_LAS VEGAS, NV, November 1, 2011 - The Honda Performance Development Group revealed a new grassroots racing program for the Limited Edition Civic Si. Seven modified 2012 Civic Si Coupes were prominently displayed in the Honda booth at the 2011 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas. The modifications clearly showcased the Wow-Factor the Si can bring as a great vehicle for those who like to personalize their transportation. Several vehicles were unveiled at the show, including the 2012 Civic Si Coupe equipped with a limited-edition Honda Factory Performance (HFP) package and the Compass360 developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), the 2012 Civic Si Coupe Racecar, the Accord Coupe HFP Concept and several other vehicles equipped with Honda Genuine Accessories.

The 2012 Civic Si Sedan shows that performance and style can come with four doors as it featured all-season floor mats, trunk tray, cargo net, cargo hook and splash guards and 18x7 inch HFP alloy wheels. Purchasing and installing the Honda Genuine Accessories, (HFP components included), offers a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty matching the Civics’ warranty.

In an interview by Honda.Com Bruce Smith, Vice President of Service and Technical Operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., reported the 1980 Honda Civic was the vehicle that introduced the import-tuner movement in the United States. He continued by stating that the 2012 Civic Si is an exciting platform for personalization as it also allows improved fuel economy.

Attendee's at the show first gazed upon the 2012 Civic Si Coupe fitted with the Limited-Edition HFP package. There was a strict limit of 500 kits made available the day of the show’s opening. They are available for special order through O'Daniel Honda, but supplies are limited.  The Package Includes: high-performance springs, reducing ride height by 15mm; high-performance dampers tuned for enhanced road handling and decreased body roll; 18x7 inch HFP Alloy Wheels; full HFP aerodynamic body kit; HFP carpet floor mats; red ambient interior illumination; and, HFP emblems. All of the painted parts will come color-matched to each of the seven available Civic Si Coupe colors.

In July of this year, HPD began sales of Civic bodies-in-white made available to builders and were also on display at the show. For builders of racecars, a project with a body-in-white represents significant cost and labor savings when compared to the purchase and conversion of a fully-equipped production car. HPD-designed parts and branded racing components for the new Civic through Honda Racing. Additional performance parts will meet the challenges of the SCCA World Challenge and Grand Am's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. They will be available early in 2012, and full details and pricing will be available at that time.

The show included the previously displayed the Honda-modified CR-Z sport hybrids, and HPD CR-Z Hybrid R Concept and the CR-Z. The turbocharged HPD CR-Z Racer competed at Thunderhill last year as continued exploration of the CR-Z’s performance was met with great excitement.

Honda continues to reach out to the import community to display their vehicles, asking tuners to push the limits with their builds so they can demonstrate the potential of personalization. Bisimoto Engineering delivered a 1004 hp version of the Civic Si Coupe. The Tjin Edition brought their Civic Si Sedan and showed that style and performance can be compatible with kids and a family.

Honda in its SEMA Show debut, made an impression that will deliver both professional builders and private builders an exciting platform to personalize that without taking a  back seat to performance.

not expect anything like this to happen. Long story short, he insisted that Honda step up and stand behind their product. The dealer simply responded to his customer, he did not have the authority to do that, with empathy he gave the contact information for him to contact the Honda Corporate Representative to see if there was something he could do.

He phoned American Honda about the issue, they let him know that they will have to take it up with the dealer, and they would get back to him. He took the CRV into the dealer and they filed for Honda Goodwill on our friends behalf. Within a very short period of time, Honda came back with an offer to pay for the parts, even though this  was about 60% of the total repair, he was hesitant to give the go ahead. He was not appreciative of the offer, but this was a known problem in the vehicle, and simply felt more needs to be done.

After researching the problem on the internet, and discussions with engineering he found the problem was prevalent in the 03 and 04 CRV in such a way that the failure caused additional damage to the Cooling system. His 60K service was completed without any mention of a potential issue, admitting he would have considered the repair if he had known of the risk he would have considered replacing the part to avoid the additional damages to the cooling system. Due to the events around this breakdown, a case was opened with American Honda Motor Co., Inc seeking the labor with the parts offer. They reaffirmed their longstanding loyalty with the Honda vehicles, and this did not affect their overall opinion for both the company and the product.

He was assured that they would get back to him by the end of the week and that they would give it serious consideration. He was really impressed with the return offer the next day to pay for the repair in full.  By the end of the week he was driving his CRV.  His commitment to the company has been almost a crusade for him.

This was an exception and not normal for the American Honda Motor Co., Inc to step outside of the terms of their warranty terms. The circumstances were unique and offered the ability for the company to notify the dealer’s service departments of the issue and seek resolution in advance of serious damage that could result for the failure of the part.

I have mentioned my daughters love for her Honda Element which is almost at the same level of the other example I have used. She was energetic about the product, the company and O'Daniel Honda-Omaha. As a college student, working full time, she is limited on both time and money. When she moved from one part of Omaha to the next, she became an O’Daniel customer with a simple little oil change. When she went to pick up her Element, she was fully informed of the mechanical condition of the vehicle. Once she informed them of her limits and ability to afford all the recommendations, she left with a schedule of priority that allowed her get the work done as she could afford it.

The model we have spent a great deal of time with has been the Honda Civic now in its eight generation and shows no sign of taking a back seat when it comes innovation, reliability and just plain good looks. The 2012 model line has been released and has been impressive on all levels, even in a tough economy.

The Civic with its space-age looks and cutting edge technology continues to turn heads with its futuristic design in the market sector traditionally dominated by more conservative models that include the Mazda 3, Ford Focus and the Toyota Corolla.

As future articles will talk about the Civic in greater detail, we mention this only to point to American Honda Motor Co., Inc commitment to its future design efforts assure the car buyer that with an O'Daniel Honda purchase or service you get a little bit of the old and the new.

For the new, leading edge design, technologies and innovation that insure the buyer that their investment in a Honda is as sound tomorrow as it is today. Because this manufacturing firm is so far ahead of its competition it is attracting those markets that in the past had been very tough to turn. The advancements insure that the resale on your Honda will be secured in the future because the consumer has built a trust that only legendary reliability can earn.

Which brings up my point about the past, way back in the day, Honda chose O'Daniel to represent their product, and they have not given Honda any reason to second guess their choice. As a smaller, locally owned dealership, they understand their customer and their cars. They service them as though they had to drive them everyday only to be sure that they will start every time and get them safely to their destinations. Over the years, it’s been the customers that tell Honda that they are choosing O'Daniel Honda-Omaha every time they need service and when they must replace their cars. For six years in a row now, it’s been their customer sharing with Honda about the quality in the relationship they are forming with O'Daniel Honda-Omaha.

Simply read the comments people make on their Facbook Page (CLK Here).  It’s hard to believe that there are so many people taking time from their busy schedules to post so many positive comments. It is nice to see that in times like we have today, there are still those that work really hard to deliver the quality that made both car maker and car dealer top shelf performers in the eyes of their customer.

We are (most of us anyway) bound by the constitution and the laws built around this magnificent Document.  It was designed 235 years ago with its design is to provide an opportunity to judge and be judged by the commoner (a Jury of our peers), with intent of delivering justice as they see it. Some of us have firsthand