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Honda Fit EV lease drops to $199 a month, but there's a catch

The Honda Fit EV just became a much better deal. When it first launched, Honda offered the car (in California and Oregon only) in 2012, the monthly price was $399. In 2013, the official lease price dropped to $259. Today, Honda announced that the fun little runabout will cost you just $199. The catch? For new customers, this price is only good on used Fit EVs. You can also take advantage of this deal If you're a current Fit EV lessee by extending your time with your car by two years for the new, lower $199-a-month price. The other limitations of the Fit EV lease – the fact that there's no purchase option at the end of the lease and that the car itself is still only available in "designated market regions" – remain, which means that getting this particular electric car is a better deal than it used to be, but it's still not a good Fit for everyone. Related Video: Honda Introduces New Lease Options for Existing and Prospective Fit EV Lessees Mar 23, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. Two-year Fit EV lease extension offered to existing lessees New, two-year used Fit EV lease offered to prospective customers Price reduced to $199 a month; no down payment and unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage included Honda is extending the reach of its efficient and fun-to-drive all-electric Fit EV (http://automobiles.honda.com/fit-ev/) through new lease programs for both existing and prospective Fit EV customers. For current, eligible Fit EV customers, Honda is offering a two-year lease extension that includes a lower $199 monthly payment1 (previously $259) and extends the unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage1 that were included in the original lease. The reduced lease price and matching two-year terms1 will also be available to new customers interested in driving a used Honda Fit EV. Honda shared the news to a group of Fit EV drivers at an event hosted at the Honda Smart Home US (http://www.hondasmarthome.com/) in Davis, CA on Saturday, March 21. "Most Fit EV drivers tell us they love their vehicles, and many have requested lease extensions and this extended lease program is intended to meet their needs," said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Hawaii is first state to sue Takata

Hawaii became the first state to sue Takata Corp. alleging the company knowingly sold potentially defective airbags in a suit filed May 13. The state also claims Takata covered up data showing the airbags were a danger and then delayed recalling them. Hawaii also named Honda Motor Co., which owns part of Takata, and Honda's US affiliates, American Honda Motor Co., and Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., in the complaint. The state claims Takata switched to lower-cost ammonium nitrate for its airbag inflators, despite internal testing that the propellant was "unpredictable and prone to explode." Hawaii, which brought the suit through its Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection, is seeking the maximum civil penalty of $10,000 per violation. It also wants Takata to make restitution to owners, run an educational campaign to spur owners to get their cars fixed, and repay profits made from the faulty airbags. Faulty Takata airbags have killed 13 people and are estimated to have injured more than a 100 more. NHTSA says 28.8 million vehicles with the airbags have been recalled, and potentially 40 million more may need to be recalled. Related Video: Image Credit: Getty Images Government/Legal Honda Safety lawsuit Hawaii

Honda teases racing motorcycle-powered concept for Frankfurt

With upcoming models like the next-gen Civic and NSX, Honda is working to return to its performance glory days. We'll see one more manifestation of that desire at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show with the Project 2&4 concept. The single teaser image leaves the styling to anyone's guess, but the vehicle is powered by the potent 1.0-liter V4 from the RC213V MotoGP race bike. Stuffing the high-strung motorcycle engine into the car should at least make a great noise. Unfortunately, Honda is keeping the details very scant in the teaser. The Project 2&4 has no cabin and is meant to combine "the freedom of a motorcycle and the maneuverability of a car." That suggests a low-slung, minimalist body with an emphasis on handling, and the image appears to show open wheels at the front and rear. The company also doesn't say whether it has the race bike's full competition engine with over 235 horsepower or the new street version with 157 hp to over 212 hp, depending on the spec. The Project 2&4's shape is the result of a global competition among the brand's studios. The winning design is the result of cooperation from the motorcycle stylists in Asaka, Japan, and the automotive team in Wako, Japan. We're curious to see what it actually looks like in Frankfurt. Honda to Showcase Re-energized Model Range at 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show Honda 2015 model range of entirely all-new and refreshed cars Global premiere of Honda Project 2&4 powered by RC213V, modified for public road use, showcasing Honda's uniquely creative engineering Honda UNI-CUB ? to make its German debut August 26, 2015 - The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show underlines an important year for Honda and will see the brand presenting its new model range of entirely refreshed and all-new cars displayed together. Alongside the new line-up, Honda will also showcase design concepts and advanced technologies, all demonstrating Honda's unique creativity in meeting the personal mobility challenges of today and the future. Honda Project 2&4 Powered by RC213V – embodiment of creativity and craftsmanship The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show will witness the global premiere of 'Honda Project 2&4'. A winner of the global design competition run by Honda between its global design studios, Honda Project 2&4 represents the company's drive to inspire and reward creative thinking.