Honda has been known for different kinds of products other than automobiles. In fact, Honda started out as a motorcycle company. Eventually the brand earned its spot among top competitors for producing fuel-efficient and reliable vehicles at an affordable price. But now Honda wants to take it a step further, raising the curiosity of Sunnyvale used Honda Element shoppers. 

Just a few days, ago, Honda announced the UNI-CUB, a personal mobility device to help people get around in their environment. The concept is somewhat similar to the Segway – however, the UNI-CUB is intended for use indoors, such as the home or the office. Loyal Honda fans are undoubtedly interested in the new development, and so is our sales team here at Capitol Honda.

The UNI-CUB is powered by a lithium-ion battery and has a compact design with a seat fashioned like a saddle. The machine can move in any direction the rider chooses, regardless of the direction he or she is facing. Riders can control it by simply shifting their weight in the direction they wish to travel, or they can also use the UNI-CUB’s smartphone app.

By just looking at this model, it seems like the machine would be quite enjoyable to ride. Unfortunately, we won’t have it in our inventory for interested consumers to test drive. However, Honda will be testing the UNI-CUB next month at Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

For more information about the new UNI-CUB, or to test drive one of Honda’s noteworthy models such as the 2012 Honda Accord, feel free to stop by our dealership and consult one of our sales team members. We are eagerly waiting to assist you.

Many consumers and car-savvy individuals know that Kelley Blue Book is the largest – and perhaps most credible – automotive vehicle valuation company in the United States, and its website is a top source for new and used vehicle pricing and information. But what does this have to do with Honda? Why, the 2012 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, that’s what.

The 2012 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards honor the automotive brands that have most successfully captured positive consumer attention, based on the company’s Brand Watch™ study – and Honda has earned the Best Value Brand and Most Trusted Brand categories (and the bragging rights to go with them).Of course, the recognition comes as no surprise to any of us here at Capitol Honda. After all, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com shares with us why Honda was chosen: “Without surprising anyone, our inaugural Most Trusted Brand award goes to a name that’s practically synonymous with reliability and dependability. Honda’s vehicles enjoy a decades-deep reputation as the smart choice in so many of the categories in which it competes.” Need we explain further?

So if you’re looking for a Sunnyvale used Honda Element or a 2012 Honda Accord, you can rest assured that you are choosing a brand that a reputable organization identifies as having the best value and considers the most trusted. We are waiting to show off our inventory.

Nearly every industry goes through a struggle every now and then, and the automotive industry is no exception. Whatever the cause, most companies manage to get right back on that horse and ride into the sunset – just like our very own Honda. Milpitas Honda shoppers browsing our inventories can share our pride as Honda reports concrete evidence of what has turned out to be a remarkable recovery. 

Honda posted April U.S. sales of 122,000 vehicles just a few days ago. On a “selling-day” average for the month, Honda sales were up nine percent over the same time last year. But to what exactly can we attribute this success? Which models proved to be most popular, allowing Honda to make a comeback? According to Brand Channel’s website, the “faster-than-expected regrowth of demand in the U.S. is in large part attributable to sales of Honda’s remodeled CR-V crossover vehicle,” which increased by about 24 percent year-to-date compared to last year’s model version.

But we can’t let the 2012 Honda CR-V take all the glory. The Honda Accord sold 26 percent more units this past April than last year. This may come as a shock to industry-savvy consumers, since the Accord was considered “old” by industry standards in its current design. But John Mendel, American Honda’s executive vice president of sales, explains: “The quality and value of the Honda Accord continues to win new customers even as we prepare to launch an all-new model this fall.” We know that our sales team members are just as excited as Honda fans and consumers to hear that a new addition is on the way. The waiting is the hardest part.

To learn more about other new models and designs, feel free to visit our dealership and consult one of our knowledgeable sales representatives. We are eager to discuss anything Honda.

Raise your hand if you hate traffic. If your hand isn’t raised, then you probably don’t drive very often. Most of us hate traffic, and for good reason. All you do is sit there, slowly inching along, trying to avoid hitting the car in front of you while others try to get in your lane. Milpitas used car drivers know exactly what I’m talking about. The worst of it all? There’s nothing you can do about it – until Honda came along. 

Honda will become the first company to successfully build the world’s first traffic congestion detector. The technology will determine a person’s driving pattern – more specifically, the acceleration and deceleration patterns of the vehicle – and the likelihood to cause a traffic jam. By recording the driving pattern of a driver, the system can determine whether or not that pattern can cause traffic congestion. It seems like Honda just keeps getting smarter and smarter.

