1997 Honda Passport Ex Sport Utility 4-door 3.2l on 2040-cars

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Ever wonder how to really pronounce Japanese automaker names?

People tend to get very set in their ways when it comes to the pronunciation of words. Just look at the endless debates over whether or not to say the final 'e' in Porsche (which you should in terms of correct German enunciation). Or the argument about whether to follow the British convention and give the 'u' in Jaguar a special delivery or to say the 'ua' diphthong as more of a 'w' sound, as usually happens in the US.
This short video doesn't answer either of those automotive questions, but it does allow a native Japanese speaker to demonstrate the accepted pronunciations for several, major automakers from the country. One benefit is that it clears up the occasional debate over whether Nissan should be said with a long or short 'i' sound. Also, listen closely to how the female host says Mazda as Matsuda, the way it's actually said in the language. Even if this doesn't change the way you enunciate these brands, at least now you know the accurate way in Japanese.

Honda Fit EV lease drops to $199 a month, but there's a catch

The Honda Fit EV just became a much better deal. When it first launched, Honda offered the car (in California and Oregon only) in 2012, the monthly price was $399. In 2013, the official lease price dropped to $259. Today, Honda announced that the fun little runabout will cost you just $199. The catch? For new customers, this price is only good on used Fit EVs. You can also take advantage of this deal If you're a current Fit EV lessee by extending your time with your car by two years for the new, lower $199-a-month price. The other limitations of the Fit EV lease – the fact that there's no purchase option at the end of the lease and that the car itself is still only available in "designated market regions" – remain, which means that getting this particular electric car is a better deal than it used to be, but it's still not a good Fit for everyone. Related Video: Honda Introduces New Lease Options for Existing and Prospective Fit EV Lessees Mar 23, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. Two-year Fit EV lease extension offered to existing lessees New, two-year used Fit EV lease offered to prospective customers Price reduced to $199 a month; no down payment and unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage included Honda is extending the reach of its efficient and fun-to-drive all-electric Fit EV (http://automobiles.honda.com/fit-ev/) through new lease programs for both existing and prospective Fit EV customers. For current, eligible Fit EV customers, Honda is offering a two-year lease extension that includes a lower $199 monthly payment1 (previously $259) and extends the unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage1 that were included in the original lease. The reduced lease price and matching two-year terms1 will also be available to new customers interested in driving a used Honda Fit EV. Honda shared the news to a group of Fit EV drivers at an event hosted at the Honda Smart Home US (http://www.hondasmarthome.com/) in Davis, CA on Saturday, March 21. "Most Fit EV drivers tell us they love their vehicles, and many have requested lease extensions and this extended lease program is intended to meet their needs," said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

This is the ad that never ends

Hondas pretty much last forever, and that's exactly the message the Japanese automaker wants to convey in this latest ad for the 2015 CR-V. It's called Endless Road, created by McGarryBowen in London, and it shows the new midsize crossover driving in a hypnotic, infinite loop. According to AdWeek, this endless road is supposed to convey Honda's never-ending quest to create the best, most advanced CR-V possible. You can see a shortened, embeddable version of the ad above, but what's really cool is the interactive portion that's only available on Honda's YouTube channel. It uses real-time weather data to show the CR-V infinitely driving through day or night, depending on what's happening in your specific part of the world. AdWeek has an interview with McGarryBowen's executive creative director, Angus Macadam, about the new spot, as well as a behind-the-scenes, making-of video, which we've embedded below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.