Mirroring Sales Statistics, Honda's New CR-V, Civic, Accord among Most Popular Models with Shoppers on Kbb.com

IRVINE, Calif., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today reveals that Honda had three out of the four most-visited new cars during the first quarter of 2012 on its top-rated website, www.kbb.com.  The Honda CR-V was the most-shopped new vehicle on Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com during Q1 2012, with the Civic taking No. 2 and Accord following at No. 4 during the same time period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111102/AQ99077LOGO)

"With the recent redesign of Honda's CR-V, the brand hit a home run among in-market new-car shoppers garnering more traffic than any other new car on kbb.com during the first quarter of the year," said Akshay Anand, market intelligence web analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.  "Creating popular new product supported by witty and engaging marketing efforts, Honda clearly resonates strongly with consumers."

In-market new-car shoppers have taken a strong liking to the CR-V crossover thanks to its favorable recent redesign combined with increased visibility attributed to popular advertising, such as the 'Ferris Bueller'-themed TV spot airing during the Super Bowl in February.  In addition to its most-shopped status on kbb.com, the new CR-V also captured the No. 1 spot in compact crossover sales during Q1 2012.

The fuel-sipping Civic, also redesigned for 2012, undoubtedly benefitted from a spike in gas prices during the first quarter of the year.  The hot-selling compact model also has been supported by steady advertising for its sporty Si version and technology-laden EX-L trim.  The Civic holds the top spot in Q1 2012 sales in the highly competitive compact segment, besting the also-redesigned Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Jetta by a healthy margin. 

The Accord, a perennial highly shopped stalwart, has benefitted from recent increased buzz surrounding mid-size cars.  With many popular new designs hitting the mid-size class this year, including a forthcoming Accord redesign slated for fall and other hot-selling models with redesigns this year including Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima, the popular sedan segment is experiencing a renaissance.  The current-generation Accord continues to show impressive sales numbers even before the debut of its redesign later this year, outselling the popular new Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima while staying close on the heels of segment leader Camry in April 2012.

"Once the redesigned Accord arrives later this year, we could see a shakeup in the mid-size sedan category, especially as the competition heats up with the arrival of a redesigned Altima and Fusion," said Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.  "Boasting three of the top 10 best-selling cars during the first quarter of 2012 combined with mirrored interest from scores of new-car shoppers on kbb.com, Honda is poised for continued success this year."

Other popular Honda models placing among the top 50 most-visited new cars on kbb.com during Q1 2012 include the Odyssey at No. 24, Pilot at No. 28 and Fit at No. 45.

The redesigned Toyota Camry reached No. 2, and Hyundai's popular Sonata climbed to No. 5, to round out the top five most-visited new cars on Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com during Q1 2012.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), or like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb. 

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry.  Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Suggested Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week.  The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies.  Kbb.com provides consumer pricing and information on minivans, pickup trucks, sedan, hybrids, electric cars, and SUVs.  Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com ranked highest in its category for brand equity and was named Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year by the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study.  Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book

Dubbed as the fastest production Mini in history, the new John Cooper Works GP lapped the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in a very impressive 8 minutes and 23 seconds, which makes it about 19 seconds faster than the previous generation JCW GP model that sported a 1.6-liter force-fed unit with 210hp and 180 lb-ft (244Nm) of peak torque.

The British company won't say yet how many ponies are hiding under the second generation JCW GP's hood, but rumor has it the 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine has been tweaked to deliver 220- to 230-horses.

Mini says it has reworked the entire chassis with the upgrades including an adjustable sports suspension, four-spoke lightweight alloys, race-spec brakes and tires, plus new aerodynamic parts such as larger front and rear aprons, bespoke side skirts and roof spoiler, and a newly developed rear diffuser.

We do not get any pictures of the interior but like its predecessor, the new GP loses the rear seat bench to trim weight.

The sportiest variant of the Mini hatchback series will go on sale later this year in a limited run of 2,000 cars worldwide.

Aside from the hatchback, our spies have also captured Mini testing a GP version of the Coupe, which should be revealed towards the end of the year or in early 2013.

These days, they are focusing on re-establishing their careers. The married couple from Culver City, Calif., has no plans to start a family, catering instead to a pair of cats.

They actually are very much the kind of people who buy small, entry-level cars, like those showcased in the Cars.com/USA TODAY $16,000 Subcompact Shootout.

