To Infinity … and beyond

Birchwood Honda sees bright future

By: Myron Love

http://autos.winnipegfreepress.com/index.php?action=news&step=article&id=1408

Birchwood Honda West had a double celebration on Wednesday, April 22.

On that date, more than 200 guests were on hand for both the grand re-opening of the greatly expanded Pointe West Auto Centre dealership and the official launch of Honda’s 2010 Insight Hybrid.

“The 2010 Insight Hybrid is going to be a huge car for Honda,” says Birchwood Honda West sales rep Damien Burns. “Sales in Japan have been so brisk that Honda has already doubled production.”

Burns notes the only feature in common the new model has with its predecessor is its name. The original Insight Hybrid, which was introduced in 1999, was a two-seater. The 2010 version seats five and looks like a cross between a hatchback and a wagon.

“Our new Insight is built with third-generation hybrid technology,”

Burns says. “Under ideal conditions — such as a flat road and at a certain speed — the Insight runs on electric power alone.”

The battery, he notes, is smaller than in previous models and is stored under the floor in the trunk alongside the spare tire. That creates considerably more storage capacity in the trunk.

Among the new model’s features is IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), which means that the electric motor adds power when needed and recharges itself by recapturing the energy released during braking.

Burns also points out the green ECON button — on the dashboard — which, through Honda’s Eco Assist technology, improves fuel efficiency and reduces overall energy use. The Eco Guide feature encourages better driving practices. The guide is displayed in the form of a tree, which grows leaves as a reward for better driving decisions.

Burns further notes the 2010 Insight’s aerodynamic design, which is aimed at reducing wind resistance and minimize coefficient drag.

Burns points out that with a base price of $25,210 (including freight and pdi), the 2010 Insight Hybrid LX is $3,000-$5,000 less than competing hybrid models (depending on the option package). The EX version starts at $28, 810.

Birchwood Honda West also looks quite different from its former self.

The dealership was originally built in 1999, the same year the Insight was launched. It was the first dealership built at the new Pointe West Auto Centre in Headingley.

“Since then, we have built 11 other dealerships (most of which are part of the Birchwood Auto Group) and remodelled two of them,” said Birchwood Auto Group president Steve Chipman in his address to the staff and guests gathered for the rededication of Birchwood Honda West.

“We had built-in room for expansion,” he noted, “but we didn’t expect to be expanding quite this soon.”

Expansion, he pointed out, was driven by a tremendous growth in sales.

He noted that the west-end Honda dealership is one of the top 10 dealers in Winnipeg as measured by total sales.

The $2.7-million expansion, which was completed late last year, has more than doubled the size of the Pointe West Auto Centre dealership.

The 13,000-square-foot addition brings the number of service bays to

13 and adds two new detailing areas, two new quick-lube bays, a delivery pod indoors and enough space in the showroom for 11 vehicles. “We can now showcase every vehicle in our lineup,” Chipman said.

“We hope that this expansion will hold us for another 10 years as we look forward to further growth in Honda sales.”

Waverley Chrysler general manager Steve Dennis reports that his dealership is once again supporting the Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon (21.08 km), which is scheduled for this coming Sunday at the Running Room. Dennis notes the event is sold out and that the run is expected to raise $100,000 for cancer research. Waverley Chrysler dresses up a Challenger RT model to help promote the event, which is now in its fifth year.

Birchwood Honda adds 13,000 square feet

By: Myron Love
Updated: June 13 at 12:45 AM CDT

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/autos/story/4185792p-4776079c.html

Record sales have prompted Birchwood Honda West to embark on a $2.7-million expansion project of its Pointe West Auto Centre dealership on Portage Avenue.

“We delivered 141 new cars in May,” says general sales and lease manager Mark Stephenson. “That was 40 more than we delivered in May, 2007.”

Work began on the expansion at the beginning of May.
The dealership will grow from 11,000 square feet to 24,000 square feet and feature two Quick-Lube bays, 13 service bays and a showroom with space for 10 or 11 models.

“We should be able to house our entire lineup in the new showroom,” Stephenson says.

The expansion will be completed by sometime in the fall.

As seen in: “Birchwood adds Kia dealership to lineup”

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/autos/story/4228113p-4867635c.html

By: Myron Love
Updated: September 19 at 09:15 AM CDT

IF you blink, you’ll miss it. That’s a strong indication of how fast the ‘09 Honda Fit is selling out.

“We received our first shipment (of ‘09 Fit models) just a week and a half ago,” says Birchwood Honda West sales rep Damien Burns, “and by the beginning of this week, we only had a couple left in stock.”

