Road Warriors

Once again, Honda’s Accord and Fit (2010 models) have taken their place alongside models from automakers like Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, and Audi on “Car and Driver” magazine’s annual “Ten Best” list. This marks Accord’s 24th (and 13th consecutive) appearance in the 28 years since first appearing on the list in 1983, and marks Fit’s 4th appearance on the list since first appearing in 2007. To add perspective to these accomplishments, no other car even comes close to Accord when it comes to number of appearances on the list, and Fit has appeared on the list every single year it has existed here in the United States.

In the words of others:

Car and Driver on the Accord: “In 28 years of 10Best competition, Honda’s Accord has made the list 24 times. Somewhere in Japan, there are about 200 engineers wringing their hands and asking each other, “Where’d we go wrong in those four losing years?” Maybe that’s why the car is so good.”

Car and Driver on the Fit:  “It’s all the car anyone needs—big fun, and as cheap to own and operate as a hamster. Despite the Fit’s microbial footprint, it takes truly Sasquatchian dimensions to be discomforted inside, and all that space is surrounded by quality materials and thoughtful design unmatched in many vehicles costing much more….Everything about this Honda feels like a more expensive, more upmarket vehicle. It is the marriage of a number of seemingly paradoxical concepts, but its greatest accomplishment is the association this little runabout dissolves: The Fit proves more decisively than any other vehicle that affordable and cheap are mutually exclusive concepts.”

American Honda Executive Voice President John Mendel on the selections: “The Car and Driver ‘10Best’ awards recognize Honda’s ongoing emphasis on performance, quality and safety. Honda is honored to have its vehicles regarded so highly over the years with one of the most coveted awards in the industry.”

Honda’s appearances within the 10Best rankings:

Accord    24 times (1983-’91, ’94-’95, 1998-2010)

Civic        5 times   (1988-’91, 1996)

CRX        2 times   (1985, 1988)

Fit            4 times   (2007-2010)

Prelude   10 times  (1984-’86, 1992-98)

S2000      3 times   (2000-2004)

If you would like to get your hands on the Fit, Accord, or any other Honda, then there is no better place to start than Miami’s Brickell Honda. Brickell Honda is a full-service Honda center that works in new and Certified used Honda Sales, Honda financing, and is also an official Honda parts and service center. Brickell is located in beautiful downtown Miami, and can also be found on the web at BrickellHonda.com. Brickell is well-known for its website BrickellHondadirect.com, where you can get a quote on a Honda in 7 minutes or less.

The key factors guiding Audi to success are its technologies. Throughout the time the company is constantly improving the body structures, engines and in car technologies. These technical improvements serve as guiding features towards becoming a leader in the global automobile market.

Body Shells

Audi manufactures 100% galvanized cars to prevent corrosion. The company is the first mass market vehicle company to produce such cars. Earlier the company provided a 10-year warranty against corrosion of the body. However, the effectiveness of the newly adopted zinc coating has enabled the company to extend this warranty up to 12 years. Audi manufactured the first all aluminum car in the year 1994. The Audi A8 was the first car to make use of an aluminum space frame. This technology the, Audi Space Frame has been used consistently by the company to produce high performance vehicles. This frame helps to reduce the weight of the vehicles and provides the cars with superior aerodynamics.

Drive Layout

The company strongly disagrees to the conventional rear wheel drive layout privileged by other car manufacturers. The company favors the front wheel drive or the four-wheel drive layouts and makes use of a longitudinally front mounted engine in an overhung position, over the front wheels in front of the axle line. In 1970, Audi designed its own four-wheel drive (4WD) systems in passenger vehicles. The company has recently applied the Quattro badge to models such as the A3 and TT using the Swedish Haldex Traction electro-mechanical clutch 4WD systems.

Engines

Audi has always been the champion in the manufacturing of engines. The company manufactured the 2.1/2.2L, 5 cylinder engines as long lasting alternative to the conventional 6 cylinder engines in 1990′s. The new models such as the A3, A4, A6 and A8 use the 1.8L engines and replaced by new Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) engines. Most petrol engines incorporate the fuel saving technology. The petrol engines manufactured by Audi include,

• 1.6 liters 4 cylinder 115bhp (86 kW)
• 2.0 liters 4 cylinder 200bhp (150 kW)
• 3.2 liters V6 250-260bhp
• 5.2 liters V10 450bhp (336 kW)

The Direct Shift Gear Box

Audi introduced the DSG or Direct shift gearbox in the early 2000′s. The DSG is an automated manual transmission drivable like the conventional automatic transmission. These systems use an electro-hydraulically controlled clutch instead of a torque converter. The Audi A3 and TT make use of this system.

Twin-charger Technology (TSI)

The conventional engine with at least 1.4L capacity is combined with a turbocharger and supercharger to produce high power output, with lower levels of carbon-di-oxide emissions. These engines are extremely fuel-efficient compared to a non-turbo engine.

This engine produces an output of 140 and 170bhp (127 kW). These engines have gained popularity amongst the motoring press and public. The engines have possible entries into the Audi range with the Audi A3 and Audi A4 models.

Audi has strived constantly to improve the performances of their cars with technological advancements. With the growth of technology, the company aims at growing to be the leader in technologically advanced automobile market.