Robyn, 27, an audio technician, and Erik, 40, an illustrator, took turns behind the wheel of each of the seven contenders and came away with strong opinions, even though they aren't car shopping. They are delighted with the 1995 Toyota Avalon sedan they currently share.

In the end, they settled on the Honda Fit hatchback as their clear favorite for its power, comfort and visibility. They chose it despite being initially turned off by its snout, which Erik described as "insect-looking."

Their twin dogs were the Kia Rio- which they found noisy, rough and sluggish - and Nissan Versa, which seemed cheap.

They judged Versa, the cheapest car in the Shootout, not a value, even at a price some $3,000 below the rivals. They faulted the steering, ride and brake response. "You get what you pay for. It doesn't feel like you're getting a new car," Erik said.

Erik's putdown for the Rio and Versa: "If someone gave me one of those two cars, I would trade it in for a motorcycle."

Rio's corporate sibling, the Hyundai Accent, elicited little response from him: "a nice car but not spectacular."

Among the others, the two Detroit models fared well: They generally liked a lot about the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet's new Sonic.

Erik liked the motorcycle-like features of the Sonic, such as its dashboard display. Robyn appreciated the ease with which she could use her MP3 player. As for the Fiesta, she said, "They want you to forget that it's a Ford."

Robyn liked the acceleration and handling more in the Chevy. In the Fiesta, she said, "I don't feel like the car is hugging the road like the last one."

The Toyota Yaris didn't evoke much response. Although it's one of the newer models, they knocked it as feeling dated.

By contrast, they thought the Honda Fit could do little wrong during their drive. "As soon as you sit in it and drive it, you feel at home," Erik said. And Robyn said it surprised her: "It is not normally a car that I would consider."

She gave strong marks for overall value, and a backhanded compliment: "It's still ugly, but it's a great car."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2012 (Denver, CO) ? ACG Denver proudly announces the winners of the 2012 Corporate Growth Awards, which will be presented at the Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference on March 13th and 14th at the Inverness Hotel. Schomp Automotive won the Outstanding Corporate Growth Award and Alpine Waste & Recycling was named winner of the Emerging Corporate Growth Award.

The Outstanding Corporate Growth Award Winner, Schomp Automotive, established itself early on as one of the top family-owned and operated car dealership groups in the Denver area. Schomp's main focus is to build strong relationships with each of their customers and always ensure honesty, integrity and ethics are at the backbone of their company.

Schomp Automotive has supported a variety of community causes over the last 70 years.  A significant percentage of the company's marketing dollars are earmarked for public education, Colorado State Patrol's "Alive at 25" safe driving program, The Children's Hospital Burn Unit, and the Schomp BMW Denver Polo Classic benefiting the Active 20-30 Children's Foundation to name a few.

The Emerging Corporate Growth Award Winner, Alpine Waste & Recycling, is a Colorado owned and operated company founded in 1999. Alpine began with a simple premise, to provide an unprecedented level of service in the waste collection industry. Following this principle, Alpine has grown from a single truck company to the largest independent waste and recycling hauler in the Denver-Metro area. This growth is a result of the patronage of citizens and businesses of Colorado, and in turn Alpine is committed to giving back to the community.

Striving to continue to meet the demands of the community, Alpine has evolved into an industry leader in recycling initiatives. In 2007, Alpine opened the Altogether Recycling Plant. Only the second of its kind in Colorado, this facility has dramatically changed the recycling landscape, creating an additional outlet and competitive market for recyclable materials. Further cementing Alpine's role as a leader in sustainability initiatives, Alpine is the only company in Denver to offer commercial compost collection services.

The ACG-Denver Corporate Growth Awards program is designed to acknowledge exceptional innovators and leaders within the ACG community. Each year, ACG-Denver selects nominees from its chapter for the ACG Outstanding Corporate Growth and ACG Emerging Company Awards.

This year's conference will focus on helping middle-market companies achieve growth in the face of an ever changing and challenging marketplace under the theme: "Leading Resilient Growth" The two-day event will provide area business leaders the chance to share ideas during panel discussions, make valuable connections with leading business professionals, and discover new opportunities for growth.

For more information on the conference, visit www.rcmcgc.com or follow event developments by becoming a member of the Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference's LinkedIn Group, a sub-group of ACG Denver. Registration for the event is open and early bird rates are available through February 1st.

