All-new 2009 Honda Fit Introduces New Realm of Refinement to Subcompact Class

NEW YORK, March 19, 2008

The all-new 2009 Honda Fit, set to go on sale in the U.S. this fall, is making its U.S. debut at the New York International Auto Show, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Fit promises to further its leadership in the subcompact segment with top-of-class feature content,
including an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™; improved interior functionality, including one-motion dive-down rear seats; enhanced sporty demeanor through improved suspension, steering and body rigidity; and high levels of standard safety equipment,
including Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. “Critics and customers alike have voted the Fit among the best small vehicles on the road,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. “This new Fit raises the bar even further, taking what was already great about the Fit, making it even better and throwing in a healthy dose of refinement.”

Enhanced Comfort and Convenience -
Dimensionally compact on the outside, the interior provides surprisingly large passenger and class-leading cargo space to maximize comfort and utility. At the foundation is an improved rear Magic Seat®, now featuring one-motion dive-down functionality, which allows the rear seat to fold flat with the front seats in the rearmost slide position and without removing the rear head restraints. The seats offer multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations (tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode) in addition to the standard five-passenger mode. Additionally, a new hidden storage bin under the driver’s side rear seat provides a place to store small items.

Adding further refinement, Fit Sport offers an available factory-installed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. All Fit Sport models feature a USB audio interfacei compatible with current generation iPods® and many USB storage devices. “The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and
refinement that’s a class above,” said Colliver. “Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise.”

Fun to Drive -
The Fit features a new 1.5-literi-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine connected to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an available 5-speed automatic transmission, which includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Fit Sport. The new engine is designed to offer the best balance of fuel economy and power. Larger 15-inch and 16-inch (Fit Sport) wheels hint at enhancements to the Fit’s suspension, steering and body rigidity, which are intended to produce sportier handling without sacrificing comfort.

Top-of-Class Standard Safety Equipment -
The 2009 Fit adds Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology, available Vehicle Stability Assist ™ (VSA®) and active head restraints, to a top-of-class list of standard safety features. With Fit’s adoption of ACE, more than 94 percent of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. will include the innovative body structure. When introduced to the 2009 Fit, VSA will be available in the lineup of every model Honda sells in the United States. Dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on all Fit models. All seating positions have three-point seat belts. Additionally, front and rear visibility is improved. Standard active safety equipment includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS), with
ventilated discs in the front and drums in the back, and electronic brake distribution
(EBD).

Inside Look at American Honda

A recent article published in Fortune Magazine, talks about the differences that separate American Honda from the competition. Besides automobiles, Honda is investing in R&D in a HondaJet, Robots, Fuel Cell Technology and much more. Honda's success is due to its willingness to let it engineers "dabble". Defiantly individualistic, R&D insists on devising its own solutions and shuns outside alliances.

A Note From a Hendrick Honda of Charleston Family Member

Dear Family and Friends,
It's that time of year again...Baseball Season! I am passionately dedicated to The Charleston Miracle League to help provide the wonderful game of baseball to the most challenged children and adults in our community. So much so, that I am now a member of its Board of Directors. What you may not know is that this league survives strictly on the generous support of donors, without ever charging a fee to the players' families. This is a much more expensive endeavor than a regular baseball league. Our field cost upwards of $250,000. to build to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. And our facilities cost almost just as much, as our bathrooms are equipped with specialty equipment for the needs of our players. Since 2005 when I first joined as a volunteer, my life has been deeply enriched by all the wonderful people who comprise this amazing organization. Words cannot express the magical experience known as the Charleston Miracle League. One can only feel it -Magnificent...exhilarating...triumphant...jubilation...being a part of a team...fitting in...succeeding...shining like a star! These are feelings that the most challenged of our community rarely get to experience, but on 16 Saturdays a year, on a very special baseball field in West Ashley, the magic comes alive and they are all superstars. I feel very privileged to be a part of that. It is in this vane that I am humbly asking for your support as I endeavor once gain to help raise money for this wonderful cause. I will be participating in the Cooper River Bridge Run/Walk (highlight walk for me!), which is a 10k race held here in Charleston every year. People come from all over the world to compete in this race. This year I've put together a team to walk or run with me so we can maximize our fundraising efforts. If you would like to support our efforts, or just see what we're all about, just click on this link: www.firstgiving.com/hsmiraclemakers. This website is safe and secure, and you will receive a receipt of your tax-deductible contribution.
Thank you so much!!
Love and Big Hugs
Roe Imburgia

Honda is Consumer Reports Top Pick

In a recent article in Consumer Reports Magazine, Honda was given high marks for the entire line of cars including the Accord, Civic, CRV, Odyssey, Ridgeline, Element, Pilot, and S-2000. Honda produces "very well rounded cars with excellent reliability," said David Champion, the senior director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports has more than 5 million subscribers and based it Top Picks on 1.3millions surveys returned from readers.

Honda Golf Classic

Make sure you don't miss the Honda Classic golf event from the PGA National Resort & Spa's Champion Course in Palm Gardens Florida. You can watch your local Charleston NBC affiliate, WCBD Channel 2, for live coverage or the Golf Channel for highlights.