 points adrift of the title summit and says that the three rounds on Sunday are going to be a tough battle. Neal explained: “The LPG Ford Focuses in the championship will be very strong around Silverstone with its long straights and they are going to present a hard challenge for everyone, not just the Honda Racing Team. We need to grab a healthy points haul at Silverstone, keep ourselves in the title fight but I am going there with less success ballast than I have had in previous meetings and that will be a bonus. Once Silverstone is finished, we can then look forward to the circuits coming up which will be more suited to our Civic,” he added.
Neal’s Honda Racing Team partner ‘Flash’ Gordon Shedden, also a three-time winner in the series this season, is third in the standings heading into the seventh meeting of the year. He took a win last time out in the reversed grid race at Snetterton in Norfolk and is aiming to push himself further towards the top of the points table this weekend.
“I managed to score 27 points at Snetterton which wasn’t a circuit that played to the Civic’s strengths,” said Flash. “That has kept me in the hunt and I need a similar performance at Silverstone this weekend. Silverstone is a circuit that is going to be tough for us so I need to look at banking as many points as possible and I need to get to the end of all three rounds. If I can maximise the reversed grid race again, like I did at Snetterton, it could present us with the best opportunity to score a lot. It’s a delicate stage of the season and we need to keep the pressure on.”
The weekend also marks a special celebration of Honda’s high performance Type R cars following an announcement that UK sales of the current Civic Type R are drawing to a close at the end of this year, due to forthcoming Euro V emissions regulations. As well as watching the thrilling tin top racing, 40 enthusiasts from the biggest Honda owners' clubs in the UK will get the chance to experience the track for themselves in a special 'Lap of Honour' to commemorate the Type R. An exclusive Type R Enclosure and Grandstand will be available for those Honda Type R drivers who have won the chance to attend this special event.
British Touring Car Championship standings (after 18/30 rounds):
1. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (151)
2. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (131)
3. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (127)
4. Tom Onslow-Cole, Team Aon, Ford Focus ST (113)
To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us Twitter: @BarrettsHonda
A part of the Barretts Motor Group www.barrettskent.co.uk Labels: BTCC, Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Matt Neal, motortradesolutions.net, Silverstone, Twitter
Honda Jazz Hybrid
Honda Jazz Hybrid
Story from Auto Express 6th August 2010 link>
Make way for the UK’s first hybrid supermini. Honda has confirmed that a petrol-electric Jazz will be the star of its stand at October’s Paris Motor Show, before going on sale here early next year.
The newcomer is expected to use the Insight’s IMA powertrain – a 1.3-litre petrol engine mated to a 9.7kW electric motor – which will give a total power output of 97bhp and 121Nm of torque.
While the Insight manages combined economy of 64.2mpg and emits only 101g/km of CO2, the smaller, lighter Jazz hybrid should achieve figures nearer 70mpg and 95g/km.
That’s a huge improvement over the regular Honda baby – the current most efficient model, the 1.2-litre petrol, returns 52.3mpg and puts out 125g/km. It also incurs road tax at £90 a year, while the hybrid will be exempt.
In addition to its hi-tech mechanicals, the petrol-electric Jazz will benefit from a number of tweaks designed to maximise its green credentials. These are expected to include a new aerodynamic bodykit, brake energy regeneration and a stop/start system. Also likely to feature is Honda’s ‘Econ’ mode, which adjusts throttle response and engine idle times to maximise efficiency.
The car will transfer its power to the front wheels through a five-speed manual box as standard, although buyers will be offered the option of an efficient CVT automatic transmission. When it goes on sale in the first half of next year, prices are expected to start at around £14,500 – making it the cheapest hybrid in the UK. The first examples will launch in Japan – where the Jazz is badged the Fit – by the end of this year.
For great offers on the new Honda Jazz from Barretts please click here>
To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us Twitter: @BarrettsHonda
A part of the Barretts Motor Group www.barrettskent.co.uk Labels: Auto Express, Barretts Honda News, Honda deals, Honda Hybrid, Honda Jazz, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter
Honda Civic Type R Savings
 |
| Click the image above to go direct to full details of this deal. |
Barretts Honda News
Honda Civic Type R Savings
Save now on the new Honda Civic Type R right now at Barretts Honda of Canterbury, Kent.
A Honda that demands attention. An offer that keeps it there.
Savings: Civic Type-R GT £19,495 saving £2,230 Civic Type-R LSD £19,995 saving £2,230 Civic Type-R Mugen 200 £19,495 saving £1,995
Plus there's a great PCP offer APR 5.9%
To find out more please click here to see the full offer>
To be kept up to date on news, new products, offers and events at Barretts Honda you can now follow us Twitter: @BarrettsHonda
A part of the Barretts Motor Group www.barrettskent.co.uk
Labels: Barretts Honda News, Civic Type R, Honda Kent, Honda PCP Offer, motortradesolutions.net, Mugen, Twitter
Honda Contract Hire Offer for Type R GT
Honda Contract Hire Offer for Civic Type S
Shedden scores for Honda at Snetterton
Barretts Honda News
Honda BTCC News
Shedden scores for Honda at Snetterton
Gordon Shedden scored a victory for the Honda Racing Team at Snetterton in Norfolk on Sunday as he and team-mate Matt Neal continued their charge for the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
 The flying Scotsman made a stunning start to the third race of the weekend to launch from the second row of the grid and into the lead when a rival ran off the road on the second lap of the race. Shedden was able to pull away from the rest of the field to his triumph, which he added to a fourth and an eighth place earlier in the meeting.