About ACG

Founded in 1954, the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) is a global association for professionals involved in corporate growth, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions. Today ACG stands at more than 12,000 members from corporations, private equity, finance, and professional service firms representing Fortune 500, Fortune 1000, FTSE 100, and mid-market companies in 53 chapters in North America and Europe. ACG-Denver was awarded Chapter of the Year in 2007.

About the Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference

The Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference is ACG Denver's annual premier event. ACG Denver members volunteer to spearhead this gathering of the Rocky Mountain Region's most venerable business leaders.

For more information, please visit www.rmcgc.com or contact:

Contact:            Kate Eggers

Title:                 Marketing Committee Chair

Telephone:        (303) 265-7826

Mobile:              (720) 841-1555

The Littleton dealership is hosting the MINI Roadster for a day before the official launch of MINI's first two-seat convertible.

LITTLETON, CO - January 6, 2012: Schomp MINI (www.schompmini.com) invites customers to join them on Monday, January 9^th, when they will be showcasing the all new 2012 MINI Roadster for a sneak peek of MINI's first ever two-seat convertible. The car is making its first official appearance during the Detroit Auto Show next week. According to Motor Trend, the car is essentially an open-air version of the new two-place Mini Coupe, but instead of a hard top styled after a backwards baseball cap, the Roadster wears a black fabric roof. Unlike the four-place Mini Convertible, the Roadster's roof is manually operated. Drivers simply twist a latch on the windshield frame and pull the roof back to its resting place behind the front seats.

The all-new MINI Roadster will be at Schomp MINI for the day, and will be available for sale in March.

When Honda sets sets its sights, it really sets them high. The company recently announced goals for its future drive technology at the Tokyo Auto Show. Those goals call for nothing less than achieving "top-of-industry fuel efficiency in every vehicle class within three years." Honda is calling the initiative "Earth Dreams Technology," and it encompasses everything from the company's internal combustion engines to hybrids, electric vehicles (EVs) and new transmission technology.

In terms of its green efforts, "Earth Dreams" means that Honda will commit to its new two-motor hybrid system that will realize "top-of-industry efficiency." Honda will utilize a special lithium-ion battery and charger paired with a high-output 120-kilowatt motor. This powertrain for hybrids will work through three driving modes, an "EV driving mode" for urban environments, a "hybrid driving mode" using electricity generated by the motor and an "engine-connected driving mode" where the engine and tires are mechanically connected during high-speed cruising. Honda expects begin production on these developments starting with the plug-in hybrid model in 2012 and the hybrid model in 2013.

image via Honda

Honda will also be developing an all-wheel-drive hybrid system for larger vehicles. This new system will combine a 3.5-liter V6 engine with an electric motor. Honda hopes to squeeze acceleration equivalent to V8 engines, as well as fuel efficiency equal or superior to in-line four-cylinder engines. The new hybrid will mount independent 20-kW-plus motors on both sides for the rear wheels combined with a seven-speed transmission system for "super handling all wheel drive."

On the electric front, Honda is looking toward its high-efficiency electric powertrain to lead it into the future. The system features high-capacity lithium-ion batteries and three separate driving modes ("sport", "normal" and "econ") to offer a range of 123 miles. Honda also claimed that the new electric powertrain cuts the recharging time to less than three hours when using a 240-volt U.S. electric source.

If you've been planning to buy s new car  and you've got luxury on your mind, you might want to stop by Schomp BMW. BMW has rolled out a slew of year-end deals to coincide with the launch of the new Mission Impossible movie.

BMWs will feature heavily in Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol, the latest Tom Cruise action flick. The two most visible will undoubtedly be the high-tech BMW Vision EfficientDynamics (the concept behind the 2014 BMW i8) and the new BMW 6-Series convertible, both of which were spotted in a previous trailer for the film. Many will be driven by Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt, and you can expect that they'll have lots of camera time during the film's action sequences.

In conjunction with its close-up, BMW has announced a year-end sales event dubbed "Mission to Drive". There are a range of deals up for grabs, like $500 off the BMW 1-Series and $2,500 off the 7-Series. There are also discounts to be found through local dealers, including low APRs and special lease rates. To see what's available on your model of choice, visit the BMW "Mission to Drive" website and start browsing. The sales event runs through January 2, 2012.

