2006 White Honda Odyssey Ex-l W/ Dvd Minivan V6 3.5l (beige Leather Interior) on 2040-cars

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Honda China struggling with high-end Accord because Chinese covet German cars, too

It's not particularly unusual to see cheap cars in China, or those with designs stolen from foreign competitors, but increasingly the best-selling vehicles there would be very recognizable to just about any auto enthusiast. There appears to be one fact of life whether looking at car buyers in Sacramento, Stuttgart or Shanghai: People who can afford to buy premium cars often look first at the Germans.
Honda recently thought that it could challenge this perceived wisdom by including a premium Accord in the ninth-generation sedan's Chinese launch last year. The market-exclusive version was priced against the Audi A4. The venture failed, miserably.
According to Automotive News China, sales for the new Accord in China are down 37 percent through May of this year. Honda's overall sales are actually up by about 11 percent there on the strength of smaller, less profitable models. However, the company is still off its forecast 19-percent rise.

Honda settles class-action lawsuit over oil-burning V6s

Although we hadn't heard of this issue before, Automotive News reports that Honda has agreed to settle a massive class-action lawsuit brought against it for engine trouble potentially affecting nearly 1.6 million vehicles. The lawsuit includes Accord (2008-12), Odyssey (2008-13), Pilot (2009-13) and Crosstour (2010-13) models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management, which might experience engine misfire, excessive oil burning and premature spark plug fouling issues.
As part of the settlement, Honda will extend the powertrain warranty on these models for eight years (from time of purchase or lease) with no mileage limitation, and it will also reimburse customers who had to pay out-of-pocket expenses for related repairs such as spark plugs, pistons or, in some cases, apparently, an entirely new engine. (Of course, the repairs had to be related to certain trouble codes.) Lawyers will get no more than $800,000 from Honda and the guy who originally started the case, Vince Eagen, will get $1,000 for his "time and effort."
The final ruling on the matter will take place on March 21, 2014, and if you want to see if you're affected and what options you have in the settlement, check out this .pdf document with all the details.

Honda shows off 2015 Euro-market Jazz

The 2015 Honda Jazz is here, wearing much the same look we caught on the Jazz "concept" at the Paris Motor Show last year. No, make that exactly the same look as the "concept," save for the fog lights on the pictured model. A move to the same global B-segment platform as the Honda HR-V makes the new Jazz lighter and stiffer than before, and pays all kinds of benefits for the subcompact. Prime among them is interior space - Honda says it's class-leading - the new hatch being 95 millimeters longer. The fuel tank is underneath the front seats, leaving the rear bench free for the installation of Honda's Magic Seat system. Three potential cargo bay arrangements are called "Utility," "Tall," and "Long," achieved by rearranging the positions of the rear seatbacks and bolsters. The Honda Connect infotainment system uses a seven-inch touchscreen, hooks up to the Internet, and transmits real-time news and Internet radio. Following a trend of buyer-installable navigation working through the factory screen, integrated Garmin Nav is an option, and other apps can be downloaded from the Honda App Center. Ride quality and interior comfort get a boost thanks to the 30-mm longer wheelbase and suspension re-engineered with better, lighter parts and new dampers, as well as geometry more inclined to the dynamic. The lighter platform bones let Honda load up on soundproofing, creating a quieter cabin. A 1.3-liter VTEC gasoline engine sits underhoood, offering 101 horsepower, with a new six-speed transmission for a semi-automatic CVT for shifting. Driver safety systems make an appearance here, too, include Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist, and High-beam Support. Some of those features will only be available in Europe, naturally, but we'll obviously get a lot of goodies on our Fit, too. The press release below has the particulars. ALL-NEW HONDA JAZZ REDEFINES B-SEGMENT WITH ADDED SPACE, VERSATILITY, REFINEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY - Third generation Jazz based on Honda's global B-segment platform - New 1.3 litre i-VTEC petrol engine from Earth Dreams Technology series - Extra interior space, made versatile with Magic Seats® system - Bold, fresh exterior and refined cabin - New Honda Connect infotainment system - Advanced Driver Assist Systems enhance safety 24.02.2015 -- Arriving in Europe in summer 2015, the third-generation Jazz features bold yet sophisticated exterior and interior design, with unrivalled interior space and versatility.