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Honda Jazz with Hybrid Tech
Barretts Honda News News from Barretts Honda of Canterbury, Kent HONDA JAZZ WITH HYBRID TECH: AS PRACTICAL AS EVER - WITH LOWER EMISSIONS
Making its debut at the Paris Motor Show this week, the hybrid version of the Jazz features Honda's innovative petrol-electric IMA system and retains the practical characteristics found in the supermini, while lowering emissions and improving fuel economy.
• World’s first B-segment car with hybrid technology
• No compromise – features all the practicality of the standard Jazz
• Retains the flexible Magic Seats
• Up to 831 litres of boot space
• 104 g/km of CO2 emissions*
• Improved fuel economy offers up to 64.2 miles per gallon*
The Jazz will feature the same 1.3 litre i-VTEC as the Insight hybrid and despite its taller body shape, the new car has similar CO 2 emissions of 104 g/km* - 21g/km less than the current lowest-emitting 1.2-litre petrol Jazz. As well as the environmental benefits, the cleaner emissions bring more affordable driving too: road tax exempt for the first year and just £20 a year after, the hybrid version of the Jazz will also be free from the London congestion charge.
“We think that a cleaner, more economical version of the Jazz will be a big hit with customers,” said John Kingston, Government Affairs and Environment Manager, Honda (UK). “The IMA hybrid technology is incredibly easy to use, owners don‘t need to worry about plugging anything in to charge. It‘s simply a case of filling up with petrol and driving on as normal.”
Like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models, the hybrid version of the Jazz will be capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions and this contributes to a combined fuel consumption figure of 64.2 mpg* - a 23 per cent improvement over the best-selling 1.4 ES model.
Honda has added this cleaner hybrid technology to the supermini while retaining the flexibility of its unique folding Magic Seats. The IMA battery pack and power control unit have been integrated in the area under the boot floor, keeping the normal boot area of 300 litres and allowing the Magic Seats to fold in the same manner as non-hybrid versions. This means that the seats still fold entirely flat to provide a surprising large boot space of 831 litres, or the seat bases can be folded to sit vertically to accommodate tall items within the car.
The Jazz with hybrid technology will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and will go on sale in the UK in early 2011. Prices, homologated emissions levels and full specifications will be announced at a later date.
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Labels: Barretts Honda News, Barretts Honda Reviews, Honda Jazz Hybrid, Jazz Hybrid, Magic Seats, motortradesolutions.net, Paris Motor Show, Twitter
Honda take over Times Square, New York
Barretts Honda News
Honda take over Times Square, New York
New and Used Honda in Kent
HONDA TO TAKE OVER TIMES SQUARE FOR FIRST-EVER 3-D LAUNCH OF THE CR-Z SPORT HYBRID IN AMERICA
Honda will hold the first-ever takeover of Times Square in 3-D technology to support the American launch of the CR-Z sport hybrid on Thursday 23 September.
The event marks the first time 3-D footage will be broadcast in a public area. As a part of the takeover, Honda will run 3-D CR-Z commercial footage on the Times Square HD screen and Sony will provide 3-D Gran Turismo 5 racing simulators. Additionally, Maxim Magazine models will distribute copies of their special 3-D October issue and Honda will sponsor a special performance from chart-topping hip-hop trio, N.E.R.D.
"To bring attention to the synergy of sport and hybrid that the CR-Z offers, the advertising campaign relies on a variety of non-traditional elements—like 3-D technology—to get the attention of young, potential CR-Z buyers," said Tom Peyton, senior manager of national advertising, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "This 3-D experience in Times Square integrates advertising, gaming and music into a single, memorable event."
The Honda CR-Z is already on sale in the UK with prices starting at £16,999 for the CR-Z S.
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Honda Dominant at Donington
Barretts Honda News
Honda Racing News
Honda Racing Team BTCC Race Review, Rounds 25-27, Donington Park, Leicestershire • Shedden wins round 25
• Neal wins round 27
• Honda wins Manufacturers’ Championship
Honda Racing Team stars Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden have closed in on the lead of the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship by taking a win apiece at Donington Park on Sunday. Honda has won the BTCC manufacturers’ championship, beating rival Chevrolet.