In the meantime, you can catch the new trailer for Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol at Motor Authority. Be sure to keep your mouse near the pause button for a blink-and-you'll-miss-it look at the i8 interior and stunning heads-up display.

Schomp Honda invited customers and employees to help stock a showroom Honda Odyssey with supplies to send to troops overseas.

 LITTLETON, Co- October 31, 2011: Schomp Honda is partnering with ABC and CBS in Denver and Colorado Springs to spread the word about the "Support our Troops" initiative in which Honda dealers stock vehicles with supplies to send to soldiers oversees.

In addition to Schomp Honda customers and employees, local schools, church groups, scout troops, and youth organizations are invited to leave goods and supplies in the "Support our Troops" Honda Odyssey which will be parked inside the dealership showroom.

The suggested donation list includes personal hygiene items, food items, and recreational items, like footballs, CDs, electronic hand held items, puzzles, and more.

"We are proud to participate in this initiative to support our troops, as a way to thank them for the great sacrifices they make to keep us safe," said Aaron Wallace of Schomp Honda. The initiative will run from November 2^nd through December 2^nd.

BMW has announced the roll out date for the Active5 Hybrid: March 2012.  First revealed at the Geneva Auto Show in 2010, the BMW Active5 Hybrid is based on the 5-series and uses the chassis of the BMW 535i.

As a hybrid, the Active5 uses both a 3-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line engine and a 40-kilowatt electric motor.  Together they work to produce a total of 340 hp and allow the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds.  The Active5 has an 8-speed automatic transmission and is expected to get 40 to 44 mpg, although no specific announcement has been made for the American version.

The Active5, which is BMW's third hybrid, also includes automatic stop-start technology.  When the vehicle is stopped, it turns off the engine, and turns it back on once the vehicle starts moving again.  The car's lithium ion battery also charges while the car is coasting or braking.

To conserve energy, the Active5 uses satellite navigation, which scans the road ahead.  It then takes that information and adjusts its energy usage accordingly.  For example, if the car will be climbing uphill, the system conserves battery power so it can kick in to help the engine once the car reaches the incline.  The car can also use only electric power to drive 2.4 miles at a top speed of 37 mph.

While the car has all the features of a hybrid vehicle, it still retains the look of luxury that BMW drivers have come to expect.  It also includes a four-zone climate control system.

The pricing hasn't been announced yet for the Active5's US roll out; however, in Europe it will start at 62,900 euro.  Be on the look out for this new hybrid in March 2012.

In addition to sponsoring the event that will feature a unique series of runway events each night, Schomp Automotive is hosting a Facebook contest that will grant each of four winners with four passes to attend.

DENVER, CO ? October 4, 2011: Schomp Automotive (www.RalphSchomp.org) is excited to once again sponsor Denver Fashion Weekend, a spectacular three-day event that includes runway presentations of Fall/Winter 2011 Fashion and hair trends. In addition to their sponsorship, Schomp Automotive is giving four lucky winners the opportunity to attend this fashion extravaganza by giving them four passes to attend.

Schomp Honda, Schomp BMW, and Schomp MINI Facebook fans are eligible to win the passes based on a random drawing. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 12^th.

Denver Fashion Weekend will be held at Exdo Event Center on Thursday, October 13^th ? Saturday, October 15^th, and will be hosted by Channel 2 and FOX 31's Chris Parente. This is the second Fashion Weekend event sponsored by Schomp Automotive this year.

Per 303 Magazine's News Release:

"Renowned runway producer, Autumn Binion (Au79 Productions), will execute the opening night (Thursday) and Annual Hair Show (Saturday) presentations ? rivaling the catwalks of international fashion houses. Binion has produced fashion shows in New York City and Los Angeles for A-list designers including Baby Phat, Jeremy Scott, Heatherette, Mara Hoffman, Nicholi by Nicky Hilton, Sass & Bide, Peter Som, and Cynthia Vincent, to name a few. Award-winning, celebrity make-up artist and 303 Magazine beauty editor, Katelyn Simkins, will produce the secondnight runway presentation (Friday). From natural to outlandish, Simkins prides herself on creating a cutting edge look to flatter each unique face she works with. Her prestigious client list includes Charlie Price, NIKE, Universal Studios, AnnaSophia Robb, Martin Sheen, Aaron Ekhart, Brendan Fraser, Emilio Estevez, Dennis Quaid, The Flobots, Hugh Dancy, John Cameron Mitchell, Seann William Scott, and Taylor Lautner."