Burns adds that that first delivery was 10 days earlier than originally scheduled because local Honda dealers had sold out the ‘08 models.

The Fit has been on the road in Japan since 2001 but only became available in Canada last year, Burns notes.

The new version has a number of incremental improvements over the ‘08 model, he says. For example, the ‘09 Fit is slightly longer and wider than its predecessor. The IVTEC engine (as compared to the ‘08 model’s VTEC engine) provides 40 miles per gallon in city driving as compared to 37 mpg in the older models. Highway mileage is unchanged. Horsepower is also up slightly for ‘09.

Also new in the ‘09 Fit is a timing chain rather than a timing belt. “You have to change the belt every five years or 100,000 kilometres, or you could ruin your engine,” Burns points out. “The chain is much longer-lasting. And if it goes, you just have to replace it. You don’t have to be concerned about engine damage.”

The new model comes with an ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure better able to absorb impact from different-size vehicles. Burns notes that the body has more rounded edges, giving it a more aerodynamic and less boxy look.

Inside, the side-view mirrors are taller and the pillars in the windshield are thinner. Both features increase visibilty.

Burns notes that there is also more knee room in the back seat and the model has eight cupholders — four in front and four in back.

“The issue today is gas mileage rather than horsepower,” Burns says. “To make the ‘09 Fit lighter, Honda has taken out the spare tire. A tire repair kit is one of the options.”

The new model retails for a base price of $14,980 (not including freight and pdi). Burns notes that is just $70 more than the ‘08 model.

A fresh shipment should be coming in before long, he says.

Redesigned model more fuel efficient

By: Myron Love

Updated: June 20 at 10:14 AM CDT

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/autos/articles/general/story/4189061p-4779556c.html

Honda’s redesigned-for-2009 Pilot — which went on sale in Winnipeg about 10 days ago — is both bigger than its predecessor and more fuel efficient without costing any more.

“It is unusual for Honda to be launching a new model in June,” says Birchwood Honda on Regent sales rep Robert Swan, “but it is certainly time for a new Pilot. The first generation model was getting a little long in the tooth.”

The new Pilot comes with a 3.5 litre, 24-valve SOHC, I-VTEC V6 engine, 250 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque — both simply higher output than its predecessor.

The greater fuel efficiency is the result of the ‘09 Pilot’s advanced Variable Cylinder Management system. VCM operates on three, four or six cylinders depending whether you are driving in the city, on the highway or accelerating. The new Pilot’s Variable Torque Management four-wheel drive system anticipates the need for AWD and automatically engages the rear wheels whenever the vehicle is accelerating.

Swan points out that the ‘09 Pilot is available in a couple of new trims including the top of the line “Touring” model which has additional features such as a power tailgate, heated second row leather seats, 115-volt power outlet, front and rear parking sensors, HandsFreeLink Bluetooth wireless telephone interface and Honda satellite-linked navigation system with rearview camera.

All the new Pilot configurations have heavy duty power steering and transmission cooler and an integrated trailer hitch, features that were options on the earlier Pilot, Swan notes. The ‘09 Pilot is also the fifth Honda model that incorporates Advanced Compatibility Engineering in its structure, Swan adds. All Honda models will soon be built with ACE.

The ‘09 Pilot seats eight, although Swan points out that the third-row seating is meant mainly for children, as with all other competitors vehicles in its class. “Previous Pilot owners who have tried the new model say that its is roomier than its predecessor,” he says.

The base price for the 2wd, entry-level LX model is $36,820 (plus freight and PDI), about the same price its predecessor sold for.

All nine dealerships unveil new service

By: Myron Love (Updated: August 1 at 02:25 PM CDT)

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/autos/story/4206947p-4799299c.html

The Birchwood Auto Group’s nine dealerships have become Winnipeg’s newest Wi-Fi hot spots.

“MTS normally focuses on places such as restaurants and libraries for its Wi-Fi service,” says Kevin McNeill, director of information systems for the Birchwood Group. “We are the first auto dealers to offer the service.”

McNeill reports that there was some demand for the Internet service, particularly from customers from luxury vehicle stores (such as Birchwood BMW MINI, Woodhaven Lexus Toyota and the combination Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover store all at the Pointe West AutoPark in Headingley). “We decided to roll out the program at all of our stores,” McNeill says.

Birchwood customers are now able to bring their laptops with them when they bring their vehicles in for servicing, get the access code and go online for up to 60 minutes at a time while waiting for their vehicles.