Honda Unveils Uni-Cub Personal Mobility Device

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Honda Cars

Honda Motor Co. unveiled its latest electric vehicle Tuesday, but it is unlike any of the cars and motorcycles the company is best known for. Rather, the UNI-CUB single-seat, unicycle-like vehicle looks something like a vacuum cleaner with a bicycle saddle mounted on top.

Honda’s new personal mobility device is guided by a small wheel that protrudes from the back. It is intended to be used to get around the inside of large buildings like airports and museums. It was developed based on Honda’s earlier robotic personal transport device, the U3-X, which was unveiled three years ago.

Honda plans to sell the UNI-CUB on a commercial basis. As a step toward this, it will begin testing it in cooperation with Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Honda’s engineers say the UNI-CUB has its advantages. The rider’s hands are always free, and the saddle-style package makes it easy for the feet to reach the ground. Such features are important for “harmony” when weaving between and around walkers, they say.

But the UNI-CUB’s developers are most interested in how much value potential users will find in the vehicle, which will ultimately determine its price. An indication might be the price of the Segway, which costs around Y750,000 ($9,300).

Great Offers on the 2012 Honda Accord

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Honda Cars

Going on now, Jack Matia Honda is teaming up with Honda to help the Accord regain its popularity (The Honda CR-V kind of took the spotlight for a bit). For a limited time, we are offering 0.9% APR for 24-36 months on the purchase of a 2012 Honda Accord Coupe. The Accord Sedan is promoting itself with a $0 due at signing AND a $0 first month payment.

The 2012 Honda Accord is one of the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans available. The Accord’s 2.4-liter engine returns 34 mpg highway and still generates 177 horsepower. For the driver that needs more power, the 2012 Honda Accord offers a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 271 horsepower and still returns 29 mpg* highway.

Top-notch gas mileage isn’t the only buying feature. Safety has always been a priority of Honda’s and the Accord has always exemplified that concern. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the Accord a Top Safety Pick for 2012. Standard safety features such as six airbags, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and brake assist have helped to garner the 2012 Honda Accord such high praise.

Oh, and don’t forget about the Honda Graduate Program, these deals are good for this program as well. So grab your degree and then stop by Jack Matia Honda and grab a new Accord!

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel-economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

We Have a New Website!

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Honda Cars

If you have been to Jack Matia Honda online recently then you have noticed we made a few changes to our website – actually we changed the whole thing!

The last website was good, but we wanted and needed a change. With this new website, we hope our customers will find it easier to navigate. We have changed the color scheme, added more buttons to easily navigate through the site, and opened up the spacing for a more clutter-free image.

Although the site is still in progress, we would love to hear your feedback. Let us know what you would change and/or add, and give us ideas to make the new website more user-friendly and a fun automotive shopping experience. Leave your comments below or post to us on our Facebook Wall.

2012 Honda Civic Named Among 10 Best Green Cars of 2012

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Honda Cars

Kelley Blue Book recently announced their 10 Best Green Cars of 2012, and we are excited to see that the 2012 Honda Civic was named on the list.

“The 2012 Honda Civic sedan is the complete package for any consumer, and one that also provides a host of fuel-efficient powertrain options,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of corporate planning for American Honda. “We’re delighted that Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors acknowledged the most versatile offering in the class.”

The editors at Kelley Blue Book gave their own mention of the Honda Civic, by stating: ”The Civic has long been the vanilla ice cream of compact sedans; it’s easy to fall back on due to its remarkable reliability and exceptional value. But for 2012, the Civic has evolved into more of a Neapolitan option as it presents a choice of three different engine types: gasoline, natural gas and hybrid gas/electric. Considering all of them achieve nearly 40 highway mpg* or better, the Civic is an excellent choice no matter what flavor you pick.”

For more information and a full list of our available 2012 Honda Civics at Jack Matia Honda, visit our website at www.jackmatiahonda.com.

Honda CR-V Ranked Among Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Honda Cars

The 2012 Honda CR-V is one of the most popular crossover vehicles in the U.S., with recent sales increasing by more than 9% and breaking a sales record this past January of over 18,000 CR-Vs sold in one month.

Now, the infamous CR-V is being recognized for its fuel efficiency by Kelley Blue Book. KBB published their list of the 10 Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs and Crossovers earlier this week, listing the 2012 CR-V among the top ten.

To help increase fuel economy, all 2012 CR-Vs feature an energy-efficient multistage alternator and come with Honda’s Eco Assist system that includes the green “ECON” button on the dash that can modify throttle mapping as well as operation of the air conditioning and cruise control.

2012 Honda CR-V models showcase the familiar 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine matched with the equally-familiar 5-speed automatic transmission.

Between the ECON mode and i-VTEC engine, the Honda CR-V averages 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway*, with a combined 26 mpg*. Pretty amazing fuel efficiency for a family-sized crossover!

