New S2000 highlights busy year for Honda

The increase in new car media advertising in all forms will surely have awakened the UK buying public that March is nearly upon us and the new 08 registration plate is about to go public.

Traditionally March is the peak sales month for UK new car sales, around 20 per cent of annual sales and close to 450,000 units in Mach 2007.

Most manufacturers are busy launching new models, or incentives to buy, in readiness for the expected surge in sales.

Honda are holding media test driving days this week to not only highlight their current models and the revised S2000 two-seater sports car, but also their new television and printed media advertising campaign and a diary of what else can be expected from them this year and beyond.

For the record Honda new car sales in the UK in 2007 broke the 100,000 mark for the first time showing a growth of 8.5 per cent against the industry average of 3 per cent. Honda’s European sales showed the largest growth of any motor manufacturer, up 21.5 per cent over 2006.

Of course Honda are not just about cars. They are the world’s largest engine manufacturer producing 24.5 million engines of all types each year, everything from power units to garden tools such as strimmers and mowers, to motorcycles and scooters, Pilots and Quad recreational vehicles, passenger cars and even aircraft jet engines.

Currently they build 12.6 million motorcycles, 3.55 million cars and 6.4 million power tools and by 2010 they expect to have 30 million customers a year buying 18 million motorcycles, 4.5 million cars and 7 million power tools.

To do this they employ 167,231 ‘associates’ worldwide and 5,000 of those are employed by Honda of the UK Manufacturing at their production facility in Swindon where the Civic 3-door and 5-door and Honda CR-V models are built.

The Swindon plant is a huge success story for Honda. It was established 20 years ago and production last year reached 250,000 units a years. Over £1.38 billion has been invested in the Swindon factory and vehicles built there are exported to over 60 countries worldwide.

This month will see the two millionth car produced at Swindon come off the production lines. In May 2008 Honda celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Other notable dates from Honda for their passenger car ranges in 2008 include: February the on sale date for the revised S2000 two-seater sports car, in June the Honda FCX Clarity, the world’s first zero emission hydrogen fuel cell car goes on sale in the US.

Also in June the new Honda Accord saloon, with sportier and sharper styling, goes on sale in the UK and the engine options will include a new i-DTEC diesel engine which offers increased power but lower emissions. The Honda Tourer estate joins the line-up in September ready for the 85-registration plate month.

In September the new Honda Jazz will be unveiled and early in 2009 Honda will put their new and more affordable Global Hybrid models on sale.

Honda UK are noted for their clever advertising campaigns which highlight the technical innovations to be found in their latest models. The new campaign, known as ‘Problem Playground’ features the forthcoming FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car to shortly enter production.

The advertising also features thousands of Rubix cubes and an army of Honda workers building a sculpture of Honda’s hybrid engine. All innovative stuff – look for it.

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