About Schomp Automotive:

Founded by automotive pioneer Roy Weaver, Schomp Automotive has established itself as one of the top family-owned and operated dealership groups in the Denver area. Schomp Automotive's main focus is to build strong relationships with each of their customers and always ensure honesty, integrity and ethics are at the backbone of their company. President Lisa Schomp and General Manager Aaron Wallace are big supporters of the community, having raised almost $270,000 for the Children's Hospital in Colorado.

Related Links:

www.SchompHonda.com

www.SchompBMW.com

www.Facebook.com/SchompBMW

www.Facebook.com/SchompHonda

www.Facebook.com/SchompHonda

www.RalphSchomp.com

www.tier10marketing.com

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 26,865 vehicles, an increase of 15.1% from the 23,331 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.

Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 18% on sales of 143,521 in the first six months of 2011 compared to 121,585 in the same period in 2010.

"With all that's gone on in the world in the last month, our own economy and auto market are still volatile places so you'd better have the right models and business strategy to attract customers in this environment," said Jim O'Donnell, CEO, BMW of North America. "We've been fortunate to have both and that's why we're in the market leading position for the first half of 2011 and more new models are on the way giving us the opportunity to stay there."

BMW

New BMW Cars  and Used BMW Cars  - Brand Sales
Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 12.8% in June for a total of 21,637 compared to 19,182 vehicles sold in June, 2010.

Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 13% on sales of 113,705 January through June compared to 100,632 sold in the first six months of 2010.

In June, the BMW X3 SAV continued the strong sales success that began with its launch in January. Year-to-date, the new X3 has sold 12,725 compared with 3,439 in the same period of 2010, a 270% increase. The BMW 5 Series, now with a full-year of U.S. sales, continued its sales growth with June posting an almost 13% increase over June 2010. Year-to-date the 5 Series has sold 25,287 compared to 15,846 in the first six months of 2010, a nearly 60% increase. Convertibles, in particular the Z4 Roadster and the new 6 Series Convertible, gained additional traction in June with the Z4 up almost 120% and the 6 Series up nearly 80% over the previous June.

BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles
In June, sales of BMW used vehicles (including certified pre-owned and pre-owned) totaled 12,801, a decrease of 4.8% from the 13,445 sold in June 2010.

Year-to-date, BMW used vehicle sales are down 5% on volume of 79,511 compared to 83,723 in the first six months of 2010.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA reported sales of 5,228 automobiles in June, a new record for the month. The June 2011 sales are an increase of 26% over the 4,149 sold in June, 2010.

"Fuel prices have moderated in the last month or so but we are still seeing an increase in MINI sales" said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. "It's not just the new Countryman that's popular but the entry hardtop as well, telling me that more Americans are embracing small cars as a rational choice."

Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 42.3% on volume of 29,816 compared to 20,953 in the first six months of 2010. The January to June numbers are the highest achieved in that six month period since MINI was launched in the U.S. in 2002.

• US NCAP - The only luxury sedan with 5 stars under the new more stringent rating
• IIHS - Top Safety Pick
• Euro NCAP - 5 stars; awarded as "best performing car of 2010 in its class"; best pedestrian protection of all classes
• Euro NCAP - Advanced Award for Enhanced Automatic Emergency Call
• Australasian NCAP - 5 stars
• New Zealand Automobile Association - Motoring Excellence Award 2010 "Safest Vehicle of the Year"

Featuring the widest array of engine choices available in its class, the 2012 Civic is designed to even better meet the diverse needs of the compact-vehicle buyer when it launches this spring. The entire redesigned ninth-generation Civic lineup will become more fuel efficient with two models ? the all-new Civic HF and the Civic Hybrid ? each delivering fuel economy estimates of more than 40 mpg on the highway.

Built on the tradition of Honda fuel efficiency, the economical Civic HF model will be the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup when it launches this spring. Equipped with a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the Civic HF is targeted to earn EPA-estimated fuel economy1 of 41 mpg on the highway. The 2012 Civic Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy1 of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the current Civic Hybrid. Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models will be equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency and Honda ECO Assist™ technology, an innovation that can enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback to promote more efficient individual driving styles.

"The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts ? fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. "For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."