Are you ready to save some green in your wallet? Check out our full-line of 2012 Honda CR-Vs, and feel free to stop into our Honda Dealership for a test drive.

Meet TERII: Honda’s Newest Technology Feature

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Honda Cars

Honda has managed to find a way to eliminate those loud, annoying car alarms that seem to sound off at random times, or when you accidentally hit the wrong button on your key fob.

This week, Honda unleashed the details of their “anti-theft negotiator”, TERII. TERII allows keyless entry to your Honda vehicle, just like other smart keys. But that is where the similarities end. Instead of keys, fingerprint scanners on door handles will be in place to identify the driver, or an intruder. TERII can transmit the thief’s prints and receive information through the IAFIS fingerprint database.

Sensors are placed throughout the vehicle for TERII to locate the thief and TERII’s “voice” is played through exterior speakers placed near the wheels, so TERII can negotiate with the intruder and determine the threat level. Below, check out the video of TERII in action:

APRIL FOOLS?!

Rumor Mill: Honda Getting ZF 9-Speed Automatic

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Honda Cars

Honda is one of the leading automakers in the world, and they are constantly making changes and re-designed their vehicles to keep themselves one-step ahead in the market.

Honda’s newest endeavor is said to be the possibility of a new 9-speed automatic gearbox from ZF. We have heard that this new development could happen as early as 2014.

Traditionally, Honda vehicles are equipped with front- and all-wheel drive, but this new gearbox would allow for transverse installations and also improve fuel economy by 10-16 percent. This transmission is said to handle up to 354 lb-ft of torque and produce 248 horsepower in an Odyssey. Honda models with the V-6 engine, like the Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot, could be the first to offer the new transmission.

For increased fuel economy alone, we think this would be very beneficial to Honda and our customers. What are your thoughts on the ZF?

Honda Fit Tops Competition in Subcompact Shootout

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Honda Cars

The 2012 Honda Fit has won the Cars.com/USA TODAY/MotorWeek $16,000 Subcompact Shootout. Honda’s versatile and fuel-efficient Fit took the top spot in a competition among seven popular subcompact cars that seat at least four, have four doors, get at least 35 mpg* on the highway, and can be purchased for less than $16,000.

Experts from Cars.com, USA Today and “MotorWeek” tested these subcompacts to measure all of the needs of the average car-buyer including gas mileage, practicality, user features and comfort.

“As gas prices and used-car prices continue to rise, a shootout like this acts as a guide for consumers looking to purchase a new subcompact as an alternative to a used vehicle,” said Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief of Cars.com. “In addition to confident handling, a solid transmission, great visibility and unmatched practicality, the Honda Fit is just fun to drive and emerged as our clear winner.”

The 2012 Honda Fit is also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK and received the 2012 Residual Value Award from ALG.

At Jack Matia Honda we have the full line-up of Honda Fit vehicles available. You can check them out at Our Website, and feel free to stop by for a test drive anytime!

Honda’s “Really Big Sales Event”

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Honda Cars

For those who may plan to lease their new vehicle, remarkable deals on leasing a new vehicle are now available on a number of different models.

Special financing is also available on the Honda Accord Coupe and Sedan, Civic Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Si Coupe, and Si Sedan, the Crosstour, Odyssey, Pilot, and Ridgeline.

If you’re interested in learning more about the different Honda’s available at our “Really Big Sales Event”, or to calculate your own monthly payment, feel free to visit Jack Matia Honda.

Honda Odyssey Honored with MotorWeek’s 2012 Driver’s Choice Award

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Honda Cars

At Jack Matia Honda we are excited to announce yet another prestigious award for our popular Honda Odyssey minivan.

The 2012 MotorWeek Driver’s Choice Award for Best Minivan was awarded to the 2012 Honda Odyssey earlier this month. This is the sixth time the Odyssey has been honored the Driver’s Choice Award from MotorWeek, with awards for the years 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006 and now 2011/2012.

The eight-passenger Honda Odyssey features the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating for an eight-passenger minivan with an average 28 mpg*. The Odyssey minivan has also earned the best possible safety ratings from both NHTSA and the IIHS (Top Safety Pick for 2012), a milestone that no other currently-tested minivan can match.

“Beyond great packaging, class-leading fuel economy, unparalleled safety ratings and cutting-edge family-friendly features, the Odyssey was designed to be fun to drive.” said Michael Accavitti, VP of marketing operations for American Honda. “Being honored with a Motorweek Driver’s Choice Award for a second consecutive year confirms that the Odyssey remains the best minivan choice for those who truly enjoy driving.”

Visit Jack Matia Honda and jump in our newest 2012 Honda Odyssey for a test drive and see for yourself what the auto industry is buzzing about.

Jack Matia Honda Blog

Your Elyria, OH Honda Dealer