“I am delighted to walk away with a win,” said ‘Flash’ Gordon. “When you consider how tough the British Touring Car Championship is and how competitive it is, any win is great. This was a circuit that played to the strengths of the other cars in the championship with the long, long straights and so to be able to stand on top of the podium on a track when we weren’t expected to perform is a bonus. I am third in the standings and I am right in the mix but we can’t afford any slip ups if we are going to stay in the hunt for the crown.”
Shedden’s team-mate Neal was ruled out of the opening race with a puncture while he was running in the top seven and managed to fight back to tenth in race two before using the reversed grid to score a podium in race three.
“We were on the back foot right from the start of the meeting,” said Neal, who is now second in the title standings. “We didn’t have the pace of the turbocharged cars in the championship – which I think need to be pegged back by the series officials to give us all a level playing field for all the different types of car – and I was also carrying 45 kilogrammes of success ballast into the meeting. To be able to salvage a third place was a bonus, but the rules need to change to give us all a chance. The Honda Racing Team has got some tweaks up its sleeve ahead of Silverstone in two weeks time but I am not sure it is going to be enough to keep up with the turbocharged cars.
“We have tracks that will suit us coming up in the rest of the schedule and we just need to make sure we maximise our scores when we can to keep the title fight on track,” he added.
The next round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is at Silverstone on August 21/22.
Looking for a great deal on a new Honda?
Then look no further than the Barretts Honda Offer Page click here>
Labels: Barretts Honda News, BTCC Race Review, Gordon Shedden, Honda deals, Matt Neal, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter
Honda BTCC Race Preview Report
Barretts Honda News Honda Racing Team: BTCC Race Preview Report
Rounds 16-18, Snetterton, Norfolk Honda Racing Team’s Matt Neal says he can extend his points advantage at this weekend’s sixth meeting of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Snetterton in Norfolk. The Honda Civic driver has a nine-point buffer at the top of Britain’s most prestigious championship going into the three rounds at the 1.95-mile circuit. The championship will burst back into life after a seven-week summer hiatus.
“It’s going to be a tough weekend because Snetterton’s layout always provides rough and tumble,” explained the 43-year-old. “There are some very fast straights followed by tricky corners and it is hard to defend when you are in the lead. But the fast corners on the track play right into my hands because the Civic has a great balance through those kinds of sweepers.”
Neal is forced to carry 45 kilos of success ballast into the meeting because he is leading the standings and the circuit also accentuates the strengths of the LPG-power cars in the contest.
“It’s going to be hard to match the LPG cars because the long, long straights are where they excel so we have got to look to be best of the rest after them,” said Neal. “Also, the 45 kilos will have a big effect on my car during qualifying which will make it tough for me to be at the front of the grid. Despite all of that, I am confident we can bag three solid results and increase the margin at the top of the table.”
Neal’s team-mate Gordon Shedden took two wins at the last round of the series at Croft in North Yorkshire and he thinks he can narrow the gap to Neal in the rounds this weekend.
‘Flash’ Gordon said his aim for the weekend was to zero in on Neal with some podium finishes. “Like Matt, I think the LPG cars will be untouchable at Snetterton and we have got to aim to grab our chances when they come. We will be strong because of our good chassis but you can never tell. I will have to carry 27kgs in qualifying which could hold me back a bit so I will be concentrating on races two and three to score well.
“The Honda has been quick at Snetterton in the past and there’s no reason why it won’t be again, because we have done lots of work on it over the last 12 months. I am looking forward to it because it has been nearly two months since the last round. This is like starting the championship all over again, and we are feeling confident.”
Labels: Barretts Honda News, Barretts Kent Motor Group, BTCC Race preview, Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal, motortradesolutions.net, Snetterton
Honda CR-Z wins Best Sports Car Award
Barretts Honda News Honda CR-Z wins Best Sports Car Award
GONG FOR HONDA CR-Z AT WHAT CAR? GREEN AWARDS
The Honda CR-Z has won Best Sports Car at the What Car? Green Awards, held at Twickenham Stadium, where it was commended for its best-in-class economy and value for money.
The CR-Z, priced from £16,999, won praise for its sharp handling, efficient engine and sporty looks, as well as its unique design.
What Car? editor-in-chief Steve Fowler said: "The CR-Z is small and light and looks just right, and it’s powered by hybrid technology which means it's clean and efficient to run too. The CR-Z is the greenest and most cost effective sports car available in the market place today."
As the first hybrid with a sporty 6-speed manual gearbox, the CR-Z stands out from other green cars on the market and offers true driving thrills thanks to an agile chassis, direct steering, a low driving position and boosts of torque from the petrol-electric drivetrain.
Demand for the car has been strong since its release in June, with over 500 cars sold in the UK in the first month. Most customers have chosen the top spec GT model, priced at £19,999.
The What Car? Green awards, now in their third year, look for the best eco-friendly cars to buy. Rather than centre exclusively on emissions or miles per gallon, the awards take in a range of factors including value for money, safety and the driving experience, but maintain a core focus on environmental impact.
Barretts Honda are celebrating winning Best Sports Car at the What Car? Green Awards with some great finance PCP Offers and a stunning contract hire deal for business users in the Honda Summer Sale Event.
To find out more click the links below.
Labels: Barretts Honda News, Barretts Kent Motor Group, Honda CR-Z Deals, Honda CR-Z Finance Offers, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter, What Car Green Awards
|
|
|
HONDA JAZZ GETS HYBRID TECH