In addition to the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models, the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic GX Natural Gas models are also estimated to achieve improved fuel economy compared to the current models. The Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy2 of 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg when compared to the current model. The Civic Natural Gas vehicle is anticipated to earn a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the current model. The Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic Natural Gas models will all be equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.

Along with improved fuel economy, the new Civic lineup also delivers more performance, particularly with the Civic Si. The Civic Si sedan and coupe models will be equipped with a larger, more powerful 2.4-liter engine as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission. The new engine is anticipated to deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. Even with the larger engine and a 22 percent increase in torque, Civic Si is targeted to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy1 of 31 mpg; an increase of 2 mpg when compared to the current model.

The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline models, a new "HF" high fuel economy version, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.
Additional information on the new 2012 Civic will be announced closer to the on-sale date. For more information on the current Civic and other Honda models, please visit www.hondanews.com.

Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

• 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
• 5-speed automatic transmission
• ECO Assist technology
• EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg
• EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg

Civic Hybrid Specifications

• 110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)
• Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
• Lithium-ion battery
• ECO Assist technology
• EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg

Civic Si Specifications

• 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
• 6-speed manual transmission
• EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg

¹Preliminary EPA mileage estimates determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

²Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Denver International Auto Show

CarterEnergy Offers Education and Entertainment for Attendees

Denver, CO, January 13, 2011 -Denver is known for being one of the nation's "Greenest" cities, and the Denver Auto Show always showcases the latest in eco-friendly technologies. New to the 2011 Auto Show is the award-winning "What Will Fuel the Future?" Roadshow for kids of all ages.  CarterEnergy's  Roadshow display provides entertainment, education and fun for both the young and young at heart who attend the Auto Show. 

The RoadShow, designed to provide stimulating learning experiences for both children and adults, includes six educational exhibits focused on Energy:  

• What is Energy? - Interactive display which explores the differences between Renewable and Non-renewable Energy

• Energy Timeline - Graphic chronological timeline 

• From Fossils to Tank - Interactive model which demonstrates where Petroleum comes from

• Emerging Energy Sources - Hands-On display features video facts on a variety of Renewable energy sources (Corn, Wind, Solar, Hydrogen, Electric, Biofuels, etc.), chosen by the visitor

• The Energy Interactive - Computer kiosks which allow visitors to test themselves on what they learned, making them "Energy Experts" 

·         Fuels of the Future Racing Game - Hands-on remote-control Racing game that reinforces Renewables and Non-Renewables.

In addition to the RoadShow, "What Will Fuel the Future?" offers a website, WhatWillFuelTheFuture.com, with many available resources for educators. The website offers ideas for class projects, energy based games and activities, and free downloadable learning tools.

Attendees to the 2011 Denver Auto Show March 30-April 3 will see the newest 2011 and 2011 vehicles, latest technological innovations, concept cars, and fuel efficient hybrids and electrics. The entertainment is endless and it is truly a family event.

About the Denver Auto Show       

The Denver Auto Show will be held March 30-April 3, 2011 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 7 ? 12. Children 6 and under are free.  For details more information regarding the Auto Show, the public may call (800) 251-1563 or visit the Show's website www.denverautoshow.com

Show Hours:

Wednesday, March 30, 6-10PM

Thursday, March 31, 5-10PM

Friday, April 1, 12-10PM

Saturday, April 2, 10AM-10PM

Sunday, April 3, 10AM-6PM

The Honda vehicle lineup is truly committed to offering a complete package of vehicles that would meet the needs of modern drivers. When it comes to reliability, new Honda Pilots  definitely top the list combining high technology and high quality with the keen attention to satisfy customers.

These days, they are focusing on re-establishing their careers. The married couple from Culver City, Calif., has no plans to start a family, catering instead to a pair of cats.

They actually are very much the kind of people who buy small, entry-level cars, like those showcased in the Cars.com/USA TODAY $16,000 Subcompact Shootout.

Robyn, 27, an audio technician, and Erik, 40, an illustrator, took turns behind the wheel of each of the seven contenders and came away with strong opinions, even though they aren't car shopping. They are delighted with the 1995 Toyota Avalon sedan they currently share.

In the end, they settled on the Honda Fit hatchback as their clear favorite for its power, comfort and visibility. They chose it despite being initially turned off by its snout, which Erik described as "insect-looking."