The Derbyshire venue was the scene for the penultimate round of this season’s contest and Shedden powered his Civic to victory in race one and a second position in race two to notch the highest points score of any driver over the weekend. Neal rounded off a superb weekend for the Civic drivers by dominating the final encounter. The results mean that Neal is in second place in the points going into the season’s showdown at Brands Hatch in three weeks time (October 9/10) and Shedden is tucked four points further back in third place.
Matt Neal said the weekend’s performance was a credit to the handling of his Honda. The 43-year-old explained: “The Civic was a fantastic car today and we’ve been able to turn up the pressure in the race for the championship. I was slightly disappointed with what happened at the start of the second event because I honestly believe we would have been in a position to win that race but these things happen in motor racing. There was a small problem with my clutch and I couldn’t help but creep forward and got a jumped start penalty. Nevertheless, we have managed to cut the gap to the leader in the points and that’s what we set out to do. It will be gloves off at Brands Hatch now – I am the one doing the chasing so the pressure is going to be on everyone else.”
There was more joy for Neal’s sister car of ‘Flash’ Gordon Shedden. The 31-year-old was the most successful racer of the weekend with two podiums in the opening two races and he added to his tally with a battling top ten finish in the final race of the weekend. “I am delighted,” said Shedden. “We know the Civic is a good car around Donington Park so this was a golden opportunity to capitalise on that and I was able to. I had to fight hard to get to the front in the opening race and then I used my head to hang on to second place in race two. I am right in the mix for the title for the first time so I am pleased about that. Anything could happen at Brands Hatch but we at the Honda Racing Team will be doing absolutely everything we can to make it work for us.”
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Honda is 90 points ahead of Chevrolet with three races remaining at Brands Hatch and cannot be caught.
Matt Neal said “Winning the manufacturers’ title underlines what a great racing car the Civic is. We haven’t had to chuck the huge amount of money at the programme that some of our rivals have been able to, and we haven’t had access to a twin programme in the world championship either. For us, this has been a highly efficient programme, concentrating on the Civic’s strengths and proving that the Civic is one of the best handling cars out there. Now all we need to do to cap an incredible season is claim the drivers’ title too…”
Team Dynamics principal Steve Neal said “We are absolutely delighted with this result and it is a clear reflection on the strengths of the Civic in all conditions and the strength of our drivers, Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden. Chevrolet and its lead driver Jason Plato are tough opponents to beat, but we respect what they have achieved and I hope they respect what we have done. We were dominant in the first half of the season and then the others caught up a bit, but we didn’t rest on our laurels. We pushed the programme forward and constantly developed the Civic to put ourselves back at the head of the pack. To earn silverware at the end of the season is a credit to everyone involved: the team, Honda itself and the driver pairing we have.”
British Touring Car Championship standings (after 27/30 rounds): 1. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (224)
2. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (207)
3. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (203)4. Tom Onslow-Cole, Team Aon, Ford Focus ST (200)
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Labels: Barretts Honda News, Donington, Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Matt Neal, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter
Hydrogen Honda Makes Debut On British Roads
Barretts Honda News Hydrogen Honda Makes Debut On British Roads Business Secretary, Vince Cable, among first to test drive fuel cell car in the UK
Honda's ground-breaking hydrogen fuel cell car, the FCX Clarity, has made its debut on UK roads, in the first of a series of high-profile test drives to raise awareness of the zero emission technology.
Business Secretary, Vince Cable, was one of the first to drive the world’s only production fuel cell electric car following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street.
He said: “I was pleased to be one of the first in the UK to test drive the Honda FCX Clarity and find out more about the potential for hydrogen fuel cell technology.
“The Government is keen to encourage all forms of low carbon vehicle technology such as hydrogen fuel cells, hybrids or significantly more efficient conventional vehicles,” continued the Secretary of State.
“This is part of our push to stimulate the market for green motoring and give consumers greater choice.”
Honda has brought the FCX Clarity to the UK to inform and educate policy makers of the viability and potential of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which emit no pollutants, only water vapour from the exhaust.
Later this week, the FCX Clarity will be driven by other politicians, industry figures and key members of the media as Honda demonstrates the practicality, performance and range of the 5-door saloon to help encourage the development and adoption of hydrogen as a fuel in Europe.
