Minivan market is weirdly fierce: Putting 6 to the test - USATODAY.com

The 2011 Honda Odyssey was just named the Ultimate Minivan by the editors at Cars.com, USA Today and "MotorWeek."

All of the redesigned minivans faced off this spring in a head-to-head shootout to determine which was best and the Odyssey beat out all of its competitors.

Cars.com and the MotorWeek TV show convened the Ultimate Minivan Shootout, a comparison test among well-equipped vans priced from about $34,000 to $43,000, without shipping charges.

A suburban Atlanta family was recruited to help judge the vans, ensuring that real-world considerations weren't overlooked. And the family — Travis and Heather Weatherby and their three children ranging from 15 down to 1 year old — made the point about high-price vans perfectly.

In the end, their highest scores went to the Honda Odyssey.

DCH Temecula's Got Talent

DCH Auto Group Temecula will host its 2nd Annual DCH Temecula’s Got Talent event in support of National Youth Traffic Safety Month on Saturday, May 21. This is a FREE event that highlights local talent while spreading a positive message about safe driving.

May is an important time for teens to be focused on driving safety. With prom, graduation, and summer trips just ahead, youth-led teams from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapters work together with DCH Auto Group to educate teens, parents and community leaders about the risks faced by teen drivers.  To achieve this goal, local dealerships sponsor programs that will encourage teens to make choices that will decrease their likelihood of an auto-related tragedy. 

Join DCH Auto Group Temecula, SADD chapters and our local community to have some fun and to bring awareness to youth traffic safety.  This year’s event will be highlighted by a talent competition, a car show, kids activities, food, drinks, and prizes.

Hosting the event will be Kim Horn.  Kim is an accomplished musician and singer who's smooth, romantic style sets the standard for Jazz music. His style is reminiscent of Jazz and Big Band singers of old such as Billy Ekstine, Nat King Cole, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock, Lou Rawls, and Johnny Hartman.

For more information visit www.TemeculasGotTemecula.com

DCH Auto Group Supports 2011 National Youth Traffic Safety Month

DCH Auto Group is calling attention to teen driving safety this May as part of National Youth Traffic Safety Month.  Throughout May, all DCH Auto Group Dealerships in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and California will be holding and sponsoring events to raise awareness about how to keep young drivers safe on our roads and highways.

May is an important time for teens to be focused on driving safety. With prom, graduation, and summer trips just ahead, the potential for traffic-related deaths and injuries that involve young drivers and passengers increases alarmingly.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says traffic crashes are the leading killer of teens, with more than 5,000 dying annually. That's why DCH Auto Group and its partners, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), and numerous likeminded organizations across the country are raising awareness all month long to educate teens about safe driving habits.

DCH Auto Group dealerships and DCH-sponsored High School SADD Chapters will be holding events to educate teens about driving safety, including:

• DCH Dealerships in Temecula, CA will be holding their annual talent competition DCH Temecula's Got Talent (www.temeculasgottalent.com) on Saturday, May 21. The popular carnival-like event hosted by DCH Honda of Temecula, DCH Acura of Temecula and DCH Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Temecula along with SADD Chapters from Great Oak High School, Chaparrel High School, and Temecula Valley High School,  gives area residents the opportunity to showcase their talents and gain knowledge about safe driving issues.

The hottest Hybrid yet!

MUGEN Euro is developing a highly-tuned version of Honda's CR-Z, which will deliver "Type R-like" performance from the hybrid's petrol-electric powertrain - and may offer even better fuel economy.

Review: 2011 Honda Pilot 4WD Touring

The family Crossover Utility Vehicle segment is, to put it mildly, crowded. Every major automaker has at least one option from which to choose. Ford has four choices, while Toyota makes due with three options. Some models feature two rows of seating, while others boast room for up to eight. Then there are the more off-road capable options to contrast with the docile soft-roaders.

Though most automakers have gone crossover crazy, Honda has made due with a simple two-CUV lineup. The perennially top-selling CR-V takes care of those who desire a smaller footprint, smaller price tag and higher fuel economy, while the larger Pilot takes on the three-row crowd. The Pilot has been mostly successful during its nine-year production run, with high marks for safety (the 2011 model has an overall score of four stars from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration) and reliability (Consumer Reports gave it the organization's coveted Recommended rating). Dancing on the fringes of the CUV segment and selling in low numbers, Honda also offers the nearly gone Element and Accord Crosstour, but it's still the boxier CR-V and Pilot doing the heavy lifting for the brand. Honda made enough changes to the Pilot to keep it competitive with stiff competition like the Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse? We spent a week with a well-appointed 4X4 Touring model to find out.

2011 Honda Odyssey Video

The Honda Odyssey is a longtime favorite with car buyers. The 2011 redesign will probably continue to wow car shoppers, according to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. The minivan features unique luxury features like a wide-screen LCD and voice-activated controls. However, family-friendly features such as an expandable bench seat that fits three child-safety seats are just as impressive as the high-tech wizardry.

[Source: Cars.com Kicking Tires]