Their twin dogs were the Kia Rio- which they found noisy, rough and sluggish - and Nissan Versa, which seemed cheap.

They judged Versa, the cheapest car in the Shootout, not a value, even at a price some $3,000 below the rivals. They faulted the steering, ride and brake response. "You get what you pay for. It doesn't feel like you're getting a new car," Erik said.

Erik's putdown for the Rio and Versa: "If someone gave me one of those two cars, I would trade it in for a motorcycle."

Rio's corporate sibling, the Hyundai Accent, elicited little response from him: "a nice car but not spectacular."

Among the others, the two Detroit models fared well: They generally liked a lot about the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet's new Sonic.

Erik liked the motorcycle-like features of the Sonic, such as its dashboard display. Robyn appreciated the ease with which she could use her MP3 player. As for the Fiesta, she said, "They want you to forget that it's a Ford."

Robyn liked the acceleration and handling more in the Chevy. In the Fiesta, she said, "I don't feel like the car is hugging the road like the last one."

The Toyota Yaris didn't evoke much response. Although it's one of the newer models, they knocked it as feeling dated.

By contrast, they thought the Honda Fit could do little wrong during their drive. "As soon as you sit in it and drive it, you feel at home," Erik said. And Robyn said it surprised her: "It is not normally a car that I would consider."

She gave strong marks for overall value, and a backhanded compliment: "It's still ugly, but it's a great car."

Schomp Honda wants to share this CAR REVIEWS
BY ROGER WITHERSPOON

There was more than a foot of snow on the ground and the stuff was still falling fast.

It was a fine, light, white powder, the kind my SkiDoc sister flies to Colorado and Montreal to zip through for a week. But skiing isn't my passion, I had errands to run, the street was a compacted, white blanket and the pending car trip looked less and less inviting. The two foot tall barrier mound of dirty snow left by the town's snow plows did not make things any better.

So what would your average Honda Accord, with 18-inch wheels, standard Michelin all-season radial tires, make of this mess?

The Honda's V-6 engine had been running, and while its 271 horsepower were just in reserve at the moment, the heaters under the front seats, the front and back windshields, and the side mirrors meant I could easily see where I wanted to go or where the ice slid me. This was a two-door, six-speed manual coupe, the sporty model of the popular Honda sedan, and it was designed more for drag racing than snow plodding.

But errands could not wait. I slid the chrome and leather gear shift into first, popped Sly Stone's Hot Fun in the Summertime into the six-disc CD player and eased down the unshoveled driveway to the snow hurdle at the curb. There was a slight wiggle in the rear of the car as the Honda's traction control figured out the parameters to the snowy surface. Then it treated the snow as any other pavement, and the Honda went straight down the driveway and over the snow mound as if it were just another traffic speed bump.

Over the next few miles there were more than a few occasions for the front-wheel drive Accord to swerve around stalled or sliding cars. But none of these conditions seemed to trouble the car's traction and stability controls. While part of that was due to the tread pattern on the Michelin radials, a good portion of the credit goes to Honda. With many vehicles, it is necessary to disconnect the traction control in ice or snow conditions because the skidding crashes their computer system. With Honda, you might as well pop in and enjoy your favorite half dozen CDs, or run through 1,000 or so jams from your iPod or USB because the car will treat the worst snow day as, well, just another day on the road.

The 2011 Honda Accord is an updated version of one of the most popular cars on the road and packs a lot into a $33,000 package. On the minus side, the car is missing a backup camera, which is a safety item you expect to find in well made cars priced over $25,000. In addition, the driver's seat is power driven but the front passenger seat is only manually operated.

But as far as complaints go, that's it.

The Honda Accord has stayed a top-selling car because it is thoughtfully designed, reliable, appealing outside and comfortable inside. All things considered, the 2011 Coupe doesn't stray from that formula. It can't afford to. Ford never forgave Honda from stealing the title of best selling sedan from its stylish Taurus two decades ago. The new, revitalized Ford Motor Company is roaring back and is tied in JD Power's 2010 assessment for the highest quality among mass market brands with its Ford Fusion.