“Petrol-electric hybrids – like our Civic, Insight and CR-Z models – are currently an effective way to reduce emissions from cars, but fuel cell electric cars are the ultimate environmental technology,” says Dave Hodgetts, Managing Director of Honda (UK).
“The FCX Clarity is a real world production vehicle that emits no harmful exhaust gasses, offers a range of around 270 miles, a short refuelling time, and the practicality and performance of a conventional saloon. It could revolutionise the future of motoring.”
Honda is already leasing FCX Clarity vehicles in the US and Japan, where there are emerging infrastructures to support hydrogen-powered cars. There are no plans at present for the commercial introduction of the FCX Clarity in the UK.
To view the finest selection of used Honda in the South East of England please click here>Labels: Barretts Honda News, FCX Clarity, Hydrogen Cars, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter, Vince Cable
Honda BTCC Race Report - Knockhill
Barretts Honda News
Honda BTCC Race Report - Knockhill
Rounds 22-24, Knockhill, Fife
Honda Racing team star Matt Neal has thrust himself right back into the title fight for this season’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after a win and a third place finish at Knockhill in Scotland on Sunday.
The 43-year-old has moved into second place in the standings after the rounds in Fife and is optimistic of reaching the title summit in the remaining six rounds of this season’s competition, which continues at Donington Park on September 18/19. Neal carried a full load of success ballast to notch a fourth place finish in race one. He then took his fourth victory of the year in race two before he battled to third place in the final event of the weekend. It meant he outscored all his rivals over the three events and has edged closer to the top of the chase for the coveted crown.
“It has been a great weekend for the Honda Racing Team because not only did I manage to take a race win but we have also moved to the top of the Manufacturers’ Standings, which is important for the team as a whole and shows what a great job everyone’s been doing,” said Neal. “In the Drivers’ Standings, the whole situation has closed up which is what we wanted to achieve.
“The Honda has been a fantastic car for the confines of Knockhill, which is small and hilly. The handling of the Civic has always been a great strength and that meant I was able to capitalise when I had open road. When I got the lead of race two, the car just got better and better.”
There was further glory for Neal’s partner in the Honda Racing Team stable, Gordon Shedden. The local fans’ favourite thrilled a packed crowd by scorching to victory in the opening race of the weekend and then followed Neal across the line in the second race to take more silverware. Those two results, plus a ninth place in the final round after he had been punted off circuit by a rival, have consolidated Shedden’s fourth place in the points race.
Shedden said afterwards: “We knew that this would be a chance for us to score some big points and that is the way I thought it was going to go. I was taken out by someone else in a stupid accident in the third race but managed to salvage something to build on the two podiums I scored earlier in the day. I could have had even more points out of the weekend than I did but to win in front of my home fans is always special.”
Both Neal and Shedden are optimistic as the title race moves in to its final stages, and team principal Steve Neal thinks that there are more strong showings on the horizon at Donington Park in two weeks’ time. “The momentum has swung back in our direction,” said Steve Neal. “We needed to score some big points here at Knockhill and we won two of the three races, so we have done what we set out to do. Donington Park is another circuit that plays to the strengths of our car. Things are looking good.”
British Touring Car Championship standings (after 24/30 rounds): 1. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (202)
2. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (182)
3. Tom Onslow-Cole, Team Aon, Ford Focus ST (178)
4. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (169) To view the finest selection of used Honda in the South East of England please click here>
For Barretts Honda contact details, opening hours and location map follow this link>>> Labels: BTCC, Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Gordon Shedden, Honda BTCC Racing Team, Knockhill, Matt Neal, motortradesolutions.net, Twitter
Honda Jazz Review
Barretts Honda News
Honda Jazz Review
Honda Jazz JD Power
Honda Jazz Offers and Deals at Honda of Canterbury, Kent
TROPHY HUNTER by RICHARD YARROW
In the world of customer satisfaction surveys, there’s only one that counts...
It’s called J D Power, after the marketing company that starting
gathering feedback on owners’ experiences more than 40 years
ago. Over the last seven years, one car has become synonymous
with success in JD Power - the Honda Jazz.