So how exactly will the system work? How the heck will we know about what’s happening on the road? The information is displayed via a color-coded display on a terminal inside the vehicle. The display encourages drivers to drive smoothly while minimizing the intensity of acceleration and deceleration.

We know what consumers shopping for a 2012 Honda Accord are thinking – how will Honda be able to pull this off? Honda has been experimenting and testing for quite some time now, and the results revealed that the system was able to improve the average speed and fuel efficiency of cars. As far as public-road testing is concerned, Honda hopes to begin within the next couple of months (but not in the U.S.). No word as to when the system will be offered for the public, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will be within the next year.

Now more than ever is the time to pay attention to how we are treating our environment. Recycling is officially “cool,” and littering is looked down upon. And how is our favorite Japanese dealership helping fight the battle against a deteriorating planet? The best way to find out is to stop by your favorite new and used car dealer near Fremont (ahem, Capitol Honda). 

Honda is doing more than just producing eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles. American Honda Motor Co, Inc. has announced a “Green Dealer” program for all independently-owned Honda and Acura dealers here in the United States. The Honda Environmental Leadership Award and Acura Environmental Leadership Award will be given to dealers who significantly reduce their environmental impact, beginning with a minimum 10% reduction in total energy use at their building.

There are three levels of achievement: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Dealerships who achieve the aforementioned 10% reduction in total energy use, develop a water use reduction plan, and implement a comprehensive recycling program will receive the Silver Achievement Award. Gold level dealers must achieve continuous improvement in their reduction and conservation goals above and beyond the Silver level. Dealerships who want to be the best of the best can shoot for the Platinum Achievement Award, which requires LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Here at Capitol Honda, we are extremely excited for the opportunity. The environment won’t help itself – and to be honest, we didn’t make it any better over the past thousand years. Nevertheless, Honda has found a creative way to promote green awareness and practice, and we fully support the program. Consumers shopping for a 2012 Honda Civic hybrid can learn more about the project or do their part and purchase a hybrid by consulting one of our  sales team members.

Green technology has made a huge impact on the automotive industry, and has proven that its here to stay. But of course, we aren’t complaining. Sunnyvale used Honda Element owners know that they can count on Honda for producing fuel-efficient vehicles at an affordable price – but now the Japanese automaker is taking it to the next level. 

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced that it has joined forces with IBM and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for a special project that will allow communication between electric vehicles (EVs) and the power grid, according to a press release on PRNewswire.com. What this means for Honda is that EVs will be able to receive and respond to charge instructions based on the grid condition and the vehicle’s battery state. As a result, energy providers will be able to more effectively manage charging and create consumer-friendly programs in hopes to further persuade consumers to choose EVs over conventional gas models.

If this project comes out as a winner, it will combine grid and vehicle data to create an individual charging plan for Honda’s Fit EV, using IBM’s cloud-based software platform. The Fit EV will be able to interact with utilities and the power grid to create a direct channel for sending and receiving usage information that could improve local grid management.

Okay, we know this is a lot to take in. But basically, Honda is working with reputable organizations to enable power grids and EVs to work together. One of the reasons for initiating this project is that plug-in vehicle counts continue to grow to an expected 2.9 million worldwide by 2017. Hence, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid shoppers won’t be the only ones to have hopped on the bandwagon within the next few years.

Honda proves that not only does it think about its customers when producing new vehicles, but the environment and the energy supply as well. To learn more about the collaboration, or to check out the many fuel-efficient models that Honda has to offer, please visit Capitol Honda and have a chat with one of our sales team members.

Thanks to many renovations in technology (more specifically, automotive technology), we get to enjoy more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicles. Driving such vehicles can be good for everyone – after all, we love our planet, and we love saving money even more. One of the leaders in green technology, our very own Honda, has never failed loyal customers or fans in terms of providing fuel-efficient models, and the company doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

The engineers and designers at Honda have been very busy as of recently, and soon enough we will be able to see the products of such hard work – but from a distance. Unfortunately for 2012 Honda Civic shoppers here in the United States, Chinese consumers will be introduced to these models in the near future. As far as the U.S. is concerned, only time will tell.

So what models are being unleashed on the lucky consumers across the Atlantic? According to Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., at least four hybrids will be launched in China, under both Honda and Acura brand names. The 2013 CR-Z Hybrid, 2013 Insight Hybrid, and 2013 Fit Hybrid will be released this year, while the Acura NSX with hybrid powertrain shortly after.

