2014 Honda Cr-v Ex-l on 2040-cars

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Can Fernando Alonso win Indy? Here's why and why maybe not

SPEEDWAY, IN – The month of May has been a joy ride for Fernando Alonso at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The two-time Formula 1 champion came to Indy having never turned left in a race car without also turning right. But he acquired such a feel for Indy's 2 1/2 -mile rectangle during a month of practice and qualifying that he's considered a strong contender to win the 101st Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, rookie or not. "You're not trying to bring somebody on who has very little experience driving very high-performance cars," said 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil deFerran, who this month has helped Alonso learn the nuances that make the speedway such a tough place to conquer. "I suppose it would be a little bit different if you were dealing with a younger, much less experienced person." Driving a McLaren Honda from the potent Andretti Autosport team, Alonso was consistently near the top of the speed charts in practice, he qualified fifth fastest at 231.300 mph, and he handled runs in heavy traffic like a driver who'd done it many times before. But those were the prelims. The race is another creature. "The car felt the best (it has) in the last two weeks. I was making some moves, taking some different lines. I am extremely happy." Other drivers say the speedway looks different on race day when the crowd, expected to top 300,000, fills the grandstands and makes an already narrow track seem even tighter. The three-wide rolling start is something Alonso has never experienced, and he will see the green flag from the middle of the second row between Takuma Sato and J.R. Hildebrand. And the space he'll be given by his competitors in the first 180 laps may disappear In the last 20 when it's every driver for themselves. Can a rookie like Alonso win this race? Absolutely, as Andretti driver Alexander Rossi showed last year when his team used a fuel-mileage strategy to win in his first taste of Indy. We're talking about Fernando Alonso here, who easily could show his rookie stripes to the rest of the field most of the day. His best lap in Friday's final practice, 226.608, was fifth fastest in the field and, more important, he said the car felt comfortable in heavy traffic. "The car felt the best (it has) in the last two weeks," Alonso said. "I was making some moves, taking some different lines.

2013 Honda Civic

Lather, Rinse, Repeat
On some level, it's hard to blame Honda for the strategy it took with its new-for-2012 Civic. Executives looked at the key players on the market as the model was being developed, soaked in the growing global economic malaise, and decided that if they wanted to make decent money on their small car, they'd have to find creative ways to take cost out of its build. In light of the financial crisis, consumers and critics would surely understand some belt-tightening in order to secure the company's legendary reliability, resale value and ease-of-use, right?
So Honda took a pass on expensive new technology - more complex transmissions, forced induction, active aero, and so on. And it also substituted in some cheaper interior materials, skimped on sound deadening, creature comforts and found lots of little ways to save money. Surely in a segment where the frankly ancient and moth-eaten Toyota Corolla has consistently ranked among the sales leaders, nobody would care, eh?

2016 Honda Accord refresh adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

The ninth-generation Honda Accord gets a thorough refresh for 2016, and the big theme here is technology. Inside and out, the updated Accord packs a host of upgrades in an effort to keep Honda's best-seller fresh in the minds of consumers. The big news is a new, seven-inch Display Audio infotainment interface with two of the latest in-car tech must-haves: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These come standard on EX models and above. The revised infotainment system doesn't replace the outgoing two-screen setup inside the Accord, however. There's a larger, 7.7-inch screen above the Display Audio screen, with steering wheel-mounted controls that allow access to things like audio information, the rear-view camera, and side LaneWatch camera. Outside, the car looks more tech-focused, with expanded LED lighting. All cars now have LED taillamps, and the Touring trim adds full LED headlamps. With its restyled front fascia, the 2016 Accord looks a lot more Acura than Honda, for better or worse. Both sedan and coupe body styles are available, with a new, larger 19-inch wheel option on upper-level models. Powertrains carry over largely unchanged. On the base end there's a 2.4-liter, naturally aspirated inline-four, available with either a continuously variable transmission or a six-speed manual 'box. Honda will continue to offer its 3.5-liter V6, as well, with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Check out the new Accord in the gallery above, and scroll down below for the official press blast. The 2016 Honda Accord hits dealers in August. Honda Introduces the Highest Tech Accord Yet in High Tech's U.S. Hub—Silicon Valley - Upgraded 2016 Accord features one of the first applications of both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ in a volume-produced vehicle - More dynamic styling, including first 19-inch wheels on Accord - Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive tech available on all trims - New 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 23, 2015 – Honda introduced a refreshed 2016 Accord loaded with advanced technology in Silicon Valley today, the first time the company has launched a new vehicle in the U.S. tech hub. Coming to market in August, the 2016 Accord will be the first Honda model and among the first high-volume cars in the marketplace to feature both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. These and other major upgrades to technology and features make it the most high-tech Accord ever.