In the 2010 survey, published by the respected magazine What Car?, the
popular supermini finished first in its class. It did the same last year. And
the year before. And every year back to 2004 when it was first eligible for
inclusion as a two-year-old vehicle. For seven years in a row, the best small car
in the country – as voted for by drivers – has been the Honda Jazz.
Besides that prestigious award, it’s already been quite a year for the Jazz. It’s
added more gongs to the Honda (UK) trophy cabinet, taking the grand total
earned since its launch in 2002 very close to 40. Most recent was in a report
compiled by consumer champion Which?. It placed the Jazz fifth out of 147
new cars for reliability, and honoured it as ‘Best Buy’ in the new car section.
Not surprisingly, Honda is delighted with these latest awards, in part because
they’re based on the opinions of happy owners. Head of Sales at Honda
(UK), Janice Kennedy, commented: “Getting people to choose your car from
the scores that are available to them is one thing, but keeping them happy
through the reliability of the vehicle, the quality of the driving experience and
the expertise of our dealer network is another.”
Janice added that the reliability of the Honda Jazz was a tribute to the
outstanding workmanship of colleagues at the factory in Swindon, Wiltshire,
where the Jazz is now built.
And while prices for the Honda Jazz start at £10,990, customers who buy
one will lose less money in depreciation than those who choose from any of
almost 300 other model ranges. In another award, industry experts at used
car values bible Parker’s have recognised the Jazz as being Britain’s best car for
retaining its value over three years / 36,000 miles. Impressive stuff.
For seven years in a row, the best small car in the country - as voted for by drivers - has been the Honda Jazz.
Barretts Honda have some great offers on the new Honda Jazz. Find out more here>
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Honda BTCC Race Preview - Knockhill
Barretts Honda Racing News
Local hero Gordon Shedden says his Honda Racing Team Civic will allow him to delight the home fans when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship resumes at Knockhill in Scotland this weekend.
The Fife flier, who is currently fourth in the standings, thinks the hatchback racer and the demanding Scottish track are the perfect partners.
“Knockhill is a really tricky circuit because it has undulation, some of the corners are over crests and you have to really attack it to get the best out of it,” explains the 31-year-old, who works at the track as a commercial director. “I think the Honda Racing Team will score big points on a circuit like this. The strengths of our car include the incredible handling of the Civic and that is what Knockhill is all about. You can see why I am looking forward to it.”
Shedden has taken three wins so far this season and is within touching distance of the title lead. He knows that the results over the three races on Sunday are going to be vital towards his push for the crown.
“You have got to maximise your points all the time because consistency is the key to any title attack,” he explains. “I want to come away from Knockhill with 30 points in the bag which means I need to be on the podium in all three races. It is hard to do in a series that is as competitive as the British Touring Car Championship but, with the Civic, I have a great chance."
“It is also nice for me to race in front of the home fans,” he adds. “These three races offer as many points as any other on the calendar and I am always trying my maximum but when you see all the supporters there it is nice to give them something to cheer about.”
Shedden’s team-mate Matt Neal is also looking forward to this weekend’s showdown. The 43-year-old is also a three-time winner in the 2010 campaign and is third in the standings.
The former double champion says that Knockhill will provide an all-action weekend. “It is a funny little circuit at Knockhill and it is quite small, which is great for the fans because it means the field never gets that spread out,” he explains. “That might be fun for the spectators and TV viewers, but it makes it hard work for the drivers! Having said that I am extremely optimistic heading to the track. Recently, we have had races on layouts that haven’t played to our strongest points so we have just consolidated our position but that will change in Scotland.
“The Civic is brilliant at riding the kerbs, which you need to do at Knockhill to get a good lap time and the chassis is incredibly well balanced. If we can capitalise on that, then this weekend could prove to be a turning point for myself and for Gordon in terms of the championship chase.”
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Honda CR-Z commercial - Fire and Ice
Barretts Honda News
CR-Z sport hybrid commercial - Fire and Ice
Complete opposites in complete harmony.
Introducing the sport hybrid.
The all-new CR-Z Sport Hybrid.
New and Used Honda in Kent
Barretts Honda are celebrating the launch of the new Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe with some great finance PCP Offers and a stunning contract hire deal for business users.
To find out more click the links below.
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