Outside, the new two-door Accord Coupe has a wide, sloping hood and a more aggressive grill holding its trademark, lopsided H. The company has never made a gas-guzzling V-8 engine, though its V-6 power plant gets only moderate fuel economy with an EPA rating of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 MPG on the highway. The test car averaged 19 miles per gallon in mixed driving, though some of that fuel was burned while warming up the car on frigid mornings. The six-speed manual transmission takes some getting used to because the transition between gears can be abrupt and, if unprepared, you can find the car jerking to a halt. But once you have adapted to the rhythm of the car, it is both smooth, aggressive, and has more in common with a BMW 335 diesel than with the Ford Fusion or its Japanese competitors, the Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima.

Inside, the Accord has surprising room for a coupe. The seats are soft, supple leather, and passengers who live north of six feet can ride comfortably in the rear seats. The rear seats also fold flat to enlarge the already ample trunk. The front seats can be heated which is appreciated in snow country.

In terms of gadgets, the Accord comes with a navigation system tied to its XM radio, providing traffic and weather updates if they affect a planned route. For entertainment, the coupe does have a 270-watt premium sound system with seven speakers, to amplify jams from your iPod, MP3 player, or USB drive. Its Bluetooth system is easy to use and, once set, automatically reconnects with the cell phone whenever it is in range.

Honda is in the automotive equivalent of a dogfight these days, but has stayed competitive with style and performance at a reasonable price. The company is not likely to lose ground with the new Accord Coupe.

2011 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L

MSRP: $32,480

EPA Mileage: 17 MPG City, 26 MPG Highway

As Tested Mileage: 19 MPG Mixed

Performance / Safety:

3.5-Liter, aluminum alloy, SOHC V-6 engine producing 271 horsepower and 254 pound/feet of torque; 6-speed manual transmission; 4-wheel disc brakes; front wheel drive; rack and pinion steering; double wishbone front suspension; 18-inch, aluminum wheels; fog lights; heated side mirrors; stability and traction control; driver's and front passenger's front and side airbags; side curtain airbags.

Interior / Comfort:

AM/FM/XM satellite radio; 270-watt audio system with 7 speakers; MP3, iPod, and USB connections; navigation system with traffic and weather updates; Bluetooth; leather wrapped, tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls; leather seats, heated in front, fold flat in rear; power sunroof.

339 BMW dealers were in competition to be awarded the prestigious M center of Excellence, which was only awarded to 31 dealerships. Along with becoming a center of Excellence Schomp also became the states only M Certified dealer. Becoming the 8th BMW dealership to accept such a prominent award and becoming M Certified, Schomp celebrated in style.

From heavy hors d'oeuvres to Denver's finest BMWs, Schomp covered all the bases in hosting an elaborate event for enthusiasts. Having a few M5s and the new 6 series standing at attention helped to excite the crowd for the main event. Becoming an M Certified dealer means a few things. First, a whole new inventory of performance goodies will be available to add a few ponies under the hood. Second, not only will you get an expert on BMWs to assist you in picking your favorite M, but they will be trained specifically in M performance cars. Finally, if delivery wasn't already fun enough, you get your very own M playground, specific for delivering your M beast. These three factors add up to make your M buying experience world class leaving nothing to doubt.

While walking through the event, I could tell nothing was left to doubt. The main showroom overflowed with BMW power from a new hardtop convertible M3 to a luxurious 7 series. The upstairs showroom was a teaser for the main event. The basement of Schomp has been converted into the Ultimate Driving M-Showroom for the ultimate enthusiast. In my own opinion this was the ultimate man cave for the BMW aficionado. A TV played a selection of M car video clips, while pieces of BMW artwork dressed the walls. Having a selection of M cars from the 1M to the X6M caused quite the stir but only one car garnered the highest praise, the F10 M5. Only a few new M5s are roaming the countryside and Schomp was able to get its hands on one to let the Colorado community enjoy its sophisticated combination of luxury and performance.

Throughout the evening enthusiasts mingled and shared their opinions on the new F10 M5, but another BMW caused quite the stir. The Isetta, with a white and red paint job, stood out from the crowd of M performance cars and allowed for a chance to look back in time at the minds of BMWs design and engineering teams. With one functioning door that was placed at the front and a small one-cylinder four-stroke engine, the Isetta provided a relaxing view from the thousands of horsepower flexing its muscles a few feet away.

From the elegant 6 and 7 series, showing off their refinement to the M power in the man cave, the M Certified launch party was a major success. Having expert M technicians in Colorado will make any BMW enthusiast sleep sound from now on.