Top 10 most-stolen vehicles of 2011 released by NICB [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Videos, Honda

There are plenty of lists on which consumers love to see their vehicles, but the National Insurance Crime Bureau annual "Hot Wheels" roster is likely not be one of them. The Illinois-based NICB has just released its annual top 10 list of stolen vehicles using 2011 data submitted by law enforcement agencies. The good news that comes out of this report is that the NICB says car theft has dropped by 3.3 percent compared to 2010, and last year was the lowest for vehicles thefts since 1967.

For the most part, this list has been dominated by pre-1997 cars that lack smart key technology, but as crooks get more high tech, thefts of late-model cars have been on the rise. Smart keys have a chip in the key or fob for improved theft protection, and with dealerships having access to the code for vehicle transponder keys, the NICB says that some thieves are getting around that by cajoling a dealership employee into handing over a car's key code. The bogus keymaking scheme is apparently only a fraction of theft scenarios, though: the organization tracked some 531,031 key code transactions (read: key replacement instances) in the first quarter of this year, and apparently, 277 vehicles related to those instances were stolen within a week of the transaction.

In 2011, the top 10 most-stolen vehicles as indicated by the NICB Hot Wheels lists were:

1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1998 Honda Civic
3. 2006 Ford F-Series
4. 1991 Toyota Camry
5. 2000 Dodge Caravan
6. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 1999 Chevrolet Silverado
8. 2004 Dodge Ram
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 1994 Nissan Sentra

Since 2008, the 1994 Honda Accord has topped the list of most-stolen vehicles, but for the most part, the list always contains many of these same makes and models with slight changes in the model year.

To protect yourself from having your vehicle stolen, the NICB recommends using common sense when parking your car and equipping your vehicle with an alarm and immobilizing device (ironically, this includes smart keys).

Scroll down for the video and press release.

Continue reading Top 10 most-stolen vehicles of 2011 released by NICB [w/video]

Top 10 most-stolen vehicles of 2011 released by NICB [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autoblog.com

Honda Automobiles: 2013 Accord Production with Ohio Governor

2013 Accord Production with Ohio Governor

Source: hondanews.com

2013 Honda Accord production fires up with Earth Dreams power

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

Production of the "Earth Dreams" powertrains that will slot into the 2013 Honda Accord got underway at the Japanese automaker's Anna Engine and Honda Transmission Mfg. plants last week, and both facilities have begun feeding engines and gearboxes to the Marysville, Ohio, assembly lines where the 2013 Accord has started rolling off the lines. A ceremony marking the start of the new generation's assembly today also served to celebrate Honda's 30 years of production in the States.

As one would expect with car as important to Honda as the ninth-generation Accord, the company has made a huge investment in the North American debut of its new direct-injected, 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a new CVT transmission and a 3.5-liter V6 and its optional six-speed automatic. Honda has spent $220 million on expansions, casting operations and automated lines for its associates, and the plant is now able to make 1.8 million Earth Dreams engines annually.

The new engines are said to be good for a 10-percent improvement in fuel economy compared to current offerings, and the powerplants will eventually migrate to other models in Honda's lineup. Check out the press releases below for more information.

Continue reading 2013 Honda Accord production fires up with Earth Dreams power

2013 Honda Accord production fires up with Earth Dreams power originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autoblog.com

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #296 LIVE

Filed under: Etc., Bentley, Honda, Land Rover

We record Episode #296 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #296

• 2013 Land Rover Range Rover
• Bentley to drop 6.75 liter V8
• Honda 'Earth Dreams' drivetrains enter production

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #296 LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autoblog.com

Honda Automobiles: Honda President at Accord Launch

Honda President at Accord Launch

Source: hondanews.com

Honda Automobiles: 2013 Honda Accord Start of Production Ceremony B-roll

2013 Honda Accord Start of Production Ceremony B-roll

Source: hondanews.com

Asimo has a friend! Honda debuts Miimo robotic lawnmower

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Honda, Middle East, Electric, Luxury

People who know me say that if it weren't for Autoblog, I'd probably be running a site called Mowerblog. I'm unusual in that lawn mowing, to me, is a form of relaxation, a hobby like knitting or racquetball is for someone else. As such, I try to buy the best equipment, and that means there's a Honda mower in my garage.

You didn't know? The company that builds the Accord and Civic are to lawn mowers what Lamborghini is to cars. But today, Honda has introduced a new mower called Miimo that takes me out of the equation entirely. Miimo is an autonomous robotic mower that Honda will be selling in the European market only (for now) starting in 2013.

Miimo runs on power supplied by its lithium-ion battery pack and, just like a Roomba robotic vacuum, will return to its charging station for a fresh batch of electrons when it runs out. Upon purchase, an authorized installer will set up the charging station, as well as run the boundary wire around the perimeter of the yard in which Miimo has to stay. The mower can operate in a random pattern (again, like a Roomba), a directional mode where it mows back and forth in lines, or a combination of the two. As for safety, Miimo has bump sensors so it won't break any potted plants, and if lifted off the ground, its blades will automatically stop and starting up again requires entering a unique PIN number.

Miimo will come in two models, 300 and 500, which refer to their maximum perimeter cuts, and according to Honda, a 500 can mow up to 3,000 square meters or three quarters of an acre. Honda hasn't mentioned pricing, but going by the cost of its push mowers in the U.S., Europeans should expect to pay a premium for giving Asimo's best friend a home.

Will the Miimo replace my HRX217VKA? Probably not anytime soon. While the market for robotic lawnmowers is growing, especially with green-conscious homeowners searching for less-polluting lawn care equipment, human supervision is still required and, at least for people like me, buying a Miimo would mean giving up those precious few hours a week where I can't hear the rest of the world over the sound of the blades.

Continue reading Asimo has a friend! Honda debuts Miimo robotic lawnmower

Asimo has a friend! Honda debuts Miimo robotic lawnmower originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autoblog.com