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2017 Honda Ridgeline enters the landscape block war

In the test of pickup truck beds, if steel is apples and aluminum is oranges, Honda wants you to know that composites are pineapples. Chevy recently performed a test in which its own Silverado was pitted against its most obvious competitor, the Ford F-150. A loader dropped over 800 pounds of landscaping blocks into the two truck beds, and Ford's aluminum bed ended up with more damage than Chevy's steel bed. Check that test out right here. Honda apparently wasn't content to let Chevy throw stones alone. In a new test, the Japanese automaker replicated the block-drop test using its brand-new Ridgeline truck, which features a composite bed. As you'll see in the video above, there was very little damage to the high-strength plastic bed of the Ridgeline after a similar load of landscaping blocks were dropped from a loader. Without being on hand at any of these tests, we can't say with any degree of certainty that they match up in severity. But they all look pretty similar, and this is actually a test that Honda performed in front of journalists ( ourselves included) earlier this year. We visually inspected the composite bed of a Ridgeline after a demonstration just like the one on video above, and can confirm that there was basically no damage to Honda's truck. Chevy went an extra step by flinging a heavy toolbox into the Silverado and F-150; Honda didn't match that particular test. Does any of this matter? That's up to truck buyers and owners to decide, naturally, but we doubt anyone would actually dump a load like this into their own truck. And it's also worth noting that a heavy-duty spray-on bedliner would probably minimize damage to the metal surface below, whether steel or aluminum. If nothing else, it's memorable marketing. Related Video:

Honda adopts English as its official language in meetings worldwide

Japanese was clearly the language of operation while we visited Honda's global headquarters in Tokyo last week, as well as its newest factory and principal test track. Chief executive Takanobu Ito (pictured above) spoke to us through an interpreter. But according to the latest reports, the Japanese language is being phased out at Honda in favor of English.
This according to Bloomberg, which points out that tire manufacturer Bridgestone and rival automaker Nissan have implemented similar measures, as have Japanese retail giants Fast Retailing Co. and Rakuten Inc. Honda's shift from Japanese to English comes as part of a shift in focus from central decision-making to a more regional model, but while English has clearly emerged as the international language of business, it's no coincidence that it's also the dominant language here in America. Bloomberg points out that over the 12-month period that ended this past March, North America accounted for a massive 47 percent of Honda's revenues worldwide.

Honda recalls 2016 Civic 2.0-liter engine for piston issue

The Basics: Honda will recall 42,129 examples of the 2016 Honda Civic sedan with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the US. These models have build dates between September 22, 2015, and February 3, 2016. The issue does not affect the Civic Coupe. The Problem: The pistons might not have a wrist pin circlip or the part's installation could be incorrect. This problem could cause the engine to seize, leading to engine damage and an increased risk of fire or a crash. Injuries/Deaths: There are no deaths, but there was an unconfirmed report of a minor injury that didn't require medical attention, according to Honda. There was also a report of one engine fire, which was separate from the minor injury. The Fix: Dealers will inspect the engines and replace any damaged parts as necessary. If You Own One: Honda won't have the parts ready until this summer. Owners will receive initial notification about the recall in March, and they'll get a second letter when the components are ready. More Information: Honda already issued a stop sale on the 2016 Civic Sedan equipped with the 2.0-liter engine due to this problem. RECALL Subject : Piston Wrist Pin Circlips may not be Secured Report Receipt Date: FEB 09, 2016 NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V074000 Component(s): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Potential Number of Units Affected: 42,129 All Products Associated with this Recall close Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) HONDA CIVIC 2016 Details Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) SUMMARY: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip. CONSEQUENCE: If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire. REMEDY: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners will be mailed an interim notification beginning March 15, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.