Sunnyvale used Honda Element shoppers are understandably disappointed that us Honda fans and shoppers in the United States wont get to see the new hybrid lineup in person. However, it’s possible that Honda sales are doing so awesome here that there isn’t an immediate need to supply newer products for us. Good for us – although having access to three new hybrids would be good, too. Until our favorite Japanese automaker gets the chance to unleash such models here, interested consumers are encouraged to visit Capitol Honda to browse our inventories.

Honda fans and owners would agree that the Japanese automaker is known for producing fuel efficient cars that drivers can count on. But every now and then, every car company likes to work on something a bit more sexy and exhilarating. Fremont used Honda shoppers may be interested to learn that our beloved Honda unveiled a concept version of their next sexy and exhilarating project. 

The next-generation Acura NSX hybrid sports car was unleashed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show back in January. Consumers shopping for a 2012 Honda Accord are aware that Acura is Honda’s sister/luxury brand, and may reconsider their purchase after learning more about this exciting development.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) president Erik Berkman also announced that plans to race the vehicle are currently being discussed, and that Honda will most likely develop the NSX to take on speedy competitors: “The new NSX is being designed and built in America and will be developed for racing in the U.S. by HPD . . . What we are saying is that the car will race but not where and when.”

When it comes to details, there aren’t many to share as of yet. For now, we can tell you that the concept shown in Detroit was equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine combined with Acura’s hybrid all-wheel-drive system and two electric motors. Honda fans and shoppers can look forward to seeing the model in dealership lots in 2014, and raced in 2015. For the time being, feel free to visit Capitol Honda to discuss other model concepts and releases with one of our sales team members.

With gas prices stubbornly rising, many consumers are finding fuel economy a significant concern when shopping for new and used vehicles. Luckily for them, green technology has become a huge hit, enabling vehicles to achieve a higher gas mileage every model year. Now consumers browsing the inventories of Fremont-area used car dealers will be especially interested in the newest addition to the Honda lineup – the Civic. 

Shoppers and new owners of a 2012 Honda Civic are probably confused by this – after all, didn’t the Japanese automaker just release the 2012 model version 18 months ago? This is very true; however, the car company initiated a mid-cycle change to the popular vehicle. John Mendel, executive vice president at American Honda Motor Co., indicated that the company hoped to get a mid-cycle “freshening” for the Civic sometime in 2013. Recently they rushed it up to late 2012.

Consumers who closely follow the automotive industry may know that most mid-cycle changes are usually minor – however, Honda intends to dramatically revamp the Civic for the 2013 model year. In any case, the Civic is still a top contender for the title of best-selling compact car. Of course, our sales team members here at Capitol Honda and current Civic owners know why, but we encourage skeptics to visit our dealership and take a test drive to see for themselves.

Shoppers and fans are undoubtedly curious to see what mid-cycle changes will be done to the Civic, and luckily they won’t have to wait too much longer. In the meantime, our sales team members are available for consultation.

When it comes to body styles, many companies stick to similar styles in their respective segments. But every once in a while, an automaker thinks outside the box – or rather, about the box. Fremont used Honda shoppers may know what I’m referring to here. The 2012 Honda Pilot features a unique “boxy” body style that although unconventional, comes with many favorable qualities.  

First off, let’s talk about the performance equipment. The 2012 Pilot is equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and that utilizes four-wheel-drive. This equipment enables the SUV to achieve an EPA-combined 20 mpg – all while still producing 250 horsepower.

As one may expect, the exterior style enables the 2012 Honda Pilot to offer more than enough cargo space, along with a center stack jam-packed with user controls. Individuals who were lucky enough to test drive the model – such as the editorial team at Autoweek – have raved about the comfortable and quite ride.

Road Test Editor, Jonathan Wong, describes the 2012 Honda Pilot: “So the Pilot is a comfortable and flexible midsize SUV. The interior is built with nice materials, there are plenty of storage compartments in the massive center console and the seats are supportive and good over the long haul. And, even with the five-speed automatic, it returns competitive fuel-economy figures.”

How can anyone resist the model after reading a description like that? If you feel like succumbing to temptation, take the initiative to visit us here at Capitol Honda. We promise that you will fall in love with the 2012 Honda Pilot as soon as you step inside the driver’s seat.